How Does Free Dining Effect Crowds ?

[RalphMouth]

Very close to booking Sept 10th-15th,
How long are lines to the rides ?
Is it really crazy ?
Will all the restaurants reservations be booked
before May ?

If we don't go this week we would wait till Oct 19th- 24th.
No free dining but probably a bit cooler weather...

 

[JL2002]

Better than normal let's just say... i remember the first time when FD was offered, there were no one in the parks, i could've went to the Tower of Terror 5 times in half an hour if i wanted almost. But then the next year, i needed to wait like at least 15-20 minutes on rides...

 

[tkmmc]

Thanks for asking this. I've been wondering too. I would be curious to hear from folks who have been several years in a row. We live in Georgia, and our kids' Fall Break is always the middle of September during free dining. We have friends that go each year and they say it's getting busier each year but still much better (crowds) than in the summer. So we booked for this September and of course I'm paranoid that THIS is the September that it will get crazy-crowded. I think more and more families are booking Septmber in advance with the anticipation of free dining. I know we will still have fun. Sorry, I know that I didn't offer any advice here but I just wanted to vent my worry to folks who will understand. I'm looking forward to hearing from those experienced September families!

 

[Brian Noble]

In the past, the restaurants have been full, but not so much the attraction queues. With the less generous DDP, it may or may not be the same this year.

Each year, Disney has set attendance records. So, naturally, each year will seem a bit busier than the years prior.

 

[KatMark]

We have been the last two Septembers during the first week and will be again this year. We found the restaurants to be much more crowded with no walk-ups being accepted and often signs posted at Guest Relations that all Table Service Restaurants were full and to please enjoy one of hte counter service establishments. We were seated within 5 minutes of all of our ADR's except Boatwright's--which was 40-45 minutes after our ADR--and the food wasn't worth it (but that's another thread).

As for the parks, on average we waited approximately 10 minutes for most attractions if not less, with the exception of the mountains--Space, Thunder, Splash--where we waited 30 minutes at most. Soarin' was also about 30 minutesWe rode Expedition Everest three times on the same morning and walked on to Soarin' twice and waited 30 minutes the other times.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've never seen much of an effect on park crowds (my only experience is Labor Day weekend, every year, last year the MK on Labor Day AM was pretty dead) but others have posted that they observed a surge in crowds in the parks and attributed it to the promotion.

At any rate, if you book a trip during the public free dining period (anticipated to be 8/24-9/20) and you want to eat in any WDW full-service restaurant that accepts the dining plan, I'd suggest making reservations ASAP.

 

[MScott1851]

We have been to WDW every September since 2002. We were really hoping to avoid the "Free" Dining crowds this year, (we're doing a Land/Sea package that starts on the 21st) but it doesn't appear we will be able to. In fact, I think we're going to get smacked with a huge surge of people who check in on the 20th trying to beat the deadline.

Six years ago, there was NO ONE there at all! But when they started doing "Free" Dining, we noticed a steady increase in crowds each year. But even the last couple of years, at MK on a Saturday, the longest wait time we saw was 30 minutes for BTMRR. Which, of course, is WAY too long if you've been used to walking on every single ride every time you've been.

Last year we were there the last couple of days in September, and our dates coincided with the beginning of the MNSSHP. We noticed a big crowd the day that started.

I think that the least crowded time we've ever seen was right after Labor Day two years ago. We figured that it was because most kids were back in school, and it was really too early to pull them out.

I have mixed feelings about the free dining promotion, even though we took advantage of it one year. It's nice to be able to prepay most of your food and not have a big bill at checkout time. But if you're only two adults, and you want to stay at a Deluxe resort, the 'free' dining is NOT a good value! Plus, it's extremely hard to find somewhere to eat counter service for lunch that isn't packed, and it's even more impossible to find a table. ADRs for table service meals really need to be booked at the 180 day mark if you even want to have a remote chance of getting exactly what you want, and there were basically no walk-up reservations available anywhere last year.

I remember seeing a cast member put out a sign at the entrance to MK that said something to the effect that there was no availability at any of the table service restaurants that night, and seeing a whole lot of people get very angry.

 

[goofy4tink]

I had already booked my ADRs for my 9/4-9/7 trip. But my dh has decided to go with me...so I had to call Disney Dining to change the ADRs from 2 people to 3..arghhh. I figured I had a snowballs change in 'you know where' of getting Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace and LeCellier again. The CM actually groaned when I told her what I needed. But, she happily said she would see what she could do. We were both amazed that I was able to change from 2 to 3 and keep my ADRs..one got moved up by 30 mins but that's not too bad.
THe CM said the phones had been going crazy for the past week or so, with people making ADRs as soon as they possibly could for that time frame. I told her it was probably the free dining rumor...she said she had to agree. So it obviously impacts the restaurants.

 

[KelleyD]

How about lunch ADR's? Do you see any leeway at lunch time with the ADR's?? I am going 9/17-9/22 and I am contemplating the dxdp...which would add ts lunches...could i wing those??? Or would I need to make the ressies?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Very close to booking Sept 10th-15th,
How long are lines to the rides ?
Is it really crazy ?
Will all the restaurants reservations be booked
before May ?

If we don't go this week we would wait till Oct 19th- 24th.
No free dining but probably a bit cooler weather...

