How is free dining in September?

[PrincessTiffany]

ok, I know we will have to call, but can I call during the first 3 days and get it applied-having a DV- even though my dad has booked the reservation, and he does not have a DV? Thanks for your help!

I believe that the person who made the reservation has to call with their card. But I may be wrong. I hope someone else here on the Dis will confirm that.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

If I remember correctly didn't Disney also offer that you could book the free dining plan from their official website the day the offer went live? Did anyone try this or did everybody call in?

No you could not immediately make the reservation on line and get the Free Dining discount. It was at least a week or maybe longer before you could book on the WDW site and would show that you received the Free Dining Discount. Those first couple of days there were people who literally waited on the phone lines for hours to book the Free Dining code.

 

[TexasBelle]

We had a blast in September. It was Hot, but we live in West Texas, heat doesn't bother me very much... and it did rain everyday, usually in West Texs it doesn't rain very much but this past summer it rained alot.. So we enjoyed the rain but wished it wouldn't have been there when we were there. But better then a hurricance. We also had plans to attend the opening night of MNSSHP, 09/14/07, and it down poured for over an hour, so we missed the parade and Wishes. (We went back to BoardWalk)

I waited to late to make ADR's, so we didn't get to eat at California Grill or other fancy places, I was pretty mad at myself for that, so make your ADR's ASAP. We did eat at Liberty Tree Tavern, YUM, Yacht Man's YUMMY YUMMY, Sci-Fi Theater that was okay, but most of the time we just had walk ups.

I didn't think the parks were very crowded, you can check out my trip report to see what the crowd's looked like. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1596478
We have only been twice and the first time was in July/Aug. So we thought the parks were pretty empty. We did hit a holiday for people that lived in the North is was Rosh Hashanah, and so alot of New Yorker's were there on a fall break...

The longest wait for any ride was 1 hour for Soain, but that was on the boards that you see when you get into Epcot, we only waited 30 minutes. We wait 40 for Dinousour in AK. But other then that 15 minutes or more. EE we walk on.... No wait. of course it's a long walk but no wait. We hit MK on a Monday, and that morning we walk on to Peter Pan, Snow White, Small World and all the other rides in Fantasyland. We walk on to Space Mountain, came off and went right back on and rode the other side.

We plan to go back Sept. 19 - 26th. Hopefully well get the Disney Dinning Plan, waiting patiently for the dates to come out, we didn't do the bounce back at the time it was offered. Hopefully not as much rain and maybe less people because Rosh Hashanah is on the last week in September and we're going the week before.

Good Luck
Texasbelle

 

[jennie31708]

We got incredibly lucky when we booked last year. I was actually calling to book our trip for min October 2007, and the wonderful reservationist, Dante, I spoke to said, "Wow, I wish I could convince you to change the dates of your trip. If you book your trip to spend your first night 9/22, you'll get the free dining plan." I honestly had never heard of it, but he spent a great deal of time explaining it to me, and convinced me to change our whole vacation around. It was the best decision I've ever made. The weather was got... but not unbearable. It rained a little biit every day, but that helped to break the humidity. And going with the dining plan was the best, the food was wonderful. I'm patiently waiting for it to be offered again. I'm a little upset that I wasn't offered the bounce back when we were there in September, because we would have booked it right there before we checked out!

 

[KatMark]

I know they haven't even announced '08 dates yet, but i am trying to get my dates and resorts ready. I know it fills up fast! Has anyone ever had trouble getting into the dates or resort they wanted when trying to book free dining the day it becomes available to the public? Just wondering how many backup itinerarys I should have in place. We want to go the last day possible for 8 nights at pop or music resort.

We did not think we were going to be able to afford to go last year and then my husband started umping a LOT of baseball games and told me to see what kind of price. I contacted the service we always use in MAY and she informed me we could get the CSR with free dining for the days we planned--which were September 1 - 9. We grabbed it and were also able to get all of our requested ADR's, including LeCellier, except for Whispering Canyon which we had wanted to try. We will try that one this year.

 

[wilde_oscar]

restaurants full, the parks not so much... and it is still amazon hot every day.

 

[jessrose18]

Texasbelle- I loved your trip report well done! Your right the crowds looked light. How come you didn't get asked to do the bounceback? Is it only for certain people? Thanks for the tip about the holiday crowd also!

 

[TexasBelle]

Texasbelle- I loved your trip report well done! Your right the crowds looked light. How come you didn't get asked to do the bounceback? Is it only for certain people? Thanks for the tip about the holiday crowd also!

