The Official Free Dining Watch 2007 Thread

[mking624]

What do you guys think? We're aking our dd who is 2 to Disney during free dining. Do you think I should say she is 3 and buy her a one day pass just to get her the dining. We probably won't use many of the credits but it would be nice for milk and what not...

It all depends on what your "what not" is and how much of it you plan on getting every day and for how long you're going. A child's 1 day base ticket is just barely less than $60 (after tax). Let's say you'll be there for 5 days that would be about $12 a day. Obviously that number goes down more and more for every day past 5 days...but it goes up more and more if you're there less than 5 days. So if you're really only looking to get milk and maybe a snack or two, it's probably cheaper just to pay for those items yourself and have your 2 year old eat off your plate. But really, you need to figure out the math of it all and compare it to how much your child will actually be eating etc.

 

[nbaker75]

Maybe this has already been reported, but I just saw this on Jim Hill's website:

"This also explains why the Mouse is getting ready to bring back its very popular "Magic Your Way Plus Free Dining" promotion. Which will allow guests who book at least a four night / five day WDW vacation package (That must start sometime between August 26 to September 22) to then dine for free during the length of their stay on property. FYI: The domestic booking window for these WDW dine-for-free vacation packages will be April 12 through June 24th. So plan accordingly, people."


This is from an article that he talking about the lower occupancy rates at WDW resorts.

This just confirms what everyone else has been saying.

 

[Reese]

What do you guys think? We're aking our dd who is 2 to Disney during free dining. Do you think I should say she is 3 and buy her a one day pass just to get her the dining. We probably won't use many of the credits but it would be nice for milk and what not...

I'm not sure but wouldn't you have to buy her a pass for every day that you yourself have purchased a pass for? I think everyone has to be staying with the same package.

 

[Reese]

Maybe this has already been reported, but I just saw this on Jim Hill's website:

"This also explains why the Mouse is getting ready to bring back its very popular "Magic Your Way Plus Free Dining" promotion. Which will allow guests who book at least a four night / five day WDW vacation package (That must start sometime between August 26 to September 22) to then dine for free during the length of their stay on property. FYI: The domestic booking window for these WDW dine-for-free vacation packages will be April 12 through June 24th. So plan accordingly, people."


This is from an article that he talking about the lower occupancy rates at WDW resorts.

This just confirms what everyone else has been saying.

I just wish it would hurry up and come out. I want to add my countdown ticker .

 

[prncssmel]

During Free Dining in the past, has it been hard to get what resort you want? We are currently booked at POFQ, but if free dining happens, we may switch to AKL or WL. If we don't call right at the beginning that morning, are we likely to not get what the deluxe we want or even not get POFQ for it?

 

[Pennykay]

"Which will allow guests who book at least a four night / five day WDW vacation package"


In the past wasn't there a three night minimum?

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

I'm not sure but wouldn't you have to buy her a pass for every day that you yourself have purchased a pass for? I think everyone has to be staying with the same package.

I didn't know. I thought maybe that since the AP holders were talkinga bout getting one day passes maybe I could do the same. I'm guessing we'll just pay oop for her..

 

[jcemom]

You can just purchase a one day pass for everyone with the package and then upgrade the others after you check in. Save the child's one day pass for a future trip. I'd just do a little estimating and math. If you think your child will eat enough to even come close to the cost of the pass I'd go ahead and get them the DDP. Even if you only used the CS credits you'd come out ahead. It would be nice to have the extra snacks too, even if you used them to buy your child water when it gets hot.

 

[Sorsha]

Ok, now I read on another thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1401499&page=15 (not sure if I am allowed to link to other threads so feel free to delete if that's a no-no) that the CM's are telling people that there will not be any free dining and "a lot of people are going to be disappointed"!
Shall we chalk it up to cranky CM's getting tired of being pestered by all us free-dine-aholics? Shall we chalk it up to uninformed CM's? Shall we start to panic and assume the rumors are all false and I won't be able to afford my planned nine days of paradise!?!? ARGH!! The stress is KILLING me!
I will never make it till the 12th...
How will I ever survive Easter... a whole day of "family" time... not being able to lurk here... being at my SIL's house who SO doesn't "get" the Disney obsession...
HOW many more days?? Can I panic yet?
Ok, stress moment over... for now...

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

You can just purchase a one day pass for everyone with the package and then upgrade the others after you check in. Save the child's one day pass for a future trip. I'd just do a little estimating and math. If you think your child will eat enough to even come close to the cost of the pass I'd go ahead and get them the DDP. Even if you only used the CS credits you'd come out ahead. It would be nice to have the extra snacks too, even if you used them to buy your child water when it gets hot.

Excellent idea.. Thanks..

 

[DisneyMom5]

Last year during free dinning my dd was 2 and every TS we went to gave her "complimentary" drink. She is allegic to dairy and they gave her soy milk. At CRT they even gave her her own kids meal.We told them that she didn't have the DDP and they said that was ok.So I wouldn't bother paying the extra money. I would keep in mind that they are requierd to eat off parents plates.We were told if she got her own plate at the buffets they would have to charge us. hope this helps out
laura

This is incorrect. Children under 3 are free at buffets and all you can eat family style dinners. It is only at places where you have to order a meal off a menu where they are not.

I know, I took 2 under 3 the last time we had free dining. We were given free drinks a couple of times, but I was prepared to pay out of pocket.
And we had TONS of food at the menu type places, more than enough to share with the little ones.
But they indeed had their own plates and drinks at buffets at no extra charge.

