Is Disney's free dining fair?

[TDC Nala]

I really don't get this point about free dining not being fair. Anyone who wants free dining can get it by booking a full price package with 2-day tickets during a promotion period. If you don't want to do that, that's up to you, but you do have the same chance of access to free dining as anyone else. You also choose to eat at Disney with or without free dining, and you have the same access to restaurants as any other guest (resort guests do get a bit of a jump on reservations, but not all of them are on free dining).

Whether there was free dining or not, you would still have problems booking dinner at 'Ohana before 8 PM if you didn't book it at your 180 day mark. It's popular all the time, free dining or not. You just need to be aware that you have to be there at the 180 day mark if you want that or Le Cellier.

You also have the same opportunity to check the online system or call to try and snag a space opened up by cancellations at popular restaurants.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I too find it aggravating having to decide which park I'm going to be in on what day and knowing where I'm going to eat 6 months in advance, when I have no idea what I'm having for dinner tonight.

However, even before the dining plan, it was necessary to call disney dining at the butt crack of dawn for breakfast at Cinderella Castle and I remember calling for Hoop Dee Doo over a year in advance.

While I find it aggravating I don't find it "unfair".

A Disney vacation takes planning if you want to eat at Disney restaurants, period. Complaining about it won't change anything.

FWIW, I've never used free dining even when I've visited during free dining. It was a choice I made (50% off of my room).

 

[MSLRAC]

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 don't think that free dining is the cause of this...I think it's the entire DDP in general. We traveled this past February and there was no free dining during our trip but Ohana, CM, LeCellier and a handful of other popular locations filled up within a couple of days of our booking window opening.

When we first started going to Disney, you could walk up to most (not all) TS meal at any time of day and get seated. Having near empty TS locations all over property is not lucrative for Disney so they devised a plan to fill them and it is working.

 

[TDC Nala]

I too find it aggravating having to decide which park I'm going to be in on what day and knowing where I'm going to eat 6 months in advance

Currently at WDW if you want to eat in popular restaurants you have to do this anyway, no matter whether free dining is offered or not.

 

[CathieArms]

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 ?

My first thought is, are you serious? While I've never taken advantage of free dining, I've certainly taken advantage of OTHER Disney discounts and incentives. I think most people have. I don't see a difference.

I'm going in June of next year during the blackout dates (so far) for all discounts and free dining. Should I be angry that those who travel on different dates are getting 40% off on their Dx Resorts? Or should I be angry at those who're getting the Disney gift card that I don't qualify for?

Seriously. Chances are good that you might be getting SOME type of discount while at Disney...if not now, then at some point. Why be mad at those who take advantage of a discount that's offered to them?

 

[Brian Noble]

As I'm fond of reminding my children, life is not fair.

On the other hand, everyone has the same opportunity to book dining reservations, whether or not they are getting "free" dining. So, in this case, life *is* fair. Strange how things work out, isn't it?

(And no, I've never taken a "free" dining trip. I've never even been on the dining plan.)

 

[TheNewMrsB]

I understand the OP's point, which I don't believe some people did - free dining = more people making ADR's, or at least, so you'd think. Thus crowding the restaurants, thus making the people who are "paying" for their food unable to get their all-important ADR's. But that's life, so...really, if you don't like it you don't have to take vacation at WDW. Or go when free dining isn't being offered. It's your choice.

 

[smoof]

I think the point is if it weren't for the dining plans, as many people would not be trying for the ADRs. For example, people wouldn't be eating that type of dinner every night. Before the dining plans you didn't have to call for reservations at 7:00 am the day they opened. As a matter of fact, you could even get to Chef Mickey's and other high demand places early and get a seat without reservations.

Free dining is an entirely different thing.

 

[budbeerlady]

I have paid for the dining plans more times than I have gotten it free, it didn't make any difference on my reservations availability. There are only so many places to eat in Disney and lots of hungry patrons, whether they are on any sort of dining plan or not. I like having everything covered on my vacation, its part laziness and part over planner.

 

[TDC Nala]

Well, the dining plans most likely aren't going anywhere. Disney loves them. Guests are paying ahead of time for all or almost all of their food, restricting themselves to restaurants that accept the plan and sometimes not even getting around to actually ordering, much less consuming, all the food they've paid for. This is fabulous for Disney. Once-empty restaurants now book up months in advance, also fabulous for Disney.

Free dining is also the greatest gimmick WDW ever came up with to get people who wouldn't ordinarily take a trip to WDW to not only book onsite, but to gladly pay full price for their resort room.

 

[Planogirl]

Free dining has changed our touring considerably. We eat offsite more often now and save money and probably eat better food overall. Is it annoying? Only in that it has made the food at WDW less interesting IMO.

 

[Jenngoofys]

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 ?

