No Free Dining = No WDW This Year?

[robinb]

You see, there will be 12 of us going. So the FD would save us lots of money, we are all adults, so it will be costly. My husband has been off work for almost 6 months and I am laid off, so funds are a little limited.

Maybe it's all for the best that you stay home and save your money .

 

[DISNEY1975]

Well, I guess I was attacked a little when I said that if FD wasnt offered, we wouldn be going. I have sat and figured for hours trying to see what the best solution would be if its not offered. I guess I could stay offsite, but the transportation is wonderful onsite, that I hate to have to fool around with a rental car. You see, there will be 12 of us going. So the FD would save us lots of money, we are all adults, so it will be costly. My husband has been off work for almost 6 months and I am laid off, so funds are a little limited. This was going to be our Christmas. Sooooo, before you start flinging mud at others, stop and think what you would do if you were in someone elses shoes, and really wanted to spend your Christmas at WDW but just couldnt do it. Pretty heartbreaking.

Everyone is entitled to their thoughts, and thats mine.

Youre kidding right?

 

[rie'smom]

Well, I guess I was attacked a little when I said that if FD wasnt offered, we wouldn be going. I have sat and figured for hours trying to see what the best solution would be if its not offered. I guess I could stay offsite, but the transportation is wonderful onsite, that I hate to have to fool around with a rental car. You see, there will be 12 of us going. So the FD would save us lots of money, we are all adults, so it will be costly. My husband has been off work for almost 6 months and I am laid off, so funds are a little limited. This was going to be our Christmas. Sooooo, before you start flinging mud at others, stop and think what you would do if you were in someone elses shoes, and really wanted to spend your Christmas at WDW but just couldnt do it. Pretty heartbreaking.

Everyone is entitled to their thoughts, and thats mine.

I'd like to make a suggestion. If you still want to go and FD isn't offered, maybe a pool villa would be a good option. We stayed in one at Emerald Isle about 5 minutes from Animal Kingdom. The villas are super nice and they have washers and dryers. It really is a cost efficient option. Then everyone who wants to stay in the villa could all pitch in and rent a van. You can get a 4bd for about $1000/ week and there are larger homes available.

 

[focusondisney]

I've booked POR for the end of September paying full price rates. We are getting an educational discount on tickets, so we will go in September. If Disney doesn't offer free dining, we'll (regretably) cancel our POR reservations and stay at a cheaper place with more space for our family of 5. I know that we shouldn't expect the same promotions year after year; however, it is difficult to pay such high rates for Disney property without some kind of incentive. The other resorts aren't as "magical" and we would have to pay for parking at theme parks, but we could get a place with a free breakfast, kitchen and bigger beds for almost half of what we're paying at POR. I'm hoping that something gets announced this month.

I think this is the problem. People are now expecting the same free dining promo. Disney does usually offer a fall promo, but I'm starting to think it might not be free dining. Disney is known to change things up periodically & I really don't think they want people thinking anything is guaranteed.

We took a behind the scenes tour last year. While on it, there was a question about something that was changed from previous years. The cast member who was leading the tour said this exact thing. Disney likes to change things up. And he said they do it about every 5 years or so. Now this was not related to booking or promos mind you, just a general comment on Disney. If you think about it, it could apply here, it has been about 4-5 years of free dining, I think. Maybe time for them to change things, especially if people are starting to feel "entitled" to a certain discount.

I do think there will be a significant fall discount, just maybe not free dining.

 

[Wendy*Darling]

Jenny, were you planning on going Christmas week? If so, were you planning to be there before Christmas and leave right after or get there at Christmas and stay through New Years? If getting there at Christmas, I wouldn't plan on free dining at all. That is their single busiest week all year and it is really rare for them to offer discounts at all that week. Most of the time the only way to get one was to check in before the end of a promo (which have sometimes gone as late as right before Christmas day) and have it extend into Christmas week.

You may already know that, but in case you didn't just wanted to mention it. For that particular week, I would plan for worst case scenario just to be safe!

 

[beansmom]

Well, I guess I was attacked a little when I said that if FD wasnt offered, we wouldn be going. I have sat and figured for hours trying to see what the best solution would be if its not offered. I guess I could stay offsite, but the transportation is wonderful onsite, that I hate to have to fool around with a rental car. You see, there will be 12 of us going. So the FD would save us lots of money, we are all adults, so it will be costly. My husband has been off work for almost 6 months and I am laid off, so funds are a little limited. This was going to be our Christmas. Sooooo, before you start flinging mud at others, stop and think what you would do if you were in someone elses shoes, and really wanted to spend your Christmas at WDW but just couldnt do it. Pretty heartbreaking.

Everyone is entitled to their thoughts, and thats mine.

We are ALL entitled to speak our thoughts..this is a public forum and it is still America. I don't think you were 'attacked'...but sometimes we can get 'Disney fever' so bad, we can't see anything else. But I stand by my words. I am fortunate enough that my DH has a very good job that is about as secure as it gets (we will ALWAYS need medical care as a world...doctors and bill collectors are pretty safe) but when I was married to a man who wouldn't work...we only went to Disney once.

