Free Dining Plan First Day! Updated Days 2,3,4 & 5 added!

[momof2disprincesses]

Thanks for the great report. We're off in 9 days for Free Dining and I can't wait!

We arrive the same day as you ... can't wait!!!

 

[Booknut]

Loved reading your report!!!

 

[Bella34]

Thanks for the great detailed reports . We are really looking forward to our trip & I enjoyed your reviews of LeCellier & Mama Melrose since we will be eating at both places.

I am so happy to hear that everything worked out on the sharing part. We will probably try this as well because we are not big eaters either. I am going to miss your daily live reports but we only have 7 more days to go . I think that will help a little bit .

Thanks again!

 

[angel's momma]

The food court has the biggest variety for bottled drinks, however you don't get a dessert with your counter credits.

You don't get a dessert w/CS for breakfast , and that's anywhere.

You do get a dessert w/CS for lunch or dinner, even at the food courts.


Thanks for the great reports!

 

[ophkw]

Thanks.

Can you get a bottle of water for you drink at Counter Service places or do you have to get fountain drinks?

 

[gigi1313]

you can get bottled water, powerade (some places, not all), juices, milk container, coffe, etc...

 

[sconnell]

I'm so glad that you had a great trip! Especially with your 17 yo son! LOVED the live reports and very much appreciate your time and effort to bring them to us! It's fun "knowing" someone at the world while you are working! lol.

 

[brat5063]

Loved your report. I enjoyed reading the updates. It has me excited for our trip. Only 12 more days away.

 

[GOOFYsince71]

We arrive the same day as you ... can't wait!!!

AGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Looks like you and zookeeper only have a few days left before you go!!!!
How Exciting is that!!!???
Don't forget to pack your Dis notebooks!!!!!We want to hear all about it when you get back
Have a DreamVacation.......

 

[lovemickeyshouse]

This is to answer jlieblaw's question: We went to the Spirit of Aloha dinner show at the Polynesian which counts as 2 TS credits per person (as do the other dinner shows and some of the fancier restaurants). So, for instance, we stayed 4 nights at the All-Star and the 3 of us got 12 TS credits total. The Aloha show took up 6 credits which left us with 6 credits. That's how we were able to go to 3 other places by spending 2 credits at each place.

Also to thinktinkn DH and DS did ride ToT (it is the only ride I haven't been on - YET!)

Today was the last day of our free dining plan. We had stayed our 4 nights and were checking out today - the 5th day. The total tally of credits left this morning came to 3 snacks and 2 counter services. We went to the food court to spend everything and here's what we got: 1 box of Entemann's donuts priced at $3.79 (1 snack and purchased in the gift shop), 1 crumb cake for the car on the trip home (1 snack), and 1 fruit bowl to put in the cooler for the car (1 snack). For the counter service we got 1 breakfast plate of chocolate chip pancakes, bacon and bottled fruit punch (1 counter), and 1 chef's salad and bottled apple juice (1 counter) which was put in the cooler for lunch. The food court has the biggest variety for bottled drinks, however you don't get a dessert with your counter credits.

If you want to hear my two cents about the positives of some of the places we tried, here goes:

Le Cellier - the food was excellent, the service was excellent, the frozen drinks were included as a beverage, and the pretzel breadsticks were fantastic. It was inside with air conditioning. Also, we were seated almost immediately.

Rose & Crown - the food was good and pretty on the plate, the scenery and fireworks could not be beat, however, when we sat down at 8:30 it was dark where we were and it was hard to see what we were eating.

Aloha Show - we were seated at the front table so had a great view and the show was good. The volcano dessert presentation was cute. They had a system to seat the guests quickly and the tables were individual for each family (unlike when we had eaten there many years ago). Also, we received free leis! Make sure you ask for lots of beverages early. Beer and wine is free with the meal so there is no need to pay for it at the Cash Bar while you are waiting to get in.

Mama Melrose - we were seated on time, it was peaceful and spacious with nice decor and windows, the service was very good. The food was good too. It was inside with air conditioning. DH said this might have been his favorite place.

