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

[trucker den]

I was 39 in 2015. We finally saved enough to take the kids. I did my research and planned the best vacation making very few first timer mistakes thanks to this board. I became a fanatic the first day watching the opening show at the magic kingdom. Disney magic hit me like a thunderbolt! As soon as we got home we started saving for the next trip. We are going back in October and cannot wait!!

 

[DisneyNic]

Does being in the womb count?? Haha! My mom went to DL when she was pregnant with me, early enough that no one knew except her and my dad. The first time I actually went to DL I was 4 and have been hooked ever since. After 20+ trips to DL, I went to WDW for the first time when I was 26 and LOVED it. Even though I have been to DL many more times, WDW is my favorite. Unfortunately, living in Utah makes it a lot harder to get to FL than CA.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Does being in the womb count?? Haha! My mom went to DL when she was pregnant with me, early enough that no one knew except her and my dad. The first time I actually went to DL I was 4 and have been hooked ever since. After 20+ trips to DL, I went to WDW for the first time when I was 26 and LOVED it. Even though I have been to DL many more times, WDW is my favorite. Unfortunately, living in Utah makes it a lot harder to get to FL than CA.

That's funny my mom went to Disneyland when she was pregnant with me as well, but I didn't go to WDW until 2006. I have been every year since though.

 

[ParryOttertheChosenBoy]

I went once at about 7 and once at around 10. Haven't been back since. My husband's last trip was when he was like 12 or 13. He's 30, I'm about to turn 30 , and our DD will be 6 by the time we go in late Nov or early Dec.

We're so excited! DD is at that age where she sees a princess and thinks she's actually real, so I can't wait for her to experience it. And she absolutely loves Star Wars so I know she'll love HS as well. She has absolutely no concept of what Disney World is other than a place some of her friends have visited. Her mind will be blown.

 

[JackieO]

I think of it this way, everyday that goes by is a day closer to a FD offer being released....although I wish it would be NOW!!!......meanwhile I could make up a good rumor if you want me to!!!

That might help me.

 

[wenpop]

I was 25, my youngest was just born, the characters loved him, I think he was 4 months old.... plus my 3 year old son, 7 year old daughter and 9 year old son, we stayed 9 days,
it was awesome, so we have been going every few years now,....
But I had always dreamed of going to Disney every since high school when kids were going to Epcot and talking about it,

 

[tink1957]

I've been Disney fanatic since I was a child watching World of Color but didn't get to visit WDW until 2007 at the age of 50, my kids were 16 and 20, since then I have tried to go every year whether we could afford it or not...I'm Disney poor but I love it...there's nothing like that feeling when you hear "welcome home"

 

[tchull]

My first trip was in 2007 at the age of 42! The day I became a true Disney Fanatic was the first time I walked down Main Street.

Thought that trip would be our one and done, once in a lifetime vacation. We've now got 7 trips under our belts, #8 is planned for August, and the kids are sneaking off next week with their high school band!

My experience is very much the same...I was 38 and we took our DD who was 8 at the time. That first trip will always be one of my favorite lifetime memories. My DD and I were hooked and we've been back several times since. So excited to go in September again.

 

[PandaBear & Boo]

I must say it makes me giggle when people are 'giving up' or 'getting frustrated' waiting for FD to be dropped.

We're early folks! Historically FD has dropped:
2014 - May 7, 2014
2015 - April 27, 2015
2016 - April 25, 2016

It's only April 13th! Yes, we're all excited for FD to drop but historically speaking, we're too early!!! It's like being mad that Santa hasn't arrived yet when it's only December 13th!

Don't get frustrated or give up, just hang out here with the rest of us enjoying the anticipation and participate in the little side-bar topics that are bouncing around as we all wait together.

A new topic to discuss: How old were you on your first Disney trip and at what age did you become a Disney fanatic! (And yes, I know most/all of you are considered Disney fanatics as we've been hanging out here together for a while now!)

My first trip was in 9th grade in 1980 but I would say I became a fanatic in 2003 when I first took my niece. I've been to Disney 31 times and counting.

My first trip was in 1976 for the bicentennial. Coming from Canada we drove down. It was very exciting. I was 12. I just remember having to hand in tickets for each ride there were no magic bands or fastpasses.

Went back in 1986 with my husband and that's when I became addicted. Once we had kids we went back in 2005, 2007, 2009 and now it's just my daughter and me. We've done 2 mother daughter trips 2014 & 2016. I am looking at going again this fall just waiting to see what kind of deal I can get once the FD drops!

 

[JackieO]

My parents went to DL for their Honeymoon. Growing up we went more times than I could count. My first time to WDW was 2000. Longest time I ever spent at WDW was 7 weeks in 2014. I've been to WDW more than I can count too. This winter my brother, sisters and myself sent our parents to WDW for 3 months to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Disney is in our blood.

 

[smallworldnh]

My first time was in 1980 and I went with my husband and my father! I think Epcot was still being built then. I thought Space Mountain was the coolest thing ever! I brought my daughter for the first time when she was 5 and we've gone every few years since then (she's 32 now and still loves it!) I have a co-worker who still has the old ticket books they used to us, I think she said with the A-E classifications for rides. She said there's a lot of tickets left in there and wonders if she could still use them since there is no expiration date!

