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

[mary219]

Ok, so those who know more than me (which is everyone), if I were to look at what the regular rates for our trip August 24-Sep. 2 with parkhopper tickets and no discount then that is what the free dining cost would be?

When I booked , I booked POP for 8/22-9/1 - no discount and booked regular dining plan with park hopper. When room discounts came out , it was minimal discount (30.00) for my stay . I anticipated upgrading to table service if I was FD eligible.
Dining plan costing about 1340 for 10 day stay . Free dining with table service upgrade will be about 440.really worth it to me .
If I have to add plus to park hopper , then it will be about 630. Getting a little high , but hoping that I am not forced into park hopper plus option .
To me , it's still worth it because I won't have to worry about food bill so much while I am there . Probably would be cheaper to forgo dining plan altogether , but I like the luxury of not worrying about it while I am
there.
Moderate would be nice , but not worth it if it's only qs.

 

[Marianm]

I am getting so anxious! I hope DH finds out about this job next week so I can try change my BB if needed before all the crazy happens! If not, talk to me about AKL....I'm afraid that it's so far from everything (currently have FD BB at WL) I'm thinking if FD drops before I know what I'm doing I may try to book FD at AKL since it's "only" a few hundred more than my current BB. Anyone stay here? Should I really splurge and go for FD at YC/BC or is AKL ok? I know its Disney and they're all great but we spend so much more time at MK that AKL being far makes me anxious!

If you spend most of your time at MK, I would def not change to AKL. Although I hear it's a great resort

 

[ThistleMae]

I love when Black says "Stand By"!!!!

Stop the Madness!

 

[pooch]

DD is both a Florida resident and an AP holder. She is on my reservation. Would that make that room eligible for an AP or FL RES discount?

 

[pghmom]

So, after crunching the numbers it looks like we may be priced out I'm trying to stay at no more than $3k for the trip since that's all we can afford. It's really unfortunate that Disney is becoming completely unaffordable. We'd love to take our kids back while they're still young and enthralled with the characters, etc.

 

[ThistleMae]

So...I know what park hopper is...but what is park hopper plus? And you have to have both to qualify...confused?

 

[Donk_7]

I see lots of activity over a rumor. But what is the rumor and how trustworthy is it?

 

[ThistleMae]

Park hopper plus talk... are water parks open year round?

As far as I know they are not, so getting both wouldn't make sense.

 

[Srbright]

We are booked at CBR from 12/11-12/17 with the $75 GC (we booked in January). We definitely want the DDP and NOT the QS plan.

Is it possible that you will lose the GC when you add the promo for the dining plan? I believe that the GC was only for people that booked before a certain date (meaning they didn't want people flocking there just to get the GC). So when you add the dining plan does it reset that?

I ask because last year we booked before the ticket increases and dining plan increases and when we added the free dining it reset the costs of those to the current cost. I am expecting it to do the same thing this year.

Stacy

 

[anitsa123]

So...I know what park hopper is...but what is park hopper plus? And you have to have both to qualify...confused?

Park Hopper Plus is the water parks added on. It used to be You could add on three different choices. 1. Park Hopper 2. Water Park & More 2. Park Hopper with water park & more.

 

[ThistleMae]

Have you seen Flip Belts? I went hands free on our shore excursions when we went on a cruise and also in the French Quarter in NOLA. I can put phone, credit card, id, cash, keys, small makeup/lipstick,etc and wear it all comfortably under my shirt at my waist. As functional as a fanny pack but very discreet. My husband liked it so much I got one for him too.

https://www.amazon.com/Level-Terrain/pages/8921511011

Thanks, this looks really cool. How do they fasten at the waist?

 

[brooke789]

Here are numbers I've got for our options. Would love feedback from you guys!

Pop with free QSDP (2 rooms for 7 nights with 6days PH - 4 adults, 3 kids) -- $5916

CSR with free QSDP (2 rooms for 7 nights with 6 day PH - 4 adults, 3 kids) -- $6845

Renting DVC - AKL 2 bedroom (for all 7) with 6 days no PH -- $6512
With PH would be $7037


Now, DVC is assuming it were even available. Basically it looks like we should decide if we want the nicer place or the 'free' food.

 

[Skallywag Steph]

Haven't the South American traveler numbers been down this year? Do you think Disney offered more dates to them to increase traffic or have the South American and North American offers always been the same?

