How CRAZY is free dining period?

[JW2]

OK - so I phone what I consider somewhat last minute (phoned late Feb for mid August; OK I'm a planner type A) and I get 3 nights at BCV and 4 nights at AKL - in fact waitlisted to move from Jambo to Kidani and that even came through in 1 week

Great fortune ..... then I see they just announced Free Dining - starting Aug 16. We are booked 2 weeks later ..... how busy is it? Do I just have to make sure that I get my ADR's in. I'm only doing DDP for the first 3 nights (we have a studio) but then move to 1 BR so probably do breakfast in room and maybe 1 or 2 meals for the last 4 nights. I'm wondering whether to move to the week before FD but I LOVE my accommodations!!

 

[jpolak]

We were there during free dining a few years ago(8/22-8/29) and had a blast. We really didn't see anything too crazy. Figure the real popular places are going to be booked anyway. I would absolutly make all of your ADRs at the 90 day mark.

 

[mybabesuz]

The Restaurants are crazy... Are you going Labor Day Weekend?
I think it is pretty busy then but other times it is okay.

 

[Crystal_27]

We were there for 9 days last September during free dining and the crowds were wonderful, both at the parks and at the restaurants. We did have to wait about 20 minutes one morning after we checked into Ohana for breakfast but, other than that, we were seated right away at our ADR times (and, a couple times, we were seated early with no problems when we showed up early for an ADR). The weather, however, was the only "crazy" part of our trip - it rained every day, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for half the day. However, we just wore our ponchos and got out in it and had a blast. I wouldn't hesitate to go again during free dining.

 

[lugnut33]

You will have a hard time getting ADR's. Otherwise it'll be fine.

 

[permavac]

My DH and I started going to Disney in mid-September for free dining the year it started (I believe) - 2005. That first year the parks were dead. 2006 was busy, 2007 was even more crowded. We were there only one day in September last year (2008) at Epcot and it didn't seem too horrible - about the 2006 level and we were there the week of Labor Day which is earlier than usual for us. If we go this year, we are shooting for that week of Labor Day since we don't have kids. Others have said that is a slower week and in our (very limited) experience, it was true. Good luck!

Terri

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I go every August and we have never had any issues.
As others have said the issues isnt the parks/crowds, the issues is making ADR's. If you call right at 90+10 you should be fine.

 

[kid-at-heart]

We were there by accident a couple of years ago during "free dining". We stayed at the Swan, so were unaware of "free dining" until we hit the parks. Never again will I visit Disney during this style of promotion. It seemed to bring out the worst behaving people, at least that year. Perhaps now it is better.

 

[lisa3635]

We went Labor Day weekend last year (Thurs-Monday). It was our first trip so we didn't really have much to compare the crowds too but we walked on everything except Soarin which had a 45 standby wait. We expected much worse due to the holiday weekend and free dining. We did wait ridicously long to be seated at the resturants (at least 1/2 an hour at each restaurant we went to).

 

[Crystal_27]

You will have a hard time getting ADR's. Otherwise it'll be fine.

To the OP, you *may* have a difficult time getting ADRs. We called at 7:00 a.m. right at the 180 mark and got everything we wanted, at the times that we wanted including the more difficult "scores" at CRT, BBB, LeCellier, F! dining package, etc. I do think that Disney has done a better job in recent years because we really had no issues last year during free dining. If it wouldn't have been so rainy, it would have been *the* perfect trip. Good luck!!

 

[J&K'sPrincessMommy]

Glad to read this! We are going to AKL in a GV in Jambo and have been planning for well over a year for the last week of Sept into Oct, figuring we'd miss the madness of free dining. I am so glad it isn't that bad. We already booked our Grand Gathering Experiences today at the 180 mark, just have to wait until June for the rest- and I will be up at 7am to do that!

 

[disneynutz]

"Free" dining is designed to sell out the cash rooms and all Guests will be on the DDP. That means that the resorts will be at capacity, the parks will have increased attendance, and the restaurants will be over booked so ADRs are a must.

