******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[ThistleMae]

My TA notified me early this morning about the new discount. We are booked now at Pop from 8/19-8/28 with the Summer Savory 1 CS meal/day promotion at $2868, to change to the new promotion and add the full QS meal plan would cost us $3947 for the three of us. Knowing how my boys eat, I do not think it will cost us $1100 to pay for one more CS meal and some snacks out of pocket so we left the package as is. Still hoping for FD to be released for our dates. The one good thing was that my TA e-mailed me super early this morning so hoping if FD is released she will be up early and taking care of us.

Yup, comes out to about $ 40.00 a day to upgrade, per person. We are going next summer and we will do the upgrade because most dinners will cost at least that. We usually do the buffet's.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Just wondering would you go to Disney if they did not offer free dining?

I'm already booked at POP and am going regardless.

 

[Disneygurl84]

I'm thinking of going to Disney on October 1. Does anyone know/think/heard rumors that free dining will be offered then?

 

[prettyprincess624]

I have never done free dining before and have always just used the regular one park a day tickets.

If I get Free Dining, does it make sense to buy the minimum ticket requirement with park hopper or whatever it may be and then regular tickets for the rest of your days? Is that allowed?

I have 3 kids so never used the park hopper because they are exhausted by the end of the day.

 

[Lynne G]

I'm thinking of going to Disney on October 1. Does anyone know/think/heard rumors that free dining will be offered then?

Not sure. Last year, I came around that same day, and I missed the end of free dining a few days before I came. I've already booked for 1 October, so having it during that time would save me some. I'd be curious. No one knows, or can say, which days, and which hotels. Since I'm already booked, I'm always happy for a better deal.

Here's hoping for you and me to get free dining on checking in 1 October.

 

[Moocabn2258]

I'm so glad we had that trial run. Got up here at 2:45 central time, but gave up too soon. I fell back to sleep a half hour later and didn't wake back up til 6am- I would have missed it!!! The summer discounts downloaded at what...about 5:15? So now I have the plan-take a VERY long nap after Easter dinner, be up and ready at midnight (just in case) with plenty of coffee and ready to do an all-nighter. I hope you all have lots of fun chatter to keep me awake!

Me too! I kept checking but didn't make it until 5:15 when they finally posted. I'll be ready this time!

 

[Neeky78]

I have never done free dining before and have always just used the regular one park a day tickets.

If I get Free Dining, does it make sense to buy the minimum ticket requirement with park hopper or whatever it may be and then regular tickets for the rest of your days? Is that allowed?

I have 3 kids so never used the park hopper because they are exhausted by the end of the day.

It depends on how many days you're going. Park hopper for 2 days is a massive hike from standard ticket price, but once you get over 4 days it's more affordable. For a 7 day ticket, park hopper is only about $11 extra per day.

 

[Sharongal74]

I have never done free dining before and have always just used the regular one park a day tickets.

If I get Free Dining, does it make sense to buy the minimum ticket requirement with park hopper or whatever it may be and then regular tickets for the rest of your days? Is that allowed?

I have 3 kids so never used the park hopper because they are exhausted by the end of the day.

You would spend more money buying 2 sets of tickets since it gets cheaper as the day goes on. It would be 259 for 2 days one adult with park hopper or 445 for 5 days with park hopper. If you separated it 259 for the ph ticket and then 289 for 3 regular day. Total of 548.

 

[KimBean]

Totally off topic...

Really excited I just started a pet sitting service 3 weeks ago and have my first client coming this morning. A little white Maltese. He is staying for 12 days and it's a great first gig.

Disney tie in? I'm 75% done paying my hopeful package amount if I get FD and hopeful to get the rest of the way there through this!! And his name is Pluto. Bahahaha!!!!

 

[JackieO]

It seems there are many variations on what people have on their MDE page and what can and can't be done.

The images attached are what I have. I'm assuming (and please correct me if wrong) that I click "Change Reservation" to the right of my reservation (picture 1).
Then I go to the right of Vacation Offers and choose "Change" (picture 2) and the offers will come up. At the moment there are none for my September date, so it pops up saying there are none available (picture 3).

Is this how it looks for others? Is this where's I'd go to add FD to my reservation if it's avail for my date/room type?

That's exactly how it works on my page too. I assume the same, that if FD is available it will offer that. Fingers crossed!!

 

[KimBean]

I have never done free dining before and have always just used the regular one park a day tickets.

If I get Free Dining, does it make sense to buy the minimum ticket requirement with park hopper or whatever it may be and then regular tickets for the rest of your days? Is that allowed?

I have 3 kids so never used the park hopper because they are exhausted by the end of the day.

The per day rate on tickets gets cheaper the longer you go. Example if you go one day 99-120 (not sure of top amount anymore.) But if you get a 10 day ticket it breaks down to $44 a day. I don't think there would be any benefit to doing 2-4 day minimum tickets and then adding on 1 day tickets price wise.

 

[ThistleMae]

Dreams unlimited have a new podcast on free dining that just dropped today.

Thanks for posting this, excellent podcast! It really does make sense that FD is offered to fill rooms. So folks booking multiple resorts, may affect FD availability. Something to think about.

 

[prettyprincess624]

It depends on how many days you're going. Park hopper for 2 days is a massive hike from standard ticket price, but once you get over 4 days it's more affordable. For a 7 day ticket, park hopper is only about $11 extra per day.

You would spend more money buying 2 sets of tickets since it gets cheaper as the day goes on. It would be 259 for 2 days one adult with park hopper or 445 for 5 days with park hopper. If you separated it 259 for the ph ticket and then 289 for 3 regular day. Total of 548.

Thanks! That makes sense! I wanted to do 5 day tickets so I will just do whatever the requirement is

 

[ThistleMae]

I have to say, I thought the video was educational for folks who are not familiar with FD. I didn't think it was condescending.

 

[ThistleMae]

Regarding the podcast...I also found the history of FD interesting. And it is true, depending on your situation and how many folks in your party, that POP may indeed cost less, if you have to upgrade your room or resort. For large families, it does save a ton of $.

 

[KimBean]

I have to say, I thought the video was educational for folks who are not familiar with FD. I didn't think it was condescending.

I thought the part that was condescending was that she said Disney doesn't offer free dining because they care or love you it is to fill rooms, I.e. Make money. Wow disney is a business- who knew? It was a pretty big duh and even for the uneducated a not nice thing to say. The rest of the information was good for the usual park goer.

 

[babydoll65]

Assuming you're staying in a mod and have the free DDP, you're upgrade cost is only $37 and change. I'd say that's definitely a no brainer for the DxDDP.

But that's 37$ per adult per day, 14$ per child so 88$ per day, right??

 

[ThistleMae]

Yeah, but you get free healthcare.

Healthcare isn't really free is it? You must pay for it in other ways I'm sure.

 

[ThistleMae]

I thought the part that was condescending was that she said Disney doesn't offer free dining because they care or love you it is to fill rooms, I.e. Make money. Wow disney is a business- who knew? It was a pretty big duh and even for the uneducated a not nice thing to say. The rest of the information was good for the usual park goer.

Hmmm, well okay, I could see how that could be misconstrued, I still enjoyed the information.

 

[KimBean]

Regarding the podcast...I also found the history of FD interesting. And it is true, depending on your situation and how many folks in your party, that POP may indeed cost less, if you have to upgrade your room or resort. For large families, it does save a ton of $.

It's going to save me about $1000 if I can get value. If I have to go to moderate then it will be the same price as I would have paid at ASMu including tickets and dining plan and will in essence be a free resort upgrade.