******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[JadeDarkstar]

Ok so Mod resorts that could come on the FD are CRB, and PO, but what is the art of animation (suites) are included? Would you choose a (royal room, Port Orleans standard, pirates, orCRB standard over a suit? I have heard that PO and CRB have bad bus's and that Art or Pop can have a better bus system. Is this worth staying at a value instead of upgrading to the moderates?

 

[cshell624]

Unfortunately I could only get 9.15pm, so we'll watch the fireworks first then eat. I'll keep an eye out for an earlier time. Are the Halloween fireworks on at the same time? This will be end of September.
I'm really looking forward to this one!

Hallowishes should be at 10:15pm.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Ok so Mod resorts that could come on the FD are CRB, and PO, but what is the art of animation (suites) are included? Would you choose a (royal room, Port Orleans standard, pirates, orCRB standard over a suit? I have heard that PO and CRB have bad bus's and that Art or Pop can have a better bus system. Is this worth staying at a value instead of upgrading to the moderates?

All mods except Port Orleans French Quarter are usually included in FD, AOA is considered a value and only suites are included, Little Mermaid rooms are always excluded. To determine what is worth it for you would depend on how many people are in your party. You would have to calculate the costs of both. You can actually price it out by pretending to book a package and leave off the dining plan, just make sure you use package and not one that currently has a promo so you use full rate room prices. Also keep in mind the last 2 years having park hopper or water parks n more were a requirement however this year there is no water park only park hopper with water park add on to that, that will also be a factor for you if you have only booked basic tickets. The difference to upgrade from QS to reg DP is approx $21/night for adults and I believe $14/night for kids.

 

[The Dirty Steve]

Ok so Mod resorts that could come on the FD are CRB, and PO, but what is the art of animation (suites) are included? Would you choose a (royal room, Port Orleans standard, pirates, orCRB standard over a suit? I have heard that PO and CRB have bad bus's and that Art or Pop can have a better bus system. Is this worth staying at a value instead of upgrading to the moderates?

The answer is based off what you want. We stay away from values as they will have full size beds instead of queens in double rooms. Now, my guess is that CSR and CBR will be the only mods included in a potential FD offer. The availability will be extremely limited. I also believe that any offer will wipe out the gift card at CBR. That may open additional availability there as people cancel reservations that were place holders.

 

[cshell624]

We love ohana on our first night. Always book for 8pm so we can be there for fireworks/castle show with the music piped in. It's a "you have arrived at Disney" event!!!

We usually book Ohana on our last night as a sweet ending to our trip . Bread pudding and fireworks!!!

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We love December for the same reasons. I think that is the time of year we would always choose if given the choice. It was much easier to do with younger kids, but they can't miss mid December school anymore. It's August for us for the time being. I'm just happy to go.. but I will be back to December when they can't come with us anymore.

We always go in late Nov/early Dec. Christmas decorations are beautiful, we love the candlelight processional, MVMCP, and low crowds (well, lower than average). My kids don't know what DW looks like without xmas decorations!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

alright. how close or easy is it to get around from CRB or CSR resort in comparison to art? Are the busses as bad as some say? FD in a value would only include qs right? so to upgrade id need 540 to upgrade to the DDP. So Then it matters how much it cost's to go to mod instead.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Also is Ohana the dinner show? (like its almost a luau?) Or is Ohana the other meal?

 

[disneydreamer1980]

The answer is based off what you want. We stay away from values as they will have full size beds instead of queens in double rooms. Now, my guess is that CSR and CBR will be the only mods included in a potential FD offer. The availability will be extremely limited. I also believe that any offer will wipe out the gift card at CBR. That may open additional availability there as people cancel reservations that were place holders.

FW cabins are mods--do you think they'll be included for FD this year?

 

[DisKaren]

Also is Ohana the dinner show? (like its almost a luau?) Or is Ohana the other meal?

Spirit of Aloha is the dinner show at Poly. It's a luau.

