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

[agassizsmile]

For a family of five isn't a moderate the cheapest option? I looked at the values that sleep five they are suites and cost 100$ more than cBR!If we could do value I would.

 

[momto4obkids]

I also believe you also can only get DPP if you have a package, so room and tickets. If you do room only and get discounted tickets elsewhere, you can't get DDP. (Edited: There are exceptions for AP)

When I did my calcs, for the food I planned to get (with or without DDP), it came out cheaper to get full-price tiks+DDP vs discounted tiks+food OOP.

Do you have to have an AP to do the ticketless packages? I think I have seen it suggested for people without AP's? But, maybe I am going crazy!

 

[pooh'smate]

Do you have to have an AP to do the ticketless packages? I think I have seen it suggested for people without AP's? But, maybe I am going crazy!

No I have had a room only reservation and the ddp. You can not book this online though you need to call or have a TA book it. My TA booked it for us and we are not AP holders.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Dole Whip Update: I'm at peachwave and they have dole whip pineapple and raspberry.

Not fair.

 

[wwffan7385]

Update for us: We gave our information to a TA that my wife knows. Gave them a budget number and hotel priority list. She'll get us the best deal that she can. At the very least, our budget number is based on the current package we have with no discounts. So at the very least, no changes, and maybe, just maybe, we'll get a deluxe.

Will keep you guys posted.

 

[Disneylover99]

For a family of five isn't a moderate the cheapest option? I looked at the values that sleep five they are suites and cost 100$ more than cBR!If we could do value I would.

Not necessarily. Two standard value rooms could be cheaper then a Pirate or Royal room.

 

[jsburas123]

$21 per adult per night. I'm not sure what the kids price is.

$4 kids

 

[Susan Doeberl]

Can anyone tell me what time of day FD is usually released? I've heard 4 AM and I don't want to stay up until midnight to try then, if I then have to get up at 4 AM to try again. Some of us have to go to work that morning!

I set my alarm for midnight and 4 am.

 

[KTwiegs]

We went last year from November 13 to 21 and the crowds weren't that busy until November 20 and 21. Those 2 days at MK were so crowded we ended up just doing FP and then shows to et out of the crowds. If you are not doing FD and are flexible with dates I would recommend trying to go when Fd is not offered.

Edited to add: The busy crowds on the 20th and 21st might have been due to FD and the start of some peoples Thanksgiving break. If you are flexible with dates and aren't doing FD, I would suggest starting you trip a day or 2 before FD. That will help in securing harder to get ADR's.

Gosh you are scaring me! We are planning for the week before thanksgiving. We are planning to move our dates to November 14th to get free dining. I know the weekends will be busy but hopefully the week days won't.

 

[sharonabe]

I also believe you also can only get DPP if you have a package, so room and tickets. If you do room only and get discounted tickets elsewhere, you can't get DDP. (Edited: There are exceptions for AP)

When I did my calcs, for the food I planned to get (with or without DDP), it came out cheaper to get full-price tiks+DDP vs discounted tiks+food OOP.

You can continue to believe if you want to, but it isn't true. You CAN get a ticketless package with just room and paid dining plan no matter who you are. You can even get this with a room discount. But you do have to call to do it (or have your TA do it), and all package rules apply. This has been around for several years now.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Someday I'd like to do a land and sea package, I think I'd have to do the concierge room on the cruise for sure!!! My cousin did and said it was awesome, they stayed at AOA

 

[Kindermouse]

Is everyone booking right now? Lots of rooms that were available yesterday are gone now. No availability at all for POR for our dates, 09/29 to 10/06. And almost all other resorts have only the most expensive categories available. Anyone know what's going on? And also, are those dates typically that crowded? According to different crowd calendars they were supposed to be moderate and low crowds, but is doesn't seem like that based on resort availability.

