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

[notrub98]

HELP I'm losing my marbles now that DH wants to join us. Are the wilderness cabins mod or deluxe?
I love my husband, I love my husband, I love my husband.

My DH is not a Disney fan either. He went once 2 years ago and hated it. Said it is unlikely he will go back and I'm like GOOD. LOL. There is nothing worse than traveling to Disney with a non-Disney person. So now it's just me and the kids and everyone's happier. BUT with that said.... the cabins are considered Deluxe but I believe they are excluded from FD traditionally. Not positive.

My Mom added on with me and kids 4 weeks before we left last November. I had to re-do all my ADRs, FP+.... I literally wanted to kill her. LOL.

 

[Avalon_toon]

First time poster here! We have a reservation at POR from 8/24-8/30. We have never been there before. We go to Disney about every 3 years. Last two times we stayed at BC and YC. Really can't afford Deluxe prices this year... I'm sad about the QS offered at the moderates. I'm sitting here wondering what I can do to earn extra money to upgrade....garage sale? Second job? LOL Is there anyone who has stayed at POR and really liked it?

Yes, we stayed there once in December - it is very peaceful, beautiful grounds, relaxing, and the bus would play a soundtrack with crickets chirping - I found it the most soothing Disney resort we've ever stayed at (out of POP, Music, CBR, and Riverside.)

 

[JenK0108]

First time poster here! We have a reservation at POR from 8/24-8/30. We have never been there before. We go to Disney about every 3 years. Last two times we stayed at BC and YC. Really can't afford Deluxe prices this year... I'm sad about the QS offered at the moderates. I'm sitting here wondering what I can do to earn extra money to upgrade....garage sale? Second job? LOL Is there anyone who has stayed at POR and really liked it?

We stayed there last Dec after only ever staying Deluxe before. We absolutely loved it! Absolutely beautiful grounds (especially at night), great food court, wonderful CMs, and we didn't find it too spread out or have any issues with the buses as I've seen reported by others. I THINK we're going to try BC this year if I can snag FD because DD really wants to try the pool there, but I'm actually kinda sad not to be returning to POR as we originally planned.

Oh, and we were a group of 5- me, DH, DD8 plus my sister and mom who is a senior and had a knee replacement a few months before we went. We stayed in a royal room, loved the mansions section. Hope this helps! Happy to answer any questions you have about the resort!

 

[KimBean]

HELP I'm losing my marbles now that DH wants to join us. Are the wilderness cabins mod or deluxe?
I love my husband, I love my husband, I love my husband.

Edit: I found the answer

Wow. Bad time to throw you a curve ball huh?

Good news you have:

1 day
17 hours
8 minutes
5 seconds

And a bunch of us nuts to help you!! How many do you have now?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I'm just wondering does RO discount actually work better foranyone?
I mean it certainly does NOT for me. EVER.
Example:
2 adults in ASMo standard room $111 per night with a 20% discount making it $105 per night.
Over 4 nights that is a total savings of $24.
Free QSDP $48 per person per night. $96 per night. 4 nights. Total savings of $384.
BTW we'd already be getting the dining plan anyways.
Definitely not trying to argue but it always just confuses me why people say FD is not a good discount.

 

[Meeko5]

View attachment 232622

ZOMG WHAT?! SOURCE?!

 

[DismomfromMS]

Is it made by someone using a coffee machine? Barista?

Edit: I see someone has said it is French press. So it won't be take away. But that will make us sit, slow down and and enjoy the surrounds!

You can order a press pot at Kona Island (next to Kona Cafe). I think they pour it into two cups to take with you. That said, there is a bar right next to Kona Island that looks out over the landscaping at the entrance where you can sit and soak in the atmosphere.

 

[JackieO]

My DH is not a Disney fan either. He went once 2 years ago and hated it. Said it is unlikely he will go back and I'm like GOOD. LOL. There is nothing worse than traveling to Disney with a non-Disney person. So now it's just me and the kids and everyone's happier. BUT with that said.... the cabins are considered Deluxe but I believe they are excluded from FD traditionally. Not positive.

My Mom added on with me and kids 4 weeks before we left last November. I had to re-do all my ADRs, FP+.... I literally wanted to kill her. LOL.

