Mark your Calendars for ADRs

[thelionqueen]

I personally preferred the 180 day ADR window, but then again I do already have my 2010 trips planned
Don't judge, it makes me happy

 

[gkrykewy]

I personally preferred the 180 day ADR window, but then again I do already have my 2010 trips planned
Don't judge, it makes me happy

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'd love it! My point was: let's say you're 120 days out from your trip when the window gets extended. You'd better find out pretty much instantly and get on the phone, or when you do find out, you might find your desired ADRs taken.

 

[photobob]

Phew, counter service only. Crisis averted!

The bigger issue will be if they suddenly extend the ADR window out to 180 days again, as has been rumored. Hopefully there is sufficient advance warning.

Actually it is quick service DP for Value Resorts and regular DP for moderates, deluxe and villas.

 

[mimmiepnp]

Is the free dining also going on during Thanksgiving week or is it blacked out then? I sure do hope so as we will be there 11/25 - 12/1 at SSR then BLT!!

Mimmiepnp

 

[photobob]

Is the free dining also going on during Thanksgiving week or is it blacked out then? I sure do hope so as we will be there 11/25 - 12/1 at SSR then BLT!!

Mimmiepnp

I didn't read any blackout dates. I hope this trend doesn't continue in the years to come. I plan on making some fall trips, but I sure don't want to during the free dining free for all.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Terrific. Thank you very much Disney. Well I've got it on my calendar to call the very first day I can for our December trip. And I just sat down and went thru all the menus and made a list of where I want reservations.

I tell you - it seems like every trip to WDW is getting to be more and more of a hassle. We just got back Saturday and the crowds were much larger than I was expecting (part of which were the BTG's). When we retired I was thinking - wow, we can travel to WDW whenever we wish and can go when the crowds are low. But that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

Plus it used to be that when you got tired of WDW, you could always at least use your points at HHI. But I called a few weeks back trying to get a ressie for this Fall and it is booked up solid also.

Frankly, I wish they would just put a cap on DVC memberships and stop building new resorts - but I know that will never happen.

 

[kid-at-heart]

Personally I hate the "free dining" promotion, however, I do understand Disney trying to fill rooms and make money. Disney could (and should) offer folks not on the "free dining plan" the opportunity to make their ADRs a week before those on the free dining promotion. I know, such a situtation would create a big headache for Disney but their free dining promotion is creating a big headache for us not taking advantage of the promotion and still visiting Disney.

 

[erionm]

Is the free dining also going on during Thanksgiving week or is it blacked out then? I sure do hope so as we will be there 11/25 - 12/1 at SSR then BLT!!

Mimmiepnp

This is whats posted on disney.com about the free dining:

Get a taste of real vacation value with a package that rolls a Disney Resort hotel room, theme park tickets and a FREE dining plan into one wonderful package for stays most nights 10/1-11/24/2009 and 11/29-12/17/2009.

Full details here: http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....mo&promotionCode=fy10q1dine&market=fy10q1dine

 

[Sammie]

Is the free dining also going on during Thanksgiving week or is it blacked out then? I sure do hope so as we will be there 11/25 - 12/1 at SSR then BLT!!

Mimmiepnp

Wed-Sat of Thanksgiving week is blacked out.

 

[Skip to my Lou]

The need to plan every meal three months in advance just doesn't work for us, so we find ourselves eating offsite more and more every trip. Sounds like we may be finding a few new restaurants for our October trip. To us it has been worth the cost of a car rental. Although, looking at the current car rental prices, we may have to someday revisit that theory.

With all these promotions(which started to appear before the economy went south) I am also missing being able to book at slow times of the year. There are no slow weeks any more! There's always a promotion. Now that our kids are grown, we enjoyed for a couple of years the ability to go when crowds were very light and the restaurants were empty. Those weeks don't seem to exist any more. If the quiet weeks continue to disappear, it will make us rethink how many trips we make. One crazy week with all the kids may make more sense.

Couldn't agree more. I now only want to go when Disney offers nothing. I hope when I go in early December (a trip I planned in early January by the way) all the nut jobs are standing in lines waiting at their restaurants so I can enjoy my time in the parks

 

[Sammie]

Personally I hate the "free dining" promotion, however, I do understand Disney trying to fill rooms and make money. Disney could (and should) offer folks not on the "free dining plan" the opportunity to make their ADRs a week before those on the free dining promotion. I know, such a situtation would create a big headache for Disney but their free dining promotion is creating a big headache for us not taking advantage of the promotion and still visiting Disney.