And you do have to by the same type ticket for her, so it might not be worth it. And if you are looking to utilize her credits, they will be child credits, so you will have to eat a lot of kid's meals with it.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Ok, now I read on another thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1401499&page=15 (not sure if I am allowed to link to other threads so feel free to delete if that's a no-no) that the CM's are telling people that there will not be any free dining and "a lot of people are going to be disappointed"!
Shall we chalk it up to cranky CM's getting tired of being pestered by all us free-dine-aholics? Shall we chalk it up to uninformed CM's? Shall we start to panic and assume the rumors are all false and I won't be able to afford my planned nine days of paradise!?!? ARGH!! The stress is KILLING me!
I will never make it till the 12th...
How will I ever survive Easter... a whole day of "family" time... not being able to lurk here... being at my SIL's house who SO doesn't "get" the Disney obsession...
HOW many more days?? Can I panic yet?
Ok, stress moment over... for now...

I think some of the CMs are just cranky. I had one yesterday.

He went on and on about why I should book my complete trip NOW. He kept saying that IF free dining came out I'd be all set. (I know that's wrong)

He said none of the TAs knew anything about the possible free dining (wrong again) because the CMs hadn't heard anything yet.

He said Disney made AAA pull the info they were posting.(Have no idea if that is true or not).

After I told him the name of the program and the rumored dates, he asked if I was a TA.

Again he tried to get me to book the full 14 days instead of the 4 I called about.(August 22-26). For some reason he didn't want to call back book free dining later.

When I refused, he said "Oh well, it's your money you're wasting on phone calls." I responded, "Nope it's Disney's."

Then he wanted to know if I was calling in on a TA line. Nope

When he found out I was using an 800 number, he said as soon as he hung up with me he was going to talk to a supervisor about getting all the 800 numbers shut down.

 

[angwill]

They are pushing bookings and upset with all the question phone calls probably because they get commission on what they book and/or they have a quota to meet like so many sales an hour or they get in trouble with possible termination. I used to work customer service and we had a limit to how long we were supposed to be on each phone call and we had to upsell service by so many per shift. If we didn't meet the quota we were reprimanded and/or written up with the threat of possible termination.

When I worked a customer service for a travel company on weekends they were always firing people for not selling enough packages. I do not know if this is how it is done at Disney but I wouldn't doubt it and the threat of losing your job is not a good feeling which would make it hard to pass on magical wishes.

When I booked with a TA a couple years ago I called into Disney to ask a question and I had a CM who asked me why I chose to book through a TA rather than the Disney phone line. He went on to tell me all the benefits of booking directly through him vs a TA. That is what lead me to believe they need so many bookings.

Still no reason to have an attitude but it makes it more understandable.

Ang

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

And you do have to by the same type ticket for her, so it might not be worth it. And if you are looking to utilize her credits, they will be child credits, so you will have to eat a lot of kid's meals with it.

Really the only thing I was looking to get was milk for her to drink at meals and maybe an ice cream treat or 2.. I know there is plenty of food to go around. Her and I share meals all the time even at home.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

I was out of the house for a couple of hours, anything good happen????

 

[mirthmaiden]

I was out of the house for a couple of hours, anything good happen????

define "good"

I finally watched that 3-month old DVD from Netflix I've been putting off;
I managed to help DD with homework while simultaneously posting furiously on the DIS and also cooking dinner;
I had some quality time with my cat;

Those are all "good" things for me

Even better? If free dining were announced beginning Aug 3rd for all people from Virginia whose last names start with "B" and who promise they won't reveal the secret locations of all the hidden mickeys

 

[PiperPizzaz]

If free dining were announced beginning Aug 3rd for all people from Virginia whose last names start with "B" and who promise they won't reveal the secret locations of all the hidden mickeys

Oooo include Indiana in that pleeeeease my last name starts with B!

 

[ShhhQ]

Oooo include Indiana in that pleeeeease my last name starts with B!

Yes on Indiana..... but ya need to add D!!!! or I could change my last name.... I will settle for the first 4 letters of the alphabet now with followups later.....

 

[dizneyfreak]

Ok, so I missed something. What are the rumors that have been posted and misteriously taken off? I'm beginning to believe that I don't check in enough. Could someone please get me up to date and fill me in. My DF and I are getting married on Oct. 1st at DWP and our entire family will be coming down the last week of Sept. for the happy event. We're hoping for free dining for the family. We got free dining last year (on the trip my DF asked me to marry him under the castle during the fireworks). We actually stayed for a week and only the first two days were within the time frame for free dining. We got to have free dining the entire time we were there. The CM said as long as we started our trip before the last day of free dining we could have it for our entire stay. But back to my main reason for this post...can someone please bring me up to date on the rumors and posts that have been taken down?

Thanks!!!

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

I think some of the CMs are just cranky. I had one yesterday.

He went on and on about why I should book my complete trip NOW. He kept saying that IF free dining came out I'd be all set. (I know that's wrong)

He said none of the TAs knew anything about the possible free dining (wrong again) because the CMs hadn't heard anything yet.

He said Disney made AAA pull the info they were posting.(Have no idea if that is true or not).

After I told him the name of the program and the rumored dates, he asked if I was a TA.

Again he tried to get me to book the full 14 days instead of the 4 I called about.(August 22-26). For some reason he didn't want to call back book free dining later.

When I refused, he said "Oh well, it's your money you're wasting on phone calls." I responded, "Nope it's Disney's."

Then he wanted to know if I was calling in on a TA line. Nope

When he found out I was using an 800 number, he said as soon as he hung up with me he was going to talk to a supervisor about getting all the 800 numbers shut down.

What was his problem? He is never going to sell anything with that attitude. Maybe he needs a vacation to Disney World??