Free Dining Vets...easier this year?

[MinnieTink]

We did Free Dining in 2007. I remember reading lots of post on the boards for weeks after that people were having a hard time getting the resorts that they were hoping for. There was lots of talk about POP and POFQ being totally booked, and I had difficulty getting a room at WL. (I orig booked CBR, then kept looking and changed to WL a week or two later) This time it seems much easier. Think it is because they have opened a lot more rooms up or is it recession related?

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

Ya, I think its all about $$$$$. We will probably not go on our free dining trip in September, but may rent some DVC points in December. Or we may just have to wait till next year.

 

[Cupmom]

We did FD back in 2007 too! I have noticed the same thing too! There were a ton of threads about sold out rooms, people being upgraded to SSR/OKW and always new posts about new bookings but this year the boards are quiet. I think it has to do with the ressession. Hoping for lower crowds this year!

 

[bentleygirl22]

This will be our 3rd year doing free dining.. But this year its different, the rooms are not sold out like in the past & I do think it is because of the ressession.
free dining has lower crowds anyway but now i feel the parks are going to be even more empty this year! woohoo

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I wonder, too, if it could have anything to do with the fact that now everyone knows tips are not included nor are appetizers? lol... I think that first year, people were going nuts with what a great deal it was. Now maybe folks figured out that it is a good deal at a value or with lots of people in your party, but not if there are just a few of you and you want to stay deluxe??? I dunno. But I do not dare to allow myself to think there will be less crowds. Nope, can't go there. Better to be pleasantly surprised than....

 

[n2mm]

We have free dining booked but plan to cancel it. We are DVC members and I thought the family would like to do the free dining and stay at a value, but after it was booked, no one wants to do it. They want to stay at our BCV resort instead that I booked earlier and had not canceled yet. They are willing to give up free dining for a better location. Looks like I'll be using my points. I booked with a FD pin.

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

I think also alot of people too advantage of the 4/3 deal that was going on. I know I had a 4/3 deal booked for July but had to cancel due to other summer activities. I bet alot of people took that deal.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I agree that I think it has more to do with the other deals being offered and for more extended time frames. All the intense discounted travel is just not crammed into a 6 - 8 week time frame as it has been the last few years.

 

[jerseygirl81]

We booked the bounce back offer on last years trip for this year and had to cancel, maybe next year if they have it. Linda

 

[10_Kyle_10]

We are October Vets doing our first free dinning trip! We crunched numbers and found that September (with free dinning) will be slightly more money than our October trip last year (paid for DDP out of pocket). Last year I believe it was a 30% code we used for October hence why we are paying more for September with free dinning. The reason why we are switching is because of the increase in crowds in October (lots of southern states are choosing October for their fall vacations) and the increase in plane tickets for October (prices are up like $75 each way).

 

[G&J's Mom]

It just blows me away to see so much availability for our prospective dates 10/2 - 10/10. We have done FD before on these dates, and the availability was pretty limited. I just checked a few minutes ago, and a standard room at WL is available. In the past, this resort and room category was extremely hard to get. It looks pretty much like most of the resorts have every room category available.

We are in the South, and these dates coincide with our Fall break, so it is kind of interesting to see how much is actually available.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I noticed the same thing. I didn't book the free dining until the deal was out for over 1 month. I was not going to book at all but then found very reasonable airfare so checked out if any of the values were still open and they were.

I think with the recession if people need to save money the 4/3 deal is better.
After all you must have a place to sleep. You don't have to eat at the resturants. With the free dining plan you must pay full price for the room and tickets so it is not totally free.

 

[G&J's Mom]

I think with the recession if people need to save money the 4/3 deal is better.
After all you must have a place to sleep. You don't have to eat at the resturants. With the free dining plan you must pay full price for the room and tickets so it is not totally free.

I will probably book the FD, but I am hoping their is something else available. Would LOVE LOVE 40% off or another 4/3. I got the 40% off code, but it expired in March and did not cover my dates.

 

[MelanieC]

I know POP is booked for the dates we are going now. So glad I booked it early. We are saving tons of money with the free dining. I almost didn't even check to see because I had it in our head it wouldn't work. Not only did it cause us to rethink buying AP's and using the Military 5 day tickets, but we added on an 8 day (already were paying for a 1 day) and we saved tons doing that. Then by switching all of our most expensive meals (Character meals and family style meals to the end of our trip) and moving the 1st day to the end of our trip - we have saved so much money.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I hate to wish for bad things for the economy, but I hope it's just bad enough that they have to offer something fabulous again for January because that's when I'm hoping to go!!!

 

[helenk]

I just booked 2 rooms, one for my brother and his family and one for me for 10/3-10/10 and I was able to book my brothers first choice, the Allstar Sports, we also were able to get preferred rooms.
I am a DVC owner, but my brother really wanted me to go along as their tour guide. I went with him back in 2007 with his other daughter and we did so much because of my "WDW knowledge" he asked me to go this time. You do not have to twist my arm to go to WDW...and he's paying for my room.
When we went in 2007 the crowds were pretty light, although we went a week earlier then. but it was a great time to go.
I am looking forward to going this year.

 

[RMulieri]

I don't think it is all recession related. I do think alot more people took advantage of the 4/3 offer this year instead, as well as others that got the 40% off.