Is Disney's free dining fair?

[BillSears]

Yes it's fair. But the DDP and especially free dining do fill up the restaurants making ADRs hard to get.

Personally I wouldn't mind seeing restaurants empty like they used to be with more variety and higher priced items available. But Disney would prefer to make money instead of pleasing me. How dare they!!!

 

[mcd2745]

I do think the free dining takes the sponteneity out of vacation. We have been to wdw more than 30 times in the past 10yrs. There was a time when we would say where do you want to eat dinner tonight, with free dining that really can't be done. It makes vacation almost stressful.

This post I agree with. The demad for ADRs - which is much greater than the actual demand for meals - has gotten out of control.

 

[canoe86]

Fair or not? Well, I think all the people running me over in the parks isn't exactly nice, much more so than just wanting to eat.

Regardless, ONE thing I like that has changed is tips are not included! I found the times when they were that the service was not good in many places. Now, I reward excellent service.

 

[smoof]

Do I find the dining plan aggrevating because I can't get into the places I have always been able to, YES, but everyone is paying. Just because I don't choose a dining plan for my personal reasons, doesn't mean anything.

 

[Sammie]

We are just wondering how other people like us who "PAY" for the dining plans feel about not being able to get the dining times or restaurants they want because they are ALL booked up because of the free dining.We find it VERY annoying is it just us ?

ADRs are first come, first served, they are not set aside for free dining. So basically whether you are using free dining, paid dining plan or paying out of pocket, everyone has the same chance to book them.

 

[dawnmommy]

nope, why would I find it annoying? I mean, I booked with a 40% off discount code - should people be annoyed with me too? everyone books whichever discount works best for them.

AND I'm going one of the few weeks there isn't free dining, and dining still filled up fast. I'm happy whenever any family can get a discount of some sort (room discount or free dining) at Disney - yay for them!

 

[Vivianne]

We pay for food. We always get "are you on the dining plan"? from our
servers...

Well.. "no"...DH thinks he has to give some explanation on this...I don't.

We usually get a room discount and we pay for our meals...it seems weird
to alot of people but we're just 2 adults.

I don't think we need to make any excuses/expanations as to why..but DH goes into it..
I don't care to...after all were paying for our meals OOP.

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

I do think the free dining takes the sponteneity out of vacation. We have been to wdw more than 30 times in the past 10yrs. There was a time when we would say where do you want to eat dinner tonight, with free dining that really can't be done. It makes vacation almost stressful.

I also agree with the above, except it isn't just FREE dining-it all changed with the DDP itself. Before DDP counter service was unbearable, but TS meals were available anytime, anywhere (except CRT of course!) Those were the days . . . Don't get me wrong-we're happy that the DP is available and purchased it for our next trip (we have DVC-we will never get DDP for free-NOT a complaint, LOVE DVC!!), but having to decide what park you will go to and what you will eat 180 in advance does take something away from the fun. I just learned to accept that a WDW vacation now means near zero spontaneity for meals and unfortunately, a (sometimes stressful) race for the perfect ADR.

 

[katieam1]

We are just wondering how other people like us who "PAY" for the dining plans feel about not being able to get the dining times or restaurants they want because they are ALL booked up because of the free dining.We find it VERY annoying is it just us ?

I don't find it annoying. Although I am taking advantage of it in September(we're upgrading to DxDDP so I guess we are still paying something along with rack rate hotel) and then December and Feb using our points and buying the DXDDP for those two trips. We all have the same opportunity to book at 180 days. The only time I get annoyed is when I change my mind and decide to change where were going which effects my ADRs but that is an annoying little problem with myself not Disney or anyone taking advantage of promos because I am the silly who is looking for something when I know there won't be any left. I bought into DVC, so in 10 years from now someone could say hey its not fair I have to pay all this money to go stay onsite at Disney and you just have points you use, or the people who bought in when it first started me getting mad at because I paid way more than they did for the same program. So anyone can say anything is unfair or annoying if they want it to be. For me I am just happy other people are getting discounts that work best for them whatever that is and going to the happiest place on earth. I found last year with the buy 4 get 3 I had just as much problem getting ADRs as I do this trip with free dining. I think it is just the most popular restaurants you have to jump on at 180 days to get in or keep on top of the cancellation thread here on the DIS.

 

[katieam1]

I'm a DVC member, and I don't expect people to find that annoying since I get to stay in a 1-bedroom villa for 10 nights, whereas someone staying there on cash would pay thousands for the same thing, and I get to do it continuously until the year 2042. It's all about choices, and it was my choice to buy a DVC membership. Some choose to pay rack rate for their room and get free dining, some choose the resort discount and pay for the DDP or for their dining OOP, some choose not to stay on property at all. I don't find any of these scenarios annoying. Different strokes for different folks.

Well said! I totally agree!!

