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

[ellbell]

Just wanted to make sure you were aware of that and not shocked when they say they can't do it.

Well since I've been told I can I will try it first and if that doesn't work I'll be happy with a refund.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

I think a lot of the people that are booking now are probably "regulars" so maybe we are just part of the "regular" flow of visitors. So the times of year these promos are offered are based on historical crowd numbers, summertime kids are out typically= more visitors, fall/winter typically lower levels except for special events and obviously holidays. We had to cancel our Free Dining package last year because we had other obligations that came up meanwhile that changed and we ended up doing 9 days at Universal Orlando split at Hard Rock Club level and Royal Pacific club level. So when I had the first inclination of our travel dates for this year I booked as we plan to go either way, getting free dining or maybe even a room discount just means more money spent on wonderful souvenirs!!!

 

[12disneybee]

last year, POP was the cheapest value for some reason....we do have CBR bounceback booked for this fall, we were thinking of changing to the value to save money because we don't need the room for 5 people anymore but now they are offering an upgrade to SSR at no cost to me, but I would still be paying more out of pocket and to me SSR is still not a hotel, it is still park and walk to your villa, they offered to put me in the Poly, thinking on it, but it is still more OOP expense and we are NEVER really in the hotel....we are not fans of any sit down restaurants in the Poly and the pool is WAY to small for the resort. what to do, lol....

 

[Azjenn]

last year, POP was the cheapest value for some reason....we do have CBR bounceback booked for this fall, we were thinking of changing to the value to save money because we don't need the room for 5 people anymore but now they are offering an upgrade to SSR at no cost to me, but I would still be paying more out of pocket and to me SSR is still not a hotel, it is still park and walk to your villa, they offered to put me in the Poly, thinking on it, but it is still more OOP expense and we are NEVER really in the hotel....we are not fans of any sit down restaurants in the Poly and the pool is WAY to small for the resort. what to do, lol....

Have you checked to see if you are getting the $75/night gift card? I would think that you should be and that would offset the cost some

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Anyone that is booked at CBR this year from what I have seen should have the $75 resort offer, if you don't it's probably because you booked before it came available. I would call a CM and have your package updated to include it. $75 gift card per night per room. Also the refurbishment, I've seen is scheduled through 2019.

 

[Rusty2rules]

1. Temperature (we do NOT want it too hot, and regular 80's is too hot)
2. Crowds (we want to go when there are the least people, period)
3. Price

1. If 80's is too hot then you're not going to be a happy camper in September.
2. September, according to every historical crowd calendar I can find, seems to have the least traffic. I've never gone in September personally, I'm just going off of what I've read.
3. I have no idea what you're thought of "price" means. I mean, not to be sarcastic, but it's Disney.

 

[ThistleMae]

We booked last year for free dining at CBR. Ended up cancelling a month or two later because the airline ticket prices - we couldn't fit them into the budget. Then, we ended up buying a house and are not in great position to go this round. Having said that, I still get excited this time of year with the anticipation.

I'm contemplating if free dining is even for us.
The most important things to us are:

1. Temperature (we do NOT want it too hot, and regular 80's is too hot)
2. Crowds (we want to go when there are the least people, period)
3. Price

The airline tickets get us every year. My daughter is a family of five, talk about expensive. We couldn't get anything under $ 400.00 two years ago, with a fall trip. Talk about adding up quick! Who knows, maybe you'll make it after all.

 

[ThistleMae]

I really wish people would stop "pre-booking" their vacation in anticipation of a Free Dining announcement Many have clearly pointed out that doing so will NOT guarantee you'll have free dining and if offered one would have to cancel their current resie and book another vacation (…) At this time of year, I couldn't even find a standard room at the CBR for a stay in early December. I chatted with Colette on the Disney website and was told that the reason for that is that people are booking in anticipation of a possible Free Dining offer

I've heard the same similar complaint, but if people are going no matter what, it's definitely legit. I think there is just a mish mosh of a mess when people have to change their reservations to book at a resort with free dining. I mean really, what else can we do?

 

[piglet1979]

I really wish people would stop "pre-booking" their vacation in anticipation of a Free Dining announcement Many have clearly pointed out that doing so will NOT guarantee you'll have free dining and if offered one would have to cancel their current resie and book another vacation (…) At this time of year, I couldn't even find a standard room at the CBR for a stay in early December. I chatted with Colette on the Disney website and was told that the reason for that is that people are booking in anticipation of a possible Free Dining offer

When we went in September of 2015 we booked before free dining came out. We did this because we wanted to book out ADR's and that time frame was before free dining was released. If we had waited to book we would not have been able to get some of the ADR's that we got. BOG dinner being one of them. With that said, I would not book earlier unless if my ADR time frame was after FD being released.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

I've heard in the past that when Disney is "preparing" the site for a new offer part of that is blocking out available rooms, this goes with the missing "modify" button and probably soon Stitch will be very hungry. There are I believe 3 more current offers that expire by the end of this month and 2 that already expired on the 5th I believe. They allocate so many rooms maybe they know the # of rooms they plan to include in any offer maybe months in advance but need to block them now?