We went this past September and the crowds were much more crowded than the "dead" and "empty" parks posts I had read about before we left. This is a copy of our trip report from when we returned last September:

We went this past Sept. from 9/14 - 9/22. Now, don't get me wrong, we did have a great time. Afterall, it is Disney World and we are Disney fanatics, but we will never (and I mean never) go in September again. It was very crowded and very hot (I don't mean a little hot. I mean sweltering. When you came out of an air-conditioned ride and walked out in the heat it would take your breath way hot). I live in Alabama, I know what hot is and it was hot, hot hot. Did I mention it was hot?

It rained at least a little bit every afternoon we were there. On one day, without any warning, no menacing clouds or noticeable wind change, the sky just opened up and poured. It poured so hard, it was like the sky opened up and dumped a bucket of water on your head. There wasn't even time to put our ponchos on. By the time we drug everyone's ponchos out and put them on the rain stopped. We then left for our Ohana ADR looking like someone had just thrown us in the hotel pool - literally socked to the bone.

We did have awesome food on our trip. We ate at Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree, Planet Hollywood, 50's Primetime Cafe, Garden Grill, Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohana (best meal we had), and Crystal Palce. We had ADRs for all and always had to wait at least 20 minutes for our table. Saw them turning away walk-ups at all restaurants. Counter service was not too crowded, but we tried to eat early around 11:30 a.m.

I am a faithful fan of the UG and if it weren't for knowing about their touring plans and knowing how to utilize the Fastpasss system the lines would not have been manageable. There was the occasion that you walked up to something in the late afternoon and there was only a 10 or 15 minute wait, but most of the headliners kept 30 minute or more waits. At MK on our last day Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait at 3:30 p.m! Now, to you Christmas week, Easter week, or July 4th people that probably doesn't sound too bad, but we specifically booked these dates for low crowds, and there were not now crowds.

When we left we had every intention of booking the Free Dining bounceback for next September that they were offering, but after the terrible heat and crowds my husband said he would happily pay the $1300 we saved on this trip and put it towards a slower, cooler time to visit.

We have previously been at the end of January into the first part of February and have also been end of November into first of December and those are the times we will be planning our future WDW vacations.

I don't want to rain on anybody's September Free Dining parade (excuse the pun), but I wanted to be honest about the heat and crowds so others will know what to expect and not be disappointed.

 

[kid-at-heart]

We were there last Sept, stayed at the Swan so the free dining was not a benefit for us. We will never again go during "free dining". We have been to Disney many times and I have never experienced such loud, pushy, rude people.

 

[JimR24]

People can talk all they want about slow times but I think Disney will always be crowded. If I can get on attractions in 30 minutes or less, I don't mind. I am a yealry pass holder and have been in the parks throughout the years at all different times and always had crowds. Nothing like the summer crowds but still had to wait for rides.

Yes, free dining will attract more people but I will still take it over going throughout the summer.

As far as rude and pushy people, they will ALWAYS be in the parks. I find it hard to believe free dining brings out all rude people.

If I can get Disney to pay for my meals for the week, I will deal with the "crowds" and enjoy the time with my wife and kids.

 

[mickey2000]

We were there last Sept, stayed at the Swan so the free dining was not a benefit for us. We will never again go during "free dining". We have been to Disney many times and I have never experienced such loud, pushy, rude people.

Loud, pushy, rude people ???????

 

[eam]

Better than normal let's just say... i remember the first time when FD was offered, there were no one in the parks, i could've went to the Tower of Terror 5 times in half an hour if i wanted almost. But then the next year, i needed to wait like at least 15-20 minutes on rides...

I was in WDW the first year FD was offered in 2005, and I thought the parks were packed!

 

[mickey2000]

 

[mygirl]

Very close to booking Sept 10th-15th,
How long are lines to the rides ?
Is it really crazy ?
Will all the restaurants reservations be booked
before May ?

If we don't go this week we would wait till Oct 19th- 24th.
No free dining but probably a bit cooler weather...

lines were fine - pretty much walked onto everything.
it was not too crazy at all!
book your adr's, book your adr's, book your adr's! we laughed at how we rode everything multiple times, but could not walk up to a restraunt with no adr's to save our lives...

weather WILL be hot!!!

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

Well, we went last September 22-30 with free dining and the "crowds" were great! Most rides were a 10 minute wait or less. We made all of our ADR's 180 days in advance and never waited more than a couple of minutes to be seated. While it was super hot and humid, we all managed just fine even with a 15 month old and are so happy to have the opportunity to do it again this year

 

[mickey2000]

Guess this picture can sum it up September 2007.
During free dining low crowds. Rides were 10 to 15 minute wait.
I consider the crowds to be light and I have been to Disney various times of the year.
IMO, Highest to lowest crowds: Christmas , Summer , End of August & September....(slowest).........
Afternoon parade

 

[patsal]

From what I have heard, parks are fine but the restaurants are FULL!

 

[christa112]

IMO, if I don't have to wait over 30 mins for a ride I am happy. I have never been except in Sept and don't really know how the crowds are any other time, but we have a great time when we go.

Yes, it is very very hot to us, we live in New England and only experience heat for maybe 2 weeks out of the entire summer, but hey it is Florida, what do you expect, I would be make if it was cold!!! LOL

We have always had ADR's and yes the restaurants are crowded but why wouldn't they be? How many people visit WDW a day and they do have to eat right?

I have not experienced anyone rude or pushy while we were there either, maybe we are lucky.

Like the PP said there are always going to be crowds at WDW.