Free Dining Crowds

[basketrn]

Correct me if I am wrong but I think free dining started Sunday or Monday. We just got back today and the parks were PACKED!!! We will NEVER go back during the free dining period!!

 

[disney momma]

letsbgoofy:
was there free dining during that time last year??? i'm trying to stay positive. thanks for the tip about the hotels... i think they are all available

 

[shelleyr25]

I would imagine that to go the days in Aug. that free dining are offered is probably not the best choice. Once the kids get back to school seems to be a better bet.

 

[disney09]

Correct me if I am wrong but I think free dining started Sunday or Monday. We just got back today and the parks were PACKED!!! We will NEVER go back during the free dining period!!

I think it starts next week, I'm almost sure it begins around the 20th or the 27th...

 

[bluejasmine]

No it started Sun..

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

I think it starts next week, I'm almost sure it begins around the 20th or the 27th...

Actually I think it started Sunday the 13th...not totally sure though

 

[kimatigger]

We were there last year Sept 9-19th. Going this year Sept.8-18th. We had free dining last year and we have it again this year. I didn't think the crowds were bad at all. There were times that were busy but is was nothing like the summer months. I think if you are going after labor day you should have no problem.

 

[lorli]

We leave in 6 days and were there the same time last year during free dining, and the crowds weren't too bad. I'm hoping for the same this year. Wahoooo

 

[ReadingMama]

We were there 8/30-9/5 last year and the only time the parks weren't empty was the Sat. and Sun. of Labor Day weekend. If you are worried about that week, check the Disney website to see if any of the resorts are sold out. We go 8/25-8/30 and I just checked and can get a room at any resort I want. This week, all the values and moderates were sold out except for a few suites and king rooms. Most kids are back in school, and colleges go next week.

How do you check for sold-out resorts quickly?? We go next week (8/22-8/24 - too short )

 

[TMEF23]

I never thought to check and see if I was able to book a room for my travel dates (aug 22 - 29th). I just checked, and apparantly I can get almost any hotel I would desire during my travel dates. I hope this is a good indicator that the parks will NOT be crowded!

 

[Kycha]

Tiggerbell, thanks for the encouraging photos. I am convinced that we picked a great week to go for low crowds. DH and I leave on Labor Day Monday for 6 nights and there are plenty of rooms available online at all the value and moderate resorts(I didn't even bother checking the deluxe) for that week. I have also made some ADR changes in the past few weeks and have had no problem whatsoever getting the times that we wanted. I am sooooooo excited. We are going to have a great time. We'll be staying at Pop Century, so look for the lime green mickey heads!!

 

[MickeysBestPal]

We love to eat at Disney.

 

[jonbil]

ok...a little freaked out here because of what I have been reading. I am there next week for August 25 - 30...can someone tell me how bad of a crowd I should expect?

 

[BigTigger]

The crowds did seem to spike upward over the weekend and into the early part of this week at the parks, but today at MK the crowds were pretty light, but the restaurants were pretty full. The longest line was on Space Mountain late afternoon - standby said 50 minutes but was only 30 minutes. Buzz, Peter Pan, Pooh, and Haunted Mansion were all well under 20 minutes. Dumbo didn't really have long lines until just after the parade (it was a 10 minute wait at 1:30 pm). Even the Jungle Cruise said 50 minutes at 5 pm, but was only 20 minutes. FastPasses were only an hour to an hour and a half ahead on all the rides all day and I didn't see any "all gone" signs today, although we did leave about 5:45pm to go over to AK for the Evening Extra Magic Hours. We are here on the Dining Plan (paid version as we are DVC members) and it has been tough to get ressies at the likes of Chef Mickey's this week. We did get a slot last night by being persistent as the concierge desks had unallotted slots held for concierge guests that they cleared back to central reservations at 4 pm and our 4:01 pm call to Dining got us a 6:25 Chef Mickey's slot. Keep that in mind if you find dining slots unavailable. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Michelle2]

We were there last year Sept 9-19th. Going this year Sept.8-18th. We had free dining last year and we have it again this year. I didn't think the crowds were bad at all. There were times that were busy but is was nothing like the summer months. I think if you are going after labor day you should have no problem.

Me too! Those are our exact dates....I think the same thing about the crowds at that time....preparing for bad, and would love to be surprised if it isn't. I love hearing other people's experiences on the exact same dates last year during the free dining. I bet it will pretty much be the same...

Hope you have a great time kimatigger! Have fun on the free dining!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

disney momma,

Yes, there was free dining while we were there last year. The first few days (8/30-9/2 - right after Katrina) were almost eerie there were so few people. The FP machines were not open at the MK. We go the same week every year and I have never seen it like that.

 

[AdventureGuru]

subscribing....

 

[eliza61]

Crowds generally tend to spike during the weekend and especially a holiday weekend. We always go the last 10 days of August and the crowds are definitely, definitely lighter. Last year during free dining, I thought it was slightly more crowded but no where near the levels of July and christmas week. We have never, ever had an hour wait for any attraction (4 years straight). We pick this week even with the threat of hurricanes because of lighter crowds and we don't want to take our kids out of school.

Next up: 08/22/06-9/01/06 Villas @ Wilderness Lodge

 

[LBelle]

We were there last Sept. 2nd-12th. We found the crowd levels VERY manageable in ALL areas: rides (had CM's outside of MANY entrances waving you in!!!), dining and transportation!! No complaints whatsoever!! We DID, in fact, notice a big DROP in crowds right after Labor Day weekend (our kids don't go abck until then in Canada).

Going back this Sept.14th-22nd!!!!!

 

[zookeeper]

Crowds generally tend to spike during the weekend and especially a holiday weekend. We always go the last 10 days of August and the crowds are definitely, definitely lighter. Last year during free dining, I thought it was slightly more crowded but no where near the levels of July and christmas week. We have never, ever had an hour wait for any attraction (4 years straight). We pick this week even with the threat of hurricanes because of lighter crowds and we don't want to take our kids out of school.

Next up: 08/22/06-9/01/06 Villas @ Wilderness Lodge

That's the opinion I remember hearing most often last year during Free Dining...a little more crowded than usual for that time, but not too bad. I think the first week or so of Free Dining might have a few more people because some schools aren't back yet. We're also going Aug.26th-Sept.1st and picked this week hoping for lighter crowds. Last year we went 3rd week of September and it was amazing, no crowds at all. This year, we have to be home before the start of school here (Sept.5th) so we had to try a little earlier. I'm optimistic that crowds will be fine. Big Tigger's post is encouraging!