Free Dining Fall 2015? (and a whole lot more)

[albertperk]

Just got off the phone with a CM regarding another question and I asked about a pin. She said check backat end of month...but...would not give me any more info. Not sure what it could mean but it has me hopeful for something.

Did you tell her what time you are going or just ask for a PIN in general? I just got one about a week or two ago but doesn't apply to when I'm going. But I'll keep an eye out anyway.

 

[bdillahu]

ADRs have always been the same.

It's the FP+ timed that have varied - sometimes midnight and sometimes 1am.

I'm sorry, I misread the question... the question was about ADR's - I don't know about that one. I was thinking "when does the reservations start for Free Dining package" - which I have seen be different times online, it seems.

 

[bdillahu]

run the numbers when/if FD comes out and see if the cost to upgrade would cover the cost of the TS meals you want to do. My family has had the Free DDP the last 2 trips when the kids were little and loved using the TS credits for character buffets. Next trip in 2016 we are staying t POP and hoping for CS FD. the kids will be older 17, 12, 10, 6 and have been very vocal that next trip they don't want to "wasting" time at TS meals when they could be on rides! I am planning one TS meal and plan to use my Disney Visa rewards to pay for it. Kind of looking forward to not having to be looking at my watch constantly because we have an ADR. enough looking at the time to get to FP+.

Exactly!

Yes, we find the "down time" to be needed... tired legs and hot necks

I didn't expect to care about character meals (had never had one before we got free dining a while back), but they have wound up being fun for us. So we get a few characters without doing the "stand in line to get a picture" routine.

Of course I understand if your kids are more interested in rides than my crowd

 

[aaarcher86]

I'm sorry, I misread the question... the question was about ADR's - I don't know about that one. I was thinking "when does the reservations start for Free Dining package" - which I have seen be different times online, it seems.

Oh, that's pretty much the same too. The offers don't typically show up on the website for booking until the site rolls over for a new day at 6am. And several times, even later it seems, so it's hard to count on. Visa specific offers aren't offered online at all, so those are strictly over the phone at 7am.

I feel like I remember seeing a big storm on the forums around midnight one night about FD because it was bookable online, but I believe it was either quickly pulled down or only happened once. Probably just a fluke, IMO.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

We enjoy the TS meals. I like getting some time away from the excitement. We try to plan a couple pre park opening breakfasts, always plan one for our break day and arrival day and usually at least one close to the end of the day when we know we will be ready to quit for the day, so that only leaves a few in the middle of our busy day. Really they don't take us that much longer than a counter service, because we plan them for slow dining times. And regardless you have to eat.

 

[ammag]

All good points about dining times. We ate at Cali grill (forgot that one before!) last time without the kids and it was a lovely experience, we would probably use our TS credits to do two character meals, one signature. Debating CRT vs Akershus if my daughter even wants a princess meal..she's going to be 8 I king of feel it might be the last time she really wants to do it. So it might be worth doing. And thinking of doing the hoop dee doo review. Most of our park days are rope drop to 5 or 6 pm with bedtime around 8 or so so I am thinking TS might be a good way to end the days.
I am trying to plan for both options, our ADr date is May 3 so I will have to act quickly once Fd is announced. Well, hopefully!!!!

What are your favorite TS meals???

 

[aaarcher86]

Love breakfast and dinner at Ohana, BOG dinner, Kona breakfast, Tusker breakfast, Akershus, and CRT dinner.

In reality, I love anywhere that doesn't make me cook!

 

[PlutoLover93]

Just got off the phone with a CM regarding another question and I asked about a pin. She said check backat end of month...but...would not give me any more info. Not sure what it could mean but it has me hopeful for something.

Sounds interesting! You'll have to let us know what happens!

 

[sarahplus4disneymom]

All good points about dining times. We ate at Cali grill (forgot that one before!) last time without the kids and it was a lovely experience, we would probably use our TS credits to do two character meals, one signature. Debating CRT vs Akershus if my daughter even wants a princess meal..she's going to be 8 I king of feel it might be the last time she really wants to do it. So it might be worth doing. And thinking of doing the hoop dee doo review. Most of our park days are rope drop to 5 or 6 pm with bedtime around 8 or so so I am thinking TS might be a good way to end the days.
I am trying to plan for both options, our ADr date is May 3 so I will have to act quickly once Fd is announced. Well, hopefully!!!!

What are your favorite TS meals???

 

[sarahplus4disneymom]

would you recommend Cali grill for little ones? i didnt know if it was kid friendly enough for a 2 year old,5 year old,8 year old? what time is ideal to try to get a reservation?

 

[donp]

If I am the one with the Disney Visa, can I book a room for my friends without me or DW on the reservation if FD is released early to DV holders? I know that I would have to use the card for the deposit. Anyone know?

 

[Honeybee83]

Has anyone ever found that the room only discount offered in the fall was better for their family than the free dining offer at a moderate resort. We would love to have free dining but unless Disney breaks from history the dates we're going are usually blacked out. With our work schedules we can't change our dates. We really would like the free dining more to try table service/character meals for the first time. Otherwise, we aren't big eaters, and with the food and wine festival going on there are a lot of nice ways to fill up on the cheap. Anyone ever passed on free dining in favor of a room discount on a moderate like POR? How did it work out for you?

 

[monica9]

Has anyone ever found that the room only discount offered in the fall was better for their family than the free dining offer at a moderate resort. We would love to have free dining but unless Disney breaks from history the dates we're going are usually blacked out. With our work schedules we can't change our dates. We really would like the free dining more to try table service/character meals for the first time. Otherwise, we aren't big eaters, and with the food and wine festival going on there are a lot of nice ways to fill up on the cheap. Anyone ever passed on free dining in favor of a room discount on a moderate like POR? How did it work out for you?

