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

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Last year the FD thread was closed. I haven't seen one yet (please let me know if there is one), but I thought about starting a thread later this week for those who want to continue planning their trips together once FD drops. Does that sound ok? We won't have to abandon this thread (unless it gets closed), but can continue to help others look for deals and plan our trips as well.

I'm in! It was so much fun last year! It kept me from driving my DH and kiddos crazy with Disney talk.

 

[Disneylover99]

For everyone talking about crowds in December. Try going on New Year's Eve. We went in 2015 and it was insane!!! MK was at capacity before 10 AM. We were in Epcot and it was packed. But all in all it was the best New Year's ever!!!! I would do it again but the rest of my party isn't up to it this year, so we are going the week before Christmas.

We were in Epcot this past New Year's Eve. You're right. It is insane! But in an amazing way!

I think with both of these you get the locals too to push up the numbers and they may just be there for that night then book it home.

Florida resident tickets are blacked out over the holidays, so not too many locals.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Are the crowds really low? We are planning 9.5-9.12, and that should be a pretty low period, but with F&W starting earlier this year, who knows?

Those were estimated through touring plans and were a weekday in the beginning of food&wine. So they may be slightly off, but the crowd meter for that day is 2/10, so hopefully it'll be really uncrowded. Also, all the trip reports I have read commented on how empty the parks were.

Ok but I really wanted to get my reservation under my Dbf name - when Fd drops if I book a new ressie can I just use him as guest one and contact name for shipping documents under my MDE?? He is linked to my MDE from last year already

You can have 2 reservations under the same MDE with the same names and the same dates. Don't know if that's exactly what you were asking though...

 

[agassizsmile]

Yeah I really don't see many people booking FD at mods. Either staying offsite, going down to value to afford the upgrade, or stepping up to a deluxe and getting DDP free.

Or those that already grabbed CBR with gift card.

Deluxe even with FD costs more for us.

 

[Disneylover99]

Does anyone know which buildings at POP have been renovated with the Queen bed and Murphy?

They're working in the 80's/90's sections right now. Rumours? Reports? Are that new rooms won't be available til the beginning of June.

 

[TeacherInNeverland]

As it turns out, after calling tech support, if you book through a TA you cannot or should not be able to modify your own account to add a special offer. They have to do it for you. At least this is what they told me over the phone This makes me sad.

 

[Disneylover99]

As it turns out, after calling tech support, if you book through a TA you cannot or should not be able to modify your own account to add a special offer. They have to do it for you. At least this is what they told me over the phone This makes me sad.

Yes. This is true. If you book with a TA, they have to modify for you.

 

[TeacherInNeverland]

Yes. This is true. If you book with a TA, they have to modify for you.

This is so... poo. Hopefully she will be able to get in early enough for me to get the FD once it drops. If it didn't drop at 4am I would be able to get in a phone call right when it dropped but until 7am, I can't do anything. I think it just depends then on when the TA gets up to see if they can get the FD when it does drop. I don't think mine is willing to be up at 4am for me.

 

[KimBean]

Deluxe even with FD costs more for us.

Yeah sure. Ibwas juts saying that some people that chose moderate might go deluxe to get DDP. Those that were on the edge between mod and deluxe.

 

[Jeaniec]

The summer discount that I just linked to is through August 31. Am I missing something?

No. You got it right. I was referring to the fall RO discounts. Thanks for keeping me honest.

 

[wwffan7385]

Been following almost 200 pages. I just don't understand how saving $675 for 7 nights on a quick DP from what we have is a bad deal at CSR. And paying to get up to deluxe DP from there.

I know it's not what we've historically had at a mod, but it's still a bloody deal.

smh

 

[KimBean]

This is so... poo. Hopefully she will be able to get in early enough for me to get the FD once it drops. If it didn't drop at 4am I would be able to get in a phone call right when it dropped but until 7am, I can't do anything. I think it just depends then on when the TA gets up to see if they can get the FD when it does drop. I don't think mine is willing to be up at 4am for me.

If your TA isn't willing to get up... you get up and if you get it then when she deems it the correct time to do her work then you can cancel.

If I was a TA I would be up. It's one day a year.

 

[KimBean]

No. You got it right. I was referring to the fall RO discounts. Thanks for keeping me honest.

No problem. Sorry think we are posting at the same time.

 

[lstokes]

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2017/...ed-for-the-2017-epcot-food-and-wine-festival/

 

[KimBean]

Been following almost 200 pages. I just don't understand how saving $675 for 7 nights on a quick DP from what we have is a bad deal at CSR. And paying to get up to deluxe DP from there.

I know it's not what we've historically had at a mod, but it's still a bloody deal.

smh

Not a bad deal. Who says it is? Are you going to pay to upgrade to DDP?

 

[wwffan7385]

Not a bad deal. Who says it is? Are you going to pay to upgrade to DDP?

Yeah we are. One of our biggest goals this time was to get in a lot of the signatures. Got Yachtsman booked, Hoop Dee Doo, Royal Table, etc

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

I feel your

i am in same boat family of five ,Disney needs to give us better room options

I agree with needing more options for families of 5. We have stayed at CBR before and really liked it but prefer POR. A moderate is the cheapest for our family of 5 so we don't have many options. We considered CBR this year if it was going to be offered for FD but with the construction it would not work for my kids. If we keep the kids out late for fireworks we let them sleep in a little the next day and I was afraid construction noises might wake them up. I also eat GF and am not confident in the GF options while the resort is under construction. We booked a standard room for dates before FD usually starts in November at POR way back in January. We did a RO reservation and then called and added the DDP and linked our tickets later. I thought it might be easier to add a RO discount later if we did it this way. I am always optimistic that FD at POR will be offered in November but have my backup if it's not. For us paying for the DDP still saves us money because the kids are younger and eat mainly at character buffets. Either way we will be at Disney and will have fun!

 

[tink1957]

Have you looked at what the cost of a 4 night with free dining is versus a 3 night without dining or paying for dining? Perhaps it is less expensive to take the 4 night and just leave after 3 nights. I think it is at least worth looking at the cost difference.

We are only going for 2 nights if there is a 4 night minimum stay and will only do 3 nights if that's the requirement for free dining. I think it is less than $300 for one more night including the upgrade to the DDP from QS.

The cost difference between a 2 night and 4 night stay is pushing the boundaries of my budget especially after a week at Universal not to mention my boss might not be too happy with me taking that much time off work. I wish I could do 4 nights but I got such a good rate at Cabana Bay and if I drop a night there I will lose it.

Oh well, we will have a blast whatever happens...we'll be in Orlando.

 

[Confederate Scott]

If your TA isn't willing to get up... you get up and if you get it then when she deems it the correct time to do her work then you can cancel.

If I was a TA I would be up. It's one day a year.

If I were in this situation I'd get up and try and book on my own even if my TA was going to try. What if the TA has multiple clients and needs to modify them all. By the time they get to you all the rooms could be gone. This is why I'd book on my own all the time vs using a TA. Unless I was getting some great perk to use the TA.

 

[TeacherInNeverland]

If your TA isn't willing to get up... you get up and if you get it then when she deems it the correct time to do her work then you can cancel.

If I was a TA I would be up. It's one day a year.

Yeah, she says that she can't start to put in deals until 6am. I never know what they say is true or not due to being so new to this.

I would book another but its more expensive, and we have the CBR GC offer with our stay as well so even if I made a new one it would not be of this caliber.

Meep. I'm so lost right now in what to do until it happens.