Never again during free dining promotion

[Disney8704]

Yeah last time we went to disney in Sept 2003, it was during the 3rd and 4th week of Sept and was perfect. Had no ADRs but 1 for CRT and was able to get into any TS restraunt with hardly any wait, and there was hardly any crowds. Plus we got an amazing rate for our hotel at the GF with what is called now the MK view. My opinion, its the best time to go because kids are in school and everyone dont wanna go then, because they wanna save their trip for Halloween or the holidays.

I went last year late Sept on the Dining Plan and the parks were empty. I am sure they will be busier this year, but I think the will not be much worse than other years after labor day with the kids in school.

 

[Disney8704]

I love your pic. Where was it taken at? I can never seem to find Aladdin and Jasmin down there.

We'll be there 8/27-9/3. I hope with a lot of kids back to school already that the crowds will thin a little. If my son was starting his new school on 9/7, we'd go later in September. I actually had rescheduled this a few weeks ago from a trip in December and had no problem making ADRs only a few weeks out except for Chef Mickey's that only had breakfast or dinner times that were either very early or very late. I was so happy that they added the lunch and I was able to get the ADR for that.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

We're going second week of Sept. We've made ADR's and got everything we wanted. And about 3 weeks ago, I changed the R&C to Le Celliere and got the exact same time. Disney is getting my money because of the free dining. I hope for their sake it is crowded and they make lots of money. If they don't, they'll stop free dining, shorten park hours, and cut staff, making WDW much less magical.

 

[Dicecatt]

This is the first year for us on the dining plan at all, and since there are 6 of us (one baby), the free dining is a fantastic opportunity. I realize it may make the crowds a little busier than usual (we are going Sept 20-29) but like another poster said, I don't care, at least I'm not at work!

Let me give you an example why Disney is likely to offer this promotion again, besides filling the parks...

I had a family suite at ASMu, room only at first. Then free dining came out, I had to lose the suite because it didn't apply, so I booked 2 rooms at ASMo. So, right there, more money for Disney. THEN, I had an awesome CM, and when I was asking about quotes for other hotels (thinking of upgrading) I mentioned that I had always wanted to stay at the Polynesian, but I would have to wait a while. As I thought she was checking CBR, she came back with "this is how much the Polynesian would be." That is pretty much all it took. AND, I decided to stay another day. I also ended up booking the Breathless, heck, I don't have to pay for food. So, the moral of this story? Disney loves free dining.

 

[Bounce_Tigger]

Ditto to the OP. I LOVED racking up 100+ bills at great restaurants but it was hellish with the crowds. The entire time I was saying "never again..."

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I
If free dining is offered next year, the August crowds may be worst. I've noticed that many school systems that used to start school in early August have pasted laws not to start until August 25-29.

This means more families will be able to get value season rates, free dining, late park hours, and the kids won't miss school.

It also may mean that Disney might change when value season will start. It wouldn't surprise me at all.

 

[DiszyDeanette]

Since free dining came about it has made October a madhouse too. The parks are mobbed and ADRS are hard to get. I wish they would do away with the free dining.

Not sure how it could make a huge difference in October. Free dining is only up to 10 days, and you have to check in by 9/30 to qualify, so there is no free dining after 10/9. We love free dining, as we were going to pay for the DDP anyway. Moving our trip back a few weeks allowed us to add two days AND save over $1000. Sorry if people that don't use it / didn't get it are upset about it, but that's like being mad at the people that whiz past you with a fastpass while you're waiting in a long line for a ride.

 

[mlcclc77]

I am going to Disney from 9/2 to 9/9, will someone please tell me how to get this free dining I am hearing about? I haven't heard anything about it until I got to this site, and I would love to be able to get it if I can! It might save us a lot of money. Thanks and let me know what it entails.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am going to Disney from 9/2 to 9/9, will someone please tell me how to get this free dining I am hearing about? I haven't heard anything about it until I got to this site, and I would love to be able to get it if I can! It might save us a lot of money. Thanks and let me know what it entails.

Free dining was a promotion available to guests who booked room/ticket packages at rack (undiscounted) resort rates.

Unfortunately, the time for booking the promotion this year has expired.

 

[eblack0409]

Schools here are starting back on Monday, so you probably hit the "last week before school goes back" crowd....DH and I are going the last week of September...kids back in school, so hopefully the crowds will be ok...

