FREE DINING UPDATE- RUMOR and SPECULATION / Update Page 80 !

[doccoc2002]

Anybody watching Ellen...she is at US and is giving a sneak peak at WWOHP and her opening credits are starting to make me think US wouldn't be so bad...it looked like fun. I think the kids will like it...maybe...maybe not...we will see.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

After my slight meltdown yesterday, I decided I was going to check into US. But really, if you want to know the truth, I will be paying full price at Disney if I have to. I love it too much to be in Orlando and not go.

 

[pooch]

Anybody watching Ellen...she is at US and is giving a sneak peak at WWOHP and her opening credits are starting to make me think US wouldn't be so bad...it looked like fun. I think the kids will like it...maybe...maybe not...we will see.

(that's the Yankees!!) Its a great park & Spiderman is probably the best ride I've EVER been on. I, too, am guilty of skipping it in favor of the Mouse, partly because they make it so easy to get on property without a car & just stay there. But next year I WILL find a way to stay at US/IOA for 3 or 4 days. Too much fun over there to miss it year after year. I'm hoping for a mid-late Oct trip at US/IOA and then a few days at F & WF.

 

[Melanie230]

I am a business major both undergrad and Masters. I totally understand the concept your trying to get across.

Thing is times are hard but they are hard everywhere. I , like Canadian Guy , have spent numerous trips at rack rate with full Disney prices. I know friends that have even when promos are out. Disney or US or any other theme park for that matter isn't a necessity. Vacation time from work may be a given- going somewhere away from home to relax, spend money, and enjoy yourself however are not.

I wasn't trying in anyway to argue here with anyone. Wasn't trying to get into a shouting match with anyone. Just trying to make people realize that I went to Disney over 30 times before FD ever even existed. I have also been 7 times since it started but only had FD once. Will more people go to US if FD isn't offered, probably, but in the grand scheme of things Disney will still get it's people. There may only be 4 and 5 crowd days where you would have seen 7 or 8 days. I assure you there are TONS of people that go all the time and know nothing about pins, codes, FD or anything else. That is the point I was making. My family enjoys our yearly trips to the world, the discounts only make them a little sweeter they don't become the determining factor if we actually go or not.

I agree that some will still go to Disney with or without FD or any special offers. However this economy is particularly different. People are watching their money closely. That is great if you can afford to go to Disney without any discounts. We can too. However I am a spend saavy person that would never go somewhere without an incentive to do so. Both my spouse and I have recession proof jobs, so we don't worry about layoffs etc. However it doesn't make good financial sense to go to Disney and stay in a Value Resort when I can go to Universal and stay in a 4 star resort for less money. Not saying that anyone else should do what we do...it is just the way we think is smart.

 

[mking624]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant...I'm not sure if more waiting or an actual announcement will be the thing to send me into labor...

 

[disneynewman]

(that's the Yankees!!) .

 

[mousebit]

After my slight meltdown yesterday, I decided I was going to check into US. But really, if you want to know the truth, I will be paying full price at Disney if I have to. I love it too much to be in Orlando and not go.

I felt that way at first too. Then I started really looking into US and the hotels (very nice!) and decided that if I have to pay full price for dining I'd like to try a couple of the CityWalk places. Added on a day at DC and another at SW. Figured out I can do this with the same budget as staying at a value at Disney (excluding DC).

Now, I still hadn't scratched that Disney itch. So, I started looking at what we could do from offsite without paying park admission. Right now I'm planning on DTD with Cirque one night and Wishes dinner at CG one night. Might even throw in a HDDR.

Now of course that's Plan B. It all get's dumped for full-time Disney if they offer free dining!

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

I for one have never, and would never, pay FULL price at Disney. Never! I would go offsite in a heartbeat without a discount or cancel a trip altogether. But that's just me. I'm a penny pincher through and through. I've even cancelled completely booked trips because I couldn't find cheap enough airfare. All the discount stars have to align for me to go. It's a wonder we go as much as we do.

I think crowds this year are higher than expected. Espcially considering crowds in March have been surprisingly high. We'll see if Disney wants to P*** off their Free Dining Fans. Maybe this is the year they want to start weaning us off the idea of Free Dining. And I don't knock alternate discounts. Everyone is sad about the kids, stay play and dine free but for a family of four that's almost $490.00 of a discount. Nothing to sneeze at if you're staying value. And one year we got the Water Park & More free upgrade, I used that to upgrade to AP's and had minimal cost to do so. So, if you work the numbers enough, you can make discounts highly effective for you, even -gasp- when it's not the supreme Free Dining!

What I am not so happy about is all the Discounts these days have length of stay ticket requirements which specifically excludes Passholders!!!! Shame on Disney for that!

 

[jgraney106]

At this point I would be happy for any kind of discount, although FD would be the best for us. We have already booked our airfare for August 13 -28. We will be visiting grandma the first week and off to Disney on the 21st. If there is no discount we will probably visit with grandma a few extra days and shorten our Disney week with eating meals off property. Meanwhile we wait to hear something. I REALLY hate the unknowing , as it makes the planning harder, and I hate doing things at the last minute!

 

[disneynewman]

well I went ahead and booked, still hoping for FD but my day to make ADRs is Sunday so I wanted to make sure I had my conf # so I can book the 180 +10. I used my 30% off PIN and will switch to FD if/when it is announced and hoping that it goes until at least 10/1.
I did get a little pixie dust. When the call first started she asked if we were celebrating anything, I said it was our 10th anniversary, then when I requested CBR she said there was no availability (I don't think she meant full just the whole only a certain # of rooms at each resort can get the discount) I told her how bummed I was because that the 1st place DH and I ever stayed there and she magically found us a room.
So still hoping for FD but hey we are going to Disney!!!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Everyone is sad about the kids, stay play and dine free but for a family of four that's almost $490.00 of a discount. !

