Free dining crowds question

[JMLBrats]

Yes, we're in ME and we go back after labor day too. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's bummed that FD is being offered again this year. Don't get me wrong, I totally can understand why a lot of people want it but since the only week we can go is right before labor day I must admit that I wish that wasn't the only wk before LD that disney was offering the free dining to the general public. Oh well, congrats to all of you who are happy about it, I just hope the crowds don't suffer because of it....TG we made 95% of our dining reservations a couple of months ago!!

 

[Laren]

Ugh! now I'm worried.

We'll be at Poly Sept 4-12- haven't stayed there since I was a kid, husband and daughter have never stayed there, and now I'm worrying we won't even be able to eat when we want to at our resort because of free dining.

Our whole plan for this trip (and our reason not to get free dining) is we want freedom to try new places and eat when we want to as the days go on. I didn't want to be tied to a bunch of ADR's this trip :/ but it's looking like we may not have a choice unless we want to do counter service the whole trip- which would be fine for us but the grandpa in the group needs at least one sit down a day.

Ugh. I better make some quick decisions and make some calls! So much for going during the 'off' season LOL

Laren

 

[magicmouse2]

Well we stayed during september free dining last year and though the restaurants were booked up the parks werent crowded. It only started to get crowded once the Food n Wine festival began. This year we are doing last week of August to avoid missing school time in the UK. Hoping it wont be chaotic!

 

[bicker]

Sit-down dining is becoming very very very popular in the United States, much more so than in the past. Perhaps it is just a phase, and a few years from now the restaurants will be empty again, but these days folks seem to be much m ore willing to pay the extra necessary to be cooked-for and attended-to.

 

[magicmouse2]

Well all I can say is the service in the USA is heavenly! and the quality of the resort restuarants sit down service is superb. Many colleagues of mine think of Florida as a fast food centre and think they are only going to eat burger and fries in huge quantities whilst in Orlando. If they knew where to look or listened to advice they woud realise how wrong they were and wouldnt have such tainted visions of US cuisine! Our family like nicely flavored food and after years of research we know where to find it. The best meals I have ever had are in the USA and in Walt Disney World Resort Restaurants. Its a pity people dont do their research (or a blessing for us as it leaves more dining slots). As a mother of 3 table service is heavenly! we dont eat out often.

 

[jmpellet]

Make the ADRs asap and don't plan on winging it. I know there were a lot of unhappy people last year during free dining. They even turned Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station into a table service to accommodate all the free diners and as someone mentioned before they let you use TS for CS (no thanks!). We made ours as soon as we booked the package last early April and friends of our waited a couple of weeks and could not get several of them including the ever-popular Le Cellier. When I called for ours this year Le Cellier was already virtually sold out for the last week in August -- we ended up with a 4:00 pm dinner. Granted it is the most popular restaurant right now but I wouldn't wait and be disappointed.