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

[Beth76]

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!!!

I've been on the DIS for awhile now, mostly on the community board. I'm just now getting around to planning our first trip. I've been doing research off and on for awhile now, but we've finally picked a date to go.

 

[epcotfan]

If hurricane season is anything like last year a lot of those "free meals" wil be box meals anyway!

Yeah I agree. I was there during Charlie and there is no way people will be able to make full use of the dining plan if there is a hurricane. Most likely you will be stuck in your room with a boxed sandwich like we were.

 

[LadyLuc361]

Yeah I agree. I was there during Charlie and there is no way people will be able to make full use of the dining plan if there is a hurricane. Most likely you will be stuck in your room with a boxed sandwich like we were.

It's still better than a meal at home!!

 

[Timmer]

We got an e-mail early last month with a pin code for the free dining plan - and I thought I was special, until I saw it offered in today's Mousesavers newsletter

We booked a package at CSR for 10/2 - 10/8 anyway... It look like it'll be an OK deal for us.

Here's a good breakdown on the dining plan:
http://www.touringplans.com/MYWDining.html

 

[old one]

I also got the e-mail with the pin #, I had no plans going back to Disney this year, but I had heard how rare it was to get the code, so we decided that we should not pass it up. It WAS a much better deal that what was currently posted. Now it does not feel so special, as it is the same price for everyone. Also I only go at the slowest times, I really do not like crowds ( I have to use a wheel chair and it is not fun in a crowd.)

Anyway, if my airline was not already booked and non-refundable, I would actually consider canceling.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I have not ever made PS's (or whatever) in the past. The earliest I have made them is the night before and sometimes the morning of but with these packages out there I bet everyone had better be making them far in advance as they will quickly fill up, especially the higher priced and popular places.

I do not think I would like to be tied down in where I plan to eat and I am too shy (don't be laughing at that people who know me) LOL, to make several ressies.

Slightly Goofy

 

[Gary M]

If I understand the "free dining", offer it will benefit those who stay at the value and moderate resorts much more than the guests at the deluxe resorts. This is assuming that you have an AP and AP room only rates are offered. In the past the AP room only savings at the values are small compared to the savings at the deluxes. These kind of offers make it seem like general room only discounts will be something of the past. For the people staying at the values, this might be a better deal than the room only discounts anyway. I guess a person needs to crunch the figures. WDW is testing the math ability of many people.

 

[Johnfish]

I wonder if this new general code is a good sign for the end of august into the fall. There were no deals offered at all during the summer (except the usual ap aaa email postcard) Maybe this means there arent as many rooms booked as they would like. Indicating it wont be quite as crowded as everyone thinks.

Just a thought.

John

 

[MEK]

eateries. I booked the backage for the free dining when I got the original pin code. I will start making my ADR's tomorrow for my trip at the end of August. Now that there will be so many people using the dining plan, I will be planning everything around those table service meals. I elected not to get park hopping, because I am OK with doing one park a day. But as a result I am planning many of my meals outside of the park. I am starting to feel pressure to get everything "lined up".

For the people who don't think the free dining is such a great deal, all I can say is add up your food expenditures for your next trip. It is huge!

________________________________
Have a Great Trip to All!

 

[magiccouple2004]

yippee!!!!! we just made our ressie for oct 3-10 and we used the dining package deal.... we will be staying at por we have been pondering our dates and all cause we wanted to go during f/w fest so this actually works out perfect for us then we dont feel bad if we dont use some of our meals
:rotfl


<center><font face="verdana,arial,sans-serif" size="1" color="black">2nd trip to the mouse house</font><br /><a href="http://daisyPath.com"><img src="http://daisyPath.com/ani/051003/0/2/-5/0" alt="Daisypath Ticker" border="0" /></a></center>

 

[Pedler]

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

I think that is going to be the biggest effect of this. We had already booked the whole MYW with dinning at WL. I had considered going the AP route but it just didn't quite work out for us and when they added the WS restaurants it sealed the deal for us. So... I was making our ADR's for our trip at the end of August and trying to maximize the dinning plan by buying some of the kids meals so I could stretch 7 nights of sit down credits to 9 sit down meals and Poof! Along comes this discount. So... I had our TA rebook our trip and now I am paying $630 less than I was yesterday. So what do I do... I go ahead and book the Fantamic Package at H & V and add a Chef Mickeys breakfast into the mix and am still going to be ahead over $400. So now I am doing 11 sitdown meals for 7 nights. That is definitely more that I would have done otherwise.

