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

[ustasmom]

I just ran my numbers comparing FD at CBR (if it drops):

$3808 11 nights at CBR standard for 5 adults

2019 AP:
$2977
-1379 (actual value of 2 day PH)
-825
+773 (at the end of 2018 to turn these 2 day into AP Gold at current rates)

So for $4581 minus $2977 for the 2019 AP upgrade value, the true cost of my 11 night FD for 5 adults is $1604. My real stay at the Poly cost around $1100.

I ran the math to skip DVC and stay at the Poly with FD and it was over $7000 and it didn't include the difference to bring the 2 day up to AP.

In actuality, I should also run a comparison as to what out of pocket would cost me with TIW card. I just can't bring myself to take kids to buffets but if it takes 2 table credits, it might warrant the menu planning.

 

[agassizsmile]

Can someone pls post link to last years FD thread?

 

[scard192]

Can someone pls post link to last years FD thread?

probably buried somewhere on the DIS. are you looking for something specific?

 

[Lesley Wake]

I just find being tied down to ADR's can be stressful. It's easy to switch up fp's, or blow them off, but you don't want to be dinged with cancellation fees for ADR's, so you force your family to go to places when they are really not in the mood, or too tired to enjoy it.

I'm thinking for me and my sister, the restaurants will be an attraction themselves! I've been messing with touringplans and it seems it will be empty enough that we can easily hit everything we want while still having big breaks for meals, relaxing, etc. I'm also going to load up the morning (especially outdoor things), partially because I know the lines will be longer, but also in case there is an afternoon rainstorm that may cause us to seek shelter!

 

[McFlea]

Eh, dinner can wait. If you put it off long enough, they will just eat cereal!!

Yep, that's my strategy!

 

[Felicis]

You will have to purchase whatever they deem for the offer, most likely minimum 2 day PH passes. You don't have to use those tickets for the trip. They can sit in MDE until you want to do something with them. I have AP but I will buy the 2 day PH ($1250) for FD. I'll turn them into AP some time in the future.

Right, so I will need to crunch the numbers, as to if it will be worth it, purchasing tickets we will be unlikely to use again (this is a one and done). That said, we have 7 day tickets, and are there for 10 days, so maybe we will use the 2 day ones for a short visit on a couple of days! Thanks for that information, and grrrr to my TA for having already purchased our tickets. - I always knew that I should have done the planning for this myself! She obviously knows nothing

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm thinking for me and my sister, the restaurants will be an attraction themselves! I've been messing with touringplans and it seems it will be empty enough that we can easily hit everything we want while still having big breaks for meals, relaxing, etc. I'm also going to load up the morning (especially outdoor things), partially because I know the lines will be longer, but also in case there is an afternoon rainstorm that may cause us to seek shelter!

The restaurants are definitely worth it, once you get there. We've always enjoyed them. When we do the regular dining plan, we tend to book our TS meals at lunch because we find our plans tend to unravel as the day rolls on, making the evening ADR's harder to get to.

 

[agassizsmile]

probably buried somewhere on the DIS. are you looking for something specific?

n
No just. Bored.)

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Yeah like Moana cereal, what can I say......your welcome!!!

 

[LindsayK]

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?

This is exactly what mine looks like!!

 

[agassizsmile]

found 2016 thread on google it was only 8 pages?was trying to get a feel for how it was the days leading up to it etc and issues people had

 

[Rusty2rules]

The restaurants are definitely worth it, once you get there. We've always enjoyed them. When we do the regular dining plan, we tend to book our TS meals at lunch because we find our plans tend to unravel as the day rolls on, making the evening ADR's harder to get to.

Wow. I would've never thought of it like that. Holy moly. My mind has been blown twice in, like, the last 5 pages.

 

[Disneylover99]

Wow. I would've never thought of it like that. Holy moly. My mind has been blown twice in, like, the last 5 pages.

Stick around.

 

[pooch]

How many rooms can be booked on an AP discount? Just looking at options. DD has an AP. Could she book 2 rooms for us? She'd be on one.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

found 2016 thread on google it was only 8 pages?was trying to get a feel for how it was the days leading up to it etc and issues people had

There were 3 official threads. A new one was created Everytime it got too big, so my guess is either you found the last one or an unofficial one. All that being said, the link to it was posted at least once if not twice on this thread I believe within the last week or so. I don't know what page, but I'd you go back a couple dozen pages, you may be able to find it.

 

[ustasmom]

Right, so I will need to crunch the numbers, as to if it will be worth it, purchasing tickets we will be unlikely to use again (this is a one and done). That said, we have 7 day tickets, and are there for 10 days, so maybe we will use the 2 day ones for a short visit on a couple of days! Thanks for that information, and grrrr to my TA for having already purchased our tickets. - I always knew that I should have done the planning for this myself! She obviously knows nothing

And the tickets expire at the end of 2018. So if this is one and done, you might not want to have anything sit.

 

[Disneylover99]

found 2016 thread on google it was only 8 pages?was trying to get a feel for how it was the days leading up to it etc and issues people had

This was part 2. 240 pages in just five days.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-free-dining-watch-part-2.3504158/

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

I really hope my standard room at Poly qualifies along with my mid-Sept dates.

I calculated out my ADR costs and how much the standard DDP costs for 3 adults 2 kids (and a free infant). The DP would save us $$ as opposed to paying OOP. So free dining would make it even better. We know we want to stay at Poly so... hopefully it all works out!

I've been trying for a couple of weeks to get a standard at Poly in mid September for 9 days, no luck, I did get a preferred room at POR for 10 days and then I've got our late November trip it is 8 days at Poly standard.

 

[OlafSchmolaf]

Can someone pls post link to last years FD thread?

Here ya go:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-free-dining-watch.3465803/page-6
https://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-free-dining-watch-part-2.3504158/page-8
Happy reading.

 

[ajwilhorn]

Curious if/when FD is announced do the dates historically run just through the end of the current year, or do they wrap around to at least January of the following? We were hoping for a December trip this year, but it may end up being January instead.
Thanks.