Free Dining sooooo short?

[jcmc]

Is it my imagination or is the time span of the Free Dining shorter this year. It took us awhile to decide when to go, now we are having trouble getting what we want in the way of reservations. It makes me think crowds will be unbearable!

 

[Magickndm]

now we are having trouble getting what we want in the way of reservations.

Welcome to the world of Florida residents.
Oh, and welcome to The Dis.

 

[lillygator]

what time frame are you going? I made reservations last week when free dining came out and the CM was able to book Le Cellier for us before I got the room...also go Crystal Palace, Teppanyaki, and 50's Prime Time.

 

[nbodyhome]

It's a shorter span this time - I don't expect crowds to be unbearable at all. There are a limited amount of packages available, and it's just trying to fill rooms during a slower time of the year. It WILL be busier than it'd be without free dining, and most restaurants will be busy.

 

[jcmc]

I'm having trouble with hotels ressies. I need more days than they have available. However, I just spoke to a very nice CM and she told me to call back in the next couple of weeks (beginnig of May) and there may be more available at that time. Do you think they know something we don't?

 

[lillygator]

I'm having trouble with hotels ressies. I need more days than they have available. However, I just spoke to a very nice CM and she told me to call back in the next couple of weeks (beginnig of May) and there may be more available at that time. Do you think they know something we don't?

no I think people will be canceling when the deposit comes due or when they make their final plans. When I called I added an extra day since I didn't know how much time DH could take...seems now I need two more days! So I will be calling back as well.

 

[nbodyhome]

It is always possible that they could release more rooms - it's a good idea to keep checking back.

 

[wiskband]

I have done free dining the past two years and I found the only thing that was crowded were (obvisiously) the restaurants. Lines for everything else not long at all. I too thought that the lines for rides shows etc. would be crowded but last 2 years that was not the case.

 

[bicker]

Disney's clearly trying to find the right balance. Last year, they made too many rooms available for free dining, so they've apparently reduced availability for this year.

 

[Tinker74]

Disney's clearly trying to find the right balance. Last year, they made too many rooms available for free dining, so they've apparently reduced availability for this year.

Thats an interesting theory...Do you think it will be less crowded this year?
They did seem to have a lot more free dining places available last year...but perhaps with the UK and bounceback offers the actual FDP are about the same as last year...or maybe not.
Iam not expecting large crowds though...its always possible the threat of a bad hurricane season will put people off even with free dining.

 

[bicker]

Less crowded? In the restaurants, presumably.

 

[Tinker74]

What??...You think it will be less crowded in the restaurants or overall?
Another theory of course is by more guests being on the DP the restauranys may be fuller but the parks at meal times could be quieter.

 

[ILuvWDWorld]

There also may have been "fewer" general public packages available since there had already been 2 other Free Dining Bookings for that time frame before now - the December Bounceback program and the UK Free Dining Promotion. I also think that those dates may have been broader - but I'm not sure.

 

[bicker]

What??...You think it will be less crowded in the restaurants or overall?

In the restaurants, presumably.

 

[MDMOUSE]

We got free dining starting on August 5th through the December bounceback program.
Maybe the early part of August got a lot of bookings through bounceback.

 

[pezpam]

With many FL (and other Southern states?) schools starting a few weeks later this year than in the past, they probably also figure that that's a few more weeks of summer visitors, so there's not as much need for a promotion to fill rooms until those schools start......

 

[disneyfav4ever]

There also may have been "fewer" general public packages available since there had already been 2 other Free Dining Bookings for that time frame before now - the December Bounceback program and the UK Free Dining Promotion. I also think that those dates may have been broader - but I'm not sure.

Dec's promo let you book through 9/29, I know that for sure, since our trip starts 9/28 with free dining.

 

[thunderbird1]

We got free dining starting on August 5th through the December bounceback program.
Maybe the early part of August got a lot of bookings through bounceback.

That's my suspicion, too; that between bounceback & UK free DDP and moving value season up to August 5 for values and mods, they managed to fill enough rooms that they didn't need a general public free DDP offer. Of course, if enough reservations made in hopes of free DDP are cancelled or rescheduled, there may be another good offer for early August, like ticket upgrades or % off rooms. I've got my fingers crossed for you all!

I'd be curious to see a poll of when the bounceback and UK guests ONLY are going. Based on the reduced dates for the general public offer, I'd expect the weeks encompassing 8/5-8/25 and 9/23-9/29 to be much busier than the weeks in between.

 

[aubriee]

I'd be curious to see a poll of when the bounceback and UK guests ONLY are going. Based on the reduced dates for the general public offer, I'd expect the weeks encompassing 8/5-8/25 and 9/23-9/29 to be much busier than the weeks in between.

I'd also like to see a poll of when the UK and Bounce Back people are going. I was able to get the bounce back program for free dining Sept 29th-Oct 7th and am wondering how many people that had planned early Oct trips may have moved their vacations back a few weeks in order to take advantage of the general public free dining offer. I have a feeling the first week of Oct may be like a ghost town (or not depending on how many booked the bounce back or UK offers for that time period).