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

[anitsa123]

I may have to go to a value with deluxe dining if thisis the case come out cheaper

 

[wdw4rfam]

I was wondering if a rumor had been announced when I noticed that this thread had jumped 6 pages since early this afternoon. Exciting news, but sorry for all those who were hoping to book moderates and get the regular DP. I wonder if this is Disneys way of eventually phasing out FD, taking away some of the value of it, more QS and having to buy more tickets. We are not planning another trip for quite a while, so if we can get FD this year that would be great.

The dates fall within our trip of 8/19-/28 and we are booked at Pop. We do not have Park Hoppers but doing the math adding the PH is still less than we would pay if we had to buy food out of pocket. We don't usually park hop but if we have to get it we may use it to check out evening entertainment and fireworks.

I've been saying this all along. Every year they've been chipping away the value of FD. First they took away values getting the full dining plan, then addd the PH requirement, now they just double smacked this year with Waterpark's and hopper and no regular dining plan for moderates. Sounds like they are trying to get people to not want it anymore, so they won't have to take it away and catch backlash.

 

[DisFanDad]

Oh, man, this is so exciting!
We are going November 12-19, though. Do I try to book a separate FD package for November 14-19, then see if I can modify my original one for November 12-13??

Book a Free dining and then cancel your first reservation

 

[amytaylor2]

Looks like I'll be changing my dates.....

 

[Shrill]

Excellent. Value , Mod or Deluxe? Quick Service or Standard Dining plan? I am the planner of our group and I am obsessing over numbers.

We are staying at Pop at the end of August. Regular dining plan.

 

[KimBean]

Personally I am shocked that FD includes check ins up to Dec 23rd... so tons of folks are going to have FD over Christmas and NY break? That does not make sense from a money standpoint to offer that when it is always heavily booked. I am happy for folks that will get it!!!! Just confused as to why it is happening.

Also, any idea why AS Movies is excluded? That is what I was hoping for if POP was booked when I need it. ( planning for 9/6-9/13 but can move a day or two either direction) Any tips on booking if my first choice is not available? Best to move a day each way and try again, try AS or ?????

Thanks, and good luck everyone!

Where did it say resorts? I'm trying to keep up butbhave company

 

[Moocabn2258]

Oh my gosh guys!!!! I've been obsessively checking the boards day in and day out for over a month. I leave to have dinner with my extended family for a few hours and come back to all of this news!

I think this is the most advance notice we've received. Over a weeks notice! Thanks Black!

Time to crunch numbers!

 

[MyDisneyGlassSlipper]

Can two reservations be combined? I have a RO reservation at POP for December 5-8 and package with hoppers and dining from 8-18. If I call can they combine both reservations so I can apply the free dining offer when it's released?

I would try to call and merge your reservations now...POP is going to be very sought after and it will depend on what they have available once FD drops. I called this evening and got a CM on the phone without any wait.

 

[JackieO]

Is anyone who was planning on moderate still finding it worth it? I can stay off property, pay for dining OOP and save $1,000, plus everyone gets their own beds. I'm wondering if others are finding this worth while.

 

[Moocabn2258]

Where did it say resorts? I'm trying to keep up butbhave company

Hahahha I was the same! I just kicked my parents out of the house after dinner. I was like ok guys....time to go check the boards

Ok ok, I didn't actually kick them out but I was watching the clock until they did

 

[DisFanDad]

I would try to call and merge your reservations now...POP is going to be very sought after and it will depend on what they have available once FD drops. I called this evening and got a CM on the phone without any wait.

I don't even see the point in this. When FD drops, if you call and try to switch your reservation over you will essentially be booking a new reservation in a select block of rooms set aside for FD. You might as well keep your current reservation (or cancel it) and just book a new one when FD drops in the resorts that apply.

 

[Jeaniec]

Here's updated info.

Looks like free dining could be dropping on April 24. Minimum of 4 nights, maximum of 14, with park hopper and park hopper plus add on. Check in dates: 8/13-9/30, 11/14-11/20, 11/25-11/27, 12/3-12/23. It also appears that values AND moderates may get quick service, with regular dining only for deluxe resorts (I hope that is wrong).

As always, information is fluid and more detail will hopefully come.

Are there rumors of which resorts are excluded?

 

[mn51]

Another gloomy day in NH. We've only just had two beautiful days in a row, after two snow storms and seems like a month of downpours. If only something exciting would be reported in here. I know there are some of us who are becoming melancholy with this whole affair. I want to maintain the anticipation and excitement but it is getting harder and harder to do. I haven't let DISCOURAGED set in yet, but I'm teetering on the fence....I need a magical boost!

It wasn't too bad in Massachusetts today. Heading for your state tomorrow for a week - Lincoln, NH. Bringing my laptop in hopes of FD!

 

[Taylor F.]

Is it weird that I feel more stressed knowing the potential date? LOL.

 

[MyDisneyGlassSlipper]

I don't even see the point in this. When FD drops, if you call and try to switch your reservation over you will essentially be booking a new reservation in a select block of rooms set aside for FD. You might as well keep your current reservation (or cancel it) and just book a new one when FD drops in the resorts that apply.

If FD drops at 4AM again, you will not be able to be able to speak to a CM at that hour to have them merge reservations, but you will be able to modify your offers on MDE, or you're right, just cancel it and make a new one (provided there is availability).

 

[JanelleB]

Book a Free dining and then cancel your first reservation

My concern is that there are no
longer available rooms for our dates booked (because of the gift card deal I'm guessing) so how hard is it going to be to modify my reservation when FD is released? We have a family of 5 and I'm only seeing pirate rooms available for our dates

 

[Christi Rose]

Is anyone who was planning on moderate still finding it worth it? I can stay off property, pay for dining OOP and save $1,000, plus everyone gets their own beds. I'm wondering if others are finding this worth while.

We have 5 in one room at CBR and have the gift card promotion, so assuming we don't have to forfeit the gift cards to get FD, I think it will still be worth it for us. But I still need to run numbers in a spreadsheet and I'm not really familiar with off property options and pricing, so probably should look into that!

 

[Moocabn2258]

Is it weird that I feel more stressed knowing the potential date? LOL.

Bahahaha. We've been complaining all week that we were running out of steam and now we're all stressed that we have info. I'm the same! Can't wait to figure out what we're going to do!

 

[pigletto]

Is anyone who was planning on moderate still finding it worth it? I can stay off property, pay for dining OOP and save $1,000, plus everyone gets their own beds. I'm wondering if others are finding this worth while.

Nope. This pushes me out of the game if it's true. I think I went over a hundred different scenarios in this thread, but quick service at a mod wasn't one of them. We were willing to tolerate being squished into one room at a mod for free dining. Without it? I'm going to start pricing room only scenarios at the Deluxes or look back into Bonnet Creek or Vistana.

 

[pooch]

My thoughts:

If the mods are only getting QS, I'm out. I will look for a room discount and drop the PH. That should save $1200-1500 to put toward food & we can eat off site some.

If mods do get TS plan, we'll book room only for 11/11 thru 11/14 (and perhaps get a room discount) and free dining 11/14 thru 11/18. The additional ticket requirement adds less than $300 to the package less whatever room only discount we might get.

THEN, if good TM rates come out for Universal thru DD, we'll cancel the room only & stay at Universal 11/11 thru 11/14.

Phew, thanks guys, it helps to say it out loud!!!