Was it this crazy in 06?

[angeleigh]

Was it this crazy in 06 when the free dining plan firsted opened? I didn't book my trip right when the offer came out last year because I didn't hear about it until May I think and I didn't have any trouble getting a room. I am seriously thinking about booking this year again because 2 of my daughters and I have 5 days and 2 extras left on our ticket from last year.
Angeleigh

 

[caresy]

Was it this crazy in 06 when the free dining plan firsted opened? I didn't book my trip right when the offer came out last year because I didn't hear about it until May I think and I didn't have any trouble getting a room. I am seriously thinking about booking this year again because 2 of my daughters and I have 5 days and 2 extras left on our ticket from last year.
Angeleigh

I wasn't on the DIS Boards at that time, but I know I had no problem getting the reservation I wanted way after the FDP was first offered... part of the problem may be that the time frame WDW is offering it this year is much smaller than the last 2 years...

 

[noseybuddy]

I didn't book right away last year when it came out. I waited awhile. I was able to get POP but then I changed it to the POLY.

 

[CathrynRose]

No, it was NOT this crazy, at all.

 

[ducklite]

As I've posted several times, the window of dates was shorter, and there were far less packages available to begin with.

Anne

 

[wedance6]

yes...I think there are less packages available this year.

 

[smep013]

I was not on these boards last year, but I stumbled upon the offer on the Disney website and had no trouble booking for August in mid-May.

 

[lustergirl]

It wasn't as hectic last year as this year but I believe there are less rooms to be had on this promo. Plus this year that has been way more buzz on these boards- everywhere you look someone is posting about the free dining thang!!! Good Luck everyone!!!

 

[n2mm]

No it wasn't this crazy last year because everyone had the same pool to pull from. Since the UK folks booked last year for this summer, then the bounce back folks booked this winter for this summer, then the visa folks booked earlier this week, now the GP folks got what was left over from the original pool of rooms. Plus add to the fact that the GP folks only got to book from 4 weeks, vs 7-8 weeks last year, that's what caused the feeding frenzy this morning. This will be my first year not doing the free ddp, but loved watching the excitment through everyone's fingers. Last year I book for a last minute unplanned trip mid-August and called on the third day of the Visa member release and had no problem getting Pop for our long weekend. Next year, if this happens, I will not plan to do it. I would do a last minute trip again, but not plan and hope for it like I did this year. In 2005 it also was a last minute decision too.

 

[loriandmatt]

i don't remember it being such a stress laden experience last year. i am doing the "should i keep what i have (FW camping early Aug) or should i go for the free dining thing. (must have a moderate and must have ressie starting no later than Aug 26th in order for DS to make the first day of school)"

but there are so many factors that complicate it.....

- we did free dining last year and thought we ended up being slaves to the food and ADRs

- going in early Aug wouldn't conflict with DS's football camp

- i am missing the fort and it's laid back feel

holy crap though, that free dining is enticing. we would spend just as much camping and paying OOP for everything (even with eating some meals at the campsite) as we would for the same time frame at a moderate with the free dining.....that's the one part that is giving me an upset stomach!!!


should i or shouldn't i?!?!?!?

vacations shouldn't be this stressfull. (planning or taking them)

at this point i am about ready to say screw it and stay at the fort with my little popup and my mini fridge and just CHILLAX.

 

[Disneydreaming6]

This felt like black friday..... the stampede was on when they opened the lines. Now I'm wondering, how busy will it be

 

[LoriZH]

I did a last minute FD last year too with just my daugther (when I say last minute I mean before the offer was ending). I got my first choice and no problem. They're right, it is a smaller window this year and it's always crazy when discounts come out out the first day. It will definitely settle down and I believe more rooms will open up, that is why you have until the 24th of June to book. They will see the response and they would rather have people book a room with FD than not go at all.

 

[ducklite]

I did a last minute FD last year too with just my daugther (when I say last minute I mean before the offer was ending). I got my first choice and no problem. They're right, it is a smaller window this year and it's always crazy when discounts come out out the first day. It will definitely settle down and I believe more rooms will open up, that is why you have until the 24th of June to book. They will see the response and they would rather have people book a room with FD than not go at all.

Not if it means they will get the complaints they got last year from people with FD who couldn't get a seat in ANY sit down restaurant for ANY dinner time during some weeks. If you are going to offer something, you need to be sure you can come through on your offer. They won't make that mistake a second time.

Anne

 

[mookie]

Not if it means they will get the complaints they got last year from people with FD who couldn't get a seat in ANY sit down restaurant for ANY dinner time during some weeks. If you are going to offer something, you need to be sure you can come through on your offer. They won't make that mistake a second time.

Anne

Was it really that bad? We went the first year and it was great! I guess it took a turn for the worse last year?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

As I've posted several times, the window of dates was shorter, and there were far less packages available to begin with.

Anne

this is definetly part of it.

 

[TheRatPack]

I remember the very first year it was offered. I had no idea it was going on, we had initially booked to stay offsite as we usually did. I booked near the end of the booking window and got the hotel we wanted, plus most of the ADRs we wanted. The only dining we didn't get were CRT and WC (we had to take a really late supper at WC and weren't able to get CRT at all).

Last year we booked, based on the previous years school calendar and then it turned out to be a week later that the kids had a break. So we cancelled, sadly. This year we're homeschooling, so we booked the first week in Sept, was on hold this morning for over an hour but got the hotel we chose, and already had ADRs from last week.

I do remember though, even the first year we went, when we'd walk in to a restaurant to check in for our ADRs, lots of people would walk in for a seat (without ADRs) and be turned away.....it was sad. I think if the dining plan is going to be a stable thing at Disney, they need to look at adding more TS restaurants or something. Or maybe putting a notice on the tickets about making dining ressies early for those that don't stay on site?

I actually like the ADRs breaking up our days at the park. We plan it around parades and other things we want to do, but without the TS I'd probably run my family ragged. I get in a go go go mood and the dining allows us time to refuel when we'd otherwise just grab a snack and keep going.

 

[keliblue]

Not if it means they will get the complaints they got last year from people with FD who couldn't get a seat in ANY sit down restaurant for ANY dinner time during some weeks. If you are going to offer something, you need to be sure you can come through on your offer. They won't make that mistake a second time.

Anne

Gosh let's hope so.. I'm glad they offered less packages this year, last year was a bit hectic and don't even think about changing your mind on a ressie.. you would be SOL on finding another.

 

[graciegirlie]

I booked the very last day of the offer last year. I got the resort I wanted. It was POR but I did end up changing to ASMu after the booking timeframe while keeping the free dining. I made my adr's about a week after booking and got everything I wanted and even changed some after. I think I did get lucky though as there were signs most days saying that there were no table services available that day. The crowds weren't too bad but the dining part was hectic & the love bugs were in full force.