If we do when it is not free dining, should that help with crowds?

[notrub98]

We are going first week of December next year (week after Thanksgiving) and has not been a free dining week the past year (yes, things can change). If there is still not free dining that week, shouldn't that keep crowds a bit lower? I know it is Pop Warner but I have been during Pop Warner and still had very low crowds in the past...

 

[W.E.D.]

Interested as well. We're planning on that same week!

 

[nkereina]

Free dining was not offered during Pop Warner week this year and I don't think the crowds were significantly impacted. If people check in on the last day of free dining, they can have free dining for the duration of their stay - even if it coincides with a black out week. So I'd think a number of people in the parks that week still had free dining, even though it was a black out week. There may also have been pin codes floating around which could have included that week - they often have different inclusions than the public offer.

Free dining packs the resorts (since you have to stay onsite) and the restaurants (since people have credits to burn). Overall park attendance doesn't move much though - you won't see a normal crowd level 2 day turn into a crowd level 7 because of free dining.

If it were me, I'd try to check in on the last day of free dining or on the first day it's offered after Pop Warner week to try and take advantage myself

 

[Iowajes]

Isn't free dining usually offered during lower times, to get people into the resorts?

I'd think that would mean the crowds are already there during non-free dining time.

 

[Lilliputian]

If a week has free dining, it means there will be low crowds. The restaurants may be a little hard to get into, and the Disney resorts will be more filled than they otherwise would be since fewer people will stay offsite, but the crowds in the parks and on the rides will be low.

 

[AngiTN]

We just got back, were there during Pop Warner week. It's my 2nd trip during Pop Warner week

First, that has absolutely no impact on crowds or the parks in any way. I can not find 1 single negative to their being there. Yes we saw groups of them around but they were no different than an avg extended family trip you read about here, where 18 people in 1 family are there together.

I am not sure if there was any free dining offered near enough to our dates or not. We didn't need tickets so I didn't even look at the dining offers.

I do know I had no problems with dining reservations. I even made one at Rose and Crown 1 hour out, at 7:30 PM (usually a time those wanting to see Illuminations take). Lines in the parks were very small, as were the crowds. I wouldn't hesitate to go back then

 

[RebeccaRabbit]

Disney offers the free dining promotion for times when their crowds are low, to try to attract people to the parks. So generally it's the opposite of what you said - free dining weeks are LOWER crowds than other weeks.

Your week still might be a great week to go though. I don't think early December is usually not too bad (according to the crowd calendars). I've seen that time recommended as the best time to go and see the Christmas stuff with non-crazy crowds.

 

[pooch]

the week after Thanksgiving last year. I believe it was a pin code (not sure cuz Disney CALLED ME and asked if I was interested?!?!) not a general public offer.

 

[JimmyV]

It makes no difference. Disney is shooting for an attendance goal of "X". If their metrics show that they are already headed there, then FD is not offered. If they conclude that they will not meet their goal of "X", they offer promotions such as FD and that boosts them to "X". Either way, Disney always gets to "X".

 

[stinkpickle]

...
Free dining packs the resorts (since you have to stay onsite) and the restaurants (since people have credits to burn). Overall park attendance doesn't move much though - you won't see a normal crowd level 2 day turn into a crowd level 7 because of free dining...

This. ^^^

 

[dae3dae3]

If free dining is only offered when crowds are low then why is it offered during the week of Christmas which is one of the busiest weeks of the year? We check in on the 22nd with free dining and don't have a predicted crowd level below 8 with multiple 10's for our entire 7 days in the parks after that. Doesn't sound like low crowd levels to me.

I'm sure there is a certain level of truth to this but I doubt it is as simple as what is being presented in this thread.

 

[pooch]

Are you perhaps checking in on the last day if free dining?

 

[stephm0188]

We've gone during Pop Warner week for the last 4 years, and our perception has been that it gets a little busier each year. It could be because Thanksgiving has been so late the last two years, or the improvement in the economy, or word getting out that it's a great time to go... IDK.

As for the actual groups who are there during the week... eh. You'll notice the cheerleaders more than the football players. They're...vocal.