 

[mousefan73]

So, after crunching the numbers it looks like we may be priced out I'm trying to stay at no more than $3k for the trip since that's all we can afford. It's really unfortunate that Disney is becoming completely unaffordable. We'd love to take our kids back while they're still young and enthralled with the characters, etc.

3000 is more than enough. You can do it. FD is a deal to get the expensive luxury of 100% disney dining cheaper. This year we are watching FD as we might do it again. But have a RO delux deal that can't be beat. We are 2 adults and 2 kids ( disney adults). If we din't do FD. Our plan is breakfast in the room ( saves loads if time) and will split some meals. Peco Bills ex. We can share 3 fajita platters. That saves one meal. With FD everyone would have ordered a meal PLUS dessert and half would have been thrown away. I wouldn't let food ruin a disney vacation. Dining isn't everything

 

[ThistleMae]

Yeah, hopefully they come to their senses on this one. There are a whole lot of us who love free dining for the sit down meals and a nice stay at a moderate resort. 30% off would be a better deal with dining added on. Zero point to free dining and a moderate with quick service locked into very specific dates (that don't include wine and dine). And let's not forget that the quick service options are more catered to value resorts. So now, it's actually a disadvantage to stay at a moderate. It really doesn't make any sense. Why would I pay more for less? Goodbye paying more for a resort. Goodbye waiter's tips driven higher by add on purchases included alcoholic beverages. Hello vacant moderate resort restaurants. Hello vacant Coronado Springs. Goodbye adult couples. Goodbye anyone who wants to sit down but can't afford deluxe. Goodbye all of their souvenir and other spending...

Awe....this is just so sad!

 

[Disneylover99]

As far as I know they are not, so getting both wouldn't make sense.

Yes. Waterparks are open year round.

 

[ThistleMae]

I just bought this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NH075BJ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

and it fit my wallet, tablet (rca 7inch with a keyboard. a small amount of med kit stuff. I could find a place for my phone. Also, one pocket fit my camera perfectly. It was a tiny bit bulky. I am using a smaller wallet at wdw so that will help. Also, can leave the keyboard in the room if I want. I have wdw Christmas parade on the desktop, a time countdown, and many apps ready to go.

Will they let you go through the no bag line with this? Seems like you would have to be searched?

 

[Disneylover99]

I see lots of activity over a rumor. But what is the rumor and how trustworthy is it?

Rumour is trustworthy, but anything is possible til it officially drops.

 

[pghmom]

3000 is more than enough. You can do it. FD is a deal to get the expensive luxury of 100% disney dining cheaper. This year we are watching FD as we might do it again. But have a RO delux deal that can't be beat. We are 2 adults and 2 kids ( disney adults). If we din't do FD. Our plan is breakfast in the room ( saves loads if time) and will split some meals. Peco Bills ex. We can share 3 fajita platters. That saves one meal. With FD everyone would have ordered a meal PLUS dessert and half would have been thrown away. I wouldn't let food ruin a disney vacation. Dining isn't everything

Thank you! I really like the convenience of being on site. Luckily we have the CBR GC for a standard room. We could do 4 days in the park, a few resort days and really cut back on meals.

I wish there was an option to not have to pay for kids ages 3 & 4 who may eat 5 bites of a meal at character meals. My kids eat like birds, so it's rough paying $30 each when they'll barely eat.

 

[ThistleMae]

3000 is more than enough. You can do it. FD is a deal to get the expensive luxury of 100% disney dining cheaper. This year we are watching FD as we might do it again. But have a RO delux deal that can't be beat. We are 2 adults and 2 kids ( disney adults). If we din't do FD. Our plan is breakfast in the room ( saves loads if time) and will split some meals. Peco Bills ex. We can share 3 fajita platters. That saves one meal. With FD everyone would have ordered a meal PLUS dessert and half would have been thrown away. I wouldn't let food ruin a disney vacation. Dining isn't everything

You have a great back up plan! This is what we did on our last visit. It ended up being cheaper to get the room discount. Yes, you do have to be more modest in your choices, but really, most of the time food gets wasted because it's just too much. It is nice however, not to have to think about pinching pennies...a real extravagance for us poor folks, who don't ordinarily EVER get to do that.