Never again during free dining promotion

[beeayekay]

Crowded is relative. That said, I do not think WDW will ever again be as empty as some of you would wish. I can remember going in October before DS and DD began school (1986) and the place was literally a ghost town. Only two parks and everything was truly a walk-on. It was nice just being the only people there.

But last August was nice,too. DH and I went back after an over 10 year absence during the first week of last year's free dining. We avoided EMH parks following the DIS mantra of do the evening EMH park the NEXT morning, got there at rope drop and, again, walked on practically everything. Sure the masses showed up after lunch, but by then we were somewhere else!!

Hopped to Epcot around 2:30 one afternoon and got FastPasses for Soarin' for 4:00 - not bad.

When we got back, I read several reports describing the crowd conditions the week we were there. Some thought it was packed; other thought it was manageable. We were all in the same parks at the same time and we all had differing views on crowd levels. Go figure - crowd reports are relative to what you think crowded is.

I think free dining has enabled many to go when they would not be able to go or even afford to go, and for this, I think it is wonderful. Share the magic!!!!! We are going again. This time, the week after Labor Day as I am now a RETIRED teacher -

As for Poohbear123, now, now, now ---- don't be selfish and play nice..............................

Babs

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

a friend of mine went the 3rd week in July and said the parks weren't that crowded. It looks like everyone postponed their trip to the 3rd week in August for the free dining!!

Another thing, last year was the 1st year and since this is the 2nd year for the free dining, alot more people were aware of it. I wasn't aware of it last year (didn't Dis) until October when one of my dd friends mom told me about it and I thought she was crazy!! (seemed to good to be true-- FREE Dining!!)

It will be interesting to see how the Sept crowds turn out!!

PS. I just spoke to another friend who came back Friday the 18th and he said that it wasn't that Bad-- However, they don't do thrill rides!!

 

[pooch]

all my ADR's set, don't care if it's busy, at least I'm not at work. WANT TO GO TO WDW NOW!!!!

 

[hockeybabe]

I'm curious what the line wait times were at their peak? Sometimes one person's extremely crowded is another person's "doable". So I'm curious at 2:30 in the afternoon what was the wait for the big rides, if you remember?

We went Sept 28 - Oct. 3. The first day was MK, got there by noon, walked on to Buzz and did 3 times in a row, no wait, literally...like, no humans in the cars behind us or in front of us. 10 minute wait for Indy, but rode on it 2x in a row (DD Cinderella hadn't "found her slipper yet", so CM told our car and DH and DS's car behind us to go again.) Walked onto Small World, again, no wait. No wait for Pirates, literally walked onto the first boat we encountered. 10 minute for Splash, 5 for Big Thunder. No FP machines were open in the whole park. Jungle Cruise was a 5 minute wait. 10 minute for Haunted Mansion. So low crowds all around. Next day was Epcot. 10 minute wait for Soarin, no wait for Test Track, literally walked in the pre-show room with about 10 other people. Again, no FP machines working. Next day was MGM. Walked on to RnR, didn't have alot of time to see the preshow. No line for Star Tours, got picked for Indy to perform before a half full stadium. Sat down to watch the parade as the music started playing. Front row seats to right 15 mintues before Fantasmic. Then came Saturday Oct 1. AK day. Crowded. About 15 minute wait Kilamanjaro, waited about 30 minutes for Bugs Life, waited about 20 minutes for Dinosaur, and got FP's for Kali River, and was still about a 15 minute line. Very hot, so left at 3-ish and headed back to Epcot. FP's sold out, 270 minute wait for TT and Soarin. WS still manageable, but huge difference. Sun was rainy and Downtown Disney day. Back to MK for Spectro. Not too bad waits for rides, late in day so didn't bother with FP's just went on low line rides. Monday DH went surfing, then back to one last time at MK. Could hardly walk. 90 minute waits on everything we wanted to see by noon. Took about 30 minutes to get down Main Street, and another 30 to leave as we realized we were too hot and tired to fight the crowds. Apparently Fall Break had started for some states, and that with the first week of F&W made it incredibly crowded compared to what we were used to.

