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

[LovingDisney2012]

For anyone with experience on the subject, how scarce are standard rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge when FD drops?

If standard rooms are included, they usually go pretty quickly.

 

[Wojodis]

I know this is probably the wrong place to ask this but does anyone know if TA can add a room discount on top of an exclusive? Just trying to prepare if FD doesn't work out.

 

[TropicalDIS]

It's free but some people wait forever to see specialists. Even trying to get to see your doctor could take weeks. I waited almost 2 hours at the clinic to make sure I didn't have a chest infection.

My sister has been complaining about her stomach since summer. They finally found out her liver is enlarged. Is it from last summer when she had an infection? Nobody knows. They are still running tests. They try and label any stomach pain as IBS. So at least 8 months she has barely eaten anything and is so sick she hardly goes anywhere. I'm sure if you are paying for medical care you can get the run around too.

I have been to the hospital in Anaheim after having an asthma attack. The place was empty. Totally different than here. You go to the hospital and you will wait hours unless you are dying or about to die. The waiting area is packed.

If you're waiting weeks to see your family doctor, then i think it's time to get a new doctor.

Wait times at hospitals and after hours clinics are usually bad. It's not helped by those that tend to go there for every single issue.

 

[Vols1977]

If standard rooms are included, they usually go pretty quickly.

I'm hoping our party can snag 4 standard rooms. We plan to book online at 4 the day FD drops.

 

[PirateD]

It's free but some people wait forever to see specialists. Even trying to get to see your doctor could take weeks. I waited almost 2 hours at the clinic to make sure I didn't have a chest infection.

My sister has been complaining about her stomach since summer. They finally found out her liver is enlarged. Is it from last summer when she had an infection? Nobody knows. They are still running tests. They try and label any stomach pain as IBS. So at least 8 months she has barely eaten anything and is so sick she hardly goes anywhere. I'm sure if you are paying for medical care you can get the run around too.

I have been to the hospital in Anaheim after having an asthma attack. The place was empty. Totally different than here. You go to the hospital and you will wait hours unless you are dying or about to die. The waiting area is packed.

I understand. My sister lives in Canada with her husband. She crosses the border to work everyday. One of the reasons is to keep American health care. Her husband experienced kind of the same thing as your sister with stomach issues. He finally came down here after waiting about 9 months, and they paid for him to see someone so he could get the issue resolved.

 

[Azjenn]

Me too! I take a day off from the boards and totally miss everything! Catching up in like 18 pages

I'm bored waiting also. I keep checking on here to see if there are any new rumors. My husband has been been making fun of me. He compares me waiting on free dining to people waiting on that poor giraffe to have her baby. Im still waiting!!!

Has that giraffe really still not had her baby??

 

[squirrel]

If you're waiting weeks to see your family doctor, then i think it's time to get a new doctor.

Wait times at hospitals and after hours clinics are usually bad. It's not helped by those that tend to go there for every single issue.

We have a shortage of doctors where I live. I'm outside of the city so it's harder for smaller cities, communities to get doctors. Some people don't even have a doctor, they just use the clinics or the hospital.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Am I the only one that thinks Mods will not be included in FD this year? CSR and CBR already have reduced capacity. POR is typically excluded for most of FD, and FQ is never included. POR and FQ will more than likely see higher occupancy due to the lack of rooms at CSR and CBR. I do not think the Mods will have enough vacancies to be included.

I keep on hearing about people being upgraded to other resorts, makes me wonder what's actually going on, are they trying to keep so many rooms available, maybe since sometimes the more expensive resorts are harder to fill but if they upgrade someone then that same room can be rebooked, so some money is better than no money kind of thinking?

 

[agassizsmile]

Provably

 

[tinkpower]

I think they overbook so they don't have empty rooms when people cancel. Sorry of like airlines. We've never been upgraded to a different resort but did get an upgrade from a 2 bedroom Villa to a 2. It was awesome!

 

[menotyou21]

Not sure it's true in all cases, but I was lead to believe (years ago) that the easiest way to get the DV (in the US) is by applying for it @ the Disney Store. From what I understand, it is best to apply in the store for the regular card. Upgrade to the Premium Card at a later date if that is your goal.

 

[Neeky78]

I'm having a blast losing my mind with all of you. For me it's the thrill of the hunt. But then I'm one of those crazy people who loves teaming up with complete strangers on Black Friday. I always make friends waiting for the stores to open, or camping out for the best seats for movie premiers. I think life is as fun as you are yourself.

You suffer from FOMO!

