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

[krisfan]

2 adults, 3 kids staying at CBR October 7-14th. No park hopper and regular dining plan. Planning on no FD being offered for those dates. Now with the GC, wondering if the regular dining plan is worth it or should we go back to the QS plan if that is even possible.

In my opinion QS Plan is not that worthy.. most of QS meals are under 15..
We can buy refill mug for 17 for whole stay...
Anyway you have to use gift cards.. if u have QS plan than u have to spend those gift cards on soviuners..

 

[squirrel]

Remember for all of those who are planning to upgrade to the DDP from QSDP that you also pay gratuities for TS. I haven't been in about 6 years and most of the place we went (1A, 1C) it was approx. another $10 per meal. So depending on how long you are staying and how many TS you really want, it might be cheaper to stick with the QSDP and pay out of pocket for a meal or two.

 

[Disneygurl84]

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.

Historically, it has usually ended on October 1, 2 or 3. I'm hoping it's at least the 1st. Which hotel are you booked at? I'm thinking port orleans Riverside. They usually have free dining for the first set. I would love wilderness Lodge but all the standard rooms are sold out for that week. I hate the waiting and I want to book before the 180 mark so I can get my dining reservations in. Wish they'd release it earlier.

 

[DisneyFD]

In my opinion QS Plan is not that worthy.. most of QS meals are under 15..
We can buy refill mug for 17 for whole stay...
Anyway you have to use gift cards.. if u have QS plan than u have to spend those gift cards on soviuners..

The GC can be used anywhere correct? If we wanted to use the $75 per day toward the table service meal at say BOG, we could do that? Just wondering if we could just get the QS plan and pay out of pocket the difference between the GC and the cost of the table service meal per day....

 

[scard192]

Historically, it has usually ended on October 1, 2 or 3. I'm hoping it's at least the 1st. Which hotel are you booked at? I'm thinking port orleans Riverside. They usually have free dining for the first set. I would love wilderness Lodge but all the standard rooms are sold out for that week. I hate the waiting and I want to book before the 180 mark so I can get my dining reservations in. Wish they'd release it earlier.

or have ADR date closer to check in. tough to have to make ADRs at 180 days but FP+ at 60 days. Plus in the Fall MK closes at 7PM 4 nights/week for the parties which limits ADRs those nights.

 

[ustasmom]

The GC can be used anywhere correct? If we wanted to use the $75 per day toward the table service meal at say BOG, we could do that? Just wondering if we could just get the QS plan and pay out of pocket the difference between the GC and the cost of the table service meal per day....

Yes and when you are OOP, you can order however you want. We go to BOG and get the kids' filet for like $13.95. That gives us the room to add an app (my kids love the leek soup, go figure) and dessert. I can order apps, kids' steak and dessert for 6 for $100.

 

[vever]

For all of you who have the "modify" button and are hoping to use it to book Free Dining, have you actually tried clicking on it? When I do, it just loops back to my reservation page. It's just an endless loop and doesn't actually give me a spot to change anything. Don't want people logging on that morning to modify, only to find out they can't!

It definitely gives me options to modify on my reservation.

 

[Disneygurl84]

or have ADR date closer to check in. tough to have to make ADRs at 180 days but FP+ at 60 days. Plus in the Fall MK closes at 7PM 4 nights/week for the parties which limits ADRs those nights.

Completely agree. It's really just so I can try and get "Be Our Guest." I booked Disney last year about a month in advance and was able to get be our guest but that was only during the christmas party. A few years ago when it first opened and I couldn't get a reservation they said to come first thing in the morning and see if they had any. I practically ran there and was able to get a 6pm reservation that day. Not sure if they still do that.

 

[pigletto]

I think that you can do better than $800 for WBC. I have it booked for the first full week of December and it cost me $448 (this far out) for the 2 bedroom. We stayed at WBC in early December and it cost me $55/night but that was pretty last minute. Having a W/D in your unit (albeit stackable) is really high on my list. And we just did SSR 1 bedroom and it took the bus a good 15 minutes until we got to the light at Chelonia Parkway. So I plan to drive and park and use the Express transportation for hopping. Granted the rental car will add cost, parking if you don't have at least one AP will add up as well.

Where did you get your BC reservation from? The lowest I've been able to get it is from Skyauction. I think we're in a higher rate season. First week of December is really low. We got a fabulous rate at the Vistana for the same week in 2015 for $420. Sadly we are locked in because we already purchased flights.
We will have a car (I have enough credit card points to make it pretty much free) but you are right about the parking. Some say Uber is better because it's cheaper to go back and forth with Uber than it is to pay for parking. I like having the car to leave mid day though.

