Why I hate "free dining" in a hundred words or less. (vent)

[KYpartyof5]

Going with a 3 year old whose favorite character is Cinderella, and I have been trying to get reservations at either GF or CRT for any day we are there at the beginning of October. When we made the room reservations, free dining was not available, so I hoped I would be able to get at least one meal with Cindy. All the ressies I want are taken, and I am using the online system to check at least twice a day. Unhappy.

Hi! We had planned on going to WDW with some friends during the first week of Oct. and I made a bunch of ADRs for them to eat the same places/times as us. They have now cancelled their trip. I have an ADR at 1900 Park Fare on Oct. 3rd. @ 6:15pm for 4 people. Let me know if that will work for you and I'll see if I can find the conf. number to pass along. Sure hope this will help you out!

 

[stitch34]

Why I dislike free dining.... well, never again will we go the first week of free dining in August.
We go to WDW quite frequently, always do deluxe dining - so we are very used to dining at WDW.
But oh, that first week of FD - was a nightmare the waits for our table everywhere we went - average of 30-45 minutes past check in for EVERY restaurant. Longest we ever usually wait, even at Thanksgiving and Easter time is maybe 5-15 minutes past our ADR time (except Ohana, wait forever there every time!)
But oh, last year with free dining, just sooo much time wasted.

Problem: I think a lot of people getting free dining would normally not eat table service restaurants, so then they get free dining, go to a character meal and sit there for 2 hours enjoying every moment of it, creating long waits for others.
Another family went with us during that trip. First night dined with them... geez, I was like how long are you people taking in Park Fare? EVERY character went by BEFORE they even went to buffet. They dined different times/places than we did rest of trip. Later I asked her how long on average did you spend at each character meal - yep, 2 hours. And no, they never do restaurants, but did since they had free dining. So yeah, my friend's family held true to my theory why the waits were so long.

 

[AJKMOM]

Hi! We had planned on going to WDW with some friends during the first week of Oct. and I made a bunch of ADRs for them to eat the same places/times as us. They have now cancelled their trip. I have an ADR at 1900 Park Fare on Oct. 3rd. @ 6:15pm for 4 people. Let me know if that will work for you and I'll see if I can find the conf. number to pass along. Sure hope this will help you out!

Thank you very much for your generous offer, but we don't arrive until the next day! Plus there are 6 of us.

As far as the Norway Princess meal, it says on AllEars that Cinderella may appear, but doesn't always. To complicate things, my son is autistic and probably won't eat the food at Akerhaus.

 

[clc053103]

Problem: I think a lot of people getting free dining would normally not eat table service restaurants, so then they get free dining, go to a character meal and sit there for 2 hours enjoying every moment of it, creating long waits for others.

I have to agree with this- but also add that most kids that don't regularly eat at table service restaurants also aren't prepared to behave reasonably for those two long hours!!! I saw free dining make Coral Reef, a typically quieter restaurant, seem like Chuck E Cheese- screaming and running kids, food thrown everywhere. I am a true believer that just about every restaurant at WDW is kid friendly, but don't pick nicer table service places if your kids aren't used to dining at table service restaurants.

As for the difficulty with ADR's during FD, I even had friends in person tell me they made 3 different dining reservations a night "because we don't know what we want to eat". At Flying Fish last year, the place was 25% occupied, yet we had trouble getting a table? Perhaps Disney needs to do CC holds on all ADR's with a 48 hour cancellation policy?

 

[LilyWDW]

As for the difficulty with ADR's during FD, I even had friends in person tell me they made 3 different dining reservations a night "because we don't know what we want to eat". At Flying Fish last year, the place was 25% occupied, yet we had trouble getting a table? Perhaps Disney needs to do CC holds on all ADR's with a 48 hour cancellation policy?

Heck, even if they would just get stricter about allowing multiple reservations at the same time, it would clear up a ton. For those people who need to have more then one (splitting up a group for example) they can call the dining line so that it is noted. Otherwise... no way to make more then one reservation within the same time period.

 

[ollyg]

I just did a quick check and found Akershus Royal Banquet Hall available on
10-8-10 at 10:30 for six people. It is breakfast and not Norwegian food.

Just keep trying and chances are something will pop up as you get closer to your dates. I kept trying for my Fantasmic dinner package and eventually got Hollywood and Vine for dinner, but I would like to have lunch instead. I call at least once a day.

 

[kathymu501]

free dining is not the problem but sure helps with the big family

 

[mcd2745]

As for the difficulty with ADR's during FD, I even had friends in person tell me they made 3 different dining reservations a night "because we don't know what we want to eat". At Flying Fish last year, the place was 25% occupied, yet we had trouble getting a table? Perhaps Disney needs to do CC holds on all ADR's with a 48 hour cancellation policy?

