The Official Free Dining Watch 2007 Thread

[lovesdumbo]

Hi!

Well I am new to the boards. I've been to WDW as a dependent, but never the trip organizer. I am freaking out as my first time planning a trip as a mother! I picked a Sept. trip as my son is on a year round cycle school and is on fall break. Also my husband dreads crowds, so I figured it was just a good time for us overall.

I've been wrestling with staying on site versus staying off site, but free dining in Sept. is really a powerful motivator. We aren't big eaters, but not having to dock every snack and meal would be refreshing. So I think I might just reserve a room with WDW and make some ADRs this weekend. My question is, if I have to redo or cancel the reservation to add the full magic with dining package, do my ADRs get cancelled or transferred over to my new reservation? I'm only looking to do a few ADRs. I don't want to overplan

Thanks!

You don't have to stay onsite to make ADRs so you don't have to worry about that.

We did the free dining last year and are planning a trip 8/20 to 8/26 this year and will likely miss out on free dining this year. Even though I have an AP and could maybe get a room discount I've chosen to book a package with AAA to get that discount on the room and PAY for DDP. We are not big eaters with 3 small children (4,6,8) and 2 picky ones at that but even on days we choose to eat our TS meal as a late character breakfast (brunch) we'll still be ahead by paying for the DDP. My DH enjoys a TS meal a day and we are NOT trying to maximize our DDP points-we are doing mostly buffets so the kids don't have to sit through a long 3 course meal. I think you & DH will really enjoy free dining. And enjoy the convenience of an on-site stay.

If your DH doesnt like crowds, during free dining time period isnt the best time to go, its gonna be very crowded, and the restaurants are going to VERY crowded as well

I've been twice during free dining and the crowds were only smaller when I went shortly after 9/11 and I went in August. I think C-leen will find even smaller crowds in September.

As long as you have ADR's she'll be fine eating too. I didn't notice any difference in "crowds" at TS meals on my free dining trip than I did on any other trip with ADR's.

 

[an_evans]

Subscribing

 

[jeanneg]

Posting to subscribe....

 

[allerobed]

To those of you who post "Subscribing" or "Posting to Subscribe", you really don't need to do that. You can simply subscribe without posting anything by going to Thread Tools. Those posts just make the topic longer and people have to weed through all that to get to some real information. I get e-mail updates that there has been a new post to a topic I've subscibed to and have to say that I'm disappointed each time I go look at the new post and it's just "Subscribing". I know several others have posted this point out as well. I'm not trying to be rude, just helpful.

 

[Scraper]

To those of you who post "Subscribing" or "Posting to Subscribe", you really don't need to do that. You can simply subscribe without posting anything by going to Thread Tools. Those posts just make the topic longer and people have to weed through all that to get to some real information. I get e-mail updates that there has been a new post to a topic I've subscibed to and have to say that I'm disappointed each time I go look at the new post and it's just "Subscribing". I know several others have posted this point out as well. I'm not trying to be rude, just helpful.

I just wanted to thank you for the info. I relize this post is going to make you have to check back again. Wish I had some news about the dining for you. I have been posting for awhile and did not know that info. So thanks again

 

[ShhhQ]

I already booked my reservations thru Dreams Unlimited for Aug. 28-Sept.1 a month ago (MYWw/dining).... I am new to this and didn't even know that they MIGHT have free dining. Now if the rumor is true, will my reservations be able to convert to free dining? If so, will Dreams change it or do I have to request it? If I do have to request it, should I wait till it comes out or should I tell my agent that IF it comes out I want it....

 

[alldiz]

I already booked my reservations thru Dreams Unlimited for Aug. 28-Sept.1 a month ago (MYWw/dining).... I am new to this and didn't even know that they MIGHT have free dining. Now if the rumor is true, will my reservations be able to convert to free dining? If so, will Dreams change it or do I have to request it? If I do have to request it, should I wait till it comes out or should I tell my agent that IF it comes out I want it....

Tell your agent now....to be on the lookout....

You'll probably know 1st though...ya know....here and all
Call her again as soon as you hear it is official..
Kerri

 

[kdzgon]

One discount per reservation. Generally, you have to pick the one that works best and go with it. Most times, you are able to switch if something better comes available. Before you book a package, make sure you understand the terms for making changes or cancelling.

Good luck!

Except AAA. If free dining comes out, you can book thru AAA and get both free dining and a room discount. At least, that was true last year AND I was told the same thing by a CM this year. It MUST be booked through AAA, though - Disney cannot book this combo for you.

 

[Praise2Him]

Either my AAA doesn't participate, or they don't know what they're doing. I heard that last year and called. They quoted me exactly the same price as Disney.

I'll try again this year though!

BTW, how much is the room discount? Is it a percent?

 

[QueenGoblin]

It doesn't hurt to ask, but everyone I saw talking about it on the boards last year said you couldn't get AAA and free dining. When we booked our trip through AAA we were told we couldn't do both. So unless you have an AAA agent who has figured a way around it...

The AAA discount is a % off the rack rate. I'm not sure what it is and I think it varies based on where you are staying and maybe even by time of year. 20% off values and 10 or 15% off deluxes is sticking in my mind, but someone on here probably knows for sure.

