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

[heath92681]

@VillainFavs can you please pm me your info as well?

 

[FinnsMom7]

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!

I have two or three date ranges I keep playing with to at least give myself some planning fun - but now flights went up on two of those and without FD I just can't get very far. We are going regardless but obvi I rather try for FD first

 

[Chime]

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.

We got a short hair collie for the same reason. The grooming part is easier... but there is a layer of short hair covering everything in the house.
And the little hairs thread themselves into the furniture upholstery and are almost impossible to vacuum out.

Anyway...we are thinking of changing our trip dates to November. A little bit worried that early October heat will be too much for us.
Not making any changes until we know the fall discounts.

 

[archdandy]

I have two or three date ranges I keep playing with to at least give myself some planning fun - but now flights went up on two of those and without FD I just can't get very far. We are going regardless but obvi I rather try for FD first

I'm in the same boat as you. I don't have anything concrete planned and it's making me a little loopy I wish I could start getting things done!

 

[anorman]

I have seen the dates for the free dining being bantered about......either April 10th or the 17th. Do they always put out their new offers on a Monday? I'm just wondering if it is not offered on the 10th, do I have to keep checking every day? or just on Mondays?

 

[KimBean]

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.

I agree with you whole heartedly. I also think they are sophisticated enough with their data to know pretty good percentage wise who has already booked but who they will lose if they do not offer free dining.

That being said, we are in the minority. Including those who did the podcast above. Also, bottom line is, resort and room type has to be bookable as new reservation to obtain free dining. So booking ahead does not get you much if anything. I'm sure there are caveats to this, I'm mainly thinking if your 180 days is closing in, and you need to be able to book +10.

Like I said I'm booked we all have our own reasons but I stated the majority view in my previous post.

 

[FinnsMom7]

I'm in the same boat as you. I don't have anything concrete planned and it's making me a little loopy I wish I could start getting things done!

I have like a dozen blank December calendars with notes and codes and arrows and TONS of ???? My DH avoids me when he sees a pencil in my hand now - arrival day plans are set regardless of when but everything after that is completely up in the air

 

[VillainFavs]

Just sent a couple PMs--hope I did it right! Have never done it before!

 

[KimBean]

I have seen the dates for the free dining being bantered about......either April 10th or the 17th. Do they always put out their new offers on a Monday? I'm just wondering if it is not offered on the 10th, do I have to keep checking every day? or just on Mondays?

Monday last 2 years, Wednesday before that... I believe Thursday in 2013 but can't find it right now.

 

[smallworldnh]

Does anyone want to eat at Rainforest at AK?

We have them in our area so it's not a place I pick on vacation.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Does anyone want to eat at Rainforest at AK?

We just tried the AK location last week. I liked it better. It didn't seem as chaotic.

 

[kimyinpink]

I have two or three date ranges I keep playing with to at least give myself some planning fun - but now flights went up on two of those and without FD I just can't get very far. We are going regardless but obvi I rather try for FD first

My fear is that I'll miss my 180+ window if we don't get this pinpointed down! Our first choice is the week after Thanksgiving (we really enjoyed that time of year last year) I am also open the first half of Dec or could go before Thanksgiving and continue into the holiday. BUT our plan if we couldn't get free dining would be to go towards the end of October. Have never done Halloween at the Mouse before! Anyone have any input on that? Christmas vs Halloween. I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and we are hoping to be preggo. Just not sure if I can take the October heat or if I might still be sicko at that point! And if we did those dates my 180 would open April 20th, so possibly before we hear anything. I just hate the unknown! How bad is it to try to get ADRs after your date? I have a touring plans subscription but have never had to use the finder. We would want a CRT dinner and Ohana dinner. I know I am rambling. SO SORRY! The wait is making me insane!

 

[AnnetteS]

Just sent a couple PMs--hope I did it right! Have never done it before!

can you send me one too? thanx

 

[Greg36]

My fear is that I'll miss my 180+ window if we don't get this pinpointed down! Our first choice is the week after Thanksgiving (we really enjoyed that time of year last year) I am also open the first half of Dec or could go before Thanksgiving and continue into the holiday. BUT our plan if we couldn't get free dining would be to go towards the end of October. Have never done Halloween at the Mouse before! Anyone have any input on that? Christmas vs Halloween. I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and we are hoping to be preggo. Just not sure if I can take the October heat or if I might still be sicko at that point! And if we did those dates my 180 would open April 20th, so possibly before we hear anything. I just hate the unknown! How bad is it to try to get ADRs after your date? I have a touring plans subscription but have never had to use the finder. We would want a CRT dinner and Ohana dinner. I know I am rambling. SO SORRY! The wait is making me insane!

We really enjoyed the time after Thanksgiving as well last year. Christmas is a really nice time to be there. Personally I also like the cooler weather... Having said that, Halloween is really great too. In fact, I liked the Halloween party over the Christmas party. The Halloween decorations are pretty great. If you went late October you might be able to swing both--Halloween and Christmas, at least at the MK. Both are pretty great and I don't think you would go wrong with either! We have had lots of experiences getting ADR's after our window. It definitely makes it harder and we have had to spend more time checking reservations leading up to the trip, but we would probably do that regardless! I find a lot opens up at 60 and 30 days as people are changing plans anyway (with fastpasses opening up) and really I have found 24-48 hours before is almost always a good time to score good ADRs... The Touring Plans ADR finder is great!! Very effective. Hope that helps..

 

[KimBean]

My fear is that I'll miss my 180+ window if we don't get this pinpointed down! Our first choice is the week after Thanksgiving (we really enjoyed that time of year last year) I am also open the first half of Dec or could go before Thanksgiving and continue into the holiday. BUT our plan if we couldn't get free dining would be to go towards the end of October. Have never done Halloween at the Mouse before! Anyone have any input on that? Christmas vs Halloween. I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and we are hoping to be preggo. Just not sure if I can take the October heat or if I might still be sicko at that point! And if we did those dates my 180 would open April 20th, so possibly before we hear anything. I just hate the unknown! How bad is it to try to get ADRs after your date? I have a touring plans subscription but have never had to use the finder. We would want a CRT dinner and Ohana dinner. I know I am rambling. SO SORRY! The wait is making me insane!

I'm the week after thanksgiving too. My ADR date is 5/31 so we still have plenty of time. I'm sure we will know something by then even if it means it isn't happening.

 

[Nagy3girls]

can you send me one too? thanx

and me, if it isn't too much trouble? We are booked at POR but would LOVE to stay at the Polynesian.

 

[Tahoegal]

and me, if it isn't too much trouble? We are booked at POR but would LOVE to stay at the Polynesian.

And me too if it's not too much trouble!!

 

[traciruns]

@VillainFavs can you please pm me your info as well?

I'd love more info, too, if you wouldn't mind PM'ing me! We are booked at POR but had been strongly considering BC to try something new this year. Thanks in advance!

 

[uchi]

and me, if it isn't too much trouble? We are booked at POR but would LOVE to stay at the Polynesian.

me too please! thank you so much!

 

[KimBean]

So quiet!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!