 

[Christi Rose]

My first trip was Disneyland when I was a toddler. And I have no memory of it. So first trip that I remember was 2011 when I was 25 - my aunt invited me, DH, and our two (at the time) kids when she was at DW for a medical conference. We did no research or planning before going but had an AMAZING time. DH and I both left obsessed, and our fanaticism keeps growing! We got to take our first/only kid-free Disney trip last fall for our 10th anniversary. I'm now at the point where I sometimes wear Disney-themed clothes in regular life not just to the parks and am considering a Disney tattoo.

 

[archdandy]

On the train station in front before walking thru ticket turnstiles

Thanks! I would never have noticed that they changed it!

I must say it makes me giggle when people are 'giving up' or 'getting frustrated' waiting for FD to be dropped.

We're early folks! Historically FD has dropped:
2014 - May 7, 2014
2015 - April 27, 2015
2016 - April 25, 2016

It's only April 13th! Yes, we're all excited for FD to drop but historically speaking, we're too early!!! It's like being mad that Santa hasn't arrived yet when it's only December 13th!

Don't get frustrated or give up, just hang out here with the rest of us enjoying the anticipation and participate in the little side-bar topics that are bouncing around as we all wait together.

A new topic to discuss: How old were you on your first Disney trip and at what age did you become a Disney fanatic! (And yes, I know most/all of you are considered Disney fanatics as we've been hanging out here together for a while now!)

My first trip was in 9th grade in 1980 but I would say I became a fanatic in 2003 when I first took my niece. I've been to Disney 31 times and counting.

My first trip to Disney was with my Mom and older brother when I was 10 in 1999. The next time I went was when I really fell in love with it. I was 21 and I went with my Mom, fiancee (now husband) and little brother. My husband had never been and he fell hard for it that trip too. We've been going regularly even since and the rest is history!

 

[NicoleLarson]

Not to give false hope to anyone but I got an email today showing some pretty good Florida Resident rates for memorial day, like 50% off. I also got a PIN for All stars at $49/night a couple of days ago. So I'm thinking Pandora isn't filling the rooms as they had hoped. Good luck and hang in there guys!

 

[JenK0108]

First trip was to DL with my dad at age 7- still remember riding space mountain with him... he passed away several years ago and that trip is one of my favorite memories.

Did a day trip to WDW at 17 with my mom, sister, and BF while visiting family...liked it but didn't really fall in love.

Became a diehard fanatic at age 39 during my first trip with DH and DD who was 6 at the time. Have been back 3 times since and December 2017 will be our 5th trip. DH likes it but doesn't love it like I do. DD loves it but also wants to do Universal mostly because we're all obsessed with Harry Potter. So planning our first WDW/US split stay!

 

[cjbcam]

Not to give false hope to anyone but I got an email today showing some pretty good Florida Resident rates for memorial day, like 50% off. I also got a PIN for All stars at $49/night a couple of days ago. So I'm thinking Pandora isn't filling the rooms as they had hoped. Good luck and hang in there guys!

If I got a pin for $49/ night I would be booking ASAP! What dates was that for?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

For all the Southwest people here, do any of your have one of the Rapid Rewards credit cards? Do you like it? We decided to get the RR Plus yesterday and thought with the 40,000 points plus whatever we earn, we can fly for free or nearly free in December. Any tips on using the card to our advantage? This is my first miles card. I feel very adult.

My husband got the card (Premier one) last year and at that time it was 50,000 bonus points. Those bonus points combined with the points he was earning for traveling so much for work at that time meant we ended up earning the Companion Pass (which will expire December 31st of this year ). He got the card moreso for the Companion but when we compared it with our Delta Skymiles Amex card we realized that for our needs SWA (as we already flew them nearly every time we flew) was much better. We still have the Delta card (but we cashed out what points we had to purchase one ticket and then we paid cash for the other go to Hawaii this past September as SWA doesn't fly to Hawaii) but now we use the SWA basically all the time over the Delta. SWA has a very good program in our opinion. Getting points for rental cars, getting points for shopping and for dining too.

For our September WDW trip cash-wise we paid $11.20 per person which is just the 9/11 security fees. Points-wise we used just over 23,000 for one ticket and companion on the other ticket. However, rather surprisingly, our fare dropped and we were able to get nearly 6,300 pts back into our account. Good thing about using points is they just immediately go back into your account should you do the whole fare drop.

 

[Imbetterwithbacon]

Not to give false hope to anyone but I got an email today showing some pretty good Florida Resident rates for memorial day, like 50% off. I also got a PIN for All stars at $49/night a couple of days ago. So I'm thinking Pandora isn't filling the rooms as they had hoped. Good luck and hang in there guys!

During which times was the PIN offer valid for?
Last PIN I received was in November ... hoping to get another one soon but I'm not sure if Disney will send another one as we have already booked our trip.

 

[menotyou21]

Combining a few notes:
1. Dole Whip - I don't see the reason for hype either, but it's fun to see people excited about something. We have Peachwave in Oklahoma, and they serve Dole Whip in 2 flavors.

2. Losing patience - I get it.....but don't forget how exciting your trip to Disney will be!

3. Disney history - First trip was at 5yrs old. I remember playing a trick on the maid....I put on one of those "arrows through my head" that my parents bought me at Disney and laid quietly on the bed when she came in....guessing they don't sell those anymore.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I thought I was the only one who hadn't tried a Dole whip yet! With 2 snack credits per person this year I think I will try it this time too. I think the one's at the Poly are slightly different. Does anyone know what the difference between the Dole Whips are?

Ummm....I was a bad Disney-lover because the first time I remember (I say this because perhaps on my other trips to WDW I tried it but don't remember it) was at the Dole Plantation in Hawaii. I'm going off the assumption too that the ones at WDW are very similar.