And you want to be happy that people that you love are joining you but....
I can't take this stress! My DH does try. He took me to WDW for our 10 year anniversary and then spent the first day complaining about the lines, the heat, the food. I broke down the night and told him we should just go home. He shaped up. The next night we got to watch Monday night football from the recliners at ESPN, so he was grateful. I've told him this time that he's NOT ruining even a moment for the kids. (I'm nervous for him)

 

[Susan Doeberl]

Viajero Magico, the Argetinian twitter account who first broke the news about Free Dining just updated the dates for December. The correct starting date is indeed 12/8 and not 12/3 as previously reported.
https://twitter.com/viajeromagico/status/855484806251118592

It also states that the minimum ticket must be 4 days with park hopper or park hopper plus. This is the part that kills us on the free dining. We don't need 4 days.

 

[Meeko5]

I'm just wondering does RO discount actually work better foranyone?
I mean it certainly does NOT for me. EVER.
Example:
2 adults in ASMo standard room $111 per night with a 20% discount making it $105 per night.
Over 4 nights that is a total savings of $24.
Free QSDP $48 per person per night. $96 per night. 4 nights. Total savings of $384.
BTW we'd already be getting the dining plan anyways.
Definitely not trying to argue but it always just confuses me why people say FD is not a good discount.

It usually works out in values, used to in a mod when it was the full DDP and not QSDP, but in a deluxe with only 2 people the higher RO% is usually a bigger savings. It all depends on type of resort/room/number of people/how you prefer to dine

 

[winepeople]

We stayed there last Dec after only ever staying Deluxe before. We absolutely loved it! Absolutely beautiful grounds (especially at night), great food court, wonderful CMs, and we didn't find it too spread out or have any issues with the buses as I've seen reported by others. I THINK we're going to try BC this year if I can snag FD because DD really wants to try the pool there, but I'm actually kinda sad not to be returning to POR as we originally planned.

Oh, and we were a group of 5- me, DH, DD8 plus my sister and mom who is a senior and had a knee replacement a few months before we went. We stayed in a royal room, loved the mansions section. Hope this helps! Happy to answer any questions you have about the resort!

I'm so glad to hear this! It's hard to beat The Beach Club and I don't want to feel let down when we get there. We will be spending less this time but it is in no way a cheap vacation!!! How was the pool?

 

[KimBean]

I'm just wondering does RO discount actually work better foranyone?
I mean it certainly does NOT for me. EVER.
Example:
2 adults in ASMo standard room $111 per night with a 20% discount making it $105 per night.
Over 4 nights that is a total savings of $24.
Free QSDP $48 per person per night. $96 per night. 4 nights. Total savings of $384.
BTW we'd already be getting the dining plan anyways.
Definitely not trying to argue but it always just confuses me why people say FD is not a good discount.

Deluxe two adults I think but still not always. But if your room is $550 a night for 8 nights, 25% off is $1100 savings. It beats FD by just a little. However if you are also 2 adults who are light eaters and don't care for TS meals then it is a MUCH better deal because you won't see the whole "value" of the FD.

 

[LucyBC80]

I don't understand when people say the RO discounts it's worth more than Free Dining. You'l have to eat anyway right?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It usually works out in values, used to in a mod when it was the full DDP and not QSDP, but in a deluxe with only 2 people the higher RO% is usually a bigger savings. It all depends on type of resort/room/number of people/how you prefer to dine

Thanks for your response.
We've only stayed at value and mods with FD and without.
Doubt I'll stay at a deluxe so looks like FD will generally work in my favor.

 

[squirrel]

... And now I'm getting $935.84 upgrade cost for 2 on DxDP. I know I used an incorrect upgrade cost before and may be now too. It's $59.49 from QS to DxDP right?

The prices I found are these -

To upgrade from QSDP to DDP it's $21.16 for adults / $4.07 child
To upgrade from QSDP to DxDP it's $58.49 for adults / $17.87 child

 

[notrub98]

I'm just wondering does RO discount actually work better foranyone?
I mean it certainly does NOT for me. EVER.
Example:
2 adults in ASMo standard room $111 per night with a 20% discount making it $105 per night.
Over 4 nights that is a total savings of $24.
Free QSDP $48 per person per night. $96 per night. 4 nights. Total savings of $384.
BTW we'd already be getting the dining plan anyways.
Definitely not trying to argue but it always just confuses me why people say FD is not a good discount.