I actually have about the same dates so I was checking them yesterday (9/30-10/7) and I was seeing Very VERY little availability in deluxes and mods. With the mod getting only QSDP I shifted interest to the deluxes and nothing but the most expensive room categories anywhere. I choose not to vacation in a construction zone so CSR and CBR are not for me and POR didnt have anything for my dates either soooo.....It looks like me and free dining are not a match.

 

[Lesley Wake]

So it looks like PH+ is actually better than the water fun option (I'm still betting on PH or PH+, not only PH+). So you get a 4-day PH+. That means you get a 4-day PH. And then you get 4 "pluses" added on. A Plus can be used at the water parks, but also a round of golf (regular or miniature) or admission to Wide World of Sports. I guess Disney Quest could have been used, but now that's shutting down. That could be nice if you don't plan on doing a park day on your arrival-occupy the kids with miniature golf or something.

 

[HopperFan]

For a family of five isn't a moderate the cheapest option? I looked at the values that sleep five they are suites and cost 100$ more than cBR!If we could do value I would.

Maybe ... my first question would be is how big is member who will sleep on the fold out bunk.

 

[KimBean]

You can continue to believe if you want to, but it isn't true. You CAN get a ticketless package with just room and paid dining plan no matter who you are. You can even get this with a room discount. But you do have to call to do it (or have your TA do it), and all package rules apply. This has been around for several years now.

I'm not saying you are wrong. I have no experience in this. But this is the verbiage from the website:

Dining Plan

To add a Disney dining plan—offering the flexibility and convenience to enjoy prepaid meals and snacks throughout Walt Disney World Resort—you must have a Magic Your Way Package (room and theme park tickets).

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Gosh you are scaring me! We are planning for the week before thanksgiving. We are planning to move our dates to November 14th to get free dining. I know the weekends will be busy but hopefully the week days won't.

Oh I am so sorry I didn't mean to scare anyone! Just book FP, check out crowd calendars and you will be fine! From the 13th until the 19 it wasn't crowded at all and we had very little waits.

 

[deakam]

So it looks like PH+ is actually better than the water fun option (I'm still betting on PH or PH+, not only PH+). So you get a 4-day PH+. That means you get a 4-day PH. And then you get 4 "pluses" added on. A Plus can be used at the water parks, but also a round of golf (regular or miniature) or admission to Wide World of Sports. I guess Disney Quest could have been used, but now that's shutting down. That could be nice if you don't plan on doing a park day on your arrival-occupy the kids with miniature golf or something.

Years ago you would get a round of mini golf included with the package.

 

[bjcaed]

Gosh you are scaring me! We are planning for the week before thanksgiving. We are planning to move our dates to November 14th to get free dining. I know the weekends will be busy but hopefully the week days won't.

We are going to arrive at that same time and staying until Thanksgiving Day. A little worried about crowds as it gets closer to Thanksgiving!!

 

[Kindermouse]

I know, I know, but I used to be an elementary teacher so the teacher in me says he needs to be there! Im a party pooper!

Actually I think you are making the best choice by putting his first days in first grade ahead of Disney. I used to teach kinder and I know how important those first few days are for getting the kids acquainted with each other-the teacher-and the new higher expectations, learning rules, procedures, and doing the "fun" activities that help kids acclimate to the classroom. Also just finding out where important things like the bathroom are. Those things are built into the first few days. After the first few days there is less of that and as such it might make the beginning of first grade scarier or more difficult than it needs to be. The jump from kindergarten to first is a big one so why not make the transition as easy as possible.

Good job mom! Youre not the party pooper you are your child's hero saving the day.

 

[pooh'smate]

I'm not saying you are wrong. I have no experience in this. But this is the verbiage from the website:

Dining Plan

To add a Disney dining plan—offering the flexibility and convenience to enjoy prepaid meals and snacks throughout Walt Disney World Resort—you must have a Magic Your Way Package (room and theme park tickets).

Only if you book online. You can call or have a TA book a package for you with room and the ddp and no tickets at all. I have done this myself and we didn't need to buy any tickets and we are not AP holders either. We have done this multiple times. I just have my TA book it.