How about advance booking for DVC members? It would not cost them a thing to do this just a goodwill offer of say even 100 days out DVC members booking through MS can book early.

Believe me as soon as the economy recovers these offers will go away except in the traditionally slower times.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I wonder now if the free dining will push DVC'rs more to the DxDDP? I would think there would be alot more availability at the signature restaraunts.....of course giving Disney just that much more money than I had to in the past.....

 

[Amy&Dan]

How about advance booking for DVC members? It would not cost them a thing to do this just a goodwill offer of say even 80 days out DVC members booking through MS can book early.

Believe me as soon as the economy recovers these offers will go away except in the traditionally slower times.

I like the idea for advance booking for DVC members. Just a little perk we could all enjoy that would lessen the blow of crowded times that used to be uncrowded and seeing all the perks and offers cash paying guests get. I guess we can always hope!

Frankly, we have decided to just do the Quick Serve Plan for Spring Break. Dining at WDW has gotten more complicated and a hassle and with the crowds I know we'll face Easter Week, it just seemed easier.

Heck with this economy who knows, they may end up offering free dining every week until who knows when.

I feel bad for all of you who will now compete with free diners for your ADRS.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

We have a trip spanning the Thanksgiving holiday this year, and well, hearing there will be free dining during that time is very disappointing.

We were on the fence about whether or not to do the dining plan this trip. This announcement helped make our decision NOT to do the dining plan. No sense fighting to spend our credits. We can always reevaluate and look for a decent discount on a rental car instead!

 

[Sammie]

oops............................... I meant to add 10 days out and I subtracted, never was good at math.

I meant to say give DVC a 10 day advantage, oh heck y'all knew what I meant.

 

[Tara]

I don't think this dining plan offer will be anywhere near as popular as the August/September offer. More people take advantage of that, particularly before Labor Day, because kids are out of school (in many areas, anyway). This offer won't have the same benefit, so if anything I think it'll cannibalize a portion of people who would have gone anyway - they'll just get free dining now as a result of booking what they already planned to book. In the end, if it's hard to make my ADRs, well, I guess I can live with that. What I don't want to live with is a state of decline at WDW where lower revenue plays out in the form of reduced staff, dirtier parks, (more) cutbacks on fireworks, etc. If free dining is what gets people in rooms, then so be it. I'm at the point now where there are very few meals that are "make or break" for us having a good time. Sure, I always want to eat at California Grill, but if I get shut out once, it isn't the end of the world.

What I really hope is that DVC people going for F&W will decide this is a good deal and cancel their BLT points reservations in favor of booking cash rooms through CRO and then my waitlist will come through!!

 

[DenLo]

We have a trip spanning the Thanksgiving holiday this year, and well, hearing there will be free dining during that time is very disappointing.

We were on the fence about whether or not to do the dining plan this trip. This announcement helped make our decision NOT to do the dining plan. No sense fighting to spend our credits. We can always reevaluate and look for a decent discount on a rental car instead!

There is a gap around Thanksgiving for the Free Dining. http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/specialOfferDetails?name=Promo&promotionCode=fy10q1dine&market=fy10q1dine

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

There is a gap around Thanksgiving for the Free Dining. http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/specialOfferDetails?name=Promo&promotionCode=fy10q1dine&market=fy10q1dine

I believe the gap only covers Wednesday through Sunday...and we are flying in the Saturday before...so it will affect us.

 

[n2mm]

Man you flew in under that radar, good for you. I have to deal with the early December crowds, free dining, and Pop Warner.

I am thrilled to be going though, well if I have a job then.

Add me to this list. Not only going that same timeframe, but doing a split stay which means I have to call twice as we are cruising in the middle of the stay. We were hoping to do CP for the first time this December, but I have my doubts now, especially with the disadvantage of the split stay.

 

[erionm]

Add me to this list. Not only going that same timeframe, but doing a split stay which means I have to call twice as we are cruising in the middle of the stay. We were hoping to do CP for the first time this December, but I have my doubts now, especially with the disadvantage of the split stay.

You don't have to do a dining package to see the CP. We stopped doing the packages a couple of years ago. If you can go during the week, the stand by line is usually much shorter than on weekends. The stand by line can also be longer depending on who the narrator is.