Who Else is Glad They're Not Traveling During Free Dining? Now w/Restaurant.com Coup

[lilpooh108]

I'm planning quick getaway for Labor Day weekend and we have a *real* family trip coming up during Christmas.

We're purchasing DDP for the 2-day, no park, character dining bonanza which we're doing for the Labor Day weekend trip so we're reading reviews of all the restaurants, DDP ressies, etc. Good lord...I hopped over to the dining boards and there's all these nightmare stories about 1+ hour waits for dining ressies, Chef Mickey's being really dirty, food standards not up to par.

I'm a little nervous since we're traveling over a holiday weekend and really all I've got planned is an eating bonanza, but then I'm SO SO glad that my *real* family trip (the one where i'm going to show off DVC to them, much like showing off a new BBQ or car haha) is schedule for AFTER free dining ends.

It's one thing to pay for something others may or may not pay for, it's another to pay for it and get 2nd rate food/service because of how many people are getting for "free."

Ok rant over. I'm sure this has been covered in other threads. It's not so much a rant against free dining, but a rant against the effects of free dining (i.e., more crowds, more people, stressed out CMs, long waits, etc.)

 

[Granny]

It's not so much a rant against free dining, but a rant against the effects of free dining (i.e., more crowds, more people, stressed out CMs, long waits, etc.)

You could make the same case for the effects of the DDP. I understand both from Disney's perspective but both free dining and DDP have us eating off site more than ever. That's not all bad either.

 

[Sammie]

Have to agree with Granny, whether its free or not the DDP has changed dining at Disney and not in a good way.

We eat off property more and more each trip.

With so many getting free dining year round it is hard to avoid it anyway at anytime.

 

[tpsh007]

Is it really "Free" dining though? If you are staying at a DVC property with cash, the 40% off till Oct 2 is much cheaper. But I agree that those in a large group in a value/moderate resort will find the discounted dining cheaper.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree, I don't think it's free dining as much as the dining plan in general and lower food standards. You're going during Christmas? I think you will see long waits.

 

[lilpooh108]

Is it really "Free" dining though? If you are staying at a DVC property with cash, the 40% off till Oct 2 is much cheaper. But I agree that those in a large group in a value/moderate resort will find the discounted dining cheaper.

I agree that it's not really "free" since there is a minimum hotel-day package, park hoppers, etc.

Since we are planning our September trip solely to do Character Dining, we'll have to deal But during our Christmas trip I'll definintely look into off-site restaurants.... any suggestions?

 

[LYNSUE]

I have made the unfortuante mistake of traveling to WDW two different times during free dining. (I have a Sept B-Day). After the first time...I said never again. It's loud with long waits during a very hot time of year. There are unhappy and over stimulated children being forced to sit in restaurants way past their normal bed times. And the menus are all watered down. I absolutely hated the dining aspect of that first Sept trip. Well when the birthday free admission came along last year, I just couldn't resist. But we purposly sought out and book restaurants that were NOT on the dining plan. Sure we paid a little more...but we also got better quality food with more selection. Oh...and don't forget the relaxing quiet meal (mostly child free).

So yes...I originally thought the only answer was to avoid WDW during free dining. But we found an alternate solution. Like I said, a little more expensive, but worth it. DH and I are not fans of the dining plan in general. It does not fit our style for dining at WDW. Also, we did notice that the free dining really has no noticable effect on the park crowds....Just the restaurants.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have to agree with most of the previous posters. "Free" dining is a free for all when it comes to trying to get decent food on-site. I hate what both it and the DDP have done to the quality of the meals and how it has standardized all the menus that used to be so unique.

Then there is the huge influx of people filling the signature restaurants with small children who aren't used to dining in white table cloth facilities.

Last December they added more free dining during the first couple weeks, and we had 2 nice dinners ruined because we couldn't even hear each other enough to carry on a nice one on one conversation at our special nights out.