That's the biggest problem - although FD certainly plays a significant part. And, while part of me is outraged by that, another part of me totally understands. IMO, that is a result of the 180 day rule. How could you know 100% where you want to eat 6 months from now? But every person that does that, makes it that much harder to get ADRs, which makes more people do it, which makes it even harder, which makes even more people do it....and so on and so on.

 

[Happy Mom2]

Going with a 3 year old whose favorite character is Cinderella, and I have been trying to get reservations at either GF or CRT for any day we are there at the beginning of October. When we made the room reservations, free dining was not available, so I hoped I would be able to get at least one meal with Cindy. All the ressies I want are taken, and I am using the online system to check at least twice a day. Unhappy.

Just a note to say I'm wishing you some pixie dust. I have a DD who loves the princesses. I was lucky and got all the ADRs we wanted. Hope you have some luck too.

 

[di19]

not wanting to seem like a "snob" I agree that free dining has clogged all table service restaurants with people that would normally not do that type of dining in Disney - we usually do one of the dining plans and we stay at deluxe resorts - that being the case it really is not worth (finanancially) waiting for free dining to become available and we try and get a % discount off our room - but people staying value get an unbelievable deal with free dining and should just be mindful of that benefit and only make reservations they plan on keeping - I really think Disney should charge a fee for reservations not cancelled within a reasonable time frame (48 hours) Let's face it - none of us can be sure 6 months from now where or when we want to eat but that's the commitment you make when you make a reservation - it's not fair to just decide to do something else for dinner and ruin possibilities for others

 

[clc053103]

That's the biggest problem - although FD certainly plays a significant part. And, while part of me is outraged by that, another part of me totally understands. IMO, that is a result of the 180 day rule. How could you know 100% where you want to eat 6 months from now? But every person that does that, makes it that much harder to get ADRs, which makes more people do it, which makes it even harder, which makes even more people do it....and so on and so on.

It was just as bad last year with the 90 day rule- if it were 30 days I bet the same thing would happen. Unless Disney makes a penalty for it (not just the occasional vigilante CM who finds double booking and does something about it), maybe then the double booking will cease and ADR's will stop being such a nightmare during free dining.

to original poster- friends have told me they enjoy Akershus more than CRT or CP- the breakfast foods are really the same anywhere so don't let that stop you! Maybe book Akershus- something is better than nothing, and if you keep looking you may find CRT and you can cancel Akershus.

 

[sjs314]

Back in the days before the Disney Dining Plan, free or paid there was not a big problem with being able to eat where you wanted when you wanted. Being able to walk up and get a table was the norm not the exception, being able to call the day of and getting a reservation was usually possible, back in the day the only place I ever made advance ADR's for was HDDR, Aloha, CRT and you did not have to pay 180 in advance either, you paid at guest services when you picked up your tickets.

Bring back the old days and get rid of the Disney Dining Plan

 

[Jusjor15]

You should keep trying to get a res. Someone always cancels. Whenever u book ur trip as soon as your elgilble book your dining reservations. Lecelier in epcot candelight processional available for booking aug 26@ 7:00 am.
12/19/10akl

 

[KELLY]

I have to agree with this- but also add that most kids that don't regularly eat at table service restaurants also aren't prepared to behave reasonably for those two long hours!!! I saw free dining make Coral Reef, a typically quieter restaurant, seem like Chuck E Cheese- screaming and running kids, food thrown everywhere. I am a true believer that just about every restaurant at WDW is kid friendly, but don't pick nicer table service places if your kids aren't used to dining at table service restaurants.

As for the difficulty with ADR's during FD, I even had friends in person tell me they made 3 different dining reservations a night "because we don't know what we want to eat". At Flying Fish last year, the place was 25% occupied, yet we had trouble getting a table? Perhaps Disney needs to do CC holds on all ADR's with a 48 hour cancellation policy?

My kids are usually well behaved in resturants. But we chosse the QSDP to prevent some of the thing above. We have done the regualr dining plan 3 times and for us with 2 little ones 10 days of adr's are just to much. Trust me even the most behaved kids get overwhelmed. We go during free dining and love the fact that it does indeed save us alot of money.

We are doing 3 ts meals. Which aren't fine dinnig. Garden Grill,T-rex and rainforest.

 

[JerseyJanice]

There are two discussions in this thread.

One being about the OP wanting her DD to see Cinderella--and to that I say book Akershus or 1900 Park Fare. Akershus includes a photo, which I think is a very nice perk. We didn't have a good experience at 1900 PF's dinner, but Cinderella and Prince Charming were there and mixing it up plenty with the guests. They even waltzed for the crowd.

