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

[Disney Dynamite]

Hello,

My family and I are anxiously waiting for FD as well. We have been to WDW the last two years, but have never stayed at a moderate resort ( POP w/ FD both times ) We like the value resorts coming from Canada as our dollar isn't as strong as it once was, but would like to consider staying at one this time around. ( looking to book in Sept ) Is it worth paying the extra cost? Do people that stay at moderate generally feel like the are getting their monies worth or is it better to stay at a value resort? There are just 3 of us in our family ( son is 11 yo )

TIA

Do you plan on upgrading to the standard dining plan if you stay at a value resort? If so, there might not be a huge price difference between staying at a moderate and getting the standard plan vs. staying at a value and paying extra to upgrade from the quick service plan. My DH and I really enjoy the moderate resorts and keep coming back to those. For us, it is worth the extra cost, but I'm sure we would also be happy at a value.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

We are booked at POR for November, but are hoping for a room discount or free dining. I'd prefer the room discount because I could probably convince everyone to upgrade to Deluxe. Don't know if we will switch to a different Mod of FD isn't offered at POR. We knew the risk when we booked.

 

[Katmat75]

Hoping for free dining!

 

[Grumpyhaus]

Silly question, but how does the information get released? Does it come down from a Disney site with warning or is it just "here" one day?

 

[sarahplus4disneymom]

Just to trying to remember...
What's the order of offers being released???
Pins
Visa card
General public
???
What's the timeframe usually?

 

[lustergirl]

Silly question, but how does the information get released? Does it come down from a Disney site with warning or is it just "here" one day?

Stay on these boards and you will find out. It becomes the "talk of the town."

 

[lustergirl]

Not to beat a dead horse, but it doesn't matter where you're booked or if you're booked at all.

When/if free dining happens, you have to book a new reservation (and cancel the old if you have one). It doesn't just get added.

That being said, we're booked at POR, because we're going no matter what. *might move to CBR if there isn't FD at POR. (Quite a few reasons why we booked in advance of FD.)

Sorry but your info is incorrect. I have had many ressies where I simply called and had the free dining added. If I had already booked it then they just subtracted the dollar amount from my bill. I did this for many Septembers.

 

[JJAAB791]

Thanks to everyone on here for their comments! I feel like I've done TONS of research for our trip last spring and for the one we'd like to take this year, but I found lots of new info in this thread!! I'm on the same "waiting to book for FD" boat and hoping we can get it to go sometime between 11/30-12/19!

 

[lazer]

Sorry but your info is incorrect. I have had many ressies where I simply called and had the free dining added. If I had already booked it then they just subtracted the dollar amount from my bill. I did this for many Septembers.

Should have said that better (in my head it's like rebooking)..you can't just add dining if it's offered. There has to be availability at your resort...for your dates. Basically, booking ahead and thinking you'll be able to add it if it's offered...it isn't that simple.

We've done the same as you, but didn't want newbies to think they'll just be able to call and add it that easily. Also, we have learned it depends on the cm you get that morning. For the last two times we were "rebooked" as described by the cm and the emails we received (changing confirmation #s and all).

 

[PirateD]

What time does the FD melee begin? I've never booked before so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm wondering if I will need to get up really early that day. Will I still be able to make it to work or will I need to call in sick, lol! I'm on Pacific Coast time so I'm thinking it will just mean a really early morning for me.

 

[mjallemand]

So I really don't know what to do anymore. The trip is for the third week of November, and I'd really love free dining because that's like $600+ off our trip expenses, and we're not exactly a high-income couple to begin with.

If I book a reservation now, there's no guarantee I'll be able to add on the free dining plan if/when it arrives.

If I wait for the free dining offer to arrive I potentially miss out on getting a room, dining reservations, and potentially even Fastpass reservations if I wait too long.

This is really stressing me out and I don't know what to do. I'm even considering signing up for a Disney Visa card if it can guarantee me an extra edge in all these shenanigans.

 

[lazer]

So I really don't know what to do anymore. The trip is for the third week of November, and I'd really love free dining because that's like $600+ off our trip expenses, and we're not exactly a high-income couple to begin with.

