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

[jlundeen]

I personally feel like a TA is almost like a waitress... You get your pay for the service you do. It would be like a waitress expecting a great tip if she only sat you at your table and expected you to pay your bill but did nothing else.

I agree with you. Unfortunately it's like so many other things...it only takes a few bad experiences to give the whole industry a bad rap...I'm glad there are folks like you and my TA who I wouldn't cancel for the world!) who really look out for their clients!

 

[sharonabe]

Here's another question : My planned dates are Dec 8 - 14 right now - the 8th could be the outtlier day based on some rumors (not according to the BB dates though)- if FD falls the day after my planned visit I know I could always book a room only for the first night "shortening" my FD stay from 6 to 5 nights - BUT how does that affect my fast pass booking? The tickets would be on my Dec 9 check in

As long as you are still onsite for the 8th, you should be fine.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

CSR does normally offer free dining. POFQ usually does not. If FD is your goal, then I would probably change any current reservation to CSR and hope you have the "modify button" that will allow you to make the change online without calling.

The problem is there is no way of predicting which resort, which rooms within each resort, and how many of said rooms will be available, if any. That's why it is suggested that if you're going no matter what, you book at the resort you really want to stay in and make changes when/if FD comes out.

Thank you!

 

[sharonabe]

Instead of getting a gc for staying at CBR I was moved to SS for the same price. I have been told that I would still be eligible for FD and be able to keep the SS room at the same price. It would essentially be the "double dipping" like the gc. My question is would it be better for me to book another reservation and then call to have the price changed? And how would the gc/room change stuff work if we changed dates?

Just like the GCs, there's no way to know what they are going to do with this since it has never been done before.

Here's what I would do. When/if FD comes out, make another reservation with the promotion online and then wait a day or two to call and see what they will do. At least that way you will have the total price for the two and know which one is the better price.

 

[sjs314]

I used a TA in 2014. She was amazing and sometimes up with me texting/emailing @ 3am......but for me, being one who wants to build spreadsheets and control most every aspect.....I feel the need to do it on my own.

I am the same way in 2013 room discounts dropped at midnight and I knew I'd never get hold of my TA(it was my first time ever using one) plus I had decided to switch from the Poly STD to BWI CL so I booked a new reservation myself and then cancelled the one with the TA.
I need to have control of my reservation

 

[jlundeen]

I used a TA in 2014. She was amazing and sometimes up with me texting/emailing @ 3am......but for me, being one who wants to build spreadsheets and control most every aspect.....I feel the need to do it on my own.

I still do all my spreadsheets....lots and lots of spreadsheets....then let her know what I want, and she makes it happen - usually!

 

[samsteele]

I absolutely agree with the PPs that if you are set on WDW this Fall, FD or not, then you should book the resort that you want to stay in.

But since we are guessing about FD resorts, there is some repeated speculation on the Boards in this thread and in others about the following FD resorts for this Fall. Again, this is just guessing & speculation, but still food for thought:

Values:
AS Sports - likely FD
As Music - likely FD
AS Movies - historically, no FD
POP - likely FD (but limited b/c of construction - sweeping room renos that started 3 wks ago and are scheduled until Spring/18)

Mods:
CSR - likely FD (but limited b/c of construction & bookings from CBR fallout)
Riverside - likely FD (limited)
FQ - historically, no FD
CBR - possibly no FD or very limited (b/c of construction & Gift Cards attracted extra bookings)

Deluxe: strongest category for FD because of high rack rates

Can we guess that AS Sports, AS Music (both smaller Values with fewer rooms than POP) & Deluxe are the bigger offerings? If so, the pressure on the room availability at those 2 smaller Values will be significant as guests who usually go Mod or even POP fight for a room.

Bottom line: have another resort plan in place should FD be offered in the next few weeks. Have a backup plan for eg AS Sports or Music that you have already pre-approved with your family so you can jump on the offer if FD is a deal breaker for you. ps if looking at the Values, do consider the extra $20/day per adult upgrade charge from QS if TS is important for your family.

 

[tink1957]

This wait is killing me....

