Increased Crowds During First Week or Two of Free Dining?

[donnajz]

Has anyone been to Disney during the first week or two of Free Dining? If so , was it crowded. If Free Dining is offered the end of this summer, we'll probably be there but will be using AAA discount rather than Free Dining. Is this a bad idea as far as crowds are concerned?

 

[tlrotzoll]

Hi guys. I haven't been on the boards for quite sometime & we are planning another trip. What is free dining?

 

[KatMark]

Has anyone been to Disney during the first week or two of Free Dining? If so , was it crowded. If Free Dining is offered the end of this summer, we'll probably be there but will be using AAA discount rather than Free Dining. Is this a bad idea as far as crowds are concerned?

We were there last September (the 1st through the 9th). The Sunday of Labor Day weekend at the Magic Kingdom was rather crowded...but we still didn't have exceptionally long waits for most attractions. On average during our week eight full days there, we waited approximately 10 minutes for attractions, while some we walked right on and the mountains and Soarin' we had to wait for 30-40 minutes (although we often fast passed and then rode again later and waited in line). We did find the restaurants for table service more crowded than in the past but we were seated within five minutes of all of our ADR's (except Boatwright's where we waited 45 minutes--and wish we wouldn't have).

Hope this helps.

 

[KatMark]

Hi guys. I haven't been on the boards for quite sometime & we are planning another trip. What is free dining?

Free dining is a perk that Disney has been offering the last couple of years from late August through mid/late September. It entitles each person to one snack, one counter service meal and one table service meal for each night of their stay. Those who were there last year for free dining were offered the "bounceback" free dining (meaning if you were there for free dining you could book again for 2008 while in your resort). The free dining has been offered to residents of England. Rumor has it that Disney will most likely be offering it again. If they do, it is usually announced the first week of April. If you watch these forums, someone will post it as soon as it is announced publicly that it is being offered for 2008.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

This is my experience from 2006 Free Dining. Our trip was from 8/9-8/16. It was a Wednesday through Wednesday. Free Dining started Sunday, the 13. We had APs so we didn't plan our trip around it.

There was such a clear increase in crowds Sunday afternoon, it was ridiculous! The first half of our trip the parks were pretty much empty. That Sunday morning we went to the MK early AM and it was empty too but that afternoon with we went back to our resort, it was like someone had opened the flood gates and the crowds were much higher from then until we left on Wednesday. It seemed like everyone who was originally planning to be there the week before probably pushed up their trip because it was really empty for early August. I would assume that the crowds went back down after a week or two, after a lot of schools that were not back in session yet took advantage of Free Dining.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Hi guys. I haven't been on the boards for quite sometime & we are planning another trip. What is free dining?

To OP: Sorry to steal the thread!

HI Tammy!!!!!

Mary
(Emily's Mom in Mrs. C's Class at Norge)

 

[RJD]

We were there last August during the first week of free dining. Didn't find the park crowds to be any different than other school vacation times. Living in NH our school vacas are different than much of the country and the times we've gone to Disney have been considered "regular" season. We didn't find the crowds during the first week of free dining any different. However, the restaurants and getting your ressies were tough. So if you have must do restaurants/character meals, etc., I would book them as soon as you are able.

 

[IMDORY]

I was there for about 4 days before free dining began...I found that the resort(pool especially) and restaurants became much more crowded with the start of free dining and the week leading into labor day weekend. Parks seemed to be about the same. Make sure you have ADR's in place.