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

[Lesley Wake]

Quick question about AP discounts, as I'm pricing everything out and double checking my numbers. Let me know if I miss anything (we aren't interested in spas or tours):
-room discount
-10% food (we aren't going to any of the 20% restaurants)
-15% merchandise
-Free Photopass downloads
-(small) discount on party tickets

 

[samsteele]

Just to be clear....

THe FD promotion will be up on Disney's website (like the Stay, Play, Dine was last year?)

Just want to make sure I am checking the right place!

Yes. Look at their Special Offers, Deals & Discounts page on the site. On their main page, click on the "giftbox" icon titled "Explore Our Special Offers" on the bottom left hand side of your screen. At least, that's the setup for Canadian browsers.

 

[squirrel]

i was wondering this the other day...we only want to do 6 TS meals so we only need 30 TS credits. All buffets and I don't care that a TS credit was used for a child. If I upgraded the child then I have more child TS credits...

and priced out
3 adults one room (kids are 13/16) upgrade to reg dining plan
1 adult 1 k in another
gives us 30 adult TS credits 70 QS
everything with upgrade is $5766

then I was wondering can i do
3 adults one kid one room
1 adult one room at dxdp deluxe upgrade
so 30 TS adult credits and 80 QS credits
$5716

could I do it that way? Just one adult in a room? I would like the rooms with a door between though so might not happen?

I don't believe that the credits for DxDP are separated into Adult and Child, at least they weren't back when I went (still didn't do DxDP). I just know the price to upgrade a child is less than an adult that's why I suggested it the way I did. Also didn't know how many TS you wanted.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

wow! ok read back over the past 10 pages or more from late lastnight lol

Here's a little story for you all. My sister is headed to Disney today, at noon, to be exact. She is driving with her sweetie. 3 hours. They booked a condo to share with her son, his girlfriend and their combined kids. Well, her son arrived early and found the condo was not as advertised and there would be no room for my sister and her sweetie. She got right on the phone looking for a place to stay off site. She did find a place, relatively inexpensive and was glad she saved the day. I know by now you are thinking, where is this story going? Well, here's where it takes a turn. I asked her what park she was planning for day one. She knew it was MK and knew her son had booked a FP+ for Thunder Mountain. Then I asked her what other rides they were booked for. She didn't know. Then I asked her what parks she was going to, for the two days they were there. She said, "well, I think we are going to MK then to eat at Rainforest." I said, "in the same day, you don't have PH's, why would it be the same day?" She said she didn't know. I asked her what parks she was going to for her two days. She said, "MK, AK and Epcot." I said, "But you are only there two days, and don't have park hoppers, how are you doing three parks?" She said, "I don't know, I don't know where we are going, or what we are doing, I'm just going with the flow." The moral of this story is: Non-planners get what they get, and for those folks, they just really don't care. For those of us who plan....this scenario would drive us even more crazier than we already are! Just a little something to break up all the mounting tension. Hope you enjoyed it!

Oh Dang, noo noo I couldn't do it. I must plan way ahead of time. I feel bad for her.

We have 11 adults and 6 children traveling in our party. We are currently booked in 4 rooms at Pop Dec. 9-14. Hoping for free dining like the rest of you all! I am in charge of everyone's reservations(all 4 rooms).
I am getting nervous that once I get a CM on the phone that it will take them a long time to change packages to FD.... and not all rooms may get the special.

My question is this... Do you think it would be easier to book at a different resort that we could combine to just 2 rooms and 2 reservations and would it be cost effective to split the cost? We all don't mind sharing a room as we are all family traveling together.

Good Luck. I could not make resvations for that big of a group of family members, but wow. I sure hope you find a good deal. Have you looked in to renting a condo or vacation home off site? I know there are other costs invovled (dining and magical express) but it could be easier on a big group. Unless you want to try a suite room.

New here and only created an account (I like to stalk the threads and not participate) to tell you the conversation I had with a cast member today. We are currently booked at CBR 12/11-12/17. Today I changed our check in day which is why I asked the following questions:

1) If free dining comes out and I add that promotion to my reservation will I lose my free gift card?

answer: No, as long as you only modify the reservation your gift card offer is still valid.

2) Why did I receive a gift card offer?

answer: You booked your reservation prior to the extensive refurbishment announcement. Any one that booked prior to March 20th or 21st (I don't remember the exact date) will receive a gift card at check in. Any reservations made after that date are not entitled to the gift card at a check in.

3) Do you think free dining will be released Monday?

answer: We do not receive official information prior to announcement from Disney. I have not heard of any domestic free dining rumors yet, my best guess would be early May.


I know some of this information has nothing to do with free dining, but I have seen on facebook a few people that have book CBR recently with the hopes of getting free dining and the gift card so I figured that information was valuable.

I know that the cast members cannot leak information, but I would be surprised if the rumors we have all read are off by a week or two.

This is what they are told to tell us. They are wrong. Also have heard that a CM said that her and her co workers were told be ready for over time next week. The CM's are all speculating its Free dining droping. (this was on like a page 400 pages back or some where.)

 

[LauraJean]

I don't believe that the credits for DxDP are separated into Adult and Child, at least they weren't back when I went (still didn't do DxDP). I just know the price to upgrade a child is less than an adult that's why I suggested it the way I did. Also didn't know how many TS you wanted.

no idea haven't used that plan before. We are grad dress shopping and going to SW so really only wanted the 6 TS credits anyways. The exchange sucks so 200 plus saved is still a save. thanks I forgot I had done that the other day, saw someone else doing it and talking about it.

