The new free dining ?

[happymommy]

Based on pour last visit, crowds were high even in slow season, I wouldn't be surprised if "free" dining decreased or went to this new deal.

Our last visit was the last week of August, which is typically a slow time (before Labor Day).

That week was dead! We were given a preferred room location at Pop. The pool was busy every day, but in the heat I understand it! The bus service was amazing, and the parks were not very crowded at all. One day, at Epcot, ALL day long Soarin' was a walk-on. No line. At all. I had never seen that. It was a great time!

For me and DD this new "discount" isn't a great deal with one meal a day offered. I'd rather have a room discount or free QSDP (like we got last time - we loved that!).

 

[Pkltm]

Our last visit was the last week of August, which is typically a slow time (before Labor Day).

That week was dead! We were given a preferred room location at Pop. The pool was busy every day, but in the heat I understand it! The bus service was amazing, and the parks were not very crowded at all. One day, at Epcot, ALL day long Soarin' was a walk-on. No line. At all. I had never seen that. It was a great time!

For me and DD this new "discount" isn't a great deal with one meal a day offered. I'd rather have a room discount or free QSDP (like we got last time - we loved that!).

We were there Sept/Oct - Soarin was always over and hour. I love the free dining!! We booked a BB so we have it secured for the fall.

 

[happymommy]

We were there Sept/Oct - Soarin was always over and hour. I love the free dining!! We booked a BB so we have it secured for the fall.

Our last day was Labor Day weekend and then it picked up and Soarin' was a long wait time. The week before must be one of the slowest weeks (and we love it then!).

 

[twoplustwins]

For my family, we cannot justify going without FD. I would really like to go this year, but it looks like we'll have to make other vacation plans unless FD is released. I hate that, but we just can't do it otherwise.

 

[Huff]

For my family, we cannot justify going without FD. I would really like to go this year, but it looks like we'll have to make other vacation plans unless FD is released. I hate that, but we just can't do it otherwise.

We're the same way. The total cost has to come way down for us to be able to afford a trip to WDW. Looked at early June. For 2 adults, 2 teens staying 10 days at a value it came to nearly $5000 for room, tickets and regular dining plan. If FD is offered in value season it would put the total to under $3000 which for us is still a lot but might be manageable depending on air fare. Disney has come closer to pricing us out and forcing us to vacation elsewhere.

 

[myhoney]

We're the same way. The total cost has to come way down for us to be able to afford a trip to WDW. Looked at early June. For 2 adults, 2 teens staying 10 days at a value it came to nearly $5000 for room, tickets and regular dining plan. If FD is offered in value season it would put the total to under $3000 which for us is still a lot but might be manageable depending on air fare. Disney has come closer to pricing us out and forcing us to vacation elsewhere.

Us too. I literally just had a talk with our older kids (10 and almost 9). They've been and are dying to go back. The little ones (2 & 3) have never been. We are booked for Nov. and DH and I really want to go, but it's so expensive. And then we just got a $5300 bill for braces. We want to go before our 8 year old turns 10, but for a family of 6, we're talking big bucks. We also like DxDDP, which adds a bit. I'll have to see if I can convince DH to skip all those meals! But, I also pointed out to the kids that for $7K-$8k, do we really want to go to Disney? Or do they want to try a beach vacation, or a bunch of mini trips? Our mortgage payments for the entire year are just over $10k. And Disney is $7k for a week? I think I'd rather take 7 long weekends over the year to other places, spending $1k each time, then killing myself to save the $7k and blowing it all in one week. We had a great time when we went before, and it will be great when we go again, but it's to the point where we really have to think about the value of it.

 

[sshaw0715]

Us too. I literally just had a talk with our older kids (10 and almost 9). They've been and are dying to go back. The little ones (2 & 3) have never been. We are booked for Nov. and DH and I really want to go, but it's so expensive. And then we just got a $5300 bill for braces. We want to go before our 8 year old turns 10, but for a family of 6, we're talking big bucks. We also like DxDDP, which adds a bit. I'll have to see if I can convince DH to skip all those meals! But, I also pointed out to the kids that for $7K-$8k, do we really want to go to Disney? Or do they want to try a beach vacation, or a bunch of mini trips? Our mortgage payments for the entire year are just over $10k. And Disney is $7k for a week? I think I'd rather take 7 long weekends over the year to other places, spending $1k each time, then killing myself to save the $7k and blowing it all in one week. We had a great time when we went before, and it will be great when we go again, but it's to the point where we really have to think about the value of it.

Yep. I got a good quote for the beach club in December but even with I thought " for one week"? We are currently booked with a great rate POFQ but if free dining does come out we will probably move to a value and just take the quick service plan. Even though we can technically afford to do more I just can't make myself spend that much money for one week. Next year we are going to the beach for a week. When disney is through building the new Star Wars land and the other projects we will come back a couple of times. It's been years since we have been at Christmas time and I wanted to go just one more time for the Christmas festivities but it may at least five years or so before we go back. My kids are teenagers now and their tastes are rapidly changing.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Us too. I literally just had a talk with our older kids (10 and almost 9). They've been and are dying to go back. The little ones (2 & 3) have never been. We are booked for Nov. and DH and I really want to go, but it's so expensive. And then we just got a $5300 bill for braces. We want to go before our 8 year old turns 10, but for a family of 6, we're talking big bucks. We also like DxDDP, which adds a bit. I'll have to see if I can convince DH to skip all those meals! But, I also pointed out to the kids that for $7K-$8k, do we really want to go to Disney? Or do they want to try a beach vacation, or a bunch of mini trips? Our mortgage payments for the entire year are just over $10k. And Disney is $7k for a week? I think I'd rather take 7 long weekends over the year to other places, spending $1k each time, then killing myself to save the $7k and blowing it all in one week. We had a great time when we went before, and it will be great when we go again, but it's to the point where we really have to think about the value of it.

I agree that it is a lot for large families. Value season prices coupled with big promos like free dining really made it affordable for us to do our first trip five years ago. The price sting is when your kids get older and are no longer "free" or "child prices" in addition to the steady price increases . The same week long, onsite w/ QSDP Disney trip we took five years ago would cost us $1,500 more this year (even with the same discount) because of the resort and ticket price increases and with my kids being older. The only way we can stay onsite without spending more than what we are comfortable with spending is to go with a good discount during a lower priced season, or do a shorter trip which is what we are doing this May since May is the higher "regular season" prices with lower discounts. I agree with pp in that I think this summer "free meal" deal is a way to test the waters with how to eventually get rid of free dining all together. Every year the offered free dining periods get smaller and smaller and last year they required either the water park or park hopper add on which really made it less of the deal it used to be. I know some people don't like considering staying offsite, but that is always a viable option which we tried and loved on our last trip. The total cost of our 3 bdrm condo, mini van rental, gas, and parking was still a lot less than two Pop Century rooms with the spring room only discount. If they get rid of free dining all together, I think a lot more people will start to look more closely at offsite options, particularly large families.