Go in September- NOT do free dining???

[toledo13]

Would you go in September and NOT do free dining??? I hear the TS restaurants are a bear to reserve... even 180 days ahead... so is it REALLY worth it? Have the crowds begun to grow because of the promo? We were planning on, if free dining isn't offered or we don't do it, to eat breakfast in the room, do a CS or eat at a resort during the lunch hour, and eat a packed dinner in the park. Eating Disney food isn't really a priority for us.

Other options for us to go are the second week of Feb, first week of May, last week of Sept/first week of Oct, or first week of December?????

 

[ireland_nicole]

Personally, if you don't want free dining, I don't know why you would want to be there in that heat! The other times you mentioned are much more pleasant, wheather wise. JMHO

 

[Eljay]

I would much rather take the AP room discount and buy my own food.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am going without free dining, but I am a DVC member and we don't get free dining on points. It's no use buying a package and tickets.

I have TS every night but one is Victoria and Alberts and another is The Wave, which isn't even open yet and thus isn't widely known about.

 

[asmit4]

I would much rather take the AP room discount and buy my own food.

How much is your AP discount for value rooms? We are practically getting our value room for free due to the free DDP. Maybe if we booked deluxes the discount for AP or other discounts would be more, but for a cheap trip, the free DDP and a value room- it can't be beat.

 

[KSBelle]

We have AP and I'd much rather have the room discount.
To be a slave to making sure we have ADR's and have to be at a certain restaurant at a certain time every day is way to structured for me. In a week I may do 2 ADR's.
Late September works for us and I can't say the heat is bad enough to keep us away.

 

[KatMark]

We would go same time of year with or without free dining. We had no trouble whatsoever getting our TS meals....got them all at the time we wanted them.

 

[toledo13]

Are the crowds still low the last part of September? We're thinking Sept 23-29 '09

 

[lv2cruise]

We took the free dining for September, called last Sunday for TS reservations and got everything we wanted no problem. Friends told me they calculated the cost of the meals if they had had to pay for their meals......saved hundreds!
Good Luck!

 

[TDC Nala]

Are the crowds still low the last part of September? We're thinking Sept 23-29 '09

With that timing, you will be running into the opening weekend of the food and wine festival, which will result in crowds at Epcot but probably not so much in other parks.

Note that free dining may or may not be offered that late. This year, they require checkin by September 20.

 

[annie1995]

The only time I can really go is during the FD period, so I would definately do it. I have to eat, and free is good for me!!

 

[Eljay]

How much is your AP discount for value rooms? We are practically getting our value room for free due to the free DDP. Maybe if we booked deluxes the discount for AP or other discounts would be more, but for a cheap trip, the free DDP and a value room- it can't be beat.

I guess you have to do the math to see if it works for you. 2 people, deluxe resort, plus using my DDE for 20% off table service, all works better for us.

 

[toledo13]

OK so i just did the math of booking a value with AAA discount and tickets with Chase discount (DH works there), vs rack rate/wdw ticket rate and free dining--

it equaled out to being the same, of course.

SO, thinking that you had to be checked in THIS YEAR by the 20th, and we want to go Wednesday through Tuesday, i THINK we're going to shoot for sept 16-22 next year. phew. does my research make sense, or am I crazy? i could very well be crazy

 

[Eljay]

OK so i just did the math of booking a value with AAA discount and tickets with Chase discount (DH works there), vs rack rate/wdw ticket rate and free dining--

it equaled out to being the same, of course.

SO, thinking that you had to be checked in THIS YEAR by the 20th, and we want to go Wednesday through Tuesday, i THINK we're going to shoot for sept 16-22 next year. phew. does my research make sense, or am I crazy? i could very well be crazy

Those bean counters at Disney are no dummies!
You might have caught onto their little secret!

 

[Clotho]

We have been two years in September without the DDP. It's great! The crowds are lower, even if the restaurants are more booked up. Lines are shorter all over the place, and we just make sure to have our ADR's in place, as we would any other time we travel (food is important on our WDW adventures!

By all means, go!

 

[RMulieri]

I am going and not doing free dining.My discount at the BCV was alot more off than what free dining would have netted me.Sept. was not my first choice(I like December) but it was the only time we could go this year, and next yeard DD starts kindergarten

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

Free dining is good if you are a big restaurant person. If you do alot of counter service, its not as worth it. I am going in Sept. and I chose the 30% off bounceback offer instead. I collect disney dollars with my Chase Visa, so I just use that each time I go to Disney. Its like Free Dining on every visit!

 

[MainStMandy]

I just booked our trip last week and got almost all the dining we were looking for. I had to adjust the time for Cali Grille, but other than that it was fine. Just look to be flexible if you really do want to take advantage of free dining.

 

[holden]

We are going for a week starting Sept. 23 without free dining. We were able to get other discounts that will save us more than the free dining deal (and, yes, we do ADRs each night). We had no problem getting the ADRs we wanted and are looking forward to lower crowds.

Our plan of attack is to hit the parks at opening and leave after lunch (around 2pm). Then we go back to the hotel, swim, shower, and eat dinner. Our last Sept. trip to WDW was the first year they offered free dining. What a wonderful time that was!! We literally walked onto every ride. It was like we had the parks all to ourselves. I know it won't be like that this time, now that the "secret" is out, but we're hoping wait times won't be long. Even if they were, we wouldn't wait more than 20min. for a ride.

Enjoy your trip!!