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

[KimBean]

The $900 is the difference in just the room cost between booking through Disney or booking through Priceline. The park tickets would be the same regardless. If we get free dining then paying $900 more for the room makes sense because we are booked at the Poly and would get the Deluxe Meal Plan (hopefully). If we don't get free dining it makes more sense to pay less for the room and I could use that $900 to pay for food out of pocket. Make sense?

The Priceline reservation has to be prepaid BUT it is fully refundable!

I don't know what to do. Since we don't know when FD is being releases not sure if I should take the chance and lose Priceline room. But I'd have to cancel my room through Disney.

That is great Priceline is refundable.

I'm going to give you my details for an example.

All stars music, 3 adults, 1 child. Room discount would be maybe 20%. So $210.

DDP costs $2100 for me, I have to "pay" for park hopper $320, and for upgrade $610 so I pay $930 to get $2100. So a net savings of $1170.

So obviously with my details FD is the way to go.

 

[tchull]

So I have a slightly OT question. We are hoping for FD, but will be going regardless. If we don't get free dining, then plan B would hopefully be a fall room discount. Here's my question though...are there other places to book cheaper resort rooms and tickets, instead of a package through Disney? I've seen several people mention Priceline for rooms. What are some other resources out there to look at? Thanks in advance!

 

[vanjust14]

So I have a slightly OT question. We are hoping for FD, but will be going regardless. If we don't get free dining, then plan B would hopefully be a fall room discount. Here's my question though...are there other places to book cheaper resort rooms and tickets, instead of a package through Disney? I've seen several people mention Priceline for rooms. What are some other resources out there to look at? Thanks in advance!

I've used Orbitz for my rooms at Universal. They usually have a promo code you can apply to get even more off the room. Right now they are offering 15% off with code EXPLOREMORE, and it does work on Disney rooms. If you have an email subscription to mousesavers, you can use a link to get discounted tickets at Undercover Tourist. I've used them before, they are reputable.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

So I have a slightly OT question. We are hoping for FD, but will be going regardless. If we don't get free dining, then plan B would hopefully be a fall room discount. Here's my question though...are there other places to book cheaper resort rooms and tickets, instead of a package through Disney? I've seen several people mention Priceline for rooms. What are some other resources out there to look at? Thanks in advance!

I know there is a certain travel agency that has exclusive deals and sells convention park tickets, that has great deals, but the DIS forbids mentioning them on here. I priced my trip through them and it was almost $1000 less than what I'm getting through my TA (who I'm cancellling with, but that's another story). But FD will save me much more, so I'm gonna try for that, if not I may go through that TA. Google, you'll find the name.

 

[scard192]

So I have a slightly OT question. We are hoping for FD, but will be going regardless. If we don't get free dining, then plan B would hopefully be a fall room discount. Here's my question though...are there other places to book cheaper resort rooms and tickets, instead of a package through Disney? I've seen several people mention Priceline for rooms. What are some other resources out there to look at? Thanks in advance!

check out the Resorts Discount section of the DIS, I have seen posts about Orbitz and others but not know anything about them.
https://disboards.com/forums/disney-discount-codes-and-rates.93/

There are also TAs that have exclusive discounts for Disney packages.

 

[scard192]

I know there is a certain travel agency that has exclusive deals and sells convention park tickets, that has great deals, but the DIS forbids mentioning them on here. I priced my trip through them and it was almost $1000 less than what I'm getting through my TA (who I'm cancellling with, but that's another story). But FD will save me much more, so I'm gonna try for that, if not I may go through that TA. Google, you'll find the name.

that is what I did last year when our dates did not qualify for FD. we paid a bit more than FD but less than booking that same package with Disney, and got a one day comp pass to a waterpark.

 

[Kiki_pa]

That is great Priceline is refundable.

I'm going to give you my details for an example.

All stars music, 3 adults, 1 child. Room discount would be maybe 20%. So $210.

DDP costs $2100 for me, I have to "pay" for park hopper $320, and for upgrade $610 so I pay $930 to get $2100. So a net savings of $1170.

So obviously with my details FD is the way to go.

We are 3 adult, 2 child. 7 night stay at Poly with a 7-day park hopper.

Disney room cost is $4,046. Priceline cost is $3,143.

FD is definitely the way to go if we can get it because we will spend $900 on food easily for 5. I'm not sure the cheaper rate with Priceline will still be available in a month though when FD is announced and there is no guarantee our room at Poly will be offered in deal.

Wish they would release already so I would know!

 

[tchull]

I know there is a certain travel agency that has exclusive deals and sells convention park tickets, that has great deals, but the DIS forbids mentioning them on here. I priced my trip through them and it was almost $1000 less than what I'm getting through my TA (who I'm cancellling with, but that's another story). But FD will save me much more, so I'm gonna try for that, if not I may go through that TA. Google, you'll find the name.

that is what I did last year when our dates did not qualify for FD. we paid a bit more than FD but less than booking that same package with Disney, and got a one day comp pass to a waterpark.