If I book a reservation now, there's no guarantee I'll be able to add on the free dining plan if/when it arrives.

If I wait for the free dining offer to arrive I potentially miss out on getting a room, dining reservations, and potentially even Fastpass reservations if I wait too long.

This is really stressing me out and I don't know what to do.

You won't miss out on Fastpasses, unless they don't release it until September (not likely IMO). You can't make them until 60 days out. Also, you can book dining without a package/reservation. The benefit to having it booked before 180 days is that onsite guest with a reservation can book 180 days in advance, for up to ten days of your trip (on the first day the 180 window opens).

If you're set on going and staying at a certain resort (with or without free dining). I'd book soon and cross your fingers. Just my opinion.

 

[mjallemand]

You won't miss out on Fastpasses, unless they don't release it until September (not likely IMO). You can't make them until 60 days out. Also, you can book dining without a package/reservation. The benefit to having it booked before 180 days is that onsite guest with a reservation can book 180 days in advance, for up to ten days of your trip (on the first day the 180 window opens).

If you're set on going and staying at a certain resort (with or without free dining). I'd book soon and cross your fingers. Just my opinion.

The trip is a surething; it's something we've been planning for two years now. In the spirit of staying as inexpensive as possible, we're staying at a value resort, most likely Pop Century.

What I'm trying to say is that the trip is happening no matter what, but man oh man would it be sweet if we could save a bunch of money in the process.

 

[lustergirl]

Should have said that better (in my head it's like rebooking)..you can't just add dining if it's offered. There has to be availability at your resort...for your dates. Basically, booking ahead and thinking you'll be able to add it if it's offered...it isn't that simple.

We've done the same as you, but didn't want newbies to think they'll just be able to call and add it that easily. Also, we have learned it depends on the cm you get that morning. For the last two times we were "rebooked" as described by the cm and the emails we received (changing confirmation #s and all).

Sorry.

 

[donp]

Loving the repeated use of the word "melee."

 

[Shawn Olson]

Do you plan on upgrading to the standard dining plan if you stay at a value resort? If so, there might not be a huge price difference between staying at a moderate and getting the standard plan vs. staying at a value and paying extra to upgrade from the quick service plan. My DH and I really enjoy the moderate resorts and keep coming back to those. For us, it is worth the extra cost, but I'm sure we would also be happy at a value.

Thank you all for the information everyone provided so quickly! Much appreciated. At this time, I'm thinking that we wouldn't upgrade our dining plan, so perhaps the Value option would be a better route to go unless I get a PIN code. We really wanted to stay at POR, but I see it is generally is excluded from FD. I guess we were thinking a change of scenery would be good.

 

[lazer]

Sorry.

Don't be! I was totally unclear. Shouldn't type on message boards without being fully caffeinated

 

[davidwalden05]

I mean, MNSSHP has trick or treating... obviously its a little different than going to house to house, but they still walk around to different locations in the poark and collect their candy. If it doesnt bother your kids missing out on Halloween at home then I'd go for the Oct 25-Nov 1 option...


Well it depends what your looking for. If you plan on doing table service restaurants then its totally worth doing the moderate because you will get the free regular dining plan. If you stay value you will only get the free QS plan and have to pay for those TS meals out of pocket or pay to upgrade to the regular plan. I'd run the cost of both packages and see whats most beneficial.

Thank you for the tip... thats a great idea... I see you have tp o

 

[mjallemand]

Don't be! I was totally unclear. Shouldn't type on message boards without being fully caffeinated

So what you're saying is that if I want Free Dining, I should just wait it out then?

 

[lazer]

So what you're saying is that if I want Free Dining, I should just wait it out then?

I think it depends on where you're staying, if you're flexible, and if you're going whether there is free dining or not. Typically, we would wait ...unless we for sure knew we wouldn't be flexible in the resort choice and were afraid it would book up.

That being said, we booked POR. We're going no matter what and our dates aren't flexible. But, we may change resorts based on what resorts offer FD. Also, my husband booked and I didn't know