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

[sharonabe]

question - for the 4 day PH minimum, if we are getting 6 day passes is there a way to only have 4 of them be PH to save money?

Park hopper can only be applied to total length of ticket. This doesn't fit the FD scenario, but let's say someone had a 6-day base ticket and then decided to hop on their very last day. The price the pay would be as if they had had PH for the entire ticket even though they only have one day left.

 

[Neeky78]

Been quietly stalking for a while now. So excited for some news! Our dates are good and I booked at CBR a while ago hoping we'd be all set for FD. Just one question - for the 4 day PH minimum, if we are getting 6 day passes is there a way to only have 4 of them be PH to save money? I just really doubt we'll use the PH option with three kids under 6. We haven't in our last two trips. I only even consider FD because we do character meals.

Edit: one kid is only 2 so he doesn't really count for pricing purposes

Entry ticket plus Park hopper for 6 days is only $40 more than park hopper for 4 days. For standard, non hopper tickets for 4 days, it also increases by $40 for 6 days.

So park hopper after 4 days is effectively free anyway.

 

[disorganizedchaos]

Park hopper can only be applied to total length of ticket. This doesn't fit the FD scenario, but let's say someone had a 6-day base ticket and then decided to hop on their very last day. The price the pay would be as if they had had PH for the entire ticket even though they only have one day left.

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

[agassizsmile]

Maybe I'm missing something but if it's 600$ to upgrade from qs to Reg DP at a moderate that is still better than paying full price for reg dp or switching to deluxe resort

 

[pigletto]

I have literally given myself a headache running all these different scenarios. Feeling a bit better since I put my reading glasses on (keep forgetting I need the stupid things ).

If there is only quick service at the mods, what makes the most sense financially for us is to move offsite to Bonnet Creek. However... as much as I LOVE Bonnet Creek I was sad about that for a few reasons. A) I was really looking forward to being able to book fast passes at 60 days out as I think that's going to be a huge advantage for the Pandora attractions, not to mention FEA (which we haven't ridden yet). And B) I very carefully selected our dining reservations and I would hate to lose them.

So we decided we will do room only at a value for the first two nights, and that not only fixes the fast pass issue, it gets us the new Magic Bands and gets me my onsite fix. Just when we are about to go crazy being in one small room together.. off to Bonnet Creek we will go.
We've also decided to keep our favourite reservations and pad the dining budget to reflect that. It still saves us a ton over free dining becasue we have tickets already. It will be less meals at Disney TS but we will keep Ohana and BOG and a few others.

Not only can I live with this plan, I actually feel excited about it!

 

[Neeky78]

Pop is about $135 per night that week including taxes.

And then I need to add $60 per night for upgraded dining, which takes it to $195 per night at Pop compared to $225 at CBR.
That's assuming the $135 average is right for my dates (Sept 29 for 9 nights).

My average was worked out with consideration for weekends being more expensive than weekdays.

When I get home to my computer I'll suss it out, but it doesn't seem like it's going to be a massive saving staying at Pop instead.

 

[Aurora2017]

Ok, here is our dilema, we could still save with free dining quick service plan and upgrade to the regular DP at a value resort with the PH plus tickets-around $3500 or we could stay at CBR with our gift card of $525 and not get any dining plan there and base tickets for around $3300. My question is could I use the gift card deal to pay for meals at TS restaurants while I am there? Or are you not allowed to use the gift cards for that?
And with the CBR scenario, we wouldn't be able to eat at all the TS restaurants I had planned but it might be cheaper. However, is $200 worth it to miss out on free dining but be in a moderate resort. So many things to consider!
Thanks for any help!

 

[Disneylover99]

If you are a family of 3 and you can get a standard room at POR with a 15% RO discount, you're probably better off paying for your dining plan yourself, then getting a FD RR and upgrading your dining.

