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

[emsstacey]

If you were interested in staying at a deluxe, there ususally are room discounts running concurrently with the Free Dining discount. Unfortunately it is one or the other, but alot of times people find that with Deluxe resorts the room discount is more beneficial to them that the free dining. Run the numbers and see what works best for your family.

My kids are now both adult age as far as dining plan (10 and 14)... that would be around $240/day for free dining savings, I think. We loved having the dining plan-- my kids ordered anything they wanted and we enjoyed the splurge of getting dessert. Without it, I would be tempted to share and eat much cheaper and that was one of the things we all loved-- it seemed so much like a vacation to order without any thought to expense.

 

[vrajewski10513]

My kids are now both adult age as far as dining plan (10 and 14)... that would be around $240/day for free dining savings, I think. We loved having the dining plan-- my kids ordered anything they wanted and we enjoyed the splurge of getting dessert. Without it, I would be tempted to share and eat much cheaper and that was one of the things we all loved-- it seemed so much like a vacation to order without any thought to expense.

Well then it seems that the mods may be the best bet for your family. I actually had the same feeling about the location of CSR when we started planning for our trip next year. I believe we're going to go to CBR because I feel the location is much more convenient than CSR. The rooms as CSR are very upscale feeling, but I think now that CBR got the refurb they are definitely in contention. I dont think either is a bad choice, but the distance of CSR is what pushed me to CBR.

 

[BigBlueWho]

I am actually thinking about going off-site for my Dec trip...I am planning on being there for Christmas day and I think it would be tough to be in a moderate opening presents, etc. with 2 kids. Does anyone have any experience with Christmas there?

 

[Aubrav]

I'm in! We tried free dining for the first time last October and loved it! We are hoping for a repeat this year. To be honest I'm trying not to get my or my family's hopes up because it was just so difficult to snag last year. I called and went online right at public release and the only value resort left was All Stars Sports. Thankfully I kept looking and ended up replacing those dates with Pop Century because it became available somehow. There is a slight chance we may have a 5th person with us (my brother) so that would bump us up to the mod category with the regular dining plan. Fingers crossed!

 

[lazer]

I am actually thinking about going off-site for my Dec trip...I am planning on being there for Christmas day and I think it would be tough to be in a moderate opening presents, etc. with 2 kids. Does anyone have any experience with Christmas there?

Just keep in mind, if you are not in the parks when the open on Christmas day, and you're staying off site, you might not be able to get into the parks if they start limiting based on ticket type (tiered closures). Here's more info if you need it: http://www.****************/happens-disney-park-closed-due-reaching-capacity/

 

[Just Love Disney]

Question: If I book my ADR's without a resort reservation and sometime later FD is announced, can I then book my resort and still keep my already booked ADR's?

 

[vrajewski10513]

Question: If I book my ADR's without a resort reservation and sometime later FD is announced, can I then book my resort and still keep my already booked ADR's?

Yes, your ADRs don't coincide with your resort reservation.

 

[monica9]

Question: If I book my ADR's without a resort reservation and sometime later FD is announced, can I then book my resort and still keep my already booked ADR's?

Yes. The ADR's are completly separate and even guests staying outside of WDW can book ADR's.

 

[Just Love Disney]

Yes, your ADRs don't coincide with your resort reservation.

Yes. The ADR's are completly separate and even guests staying outside of WDW can book ADR's.

Thanks to you both

 

[bksomody]

T

Hopping on the bandwagon. DH wants FD. Kids don't want to go to WDW this year (teenagers!) How did I screw up my kids? Took them to WDW too many times. What a shame for them. I know they will come back some day, Just not sure if I can go away for a whole week with only DH and DS13 while DD17 and DS15 are home alone and DS20 will be at college. I'm always up for a WDW trip but kind of want to go to the OB because my kids all want to go (how often does that happen?) DH thinks there just isn't enough to do there (went once before and loved it).

This is my family exactly. DS said he will only go if we go to Universal. So in March I took a short trip with just DH. We stayed at AKL & had one of the best trips I ever had. There were many moments when I wished the kids were there but we had the most relaxing trip ever. (Yes relaxing & Disney in the same sentence)

 

[khurley23]

Typically speaking, how far in advance will we know about the release of FD? Like 24 hours? Or more? And will we start hearing about people getting pins before that happens?

 

[The Dirty Steve]

Typically speaking, how far in advance will we know about the release of FD? Like 24 hours? Or more? And will we start hearing about people getting pins before that happens?

PINS first. That's what we are all waiting to hear. So once those start going out, a public offer is a couple weeks behind that.

 

[LouFapp]

Typically speaking, how far in advance will we know about the release of FD? Like 24 hours? Or more? And will we start hearing about people getting pins before that happens?

I've only been on the board once for the announcement and I dont remember exactly but I think we found out about a week in advance.

 

[Disneylover99]

I am actually thinking about going off-site for my Dec trip...I am planning on being there for Christmas day and I think it would be tough to be in a moderate opening presents, etc. with 2 kids. Does anyone have any experience with Christmas there?

We stayed at a value last Christmas. The kids woke up to stockings and a few small gifts Christmas Day. But we were at the bus stop at 6am to head to the MK. We opened our gifts in the early afternoon when we returned from the park. It was awesome!!! And we had free dining!

 

[donp]

PINS first. That's what we are all waiting to hear. So once those start going out, a public offer is a couple weeks behind that.

I don't think this is right (respectfully). PINS for FD the past few years have come out AFTER the Disney Visa offer, and there are waves of them that happen every few weeks after the initial FD promotion is released. In the past, we have had really good hints about the timing of the release from some great sleuths on the DisBoards. Unfortunately, one of our very best has not been participating this year. BUT, keep your eyes tuned here--when it comes out, this thread will light up like crazy!

 

[The Dirty Steve]

I don't think this is right (respectfully). PINS for FD the past few years have come out AFTER the Disney Visa offer, and there are waves of them that happen every few weeks after the initial FD promotion is released. In the past, we have had really good hints about the timing of the release from some great sleuths on the DisBoards. Unfortunately, one of our very best has not been participating this year. BUT, keep your eyes tuned here--when it comes out, this thread will light up like crazy!

No disrespect taken! However, the first wave of PINs arrive before the Visa offer. That is where Black gets his first run on date possibilities and potential blackouts from. We received a PIN last year in the second wave which was the week before the Visa offer hit.

 

[donp]

No disrespect taken! However, the first wave of PINs arrive before the Visa offer. That is where Black gets his first run on date possibilities and potential blackouts from. We received a PIN last year in the second wave which was the week before the Visa offer hit.

Wow! That is interesting to know! Thanks.

 

[shalista]

Joining in for info.

 

[Marnm02]

I very clearly remember the day Black leaked the Free Dining dates last year -- it was April 28th -- my birthday. I spent it bumming out because my dates were blacked out. I think the actual promo rolled out about two weeks after. Pins had been trickling in before then, but seemed to really ramp up after the promo came out. I never got one, but my mom did and we were able to score free dining at POFQ during late October blackout dates.

 

[petrymom]

all along I have been waiting for the visa announcement when in reality I should be praying for a code!!!!!! Hurry up free dining.