One other note on ADRs that I was suprised by. Several of the times for dinner that were available were earlier than I would have liked but I understand that they sometimes release later times the closer it gets. What I didn't understand was that the sit down restaurant in Germany was not available before 6:55 on a Sunday night for a pary of 7. I started to wonder if something was going on that night.

 

[kona-kraft]

I'm trying to crunch the numbers too, on this one. As it is our trip is starting to add up to more and more:

POFQ for 7 nights = $624.40
8day MYW ticket + PHP X 2 adults = $486.00
Airline tickets (PHL-MCO) X 2 = $354.00
Food Budget = $800.00
Pet Boarding $320.00
PLUS spending money = $800
-------------------------------------
Grand Total $3384.40

-VS-

2 adults
w/ Promo Rate @ POFQ for 7 nights
including 8day MYW+PHP passes & dining = $1625.50
Airline tickets (PHL-MCO) X 2 = $354.00
Food Budget (7 breakfasts + food for day of departure) = $150.00
Pet Boarding $320.00
PLUS spending money = $800
-------------------------------------
Grand Total $3249.50

...... a WHOPPING difference of $135.

The only drawback is that with the free meals offer, I have to have the package paid for by 7/22, which would be KINDA tight. At least with what I have planned now, I have until we arrive to pay for our room.



Ugh.....now I am really depressed over how much we're spending for this trip.......we could have gone to Hawaii for that much

 

[imatoad]

I'm lost,what is the free dining deal?

 

[denman007]

Well if you got the dining plan for free...who cares if not every sit down meal is part of the plan. Don't let that stop you from eating at your fav restaurants. You're not losing anything - especially if your staying at a value.

Toad,

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-current.htm#package

 

[Stitch Inside]

Free Dining Math for AP Holders.
Deluxe AP Savings $70/Night
Moderate AP Savings $45/Night
Value AP Savings $18/Night
2 Adult MYW Base Tickets for 1 Day $128
Divide $128 by however many nights you plan to stay.
$128/7 Nights = $18.29/Night
So for 7 night stay the free dining would cost an AP Holder $88.29/Night at a Deluxe, $63.29/Night at a Moderate, and $36.29/Night at a Value.
So the question is...can you get 8 days of dining for a 7 night stay? If so, the savings increase.

 

[jazznms]

My Experience as a chef been working in the business for 20 years now any time you offer free food i.e. Free Dinning at Disney People will show up out of the wood works.
casino comp free food so you will spend on the game Now is Disney take up the marketing practice of the casino's i.e. u spend more u get more

Lets hope not

 

[mlwear]

I must say I was a bit bummed when I read about free dining with a start date of Aug. 21. Our trip is Aug. 13-19 and set in stone! We purchased the dining plan. But, then I wondered maybe the restaurants will be slightly less crowded as I hear they are pretty full due to the dining plan. Some may put their trip off a week to take advantage. Perhaps, hopeful thinking.

The thing with the dining plan that I don't like is that my 10 year old is considered an adult. I know, we can pay for him out of pocket as a child and save the credits, but we don't need THAT many credits and he does like to order off the adult menu from time to time. But, an appetizer, entree and dessert for a 10 year old! We usually don't even do appetizers or dessert, but on the rare occassion it is one or the other and we share. At least there is a younger bro to share with, but gee, that is still way too much food for our family.
I really don't like buffets. I may need to check my plans to be sure I haven't included too many of those.

 

[melissa5583]

We just added the free dining to our existing package. I was also thinking about the crowds...but they can't be worse than my last two trips!! Spring Break and June (pple out of school)!!! We have 7 days in DW so we'll be able to do everything anyways. But, I will DEFINATELY have AR for the restaurants. I'm sure getting into places to eat will be harder that getting into an attraction now!!!! LOL

 

[scoutsmom99]

Free Dining Math for AP Holders.
Deluxe AP Savings $70/Night
Moderate AP Savings $45/Night
Value AP Savings $18/Night
2 Adult MYW Base Tickets for 1 Day $128
Divide $128 by however many nights you plan to stay.
$128/7 Nights = $18.29/Night
So for 7 night stay the free dining would cost an AP Holder $88.29/Night at a Deluxe, $63.29/Night at a Moderate, and $36.29/Night at a Value.
So the question is...can you get 8 days of dining for a 7 night stay? If so, the savings increase.

Thanks for posting the math. I just figured mine out and I know I can eat decent meals for less than that during my trip (probably only cos I'm going solo!)

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

I am new to this board and can't find an answer - WHAT IS AN "AP" DISCOUNT?????????????