 

[piglet1979]

We booked last year for free dining at CBR. Ended up cancelling a month or two later because the airline ticket prices - we couldn't fit them into the budget. Then, we ended up buying a house and are not in great position to go this round. Having said that, I still get excited this time of year with the anticipation.

I'm contemplating if free dining is even for us.
The most important things to us are:

1. Temperature (we do NOT want it too hot, and regular 80's is too hot)
2. Crowds (we want to go when there are the least people, period)
3. Price

We have gone the week of Labor day and the park crowds are pretty low starting the Tuesday after Labor Day. However the temp at this time of year is HOT! Like 90-100 degrees hot. Lots of water, breaks in the mid day sun to the pool and some stops in air conditioned buildings (ques or shows) is what we do to combat the heat. The price all depends on what you are looking for. We have stayed in a value before for about $2000 and have stayed at Mods for about $3500. It all depends on where you stay, how long and how many days you get tickets for.

 

[ThistleMae]

So what are people thinking....April for the FD offer? Keep looking at my calendar, while ringing my hands!

 

[ShinyRedGloss]

It all comes down to preference. It is true that booking ahead gives you no advantage for free dining. You still have to modify your reservation, and if the hotel is out of free dining slots, then you either change hotels or keep the one you want (and don't get free dining). Sometimes it's harder to rebook than book a new reservation, depending on how you have to modify. But if you want a certain hotel no matter what, and don't care if you aren't able to get it, then it certainly makes sense to book ahead. To address the other side of the coin, booking up rooms can and has caused resorts to fall into the excluded list at the last minute...on more than one occasion.

It's an eternal debate that really has no right or wrong answer, it's different for each person.

Oh, by the way...free dining isn't always the best deal. Always check the room discounts and do the math.

For us, room discounts aren't much help as we typically stay at a value so free food is better.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

So what are people thinking....April for the FD offer? Keep looking at my calendar, while ringing my hands!

I wouldn't think that they would want to run to thin on offers, but then again you never know.............ANYTIME soon would be FABULOUS!!!

 

[12disneybee]

Have you checked to see if you are getting the $75/night gift card? I would think that you should be and that would offset the cost some

I did, the As Sports is STILL LESS out of pocket expense..

 

[12disneybee]

I wouldn't think that they would want to run to thin on offers, but then again you never know.............ANYTIME soon would be FABULOUS!!!

it is pretty certain, CBR will not have any availability for the FD promotion.

 

[Rusty2rules]

The airline tickets get us every year. My daughter is a family of five, talk about expensive. We couldn't get anything under $ 400.00 two years ago, with a fall trip. Talk about adding up quick!

That's the biggest reason we're driving. It's a 19 hour drive but I can drive the whole thing for less than one airline ticket would cost me. That's with us breaking it into 3 days, meaning 2 nights of hotel each way, food, etc. Plus, I control my schedule. Stop when I want, eat what and where I want, no TSA, no finding and returning my rental car, no baggage fees. We flew to Vegas last fall. Those seats were so uncomfortable! After a 3 hour flight my back was killing me. Nope, I'll take the extra time and drive, thank you very much.

So what are people thinking....April for the FD offer? Keep looking at my calendar, while ringing my hands!

From what I can find, historically, if there are fall discounts they've been released the last week of April or early May. Not soon enough if you ask me!

 

[pigletto]

I really wish people would stop "pre-booking" their vacation in anticipation of a Free Dining announcement Many have clearly pointed out that doing so will NOT guarantee you'll have free dining and if offered one would have to cancel their current resie and book another vacation (…) At this time of year, I couldn't even find a standard room at the CBR for a stay in early December. I chatted with Colette on the Disney website and was told that the reason for that is that people are booking in anticipation of a possible Free Dining offer

Well, I can only say I booked mine because it's what I want and what I will use. If Free Dining comes out , great. But I want to have something booked because I am going regardless of free dining. Colette might have also pointed out that CBR is sold out of Standard rooms because they are offering $75 a night gift card to stay there. They are currently sold out of anything that isn't a pirate room for my dates. I think it has way less to do with anticipating free dining for CBR at this point and is more about the offer they are giving everyone. $750 off for me is a good discount.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Well since I've been told I can I will try it first and if that doesn't work I'll be happy with a refund.

Of course, I was speaking from experience as well as complaints of others every year. I've been doing FD since 2007 if available in my weeks so I do know what I am talking about. I'm not saying I know everything, far from it but I do know what has happened to me and what others have said. If you are able to great and hope it works for you.

 

[KNovacovschi]

So what are people thinking....April for the FD offer? Keep looking at my calendar, while ringing my hands!

Usually end of April however some people are saying sooner. However the official rumours haven't even begun yet. Once Black starts giving information then you know the official rumours have begun. He is our FD guru and is usually pretty spot on.