We went on our honeymoon last September (2nd week of September) and had free dining...we didn't wait for anything...Soarin' was the longest wait and that was 15 mins!

 

[monetnj]

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?

The poster said, "Our waitress at Boma said that we were one of the few who were not on the dining plan and the restaurant was packed."

By that I took here to mean that the waitress meant they were one of the few customers at BOMA not using the dining plan to eat there, not that Boma is not a DP restaurant.

 

[tiki23]

This will be our 1st trip, but I would bet that as a rule of thumb the restaurants are just busier now than they used to be, no matter if dining is free or not. I've been trying to change some ADR's for Nov 13th-18th and no dice, not much availability left in the parks. The resort restaurants seem to be pretty wide open, though.

 

[mickey2000]

Free dining was a promotion available to guests who booked room/ticket packages at rack (undiscounted) resort rates.

Unfortunately, the time for booking the promotion this year has expired.

I got my AAA discount of almost $200 with perks, free dining. This saving was compared to if I did it directly with WDW by phone.

 

[intrep93]

mickey2000 - How did you get AAA discount AND free dining? We had initially booked our room through AAA and had paid for DDP OOP so we had the AAA discount on the room/tickets. Then when they announced free dining we called to get in on that. Our AAA agent called Disney and they credited back our DDP amount MINUS the AAA discount. So we got back about $680 from our $1000 DDP (AAA discounts had come up to about $320). So how'd you get so lucky? I wanna know who your agent it so next time I can book through them!!!!

 

[tuckerkeys]

after reading this thread on sunday, i called to reserve the few spots i left open for dining....i am going sept 2-10. i had NO PROBLEM getting ressies for crystal palace, OHANA, LTT, and Whis. canyon. these were all dinner ressies, anywhere from 7-7:40. i originally booked my ressies in late july and had the pick of times for dinner and breakfast. there are still openings left, i asked the CM. They are for early times, @ 5 or so, and for later than 8. seems as if the "prime time" to eat is @ 6-7pm. we figured it would be best to at least have something and if we decide that day to be somewhere else, we'd see if we could pick up a ressie where we want to go & then cancel our existing ressie. BTW we are 3. i also asked if being a larger party had any problems with making ressies and the CM said she had more openings for 2, 3 or 4 than larger parties....

 

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

Thank you, Monetnj, that is exactly what I meant. We (my husband and I) were not on the dining plan because we are DVC members. The waitress told us that almost everyone else in the restaurant was dining on the plan.

 

[monetnj]

Thank you, Monetnj, that is exactly what I meant. We (my husband and I) were not on the dining plan because we are DVC members. The waitress told us that almost everyone else in the restaurant was dining on the plan.

Joined DVC back in February and going first week in September myself with no DDP. First long trip home to VWL (went for 2 nights in June to get a taste of a 1-bedroom and it was awesome!). Didn't have any problem last week booking Whispering Canyon at 5:50 for 7 mid-week. Others have reported similar experiences so I am hopeful that post-labor day things will ease up.

First week of school for the northeast is what it is, and with the south in the early weeks itself, I don't think DDP will do much to change what has usually been a low crowd level time. There will be those that might pull their kids out, and the DDP will raise participation for those without school age kids, but I bet crowd levels will be quite a bit lower than at busy times like President's week, Spring Break, Christmas etc. I think the confluence of many parts of the country trying to squeeze something into the last two weeks of summer vacation plus the start of the promotion led to the crowd levels some have reported for last week. The next 10 days may be as bad too. Anyway, I'll have my laptop, so I'll try to report in "real time."

 

[DisKim]

I haven't read this whole thread. I just got back and have to totally agree with the OP. We like to go in August because it is usually a lot less crowded than the rest of the summer and we are teachers so we have to travel in the summer. We did have a good time but the crowds were awful. I also experienced a lot of very rude cm's. However, there were still many wonderful cm's, especially in the restaurants. That amazed me because I would think the wait staff would be especially affected by the free dining. I honestly hope they don't do free dining at the end of August next year.

 

[Poohbear123]

that the "free Dining" stuff is not offered the rest of this year, as I have 3 more trips planned, and hope not to have to put up with the crowds.

 

[Disney8704]

Doesnt make sense to do free dining in september. I mean ya sure disney is trying to get ppl to come down, but a lot of ppl dont wanna pull their kids out of school when its just starting. In my opinion it should be during one of the summer months June, July or the first part of August. Or better yet, no free dining at all.