Free dining crowds question

[doberlady]

I also want to book for the last week in Aug. We have only gone in Oct/nov and 1 time in Jan. I am afraid of the weather, what is the typical weather in late aug?

Also, if I book my room and DP what happens when free dining is announced? Do I have to call and re-book? Has anyone had a problem with that?

 

[twinspluscade]

not purposefully working around free dining, nothing is FREE! There are many codes out there that equal to free dining! I can't believe the lengths that people are going to, to get this plan and booking in case it really comes out.............WOW.

For our family, free dining is a way better savings than any other code--we're a family of 5, so dining plan costs us $113.95/day. We don't stay at deluxe--can't afford it,even with a code--so even 40% code would be LESS of a savings for us than free dining!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thats exactly how I feel. I think so many people are going to decide on the last week of August. They could have at least done the last 2 weeks.

Remember that Free Dining is a promotion to get people down there at a time of year that is not crowded. Yes, it relates to hurricane season, but it also coincides with the beginning of the school year when most people won't take their kids out. Since the Southern schools are starting later this year, thus allowing more people to travel later into August, there isn't an incentive for Disney to offer a promo at that time.

 

[hlokesak]

I have been searching for information regarding free dining in September. Can somone please tell me where I can find the information about this?

Heather

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I have been searching for information regarding free dining in September. Can somone please tell me where I can find the information about this?

Heather

Welcome to the Dis! Check out the codes and rates sub board... nothing on free dining is official yet though, however...

 

[deltachi8]

We have gone late August in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. (And return in 2007). The only difference free dining made was that the table service places were busier and you absolutely needed ADRs to get in. OOther than that, the parks, wiat times etc were really no different.

I think what Free Dining does more often than not is take people from off site and place them on.

 

[laceemouse]

We are a family of six, and 3 of our kids are "adults." If we get free dining for our trip in September it will save us $1,200! No room code can get close to that for us. Maybe for 2 or 3 people it could, but not for us, no way!

 

[AllAboutPluto]

We went during the free dining period last year, and although the restaurants were pretty crowded, the parks were dead. We rode Exp. Everest 6 times in an hour in late September last year.

The longest ride wait we had was RnRC at 30 min. After that, we never waited more than 15 min for any other ride (and we rode em all!) and probably half were walk-ons. I'd go during free dining again in a heartbeat if it didn't require taking the kids out of school!

 

[Flametamr]

I'm hoping to book 8-27 to 09-2 tomarrow. Hopefully the free DDP will be available for Disney Visa holders then or soon afterwards. It was the only week that lined up for all my group to go. I hope to make ADRs as soon as I make my ressies. I'm waiting to be sure I have a room first.

 

[jenrose66]

I can't wait to try Disney in September. I've been there for spring break (April) once when I was ten which was 15 years ago so I don't really remember it. The only other times I've gone is in July. I never minded the crowds, but it will be nice to see how this time of year is different. I think since I'll have a 14 month old with me I'll appreciate the shorter wait times!

 

[Bob P]

I'm hoping to book 8-27 to 09-2 tomarrow. Hopefully the free DDP will be available for Disney Visa holders then or soon afterwards. It was the only week that lined up for all my group to go. I hope to make ADRs as soon as I make my ressies. I'm waiting to be sure I have a room first.

You don't need to wait to make your ADRs. I would make them now.

Free dining may not be announced for a few more days...or weeks...or maybe not at all. But the restaurants will be filling up with people who are making their ADRs whether there is free dining or not.

You do NOT have to have a room booked to make your ADRs.

 

[jenrose66]

Do you really think that waiting until Monday or Tuesday to make ADR's will really put me at a disadvantage. I know a couple places I want to eat so far. I'm planning on doing most of my TS as either early dinner or lunch because we'll have the baby and I don't want him out fussy and late in restaurants.

 

[twinspluscade]

If you haven't already, you guys may want to check out the Codes and Rates board--Visa has confirmed free dining will be released on MONDAY--and even "the code" has been posted (for Visa cardholders).

 

[Harambe]

This will be our third "last week of August" trip (8/22 - 8/30). As others mentioned restaurants and CS's were crowded, but the parks are pretty good - but not dead! There's still folks around - just use fast pass and morning EMH. We never do the DDP - to confining for us (and yes, I know it saves tons of money, etc., but we just don't like the hassle).

I am SO HAPPY that I have my ADRs already!

 

[Colleen27]

Okay..probably in the minority here..but I acutally cancelled our trip because it was during the free dining promotion. Now..no I haven't hit the lotto..but I didn't want to deal with the crowds. I had a package booked at the WL and frankly if you are staying Deluxe it's not as free as it seems because you are paying full rack rate for the room.

We're in that minority too, and because of our travel plans - 2 rooms at a moderate, one of them for only one adult, and both our kids still young enough for the kids' dining plan rate - the free dining isn't a huge difference compared to the AAA room rate discount in value season. The few hundred dollars that free dining would save us isn't worth dealing with the crowds, IMO. We pushed our plans back by a couple weeks to miss free dining after calling yesterday - 170 days before check-in - and finding out that we couldn't get 4 of the 8 ADRs I've already decided on. For our new dates during the first week of October, I had my choice of times, even for Le Cellier and CRT.

 

[JVL1018]

This will be our third "last week of August" trip (8/22 - 8/30). As others mentioned restaurants and CS's were crowded, but the parks are pretty good - but not dead! There's still folks around - just use fast pass and morning EMH. We never do the DDP - to confining for us (and yes, I know it saves tons of money, etc., but we just don't like the hassle).

I am SO HAPPY that I have my ADRs already!

We went last week of August 2005 and the crowds were no hassle at all, but at that time, free dining wasn't just one week of the non school year, like it will be now.
Those people, starting after Labor Day, but not willing to pull their kids out in September had 2 or 3 weeks to take advantage of free dining-this time around everyone in that boat will be there that one week.
HOWEVER--I am still happy to be going and we'll deal with it and have a great time.

 

[disneyjunkie]

We went last week of August 2005 and the crowds were no hassle at all, but at that time, free dining wasn't just one week of the non school year, like it will be now.
Those people, starting after Labor Day, but not willing to pull their kids out in September had 2 or 3 weeks to take advantage of free dining-this time around everyone in that boat will be there that one week.
HOWEVER--I am still happy to be going and we'll deal with it and have a great time.

I feel the same way. If we want to take advantage of the discount, then that week is our only option.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

If you haven't already, you guys may want to check out the Codes and Rates board--Visa has confirmed free dining will be released on MONDAY--and even "the code" has been posted (for Visa cardholders).

Where's the code? I'm a Disney Visa holder.. is there something special I should know?

 

[jmpellet]

We were there during free dining last year from 9/30 - 10/10 and the parks were ok -- it got busier as Columbus day approached but free dining ends earlier this year. We got all the ADRs we wanted and the only place I remember waiting beyond 20 minutes (which I consider ok even with a 5,4, and 2 yo in tow) was Ohanas for breakfast, which I think we waited 45 minutes. We are going 8/26 - 9/3 this year. I know that someone said its only NY state that goes back after Labor day but I think most of the northeast goes back after. We are in MA.

 

[MissMichelle]

I hjad to move my dates to the last week of August due to my stepdaughter struggling with middle school. We were planning last week of September (like last year as it was amazingly perfect) but we are ok doing 10 days in August (2 nights room only then the Free DDP starting the 26th) and dealing with what may be a tad bit more crowded then my previous trip. Anything is better then the crowds @ 4th of July and Xmas IMO.