The Bounceback was offered to us, we just choose not to accept at that time. You have to make your decission before your trip ends. I also love my Travel Agent, she has done a wonderful job on booking our trips and the bounceback is done through Disney. I also don't think the bounceback are for certain people, I think they were offered to everyone.

Thanks for reading my trip report is was soooo much fun. Again the crowds were minimal. But make sure you get your ADR's early. I'm already ready for 180 days out to make my reservations.
Good Luck!
Texasbelle

 

[jessrose18]

I have been reading posts for days, you guys got me so nervous I am going to go open my Disney Visa right away! Don't want to chance it. Thanks for all of the advice.

 

[annie1995]

Yup, it was very hot!!!! But I love the heat!!! It also rained every afternoon. but it wasn't a total washout. Just don't leave without your ponchos, even if it looks clear. We made that mistake. And I thought it was quite busy, compared to the first time we had free dining in September 2005. But we are going back this September for a re do trip.. All our kids came down really sick on our 5th day, so we came home early. WE missed soooo much, we need to go back LOL!!! I think its totally worth it to go and save 1500 bucks for meals!

 

[jessrose18]

keeping it alive!

 

[jlx2]

We were there last September during the second week and I have never felt so hot in my entire life. I remember walking in Epcot over to the area in Canada where Off Kilter plays to buy one of their CD's and actually having to stop in a gift shop for a few minutes to cool off I thought I was going to pass out. We were traveling with two two year olds and I had to buy one of those misting/fan bottles to spray on them pretty continuously because I was so afraid they would overheat. To be quite honest it was so hot that when we would go to eat we weren't very hungry. This year we are hoping to get some room only codes and not bother with the free dining. Since we have to add the gratuity now we figure we're better off paying out of pocket and going when it isn't so oppressive weather wise.

 

[emmsmama]

Just subbing. I'm aiming for beginning of Dec., but the frugal side of me keeps thinking of the free food in Sept. if they offer free dining again. Dh is a crank in the heat though so free food might not be worth listening to him whine and complain constantly.

 

[Donald Fan 2005]

I was there the first week of Sept 2006. We stayed off disney so I can't speak for the crowds in the restaurants, but the parks were not crowded at all. It started picking up some toward the end of the week because that was the first weekend for the halloween party. We walked onto the majority of the rides and only the most popular had a 15-30 minute wait. I think it is worth it to go in Sept, if you can stand the heat.

 

[jessrose18]

Any more advice? September vs October weather sounds so much better in October..more opinions please.

 

[mdmbfly]

We did the FDDP in Sept 06 and loved every second of it. It was HOT but that's what we expect in Florida so we dealt with it. We went to the parks early and then spent the hottest part of the day enjoying the pool at the POR. After we were refreshed we headed out for our dinner ressie and enjoyed the parks til closing. It couldn't have worked out better for us. My DH still says it was his most relaxing trip ever and the kids felt like they were there much longer than 5 days b/c we broke upt he days and even had some time for a few naps and that made each day feel like 2! I highly recommend trips in Sept and the Free DDP.

 

[pooch]

Did 06 - 07 and am booked for 08 with Free DDP. The heat hasn't bothered me that much. Haven't hit too much rain. Love the 15 min attraction wait, if that. Count me in. I'm a believer!!!

 

[beachgrl001]

I have been 3x in Sept. on various dates most currently 8-27-07 to 9-4-07 free dining @ POFQ. It was crowded until Labor day then it was fine. I will go in mid sept. from now on. It was HOT but I am always expecting that when I go to Fla.

 

[cdrn1]

We booked Pop last year for free dining in the last week or so that it was offered...I think it was in July when we booked. We still got very good ADR's at very good times. The only restaurant that we didn't get near the time we wanted was Le Cellier. We wanted 6'ish but all they had the whole week was an 830 or later. We ended up cancelling it because we were too full from lunch so we used that TS by calling and getting a Jiko reservation for the next night. I was surprised that we got what we wanted at that late date. We went Labor Day week and thought the crowds were very, very reasonable and the weather no toooooo bad (hot, humid).

 

[Dreaming~of~Disney]

We were there for free dining last Sept. 1-7. We had great weather. only rained on the last day we were there for maybe 20 minutes. It was hot but we managed. Those spray bottles with the fan are worth every penny! Frozen lemonades and dole whip floats! Yummy! We didn't know about bounceback until after we had checked out and they wouldn't let us book it then. We found out about it literally like 3 hours after we checked out and they wouldn't let us book it! We are hoping they offer it again for Sept, otherwise my 4 year old will be crushed(free dining is the only way we can afford to go).