Opinions, please!

[leahjade]

How busy is the free dining time frame? I have reservations for Aug. 15-22 but I'm thinking of switching to an earlier week if it's going to be a crazy zoo at that time. I can use one of the other offers.

 

[juliemcalister]

Even if you move your dates there are going to be people using free dining. Anyone who got a pin, bb offer or signed up for the earlier DV kids dining offer will be there. What you know for sure is that the later in August you go, the more the crowds start dropping off.

 

[beautifultomorrow]

Switching to an earlier week as in July or August? I can't see how it would be any less crowded then, than the first week of free dining. A lot of schools will start to go back around that time.

Touringplans indicates mostly 6's (on a scale of 1-10) for your week, with two 7's during the week. Everything Aug. 14 and before is pretty much exclusively 8's according to their crowd calendar. ADR's may be harder to get and the restaurants may be more crowded, but the parks should not be.

 

[bartleby1]

We were there last year for the first week of free dining and 5 days of the second week. Crowds significantly dropped off during the second week of free dining. If you could possibly push it a week later, you will see a drop off in crowds.

I don't think you'll see a big difference pushing it earlier though. Plus, depending on which resort level you are staying, you may be pushing your dates back into regular season instead of value season which would increase your hotel rates. I think that would happen with value and moderates, but if you are staying deluxe I don't think it would change.

 

[leahjade]

We usually go in July so I was so scared that the masses would land at WDW the second week in August. I had my reservations for several weeks not knowing if there would be free dining. We can't go any later due to school, so I just hope every room in WDW doesn't fill up during that time. By reading these boards, it seems like everyone in the world will be in Disney in August!

 

[bartleby1]

We usually go in July so I was so scared that the masses would land at WDW the second week in August. I had my reservations for several weeks not knowing if there would be free dining. We can't go any later due to school, so I just hope every room in WDW doesn't fill up during that time. By reading these boards, it seems like everyone in the world will be in Disney in August!

I haven't been in July in probably 5 years so it is hard for me to compare, but I do remember it being quite crowded then also.

If I were you, I'd leave my trip during the first week of free dining. Like I posted earlier, if you move your trip up, you will be leaving value season and will see a significant increase in your hotel rate. If you are going to go during a time when it is hot and crowded, you may as well get the cheaper rates! And honestly, if you use fastpass, get to the parks early, and do a little planning, you will be fine.

Have fun!