Thank you @vanjust14 @disneydreamer1980 @scard192 for the great information. Just trying to come up with my back plans just in case. lol

 

[KimBean]

We are 3 adult, 2 child. 7 night stay at Poly with a 7-day park hopper.

Disney room cost is $4,046. Priceline cost is $3,143.

FD is definitely the way to go if we can get it because we will spend $900 on food easily for 5. I'm not sure the cheaper rate with Priceline will still be available in a month though when FD is announced and there is no guarantee our room at Poly will be offered in deal.

Wish they would release already so I would know!

So you are getting park hopper regardless? If so no need to take that in as a factor. With that many people then I would agree that FD still is a better deal. If it were me and had the ability I would book it and have it as an option and then if FD come sir cancel it and get refund.

 

[FinnsMom7]

May or June?!?! let's hope that CM is less informed than any other I have ever dealt with!!

 

[Jellybass]

We are 3 adult, 2 child. 7 night stay at Poly with a 7-day park hopper.

Disney room cost is $4,046. Priceline cost is $3,143.

FD is definitely the way to go if we can get it because we will spend $900 on food easily for 5. I'm not sure the cheaper rate with Priceline will still be available in a month though when FD is announced and there is no guarantee our room at Poly will be offered in deal.

Wish they would release already so I would know!

I can't locate anywhere near this price for Poly, can you link on how to do it? If I can get Poly for that price on a 7 night then I am there.

 

[Kiki_pa]

So you are getting park hopper regardless? If so no need to take that in as a factor. With that many people then I would agree that FD still is a better deal. If it were me and had the ability I would book it and have it as an option and then if FD come sir cancel it and get refund.

I feel bad holding 2 rooms but was thinking of it. The Disney agent I spoke with told me if I book it though they would see I have 2 reservations and cancel both. Is that true??? Could I book it under my husbands name? Would they catch that.

Yes we are buying the tickets and hopper regardless. Price now room & tickets through Disney is $6,438 and price with Priceline room & tickets (bought through Disney) would be $5,528.

 

[sharonabe]

We are 3 adult, 2 child. 7 night stay at Poly with a 7-day park hopper.

Disney room cost is $4,046. Priceline cost is $3,143.

FD is definitely the way to go if we can get it because we will spend $900 on food easily for 5. I'm not sure the cheaper rate with Priceline will still be available in a month though when FD is announced and there is no guarantee our room at Poly will be offered in deal.

Wish they would release already so I would know!

I'm with KimBean on this one. Go ahead and book the Priceline room and tickets and cancel your current Disney reservation. Having that Disney reservation does not give you any greater chance of getting FD when/if it comes. If FD does happen to fall in your dates, simple book a new reservation with the discount and cancel the Priceline. If it doesn't, then you have the cheaper room.

 

[Kiki_pa]

I can't locate anywhere near this price for Poly, can you link on how to do it? If I can get Poly for that price on a 7 night then I am there.

I'd love to share it but it's actually through my husbands company. They get an extra discount through their work portal booking a Priceline reservation. The room rate is $399 per night. I checked Priceline directly and it was also cheaper than Disney $423. Directly through Disney I'm paying $497.

 

[Kiki_pa]

May or June?!?! let's hope that CM is less informed than any other I have ever dealt with!!

I know I was shocked when he said that!!!

 

[Greg36]

I feel bad holding 2 rooms but was thinking of it. The Disney agent I spoke with told me if I book it though they would see I have 2 reservations and cancel both. Is that true??? Could I book it under my husbands name? Would they catch that.

Yes we are buying the tickets and hopper regardless. Price now room & tickets through Disney is $6,438 and price with Priceline room & tickets (bought through Disney) would be $5,528.

I don't think that is true (re them cancelling one or both of your bookings).

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I am now ready to have a new reservation made just in case my (labor day, exclusive) Ta can't get me the fd by the time she's up. (I don't know if she's a crazy dis fam like us lol so just in case I told my Hubs that I'm taking the 200 out savings, the moment I know FD is dropping on that day and that night ill stay up all night with everyone here.

 

[otg]

http://blog.viajeromagico.com/2017/...e-comidas-gratis-disney-para-septiembre-2017/

This is a blog post on the site that's given us early rumors in the past. It's not any more than we already know. This travel agent is guessing that free dining will follow the pattern of years past: late august and all of september included with most of october blacked out and a release the last week of april.

Does it say anything about November?

 

[JenK0108]

That is definitely not true. I have two reservations booked currently, both under my name, for the same dates, and there is no issue. I've done this in the past as well without issue. Sounds like the Disney CM you spoke to was particularly ill-informed.

ETA: Hoping that means he was equally ill-informed about FD release timeline!!

 

[JenK0108]

Sorry, my above post was meant as a response to PP who was told that Disney would cancel both reservations if she had two. For some reason quote function is not working with my phone.