When does Disney release Free Dining dates...so people will release coveted adrs??

[edk35]

Apparently rumor has it....that people hoard adrs for FD dates and then release ressies when they find out free dining dates. I tried to book some hard to get adr's this morning right at 6:00 and could not get them. MY trip dates are Oct. 15th through the 20th...which are not typically FD dates. Very frustrating.

 

[Allison]

If you are talking about the BOG ADR you have posted about then I wouldn't say that is about anyone hoarding ADRs. A dinner ADR is going to be very hard to get on party nights. Both those attending and not attending the parties are going to try to get the early ADRs.

On non-party nights it will also be difficult because people at MK those nights for evening entertainment will grab up reservations.

 

[edk35]

If you are talking about the BOG ADR you have posted about then I wouldn't say that is about anyone hoarding ADRs. A dinner ADR is going to be very hard to get on party nights. Both those attending and not attending the parties are going to try to get the early ADRs.

On non-party nights it will also be difficult because people at MK those nights for evening entertainment will grab up reservations.

Do you know when Free Dining is released???

 

[edk35]

If you are talking about the BOG ADR you have posted about then I wouldn't say that is about anyone hoarding ADRs. A dinner ADR is going to be very hard to get on party nights. Both those attending and not attending the parties are going to try to get the early ADRs.

On non-party nights it will also be difficult because people at MK those nights for evening entertainment will grab up reservations.

I have a friend that was able to book her July 3rd BOG for dinner at the 180 day mark with no issues. She is at Disney during a very peak/popular week. I think if she can secure it on the night they do the special fireworks then it has to be the HOPES of free dining that is messing up my week more so than the party nights. Most people would not be getting BOG times for during the MNSSHP because they would want to be at the party. One would think and that it would be easier to get party night adrs during party hours, if you were attending the party...and none are open for any of the 4 party nights. Do they even keep BOG open on party nights?

 

[Irish_Mike]

Do they even keep BOG open on party nights?

BOG stops seating early (At 6 I believe) on party nights, which is why it's difficult to grab a reservation. You lose over four hours of potential times.

That said, free dining is rumored to be announced next Monday.

 

[edk35]

BOG stops seating early (At 6 I believe) on party nights, which is why it's difficult to grab a reservation. You lose over four hours of potential times.

That said, free dining is rumored to be announced next Monday.

Thank you!!! That makes sense then. UGH!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

No one thinks Free Dining will include October. I don't think your issue has anything to do with FD. It is party nights.

 

[xlsm]

Our trips overlap Booked for 10/15 - 21 right now, will be adding 10/14 because of flights.

I also commented on your other post this morning I think, and I mentioned that I had website issues and had to switch to Safari to get any reservations at all. This was the first time I've had a true struggle booking certain meals (I'm looking at you, Ohana! I hate the time I have booked.) that I've never had trouble with before.

I'm not too worried right now...and really do try using the Touring Plans reservation finder! It's a great tool. I'm not sure of your party size, but I did find a few early BOG dinners on non-party nights if you could make one of those dates work.

But party nights are definitely an issue...there are four during our week, which is limiting. I settled for BOG lunch, because I don't care so much about dinner there anymore. I am taking my mom for her first ever visit though, so I do want her to see inside.

My big hope is that people who booked hoping for free dining will cancel their resort reservations (haha!!) because I want to get a good AP discount!! I doubt there will be a very good one, or one at all, with rooms so booked up already. It's wishful thinking, I'm just resigned to this being a very busy week.

Good luck, I really do hope you find what you're looking for! Try not to let it get you down I know it's frustrating, but there's a lot of time left

 

[edk35]

No one thinks Free Dining will include October. I don't think your issue has anything to do with FD. It is party nights.

Yep apparently that is it. I grabbed a lunch...AGAIN. LOL I guess we will never get the coveted dinner there.

 

[edk35]

Our trips overlap Booked for 10/15 - 21 right now, will be adding 10/14 because of flights.

I also commented on your other post this morning I think, and I mentioned that I had website issues and had to switch to Safari to get any reservations at all. This was the first time I've had a true struggle booking certain meals (I'm looking at you, Ohana! I hate the time I have booked.) that I've never had trouble with before.

I'm not too worried right now...and really do try using the Touring Plans reservation finder! It's a great tool. I'm not sure of your party size, but I did find a few early BOG dinners on non-party nights if you could make one of those dates work.

