How CRAZY is free dining period?

[iluveeyore]

We'll be there Aug. 23-Sept. 4 and were a little worried when Free Dining was released as well. But we're in a 2 bedroom with friends and we're getting enough groceries for the whole time like we did when they came with us two years ago. We always book one ADR for a night out without the kids, so I'll be sure to book that on the 90 day mark. Looking forward to the heat and the afternoon thunderstorms again!

 

[pilferk]

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??

90+10 means you can phone 90 days prior to your arrival date, but make ressies for that day and for up to 10 days later..instead of having to call for each of the next 10 days (assuming you had a 10 day trip).

We're going from the 16th of September through the 25th of September. I thought we'd either be at the tail end or JUST miss free dining...but we're smack dab in the middle.

I'm hoping, given most kids are back to school, that it won't be too crowded. We'll be making our ADR's EXACTLY at the 90 day mark, and we'll have some backups if need be.

 

[SunnieRN]

I may be mistaken but I spoke to a cm who stated that the new reservation system is 90+7, only allowing reservations for the first 7 days of your trip.

 

[SonicGuy]

Our first (and only) FD experience was in September 2007 at the Poly and we retuned home swearing NEVER AGAIN! We too booked our DVC trip August 16 figuring we would definitely miss the FD window. Talk about unhappy campers when those dates came out!

Restaurants were PACKED, all of our ADR's ran 30-40 minutes past time, servers were run ragged, menus seemed "dumbed down", it just was not a happy dining time. Crowds in the park were OK, not stellar but definitely not horrible. Its just that we enjoy our dining time as much as our park time and it is hard to do that under those conditions.

That being said - we just cannot find another time to go that will work for schedules. Taking our niece as a HS graduation gift and she leaves for college shortly thereafter. We will just have to "suffer" - but there is no other place on Earth that I would rather suffer!

 

[lugnut33]

Our first (and only) FD experience was in September 2007 at the Poly and we retuned home swearing NEVER AGAIN! We too booked our DVC trip August 16 figuring we would definitely miss the FD window. Talk about unhappy campers when those dates came out!

Restaurants were PACKED, all of our ADR's ran 30-40 minutes past time, servers were run ragged, menus seemed "dumbed down", it just was not a happy dining time. Crowds in the park were OK, not stellar but definitely not horrible. Its just that we enjoy our dining time as much as our park time and it is hard to do that under those conditions.

That being said - we just cannot find another time to go that will work for schedules. Taking our niece as a HS graduation gift and she leaves for college shortly thereafter. We will just have to "suffer" - but there is no other place on Earth that I would rather suffer!

Plan on eating off-site. You'll save a ton of money and get better food.

 

[Anal Annie]

We're going Aug 16 as well and have gone on this date before and it was fine. In the past the FD started later in the month (after we left). I dread making ADR's now since they have this new reservation system that apparently is really gunked up all the time. REALLY NOT looking forward to calling at 90 days. I'm bummed that they backed the date up to mid-August.

 

[pilferk]

I may be mistaken but I spoke to a cm who stated that the new reservation system is 90+7, only allowing reservations for the first 7 days of your trip.

That change has NOT been widely reported. Everyone is still saying "90+10" and that is what they're finding when they call. I'd assume that, if it changed, we'd have heard the outcry by now and the VERY up to date sites (like Deb's, over at allears.net) would have changed their info, too.

 

[disneyistheone]

If I remember correctly, there is not nearly the problem at Signature restaurants because they require two TS credits each person. The average FD user is looking to get by on the cheap so they avoid the Signature venues.

 

[JW2]

If I remember correctly, there is not nearly the problem at Signature restaurants because they require two TS credits each person. The average FD user is looking to get by on the cheap so they avoid the Signature venues.

Great idea!!!

 

[Corinne]

Well, I will say I am a huge opponent of the "free dining". We have always enjoyed sit down meals at the world and once they began to offer this promotion we have noticed a difference. Something I am happy to see is they went back to the 90 day window for ADR's, I think, or at least *hope* it will give everyone a fair opportunity to make their dining plans. You really do need to make resevations though.

 

[ranthony]

If I remember correctly, there is not nearly the problem at Signature restaurants because they require two TS credits each person. The average FD user is looking to get by on the cheap so they avoid the Signature venues.

