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

[Disneylover99]

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 -- $5925
With PH would be $6450

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.

I'd always take the free food. I'd go with Pop and save $900.

 

[ThistleMae]

Last year for us going to Disney. I hope the rich people spend a lot of money.

So sorry to hear this...maybe you can still find a way.

 

[scard192]

our source @black562 ALWAYS tells everyone that nothing is sure until FD drops and don't change/book anything based on the rumors because Disney can/has changed things up at the last minute.

 

[mousefan73]

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.

Where disney is insanely expensive are character buffets. Espec. Kids 9 plus pay over 50!! Kids meals are actually reasonable otherwise. My advice what they don't know won't hurt them. Ex Chef Mickeys. Eat next door at the QS to experience the monorail fly buy. Your kids may glimtz Mickey and crew next door. Just plan and say " i have a private meeting set up later".have them give Mickey a wave and move on. FAstpass a meet and greet later in the day forntheir " special meeting" Your kids are small enough to trick like that.

 

[ThistleMae]

Well I just talked to DH and we are going to book outside of Disney. We may get 3 day Florida resident tickets no PH and eat one CS meal in Disney for lunch. If this is what will be offered it is just not worth the money to stay on property. We are now also looking at Universal for 3 days and one day at Disney. We shall have to wait and see.

Yeah, staying off site may be the way to go for folks who just can't afford to stay onsite anymore. It will require an adjustment....change is never easy. We are staying offsite for the first time this year. I'll let you all know how it feels and what the major differences are...but not till JULY...stay tuned!

 

[pghmom]

Where disney is insanely expensive are character buffets. Espec. Kids 9 plus pay over 50!! Kids meals are actually reasonable otherwise. My advice what they don't know won't hurt them. Ex Chef Mickeys. Eat next door at the QS to experience the monorail fly buy. Your kids may glimtz Mickey and crew next door. Just plan and say " i have a private meeting set up later".have them give Mickey a wave and move on. FAstpass a meet and greet later in the day forntheir " special meeting" Your kids are small enough to trick like that.

That's a good point. It's definitely a mental thing on my end, wishing I was able to let my kids do all of those things.

 

[brooke789]

I'd always take the free food. I'd go with Pop and save $900.

I actually rechecked my DVC and ticket prices and both may have been before increases, so I edited my post with now higher AKL rates than is quoted here!
I'm leaning the same way. We were looking forward to doing lots of character meals if it were regular dining plan, but I think we'd love the freedom of QSDP. We'd be looking at saving a flat $600 plus whatever we would spend on food without dining plan!

 

[agassizsmile]

Yes. And add the difference between quick service and regular TS if you're interested in the upgrade on values and mods.

Im going exact dates! My pkg price now includes the dining plan and Ph plus. Not sure how to crunch my numbers.Plan on

 

[FinnsMom7]

I have stayed off site before and honestly with planning it isn't all that bad - especially when you factor the bed and room is much nicer for a cheaper price. I stay at Hilton and earn points plus can walk over to DS they have buses same as on site the only draw back is fp booking is only 30 days and now they don't participate in emh - when I stayed last they still did. But if you plan for it it's totally doable and honestly I rather get my Disney fix and save money then risk over spending or possibly not going at all

 

[ThistleMae]

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!

Lincoln is a really lovely, quaint little town, with nice mountain views. I'm about 40 min. west of there. Good Luck! My cousins live in Mass. Going down for 3 weeks this summer, and doing Disney with them in July!

 

[scard192]

So sorry to hear this...maybe you can still find a way.

my family doesn't have a lot of money and we manage to go to WDW; just takes me 3 years to save enough money. No way we could go every year but every 3-4 is doable.

 

[ThistleMae]

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!

Mousesavers lists quite a few recommended options. I checked out a couple, they look really nice.

 

[Obi Shaun Kanobi]

I am new here... Last year was my first trip ever to Disney World and we had free dining... it was amazing. This year, I am booked at POR during dates that will work in December. I only booked base tickets though to save some money. I have no problem in changing my base to hoppers, but how legit is this new info regarding Moderates only getting quick service? The whole reason I booked POR was to get table service meals during my trip. It will be mine and my wifes 11 year anniversary, so we wanted to go and take our daughter to all the character dining spots. If this is true, I may go to a value resort and upgrade to the DD plan instead. Any suggestions on the best value resort that would be included in the deal?

 

[lizaisabel]

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.

We are a party of 7 (4 adults and 3 kids) and I did the math and money wise is cheaper to have two rooms at value and pay the upgrade. I have stayed at all types of Disney hotels from value up to deluxe and since we pass so many times in the parks was not worth it to pay for the deluxe. It was nice rooms but not worth it. You will need to consider if you expect to be more time in the resort or in the parks and that should help you making the decision.

 

[ThistleMae]

my family doesn't have a lot of money and we manage to go to WDW; just takes me 3 years to save enough money. No way we could go every year but every 3-4 is doable.

I hear you. I didn't get to go to Disney for the first time till I was over 50. I sent my kids with their Aunt and Uncle, but we couldn't afford to go. We are planning a reunion trip with all my kids and grandkids for next year. First time we will all experience the magic together. Got to start saving. And....3 years is better than not at all...just sayin'.

 

[ThistleMae]

We are a party of 7 (4 adults and 3 kids) and I did the math and money wise is cheaper to have two rooms at value and pay the upgrade. I have stayed at all types of Disney hotels from value up to deluxe and since we pass so many times in the parks was not worth it to pay for the deluxe. It was nice rooms but not worth it. You will need to consider if you expect to be more time in the resort or in the parks and that should help you making the decision.

I agree. I thought POP was just as nice as Poly.

 

[Rebekah3275]

This did not come from me

"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."

An extremely reliable source[/QUOTE



Does anyone know what resorts are included in the rumor?

 

[ThistleMae]

This is going to make getting pop really hard if the mods are qs only. But luckily almost everything has availablity for my dates. Just waiting on what hotels are excluded.

I agree....Pop may be almost impossible to get. Maybe this rumor is wrong...it could be.

 

[LucyBC80]

Does anyone know what resorts are included in the rumor?

The Brazilian offer excludes the following:

ASMovies
POR
POFQ
AoA: Little Mermaid Rooms
BLT
Villas @ Grand Floridian

 

[anitsa123]

The Brazilian offer excludes the following:

ASMovies
POR
POFQ
AoA: Little Mermaid Rooms
BLT
Villas @ Grand Floridian

it does include POR just not POFQ