How CRAZY is free dining period?

[SonicGuy]

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

Only 90 days now...

 

[Anal Annie]

Oh, well. I'll book ADR's at the 180 day for the whole trip and take it as it comes

Just FYI - ADR's have been changed back to 90 days now. It's a recent change and they have a whole new computer system which according to the restaurant boards sounds like is a real mess. I am hoping they can improve the call wait times before I have to call next month.

 

[Corryn]

Okey Dokey

 

[binab]

Free dining starts about half way into our trip. It will be interesting to see how the flow of things changes, if at all. At least we'll be able to do our ADR's at 90+10 before the rush, so hopefully we'll get everything we want.

 

[JW2]

Can I book ADR's and then book DDP after?? I'm assuming yes as ADR's are 90 days out and DDP can be booked up to 48 hrs prior to arrival - just couldn't remember if you had to tell MS when booking ADR's if it was on DDP or not - shouldn't make a difference???? TIA.

 

[pickles]

"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.

I have been to disney the last week aug(but not the holiday weekend) and then each week in sept and that is HE BES time to go, even with free dining. no crowds, walk on rides and I can;t say dining was that difficult, we have always gotten what we wanted, except once I couldn;t get cellier

 

[alldiz]

I went during free dining once.....won't go again.....nothing to do with free dining though....Too HOT.

I made all my ADR's....I had no problem...and I thought the service and food was the same as always....good.
Just too hot in the summer for me.
Kerri