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

[squirrel]

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.

When the information was leaked on here, I read it as you needed either a park hopper or a park hopper plus water park. Until the official FD is released we won't know for sure.

I checked the price and for adult tickets it's another $15.97 per ticket to upgrade from the hopper to the hopper+

 

[joe77]

Hmmm. We currently have 4 day tickets with the water park and more add-on that has been discontinued. I'm guessing we would have to abandon those tickets and get new ones with PHP in order to get free dining? Ugh, don't think it will be worth it as we don't really plan to hop anyway.

 

[trucker den]

Ok people! I go to sleep for 5 hours and all heck breaks loose! 14 pages in 5 hours! I have a lot of reading to do this morning.

 

[Elle23]

We did Stay, Play, and Dine at Pop this January and it came to right at $2500 for 5 nights with upgraded dining plan and no park hoppers.

I just looked for 5 nights in December and with upgraded dining plan and the required park hoppers it is $2700 (assuming free quick service plan)

Guess I'll hold out for January and hope they offer another deal like we got this last time. Probably a lot less crowded as well.

I assumed free dining would have been the better deal. Am I missing something?

 

[squirrel]

We did Stay, Play, and Dine at Pop this January and it came to right at $2500 for 5 nights with upgraded dining plan and no park hoppers.

I just looked for 5 nights in December and with upgraded dining plan and the required park hoppers it is $2700 (assuming free quick service plan)

Guess I'll hold out for January and hope they offer another deal like we got this last time. Probably a lot less crowded as well.

I assumed free dining would have been the better deal. Am I missing something?

No, I'm guessing some of the extra money is because January is not as busy so the room prices are lower.

Free Dining isn't always the best deal. You need to do some price comparisons, just because something is free doesn't mean it's the best deal.

Think about it like you are shopping for some Chicken Noodle Soup. You can get a box of Lipton with 2 packages inside for _____. A box with 4 packages inside for _____. Then they have the store brand with 2 and 4 packages. Most likely the store brand is cheaper but sometimes it's not. Same with the sizes. Sometimes it's better to buy 2 boxes of the 2 packages to get 4 packages than to buy the box with 4 packages.

If you don't care about the brand (to you the store brand is just as good) then why would you pay more for the name brand?

Some people book free dining thinking it's so great, but they don't realise that they don't eat the way the plan is set up (like me). I don't need a drink with every meal. I'm more than happy to drink free ice water all day and get a soda at the hotel with my mug. I don't need two snacks a day as I would still bring cereal with me for breakfast even if I had the QSDP. I could probably eat a child's meal for lunch and then an adult size for dinner each day and be full. Or share bigger adult meals with my niece and only do 2 or 3 each day for the two of us.

It's harder to figure out if you have never been before. I have been and I will be going when it's hot. I know I don't eat huge meals. I prefer more smaller meals when I'm out in the heat.

 

[elle325]

Finally some news!!!
I started to freak out a little though about the qs dining plan. We booked a bounceback and I had to double check what dining plan was included... luckily it is the regular plan with ts and qs. I think that's a positive sign for free dining... at least I hope so. Not so great if mods only get qs.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Ok people! I go to sleep for 5 hours and all heck breaks loose! 14 pages in 5 hours! I have a lot of reading to do this morning.

I can do a quick summary for you.........some of us are spazzing!!!!!

 

[archdandy]

That's really disappointing to hear that mods will only get QS this year (if it's true). We may not end up going in December if it is true

 

[elle325]

I really hope splash mtn isn't closed this fall. My niece loves that ride. She calls it the rabbit ride

 

[Elle23]

No, I'm guessing some of the extra money is because January is not as busy so the room prices are lower.

Free Dining isn't always the best deal. You need to do some price comparisons, just because something is free doesn't mean it's the best deal.

Good to know. We really enjoyed going in January.

Interesting that they would even offer free dining so close to Christmas, which is notoriously busy.

 

[ToyStory#1fan'sMom]

If you had your choice...AKL standard club level vs WL standard club level? We will be there mid December...I've got a conference that will leave my mom and DD at the resort for two half days. I'm thinking if we stay club level I will be more likely to do half/three quarter days...thoughts? AKL or WL? And yes, realizing that if I go this way a RO discount will be the thing to hope for...

 

[cshell624]

Which values accommodate 5?

All Star Music and AoA have suites.

 

[squirrel]

If you had your choice...AKL standard club level vs WL standard club level? We will be there mid December...I've got a conference that will leave my mom and DD at the resort for two half days. I'm thinking if we stay club level I will be more likely to do half/three quarter days...thoughts? AKL or WL? And yes, realizing that if I go this way a RO discount will be the thing to hope for...

I have not stayed at either, but If I was so lucky I would probably go with WL. Being that close to MK would win me over.

 

[Bittersweet & Strange]

I thought this was the year I would finally get to stay on site, but if Mods end up being QS, I'm going to have to stay off site. Epcot TS restaurants are one of my favorite things about Disney World! Can't afford the upgrade at mod prices, and my tall family can't sleep comfortably in double beds. Come on, Disney! Don't do this to us!

 

[Deanarn80]

Hey everyone I'm new here I am booked Sept 30-October 7th. Do you think if the free dining predictions are correct my dates would be ok bc I arrive the 30th? Thanks in advance!!

 

[squirrel]

Hey everyone I'm new here I am booked Sept 30-October 7th. Do you think if the free dining predictions are correct my dates would be ok bc I arrive the 30th? Thanks in advance!!

As long as you check in on a FD date, then you get FD for the whole trip as long as it isn't more than 14 nights.

 

[jessiegirl1982]

Right, I can't see paying extra for very limited moderate rooms just to have to upgrade to TS anyway. Sad, I was really looking forward to trying POR this year.

Me too!! Sucks, but POP is still fun! We are going to upgrade to the Premier pass and will go to POR or POFQ next year with an AP discount.

 

[Felicis]

As long as you check in on a FD date, then you get FD for the whole trip as long as it isn't more than 14 nights.

Oh!!! Really? I thought that it was only days you were there within the dates - back that truck up, we arrive on Sept 29th, so if FD continues even after the dates, then maybe we do qualify!

 

[Deanarn80]

As long as you check in on a FD date, then you get FD for the whole trip as long as it isn't more than 14 nights.

Thank you~ now onto my next dilemma. I'm booked at POR I really hope it's not excluded!

 

[menotyou21]

Interesting posts here tonight. For anyone changing to offsite, I would recommend looking into Windsor Hills. I've stayed there a few times and many friends have as well. Gated community about 7-10 minute drive from most parks (3 minutes to AK). Remember, with offsite rental properties, they are ALWAYS negotiable.