 

[Donald Duck 57]

My point is that with Disney giving away free dining plans it became MUCH harder to book times and restaurants. It's August,try booking a Dinner at O'hana's for for the last 2 weeks of January first week of Febuary,you'll find nothing.Does Disney need ADR (except for dinner shows) Walk ins wouldn't fill the restaurants?What happened to doing things spur of the moment like vacations should be sometimes.I'm just venting, but why should I have to decide now that I want to eat mickey shaped waffles for breakfast for a trip in February. And I do know "FREE" dining isn't really free.Remember the days when you use to walk into EPCOT and made your dining reservations on the touch screen for that day.I'm not trying to bash (DW staying out of this topic) I totally LOVE DISNEY and have from the first day I walked into the MK July 18 1976.I just miss some of the OLD ways.

 

[bluejasmine]

Yea I paid for my dining I booked room only and added dining and tickets but I made my ADRs a 180 day mark and got everything I wanted at times I wanted. I even changed some around recently. Granted it does make making ADRS a bit more of a challenge if your going at a popular time of year when FD is offered but if you make those ADRs right at your 180 and then keep trying most of the time you'll get what you want. SOmetimes it may be that you get it on a different day or maybe a lunch instead of dinner but it all works out..

 

[bluejasmine]

I dont think FD is offered in Jan/Feb.. I could be wrong tho..

 

[MIGrandma]

The "free dining plan" doesn't bother me. What bothers me is having to make your ADR's 180 days in advance. I have no idea where we'll be or where we'll want to eat 6 months before we get there. We are more the "fly by the seat of our pants" type, and not so much into planning every minute detail about our trip.

That said, we usually do counter service and resort food court meals most of the time instead of table service. We like to eat fairly quickly so we can be back out enjoying whichever park we happen to be at that day.

We've actually only eaten at two table service restaurants: Akershush (before it became a princess buffet) and 50's Prime Time Cafe. While both were fun, we did not make reservations. We went at off times, in January, and walked in both times. Not sure we'd be able to do that our next trip, with the "free dining plan" but it won't break our trip.

 

[maxiesmom]

My point is that with Disney giving away free dining plans it became MUCH harder to book times and restaurants. It's August,try booking a Dinner at O'hana's for for the last 2 weeks of January first week of Febuary,you'll find nothing.Does Disney need ADR (except for dinner shows) Walk ins wouldn't fill the restaurants?What happened to doing things spur of the moment like vacations should be sometimes.I'm just venting, but why should I have to decide now that I want to eat mickey shaped waffles for breakfast for a trip in February. And I do know "FREE" dining isn't really free.Remember the days when you use to walk into EPCOT and made your dining reservations on the touch screen for that day.I'm not trying to bash (DW staying out of this topic) I totally LOVE DISNEY and have from the first day I walked into the MK July 18 1976.I just miss some of the OLD ways.

I actually like knowing where I am eating ahead of time. No muss, no fuss. Unlike the old days when we would go to a park and hope we could get in somewhere.

 

[Silver Queen]

I remember "the old days" too and in retrospect they may seems to be less stressful, but I recall that getting to Epcot at rope drop and trying to get to the TV screens could also be stressful. At that time the Birnbaum guide advised guests to send the fastest member of their party ahead to get to the screens. I also feel that not knowing where you're going to be having dinner and if you'll be able to get a table at a reasonable hour in a desirable restaurant could also be stressful.
We're DVC members and therefore don't get free dining, but we certainly don't resent those who do. We're very happy with our choice to join DVC, especially since it made us eligible for APs and TiW.

 

[JGR]

The last two times WDW offered free dining...I noticed that the quality of the service and the food was not quite as good. I really do not think it was my imagination. Did anyone else notice this?

 

[kdunkle904]

My husband and I pay for the dining plan and we have never had a problem getting what we wanted. I am still tweaking my adr's and I leave for WDW in 13 days! As long as you are willing to keep looking you can find what you want.
As far as not knowing what you want to eat 180 days out. You do know what kind of food you like, you can look at the menus and decide what type of place appeals to you. So i just dont get the people that want to complain about that. Disney is not asking you to place your order right then and there.If you see lots of food on a menu and say yum that looks really good, make an adr there. If you know you HAVE to get an autograph and picture with Lilo and Stitch, you know you want to eat at Ohana ,etc,etc

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Shame on Disney for finding a way to fill those restaurants and increase their profits. And shame on us for using these opportunities to ruin op's experience.

 

[DisneyWitch]

Everyone "pays" for dining. "Free" dining means rack rate rooms.

Hate to tell ya this, but for my time frame next May I'm paying for both dining AND rack rate rooms. So...not everyone gets a discount, even without free dining. My entire vacation is one big ol' blackout. LOL

Please don't think that I am upset or complaining about discounts. After all, I'm going to WDW and I budgeted for full price when I began planning. I'm hoping it will translate to less people in the park and an easier time to get ADRs, because it seems that only people like me pay full price.