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

[Amunet]

Have you ever been during the holiday season? You're going to love it!

That sounds awesome about free dining!

Nope, I've only been during Spring and Halloween/Fall festivities

 

[Sharongal74]

We went down in February. I booked my flights with SW when the schedule opened but kept watching for price drops, which happened twice. Both times SW credited my credit card. I was surprise that it gave me the option to do so as previously any credits went for future flights. Not sure if this is something new but my credit card was credited $80.00.

Did you have the wanna get away fare or anytime fare? I have some credit but they didn't refund mine.

 

[v0mich01]

While we're all waking up and getting our day started, can I get some opinions about my ADR's?
Stay 1:
AoA 3 day stay from DH, myseld, and our 2 year old son until the grandparents get here. We're just going to get DDP oop for this one so we should have (6TS total)
9/10 - Tusker House (2TS)
9/11 - Hollywood and Vine (2TS)
9/12 - Trex (OOP)
So my in-laws get here in time for dinner, and we have 2 TS remaining from our last reservation credits to use for this evening. So from here on out we have 20TS)
9/13 - Cape May (4TS)
9/14 - Biergarten (4TS)
9/15 - 1900 Park Fare (4TS)
9/16 - 'Ohana (dinner) (4TS)
9/17 - Boma (4TS)
So at this point, we only have 2TS credits left, and we have a breakfast the next morning at Ohana, but we can just pay oop for some of it right?
9/18 - Ohana (breakfast) (2TS rest OOP)

Is that the meal you would cover some oop, or would you choose a different one? I thought because its breakfast it'd probably be cheapest. and I thought OOP of Trex would be cheaper than Cape May too?

 

[KimBean]

While we're all waking up and getting our day started, can I get some opinions about my ADR's?
Stay 1:
AoA 3 day stay from DH, myseld, and our 2 year old son until the grandparents get here. We're just going to get DDP oop for this one so we should have (6TS total)
9/10 - Tusker House (2TS)
9/11 - Hollywood and Vine (2TS)
9/12 - Trex (OOP)
So my in-laws get here in time for dinner, and we have 2 TS remaining from our last reservation credits to use for this evening. So from here on out we have 20TS)
9/13 - Cape May (4TS)
9/14 - Biergarten (4TS)
9/15 - 1900 Park Fare (4TS)
9/16 - 'Ohana (dinner) (4TS)
9/17 - Boma (4TS)
So at this point, we only have 2TS credits left, and we have a breakfast the next morning at Ohana, but we can just pay oop for some of it right?
9/18 - Ohana (breakfast) (2TS rest OOP)

Is that the meal you would cover some oop, or would you choose a different one? I thought because its breakfast it'd probably be cheapest. and I thought OOP of Trex would be cheaper than Cape May too?

From your list ohana breakfast looks like a great option to pay a few credits OOP.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

yes and they have been changing them very late after we have made ADRs and FP+. Hours have been changing a few weeks before the month starts.

Yes this exactly! I remember them changing the hours a couple weeks before our November trip last year. We didn't have a PPO breakfast booked last year but I remember a lot of people being mad when the hours got updated and their breakfast was no longer PPO! It's hard enough trying to plan ADR's and FP+ so far in advance while trying to figure out what crowd calendar to use . When you finally have a plan you think will work than WDW changes the park hours weeks before you go.

 

[ParryOttertheChosenBoy]

So as I have never experienced this process before, I wasn't aware this site went down for maintenance in the AM but I had read that it usually goes down a few minutes when FD drops. I checked the board around 4:15 this morning, saw it was down and craze-whispered "It's HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!" into the ear of my snoring, unresponsive husband. Went over to special offers and checked for about 10 minutes before I realized...ah...must be normal maintenance.

I'll wait patiently for some intel.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

So as I have never experienced this process before, I wasn't aware this site went down for maintenance in the AM but I had read that it usually goes down a few minutes when FD drops. I checked the board around 4:15 this morning, saw it was down and craze-whispered "It's HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!" into the ear of my snoring, unresponsive husband. Went over to special offers and checked for about 10 minutes before I realized...ah...must be normal maintenance.

I'll wait patiently for some intel.

Don't worry the Dirty Steve and Black give us a good heads up a day or 2 before it drops. Just keep your eye on this thread!

 

[Neeky78]

So as I have never experienced this process before, I wasn't aware this site went down for maintenance in the AM but I had read that it usually goes down a few minutes when FD drops. I checked the board around 4:15 this morning, saw it was down and craze-whispered "It's HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!" into the ear of my snoring, unresponsive husband. Went over to special offers and checked for about 10 minutes before I realized...ah...must be normal maintenance.

I'll wait patiently for some intel.