But party nights are definitely an issue...there are four during our week, which is limiting. I settled for BOG lunch, because I don't care so much about dinner there anymore. I am taking my mom for her first ever visit though, so I do want her to see inside.

My big hope is that people who booked hoping for free dining will cancel their resort reservations laughing because I want to get a good AP discount!! I doubt there will be a very good one, or one at all, with rooms so booked up already. It's wishful thinking, I'm just resigned to this being a very busy week.

Good luck, I really do hope you find what you're looking for! Try not to let it get you down I know it's frustrating, but there's a lot of time left

2 in our party. First time EVER that my husband and I are going to Disney by ourselves. LOL Yes I did grab a lunch adr for BOG since my husband has never been to BOG. I have a lunch with our daughter in June and back in Aug. 2013 we only got a lunch adr.

 

[IrishNYC]

Yep apparently that is it. I grabbed a lunch...AGAIN. LOL I guess we will never get the coveted dinner there.

Use the Touring Plans dining reservation finder tool thingy. It's free even if you're not a member. Keep your lunch for now, but sign up for the finder. I needed a time tweak on one of my Ohana reservations, and I got it within a few days of signing up. I'm still waiting on a time tweak for Akershus for my September trip.

 

[xlsm]

2 in our party. First time EVER that my husband and I are going to Disney by ourselves. LOL Yes I did grab a lunch adr for BOG since my husband has never been to BOG. I have a lunch with our daughter in June and back in Aug. 2013 we only got a lunch adr.

Oh that's awesome that you're doing a couple trip!! My husband and I want to go on our own soon. When AP rates came out for summer, it was so hard not to book because the rates were so great.

My fingers are crossed for you!!

 

[Regan117]

Yeah, I don't think it's just hoarding. Fall has started being just as busy as some of the summer dates. And on MSNSHP nights, BOG only seats people for dinner until about 6pm (unless you have a party ticket). So that takes away several hours during which they would "normally" have dinner reservations available.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I booked BoG lunch, most of my family has not seen the inside, I am fine with that.

I can get more days to book on the phone app vs. on my computer. I need to call the get the 21st, I can only book thru the 20th. (plus 10 not working). I use Safari, also tried Google Chrome.

 

[Hopefully]

I have a friend that was able to book her July 3rd BOG for dinner at the 180 day mark with no issues. She is at Disney during a very peak/popular week. I think if she can secure it on the night they do the special fireworks then it has to be the HOPES of free dining that is messing up my week more so than the party nights. Most people would not be getting BOG times for during the MNSSHP because they would want to be at the party. One would think and that it would be easier to get party night adrs during party hours, if you were attending the party...and none are open for any of the 4 party nights. Do they even keep BOG open on party nights?

I don't agree with your thinking. Many people do get BOG ADR's during parties.
And I truly believe it is the party nights that are causing lack of availability, not hording for Free Dining. The current Free Dining rumor does not include any October dates.
We go in October every year. There are 4 parties per week for our times. We usually go to the MK on party days and leave by 7. But last year we stayed on a non party EMH night.
I have NEVER been able to book a BOG Dinner ADR, including using Touring Plans reservation finder. Lunch yes, dinner never.

 

[supersnoop]

Apparently rumor has it....that people hoard adrs for FD dates and then release ressies when they find out free dining dates.

I'm not sure why that rumor started. I'd expect the "free dining" announcement to cause more people to book reservations, not release them.

 

[Dakota731]

There is definitely hoarding going on since a friend made a last minute trip last week and got every ADR she wanted (very hard to get restaurants) days before! So people must book several then cancel last minute to avoid charges.

 

[FSU Girl]

I find the best time to get a BOG dinner reservation would be around 2am during the week. It was the only time I saw it become available and I was stalking the site 24/7 the weeks leading up to my trip. I think people are more likely to give it up at an odd hour, that's just my experience.

 

[edk35]

I'm not sure why that rumor started. I'd expect the "free dining" announcement to cause more people to book reservations, not release them.

I am guessing that people probably double, triple book BOG during the Sept/Oct timeframe because most people don't know their park days/party days this far out. Then maybe when they book fp they release some. I don't know. Looks like the parties are the culprit.

 

[supersnoop]

There is definitely hoarding going on since a friend made a last minute trip last week and got every ADR she wanted (very hard to get restaurants) days before! So people must book several then cancel last minute to avoid charges.

Hoarding and changing plans are not the same thing. Lots of people decide to change plans as the days draw near. I picked up the 'Ohana reservation I wanted just two days prior to my arrival.