Pizza Planet - Big bang for the counter service buck with pizza, salad and drink included as well as dessert of cookie or rice krispy Mickey. Also had air conditioning.

Flame Tree - the food was good and also big bang for the CS buck. There was some variety for desserts and more unusual side items.

Columbia Harbour House - has always been a favorite of ours with the 1/2 sandwich and soup combo option, chocolate cake dessert. Had air conditioning, beautiful views upstairs at the windows, and rest rooms on the premises.

Earl of Sandwich - The fountain drinks are self-service and the desserts were bigger than some. Also had air conditioning.

America Pavilion - had nice combos, frozen drinks were included as a beverage, and a nice selection of desserts. Had air conditioning.

The air conditioning to us made a difference - sometimes the lines were long and it was hot.

Would we do the free dining plan again? Definitely! I loved having everything paid for in the beginning and we hardly spent any money out of pocket on the entire trip. Also, I think the teenager was finally full! We would do a couple of things differently next time -- like not trying to save our credits. When we were hungry we should have gotten something to eat (even if we had a big meal coming later in the day). Also, I tried to keep a couple of ziploc bags handy in case we needed to pack up a cookie or something like that.

Would be buy the dining plan? That would depend. We really enjoyed it and are already talking about some of the other places that we would like to try (like the Yachtsman Steakhouse and Coral Reef). But we also enjoy eating at counter services and usually only splurge on 1 table service meal per trip.

It was another fabulous Disney vacation with lots of other wonderful Highlights other than dining. We all rode a Segway for free 3 days this week at Innoventions, I managed to beat DS and DH score at Buzz Lightyear for the first time ever, we heard British Invasion twice in 1 day, rode Expedition Everest (the single rider line was a walk-on), saw our Leave A Legacy for the first time, we somehow managed to get 108 pictures on our Photo Pass, the Soarin ride was spectacular -- but I could go on and on. We definitely can't wait until our next trip!

-----------------------------------
30 Plus Trips in 30 Plus Years

my friend you were ripped off your supposed to get a dessert with every counter service so explain please what happened that they would not give you a dessert with the last counter service credit

 

[bluejasmine]

my friend you were ripped off your supposed to get a dessert with every counter service so explain please what happened that they would not give you a dessert with the last counter service credit

I believe she meant at breakfast you dont, it looks like she used her last CS credit for breakfast..lol

 

[zookeeper]

AGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Looks like you and zookeeper only have a few days left before you go!!!!
How Exciting is that!!!???
Don't forget to pack your Dis notebooks!!!!!We want to hear all about it when you get back
Have a DreamVacation.......

5 Days Left

 

[mickey2000]

5 Days Left

Same here
First trip to WDW with my grandaughter who is now 17 months!
Here are some pics of her in October for her very first visit!
All she can say at our house is Mic! Mic! Mic! She is excited for this weekend

 

[GOOFYsince71]

5 Days Left

5 Days and off you go!
I am at 20.........We have been doing the countdown since 180 days,when we made our ADR's !!
If I were at 5 days, I don't think I'd be able to type!*&^*#@*


MartyMouseHouse......I sure hope you have launched a new countdown.
Your TR was really fun and it was a joy to read from someone that was
Right there!!Thanks again for taking the time out

 

[GOOFYsince71]

Mickey2000.....................
Just saw your pictures
Just 4 words for you..........
A DOR A BLE

 

[momof2disprincesses]

Just like zookeeper, I'm down to 5 days too.

WOO HOO!!!!!

 

[Maria395712]

great report

 

[*Marty_Mouse_House*]

To lovemickeyshouse - I guess we didn't get a dessert because it was during breakfast in the food court. That's okay - we really enjoyed the entire Free Dining trip!


to Goofysince71 - I am definitely looking forward to starting a new countdown - especially if there's free dining involved! woohoo!

--------------------------------
30 Plus Trips in 30 Plus Years!