Is it doable? Yes.

Would a different travel time be more enjoyable? It would for me.

 

[kimberh]

When we went in 2006, the parks were pretty good, it was the restaurants. There were unreal lines at all the popular restaurants, with some telling people they were sold out for the week. When we checked in, our welcome packet had a paper in it stating that if you had not booked your ADR's you could eat Two Counter Services in place of your Table Service.Wow! I said, " those poor people that didn't plan!" I found it hard to get refills on Ice tea at meals, at 'Ohana, where your meal consist of getting meat served to the table... as much as you desire, well that was just about impossible. We are not complainers, but our server had brought us that sausage, which we had turned down, we hate it... nothing else came. We had to get the manager to get the food the first time. That was when tip was included. After that, We could forget the tea refills. It was our worse experience of the trip.
We have not went again since that year. It was just not worth it to us. Good luck if you go, take a lot of Patience with you, plus your rain gear, you will get afternoon thunder showers to cool things down. It will be Hot and Humid.

 

[JW2]

Thanks to all who responded - I guess as long as the parks aren't crazy - the "worst" case scenario will be eating in our 1BR SV - gee what hardship!!! If it's the worst, most rudest people, I'll know for next year - we usually go to WDW when the snow is flying and we are sick of the cold but how things fell this year, August was the best. I LOVE the heat so we'll see if that statement stays true, once I experience real heat!! At least I know that we can count that it will be warm enough to swim! Glass is always half full!!

 

[JW2]

I go every August and we have never had any issues.
As others have said the issues isnt the parks/crowds, the issues is making ADR's. If you call right at 90+10 you should be fine.

Had to reread your response - 90+10? I thought I could phone 90 days prior to arrival - can I back that up 10 days prior to that - I'm staying 7 days - starting Aug.23 - does that mean I can call May 13??

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Had to reread your response - 90+10? I thought I could phone 90 days prior to arrival - can I back that up 10 days prior to that - I'm staying 7 days - starting Aug.23 - does that mean I can call May 13??

No, that means you can call 90 days prior to your arrival but you'll be able to make reservations up to 10 days without calling back each day.

 

[Lindamary123]

I am worried about this as well. We are arriving Aug.16 for 8 nights at VWL. I too have been planning this for over a year and due to my kids college/work schedule that's the only time we can go. I am okay with eating in the villa; we will have a 2BR. I am just worried about the parks being crazy. We will eat a few TS but I wanted to cut down on our food budget anyway.

 

[christa112]

I have to agree with this poster. We have experienced Free Dining 3 times, in 2005, 2006 & 2008 and I have definately seen a steady increase in people in the parks and restaurants, but nothing horrible. We only waited once at Chef Mickey's for our ressies. Most of the rides were pretty much walk-on's except TSM and a few others which I am sure are always that way and we just used FP's for them. I love going during Free Dining I think it is a great time to go.

My DH and I started going to Disney in mid-September for free dining the year it started (I believe) - 2005. That first year the parks were dead. 2006 was busy, 2007 was even more crowded. We were there only one day in September last year (2008) at Epcot and it didn't seem too horrible - about the 2006 level and we were there the week of Labor Day which is earlier than usual for us. If we go this year, we are shooting for that week of Labor Day since we don't have kids. Others have said that is a slower week and in our (very limited) experience, it was true. Good luck!

Terri

 

[lugnut33]

The thing to keep in mind is in order for the parks to be super crowded you must have people coming from outside the bubble. Just having all the Disney hotel room occupied will NOT create an overcrowding situation in the parks. You must have locals and people staying off property coming also.

 

[JW2]

No, that means you can call 90 days prior to your arrival but you'll be able to make reservations up to 10 days without calling back each day.

Of course, that makes sense; thank you!

I hope someday I'll be able to go for 10 days or longer!!