 

[vever]

Ok, here is our dilema, we could still save with free dining quick service plan and upgrade to the regular DP at a value resort with the PH plus tickets-around $3500 or we could stay at CBR with our gift card of $525 and not get any dining plan there and base tickets for around $3300. My question is could I use the gift card deal to pay for meals at TS restaurants while I am there? Or are you not allowed to use the gift cards for that? Thanks for any help!

I would think you definitely could use the GC on TS dining!

 

[kevin75]

One thing that I keep wondering about is whether or not the Pop Warner week will eventually get changed. As it turns out that is the week that we are going, and it's been a long time (if ever) since they've offered FD during that week. It seems strange, like their bookings are waaaaaaaaaayyyy down.

 

[Kindermouse]

When I look at my numbers it seems like I saved the most money just by booking what I wanted early, so I could a) get a standard/inexpensive room b) booking before ticket and dining plans went up in price and finally c) by not needing to add extra crap onto my tickets that I wont use while getting what seemed then like only minuscule discounts but that made free dining not worth it in the end.

Not what I would have expected

 

[disney fan4]

Ok, I need a little clarification. Do we think that free dining will require 4 day park hopper plus option tickets? Or is it 4 day regular park hoppers?

 

[Disneylover99]

And then I need to add $60 per night for upgraded dining, which takes it to $195 per night at Pop compared to $225 at CBR.
That's assuming the $135 average is right for my dates (Sept 29 for 9 nights).

My average was worked out with consideration for weekends being more expensive than weekdays.

When I get home to my computer I'll suss it out, but it doesn't seem like it's going to be a massive saving staying at Pop instead.

It's definitely going to be cheaper for you to stay at CBR because of the gift card with a standard room, but will standard rooms be offered?

 

[chrissy92972]

In August 2016 booked bounceback with free dining for this August. Booked 8 nights at Music Standard Room, 6 days park hoppers, and upgraded to regular dining for $3491. This is for 4 Disney Adults.

 

[flounder3]

How true do u think the ph AND the ph+ is, that seems like alot.

 

[Felicis]

As I expected, FD won't work for us (dates), so hoping there is a RO deal of any sort that we can use.

 

[squirrel]

Ok, here is our dilema, we could still save with free dining quick service plan and upgrade to the regular DP at a value resort with the PH plus tickets-around $3500 or we could stay at CBR with our gift card of $525 and not get any dining plan there and base tickets for around $3300. My question is could I use the gift card deal to pay for meals at TS restaurants while I am there? Or are you not allowed to use the gift cards for that?
And with the CBR scenario, we wouldn't be able to eat at all the TS restaurants I had planned but it might be cheaper. However, is $200 worth it to miss out on free dining but be in a moderate resort. So many things to consider!
Thanks for any help!

You should be able to use the Gift Cards for dining. Right now I have the Room Discount and the Canadian Ticket Discount. I know approximately how much our food will be for 10 days. Unless there is a good deal for FD at the values, I'm sure it's better to go with the package I have right now and pay for our food. I don't need all those drinks with the QSDP anyway, and probably one snack per day is enough. Sure it's nice not having to look at prices and grab thing because they are included but if you are paying a lot more then it's not really a good deal.

 

[squirrel]

How true do u think the ph AND the ph+ is, that seems like alot.

I believe that the park hopper was a requirement last year for FD.

 

[sharonabe]

My question is could I use the gift card deal to pay for meals at TS restaurants while I am there? Or are you not allowed to use the gift cards for that?

Charge the meals to your room and then use the gift cards to pay off your room account.

Ok, I need a little clarification. Do we think that free dining will require 4 day park hopper plus option tickets? Or is it 4 day regular park hoppers?

We probably aren't going to know this one until it's announced from Disney. Run the numbers both ways for now.

 

[flounder3]

I believe that the park hopper was a requirement last year for FD.

But the water park (the +) is new, right? Just not sure if is a good deal for us to stay at some value and just really want to do 1 park per day and no water parks... especially in November.