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

[KimBean]

It was AMAZING! Alternated between goosebumps and tears through the entire move!! Did not want it to end...

Question - did you like the trailers? I'm just curious if there is anyone who didn't think they would like it and the movie proved them wrong I guess. Everything I see about the movie I dislike - can't wait for someone to be like I thought I wouldn't like it but it was great! Lol. We were so excited had it on my calendar for a year. But my girls saw all the trailers and hype on it and were -meh. My 16 year old said, mom we can just rent it put the movie ticket money towards Disney.

 

[KimBean]

Are you booked under a promotion right now? Free dining requires you to pay rack rate for your room, so maybe run the numbers for your exact same trip when an offer isn't applied and it should give you a pretty good idea of what I would cost with the free dining. Remember to add on the park hopper option because it will most likely be required.

Such good advice. I've been working numbers like crazy. I think I have my cheat sheet ready to make quick decisions at 4am. Lol. I know what I really want, what I can deal with, and at what point $$ wise it would be worth it to us to pay for moderate. IF it is available. The moderate availability for Nov 27-Dec 20 is about nothing. I kept doing and redoing the math so many times I just decided to make a chart yesterday.

 

[heath92681]

Such good advice. I've been working numbers like crazy. I think I have my cheat sheet ready to make quick decisions at 4am. Lol. I know what I really want, what I can deal with, and at what point $$ wise it would be worth it to us to pay for moderate. IF it is available. The moderate availability for Nov 27-Dec 20 is about nothing. I kept doing and redoing the math so many times I just decided to make a chart yesterday.

I think this is my next step. I have some chicken scratch on paper but need a more organized approach. The biggest thing is deciding if value with upgrade to regular dining plan is better than staying moderate. But if PO isn't available, I think it's going to be a value. We have family coming with us this time and there's no room in their budget for deluxe.

 

[mnmhouston]

Question - did you like the trailers? I'm just curious if there is anyone who didn't think they would like it and the movie proved them wrong I guess. Everything I see about the movie I dislike - can't wait for someone to be like I thought I wouldn't like it but it was great! Lol. We were so excited had it on my calendar for a year. But my girls saw all the trailers and hype on it and were -meh. My 16 year old said, mom we can just rent it put the movie ticket money towards Disney.

I honestly hadn't watched the trailers. So I'm sorry I can't comment on that but there was nothing I did not like about the movie.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Isn't there a separate Beauty and the Beast thread?

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

I haven't snagged FD in a few years. We always stay at Wilderness Lodge. Does anyone know if FD is typically offered there? And if so, is it offered for standard rooms or is it usually attached to upgraded rooms?

Last year I was able to get standard WL but I gave it up for standard CBR a few days later. I currently have a standard WL FD BB.

 

[ustasmom]

I have a question. I want to book a moderate with FD but not stay as I am using my DVC points. Can I have two reservations in my name with my people or do I have to have another set?

 

[Kiki_pa]

I'm new to all this. We booked a standard room Aug 22-28 at the Polynesian Resort. Hoping Free Dining gets announced for these dates. I put Quick Service Dining Plan on reservation as agent said it is easier to change if Free Dining becomes available. Anyone know if that is true? I see a "change" button next to dining plan, is that the modify button everyone was speaking of? Also thinking about extending our stay to 10 days. Do I have to have a hopper pass for all 10 days or is 6 day ok in order to get Free Dining??? After reading all the posts on here I'm getting a bit stressed.

 

[KimBean]

Isn't there a separate Beauty and the Beast thread?

Sorry.

 

[heath92681]

I'm new to all this. We booked a standard room Aug 22-28 at the Polynesian Resort. Hoping Free Dining gets announced for these dates. I put Quick Service Dining Plan on reservation as agent said it is easier to change if Free Dining becomes available. Anyone know if that is true? I see a "change" button next to dining plan, is that the modify button everyone was speaking of? Also thinking about extending our stay to 10 days. Do I have to have a hopper pass for all 10 days or is 6 day ok in order to get Free Dining??? After reading all the posts on here I'm getting a bit stressed.

You can have whatever # of park days you want, as long as it meets the minimum requirement for FD. At the Poly, however, you would qualify for the regular dining plan, not QS.

 

[heath92681]

I have a question. I want to book a moderate with FD but not stay as I am using my DVC points. Can I have two reservations in my name with my people or do I have to have another set?