Don't get me wrong....I don't think children should be excluded from signature restaurants, but giving them "free" dining plans puts a real strain on those places where some folks would never think to take small children if they were paying for it.

 

[Snurk71]

I get selfishly bummed going during free dining - gets more people in the parks and filling up the restaurants I'm paying out of pocket for. Regardless of whether it is "free" or not, it does what Disney wants - gets people to stay at their hotels, eat their food, and play (and shop) in their parks. So from a marketing perspective you have to give credit to free dining as an amazing promotion.

Oh well. As DW would say - it is what it is. We'll just manuever around it.

 

[TDC Nala]

I always travel during free dining but I don't even use the plan. Makes no difference to me.

The parks are not "dead" like they used to be around Labor Day but they're not all that crowded either.

I also like to make use of places to eat that don't accept DDP (bars, lounges, Swan/Dolphin)

Not to scare the OP but last year there was a second free dining offer, so free dining lasted through December. (last booking date was Dec. 17, if you booked a 14 night stay starting Dec. 17 you could have free dining through Dec. 31)

There was also a thread about 1+ hour waits recently - that can't have much if anything to do with free dining as there is no public free dining offer in effect at WDW currently (there WERE some PIN codes but most of those were for quick service dining, of course those can be upgraded).

The start of free dining 2010 (public offer) is August 15 and it runs until October 2. Technically those who booked a 14-night stay beginning October 2 could have free dining through October 16.

 

[Tara]

We were originally planning an early August trip and then changed to late August fully assuming FD would be offered then. I agree with other posters that the lower quality of dining is more directly related to the DP in general and with the increasing homogenization of offerings, so I can't really fault FD for that. (If anything, it helps overall because it gets a lot of people paying high hotel rates, and since the common perception is that they're getting a great deal, they might be spending more freely on extras in the parks.)

I don't really expect it to be significantly more crowded in late August, but if it is, we'll deal. We aren't commando tourers anymore anyway, and we kind of just do whatever is available with a few exceptions. This trip will be more about going early to parks to beat the heat, spending lots of afternoon time at Stormalong Bay, dining at somewhat off hours and spending some couples time together at Jellyrolls or night EMHs while DS stays with Grandma in the room and gets to bed early. (DS may have a thing or to to say about that. )

DS and I are going in 16 days (and he doesn't know - I'm about to KEEL OVER trying to keep this secret!!!!!) and I'm really glad we're taking that trip, not because it avoids FD, but because it's smack dab in prime Summer Nightastic time, so we'll get to see all the special stuff regardless. Some may carry over, but not everything will, so if late August were our only trip this year, we'd miss it. And compared to late June, late August will seem practically deserted.

So in a nutshell, I really don't care.

 

[lilpooh108]

Ok in my effort to avoid restaurants on the DDP for our Christmas trip, I did some searching and found that Restaurant.com now carries $25 restaurant certificates which you can "buy" at different times during the month for a discount.

The discount is currently 70% off any certificate (for any number of certificates). The code for this month's 70% off is EAT.

For example, you can buy a WDW Dolphin Shula Steakhouse $25 Certificate for $3 (regular price is $10 each--but there are always coupons). WDW Swan & Dolphin restaurants weren't there just a few weeks ago (I use these certs for my hometown quite often). Here are some restaurants participating at the WDW Swan & Dolphin:

1. Todd English's Bluezoo
2. Shula
3. Kimono's
4. Il Mulino
5. Garden Grove (dinner only)

All the certificates are now $3 w/the 70% off code. Usually, every month, this website will email you 50% off, then 60% off, then up to 80% off codes as the end of the month approaches. They are allowed to sell a certain amount of certificates per month by the restaurant.

Limitations for use of the certificates are clearly stated on the website.

Hope this helps others!

 

[Melani]

Ok in my effort to avoid restaurants on the DDP for our Christmas trip, I did some searching and found that Restaurant.com now carries $25 restaurant certificates which you can "buy" at different times during the month for a discount.

