Who's worried about the crowd now because of the free dining?

[newchic99]

Not concerned at all about the crowds. Gonna be on vacation with my hubby and with friends that I haven't seen in ages. It's gotta be great, it's Disney!

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Anybody wondering if this free dining deal is a test run for a future where Disney is all-inclusive? i.e cruise ship????

I don't think so, they already have a Premium plan, that includes 3 meals a day and almost unlimited recreation, but it is quite expensive.

I think this is a promotion to make more people aware of the Dining plan and to get people to try it - I bet is isn't being used as much as they had hoped.

 

[redmomof4]

I can see how you could get sick from so much food the dining plan offers, but for us (family of 6) getting if FREE makes it so you don't feel like you have to get your money's worth. I figure we'll use up 12 table service meals doing Hoop De Doo and then dh and I may go out later alone for a nice (signature) meal and use another 4, we can split later if we want, or use counterservice for dinner, It is totally right up our alley-especially FREE

 

[hannah03]

I think it's a great deal for anyone who would be staying in a "VALUE" resort! If you are on a tight budget and you were maybe WANTING to try some of the "fancier" restaurants, character meals or dinner shows, but couldn't afford it, this makes it an option. That's my take on it!
BRING IT ON DISNEY

 

[PhoohWhoWho]

thats me "VALUE" resort and on a tight budget. I love it. This gives me $500 to spend down there that i would not of had other wise!

 

[Disney Fool]

I am one of those fortunate folks who got the PIN code for the MYW dining package--and I took advantage of it. 95% of Disney restaurants are offered, and you can combine two dinners to select a more expensive meal at say, Hoop-de-doo, or Brown Derby, or Calif. Grill.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

We never order appetizers, entrees, and desserts at one meal. It's too much food.

See, now if they really wanted to be nice to us, they would allow desserts to be eaten at a separate eatery at other times during the day.

Tink

 

[HaleyB]

I was going already any ways, I don't think this deal is so good people will change plans and go just to be able to use it. I am paying full price for my room... of course after a stay in the Disneyland area full price in WDW looks sweet!

 

[scoutsmom99]

lisatradingspaces -

We love to eat and we love WDW restaurants, don't get me wrong, but the dining plan wasn't for us. We felt sick from eating so much. We never order appetizers, entrees, and desserts at one meal. It's too much food. But we felt like we had to order it and eat it because that is what comes with the dining plan. After about 3 days of eating like that we dreaded every meal. We were fighting over the tums and pepto bismol let me tell you!!!

Another thing I didn't like about it is you are tied down to eating at certain restaurants, so you have to make your PS's in advance for those certain restaurants and stick to it. We like to have flexibility with our daily schedule... but we always were rushing to get to where we needed to eat. We just felt it ruled our trip.

Also I really missed not being able to eat in the World Showcase more. Those are usually some of my favorite meals, but since they weren't part of the plan we couldn't fit them in our schedule.

Our sitdown meals were: Ohana, Kona Cafe, Concourse Steakhouse, Cape May, CRT, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Fare, and Spoodles.

Normally we wouldn't eat 4 buffets, that was another thing I didn't like.

OK, enough complaining from me. Hope that helped give you an idea what it was like for us. It's just my personal decision not to do the dining plan again. I'm sure many people like it.

Thanks for posting that! You really put me at ease for deciding to stick with my room-only AP discount. I had been crunching numbers all morning trying to figure out what was a better deal (package vs. AP discount room only). I love having flexibility while I'm there with dining (although I will book a few ADR) and I know if I booked the package I would feel like I would have to eat to make it worthwhile. Plus I have the DDE from January so that will save some $$$.

 

[vanyel]

As Califred said - most of the epcot restaurants are now participating, along with others that have been added to the plan.

We're taking advantage of it though we were already scheduled to go during that time frame. I still don't think it'll be a huge crowd as kids are in school. I'm not going to worry.

About the amount of food: I read on another post some time ago that one poster said they usually took their dessert to go. That'll work great for me because I love sweets with coffee for breakfast!

Also, if you're eating in the evening at a sit down and heading back to your resort, you could take food back for later now that all but the values have fridges.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I'm not worried about crowds, but I am worried about getting ADR's or making adjustments once we are in the parks. We had a hard enough time this past week. The really frustrating things was that many restuarants were completely booked so you couldn't get an ADR or walk-in, yet many people did not show up for their ADR's. Some restaurants were better about allowing walks-in than others at this point. I have an idea that WDW will have to revise their ADR policies if this trend continues.

 

[Tarpon]

Trinity they just released a general public code today for dates between August 21st? and October 4th.. bascially if you pay rack rate for your room and buy at least a one day ticket you get to eat for free!

