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

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

You could always book it with the 3 day hold instead of putting your deposit down. Then you can discuss & apply your deposit after you are sure.

You can do a 3 day hold on the website?
How does that work?

 

[SCBENGAL]

This is OT but has anyone been to O'hana and paid OOP? If so, how much was it per adult?

 

[Eeyore's Tiara]

I think someone else already chimed in on the dependent family members, but if they are extended family, you could buy the regular discounted military tickets for that one or two and still take advantage of the room discount (40% on deluxe!), get the 5-day salute, and I bet it will still be cheaper than free dining. Stay in one of the Treehouses at Saratoga and do breakfast in the kitchen. Run the numbers.

P.S. Are you at Ft. Hood? We were there in the late 90s.

We were stationed at Ft Hood and still have a house there. But he just retired, 22 years, and thankfully no more deployments. Thank you for all the suggestions, I didn't even think about that. And the Treehouses, absolutely brilliant idea!! We've joked about wishing we could stay there every time we took the boat from POR to DS. I am going to run off and do the numbers immediately! THANK YOU!

 

[kels420]

You can do a 3 day hold on the website?
How does that work?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think only the cm's on the phone can do the 3 day courtesy hold.

 

[SCBENGAL]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think only the cm's on the phone can do the 3 day courtesy hold.

My wife is a TP and she can do 3 day holds.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think only the cm's on the phone can do the 3 day courtesy hold.

Yes I thought it was only phone CM's and TA's. (We did a hold at AAA before)

 

[imatex]

Question: We have never visited the park November/December time. If we go during FD the week of November 25 or December 8, is it really necessary to worry about signing up for Fast Pass 60 days out?

 

[ToyStory#1fan'sMom]

Also, after much menu surfing and being honest about what and how we eat...I think we won't upgrade from QSDP to DDP. I think I just want CRT, Akershus, and 50's PrimeTime this time. That doesn't equal the difference and I prefer eating when and where we're hungry, not heading to a restaurant because we have an ADR...uggh, I should so have all this lined out already!

 

[Mbuksa]

My TA says she is going to stay up tonight and wait for the free dining. This is the first time I have used a TA. It's hard to give up the control. I have given her alternate dates and resorts. She has my Disney visa info incase my dates are for DV only. I'm not sure if I should go to bed and just my faith in her, or I should stay up and book a second reservation...just in case! Have any of you have good or bad luck using a TA with free dining??

 

[Mac Graham]

Also, after much menu surfing and being honest about what and how we eat...I think we won't upgrade from QSDP to DDP. I think I just want CRT, Akershus, and 50's PrimeTime this time. That doesn't equal the difference and I prefer eating when and where we're hungry, not heading to a restaurant because we have an ADR...uggh, I should so have all this lined out already!

I totally agree with you. I honestly think that Table Service gives you too much food. With Quick Service, I can just walk up to a counter and order some food. I don't have to worry about "oh no our fast pass is at the same time as my reservation!"

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I am going to be here for the early part of the night, then I'm going to be sleeping. I booked through a TA. She already has my info about changing resorts, since we're currently booked at All Star Movies. She knows we want a preferred room at a Value, and knows we want to upgrade from QS to the regular plan. I cannot speak with her tomorrow until the agency opens at 9 a.m. So all in all to sum up I am trying to be very Zen about the whole situation and not freak out. If it's meant to be, it will be. *sighs*

I hope that works out. I am hoping my TA will get mine too but just in case I am also getting up.

From past experience, I was unable to have two reservations without cancelling one first. Some of the dates over lapped. Spent an hour on the phone dealing with this. It wasn't pleasant.

I hope this is not right, but I did set my DH's MDE up so if something dumb happens I have his to use.

 

[sharonabe]

Lurking for years but first time posting -- how does everyone feel about modifying a CBR res with GC online? (Sorry if this has already been covered, this thread is hard to keep up with.) Don't to wait til the phones open but don't want to risk losing the GC if CBR rooms are available either. Should I just book a new res and call later to have it switched to my original reservation or do you think I'll be able to modify my res to the free dining offer?

You're going to have to decide on this one. You SHOULD be okay with modifying (if you can modify), but there are no guarantees. If you're changing dates, I'd wait and call in. If you can do it with just changing room type or nothing at all, I'd probably chance it. I know getting FD and keeping the GCs is the best option, but you may need to decide if you're okay with losing the GCs in order to get the FD. See my answer below about making new ressie.