When are you going that the dates are blacked out during F&W?
As far are your question goes....I figure if you get a better deal with the deluxe room only, that's great but you will still need to spend money on food regardless on whether it's for table service or quick service food. Also, the free dining is usually better for families of 3 or more while the deluxes saves in the end for a couple.

Good luck with your decision. Maybe just book the deluxe and do the math once the promotions come out.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

If I am the one with the Disney Visa, can I book a room for my friends without me or DW on the reservation if FD is released early to DV holders? I know that I would have to use the card for the deposit. Anyone know?

You can book for others, thinking 2 other rooms with your card. However, not sure about if you are not going. I have done it in the past, but it was for people going with us.

Has anyone ever found that the room only discount offered in the fall was better for their family than the free dining offer at a moderate resort.

I have priced it many times. It is much higher savings to go with the free dining, but we also get the dining plan regardless, so I was comparing apples to apples. Many people prefer to pay oop for food and feel they save money by doing that. We have priced what we ate in the past and the dining plan was worth the huge savings for us, but everyone does not agree with that. So what I am saying is it isn't just about comparing savings on your room only to your free dining. It also depends on whether or not you will save additional money in your dining purchases

 

[aaarcher86]

Huge bubble buster - phone CMs don't know when pins are going out. They just get notice when a fresh wave is sent after the fact. They tell people to check back because it sounds better than "I don't know."

If I am the one with the Disney Visa, can I book a room for my friends without me or DW on the reservation if FD is released early to DV holders? I know that I would have to use the card for the deposit. Anyone know?

It's hit or miss. If you can verify the info on the reservation the CM may not care about policing the card. But they also might tell you that you need to be on the res or on a connected res.

 

[Honeybee83]

When are you going that the dates are blacked out during F&W?
As far are your question goes....I figure if you get a better deal with the deluxe room only, that's great but you will still need to spend money on food regardless on whether it's for table service or quick service food. Also, the free dining is usually better for families of 3 or more while the deluxes saves in the end for a couple.

Good luck with your decision. Maybe just book the deluxe and do the math once the promotions come out.

We would still do a moderate since a deluxe, even with a discount is out of our price range. We're going October 17-26. It's just me, my husband, and our three year old. We easily share meals at disney and sometimes can make a snack a meal. We just wanted to try table service dining, but couldn't afford it without the free dining promotion.

 

[SPOERLX3]

If I am the one with the Disney Visa, can I book a room for my friends without me or DW on the reservation if FD is released early to DV holders? I know that I would have to use the card for the deposit. Anyone know?

donp---If you have a BB for last year already, you may can call and add another room to your existing reservation so you don't have to wait for the FD. I know you can always book up to 3 rooms with the BB or the FD, just not 100% sure if you can add a room without being at the resort on the BB but it's worth a shot! It may have to be in your name

I know that when you book with a Disney Visa, your name has to be on both reservations. Or at least this was my experience. When I was planning our trip last year, my sons family decided to go with us, I called to add a room to our existing FD room reservation and I wanted their room in their name and ours in ours but the CM that I talked to wouldn't let me put the room in their name if I was booking it with my Disney Visa. But then again, all CM's are not created equal. LOL

 

[donp]

donp---If you have a BB for last year already, you may can call and add another room to your existing reservation so you don't have to wait for the FD. I know you can always book up to 3 rooms with the BB or the FD, just not 100% sure if you can add a room without being at the resort on the BB but it's worth a shot! It may have to be in your name

I know that when you book with a Disney Visa, your name has to be on both reservations. Or at least this was my experience. When I was planning our trip last year, my sons family decided to go with us, I called to add a room to our existing FD room reservation and I wanted their room in their name and ours in ours but the CM that I talked to wouldn't let me put the room in their name if I was booking it with my Disney Visa. But then again, all CM's are not created equal. LOL

Thanks for the info! I have two rooms on the BB--one in my name and one in DW. I don't think that they would allow me to get a third unless I had another adult that was "Bouncing back" to be listed as the Lead reservation in that room-I tried, but no dice. I was glad to snag the BB and the two rooms (for my 7 and my in-laws of 2), but now trying to figure out how to get 2 more rooms for our friends!!?? Thought I could sit back and just watch all the festivities this year, but appears that I am right in the middle of them once again! Oh well, it adds to the excitement!

 

[ammag]

would you recommend Cali grill for little ones? i didnt know if it was kid friendly enough for a 2 year old,5 year old,8 year old? what time is ideal to try to get a reservation?

We went alone but there were quite a few kids in the restaurant. If they are able to be on the calmer side and sit long enough I think it would be fine. You can go back to watch wishes if you keep your receipt, if you eat earlier. We got there around 8, took our time and ended up leaving our food behind for wishes at 9 that night it was fun on the roof they pipe in the music and you can watch. Then we went back to finish and have dessert. I am thinking of going there with the kids but their kid meals are not as fun as the adult ones, my kids are going to want sushi not a hamburger!

 

[donp]

We went alone but there were quite a few kids in the restaurant. If they are able to be on the calmer side and sit long enough I think it would be fine. You can go back to watch wishes if you keep your receipt, if you eat earlier. We got there around 8, took our time and ended up leaving our food behind for wishes at 9 that night it was fun on the roof they pipe in the music and you can watch. Then we went back to finish and have dessert. I am thinking of going there with the kids but their kid meals are not as fun as the adult ones, my kids are going to want sushi not a hamburger!

We are booked there on a MNSSHP night. Are there fireworks for that? Do you think the same would apply?