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

[scrappinginontario]

If Disney doesn't allow the stacking of the Canadian ticket discount with FD my plan is to just buy the minimum amount of tickets for the FD package (I think it's two but it may have changed to three days last year) and then buy the rest of my tickets separately with the Canadian discount.

Just a heads up that you may wish to run the numbers for the scenario you described above as I feel it would cost you more to do what you described above. Even if you only purchase a 2 day ticket with your package you have to pay for days 1 and 2 which end up being $199US/adult and $187US/child.

After that if you purchased tickets using the CDN ticket deal you would still need to purchase the first 3 days of tickets at the premium price as the CDN ticket deal is only for tickets 4 days and longer. This price for the 3 day tickets would be $289/adult and $271/child.

Buying tickets this way would mean you would pay $488/adult and $455/child for 5 days worth of tickets.

If you were to pay full price for your tickets without the CDN deal, 5 days of tickets are $370/adult and $350/child.

I am Canadian too so have run the numbers for myself and I can't see the savings in doing things this way unless there is something I am missing that you can help me with.

Ok so I was looking more into the ROL dining package and read the following:

• Graze on a bountiful buffet brimming with African flavors at Tusker House Restaurant in Harambe. Please note: While this dining package is available for all meal periods, Guests must arrive to dine no later than 2 hours and thirty minutes prior to showtime.

So if I did breakfast whst time would I have to be at ROL for seating? I didn't realize you could do breakfast then have your afternoon/day open for park fun

I have heard that it's recommended we should arrive at least 45 mins before the RoL show even with Dining Pkg tickets and probably more like 60 mins. I plan on erring on the side of caution at least this first year that Rivers of Light is showing.

 

[VillainFavs]

So this might be sacrilege on this page, but just had a chat with DH. We're still leaning toward wanting FD at a moderate. But only if we can get the right priced room there.

Otherwise, we'll be going with a great rate at a deluxe and paying OOP for dining. I know, I know... But I have to say there is a piece of me that's kind of hoping to do that for a change!

We've had FD on every single trip so far. And I do love it!!!! But there are times we're eating just because it's "free". We don't need four desserts at our table. But we order them anyway. We don't always drink soda with every meal, but we order it anyway. There are times where I'd be perfectly happy just having an appetizer for dinner, but order the huge meal instead. Many times we could split meals but we don't. I know we could, but then we'd just end up with even more credits to use!!

So there is something about the freedom to just order exactly what I want, when I want that's appealing.

Still going to be trying for FD to make it a less expensive trip. But not going to be heartbroken if we end up at a deluxe and paying OOP!

 

[Disneylover99]

So this might be sacrilege on this page, but just had a chat with DH. We're still leaning toward wanting FD at a moderate. But only if we can get the right priced room there.

Otherwise, we'll be going with a great rate at a deluxe and paying OOP for dining. I know, I know... But I have to say there is a piece of me that's kind of hoping to do that for a change!

We've had FD on every single trip so far. And I do love it!!!! But there are times we're eating just because it's "free". We don't need four desserts at our table. But we order them anyway. We don't always drink soda with every meal, but we order it anyway. There are times where I'd be perfectly happy just having an appetizer for dinner, but order the huge meal instead. Many times we could split meals but we don't. I know we could, but then we'd just end up with even more credits to use!!

So there is something about the freedom to just order exactly what I want, when I want that's appealing.

Still going to be trying for FD to make it a less expensive trip. But not going to be heartbroken if we end up at a deluxe and paying OOP!

How long is your trip? We are doing fd first and then adding 3 or 4 days on at the Poly with a great rate. We've done this for the past three years. Maybe it's an option for you.

Never mind....I just read in another thread, you don't want to do a split stay.

 

[SCBENGAL]

How is TH at AK? Thinking about doing ROL dining package, if we get FD. Might be doing QS if we don't get FD.

 

[VillainFavs]

How long is your trip? We are doing fd first and then adding 3 or 4 days on at the Poly with a great rate. We've done this for the past three years. Maybe it's an option for you.

Never mind....I just read in another thread, you don't want to do a split stay.

Yeah, the BC or Poly is our backup plan if we don't get FD. The rates are pretty amazing! Basically they come out to a few hundred dollars less than FD at a moderate. But then I have to add on OOP dining. So in the long run, it will be more, but not prohibitively more.

