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

[Amunet]

Can we all make a pact that we won't post fake rumors on April 1? I don't think I could handle it!!!

Ha, watch, someone at Disney will have a cruel sense of humor and drop FD then lol

 

[Felicis]

I may get stoned for this but I have eaten all three meals at BOG - breakfast under FD which was worth it for value alone food decent - lunch which I paid OOP was a waste - rushed and nothing overly fancy - Epcot is much better IMO and dinner was nice - glass of wine and the setting is amazing but the hype of getting a reservation and cost for what you get isn't what it's cracked up to be - under FD yes it's a better value than others but I rather go to Biergarten or France or Ohana for a TS

We are going 100% solely for the Beast, and after seeing Beauty and the Beast today, we couldn't not! (Now have to get a dinner booking!)

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

Just caught up on several pages and now all I want to do is eat! Haha all this food talk is making me need Disney more than ever! Karamell-Kuche popcorn I'm coming for you! Haha

 

[Kiki_pa]

We are going 100% solely for the Beast, and after seeing Beauty and the Beast today, we couldn't not! (Now have to get a dinner booking!)

We've never done BOG. Do you only see the Beast at dinner? We have breakfast reservations right now.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I've had the fried shrimp there a few times. It isn't bad but certainly is "fast food" shrimp. We prefer BOG for lunch to Columbia HH, but either is much better than Pecos (though I haven't tried the new menu) or Cosmic Rays.

The new menu at Pecos is really good. They have an awesome toppings bar that can really help stretch the meals if you want to share between a few people. We enjoyed it.

 

[Felicis]

We've never done BOG. Do you only see the Beast at dinner? We have breakfast reservations right now.

My understanding is that he comes out at dinner only.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

We've never done BOG. Do you only see the Beast at dinner? We have breakfast reservations right now.

Yep, dinner only.

 

[pigletto]

Can we all make a pact that we won't post fake rumors on April 1? I don't think I could handle it!!!

Totally agree, it wouldn't even be a little bit amusing.

 

[sharonabe]

I don't think the filling up rooms is the only reason they do the free dining..
Otherwise they would have launched the UK FD later.and first look at the figures.
We can book for 1/1-3/18 and 4/6-11/30 2018
Overhere we can't hold rooms and switch numerous times.There is a fee for changing dates/resorts and cancellation

Just curious --what would be another reason for Disney to do FD promotions if it isn't to fill rooms? I think they are looking at figures, maybe not just those for 2018, but there are reports of lower attendance in the parks meaning they need to keep selling rooms.

UK free dining and USA free dining are two completely different beasts.

UK offers are out there to get you to come to Disney. Disney knows you have the whole world as a choice for your vacation, and they want as many of you as they can get. They also know the better the deal, the longer you will stay with them and not go off exploring other parts of America. Free dining IS an enticement for UK. Thus you have a free dining deal out there for 2018.

USA is a "fill the rooms" deal. Yes, we have the whole world too, but it's not as much of a mindset here. Free dining doesn't happen for the USA unless Disney has rooms they need to sell. Thus, we are still waiting for an offer for the end of 2017. I wonder what the highest percentage of unsold rooms is for them to finally say, "no free dining" this year?

 

[v0mich01]

Some families/groups require more than one room. Each room counts as a separate reservation.

The OP has 2 separate rooms booked but noticed availability for a 2 bedroom room/villa and booked it but is having trouble changing the dates. I assume once it's sorted, the two original rooms will be cancelled

Yep, I called this morning and they made the changes, she said to wait until the confirmation email to cancel the other existing reservation which can take up to 24 hours. But I'm so thankful they were able to do it. Having a two bedroom villa puts my mind at ease, my in-law we're going to keep our son after bedtime so we can go back into the park(hello walking distance to Epcot during food and wine!!!!) This way, they could actually go to sleep, or watch TV without keeping my 2 year old up.

So fd related bc of food right? That's still our goal, so hopefully it works. But food and wine festival have quite a few food items that can count as snacks credits right?

My husband has the day after Easter off of work, but I don't see him waking up at four to book for me, even if he would, im going to be too hyper to sleep anyways

 

[ThistleMae]

Funny thing, when we got our booklet for the QS summer meal deal it states we do get a dessert. I plan on bringing it with me in case there is a problem.