In my opinion everyone has the same chance at the times they want you just have to be the person who calls at 180 days in advance to get the reservations. Good luck everyone

 

[catne]

actually thought this was a joke thread...

What's unfair about taking discounts? Getting free dining or paying for it, you still have an equal shot at getting into a Disney restaurant. If you look at the Disney restaurant website, you'll see they suggest reservations for everyone - it's not just offered to people who use the free dining discount, lol.

Seems like a lot of wasted energy, worrying about what you paid/what they paid and what effect that all has on your vacation. Everyone has the same opportunity to book dinner reservations....

 

[Michigan_Minnie]

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.

We go every year in February and as soon as all the schedules are out I make a game plan for the week and make my ADRs accordingly.

 

[bluejasmine]

I dont see the big deal about having to make your plans 180 days in advance, I find it enjoyable and the thing is my plans change constantly on up to days before we leave! So its not that it has to be set in stone with a few exceptions of very popular places like Ohana, Le Cellier and maybe Chef Mickeys even those presistance normally pays off in getting them.

Another thing is everyone always blames the DDP for the decline in service and food.
I dont get it b/c I know that even outside of WDW there is a decline in food and service in alot of places.

Only thing that bothers me about DDP is the fact they change is every yr to give you less and less. I have done several FD trips and I have done several trips I paid for DP b/c to our family its just so much easier and we save some money with it. We dont do alot of signatures most of what we eat are 1TS credits so its not a problem, then when we do signatures we use CS credits or pay OOP for other meals no biggie!

FD gives alot of families a chance to go to WDW who normally wouldnt be able to afford the room, the tickets and the food. Im speaking from experience and I was always grateful for it. My family got to try many great restaurants before we paid for the plan but b/c we had such a good experience with FD we decided paying for it is also worth it.

Instead of having threads that down everything about WDW why dont we have more positive threads? Life is hard enough lets let the happiest place on earth continue to be the HAPPIEST!

 

[Sandisw]

Well, the dining plans most likely aren't going anywhere. Disney loves them. Guests are paying ahead of time for all or almost all of their food, restricting themselves to restaurants that accept the plan and sometimes not even getting around to actually ordering, much less consuming, all the food they've paid for. This is fabulous for Disney. Once-empty restaurants now book up months in advance, also fabulous for Disney.

Free dining is also the greatest gimmick WDW ever came up with to get people who wouldn't ordinarily take a trip to WDW to not only book onsite, but to gladly pay full price for their resort room.

And I wonder if this might be the reason why you currently see the free dining promotion out for 2011 already.

As you mention, for Disney, you have people booking the full price for a room and agreeing to eat in the restaurants. Even the dining plan comes with a cost (tips) so they are also ensuring wages for their employees.

And, how many people end up either leaving credits unused or end up just getting overpriced things like rice crispy treats to take home.

It is a win win promotion for both Disney and the guest.

As far as it being fair, I really am not seeing the connection as to why someone paying for the plan is entitled to reservations over someone that hasn't. Both are Disney guests (on or off site) and that is the only requirement to eating at the Disney restaurants.

 

[Nadjalu]

Not sure why OP can't find an Ohana ressie for Feb 3rd or 4th. Made mine for that week last week and checked it again 2 days ago to "tweak" my time.

There were a FEW available. Not an open book like some restaurants, but there were at least 5 adrs times to grab between those 2 days.

Maybe check again.

AS I POSTED THIS: There are availabilites at Ohana on Fri the 4th at 5:30, 6:30 and 6:45.

SO what is the issue again???

 

[FlightlessDuck]

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 is a problem in peak seasons, regardless of free dining.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

It is what it is. Like many have said, Disney is trying to turn a profit. Free dining must obviously do that otherwise they wouldn't be offering it so much.

As far as people booking multiple ADR's, that has nothing to do with free dining IMO. I've seen posts where people are doing this when it wasn't during free dining windows. So it happens. I booked our trip about 9 months out. And then I booked all of my ADR's right when my 180 day window opened. I was able to get what I wanted (even the elusive Le Cellier) at the times I wanted. Heck, I was even able to get CRT at only 3 months away from our trip. I like to plan and for me, planning my meals out is much more relaxing than scrambling to find a table service restaurant the day of that has availability. We don't usually eat counter service meals so for us, it makes perfect sense to plan out our meals.

I will say too that we have booked trips in the past that were literally 2 weeks before we were leaving. We had trouble getting some reservations that we wanted and this was during a slow time of year that was not during free dining. So we made do with what we could knowing that we were going to be limited in our choices because we chose to book our trip so late.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Of course I've heard it argued that Free Dining has "dumbed down" the quality and quantity of what's offered at WDW restaurants.
So the restaurants are crowded with people happily eating anything since they believe they got a bargain---