Yes, Disney IS wonderful but if my hubby and I had been out of work for a while, I honestly wouldn't be worried about a vacation. I'd more concerned about saving and paying my mortgage, car payment and electric. I don't mean to sound harsh or anything but Disney isn't going anywhere. I'd rather be able to sleep a month in my own home knowing I would have a place to live next month than a few days in Disney.

Christmas is nice but spending money isn't what it's supposed to be about. God provides for us but He also expects us to be good Stewards of what he gives us. (I am not preaching...just using what very little common sense I may have.) Millions of people NEVER go to Disneyworld and live productive lives.

As I said...I'm not attacking you but gently suggesting that maybe Disney isn't always the most important thing to be worrying about at certain times.

 

[clowe247]

Well, I guess I was attacked a little when I said that if FD wasnt offered, we wouldn be going. I have sat and figured for hours trying to see what the best solution would be if its not offered. I guess I could stay offsite, but the transportation is wonderful onsite, that I hate to have to fool around with a rental car. You see, there will be 12 of us going. So the FD would save us lots of money, we are all adults, so it will be costly. My husband has been off work for almost 6 months and I am laid off, so funds are a little limited. This was going to be our Christmas. Sooooo, before you start flinging mud at others, stop and think what you would do if you were in someone elses shoes, and really wanted to spend your Christmas at WDW but just couldnt do it. Pretty heartbreaking.

Everyone is entitled to their thoughts, and thats mine.

I understand. Last year was a rough year for us too. Husband has lost job for 10 months. (had to cancel bb trip last year). Couldn't keep up with the bills and morgage on my salary. Had to move inorder For my husband to get a job. We are hoping for free dining to help us out also and staying at the pop. We need a vacation and definately on a BUDGET. So I will still be watching out for some codes to help us out. My family needs alittle magic from Disney

 

[Jenny Wren]

Youre kidding right?

Nope not kidding.....But I am done with all this petty crap on this thread. Absolutely ridiculous. Cant believe that grown adults act this way. All we all want is a nice, magical vacation. Is that to much to wish for???????????

 

[focusondisney]

Well, I guess I was attacked a little when I said that if FD wasnt offered, we wouldn be going. I have sat and figured for hours trying to see what the best solution would be if its not offered. I guess I could stay offsite, but the transportation is wonderful onsite, that I hate to have to fool around with a rental car. You see, there will be 12 of us going. So the FD would save us lots of money, we are all adults, so it will be costly. My husband has been off work for almost 6 months and I am laid off, so funds are a little limited. This was going to be our Christmas. Sooooo, before you start flinging mud at others, stop and think what you would do if you were in someone elses shoes, and really wanted to spend your Christmas at WDW but just couldnt do it. Pretty heartbreaking.

Everyone is entitled to their thoughts, and thats mine.

Hmmm,I guess I hope you do get free dining then. You won't have to worry about buying groceries that week.

 

[tfoster]

One word for you people--

BOUNCEBACK.

DH and I were both very impressed by Free Dining last summer, so we booked a Bounceback trip for this year before we left.

I hope that Free Dining comes out this year so our friends can join us, but if it doesn't, they'll take whatever discount becomes available.

It's great for those who get them. We were at Disney last December and got NO bounceback offer. When we came back, I learned about all of the people who were there at the same time as us who DID get the offer. I know I could have tried calling and explaining the situation to try to get it, but instead, I felt very slighted and started planning our next Orlando trip - to Universal.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

For anyone hoping for a pin and never got any, call and ask if you have one. I just booked our vacation last week (we are going with or without FD or a deal) and had a pin attached to us. We check our emials religiously and never got it. It didn't save much, but until something better comes alone I will take it.

 

[beansmom]

Nope not kidding.....But I am done with all this petty crap on this thread. Absolutely ridiculous. Cant believe that grown adults act this way. All we all want is a nice, magical vacation. Is that to much to wish for???????????

No, it's not too much to wish for. Of course, it's not. But let's be honest..ryou are the OP here and if you didn't want people to respond, you wouldn't have written anything. That is the beauty of America...we get to say our piece. We all have relatives who served a cause to protect that right.

And this is surely gonna make you mad but 'grown adults' would be less worried about Disney than being able to pay their rent. Sorry...but sometimes priorities get a little confused. Again, tho..this is America and you get to do whatever yer big enough.

I, too, hope you have a wonderful trip to Disney. That's what I want for you coz it's what I want for myself.

 

[JerseyJanice]

It's great for those who get them. We were at Disney last December and got NO bounceback offer. When we came back, I learned about all of the people who were there at the same time as us who DID get the offer. I know I could have tried calling and explaining the situation to try to get it, but instead, I felt very slighted and started planning our next Orlando trip - to Universal.

I learned the hard way myself! We had Free Dining for the first time in 2008, and it was awesome. I never saw a flyer in the room or noticed any ad on the TV. After we got back, I saw it talked about here on the boards, and it was too late then.

