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

[FinnsMom7]

Someone on another thread asked a question I never thought of - if (praying it's not the case) there is no FD promo will they announce it or will we all keep painfully waiting and waiting

 

[JJIRmom]

I see talk of required park hoppers for free dining. Was this the case last year? I went 2 years ago on FD & we could upgrade to water park tickets to qualify, did they change it last year? We wouldn't use PH with 2 little ones but could definitely use water park tickets.

 

[trucker den]

Are they giving you an option? $75 gift card or upgrade to SSR? And FWIW, it was a good 15 minutes from the first stop at SSR (Grandstand) to the light at Chelonia Parkway (Wyndham Bonnet Creek) and CBR is one road down from there. It was so much longer that I've actually come up with a new plan to stay at Bonnet Creek in December and drive to HS and use the Express transportation for hopping.

Yes they gave us a option. It was during the the gift card frenzy that happened. There was no availability at CBR and I thought at the time that the switch is a better option to score FD. Now I am second guessing it. But I guess that is what happens, make a decision then wonder if it was the right one. Ahh the magic of free dining!

 

[Disneylover99]

Someone on another thread asked a question I never thought of - if (praying it's not the case) there is no FD promo will they announce it or will we all keep painfully waiting and waiting

We will never give up! We'll wait it out til our dying days....hungry and parched.....
or until sometime in May....whichever comes first.

 

[HatboxHaint]

Anyone think there is an advantage to having a package with 2-day hopper and dining plan already booked so that you just have to add the promo? (...hoping your room category is available in the discount)

Right now I have a room only Res and was thinking I could just upgrade that to package when FD is released.

 

[Disneylover99]

I see talk of required park hoppers for free dining. Was this the case last year? I went 2 years ago on FD & we could upgrade to water park tickets to qualify, did they change it last year? We wouldn't use PH with 2 little ones but could definitely use water park tickets.

Last year was PH or WP. This year there is no WP add on without PH. So I guess it will either just be parkhopper or they'll make you add on both PH and WP, which I think costs an extra $15 or so on top of the parkhopper ticket.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Someone on another thread asked a question I never thought of - if (praying it's not the case) there is no FD promo will they announce it or will we all keep painfully waiting and waiting

I think if that were the case they wouldn't announce "no Free Dining this year". They would just release a different, probably not as good, promotion in its place.

Kind of like that girlfriend in middle school. She didn't actually say she was breaking up with me. But I got the hint when I saw that other boy carrying her books.

 

[Disneygurl84]

Historically the last 3 years did include 10/1. But they included all of Sept. if it were me I would start 9/30. Nothing is guaranteed but is as good a guess as any. In 2013 oct 1-3 was FD. 2014 oct 1-2 was FD and last year was just Oct 1. If the trend continues might end 9/30 this year.

I could do 9/30 - just wish they'd let us know.

 

[KimBean]

Seriously, a big drop in value for US if it follows the UK one i just saw via kennythepirate email yikes. There goes any shot of a bonus trip for me if it pans out that way.

Perhaps, FDP has become so popular WDW feels they don't need to be quite so generous out of the gate?

They Could challenge the market this way intitially, and offer a tweak/better promo if the rooms don't fill down the road.

Even a kicker of A $200 GC doesn't go far, especially with a family of 4.

I didn't get the Kenny email which I don't know why I'm a paid member. Please share.

 

[KimBean]

I didn't get the Kenny email which I don't know why I'm a paid member. Please share.

I found it myself. Sounds like scare tactics and a sales pitch. I still love ya Kenny but that's a little much.

 

[KimBean]

I could do 9/30 - just wish they'd let us know.

If you don't know I would book your ADRs like it is a 9/30 start.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Yes they gave us a option. It was during the the gift card frenzy that happened. There was no availability at CBR and I thought at the time that the switch is a better option to score FD. Now I am second guessing it. But I guess that is what happens, make a decision then wonder if it was the right one. Ahh the magic of free dining!

FWIW, I also was upgraded to a 2 BR at SSR from CBR and was able to apply the Family Summer Magic Promo which just came out while retaining the original CBR pricing. Since they permitted that discount, I don't see why free dining would be any different. We are planning to switch to that when it comes out as it will save us more money, but right now the Family Summer Magic Promo is saving us $1858 over 12 nights off the cost of 2 CBR room price for the 2 bedroom at SSR.

Also, since SSR has sooo many rooms, it appears they've always been included in free dining and doesn't look like there will be issues with limited availability making it difficult to add the promo if free dining is offered.

I'm not totally excited about SSR either. I'd rather be at AKL or WL, but can't justify $860-$890/ night for a 2 bedroom when I have it right now at SSR for somewhere around $280/ night with the promo and if free dining comes out, will have it for $400 (+ tax)/ night with free dining.

 

[TwoMisfits]

So I am looking for advice:
Deluxe Plan- DD age 4, DS turns 7
day 1:
B- Chef Mickeys
D- CRT
day 2:
B- Garden Grill
D- Coral Reef
day 3: (Son's b-day)
B- Crystal Palace
D: BOG
day 4:
D: T-Rex (meeting family who live there- so their pick)
day 5:
B- Hollywood and Vine
D: Mama Melrose- Fantasmic Package

* just grab lunch each day when we are hungry at QS locations.

Any thoughts or suggestions??