Free dining for fall this year:
August 31 – October 3, 2014
October 26 – November 1, 2014
November 9 – 20, 2014
December 12 – 23, 2014

Free dining wouldn't have impacted crowds at all for Pop Warner week this time.

 

[nkereina]

We just got back, were there during Pop Warner week. It's my 2nd trip during Pop Warner week

First, that has absolutely no impact on crowds or the parks in any way. I can not find 1 single negative to their being there. Yes we saw groups of them around but they were no different than an avg extended family trip you read about here, where 18 people in 1 family are there together.

I am not sure if there was any free dining offered near enough to our dates or not. We didn't need tickets so I didn't even look at the dining offers.

I do know I had no problems with dining reservations. I even made one at Rose and Crown 1 hour out, at 7:30 PM (usually a time those wanting to see Illuminations take). Lines in the parks were very small, as were the crowds. I wouldn't hesitate to go back then

Free dining is blacked out for Pop Warner week likely for two reasons: 1. the parade taping usually coincides with this which draws in some crowds and 2. Pop Warner is one of their largest groups and they offer them a group rate. I don't think they want these families going rogue and booking outside of the hotels they have secured a group rate for so they can get free dining. This week is probably the only one thats blacked out where crowds aren't too bad. If you don't care about free dining and are staying at a resort where Pop Warner is NOT staying, it is a good week to go.

If free dining is only offered when crowds are low then why is it offered during the week of Christmas which is one of the busiest weeks of the year? We check in on the 22nd with free dining and don't have a predicted crowd level below 8 with multiple 10's for our entire 7 days in the parks after that. Doesn't sound like low crowd levels to me.

I'm sure there is a certain level of truth to this but I doubt it is as simple as what is being presented in this thread.

Free Dining ends 12/23 and is then blacked out. If you're checking in or before 12/23, you are entitled to free dining for the duration of your stay. FWIW, I believe this is the first time they have offered free dining this late in December.

 

[RebeccaRabbit]

If free dining is only offered when crowds are low then why is it offered during the week of Christmas which is one of the busiest weeks of the year? We check in on the 22nd with free dining and don't have a predicted crowd level below 8 with multiple 10's for our entire 7 days in the parks after that. Doesn't sound like low crowd levels to me.

I'm sure there is a certain level of truth to this but I doubt it is as simple as what is being presented in this thread.

You're right - it's not really as simple as "every free dining day is lower crowds than every non-free dining day." As a PP said, Disney has seasonal targets they want to meet. Those targets actually vary from week to week to begin with. Disney does not expect to pull in as many people in January as they do in December. They then use free dining as a perk to draw people in during the weeks where they are not meeting their targets. So, yes, a free dining week in December might have higher crowds than a non-free dining week in February, because crowds and targets are just overall higher in December.

But, especially if you're comparing similar weeks in the same overall season, the OPs logic is backwards: free dining is an indicator of relatively LOWER crowds, not higher.

REALLY surprised that they are offering free dining this year up to 12/23! Wow! Are they hurting that much...? Or have they just lost their minds?

 

[goofydisney2015]

We are planning to go the week after Thanksgiving next year as well. Our dates are Nov.29th-Dec.4th. I had heard about Pop Warner and was concerned as we are planning to stay at Carribean Beach Resort . That was one they said to stay away from as many of the families stay there.
It looks like Pop Warner doesn't start until Dec 5th. , thinking we should be ok for our dates??

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I was there this year Friday (after Thanksgiving) until Friday, the 5th. Friday and Saturday were very busy at the MK, In fact, every day was busy at the MK. I was happy they didn't offer free dining during my week, but they did announce a 30 % discount after I booked. Dining was not a problem except if you want the hard to get restaurants. (CRT and BOG). The other parks were not that crowded.

 

[pigletto]

I was there the 7th to the 14th this year (which was Pop Warner) and the 14th to the 23rd last year (which was free dining). This year was significantly busier in our experience. First few days weren't so bad, but the last half was.
On our 2013 trip it didn't get bad until the very end which was expected being the weekend before Christmas.