 

[Neeky78]

I agree. But I have to put myself in their shoes. I mean, most of us know the pitfalls of FD, you may or may not get it. But to the uneducated and/or the first time visitor who happens to hear about it or see an ad on TV, they want to know why they didn't get it thinking everybody gets it and they got shafted. I can't even imagine how many irate calls they get. Or how many calls or emails they must get pestering them about it. With all of that said, I think the woman in the video (Tracy?) could have really toned it down a little.

One point she made that I agree with, is that people think Disney gives fd out of the goodness of their heart, instead of recognising it as the marketing tool it is.
Then people feel personally offended when they don't get fd.
They get offended that Disney operates as a business.
Um, duh!
If your boss came to you and said they weren't going to pay you any more, would you still work out of the goodness of your heart, even if you really enjoy your job?
I'm a teacher, I love it and I'm dedicated to it, but I wouldn't do it if I wasn't being paid. I need to put food on the table still!

Why do people get upset when a business operates as a business? Why is it Disney's responsibility to ensure you can afford a holiday for your family? It's their responsibility to do their best to make your holiday enjoyable, but if you can only afford to go to Disney World if you have free dining, why is it that Disney's responsibility?

I have seen some people call fd a scam "because they only do it to fill empty rooms and make people book a holiday to their park"

Um, yeah! Of course that's why they're doing it. It doesn't make it a scam, it makes it an incentive. Pretty transparent to me.

We're booked and going no matter what, but if I can tweak our booking to get fd, I'll do it. If I miss out, it will NOT ruin my holiday.

I think that's the sad part about some people's approach to fd. The success and enjoyment of their holiday rests on getting fd and when they don't get it, they're devastated and blame Disney. But they set themselves up for the fall.

I love the stalking and gossip and anticipation of fd dropping, but I liken it to a scratch ticket. The tingle of hope and "what if" before you scratch is enjoyable, but I laugh it off if I don't win.

I'll chase fd, but if I don't get it, I'll laugh it off and be thankful for the fun I had.

From what I've read on this thread, it seems most people are the same, which is fab!

 

[Neeky78]

I didn't get a pin code. I got a please take a survey about using the website.


I agree. I think the thing that rubbed me the wrong way was talking about people maximizing the dining plan by getting steak and lobster. Whether you get your credits by paying rack rate for the room, having a minimum day of tickets and paying additional for park hopper (for me that represents about $1200 I am paying for "free dining") OR if you get it by adding it to your package, it would then be dumb and stupid to pay more then you will use. If you don't make sure to use your credits wisely then you might as well have paid OOP. Ordering something you don't enjoy would be dumb. But for my house we skrimp and save for years to go to Disney. We don't eat out, we watch movies at home, and only buy things we need. We do all that so we can save $5000 to go to Disney and I'm going to get some steak and I don't appreciate being made to feel like I'm doing something wrong. However I got my credit I can spend the credit within Disneys plan.

Rant over.

There will always be people who only order on fd to get maximum value, rather than maximum enjoyment. I love lobster and steak, so I'd order it for that reason. Bonus that it's good value. But if I feel like a salad that day, I'll order a salad and damn the "poor value".

They're also the ones at buffets that have to get double what they need and leave half of it on the table and leave with pride that they "really got their value" because they wasted so much food. They feel abusing the system is a victory and anyone who doesn't do the same is a sucker.

 

[Neeky78]

Yeah, but you get free healthcare.

And Justin Trudeau

 

[Amunet]

I know this is probably the wrong place to ask this but does anyone know if TA can add a room discount on top of an exclusive? Just trying to prepare if FD doesn't work out.

It depends on the terms of the discount. Usually not but I have heard of some stacking, though, that was a bit ago. The best way to find out is ask if your TA to combine what you have in mind

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

My mom got a UOC (blank) but I didn't, probably because I already have the BB booked. The code said 30% off so I'm curious if the availability and discount really is better than what is online!! There's nothing available unless you want to drop $1000k a night at the contemporary!

 

[Sailormoon2]

I go one too, but where it says "Unique offer code:" it is blank

I know this has already been addressed, but yes! Me too!

Well at least you all get codes!

Well actually we didn't [see above]

I guess no one really knows why some people get them and some people don't.

To get the code, lock onto the disneyworld site and make up a vacation. Put in your dates and choose your resort (package if you want to) and LEAVE IT in your "cart". Then exit. You'll get some reminders from Disney that you haven't completed your order, and then when discounts are released you'll be given a code, in the hopes that you will "complete your order". I frequently play around with pretend vacations this way, and almost always receive codes.

 

[aballerina]

And Justin Trudeau

Yes, our leader has better hair than your leader.

 

[Neeky78]

Yes, our leader has better hair than your leader.

My leader doesn't have much hair. Aussie!