The discount is currently 70% off any certificate (for any number of certificates). The code for this month's 70% off is EAT.

For example, you can buy a WDW Dolphin Shula Steakhouse $25 Certificate for $3 (regular price is $10 each--but there are always coupons). WDW Swan & Dolphin restaurants weren't there just a few weeks ago (I use these certs for my hometown quite often). Here are some restaurants participating at the WDW Swan & Dolphin:

1. Todd English's Bluezoo
2. Shula
3. Kimono's
4. Il Mulino
5. Garden Grove (includes character breakfast--I called to check, but haven't yet used it so YMMV)

All the certificates are now $3 w/the 70% off code. Usually, every month, this website will email you 50% off, then 60% off, then up to 80% off codes as the end of the month approaches. They are allowed to sell a certain amount of certificates per month by the restaurant.

Limitations for use of the certificates are clearly stated on the website.

Hope this helps others!

Was there a different one up for Garden Grove, because now it says for dinner ONLY.

 

[dclfun]

Restaurant.com also had House of Blues certs- I got one to save back for an upcoming trip. We just returned from a week at WDW and noticed that this past Tuesday there was a sign up by Guest Relations at MK at 10:00 am that ALL the table service restaurants were totally full for lunch and dinner, and to choose a QS location instead. I thought that was nuts considering how many people book multiple ADR's so they can pick and choose, thus effectively locking others out of the chance to make a ressie and to worry if they'll get a table or not. The sign though discouraged anyone from trying to do a walk-up request. I can only imagine during FD trying to get seated anywhere. I wish they could block people from doing multiple ADR's but people will do what's best for them without regard for other guests.---Kathy

 

[tomv]

Thanks for the great suggestion for using Restaurant.com! However, I can't seem to get the promo code to work. I get a message that the code is invalid. Any suggestions?

 

[jamie&Greg]

We never make ressies or use any dinning plan EVER. We go to Disney all the time, every diffrent season and I find that when you check in at the resturant and tell them you are not on any dinning plan you get treated better - we seldom wait and always get good service. Do you guys find this?

 

[Inkmahm]

We never make ressies or use any dinning plan EVER. We go to Disney all the time, every diffrent season and I find that when you check in at the resturant and tell them you are not on any dinning plan you get treated better - we seldom wait and always get good service. Do you guys find this?

No. I always have ADRs and I normally see the restaurants we go to turn away any walk ins because they are booked solid. I've seen people try to do walk up at the Brown Derby for lunch only to be told that every restaurant at HS is booked 100%, for example.

 

[Granny]

We never make ressies or use any dinning plan EVER. We go to Disney all the time, every diffrent season and I find that when you check in at the resturant and tell them you are not on any dinning plan you get treated better - we seldom wait and always get good service. Do you guys find this?

No we haven't found this. We don't make ADRs for the most part and have found it difficult or impossible to get into many restaurants. What we end up often doing is eating dinner at 3:30 or so and even then we often have a wait. DDP has definitely packed the WDW restaurants, so from Disney's perspective the mission is being accomplished.

 

[Tara]

We never make ressies or use any dinning plan EVER. We go to Disney all the time, every diffrent season and I find that when you check in at the resturant and tell them you are not on any dinning plan you get treated better - we seldom wait and always get good service. Do you guys find this?

I rarely find this and we almost never do the dining plan (2x in 2005 and 2006 I think - maybe 2006 and 2007). We go at busy and not-busy times and only at the slowest times do we find we can make dining plans on the same day or walk up and get anything. In busier times, if we hadn't had ADRs, we'd be stuck with counter service or very off times at very undesirable restaurants.

 

[Jessica_of_FL]

My husband and I used a restaurant.com cert at bluezoo on Saturday night.

The food was AMAZING!!! (and the manager came by and told us we were the first to use the cert.)