Never again during free dining promotion

[Disney Freak Numero Uno]

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,.

 

[Tinkbellfan]

Sorry you had a bad experience. If you can go after Labor Day (ie. no school aged kids), I think you will find the crowds more manageble.

 

[nutty4wdw]

sorry to hear you had a bad experience. i never go on season anymore. it's after labor day, a few weeks before christmas or jan after new years. stress free touring. sept has better swimming weathe.

i agree with you about the CM's. i find that many are not knowledgeable and do not know answers to basic questions. but to be fair most are couteous but it's that small group that can ruin it.

 

[Poohbear123]

Who ever invented the Free Disney Dining Plan, needs to be shot!

 

[momandseandodisney]

sorry to hear you had a bad experience. i never go on season anymore. it's after labor day, a few weeks before christmas or jan after new years. stress free touring. sept has better swimming weathe.

i agree with you about the CM's. i find that many are not knowledgeable and do not know answers to basic questions. but to be fair most are couteous but it's that small group that can ruin it.

Keep in mind though after Labour Day free dinning is still on!

 

[Lorelai]

sorry to hear you had a bad experience. i never go on season anymore. it's after labor day, a few weeks before christmas or jan after new years. stress free touring. sept has better swimming weathe.

i agree with you about the CM's. i find that many are not knowledgeable and do not know answers to basic questions. but to be fair most are couteous but it's that small group that can ruin it.

Just curious - does anyone know if Disney hires extra help in the summer (college kids, maybe those not accustomed to being a Dis CM)? Maybe this is why many folks seem disgruntled with the CMs in summer. Maybe they are less knowledgeable since it's not their year round employment, or maybe they are just cranky from the heat.

 

[smjj]

Who ever invented the Free Disney Dining Plan, needs to be shot!

Boy do I aggree with this statement...smjj

 

[hockeybabe]

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.

 

[momandseandodisney]

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.

yeah we went the same time last year, and it was great!

 

[LegoMom3]

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.

Agree - I think most families with kids will try to get the [Free Dining] trip in before school starts, thus the crowds mid-August right after FD started.

Not to say there won't be more people in Sept. than w/o FD, but I would think generally slower than August.

Of course that's just my hopeful opinion, since we are going next month!!

 

[shellybaxter]

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.

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?

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think crowds will be heavy throughout the free dining period. The only thing that may change, will be the part of the country the crowds come from.

I bet right now a large number of visitors are from the NE since school doesn't start back until after Labor Day.

The September crowds may be from the south. Kids there went back to school early August. Since they've been in school for awhile, parents may not mind pulling them out for a trip to WDW.

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.

DISNEY PLEASE OFFER FREE DINING AGAIN NEXT SUMMER!!

 

[treehugger]

Yikes. We always go in September due to the low crowds. Last September with the introduction of free dining the parks weren't bad, alas I believe this year will be much different. Last year the free dining was new and I believe it wasn't offered until late July or August for booking in September. Also we had the effects of Katrina and a record hurricane year that kept a lot of folks away. I am now, more than ever, thankful for Tour Guide Mike. Also I have heard numerous reports that a number of resorts are sold out during my time period. Oh well, regardless, I would still rather be Disney with large crowds than at work!

 

[TDC Nala]

Prior to the Disney Dining Plan, the beginning/middle of August (before many schools started) was always pretty crowded.

It's probably always going to be better after everyone is back in school. Parents aren't likely to take the kids out right at the beginning of the school year to take vacation.

 

[DaisyD]

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.

 

[TDC Nala]

I may have been in other parks, but I don't remember them as being mobbed last October. I don't mess with MK on holiday weekends though. Epcot World Showcase is crazy in the evenings on weekends due to the Food & Wine Festival. Other than that, I haven't seen it.

I do know it was practically impossible to get into a table service restaurant if you didn't already have a reservation from way back.

 

[eeyore45]

Who ever invented the Free Disney Dining Plan, needs to be shot!

I agree too - and I never thought they'd offer it AGAIN - and then to cut if off before columbus day - ending it the week the disboards said was "low crowds last year" only means that was last year - this year - I'm expecting HUGE Crowds...

and whoever came up with free dining probably got a raise AND a promotion (for filling the parks, and rack rates resort rooms - to capacity!!)

Bottom line is - plan for crowds, and you wont be disappointed - they wont be Christmas, or Spring Break Crowds like another poster said... perspective... keep in mind, Disney is for EVERYONE... not just for "ME" (no matter how much I wish it otherwise - )

 

[DaisyD]

It was never this hard to get a last minute TS as it is since free dining has come about. Why would Disney extend TS hours if not for the hoards of free diners. Last October was terrible and I'm not talking about holiday weekends. Just from my experience of going in October for the last 10 years it is now much more crowded.

 

[JungleTiki]

Just got back yesterday, were there 8/13-8/19. We always go this time of year since I travel with a teacher! We have NEVER had any problems eating anywhere in the past 6 years. This time was different. The lines for the rides didn't seem to be any worse than usual, the longest we waited for anything without fast pass was 10 minutes... However, it was IMPOSSIBLE to get into TS places to eat. We generally eat an early dinner or late lunch to avoid the busy times, but you couldn't get ANYTHING. If you have more than 2 people in your party - make ADR's!!!

 

[patsal]

Keep in mind that crowds as a whole are up, up up. We experienced July 4th level crowds and lines in late July. We were spoiled when the travel industry was not booming. It is a different age--more people don't mind pulling kids out of school any time of the year to go on vacation, more people go on a big vacation every year rather than every 3-5, etc. Free dining played an enourmous role, when people who were going to go the first part of August changed their ressies to the second half, but I think you are giving too much credit as a whole to free dining. Besides, if the marketing people wanted to fill the resorts then it did what it was designed to do and was a success from a business standpoint. Overall, I don't think you are going to find that there are so very many slow times anymore. Look at the price increases as a whole--WDW is not having any trouble filling those rooms for those prices. Look at discounts, fewer and fewer with greater restrictions and blocked out dates. The good part, with all the revenue we should see improvements, beter morale among the CM's and maybe more attractions.