People who have gone during Free dining plan...

[vernfonzndrian]

Does it increase the crowd by that much because of the free dining?I was planning on goin' in Sept for the simple fact that I was trying to avoid the huge crowds, but than found out about the free dining plan, and that helped us choose Sept even more. But just wondering what the crowds are gonna be like. I do plan on making ADRs anyway.Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't believe the crowds at the parks are unmanageable. However, the restaurants are extremely crowded and reservations for table service are a must especially if you want peak mealtimes or popular places.

Keep in mind that free dining hasn't yet been offered to the general public. Within the U.S. it has only been offered to persons who booked a stay while already at WDW in November or December.

 

[GC&S]

We generally have always went in Sept. I think with the free dining that the crowds have increased. But it also depends when in Sept. you go. We went last year at the end of Sept (and the last week the dining plan was offered). It was definitely more crowded, but it was also the start of the wine and food festival, and the halloween parties were also starting. So that probably had something to do with the crowds.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

We go each year the weekend after Labor Day. When we got there last year, around 3pm, to Epcot....this was September 6th I believe, there was hardly any wait at Soarin and the FP's were for just 35 minutes later!!! We didn't encounter crowds at all, the last two years that first week of September.

 

[ReneeA]

We went the last week of August in 2005 and 2006. I didn't think crowds were bad at all, but we are early risers so were at the parks at rope drop everyday and left during the mid-day rush only to return after dinner most days. We didn't wait longer than 20 minutes for anything.

The table service restaurants were crazy busy, though. I was very glad I made an ADR for everyday of our stay.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Park crowds weren't bad at all but restaurants were jam packed.

Course free dining isn't open to everyone this year (yet) so things will be different unless it is.

 

[angiedora]

We went during free dining in 2005. We were there 9-10 through 9-14. We walked on everything at Epcot till around 2pm. We rode Soarin' twice and Test Track 3 times. Then we went to World Showcase and wondered around.
At MK we walked on everything till around lunch and at AK it seemed a little more crowded but still tolerable. AK is HOT in September!! Not many shelters or AC buildings.

 

[SoarinJ]

I have gone in late August in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. 05 and 06 with the FDDP - I have no noticed little or no difference in crowd levels - however, the table service eateries are much busier. Make sure you make ADRs.

 

[janets]

We were there Sept. 9-16 in 2006. The restaurants were crowded but the park was empty. I mean, empty. We rode everything we wanted, even the most popular rides, over and over. There were times when we were walking and there was no one anywhere around. We are so spoiled that now when we go, no matter when else, it always seems busier to us. And we'll never get that chance again, as we had late school opening due to HS construction.

And we had free dining too! This year, we're going back 8/18-8/25 with free dining also. Booked during our trip in November on the bounce back program.

 

[Heart82381]

We went this past August for free dining and the parks weren't bad at all. However, the reasturants were CRAZY. We had made our reservations months in advance so we were fine, but people were being turned away if they did not have a reservation or told to come back hours later.