Hope that helps!

 

[PatriciaH]

We were at Epcot today and crowds were really light. We called at 11am for ADR's and got a 12:50pm time for 3. Chefs de France was pretty empty. We could have eaten at Teppanyaki, Nine Dragons, Rose and Crown, Garden Grill and several more at 1pm. Oh, and when we were deciding on what park to go to today we also checked Plaza Restaurant in the MK and could have gotten in for 1:30pm.

 

[OzFan]

a friend of mine went the 3rd week in July and said the parks weren't that crowded. It looks like everyone postponed their trip to the 3rd week in August for the free dining!!

Another thing, last year was the 1st year and since this is the 2nd year for the free dining, alot more people were aware of it. I wasn't aware of it last year (didn't Dis) until October when one of my dd friends mom told me about it and I thought she was crazy!! (seemed to good to be true-- FREE Dining!!)

It will be interesting to see how the Sept crowds turn out!!

PS. I just spoke to another friend who came back Friday the 18th and he said that it wasn't that Bad-- However, they don't do thrill rides!!

My cousin just returned this past Friday and said it was GREAT. She is a teacher and has always gone over spring break. She told me they were able to ride Soarin twice on the EMH night. She also told me she WILL NEVER go during Spring Break again, this time of year was better than she could have hoped for. As for the free dining, I say THANK YOU, THANK YOU to whoever thought this one up. It has allowed my family a trip this year that we wouldn't had been able to do. With a family of 6, the dining budget is pretty high no matter how you try to trim it. Free dining saves us big $$$$. I hope they offer it again next year.

 

[zookeeper]

all my ADR's set, don't care if it's busy, at least I'm not at work. WANT TO GO TO WDW NOW!!!!

That's the attitude!!!!! I think if you decide you're going to have a good time you will no matter what!!!

6 days left

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

We were there from the 9th to the 16. The first half of our trip was WAY LESS crowded than I expected for that time of year but as soon as Sunday the 13th hit, the crowds were noticably way up. I'm sure A LOT of people who usually go in August just made their trip to fit into free dining. I'm definitely planning to go next year the week before free dining hits again. It was great!

 

[Disneyhappy]

We were at Epcot today and crowds were really light. We called at 11am for ADR's and got a 12:50pm time for 3. Chefs de France was pretty empty. We could have eaten at Teppanyaki, Nine Dragons, Rose and Crown, Garden Grill and several more at 1pm. Oh, and when we were deciding on what park to go to today we also checked Plaza Restaurant in the MK and could have gotten in for 1:30pm.

That sounds much better than our experience this past week and makes me hopeful for other guests for the remainder of the free DDP. I think lunch ADRs are much easier to come by than evening. Last week we wanted to changed our schedule to accomodate the unexpected crowds and could not get any evening ADRs for any TS restaurant in Epcot, Epcot resort area and MGM on two evenings except for Nine Dragons and the Morocco restaurant but those times were after 9 PM.

 

[Indigo09]

Well we are leaving tomorrow for our trip ( ) and I can only hope that the parks are not as crowded as everyone is saying. Personally I do like the Dining Plan because it's helped my mom and I go to a lot of new restuarants that we've never been able to go to because of the price. So I agree that the guy who thought it up needs a raise and promotion

 

[MagicalMom]

I have been to Disney during Christmas & Easter. We usually go during 4th of July week. I always thought those were busy times, but last week was much, much worse. The parks were packed, the pools were packed, you could feel the stress everywhere. Disney was not the Happiest Place on earth last week. The character meals were miserable because they were so rushed & people were so upset because they didn't get to spend time with the characters. I think we will take a Disney break next year, it may take that long to recover from this trip.

 

[Off2DisIGo]

I had forgotten about the trend to fall school breaks in October.