For our family of 4 it saves zero. Not everyone has kids who are considered kids by Disney standards and not everyone has kids at all. I don't think those who qualify for the promotion are complaining, just those who it does not work out for.

 

[mking624]

For our family of 4 it saves zero. Not everyone has kids who are considered kids by Disney standards and not everyone has kids at all. I don't think those who qualify for the promotion are complaining, just those who it does not work out for.

Same for us. By the time our trip rolls around, we'll be a family of four. However, my son will be 19 months and my daughter will be approximately 5 months (depending on when she's born), both still not old enough to be part of the 3-9 kids group so both would still be free. Regardless, we're not traveling with them anyway (they're staying with their grandparents)...we're going with two other adults. So that promo wouldn't do anything for us.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant...I'm not sure if more waiting or an actual announcement will be the thing to send me into labor...

You'll probably have the baby before they announce something.....you might even have enough time to send him/her to college too.

 

[collcass]

thx everyone for the thoughts. We truly appreciate it as this isn't something any of us Yanks are used to. Nor'Easters always pack a punch but this was unbelievable.

Anyhow, thepurise of my post was simply to state that even though our vacations are extremely important, we found out the hard way that we really need to put our life into perspective.

That being said, even with my losing the 1st level of our house, I am still stalking the boards to check on discounts. LOL

My vacation funds may be going to rebuild but I still can plan an imaginery vacation

 

[DISNEY1975]

thx everyone for the thoughts. We truly appreciate it as this isn't something any of us Yanks are used to. Nor'Easters always pack a punch but this was unbelievable.

Anyhow, thepurise of my post was simply to state that even though our vacations are extremely important, we found out the hard way that we really need to put our life into perspective.

That being said, even with my losing the 1st level of our house, I am still stalking the boards to check on discounts. LOL

My vacation funds may be going to rebuild but I still can plan an imaginery vacation

If youre bored, you can plan my vacation! How I would LOVE to just be told where/when I need to be somewhere without all the extensive planning!

If anyone is interested, Ill give you my details and you can plan my parks and meals!!

 

[Poohbear77]

thx everyone for the thoughts. We truly appreciate it as this isn't something any of us Yanks are used to. Nor'Easters always pack a punch but this was unbelievable.

Anyhow, thepurise of my post was simply to state that even though our vacations are extremely important, we found out the hard way that we really need to put our life into perspective.

That being said, even with my losing the 1st level of our house, I am still stalking the boards to check on discounts. LOL

My vacation funds may be going to rebuild but I still can plan an imaginery vacation

I have definitely planned many imaginary vacations I am so jealous of the people who can afford to go every year. We are not one of them. I am just happy if we can go once every three years or so.

So sorry to hear about your home

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I have definitely planned many imaginary vacations I am so jealous of the people who can afford to go every year. We are not one of them. I am just happy if we can go once every three years or so.

So sorry to hear about your home

Us too. We go about every four years. This trip is sooner than most though, because we were last there December of 2007.

 

[kittycat9]

For our family of 4 it saves zero. Not everyone has kids who are considered kids by Disney standards and not everyone has kids at all. I don't think those who qualify for the promotion are complaining, just those who it does not work out for.

Have you looked in to the AP promo? It doesn't work for us for the time frame (we're using the AAA room rate special for now). But last night after reading about AP holder discounts, I did some research. For those with AP passes, staying through 6/3, there are some really excellent promotions out there. The best part about what I read is that only one person in the room needs an AP pass to qualify for the room rate discount. That discount was up to 45% at Deluxes, 40% at Mods, etc. So nothing to sneeze at. You basically pay an increased rate on one ticket, but end up with a huge savings on your room, depending on what room level you're staying in. If a promotion like that came along for us, during our time of stay, I figured it would mean a room only savings of $1400 alone. I would have to factor the $150 price difference on the AP ticket, but still - even then... HUGE savings. Then we would also have more flexibility to reexamine if DxDDP would still be beneficial to us (since we're staying club level) or maybe we would want to buy the special 20% dining discount card available to AP holders. So - there are options to save. You just have to evaluate every angle.

My husband mentioned that there should be College courses in Disney Planning.

ETA: keep in mind you have time to make those changes in your ressie after you book. Just do it before your final payment is due to make sure nothing gets messed up, but that gives you time to see what specials will come around for your time frame. We've decided to wait and watch - the AP pass will be just one of our options to keep an eye on

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I think I will hold out for the offer, there have been many different scenerios mentioned, so for now I will wait and see. I figured the 4/3 out and although we will be there 11 nights it would still save us a decent amount, I wouldn't mind a free gift card and free dining of course is my preferred deal. It really could be anything at this point, so i am going to wait and see.

APs would really be a waste being we only go every 4 years or so and after this trip I am pretty sure we are going to take a long break from Disney to do other vacations. Dh and I want to do a cruise and Las Vegas. Not sure if the kids would join us for the cruise or not. They are 13 and 16 now, probably 15 and 18 or older until we do one. But Vegas is our definate adult only trip.

 

[Poohbear77]

I'm holding out too. I know that there will be some kind of big discount, free dining or not. It just wouldn't make any sense for them not too.

I have to admit though, I have been looking into staying off site, if for some reason the discount is not that great. I must say the offsite choices are REALLY nice. I always said I would never stay off site, but I am quickly changing my mind