Because I usually stay Deluxe or Mod. The math almost always works out better for RO if you are staying at a Deluxe. But it depends on your party and how many adults are in the room and how much the discount is. We got Poly for 50% off in 2016 because they were still doing construction... so it depends, and that is why I always price all the options as deals are released!

 

[Meeko5]

I don't understand when people say the RO discounts it's worth more than Free Dining. You'l have to eat anyway right?

Yes, but say you're spending $500 on a deluxe room per night, get 30% off that rate and your discount is $150 per night. You can easily eat all day for less than $150 of you wanted to.

There are lots of scenarios where the room discount is a better deal. Just not for my cheap butt who stays value and has 2 kids

 

[sjs314]

I'm just wondering does RO discount actually work better foranyone?
I mean it certainly does NOT for me. EVER.
Example:
2 adults in ASMo standard room $111 per night with a 20% discount making it $105 per night.
Over 4 nights that is a total savings of $24.
Free QSDP $48 per person per night. $96 per night. 4 nights. Total savings of $384.
BTW we'd already be getting the dining plan anyways.
Definitely not trying to argue but it always just confuses me why people say FD is not a good discount.

Most often 2 people staying at a Deluxe see a better savings

 

[chinarider]

Ok.... here's my current situation....... My DD is going back for the DCP ( Disney College Program ) in Aug... We (it's only her and myself) had planned a big trip for December ( 1 week cruise, 1 week free dining- upgraded to deluxe at CSR - on a bouceback). She will not be able to get all the time off and I'm afraid we are going to have to cancel the cruise.... that being said....My current stay is from Sat Dec 9th- Sat Dec 16th,,,, She will have some free park passes but she has to be with me for me to get into the parks with them....She might be able to get room only discounts ( But cant reserve until after the first week in Aug and it would depend on availability)....It's silly for me to pay for tickets for her since she gets in for free- but the cost difference from 1-2 people is so minimal it's almost worth it, just for the food...If so, would downgrade to reg dining plan as I am not sure how many meals we would be able to do together. This way I could get in the parks anytime and can make ADRS at the 180. I'm also anxious to book flights when Southwest releases dates in a few weeks.
Or....... See what the new promotion offers.... might be able to extend the dates a little bit and go a little earlier in the month when less crowded.. This would somewhat be under the same scenario as listed above...... I'm thinking things might be more expensive since we originally booked in Sept and prices in general have gone up...
Or........Just wait and see what the CM discounts are and kind of wing it...concerned about getting into parks without her if she cant get too much time off.....then would just pay food OOP
Or.......keep current reservation ( downgrade to Reg dining )- and arrive a few days early if a CM discount is available....
I just was reading details and new promo date in December appears to only start 1 day prior to my scheduled arrival - so I wouldnt gain too much time. Also With my bounceback at the mod- I got free Reg and it appears that would only be free QS at this time.... could do Value and pay for upgrade? Want to arrive earlier but not have to switch hotels etc. Guess I can maybe book for *** ( seems to be the most with CM discounts )- upgrade to reg dining and maybe get a room there a few days earlier and not have to move???? Decisions, thoughts... confusions... frustrations...
Its a hard decision financially to figure out which is best.... and the least stressful....
Sorry to ramble but it's hard for others to understand the rambling thoughts about this and I'm hoping I can get some suggestions.

 

[jdubbsx10]

It also states that the minimum ticket must be 4 days with park hopper or park hopper plus. This is the part that kills us on the free dining. We don't need 4 days.

Yes I saw this as well. It sucks because we don't need 4 days either, but with RO offer and our original 2 day PH tickets plus we're getting dining plan either way we're only spending $90 more if we go with FD and end up with 2 more park days...it definitely would've been cheapest for us if we had to only get 2 day tickets but we'll probably go with the FD offer either way. Well only if my calculations for expected RO don't change...