I am so bummed, about the mods probably getting CS plan. Still hoping that is wrong. With purchasing dining upgrade to DDP and hoppers...my deal is evaporating!
I know this would make my fastpasses a cluster...but could I buy the four-day hopper plus and then "upgrade" to a 10-day regular (one park a day) when I get there?

If the 10-day is more expensive than the 4-day, then yes, you can do that once you get there. In order to do the FP+ for as many days as possible, I'd get the highest number of days w/PH that is still less than the 10-day basic.

If I can't modify online, I plan on booking another mod room (if I can get one) with FD. Then when phone lines open up at 6, I will try to call and modify my original reservation with them....if I can do that, then I will cancel the other reservation I made online

The problem you could run into here is that your new ressie (or anyone else's trying to do the same) is the ressie that then takes CBR out of the market. So when you call in to modify your GCs ressie, there are no more FD rooms available. I'm not sure they can/will cancel the new one in order to make room for your first one.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I hope that works out. I am hoping my TA will get mine too but just in case I am also getting up.

I hope it works out, too. I have a question (and I'm not being difficult I hope). You have a TA, but you're getting up? Are you going to book a trip with FD on your own and have 1 with your TA and 1 on your own?

 

[Just Love Disney]

Sports is our favorite All Star!

Why is it your favorite? We have never stayed at an All Star and are having a hard time deciding on which one we should go for.

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

So as so many people are saying POP sells out fast for FD, and there's more availability at the All Stars, I am checking out reviews for All Star Sports. Looking at pics people have posted, I see there is Mello Yello at the food court soda dispenser. Is it wrong to actually be excited about that? I think maybe I'm a weirdo. LOL.

We stayed at all star sports and had a great time! I've stayed at pop too and I think sports was better! A little smaller and quieter. Plus we only shared busses to go to Disney springs. I thought their bus service was even better than CBR!

 

[Leeesa]

Does anyone know what time you would be able to do this online? I already have my reservations and would like to see if I can do it online somehow and not have to call in..
Thanks !!

 

[WalkDisneyWorld]

Hello everyone! I just signed up a few minutes ago so I could say thank you before it really gets crazy around here! I've actually been following these Free Dining threads for about 4 years now because we've being doing Free Dining every year for quite sometime. I started reading this current one at the end of February because I've learned this is the best place for all the current info. Every year, I learn so much and am always prepared for the big drop because of the wise people here. We've always gotten the exact thing we were looking for and are hoping for that this year, too! Again, thank you all so much for helping me out all these years. Sorry it took so long for me to say so!

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

So am I crazy that even though I have a FD BB at WL for August that I want to wake up at 4am just to be part of the excitement?!? Haha

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I've been popping in from time to time to get info for a friend (I'm renting points so no FD for me).

I wish you all good luck tomorrow morning!!

One thing I wanted to mention, don't forget to log in very close to when you start refreshing. The Disney site will time you out even though it says "Welcome 5DisneyNuts" at the top of the screen. You will go through grabbing what you want and when you are ready to check out you will have to log in again. Not the worst thing but will make things take a little longer.

Also, make sure you have your CC linked and active on your account (especially the Visa if you have).

I'll have my fingers crossed that you get what you want.

 

[Eno]

Think this will be our first offsite trip. Each year we say its our last trip to Disney. DD(25) returned to school...again and we will be driving from Niagara area (she drives to school to Hamilton) saw a few on from Niagara and Hamilton area. Have stayed in Values, Mods and even the Poly and WL. Since free dining has always been in a mod. This year I had a backup plan, I booked offsite that included free breakfast (stayed there one night last year before our start of our Disney reservation). I have a spreadsheet with every possible combination - offsite with CDN ticket discount, Mod with FD TS, Mod with FD upgrade TS, Deluxe.... I find that with each new piece of news, my cost goes up. Almost like bidding on eBay or at an auction, caught up in the moment and don't really think of the true cost. Tomorrow I will be on - if FD is only QS at Mods, will be an offsite trip. Will still check but that is what I am expecting. This year will still be an awesome trip - will be there during both the first couple MNSSHP and Epcot Food and Wine. Will take my savings and maybe go to one of the MNSSHP, have never been. Can't wait for Food and Wine - was hoping to use snack credits but will just pay.