Also, since the tip is not included anymore there are actually people over on the dining board that have suggested changing your 1 TS meal into 2 QS meals so you don't have to pay a tip.

If our plans hold, I'll be there for the first time for free dining this year and I may use the strategy of booking some of the signature restaurants that will most likely be very uncrowded.

 

[happyj]

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!!

How did you book 180 days out I thought it had changed to 90

 

[lugnut33]

Well, I will say I am a huge opponent of the "free dining". We have always enjoyed sit down meals at the world and once they began to offer this promotion we have noticed a difference. Something I am happy to see is they went back to the 90 day window for ADR's, I think, or at least *hope* it will give everyone a fair opportunity to make their dining plans. You really do need to make resevations though.

This August we will be eating all our meals off-site. I refuse to get caught up in the mess that free dining will be. Plus, we'll save lots of money and get better quality food.

 

[DVC Mike]

I avoid booking a vacation during any period in which Disney has been known to offer free dining in the past. Thus far, I have been lucky in avoiding those events.

 

[lugnut33]

I avoid booking a vacation during any period in which Disney has been known to offer free dining in the past. Thus far, I have been lucky in avoiding those events.

The last few years the third week of Aug. was not a free dining time, but this year it is. Wife is a teacher so we are obliged to go at that time.

 

[Anal Annie]

The last few years the third week of Aug. was not a free dining time, but this year it is. Wife is a teacher so we are obliged to go at that time.

You're right...we have also gone during this week before and the free dining started afterward. Bummer. I am also not looking forward to this mess. Esp. making the ADR's...I'm sure the phone lines will be jammed. That is REALLY what's irritating me about it. I don't want to compete with all the free diners for the phone lines.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

I must of just hit a good time of Free Dining this past Sept. We were there Sept. 6-11, and the parks were awesome. We walked on many rides, very low waits for headliners. The restaurants were busy but I wouldn't say they were awful. Our longest wait was at the Cali Grill, and we enjoyed a drink at the bar and enjoyed the view. I would do it again in a heartbeat. We didn't even check the dates when we booked our trip this fall. We just happen to be arriving the day after FD ends.

 

[gk90]

We're arriving the day that Free Dining begins and are doing the DDP for just the 1st part of our split stay. Can anyone compare their experiences with making ressies on the DVC MS 800 number and the regular ADR number? I'm guessing that DVC MS will be less busy--on the other hand they don't open until 9, and doesn't the other number open at 7? Not that I'm booking any restaurants that will be gone within the first 2 hours--but then again with free dining you never know!

 

[JW2]

We're arriving the day that Free Dining begins and are doing the DDP for just the 1st part of our split stay. Can anyone compare their experiences with making ressies on the DVC MS 800 number and the regular ADR number? I'm guessing that DVC MS will be less busy--on the other hand they don't open until 9, and doesn't the other number open at 7? Not that I'm booking any restaurants that will be gone within the first 2 hours--but then again with free dining you never know!

We were going to do the same - DDP for the first part of our split stay but haven't booked yet - can we try to book ADR's first and then add DDP - just thinking that if we don't get what we want we just won't do the DDP and plan on eating in more, off-site, etc. etc. I'm not too worried about the waits as I agree with the other replier - there is always the bar to start

 

[Corryn]

LOL!!! We've been going down for Columbus Day weekend for years now, and last year was the final straw - the crowds were heavy and it wasn't what we're used to! Every year it gets progressively worse!

This year we are taking our girls down and they are allowed to bring a friend each to celebrate their Sweet 16's - they're a year apart so one is 16 and the other 15 but with school and work we have had a hard time figuring out when to go. So we're "killing two birds with one stone".

When I saw Free Dining being offered I jumped at it because we'll have 4 teenagers to feed, and me and DH like to sit down for our dinners every night. I've heard from others, friends and aquaintances, that free dining was great and they had no problem with it or crowds in the parks. We used to go in mid-September and that was the perfect time to go.
Now I'm seeing all youse guys adding so many of these:

So I'm not laughing at "you", I'm just LOL because it figures! I thought I was making out on the deal keeping everyone happy, but we might be met with something undesireable.
Oh, well. I'll book ADR's at the 180 day for the whole trip and take it as it comes