How will Free Dining affect the crowds???

[Pooh99]

While planning our trip, we narrowed it down to either September 24th or November 3rd... I was determined to pick a manageable time frame to go because of crowd sizes.

WELL, when we found out about the free dining in September, we chose September....made our reservations etc...

Just curious if what is supposed to be a time with LOW attendance will be different now that they are having the free dining.
I am wondering if we made the right choice.....
They had this promotion last year also, right? What was it like then???

 

[Tinkerbell_Tiffany]

we are also going in sept for the first time I have heard the crowds in the parks are pretty low for that time of year but the TS resturants are extremely busy so make sure to make your ADR's...

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

We were at WDW last year from 9/24 to 10/4--the first week of the trip the parks were completely empty. It picked up during the last couple of days of our vacation.

 

[BratTink]

I have friends that live pretty close to Orlando and go to Disney ALOT. They report that the crowds definitely pick-up when really good deals are offered. I would bet because school is starting that the parks will be more crowded than normal, but very managable. I went in 2003 when they had a plan offered (not food just good room/park tickets). The beginning of the week was not bad with very limited lines; however by Sat the MK was mobbed and you couldn't move.
I'm having a really hard time keeping my trip at the end of Oct and not changing it to the free food.

 

[Disney Debbie]

I'm sure WDW is hoping it will increase them!! But for most people with school kids it just won't work for them to come then - so I can't imagine it will be as bad as summer. We went years ago in October (flashback to 1995 when the Braves actually WON the World Series - yes folks it's true - they did actually win one of the gazillion times they've made it) and it was perfect. The MK was crowded Saturday - but I've come to accept that the MK will ALWAYS be crowded on Saturday - and especially in the Fall when Sat. is the only night they did the night parade. Other then that we didn't wait long at all. I took DD to Blizzard Beach and it was PERFECT! Beautiful weather and NO crowds.

 

[sjms71]

We were able to take advantage on free dinning last year. We are doing the same again this Sept 8-17 (went about same dates in 2005). We've been to Disney almost every month however, this was our first Sept. We walked on everything. We never took advantage of EMH because we didn't need to. I think every ride was only 10min wait. It was awesome. Only thing is it was hotter than I liked it but no lines made it worth it.

 

[metsfan11]

Now, I'm going to WDW from August 22-29 with the free dining package. Will the parks be extra crowded because of the free dining during that time period? Thanks!

 

[Goofy_4_WDW]

We are also going Aug 22-29. I'm worried about crowds then too!
We went last October for the free dining and yes, It was crowded. The crowds were somewhat managable if you got to the parks early. Make sure you have all your ADR's made. Everytime we went to our restaurant with our ADR's they were always turning people away that didn't have them!

 

[mrsltg]

Look at it this way... the reason they are offering free dining is because they are expecting lower than usual attendance. I'm going 8/14-8/21. I am expecting it to be crowded, hot, and generally miserable. This way, I won't be surprised or disappointed by big crowds. Instead, I may be pleasantly surprised.

I think with school starting and hurricane season in full swing it may be a little less crowded. Just have a great time!

 

[klmall]

It will affect the crowds in the sit-down restaurants for sure in September! And they did extend the offer into October last year didn't they? I read that they posted signs at the park entrances that all the restaurants had no walk-in reservations due to the "free dining" packages.

I've also read that people with early October reservations are affected as well by those who started their trips in late September. Crowdes will certainly be up but for those of us who really can't stand heat we will still stay away even if we like WDW!

 

[Bete]

The free dining is offered; because, this is peak season for hurricanes. I'm not trying to get anyone overly concerned, but Disney does everything for a reason. Also, there are a limited amount of rooms available with the free dining package; so, it doesn't impact the crowds that much.

Next, if the offer for free dining is extended past June 4th, you will know that not too many took advantage of the offer or Disney is still projecting even lower attendance for that time period then what they expected.

Finally, I go and put in my dates at the Disney website to see if my dates are blocked out for my time period towards the end of the promotion. If there's trouble trying to book any of the resorts on the site then you probably have a busier time; because, the offer is not available anymore.

If you stay away from The Nights of Joy Event, the Halloween Party time, and the Food and Wine Festival time period (locals love this event), you should be ok with lower crowds.

One special consideration is that it's been reported that the Happiest Celebration ends on September 30. This might bring in more people towards the end of the celebration; because, nothing else has been rumored about any other, new celebrations.

We took advantage of the free dining last year and it's in your best interest to make ADRs for your table sit-down meals. There were some places refusing guests; because, they were just too booked up especially in Epcot.

 

[dadto1]

I think you will see a bigger effect for the pre Labor day weeks vs the post labor day weeks. I think alot of people will take advantage of free dining and push in a late August trip before school starts back. School will be back in for most everyone after labor day so the mid sept weeks shouldn't see many crowds. I expect them to pickup late Sept for food and wine festival guests.

Thats why we chose Sept 16-23. We should miss both sets of crowds except for any marathon crowds at the end of the week.

 

[eblack0409]

DH and I were there last September for free dining....we didn't have to wait more than 20 minutes for any ride...and that was Soarin'!

We leave in 6 days for our anniversary trip and go back in 4 months for free dining!

 

[jezabel_007]

When do kids go back to school in the US? Public schools up in Canada don't go back until the beginning of September.

I'm thinking of going end of August as well. Yeah it's hurricane season, but Disney is apparently extremely secure in the event of a hurricane. Plus, it's inland, so that makes it a tad more safer too.

So excited...

 

[Disney Debbie]

I know GA & FL schools go back the first part of August! I think most southern schools are like that.

I think most northern schools go back after Labor Day.

 

[Skylarr29]

Disney always offers a promotion for September as it is hurricane season and school is just starting. Crowds will be low. The only real place you will see "Crowds" will be ts restaraunts. I have been the past 6 Septembers and I was there for 2 weeks last Sept during free dinign and I never waited more than 10-15 min for ANYTHING (even Soarin) and never had to use a fast pass.... most of the time the fast pass wasn't even running because there was no need. Even though the dining is free most people can not just pick up and afford to go to Disney on the spur of the moment.

 

[jenga1030]

I think that before Labor day will be crowded and then again the last week of September into early October will be crowded. We went last year at the very end of free dining (10/2-10/6) and it was more crowded than was being reported a week earlier.

When you combine free dining with MNSSHP and Food and Wine starting, the crowds go up. But from what I've read here, after Labor day until the very end of September it was pretty empty (except for the restaurants )

That's why we're going earlier this year (9/7-9/15) we know it will be hot but we're hoping to beat the crowds this time!!

That being said, even though the crowds were bigger last year when we went than the weeks previous, they weren't horrible. It felt more crowded just walking around, but the ride lines weren't bad. Our longest was like 20 minutes and we only fastpassed Soarin' and Test Track.

EPCOT was really crowded when Food and Wine started, you could barely make it through WS at times. We had no problems getting into restaurants with our ADR's. We got in on time at all of them and some of them even let us in earlier than our ADR.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We were at WDW last year from 9/24 to 10/4--the first week of the trip the parks were completely empty. It picked up during the last couple of days of our vacation.

We were there the same time last year, and this was our experience as well. Of course the end of our trip was the beginning of the Food and Wine Festival, so I figured that was why the crowds picked up.

Also, TS restaurants were very full. Walk-ins were being turned away everywhere we went except for the Yacht Club Galley (a hidden gem IMHO). I also saw at Sci-Fi, the CM would get on the computer to let walk-ins know what seatings were available in the rest of the TS restaurants at MGM. A few people did take those offered ADRs.