I haven't looked at the summer deal but understood it was a QS only. So if that includes a dessert, does that mean it is a snack credit, separate from your CS, or do you just get a dessert wherever you eat lunch? We will be using this next summer if offered, so interested in the answer to this.

 

[ThistleMae]

We love Columbia harbour house. It's prob one of my fav QS. I'm gonna get beat for this one but I thought BOG for lunch was just meh... the ambiance inside is beautiful but I thought the food was just ok. Just my opinion though

Yeah, I'm with you. But we have eaten there just for the ambience. The prime rib sandwich was okay.

 

[ThistleMae]

BOG for lunch!

Anywhere in the countries is great! I love Norway, their school bread is wonderful and the sandwiches are really, really good. But almost any country is excellent.

 

[TwoMisfits]

UK free dining and USA free dining are two completely different beasts.

UK offers are out there to get you to come to Disney. Disney knows you have the whole world as a choice for your vacation, and they want as many of you as they can get. They also know the better the deal, the longer you will stay with them and not go off exploring other parts of America. Free dining IS an enticement for UK. Thus you have a free dining deal out there for 2018.

USA is a "fill the rooms" deal. Yes, we have the whole world too, but it's not as much of a mindset here. Free dining doesn't happen for the USA unless Disney has rooms they need to sell. Thus, we are still waiting for an offer for the end of 2017. I wonder what the highest percentage of unsold rooms is for them to finally say, "no free dining" this year?

2018 UK free dining is also much more limited than US free dining. They are only offering 1 CS meal/per person/per day at values, CS plan for moderates, and regular DP for deluxes/villas. That would be a large step down for US free dining, although it might be an omen for this fall if free dining does come.

 

[ThistleMae]

I think if there seems to be no availability that is NOT good for us. Disney isn't holding rooms back so they can give us free food. They are giving us free food (hopefully) to fill up the empty rooms and spend money in the parks. If the rooms are booked it's going to seriously limit the availability of free dining.

This could be the case, hope not.

 

[sharonabe]

2018 UK free dining is also much more limited than US free dining. They are only offering 1 CS meal/per person/per day at values, CS plan for moderates, and regular DP for deluxes/villas. That would be a large step down for US free dining, although it might be an omen for this fall if free dining does come.

It's not an omen; this is the way their's has been for a few years now.

 

[ThistleMae]

I don't know. Maybe it's like the saying about restaurants--"When unsure, always go to the place that seems busiest. It must be good." Maybe if the general public finds limited to no availability when they begin to plan a trip--it makes them want to go more (I doubt it though). It definitely helps to keep prices up. Also, it probably makes it easier to offer very limited FD initially. Those of us planning on being up at 4 a.m. on the day that it drops are also probably the ones that would make multiple reservations (for better or worse) in hopes of landing it. If I were Disney, I would just be afraid that the current limited availability may turn some potential customers off. Typically, you'll see much greater availability a few weeks after FD drops. Like I said, I don't know. I just want it to happen NOW! (gotta rationalize this obsessive behavior lol). Disney has had this offer for awhile so I'm sure they have every aspect and detail of it worked out perfectly!

I wonder if their computer system gives them all the information they need to see whether folks are doing mulitiple bookings? Also, if they can look back at the trends and determine what % of people change their resort and room types once FD drops. It would make good business sense. Then again, seeing how their system works on MDE, maybe not...LOL!

 

[ThistleMae]

I have not used both I have only used my own car. But just looking at the times posted on the boards I. Ant see much circumstance where your car isn't faster.

Driving this year too, question about strategy. Do you park at one park, then use the transportation system from park to park, or do you drive from park to park? I wouldn't think you would move the car from MK to Epcot but use the monorail system, or maybe even the boat to HS, but drive to AK? Curious how you do it?

 

[ThistleMae]

Can we all make a pact that we won't post fake rumors on April 1? I don't think I could handle it!!!

OMG, that would be so mean!

 

[ThistleMae]

Ha, watch, someone at Disney will have a cruel sense of humor and drop FD then lol

OMG, even worse!