Live and learn! This summer, if I don't see a Bounceback flyer in our room, I will make some phone calls and/or see the concierge desk before we leave. You have nothing to lose by booking a bounceback and everything to gain.

 

[DISNEY1975]

All we all want is a nice, magical vacation. Is that to much to wish for???????????

Please dont take this the wrong way...

In your case, with what you wrote, yes, I (just me, my own opinion) think its too much to wish for.

"Heartbreaking" for me is when children lose their parents, a child who behaved well all year and cant get a small toy for Christmas because their parents cant afford it. A terminally ill person. A child who grows up under the roof of an alcoholic, drug abuser or sex offender...etc...

I have a couple of kids in the neighborhood who were playing with my daughter this winter, making snowmen and didnt have any gloves on. I asked them where their gloves or mittens were and they told me their parents couldnt afford to keep buying them and they kept losing them. I know their father worked in construction and business was really bad for him the past couple of years... BUT...they werent planning a trip to Disney or anywhere else for that matter.

My mother (and boss) always told me "Priorities, priorities, priorities"

 

[focusondisney]

Nope not kidding.....But I am done with all this petty crap on this thread. Absolutely ridiculous. Cant believe that grown adults act this way. All we all want is a nice, magical vacation. Is that to much to wish for???????????

While you & your DH are unemployeed? Yes, it probably is too much to wish for. I am sorry you are both unemployed right now. You are certainly entitled to make your own choices. But putting it out there on a public forum, that you are planning a vacation even tho you are unemployeed, is leaving your self open to comments.

 

[Jenny Wren]

No, it's not too much to wish for. Of course, it's not. But let's be honest..ryou are the OP here and if you didn't want people to respond, you wouldn't have written anything. That is the beauty of America...we get to say our piece. We all have relatives who served a cause to protect that right.

And this is surely gonna make you mad but 'grown adults' would be less worried about Disney than being able to pay their rent. Sorry...but sometimes priorities get a little confused. Again, tho..this is America and you get to do whatever yer big enough.

I, too, hope you have a wonderful trip to Disney. That's what I want for you coz it's what I want for myself.

Thank you Beansmom, I dont have a mortgage/rent, my home is paid for. I still have the $350/month property taxes though, and they are due by Nov 30th of each yr. Having a high-value home does come with some setbacks, but I will get to Disney one way or another this Dec. If I have to get a fourth job, thats what I will do. Thank you for being so nice! I am wondering now if I should talk to my brother-in-laws aunt that works at Disney, she is the parade coordinator for the AK jammin jungle parade, I bet she could help us out a bit. If worse comes to worse, thats what I will do.

 

[beansmom]

Thank you Beansmom, I dont have a mortgage/rent, my home is paid for. I still have the $350/month property taxes though, and they are due by Nov 30th of each yr. Having a high-value home does come with some setbacks, but I will get to Disney one way or another this Dec. If I have to get a fourth job, thats what I will do. Thank you for being so nice! I am wondering now if I should talk to my brother-in-laws aunt that works at Disney, she is the parade coordinator for the AK jammin jungle parade, I bet she could help us out a bit. If worse comes to worse, thats what I will do.

YW, Jenny and, yes, I know about that 'house poor' thing. We don't have a mortgage either but homeowner fees are $468 a month in addition to over $8k a year in taxes. I 'inherited' this house from DH's previous marriage...I don't know if i would have built it myself.

I will say, I do totally support your '4th job attitude'...my first husband always whined that he wanted to go to see his mother in Egypt since the day I met him. I tried and tried to get him to make a plan to achieve that...it is doable for anyone. (well, almost) That was 30 years ago...he still hasn't been...and now it doesn't matter. The lady has passed on without ever seeing her son again.

Good luck with your 'Disneyquest'.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Thank you Beansmom, I dont have a mortgage/rent, my home is paid for. I still have the $350/month property taxes though, and they are due by Nov 30th of each yr. Having a high-value home does come with some setbacks, but I will get to Disney one way or another this Dec. If I have to get a fourth job, thats what I will do. Thank you for being so nice! I am wondering now if I should talk to my brother-in-laws aunt that works at Disney, she is the parade coordinator for the AK jammin jungle parade, I bet she could help us out a bit. If worse comes to worse, thats what I will do.

A fourth job???

OK, now I know this is a joke. Thanks! Always good to start the work week (no pun intended) with a good laugh!

 

[Sugar Jones]

We are booked for September 19-25. All I expect of Disney is a magical vacation with a boat load of memories for myself and my kids.

If I end up getting getting some sort of discount I will be extremely happy. It will mean I will be able to give the kids bigger giftcards to use on souvieners

Vacations like this are not an every year sorta thing for us, so I guess we are just prepared to pay whatever we need to in order to go. Maybe if we went every year it would be different

 

[damone]

Nope not kidding.....But I am done with all this petty crap on this thread. Absolutely ridiculous. Cant believe that grown adults act this way. All we all want is a nice, magical vacation. Is that to much to wish for???????????

Did I read correctly that you and your husband are both out of work right now and looking to take a vacation?