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

[TomServo27]

The 2017 Free Dining bounceback for current WDW resort guests is out
Dates are ...
5/30-6/6/17
6/30-7/5/17
8/11-9/9/17
12/8-12/20/17

I could work with those dates.

 

[JennJ84]

I could work with those dates.

I agree I could too. Its all about being flexible.

 

[menotyou21]

2 Items to note:
1. BOOKED my flights today!!!!! Super exciting day.....makes it all real. LOL
2. Just now, I was able to book ROL Dining for 9/7 @ 4:40pm. Only spot available for dinner. On a light negative note - DSS had told me June for release times. They were 2 months off.....wow.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I missed the word bounce back lol I thought those dates were just released today. LOL
On another note a cast member online today said that the deals can be released at anytime, so check back all day not just once a day.

 

[Ahuck06]

What site did you see this on? I feel like there is so much conflicting information/speculation about fall occupancy rates. Tom Bricker (who I followed last year and he was spot on with all predictions) posted on his Facebook page last night that occupancy rates for the rest of the year are down.

I read the exact same thing yesterday

 

[cshell624]

So I have done al the price outs.
Looks like if FD dropped for Pop we would save $1000, that'ss 2 Christmas party's, and 125 for each of us in spending.

Or if I pushed it real tight could do Port (maybe royal room if it's open) and need to pay for party as we go.

Pro for Pop-
Bus's seem to not be as bad?
Perhaps get a new room
Close to AOA so can just walk over and look over the area we really want to see. (I was a lIon King kid)
Less stressful

Pro for port
Bigger room
bigger bed
coffee maker

Cons - sometimes the bus seems to be more crowded.

what would you do? This is all dependent of free dining. Right now I have 9 nights 8day hoppers and ddp (out of pocket)
If FD pops up I can save that $1000 staying at pop. Or pay the same price and stay at Port.
Con's and pro's of each choice please.

We stayed at POR in a RR back in 2014 for my 40th birthday trip. I'll admit paying the extra cost was a little hard to swallow, but I could justify it because it was the only room type available at POR and it was a special trip. The walk from the room to the lobby was not bad and we enjoyed walking down by the water and waving to the boats as they passed by. I can't comment on the walk to the buses because we had our own car. Even if the walk from the room to the bus is a little longer, the resort is so beautiful (especially at night). All that being said, we do love staying at POP and $1000 savings would go a long way. Best wishes for a great birthday trip no matter what you choose.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Thank you, right now we have pop and dining for the same price. I think we would lean towards the rr if it did come up and all stars aligned lol.

 

[otg]

It seems like lately, the dis team is being a little down on those looking for fd. (Just my opinion)

I'm at work can't listen. Do they say something negative?

 

[Marianm]

I could work with those dates.

Same

 

[Taylor F.]

Same

I need September dates!

 

[KimBean]

If this ends up being true, this is yet another example of why it is a terrible idea to make a reservation in the hopes that free dining pops up for your work.

If you have a set week, and you are going that week no matter what, then yes obviously book it.

However, if you have flexible options, i would heavily suggest not booking. Disney sees their rooms are filling up, they arent going to offer free dining, it's that simple.

Now enough of my doom and gloom. Lets hope for free dining to drop soon and lots of dates for everyone!!!

The only reason I booked though was because of how fast rooms are being booked up. So if that is the case and you really want to stay onsite how can you not book? I'd rather stay onsite and pay for DDP then stay offsite. I didn't book until every time I looked it was getting harder and harder to get rooms to come up. Then there was no availability for CSR or CBR. Still isn't. Felt forced to book a value so I would have something before more resorts sell out. I wanted CSR or CBR originally and wished I had booked those months ago but believed in the old adage that if we book up the resort they won't offer free dining. So I missed out on a moderate because of it.

I'm pretty flexible. Any 10 days between 11/27-12/21.

 

[otg]

I want November.

 

[JennJ84]

I'm at work can't listen. Do they say something negative?

They really dont come out and say anything negative...just comes off as a little negative on the comments. Its probably just me, but after the Dreams Unlimited podcast about free dining, I feel like they look at fd negatively. (its just an opinion/feeling nothing more)

 

[KimBean]

Pete mentions our little thread today.

I'm confused haven't we discussed resort discount versus free dining discount in ad nauseum. Don't we practically have formulas to decide and help others to decide which would be better for you. I know we have discussed it a lot.

Also being excited about something is not being crazy.

 

[JennJ84]

I'm confused haven't we discussed resort discount versus free dining discount in ad nauseum. Don't we practically have formulas to decide and help others to decide which would be better for you. I know we have discussed it a lot.

Also being excited about something is not being crazy.

My thoughts as well.

 

[vever]

The only reason I booked though was because of how fast rooms are being booked up. So if that is the case and you really want to stay onsite how can you not book? I'd rather stay onsite and pay for DDP then stay offsite. I didn't book until every time I looked it was getting harder and harder to get rooms to come up. Then there was no availability for CSR or CBR. Still isn't. Felt forced to book a value so I would have something before more resorts sell out. I wanted CSR or CBR originally and wished I had booked those months ago but believed in the old adage that if we book up the resort they won't offer free dining. So I missed out on a moderate because of it.

I'm pretty flexible. Any 10 days between 11/27-12/21.

There were also people booking at CBR while the gift card offer was going; when the cut-off date was set people were forced to book in order to get the GC, if they had waited they would not have received...
Don't give up on availability at a moderate; as plans change after FD or Fall Discount my guess is that people will be changing their reservations and you will be able to get what you want

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

They really dont come out and say anything negative...just comes off as a little negative on the comments. Its probably just me, but after the Dreams Unlimited podcast about free dining, I feel like they look at fd negatively. (its just an opinion/feeling nothing more)

I don't think they were being negative, just realistic. While most people on these boards understand how free dining works, there are some who still don't get it. I had to explain to my mom last night that already having a package booked DOES NOT give us a leg up on free dining over those who haven't booked. I still don't think she understands that if there's no inventory for a resort or room category, you can't just apply free dining because you're already booked at that resort and room category.

I can understand how many people who don't get free dining probably complain to their travel agents about how it's unfair and they SHOULD HAVE got it. I think he was just trying to be realistic in his podcast that we don't even know IF it will be offered let alone when, and too many people book expecting they will get it, without understanding they may not get it for a multitude of reasons.

 

[JennJ84]

I don't the no they were being negative, just realistic. While most people on these boards understand how free dining works, there are some who still don't get it. I had to explain to my mom last night that is already having a package booked DOES NOT give us a leg up on free dining over those who haven't booked. I still don't think she understands that if there's no inventory for a resort or room category, you can't just apply free dining because you're already booked at that resort and room category.

I can understand how many people who don't get free dining probably complain to their travel agents about how it's unfair and they SHOULD HAVE got it. I think he was just trying to be realistic in his podcast that we don't even know IF it will be offered let alone when, and too many people book expecting they will get it, without understanding they may not get it for a multitude of reasons.

I can understand that. I am sure they have to take a lot from those who do not get it.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

LOL

 

[AofA#1Fan]

The 2017 Free Dining bounceback for current WDW resort guests is out
Dates are ...
5/30-6/6/17
6/30-7/5/17
8/11-9/9/17
12/8-12/20/17

First time trying to book FD so this might be a dumb question, but historically have the bounceback dates been pretty similar to what ended up being offered?