The other discussion is whether Free Dining is to blame for not getting desired ADRs. While I don't doubt FD contributes to the problem, the entire ADR system is flawed. All you need to secure most of them is a phone number. In this day and age of cell phones, people have phone numbers to spare and that creates a problem.

I also think WDW could do better by taking more walk-ups when folks aren't showing up for their ADRs. Back in 2002--before the DDP and Free Dining even existed--my mother-in-law tried for months to get an ADR (called a PS back then) at Chef Mickey's for her and the grandkids. None were available our week so she went elsewhere. When DH and I went one night that week, the restaurant was half empty--probably because they were holding tables for a lot of PS no-shows.

 

[mom2rtk]

OP: Cinderella has been at Akershus the last 2 times we went. But you are right she is not GUARANTEED like she is at CRT and 1900 PF.

Are you also checking dinner times at CRT? She (and the other princesses) are there for all 3 meals.

Great times to check are: 45 days out, which is around now. This is because this is when final payment is due. Many folks cancel entire trips at this point.

Also, since CRT has a cc guarantee, cancellations DO come up, more often that at other restaurants without a cc guarantee. Keep checking, right up until you are AT the resort. Keep the dining reservation up on your computer and check several times a day.

Sign up for the October ADR cancellation thread for notice when someone is cancelling.

Keep trying. I'd lay money you'll come out victorious!

As for the free dining debate........ I'm afraid you all who want the good old days where you could get ADR's day of, or close to the time of the trip..... I'm afraid you are at cross-purposes with Disney. It greatly behooves them to have every seat full in every restaurant on the grounds. It makes staffing more efficient, and helps their bottom line to boot.

 

[AJKMOM]

Thanks to all for the advice and Pixie Dust! I'll let you know how I do. I have all the details memorized for our trip, so I just sit down and plug it all into the reservation system. I didn't know about the 45 day rule, so I will try extra hard now. Again, thanks!

 

[sjs314]

OP: Cinderella has been at Akershus the last 2 times we went. But you are right she is not GUARANTEED like she is at CRT and 1900 PF.

Are you also checking dinner times at CRT? She (and the other princesses) are there for all 3 meals.

Great times to check are: 45 days out, which is around now. This is because this is when final payment is due. Many folks cancel entire trips at this point.

Also, since CRT has a cc guarantee, cancellations DO come up, more often that at other restaurants without a cc guarantee. Keep checking, right up until you are AT the resort. Keep the dining reservation up on your computer and check several times a day.

Sign up for the October ADR cancellation thread for notice when someone is cancelling.

Keep trying. I'd lay money you'll come out victorious!

As for the free dining debate........ I'm afraid you all who want the good old days where you could get ADR's day of, or close to the time of the trip..... I'm afraid you are at cross-purposes with Disney. It greatly behooves them to have every seat full in every restaurant on the grounds. It makes staffing more efficient, and helps their bottom line to boot.

The thing that drives me crazy is back in the day the restaurants were busy , yes you could get a table as a walk up but most times you had to wait 15mins to a half hour, tables were not standing open or as pp mention a restaurant being only half full which happens now do to people making ADR's and not showing because they have free dining and people who really want to eat at said restaurant can not get an ADR due to the places being booked up months in advance.

IMHO it was just much better before Disney ever created the Disney Dining Plan for being able to choose where and when you wanted to eat

 

[mcd2745]

!

As for the free dining debate........ I'm afraid you all who want the good old days where you could get ADR's day of, or close to the time of the trip..... I'm afraid you are at cross-purposes with Disney. It greatly behooves them to have every seat full in every restaurant on the grounds. It makes staffing more efficient, and helps their bottom line to boot.

But it seems to be having the opposite effect. While there is an ADR made for for every seat, there are too many times when there isn't an asz in every seat.

 

[mom2rtk]

The thing that drives me crazy is back in the day the restaurants were busy , yes you could get a table as a walk up but most times you had to wait 15mins to a half hour, tables were not standing open or as pp mention a restaurant being only half full which happens now do to people making ADR's and not showing because they have free dining and people who really want to eat at said restaurant can not get an ADR due to the places being booked up months in advance.

IMHO it was just much better before Disney ever created the Disney Dining Plan for being able to choose where and when you wanted to eat

Perhaps, but now Disney knows in advance when they need to be fully staffed and at which locations, from opening to close. I imagine "back in the day" they were not fully booked every day open to close. Diners find this frustrating, Disney finds it efficient.

They do what benefits them financially. This does.

And there will always be a debate on this topic. I personally like it. I like to plan ahead of time. And honestly, the early bird gets the worm here.... or the ADR.