HUGE change in crowds for free dining!

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Well I just got back from seven nights and eight magical days in WDW. We arrived on Wed. August 9th and were suprised to see, what I considered, pretty low crowds. We were most often the only ones waiting at the bus stop at POR unless we were at the main stop, and even then there were usually only a few other families, all times of day.

Well, we went to the MK Sunday morning and went back to the hotel before going to out to JellyRolls. MY GOD! As soon as we walked into the main lobby, I knew our quiet, have the park to ourselves, feeling was OVER. When we got to that bus stop, it was the craziest thing I've ever seen!! It was packed with people, some of whom actually waved our bus to MGM away because they were ALL waiting for the MK bus!! From then on it was parents yelling, couples fighting, kids pushing craziness the whole rest of the trip!

I guess a lot of people pushed their trip back to fall in the free dining. I figured it would be crowded for it but I did not think it would be so noticable. I'm assuming it will only be like this for a couple more weeks until kids start going back to school. I thought the later in August the better but next year I'll be planning my trip for the week before free dining starts! (If they do it again) And just one more thing...I talked to a lot of people in lines and such who didn't even know about the free dining. I talked to one women who said she arrived on Sunday and didn't get the dining plan because it would cost too much. I said, "You know it's free, right?" She just about had a heart attack!

Well I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining. We had a really good trip. Just wanted to let you know how huge of a difference in crowds there were mid-trip! I hope to be writing a trip report soon!

 

[Fonzy13]

I was afraid of this, hopefully, the normal, school is back in session, crowds are lower will still be the norm come the last week. Fingers crossed.

 

[bluejasmine]

Oh dear.. I hate hearing that we leave next Thurs..

 

[brock]

I just read your tag line.....HILAROUS!

I'm in the club, too.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

I'm not too worried.. We leave Wednesday, and I think a lot of people will be back to school by then. Our last trip was during Christmas week, and after that, NOTHING scares me!

 

[thunderbird1]

Our last trip was during Christmas week, and after that, NOTHING scares me!

I'm with you there! We've been there for Christmas, New Year's, 4th of July, and lived to tell the tale. We leave Saturday and although I think the restaurants, resorts, and busses will be busier than usual, that's just because more people will be staying on site than normal. I don't expect the parks themselves to be too bad, at least nothing like the holidays. I hope I'm not proven wrong!

See you there!

 

[paintnolish]

Oh no! Well, what are you going to do? I leave on Sun, so I am crossing my fingers, hoping it won't be as bad since lots of kids are starting school next week! See you there!

 

[Valentine]

OP...just wanted to say... I LOVE your siggie pic! That is just stunning!

Kathy

 

[bassoon2]

I figured it would be like this...We leave on Saturday.
But heck...we won't let it ruin our vacation.
I expect screaming kids at the restaurants...and remember, it's not the kids...its the PARENTS.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I don't want to scare anyone! It's just that the first few days were so NOT crowded that it seemed so much worse to us. Actually, once free dining started it was more like what I had expected it to be like the whole time. (Well maybe a little worse We got lucky to have the first half of our trip the way we did.

 

[MissMagnolia]

We are headed for the Beach Club a week from Saturday (arriving on 8/26). I hope that most families are headed back to school by then or at least home getting ready for school. My DS6 doesn't start back until the Tuesday after Labor Day so we are getting in our WDW trip in before AND taking advantage of free dining.

 

[SarahandPaul]

I talked to one women who said she arrived on Sunday and didn't get the dining plan because it would cost too much. I said, "You know it's free, right?" She just about had a heart attack!

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

I'm not scared AT ALL!! DH and I were in WDW this same week and it was nice ... I don't want it to be empty ... I wanna see some people!!! Otherwise it would be weird!! I'm going to WDW in 11 days and I'm as happy as can be!!!

A LOT of the people we encountered last year had NO IDEA about the free dining ... boy were they angry! Not my fault they don't "DIS"!!

 

[skater]

Last year we decided that once we were in WDW, not to tell people our dining plan was free - I was worried we would ruin their vacation. After all, I too was once clueless! When I'm home, I try to tell my friends about this, but amazingly some people can't be helped.

Thanks to the DIS, I am not so clueless now. Sometimes at Disney I tell the REALLY nice people that they should check out Mousesavers when they get home though I doubt that many of them do.

 

[ZIPBAGS]

We leave in 5 days (Aug.23) also. I am hoping the crowds will die down because of the kids in the south & west having to go back to school.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Last year we decided that once we were in WDW, not to tell people our dining plan was free - I was worried we would ruin their vacation. After all, I too was once clueless! When I'm home, I try to tell my friends about this, but amazingly some people can't be helped.

Thanks to the DIS, I am not so clueless now. Sometimes at Disney I tell the REALLY nice people that they should check out Mousesavers when they get home though I doubt that many of them do.

I am like you, why make them feel badly? My husband doesn't tell cause he is afraid the free dinning time will get too busy. Like he says, the only thing better than free dinning is free dinning and low crowds.

 

[Panna]

I figured the possibility of having higher crowds during the free dining would be hugh I think that was my argument for talking myself into 10 days there lol.

 

[eebuckeye]

We arrived Sunday (13th) and crowds have definitely been heavy! I would compare it to mid-late June. Hasn't stopped us from having a great time!

Great Movie Ride has had a 45 minute wait whenever we try to go! I know Rock n Rollercoaster was at 70 minutes tonight also.

Fast Pass and do other things during the wait has been terrific!

 

[mking624]

And just one more thing...I talked to a lot of people in lines and such who didn't even know about the free dining. I talked to one women who said she arrived on Sunday and didn't get the dining plan because it would cost too much. I said, "You know it's free, right?" She just about had a heart attack!

Well did you say why it was free? Saying "you know it's free, right" can give a very wrong impression to someone. It was free only if you booked a package from April to June and you had to call CRO. Not explaining that to someone might make things even more confusing if they try to book something next time and can't figure out why they all of a sudden have to pay for food.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Thanks for the info! i wonder how September end of the month will be