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

[tink1957]

Thank you everyone for the condolences. We will need time to grieve but FD is a great distraction!! I so appreciate this group.

So sorry to hear about your pup, my Chewy passed away a few years ago and I still miss him every day.

 

[Felicis]

So if FD is a bust, how long after that will room only discounts come out? (approx, I know the answer is how long is a piece of string!)

 

[sharonabe]

I'm looking at Yacht, Beach, Contempo or Poly

Others have already answered your question about whether to book or not: book where you WANT to stay even without free dining. Having a room has no advantage over not having one. As to the deluxes being booked up, probably not. Standard rooms go first no matter which resort level, so if that's what you want even without free dining, I'd book it now. You may have to upgrade to get free dining, so do the math.

Does anyone know how snack credits work if you get the souvenir sipper?

Sorry, but I'm pretty sure you cannot use snack credits for any souvenir type glasses, and the option of paying the difference isn't there either.

A) Keep the POR I have, hoping there is a discount (food or room); if there isn't, do I then just hope they still have WL standard rooms available?

You've really answered your own question. Where do you WANT to stay even without free dining? Having the WL standard room booked doesn't help you in any way unless that is where you want to stay.

 

[tannerandcatesmom]

I'm starting to get anxious about this darn FD release. SW dropped fares to $66 one way yesterday, but I can't book because IDK if we are going. If we don't get FD, we're going to be priced out this year given some budgetary adjustments we've recently had to make (I'm looking at you, back porch that needs to be demolished and rebuilt). Ugh.

If we can stack FD + CBR gift cards, we should be able to swing it. If not... looks like we may adjust to a week at the beach instead.

I know with SW you can change your flights without a fee. You can also cancel and have a credit with them for future flights. I might go ahead and book for your ideal dates. Worst case scenario you have a credit with SW. Just my two cents

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

This is way off topic and a huge downer but I'm super sad today because we are putting our sweet doggie down. He has cancer and it's time. Lots and lots of tears in our house today. We are at the park now. Just gave him a cheeseburger and an ice cream cone. I could use some pixie dust for sure!!!

So sorry to hear about your doggie. I lost my beagle Norman almost 4 years ago and it still hurts. They become apart of the family. Sending pixie dust your way!

 

[McFlea]

Personally, I booked at POR for specific dates. I will use those no matter what. FD will make my trip that much more enjoyable and affordable, and I may then be more willing to spend money elsewhere in the parks.

Me too. I grabbed reasonable flights as soon as I saw them, then booked POR. And I'm glad I did - I cannot believe how much flights have increased since I bought. For me, this is always the biggest variable. If I can fly BOS-MCO at a rate I'm comfortable with, I figure I can make everything else work - onsite or off, FD or not, I just make adjustments where necessary. At least I made it to Orlando!

 

[Nagy3girls]

This is way off topic and a huge downer but I'm super sad today because we are putting our sweet doggie down. He has cancer and it's time. Lots and lots of tears in our house today. We are at the park now. Just gave him a cheeseburger and an ice cream cone. I could use some pixie dust for sure!!!

I'm so very sorry. They are such a huge part of the family!!!

 

[Soulcraft]

Others have already answered your question about whether to book or not: book where you WANT to stay even without free dining. Having a room has no advantage over not having one. As to the deluxes being booked up, probably not. Standard rooms go first no matter which resort level, so if that's what you want even without free dining, I'd book it now. You may have to upgrade to get free dining, so do the math.

So if we had a room booked now and FD comes out and happens to overlap with our stay, what do we need to do to upgrade to the FD offer? Will a simple phone call to reservations suffice? Is there an extra charge or will the booking need to be tweaked. Will any initial reservation work or should we book something unique, like club level or a premier view? Can a simple standard room at Poly booked now, for instance, be eligible for a FD upgrade should the FD offer overlap?

 

[FinnsMom7]

But not sure who heard/read/saw that magic kingdom sign was changed over night - the "the" was removed as well as the population sign

 

[ThistleMae]

I think together we have a country song!

Hysterical....thanks for the laugh!

 

[meaganmg]

Hey everyone! I've been stalking this thread for a few weeks now hoping for FD in November. Luckily our dates are flexible but want to finalize those ASAP so hoping for it to drop soon! Anyway, I'm following users that folks have mentioned gave some early leaked details in past years - so far I have black562 and danny25. Are there any others I should be following? TIA and happy planning to you

 

[KimBean]

Hey everyone! I've been stalking this thread for a few weeks now hoping for FD in November. Luckily our dates are flexible but want to finalize those ASAP so hoping for it to drop soon! Anyway, I'm following users that folks have mentioned gave some early leaked details in past years - so far I have black562 and danny25. Are there any others I should be following? TIA and happy planning to you

I looked at ASAP and was trying to figure which value that was. I need a break. Lol!!!

 

[cshell624]

This is way off topic and a huge downer but I'm super sad today because we are putting our sweet doggie down. He has cancer and it's time. Lots and lots of tears in our house today. We are at the park now. Just gave him a cheeseburger and an ice cream cone. I could use some pixie dust for sure!!!

So sorry for you and your family JackieO. I know from experience it's a hard decision to make.

We lost our precious little Yorkie 3 weeks ago. I feel your pain. It hurt so bad and I miss him dearly everyday. I keep his favorite toy on the couch right next to me where he used to lay.

So sorry for your loss SKYYCAMEL.

 

[JackieO]

But not sure who heard/read/saw that magic kingdom sign was changed over night - the "the" was removed as well as the population sign

Oh I'll have to go look

 

[cshell624]

Anyone else love the Citrus Swirl? This is my favorite ice cream snack. What is your favorite snack?

I know this is going to sound odd, but I love the strawberry popsicle from the ice cream cart. I've found a couple of stores at home that carry the brand of popsicle just not the strawberry flavor. Oh well, guess I'll just have to take a trip to Disney.

I think my picture answers that one

I still have yet to try a dole whip. Maybe this trip.

 

[Lesley Wake]

You've really answered your own question. Where do you WANT to stay even without free dining? Having the WL standard room booked doesn't help you in any way unless that is where you want to stay.

Yeah, I'm a little embarrassed with myself! I'm telling someone else not to book a certain place unless they plan on using it without a discount, and then a couple hours I'm asking the same question myself! I've been so frazzled with work my brain is just disney-dead (boss took paternity leave, at the same time we moved offices-twice, and at the same time I had to deal with a mean client whose project was going south, through no fault of ours)!

 

[anitsa123]

This is way off topic and a huge downer but I'm super sad today because we are putting our sweet doggie down. He has cancer and it's time. Lots and lots of tears in our house today. We are at the park now. Just gave him a cheeseburger and an ice cream cone. I could use some pixie dust for sure!!!

So sorry that you have to go thru this. I have two put two down and it is not easy.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

I know this is going to sound odd, but I love the strawberry popsicle from the ice cream cart. I've found a couple of stores at home that carry the brand of popsicle just not the strawberry flavor. Oh well, guess I'll just have to take a trip to Disney.

I still have yet to try a dole whip. Maybe this trip.

I thought I was the only one who hadn't tried a Dole whip yet! With 2 snack credits per person this year I think I will try it this time too. I think the one's at the Poly are slightly different. Does anyone know what the difference between the Dole Whips are?

 

[vever]

I know with SW you can change your flights without a fee. You can also cancel and have a credit with them for future flights. I might go ahead and book for your ideal dates. Worst case scenario you have a credit with SW. Just my two cents

How do you change your flights; over the phone or online?

 

[DisTXMom]

How do you change your flights; over the phone or online?

SW makes it super easy to change flights online. Like, a couple of minutes easy.