Is going during free dining a big mistake??

[guinness408]

we're staying at bwv at the end of August during the free dining offer however 2br at bwv arent included. Are we crazy? Worried the crowds will be bigger than I planned on. Epcot area works for us location-wise with young children or we'd switch hotels.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

We happen to go during free dining every year (although we've yet to participate in the dining plan) and it hasn't been a problem yet. The crowds are slowly getting larger every year, but it's still manageable. I don't think it's a mistake if it's the time of year you like to visit. I do recommend making dining reservations early if you want to eat at popular table service locations, however.

 

[olecow]

We've gone during free dining the last three trips and the crowds have been no problem. We do go during slower times (late January and late October) but that's why they offer free dining, to get more people in the parks. The October time is starting to get more crowded because of the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, but even then it's not a problem for my family.

Of course we look on crowds as somewhat of a "free" bonus attaction. You can do some great people watching at Disney. I know because there have been times when my family is probably the one being watched. But I digress, don't be afraid of going during free dining, enjoy the food!

 

[Dreamsdocometrue9112]

We usually go at the end of August. One year, the free dining offer was out the week were there and the year after, it wasn't. We didn't notice a huge difference in the crowds, to be honest. Both times seemed pretty comparable. I think August is still a pretty busy time though. I've heard it's better in September and historically, there has usually been free dining during that month.

 

[sunshineNJ]

It's not a mistake at all. We been during free dining 3 times. It was fine. Make your adrs ASAP for table service.

 

[wdw4rfam]

We have gone during free dining every year since 06 and the crowds are fine. Disney is choosing those times because they don't see them filing up without it. That is the first week of school for MOST kids. In my opinion probably the best week to go!!!!

 

[CrabbyPatty]

I'd say it would be a mistake ..... ONLY if you PREFER paying for food you could get free! LOL.

I thought the crowds were pretty low during our 2010 visit, and found that even though it was the first week of free dining, there were plenty of ADRs available as well. We ate a Le Cellier one day for lunch, and they were accepting walk-ups, and during our lunch, there were 3 tables near us that remained empty throughout our lunch.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I'd say it would be a mistake ..... ONLY if you PREFER paying for food you could get free!

Actually, I do. I don't want to be encumbered by minding credits or which restaurants accept the plan (many of our favorites do not). Also, even though we've traditionally gone during "free" dining periods, we've always received other room-only discounts that work out to be a better deal for us than paying rack rate for our room and eating the "free" food.

 

[AWish]

Just because there is a free dining option, doesn't mean everyone is participating in it. There are usually deluxe room discounts simutaneously which allow greater savings in certain situations.
Crowds were low to moderate on the December "free dining" week we visited in 1.5 yrs ago. No problems with any ADRs, though many of the character dining experiences seemed crowded.

 

[minnie mum]

Our last several visits have all coincided with free dining. We did not select our dates for this reason, but because they are generally during periods that have low crowds. That's WHY Disney has free dining- to try to boost resort occupancy. While the restaurants are packed with people using up their "free" TS credits, the crowds in the parks are actually not bad at all. I actually prefer a good room discount to FD, though.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We went during FD last year, and didn't find it had any impact on the crowds. If you're not using the DDP, it probably won't affect you anyway. The biggest challenge is getting your ADRs during a FD period.