 

[KimBean]

I think I read somewhere that ROL is 2 TS. Anyone know?

I believe it is 1 at TH and 2 at tiffins.

The F+ package ups the value for your 2 credits because you get an appetizer as well as dessert. It's a great meal if you don't mind literally eating up your park time. We also enjoyed the characters and buffet quality at Minnie's Seasonal Dine at H&V. Better than Tusker or Chef Mickeys for sure.

Good tip!! I did not know that you got an appetizer with the Fantasmic pkg. we usually spend two days at HS so we just wait for Fantasmic (kind of don't like pkg seating area) but if you only have 1 day there this is the way to go!!

 

[DisneyNic]

How is TH at AK? Thinking about doing ROL dining package, if we get FD. Might be doing QS if we don't get FD.

TH breakfast is a must for us each trip. We LOVE it!!

 

[KimBean]

Okay, I'll check it out. And the food was good?

Fried chicken is so good here.

 

[Lesley Wake]

If your 180 day is just coming up, then you might run into the same problem I did with the ROL dining package. I had picked a Monday for our AK day, however when the other day the ROL dining packages were released they were not offered every day. They are only on there every other day type of thing and Monday was not one of them. Some are wondering now if in the fall they will be cutting back the ROL showings from every night to every other night. Go look at the ROL dining package dates on the dining page to see what I'm talking about. I ended up deciding to just FP ROL instead because I couldn't rework it from the Monday since I had ADRs on other days. I don't know if they will open up more dates or end up showing ROL every night, I'm hoping so. But Disney is so slow in releasing show times and dates. Hope this helps you plan.

I think they will have the dining package every time they will have the actual show. So right now they don't have it scheduled for MWF starting in September. Maybe they will look at crowds after Pandora has opened and as the summer goes on, and may open up new performances. At least that is my hope, because I also wanted Monday!

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Oh my goodness. I feel your pain. I have two, and a giant swale (think ditch) in my backyard that is for drainage. Someone down the street has filled theirs in though and now it's not draining. The neighbours and I have mud pits. My husband and I have towels piled by the back door. We clean our Labs off at least 10 times a day and they often get taken straight to the tub. They are also shedding. My floors are mud and hair all the time and I'm vacuuming and mopping twice a day. I refuse to limit my dogs being able to go out, they love playing in the yard. So it is what it is.

Shedding season and the mud together I am mopping and vacuuming all day too! We have a short haired St Bernard too but she tip toes through the mud because she hates getting muddy. We wanted a short haired because we thought the shedding would be less but she sheds more than the retriever! I used to have a beagle and he hated mud and hardly shed! I have that towel pile too it feels like I have a fourth kid when I am doing all the laundry now.

 

[gcoolie]

Hi. Not new to Disney or the boards, but new to Dining Plan. If we book now and add a dining plan for the end of Sept., then they announce free dining later, will ours change to free? How does that work?

 

[JenK0108]

QUOTE="VillainFavs, post: 57408055, member: 569533"]Yeah, the BC or Poly is our backup plan if we don't get FD. The rates are pretty amazing! Basically they come out to a few hundred dollars less than FD at a moderate. But then I have to add on OOP dining. So in the long run, it will be more, but not prohibitively more.[/QUOTE]

Can I ask where you found such good rates for BC and Poly? Or if it's something you can't post would you be willing to message me? in advance!

 

[TomServo27]

Hi. Not new to Disney or the boards, but new to Dining Plan. If we book now and add a dining plan for the end of Sept., then they announce free dining later, will ours change to free? How does that work?

WAtch this that will answer a lot of questions.

 

[elle325]

How is TH at AK? Thinking about doing ROL dining package, if we get FD. Might be doing QS if we don't get FD.

We LOVE tusker house for breakfast! It's good for dinner too but we like breakfast the best.

 

[KimBean]

Hi. Not new to Disney or the boards, but new to Dining Plan. If we book now and add a dining plan for the end of Sept., then they announce free dining later, will ours change to free? How does that work?

No it will not automatically be free dining. There also would need to be availability just like it was a new reservation. If you don't have a reservation already it doesn't give you any leg up to make one. I would only make a reservation if you feel like availability for your dates or resort is limited and you would go whether you get free dining or not.

The philosophy behind this is if all of us make reservations then Disney will have no need to offer FD.

I personally am booked but plan on going regardless and wanted to get the lowest rates possible at a value (important that I get certain dates for that.)