You are able to have multiple reservations in your name.

Edited to add - Not sure of your intentions, but I'm uncertain how that affects checkin? I've held multiple reservations in my name, but only ever ended up keeping one. I believe the name on the reservation is the person who needs to actually check in to the resort. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[KimBean]

I'm new to all this. We booked a standard room Aug 22-28 at the Polynesian Resort. Hoping Free Dining gets announced for these dates. I put Quick Service Dining Plan on reservation as agent said it is easier to change if Free Dining becomes available. Anyone know if that is true? I see a "change" button next to dining plan, is that the modify button everyone was speaking of? Also thinking about extending our stay to 10 days. Do I have to have a hopper pass for all 10 days or is 6 day ok in order to get Free Dining??? After reading all the posts on here I'm getting a bit stressed.

It appears anything 4 days or more is the same price for the park hopper. I don't know if same with a TA or not no experience there. I noticed this last night as I was doing my chart and checking for someone else who only wants 5 days. Park hopper add on for 10 days and 5 days same amount.

 

[Kiki_pa]

You can have whatever # of park days you want, as long as it meets the minimum requirement for FD. At the Poly, however, you would qualify for the regular dining plan, not QS.

I was wondering about the dining plan. Should I have the regular one on there now to change to Free later or does it not matter for changing?

 

[ustasmom]

You are able to have multiple reservations in your name.

Edited to add - Not sure of your intentions, but I'm uncertain how that affects checkin? I've held multiple reservations in my name, but only ever ended up keeping one. I believe the name on the reservation is the person who needs to actually check in to the resort. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

I want the FD part but not the moderate stay. Five adults at a moderate is still much cheaper than adding it to a deluxe stay.

 

[JackieO]

I was wondering about the dining plan. Should I have the regular one on there now to change to Free later or does it not matter for changing?

I was told by a CM when I called that it would be easier to have it already on there. I added it and then found out here that it won't make any difference

Oh well, it just depends in how you want to do it, I guess.

 

[smallworldnh]

Loved Beauty and the Beast!!!!! Can't say enough!!!! Had GOOSEBUMPS

I'm glad to hear it. I've read some "meh" reviews about it but I like to make up my own mind!! We're going on Wednesday!

 

[Lisa*C]

Newbie here so please forgive this very basic question: we are planning a trip for late August 2018 (probably August 18 or 19 through 27). Is this typically a time period that FD is offered? Wow would that ever help our budget Thank you for any info.

 

[Kiki_pa]

The standard rooms at the Poly Resort are not generally excluded right? Just the villas correct?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I want the FD part but not the moderate stay. Five adults at a moderate is still much cheaper than adding it to a deluxe stay.

I didn't realize there were any moderate resorts that could hold 5 adults. Learned something new.

TIP:
In the past the FD promotion and many others have been made available to Disney Visa cardholders 3 days before the general public. Those of you who are thinking you will need to make resort decisions early in the morning will hopefully have 3 days to think those things through...unless you're lucky enough to have a Disney Visa. Still hoping someday those of us who don't live in the US will have the opportunity to get a Disney Visa!

Also, in the past rather than play the numbers game early in the morning I have booked a second trip and then once I knew for sure which one I wanted to keep I dropped the first one. Yes, it means I have 2 $200 deposits on my CC for a short amount of time but sure takes the pressure off figuring out my best options at 6am!

 

[Kiki_pa]

I didn't realize there were any moderate resorts that could hold 5 adults. Learned something new.

TIP:
In the past the FD promotion and many others have been made available to Disney Visa cardholders 3 days before the general public. Those of you who are thinking you will need to make resort decisions early in the morning will hopefully have 3 days to think those things through...unless you're lucky enough to have a Disney Visa. Still hoping someday those of us who don't live in the US will have the opportunity to get a Disney Visa!

Also, in the past rather than play the numbers game early in the morning I have booked a second trip and then once I knew for sure which one I wanted to keep I dropped the first one. Yes, it means I have 2 $200 deposits on my CC for a short amount of time but sure takes the pressure off figuring out my best options at 6am!

I've been a Disney Visa Card Holder for 10 years and have never once been notified of the Free Dining Plan ahead of time. I think I've received a card in the mail a few times about 25% rooms but never the Free Dining Plan. Do you usually get notified or is it listed under Special Offers on the Disney website?