All of this is speculation.. I'll see what I can get with free dining before making any big decision.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Completely agree. It's really just so I can try and get "Be Our Guest." I booked Disney last year about a month in advance and was able to get be our guest but that was only during the christmas party. A few years ago when it first opened and I couldn't get a reservation they said to come first thing in the morning and see if they had any. I practically ran there and was able to get a 6pm reservation that day. Not sure if they still do that.

I posted a few pages ago about this. My 180 day window opened yesterday and tried to make a reservation first thing in the morning for a BOG dinner. Nada. I'll just keep checking back and hope something opens up. I'd really like to go but it won't make or break our trip, either.

 

[FinnsMom7]

or have ADR date closer to check in. tough to have to make ADRs at 180 days but FP+ at 60 days. Plus in the Fall MK closes at 7PM 4 nights/week for the parties which limits ADRs those nights.

I said this in the MVMCP thread - how can they expect people to "know" what/where they want to eat before park hours/FP/special events are released/available?? Seems like it would be so much better to release hours 180 days out with special event schedules then ADR's maybe 90 days out and FP 60

 

[Disneygurl84]

I posted a few pages ago about this. My 180 day window opened yesterday and tried to make a reservation first thing in the morning for a BOG dinner. Nada. I'll just keep checking back and hope something opens up. I'd really like to go but it won't make or break our trip, either.

Are you booked or just trying to make dinner plans? It's usually easier if you are booked and get then towards the end of your vacation. Just keep trying. Everyday a couple of times a day. You'll be surprised how it just pops up. Good luck!!!

 

[ustasmom]

Where did you get your BC reservation from? The lowest I've been able to get it is from Skyauction. I think we're in a higher rate season. First week of December is really low. We got a fabulous rate at the Vistana for the same week in 2015 for $420. Sadly we are locked in because we already purchased flights.
We will have a car (I have enough credit card points to make it pretty much free) but you are right about the parking. Some say Uber is better because it's cheaper to go back and forth with Uber than it is to pay for parking. I like having the car to leave mid day though.

All of this is speculation.. I'll see what I can get with free dining before making any big decision.

I rent through Redweek. Owners predict what will rent and what won't. And if it doesn't rent they drop the price as to recoup something. My kids grew too fond of the Presidential suites. lol

 

[Disneygurl84]

I said this in the MVMCP thread - how can they expect people to "know" what/where they want to eat before park hours/FP/special events are released/available?? Seems like it would be so much better to release hours 180 days out with special event schedules then ADR's maybe 90 days out and FP 60

I agree, it's definitely annoying and difficult. I look at when they had MNSSHP in the past years and try and base it on that.

 

[ellbell]

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

Depends on the province. In BC you pay a premium depending on income. In Ontario it's rolled into taxes. I don't know about the other provinces because I've only lived in those two.

 

[scard192]

I said this in the MVMCP thread - how can they expect people to "know" what/where they want to eat before park hours/FP/special events are released/available?? Seems like it would be so much better to release hours 180 days out with special event schedules then ADR's maybe 90 days out and FP 60

and they have been changing park hours a few weeks out after we juggled our 180 day ADRs and 60 day FP+. crazy how tough it is to plan a WDW vacation and make the most out of what for many of us is a fairly expensive vacation.

we are considering a more relaxing FL beach vacation next time.

 

[scard192]

I posted a few pages ago about this. My 180 day window opened yesterday and tried to make a reservation first thing in the morning for a BOG dinner. Nada. I'll just keep checking back and hope something opens up. I'd really like to go but it won't make or break our trip, either.

Try Touring Plans reservation finder, its free

 

[FinnsMom7]

I agree, it's definitely annoying and difficult. I look at when they had MNSSHP in the past years and try and base it on that.

I am doing the same for MVMCP - but then I like to balance nights in other parks but they switched the hours a few weeks before I arrived last year so I ended up in MK late night 2 nights in a row - which is fine but I would have utilized that info to spread out ADR's accordingly

 

[FinnsMom7]

and they have been changing park hours a few weeks out after we juggled our 180 day ADRs and 60 day FP+. crazy how tough it is to plan a WDW vacation and make the most out of what for many of us is a fairly expensive vacation.

we are considering a more relaxing FL beach vacation next time.

We did Disney last December and then a cruise in March - that my parents did the planning for so now I am ready for the chaos of Disney planning again. It does take a lot of work and money to go, but once I walk into Epcot it all is worth it. I do think this may be the last Disney trip for a few years now.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Was August mentioned?

It just said "for dates in September, late November and early December". But I'm sure that's a guess or rumor...nothing concrete till it drops.