 

[Hollybh]

Assuming free dining doesnt work out for us early August people, how are the crowds in early August? Free dining woujld be great but if we wont get it, would love to see fewer crowds than typical summer.

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

We went last year for Free Dining without a couple of ADR's made and were able to walk up (Sci-Fi was one of them) and were seated within 10 minutes during typical lunch hours. We had ADR's for California Grill for 9:30 pm, but got there early. Another couple showed up at the same time without ADR's, both of our parties were taken straight up at 9pm and seated. We were seated first since we had ADR's and the other couple who didn't have ADR's were seated within 2 minutes of us being seated. My parents flew down to join us at Disney last year and my brother who lives in Orlando decided he wanted to join us at Boma's. I had ADR's for just two people and called that same day of our ADR's at 3pm to see if we could add people to our time. They weren't able to add it to the time I initially requested, but fit us in just an hour and a half later. No wait at all once we arrived. We had no problems whatsoever getting into any of the dining facilities that we wanted.

 

[LakeAriel]

The above post is the exception to the rule...I did the free dining for last two years and saw people turned away at each dining establishment we ate in. Do not leave this to chance. If you will be in Disney in August, free dining or not, make ADR's..

 

[LakeAriel]

Except AAA. If free dining comes out, you can book thru AAA and get both free dining and a room discount. At least, that was true last year AND I was told the same thing by a CM this year. It MUST be booked through AAA, though - Disney cannot book this combo for you.

This is incorrect. Only one discount will be permitted. I spoke to the AAA agent yesterday to verify and this is posted in the AAA threads. Either the room discount or the free dining...

 

[beroh2253]

Did the free dining plan last year? It was fantastic; we signed up thru AAA but didn’t get the room discount. Should that have been included? Let me know I heard you could only get one discount not the 2. Went the last week in Sept. thru first 2 days of Oct. Crowds were light during the week but got heave in Oct. first weekend for the Food and Wine Fest. Still waiting to see what happens with Free Dining this year before we decide to go.





Dad Mom Bobby Kim

1995 Port Orleans
1996 Dixie Landings
1997 Caribbean Beach
1998 Dixie Landings
1999 Dixie Landings
2000 Dixie Landings
2001 Animal Kingdom Lodge
2003 Dixie Landings
2006 All Stars Music
2007 Maybe Pop

 

[twoeeyy]

The above post is the exception to the rule...I did the free dining for last two years and saw people turned away at each dining establishment we ate in. Do not leave this to chance. If you will be in Disney in August, free dining or not, make ADR's..

We also were there last year at the end and saw many many people trying to get in without ADR's and they were turned away. for Example at Sci-Fi it was a 5 day wait to get in !!!! I guess by that point you would definately want all the food that is available with the DP

 

[sweet_mel]

Did the free dining plan last year? It was fantastic; we signed up thru AAA but didn’t get the room discount. Should that have been included? Let me know I heard you could only get one discount not the 2. Went the last week in Sept. thru first 2 days of Oct. Crowds were light during the week but got heave in Oct. first weekend for the Food and Wine Fest. Still waiting to see what happens with Free Dining this year before we decide to go.





Dad Mom Bobby Kim

1995 Port Orleans
1996 Dixie Landings
1997 Caribbean Beach
1998 Dixie Landings
1999 Dixie Landings
2000 Dixie Landings
2001 Animal Kingdom Lodge
2003 Dixie Landings
2006 All Stars Music
2007 Maybe Pop

I honestly believe that's it depends on who your agent is. I've heard a few people say that they got both discounts, and then most people say that they weren't allowed to get both. All depends on your agent.

 

[scrapperjill]

I'm also thinking it may depend on the agent...because I too have heard of MANY people who were able to get both the AAA discount AND the free dinning. I've actually heard that more than the other way around.

I've talked to my AAA agent many times reguarding the plan and if it comes out for free....She has always told me that if/when it comes out she can just "add" it to our reservation. I've even asked her about the discount and free dinning..and she's never told me it'll be just one or the other.

I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[thunderbird1]

Assuming free dining doesnt work out for us early August people, how are the crowds in early August? Free dining woujld be great but if we wont get it, would love to see fewer crowds than typical summer.

If free dining (for the general public) doesn't start until August 26, you might see lighter crowds during the three weeks before. Then again, you might not, since the bounceback free dining (which was reportedly a big success) will start August 5 and the UK free dining will start August 12. Also, by moving value season up a week, there may be more people there who would normally have gone at the end of July, but decided to wait until early August to take advantage of the lower value season rates. It's anyone's guess.

 

[LakeAriel]

I'm also thinking it may depend on the agent...because I too have heard of MANY people who were able to get both the AAA discount AND the free dinning. I've actually heard that more than the other way around.

I've talked to my AAA agent many times reguarding the plan and if it comes out for free....She has always told me that if/when it comes out she can just "add" it to our reservation. I've even asked her about the discount and free dinning..and she's never told me it'll be just one or the other.

I guess we'll see what happens.

Then she is misinformed like many Disney CM's..Lucky you..Let us know how it goes..and pass her name around.