 

[FinnsMom7]

How still having no rumors has me feeling today

 

[Rusty2rules]

Does anyone want to eat at Rainforest at AK?

I already have my reservations. Why? Are you meeting us there?

 

[kimyinpink]

How still having no rumors has me feeling today

Me too! I'm so ready to know WHEN I can go! I know I'm blessed at being able to be flexible but I want to be able to think about ADRs!

 

[ellbell]

I know most people have the theory that if too many people book rooms then free dining won't be offered but at this point I'm fairly certain Disney already has their plan for free dining in place. My guess is they base their promotions months in advance based on historical data of how many people book, how many people use free dining and how many people cancel if they are unable to apply it to their existing reservations. I'm also going to throw the theory out that they decide on when and if to offer free dining during the previous years time frame or shortly after that. Booking for this fall probably has little to no impact on this year's free dining offer.

 

[archdandy]

We often find ourselves with the same dilemma. I picked Trattoria Al Forno for our DHS day on this trip. We will leave for a mid day break, eat lunch at the resort, come back that way for a dinner reservation on the Boardwalk and then boat back for Fantasmic. It eats alot of DHS time, but we are finding much to do there for a full day these days anways.

I've thought about doing that before because we do enjoy a lot of the restaurants in the Boardwalk area but it always seemed like it would take way too much time to do. I may have to consider doing it for this trip though because there really aren't any restaurants in HS anymore that we really enjoy. The problem is that I always want to do our TS for dinner but that always ends up being in the way for Fantasmic! I want to make sure we see it this trip because I'm worried they are going to replace it with something else soon.

Does anyone want to eat at Rainforest at AK?

I've eaten there once or twice. It's pretty much the same as the Disney Springs version.

Just a heads up that you may wish to run the numbers for the scenario you described above as I feel it would cost you more to do what you described above. Even if you only purchase a 2 day ticket with your package you have to pay for days 1 and 2 which end up being $199US/adult and $187US/child.

After that if you purchased tickets using the CDN ticket deal you would still need to purchase the first 3 days of tickets at the premium price as the CDN ticket deal is only for tickets 4 days and longer. This price for the 3 day tickets would be $289/adult and $271/child.

Buying tickets this way would mean you would pay $488/adult and $455/child for 5 days worth of tickets.

If you were to pay full price for your tickets without the CDN deal, 5 days of tickets are $370/adult and $350/child.

I am Canadian too so have run the numbers for myself and I can't see the savings in doing things this way unless there is something I am missing that you can help me with.



I have heard that it's recommended we should arrive at least 45 mins before the RoL show even with Dining Pkg tickets and probably more like 60 mins. I plan on erring on the side of caution at least this first year that Rivers of Light is showing.

Thanks for the heads up! I hadn't actually done the math on it. I'll make sure I check the numbers before actually booking and buying the tickets.

So this might be sacrilege on this page, but just had a chat with DH. We're still leaning toward wanting FD at a moderate. But only if we can get the right priced room there.

Otherwise, we'll be going with a great rate at a deluxe and paying OOP for dining. I know, I know... But I have to say there is a piece of me that's kind of hoping to do that for a change!

We've had FD on every single trip so far. And I do love it!!!! But there are times we're eating just because it's "free". We don't need four desserts at our table. But we order them anyway. We don't always drink soda with every meal, but we order it anyway. There are times where I'd be perfectly happy just having an appetizer for dinner, but order the huge meal instead. Many times we could split meals but we don't. I know we could, but then we'd just end up with even more credits to use!!

So there is something about the freedom to just order exactly what I want, when I want that's appealing.

Still going to be trying for FD to make it a less expensive trip. But not going to be heartbroken if we end up at a deluxe and paying OOP!

We've paid OOP for the last two years trips because FD just never worked out for us. It is nice to do Disney a different way and not have to be a slave to the FD rules. But now that we've done it for a few trips I'm back to wanting the ease and convenience of the FD I'll probably want to switch back to doing it OOP in a few years, haha.

Yeah, the BC or Poly is our backup plan if we don't get FD. The rates are pretty amazing! Basically they come out to a few hundred dollars less than FD at a moderate. But then I have to add on OOP dining. So in the long run, it will be more, but not prohibitively more.

Can I ask where your getting such a good rate for deluxes? Can you PM it to me as I don't think your allowed to post links to other websites that book travel.