Yes. LOTS of school districts in GA get the week of Columbus Day off for fall break. This has become a popular time for WDW (it's why we are going that week) so you may want to avoid the 2nd week of Oct if you want to avoid crowds. When I was making ressies, our 1st and 2nd choice resorts were already booked.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes. LOTS of school districts in GA get the week of Pres Day off for fall break. This has become a popular time for WDW (it's why we are going that week) so you may want to avoid the 2nd week of Oct if you want to avoid crowds. When I was making ressies, our 1st and 2nd choice resorts were already booked.

Presidents Day is in February; this must be Columbus Day.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I have been to Disney during Christmas & Easter. We usually go during 4th of July week. I always thought those were busy times, but last week was much, much worse. The parks were packed, the pools were packed, you could feel the stress everywhere. Disney was not the Happiest Place on earth last week. The character meals were miserable because they were so rushed & people were so upset because they didn't get to spend time with the characters. I think we will take a Disney break next year, it may take that long to recover from this trip.

My thoughts exactly! Only problem for us is that we purchsed APs for this trip so I want to get in a few more quick trips with at least a one week trip next summer. I think I will plan it for one week prior in case Disney does free dining again.

 

[Off2DisIGo]

Presidents Day is in February; this must be Columbus Day.

OOPS! That is what I meant. But we get off the week of Pres Day in Feb, too, for mid-winter break.

 

[BlindTyldak]

I am so, so happy we decided to go in November . . . I'd actually urged to go in September the week after Labor Day as it's the slowest time I've ever been at the parks, but hoping for it to be a little cooler we decided on the break between the parties. We'd already budgeted to pay for dining (we booked a year out) so missing what would have ended up being free dining is no biggie, especially since the code came out.

I'm happy-dancing on so many levels right now.

Though I feel bad for people dealing with the crowds.

 

[Maria395712]

I am going sept 27-oct3 hope it's not to bad
maria

 

[purpliequeen]

We got back Fri and had a great time. The crowds were as bad as the week before Christmas. I went in expecting it and was fine. We didn't meet any mean cm's (fortunately) and AKL was perfect. We will not be going back during free dining ever again though, esp because we don't qualify- we're DVC members.

 

[mrzrich]

My thoughts exactly! Only problem for us is that we purchsed APs for this trip so I want to get in a few more quick trips with at least a one week trip next summer. I think I will plan it for one week prior in case Disney does free dining again.

Thats a good idea. We went to MK on Saturday August 5th, arrived late at 10 am (We drove from home 90 minutes away) Did all of adventureland, Fronteirland, HM, Barnstomer and most of Fantasyland by 2PM. Then had lunch at Tony's and finished just as the 3PM parade was coming by. Went to resort POFQ, swam, freshened up and took the bus back to MK at 6:30 PM and did tommorowland and finished up fantasyland. Grabbed a dole whip on our way out and we were back at our hotel by 10 PM.

It was a very relaxed day and the crowds were extremely managable.


By the way, regarding Fall Breaks, many local school districts have off various days the week after Columbus day. My DS has off Friday Oct 13 and Monday Oct 16 making a four day weekend. Other counties have off other days, some the entire week!

 

[Disney8704]

Boma is on the dining plan. Why did you say Boma isnt on the dining plan when it is? Or were they just not on for the free dining?

We have always planned one of our trips to WDW during mid to late August. Crowds were usually manageable. Not this year!!! We found all of the parks to be extremely crowded and spend much of our time waiting on lines. The only day that worked out well was the day we did EMH in the morning at MK. We were able to do most of what we planned but by 11 am, the park was packed with people. We had lunch at the Plaza restaurant and went back to the hotel.
Our waitress at Boma said that we were one of the few who were not on the dining plan and the restaurant was packed.
I was very disappointed with this trip and will probably plan future trips for immediately after labor day.
Another thing- While some CMs were very pleasant, I found that a large number of park CMs, mostly young people, were either totally disinterested in doing their jobs or were extremely rude and sarcastic. The CMs in the restaurants and in the hotel (BCV) seemed to be much more pleasant, with the exception of one of the cashiers in the BCV marketplace who didn't say a word to me or even look at me while ringing up my purchase. No Hello, Thank You, etc,.