 

[Rebekah3275]

If they do the FD, I don't see how CBR can be excluded just due to the $75 GC. While they are nice, they are only putting money back in Disneys pocket, not offering discounted rates. FD is much more cost effective than a GC when you have multiple people in a room. What Disney doesn't want is all the people that are staying at CBR trying to move resorts when FD is announced.

 

[The Dirty Steve]

FW cabins are mods--do you think they'll be included for FD this year?

Anything is possible at this point. But, I think the construction happening at two mods will push more people to the cabins, reducing the need for them to offer or creating very limited availability. Like I said everything is just a guess at this point.

 

[Rebekah3275]

@the

Anything is possible at this point. But, I think the construction happening at two mods will push more people to the cabins, reducing the need for them to offer or creating very limited availability. Like I said everything is just a guess at this point.

I have heard April 17th is when they are speculating release of FD, THoughts? Also do you think CBR will be included, just very limited rooms available?

 

[DisKaren]

If they do the FD, I don't see how CBR can be excluded just due to the $75 GC. While they are nice, they are only putting money back in Disneys pocket, not offering discounted rates. FD is much more cost effective than a GC when you have multiple people in a room. What Disney doesn't want is all the people that are staying at CBR trying to move resorts when FD is announced.

I don't think anyone said CBR would be excluded from FD. What was recently posted on this thread was an educated guess that any offer for there may wipe out the $75 GC.

 

[GLS]

We'll have to wait and see on the GCs from CBR. When I asked Disney whether I'd loose the GC by adding FD, I received an email that said if I qualify for any future promotion, I'll be able to add it without loosing the GC. I also got a phone call from Disney and they told me the same thing. So I'm more inclined to think they just won't offer it at CBR than make us forfeit the GC to add it. We'll see I guess.

 

[elle325]

We booked our free dining bounceback at CBR and are also receiving the $75 gift card for each night of our stay. We're bummed about the construction but the gift cards give our large group some souvenir shopping money.

 

[The Dirty Steve]

@the


I have heard April 17th is when they are speculating release of FD, THoughts? Also do you think CBR will be included, just very limited rooms available?

Too early to tell if that date is accurate. I think whoever started that rumor was taking a stab. If the CBR is included, be ready to take a pirate room.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

alright. how close or easy is it to get around from CRB or CSR resort in comparison to art? Are the busses as bad as some say? FD in a value would only include qs right? so to upgrade id need 540 to upgrade to the DDP. So Then it matters how much it cost's to go to mod instead.

I've never stayed at AOA but I never thought the buses at CBR were bad when we stayed there. We were in Martinique which was always the first pick up and first drop off. From when we got on the bus until we got to MK was around 25 mins, coming back was closer to 15 since we were dropped off first. Obviously it varies with traffic and if ECVs had to be loaded/ unloaded but stopping at all of the other villages after Martinique really only added maybe 10 mins to the trip. If I recall it took around 20 mins to get to Epcot and HS, 10 mins back, 30 to get to AK, 20 back, and around 25 mins to DS, 15 back. Obviously this will vary slightly if you're in the other villages, most likely with a slightly shorter trip to the park and slightly longer back. Once construction starts, I have no idea if transport times may be affected.

And yes, AOA only received QS dining plan whereas the moderate resorts receive regular DDP.

 

[momto4obkids]

I don't think anyone said CBR would be excluded from FD. What was recently posted on this thread was an educated guess that any offer for there may wipe out the $75 GC.

Some people have posted on the Resort board in one of the CBR threads that they were able to add the new summer discount and keep the gift card as well, since it isn't a discount.

I don't see why free dining will be any different.

I will be shocked though if CBR has much in the way of free dining, because rooms are pretty scarce. Only king bed and pirate rooms are left open for our dates.

I am still hoping for free dining though!

 

[verleniahall]

we have done free dining in the past, but arent' this year - we were able to get the military room rate (35% off at Carribean Beach) - we moved from POP when the GC deal came out - and we are getting paid from Disney over 370 for the upgrade - so for those of you who are worried, we were able to "stack" the discount and the GC deal