Everything is on hold until they announce the dates.....airfare...hotel...before or after Universal stay? Aaaarrrgggggh

Glad I have you all to wait with

 

[nmrgrl55]

I am going to a wedding in Oct so dates are set. Based on last year, there will be no FD, but if they are like the year before, I might be able to get it for part of my stay To my question...did last years FD pin offers have the same excluded dates? I'm holding out hope I will get a pin. The only way we can stay onsite is if we get FD

 

[menotyou21]

Thanks. I assume that's 6 am EST?

my ADR window opened at 5:52am CST. There were issues with CRT, but not BOG. I was able to get CRT later in the day once the issues were fixed.

 

[squirrel]

Oh no! I had know idea that ASMo has not been included in Free dining. I'm running out of options as I'm highly allergic to smoke. I will not stay at Pop after the last trip

 

[DisKaren]

Unfortunately for me, I've requested connecting rooms and never been successful.....I need better luck? lol

Apparently from what I've been reading, Disney doesn't guarantee connecting rooms unless there will be all minors staying in 1 of the rooms. That won't be the case with us, and I'll be happy with 2 rooms in the same resort with FD!

 

[nkereina]

Apparently from what I've been reading, Disney doesn't guarantee connecting rooms unless there will be all minors staying in 1 of the rooms. That won't be the case with us, and I'll be happy with 2 rooms in the same resort with FD!

They don't guarantee connecting rooms ever. You can't book a room unless someone over 18 is on each room reservation.

I feel your pain - we will need 3 rooms in the same resort with FD. Seems like an impossible feat!

 

[samsteele]

Oh no! I had know idea that ASMo has not been included in Free dining. I'm running out of options as I'm highly allergic to smoke. I will not stay at Pop after the last trip

I understand your concerns re POP. Every time I have had to walk the gauntlet through the smoking areas on the path to the bus/caf. However, I didn't find it as bad at either AS Sports or AS Music. A lot of it could come down to where my room was but generally, the second hand smoke wasn't as bad at the AS.

 

[menotyou21]

They don't guarantee connecting rooms ever. You can't book a room unless someone over 18 is on each room reservation.

I feel your pain - we will need 3 rooms in the same resort with FD. Seems like an impossible feat!

agreed. we have 6 or 7 going, so I'm basically stuck to a Deluxe if we want 1 room.

 

[menotyou21]

I'll start. Hi my name is Nicki and I'm a free dining addict.

Hi, my name is Shawn and I'm an overall Disney addict!

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Hi, my name is Shawn and I'm an overall Disney addict!

Hi Shawn.

 

[pooch]

Me too, I need 2 rooms for our family vacation in November, 5 adults, 3 kids & an infant. I am biting the bullet and using a TA recommended by the boards. I will probably be up with you all at 4AM trying on my own but having a little extra help never hurts! We are planning 11/11/ through 11/18. If Free Dining doesn't start until midway through the trip, we may stay at Portofino (or other) resort at Universal for the first few days. DD is a TM there and often gets really good discounts. She & I stayed at Portofino earlier this month for $100 per night and that comes with the free Express Pass. We are planning on a day or two at US/IOA and a day at Sea World, all comped by my DD, so we could do that all and then move to Disney for free dining. And ok, did I mention I have enough SWA RR points saved up to fly everyone RT for $78??? AND will have about $600 in Disney Visa reward dollars to buy the boys stuff?? I am so the queen of cheap!!!!!

 

[scard192]

I am going to a wedding in Oct so dates are set. Based on last year, there will be no FD, but if they are like the year before, I might be able to get it for part of my stay To my question...did last years FD pin offers have the same excluded dates? I'm holding out hope I will get a pin. The only way we can stay onsite is if we get FD

Pretty sure there were no PINS(UOC) for FD last year. Our dates did not qualify for FD so we booked a deal with a TA at the end of April for our November trip. I watched the DIS just about every day looking for posts about FD UOCs and never saw any

 

[squirrel]

I understand your concerns re POP. Every time I have had to walk the gauntlet through the smoking areas on the path to the bus/caf. However, I didn't find it as bad at either AS Sports or AS Music. A lot of it could come down to where my room was but generally, the second hand smoke wasn't as bad at the AS.

Thank you, I guess I will look at the two other All-Star Resort maps and see if one looks better than the other. I really wish All-Star Movies was available for FD. I had figured out that resorts DSA and was happy with my choice. I'm booked right now with just a CS meal per person per day offer.