Hold on. What rack rate? For example, if I were to book BC with AP rate, I won't be eligible for free dining plan? Obvioulsy the AP rate is much less than rack rate.

Please clarify. Thanks.

 

[Exp.626Stitch]

I have the same concern about the parks being a lot busier than usual. I think this will add a bit but not like peak season crowds. We are doing 5 nights at POP with our AP's and than a 5 night MYW package with 1 day base ticket at Coronado. The first couple of nights we are there, we are going to Universal so there is no point of paying full rack rate when I'm not eating there anyways. For us there is a lot of sit down restaurants we want to try and having the free dining is amazing. I don't feel obligated to eat the appetizer and dessert because I didn't pay for the plan. If I had to pay for the plan I would be stuffing my face!!!
It is costing us about $70 extra each from our original reservation. It would have been cheaper than our original reservation if we had stayed the whole 10 days at POP but I feel that the value resorts are going to be packed. I keep having flash backs to POP over Mardi Gras and I'm glad I switched resorts before all the Mardi Gras people arrived We're talking 1-2 hour line-ups to get back to the resort from MK one night. We even filmed the line to show our family back home.

Regardless of what plan you choose make the most of it and have fun!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hold on. What rack rate? For example, if I were to book BC with AP rate, I won't be eligible for free dining plan? Obvioulsy the AP rate is much less than rack rate.

Please clarify. Thanks.

In order to get the "free dining" you have to book a package that includes tickets. So a room-only ap reservation does not qualify for free dining.

It's really not "free" because if we cancel our ap room-only and go with the package it's $300 more for 4 days.

 

[Beth76]

Ugh, I am soooooo totally confused about this. I'm planning my first trip to Disney and I feel like I know absolutely nothing about it--even after reading the DIS.

We are tentatively going Oct 1-7. We just got a quote, but haven't booked yet. I noticed the offer ends the 4th (or thereabouts). If I did the free dining plan would it be in effect the entire trip even though it ends in the middle? Is it the same deal as hotel rates-as long as your there when the deal starts?

I think we're saving $60 a night off the rack rate with our AAA discount (Contemp Tower). I know we would eat more than $60 worth of food each day. There will be 2 adults and a 4yo boy. Possibly a one year old who eats a lot too.

Since I've not been to Disney, I have no idea where I want to eat. I do know that I want to eat at Chef Mickey's and CA Grill. Other than that, no clue. Maybe it would be better for us to do the dining plan.

I totally understand the point about not being very flexible and feeling "tied into" certain places. But, I'm not sure we (newbies) would even know the difference.

Anyone care to give an opinion?

PS TigrlovesPooh, I saw your show on the travel channel a few months ago. Loved it!!!!

 

[Ergens2]

I guess there will be no winging it for ARs. I will actually have to sit down and plan meals!!! Yuck!!

 

[Ergens2]

Erika, I love the pic!! My husband's name is Woody and my god daughter calls us Woody and Jessie because I have long red hair! Too cute!!

 

[hannah03]

Ugh, I am soooooo totally confused about this. I'm planning my first trip to Disney and I feel like I know absolutely nothing about it--even after reading the DIS.

We are tentatively going Oct 1-7. We just got a quote, but haven't booked yet. I noticed the offer ends the 4th (or thereabouts). If I did the free dining plan would it be in effect the entire trip even though it ends in the middle? Is it the same deal as hotel rates-as long as your there when the deal starts?

I think we're saving $60 a night off the rack rate with our AAA discount (Contemp Tower). I know we would eat more than $60 worth of food each day. There will be 2 adults and a 4yo boy. Possibly a one year old who eats a lot too.

Since I've not been to Disney, I have no idea where I want to eat. I do know that I want to eat at Chef Mickey's and CA Grill. Other than that, no clue. Maybe it would be better for us to do the dining plan.

I totally understand the point about not being very flexible and feeling "tied into" certain places. But, I'm not sure we (newbies) would even know the difference.

Anyone care to give an opinion?

PS TigrlovesPooh, I saw your show on the travel channel a few months ago. Loved it!!!!

The offer states the you have to check in by 10/4, so you should be fine!

 

[Piglet42]

I'm a little worried..DH and I planned our trip during the low crowd season now with the free dining deal I'm thinking it's going to be packed..we have no children and are going for first anniversary..we really like the down time at WDW with less crowds..what does everybody else think?

We are heading down Sept 15-21 for our first anniversary as well. We were there last year on our honeymoon too! The crowds were very low, I'm a little worried about it this year as well.

 

[BriarRabbit]

Hey Beth76,

Just curious...You say you're a newb and you've got more tham 3800 posts!!! You've really been preparing for this trip!!!