I know you want DDP...but I wouldn't bother upgrading...I'd drop most of the breakfast buffets for snacks/CSs and pay for TRex OOP and just book a regular dining plan. I don't think 2 little kids will even want to deal with 2 sit downs of one hour+/day...

 

[krisfan]

FWIW, I also was upgraded to a 2 BR at SSR from CBR and was able to apply the Family Summer Magic Promo which just came out while retaining the original CBR pricing. Since they permitted that discount, I don't see why free dining would be any different. We are planning to switch to that when it comes out as it will save us more money, but right now the Family Summer Magic Promo is saving us $1858 over 12 nights off the cost of 2 CBR room price for the 2 bedroom at SSR.

Also, since SSR has sooo many rooms, it appears they've always been included in free dining and doesn't look like there will be issues with limited availability making it difficult to add the promo if free dining is offered.

I'm not totally excited about SSR either. I'd rather be at AKL or WL, but can't justify $860-$890/ night for a 2 bedroom when I have it right now at SSR for somewhere around $280/ night with the promo and if free dining comes out, will have it for $400 (+ tax)/ night with free dining.

Is SSR 2 bedroom only 400 I don't think so...its around 800 ... now it might be cheaper for you.. but for FD if they want to pay the full price of double bed room.. then it would be difficult...

 

[KimBean]

FWIW, I also was upgraded to a 2 BR at SSR from CBR and was able to apply the Family Summer Magic Promo which just came out while retaining the original CBR pricing. Since they permitted that discount, I don't see why free dining would be any different. We are planning to switch to that when it comes out as it will save us more money, but right now the Family Summer Magic Promo is saving us $1858 over 12 nights off the cost of 2 CBR room price for the 2 bedroom at SSR.

Also, since SSR has sooo many rooms, it appears they've always been included in free dining and doesn't look like there will be issues with limited availability making it difficult to add the promo if free dining is offered.

I'm not totally excited about SSR either. I'd rather be at AKL or WL, but can't justify $860-$890/ night for a 2 bedroom when I have it right now at SSR for somewhere around $280/ night with the promo and if free dining comes out, will have it for $400 (+ tax)/ night with free dining.

I am so shocked that for CBR $230 a night they are giving you a free upgrade to a 2 bedroom villa. When I'm going that shows as $730 a night. Am I missing something? I need this kind of luck in my life.

 

[babydoll65]

Anyone think there is an advantage to having a package with 2-day hopper and dining plan already booked so that you just have to add the promo? (...hoping your room category is available in the discount)

Right now I have a room only Res and was thinking I could just upgrade that to package when FD is released.

Unfortunately the room only reservation will need to be canceled, and you would need to book a pkg with a 200$ deposit. Any money put down on the room only reservation will get refunded. As of last year, the minimum requirements for free dining were, three night stay with two day parkhoppers. Not sure what the requirements will be this time. May be better to already have a pkg, you don't have to add the dining. Room and tickets are enough

 

[scard192]

Someone on another thread asked a question I never thought of - if (praying it's not the case) there is no FD promo will they announce it or will we all keep painfully waiting and waiting

if FD goes away (and I'm not saying it will this year), there will be another Fall discount package of some sort to get people to WDW. Very few times of the year (mostly holidays) when there is no discount. they'll just release the new discount.

just my opinion

 

[trucker den]

FWIW, I also was upgraded to a 2 BR at SSR from CBR and was able to apply the Family Summer Magic Promo which just came out while retaining the original CBR pricing. Since they permitted that discount, I don't see why free dining would be any different. We are planning to switch to that when it comes out as it will save us more money, but right now the Family Summer Magic Promo is saving us $1858 over 12 nights off the cost of 2 CBR room price for the 2 bedroom at SSR.

Also, since SSR has sooo many rooms, it appears they've always been included in free dining and doesn't look like there will be issues with limited availability making it difficult to add the promo if free dining is offered.

I'm not totally excited about SSR either. I'd rather be at AKL or WL, but can't justify $860-$890/ night for a 2 bedroom when I have it right now at SSR for somewhere around $280/ night with the promo and if free dining comes out, will have it for $400 (+ tax)/ night with free dining.

I am excited about the bigger room. And quite frankly I don't care where we stay. Just saving money I priority one. Plus people say that when you stay deluxe you never want to go back

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Is SSR 2 bedroom only 400 I don't think so...its around 800 ... now it might be cheaper for you.. but for FD if they want to pay the full price of double bed room.. then it would be difficult...

Those of us that were moved to a 2 bedroom at SSR from CBR are receiving the 2 bedroom at the same price as what we were paying for CBR. For me that was 2 rooms at $200/ night + tax, so $400/ night plus tax. I was able to apply the Family Summer Magic Promo that just came out and it applied the savings off of that $400/ night rate, which saved $1858 off the cost of the package for 12 nights. I've been assured multiple times that if free dining comes out, I can apply that to the CBR pricing of $400/ night and NOT have to pay full rack rate at SSR which for my dates is $670/ night. The fact that they applied this promo to the CBR price I'm paying for the 2 bedroom at SSR further solidifies my belief that there will be no issues with applying free dining since it already worked with this promo. Obviously if free dining comes out, I will lose this current promo, but I should be able to get free dining and pay $400/ night. This will only work for people who received the complimentary resort change as it was viewed as a good will gesture and not a discount.

 

[cshell624]

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

Me too, please !!!! I actually found the popcorn at the grocery store, but it's not the same as having it at Disney.