Does it go down when FD drops? I just thought it went down for maintenance at 4am which just happens to be the time FD has dropped in recent years.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Does it go down when FD drops? I just thought it went down for maintenance at 4am which just happens to be the time FD has dropped in recent years.

Yes it usually just goes down for maintenance at 4:00am. I know last year we were joking that maybe it wasn't a coincidence FD was released when the DIS was down!

 

[KimBean]

Does it go down when FD drops? I just thought it went down for maintenance at 4am which just happens to be the time FD has dropped in recent years.

Yeah everyday. Don't understand seems like a lot of maintenance. Lol.

 

[Neeky78]

Yeah everyday. Don't understand seems like a lot of maintenance. Lol.

To use a mirror site, like others do, to keep the forum running while archiving, costs a lot of money. Your really big sites like Tripadvisor do it like that, but their budget is a lot bigger!

 

[Neeky78]

Yeah everyday. Don't understand seems like a lot of maintenance. Lol.

I know it goes down at 4am everyday, but the OP I was responding to said the site went down for a few minutes when FD dropped. I was questioning that aspect. DIS doesn't have anything to do with FD, so if it wasn't down for maintenance when FD dropped, it wouldn't go down, would it?

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

While we're all waking up and getting our day started, can I get some opinions about my ADR's?
Stay 1:
AoA 3 day stay from DH, myseld, and our 2 year old son until the grandparents get here. We're just going to get DDP oop for this one so we should have (6TS total)
9/10 - Tusker House (2TS)
9/11 - Hollywood and Vine (2TS)
9/12 - Trex (OOP)
So my in-laws get here in time for dinner, and we have 2 TS remaining from our last reservation credits to use for this evening. So from here on out we have 20TS)
9/13 - Cape May (4TS)
9/14 - Biergarten (4TS)
9/15 - 1900 Park Fare (4TS)
9/16 - 'Ohana (dinner) (4TS)
9/17 - Boma (4TS)
So at this point, we only have 2TS credits left, and we have a breakfast the next morning at Ohana, but we can just pay oop for some of it right?
9/18 - Ohana (breakfast) (2TS rest OOP)

Is that the meal you would cover some oop, or would you choose a different one? I thought because its breakfast it'd probably be cheapest. and I thought OOP of Trex would be cheaper than Cape May too?

Yes you can pay oop for Ohana, we got a 7:35 same day!

 

[FinnsMom7]

Now that JetBlue released their December flight schedule and the price is so good I am even more anxious for FD to be released so I can nail down my exact travel dates.

 

[DisKaren]

So as I have never experienced this process before, I wasn't aware this site went down for maintenance in the AM but I had read that it usually goes down a few minutes when FD drops. I checked the board around 4:15 this morning, saw it was down and craze-whispered "It's HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!" into the ear of my snoring, unresponsive husband. Went over to special offers and checked for about 10 minutes before I realized...ah...must be normal maintenance.

That is hysterical. Can see the same thing happening at my house.

 

[scard192]

Yes this exactly! I remember them changing the hours a couple weeks before our November trip last year. We didn't have a PPO breakfast booked last year but I remember a lot of people being mad when the hours got updated and their breakfast was no longer PPO! It's hard enough trying to plan ADR's and FP+ so far in advance while trying to figure out what crowd calendar to use . When you finally have a plan you think will work than WDW changes the park hours weeks before you go.

Yup, we were there in November last year and had a BOG PPO ADR that I booked at 180 days out. I cancelled it when it was no longer a PPO. SO frustrating to have to make ADRs at 180s, FP+ at 60 days and then Disney changes the hours a few weeks before your trip and you may then need to redo some of your plans when options are not was easy to get as they were at 180 days, 60 days....

 

[laurxx24]

Little bit OT, but we are flexible with dates and I am having trouble deciding on whether we want early November or middle/late October? After following this thread, I am aware that I most likely wont get FD, but I am still optimistic for that or a room only offer. I was hoping one of you could have some advice!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Morning all, checking in to see what Disney may have released. LOL

 

[K-Jen]

When does the parade usually happen? I forgot about this happened before we got there last time.

Usually beginning of December. Disney will know dates and usually can be found on the internet. Of course, only Magic Kingdom is effected.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Yup, we were there in November last year and had a BOG PPO ADR that I booked at 180 days out. I cancelled it when it was no longer a PPO. SO frustrating to have to make ADRs at 180s, FP+ at 60 days and then Disney changes the hours a few weeks before your trip and you may then need to redo some of your plans when options are not was easy to get as they were at 180 days, 60 days....

I think we went around the same time last year if I remember correctly. I remember seeing lots of cancellations and ADR's opening up when WDW updated the hours. It is really frustrating to plan a WDW vacation sometimes. Good thing we have the DIS! I honestly don't know how people plan a WDW trip without these boards! There really is so much you need to know.