 

[Disney_Family_Fun]

GUUUUYS!!! Guest services called me back and they changed my check in to 9/30!!!

YEAH!!!

 

[Aurora2017]

We have 11 adults and 6 children traveling in our party. We are currently booked in 4 rooms at Pop Dec. 9-14. Hoping for free dining like the rest of you all! I am in charge of everyone's reservations(all 4 rooms).
I am getting nervous that once I get a CM on the phone that it will take them a long time to change packages to FD.... and not all rooms may get the special.

My question is this... Do you think it would be easier to book at a different resort that we could combine to just 2 rooms and 2 reservations and would it be cost effective to split the cost? We all don't mind sharing a room as we are all family traveling together.

Another option would be if all the rooms can't get free dining, you could upgrade some rooms to DxDP and split the meals across different people on your MDE account.

 

[JackieO]

Quick question about AP discounts, as I'm pricing everything out and double checking my numbers. Let me know if I miss anything (we aren't interested in spas or tours):
-room discount
-10% food (we aren't going to any of the 20% restaurants)
-15% merchandise
-Free Photopass downloads
-(small) discount on party tickets

Free parking

 

[Acrosthec]

Yes you can do this if you wish. Unused currently purchased tickets are said to expire December 31st 2018. Make sure you prioritize your tickets at Guest Services before you enter the park so they don't accidentally use your 4 day tickets.

Thank you!

 

[sharonabe]

Hmm that could be!

My guess is she has the summer offer of one free QS meal per night per guest. I have a couple friends who are Disney TAs (from home), and they promoted the summer offer as a "free dining" offer. I so wanted to correct them, but I didn't.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

UGH, I really hope that the rumor about mods having QS is wrong! We're booked at the FW cabins. It'll be almost $900 for us to upgrade to DDP (we'll be doing lots of TS and character meals, so we'll need it)! We're discussing moving down to ASMu suites, since with the upgrade there, it will still be a little cheaper than the cabins with no upgrade, and AoA suites are only like $20 per night less than the cabins. We're so psyched up for the cabins though...I don't know what to do! We already have the trip paid for with the money in the disney vacation account (based on the cabins with free standard dining, which I assumed we'd get), so if we stay there and upgrade that will be $900 out of our spending money. I ask my family what they want and they just shrug, as long as they're in Disney they're happy. Decisions, decisions! Sorry to complain and rant, my family doesn't want to listen so i'm complaining to you all!

 

[smooreo]

I just talked to a CM. It's been 5 years since our last trip so I'm out of the loop a bit.

He mentioned that the monorail resorts have been excluded from FD. Do you think it's likely to happen again?
And what time should I be ready Monday morning? I think I recall 7am for phone lines. Is online earlier?

 

[monorailrabbit]

I just talked to a CM. It's been 5 years since our last trip so I'm out of the loop a bit.

He mentioned that the monorail resorts have been excluded from FD. Do you think it's likely to happen again?
And what time should I be ready Monday morning? I think I recall 7am for phone lines. Is online earlier?

Oh dear lord don't tell me that. GS moved heaven and earth to change my check in to 9/30 so I could be lined up to score FD. We are staying at Contemporary... I had no idea monorail resorts got excluded...

 

[clairebear1012]

I just talked to a CM. It's been 5 years since our last trip so I'm out of the loop a bit.

He mentioned that the monorail resorts have been excluded from FD. Do you think it's likely to happen again?
And what time should I be ready Monday morning? I think I recall 7am for phone lines. Is online earlier?

I don't recall them being excluded in the past, nor are they rumored to be excluded this year.

 

[brownierose]

I don't recall them being excluded in the past, nor are they rumored to be excluded this year.

I hope not!!! Thinking of switching to poly from pofq for free dining!!

 

[Confederate Scott]

I just talked to a CM. It's been 5 years since our last trip so I'm out of the loop a bit.

He mentioned that the monorail resorts have been excluded from FD. Do you think it's likely to happen again?
And what time should I be ready Monday morning? I think I recall 7am for phone lines. Is online earlier?

Sadly at times some of the CM's don't know what they are talking about. Perhaps the monorail resorts will be excluded but I doubt it.

 

[KimBean]

Thanks KimBean and Meeko5. We were thinking about staying at POP. Any word on whether that resort has issues during Pop Warner week?

I don't think historically they are at POP. It's usually All Stars and CSR and CBR. Don't know exactly this year.

 

[heath92681]

I just talked to a CM. It's been 5 years since our last trip so I'm out of the loop a bit.

He mentioned that the monorail resorts have been excluded from FD. Do you think it's likely to happen again?
And what time should I be ready Monday morning? I think I recall 7am for phone lines. Is online earlier?

When we were deciding between resorts, I had a FD reservation at Poly last year.

 

[JackieO]

UGH, I really hope that the rumor about mods having QS is wrong! We're booked at the FW cabins. It'll be almost $900 for us to upgrade to DDP (we'll be doing lots of TS and character meals, so we'll need it)! We're discussing moving down to ASMu suites, since with the upgrade there, it will still be a little cheaper than the cabins with no upgrade, and AoA suites are only like $20 per night less than the cabins. We're so psyched up for the cabins though...I don't know what to do! We already have the trip paid for with the money in the disney vacation account (based on the cabins with free standard dining, which I assumed we'd get), so if we stay there and upgrade that will be $900 out of our spending money. I ask my family what they want and they just shrug, as long as they're in Disney they're happy. Decisions, decisions! Sorry to complain and rant, my family doesn't want to listen so i'm complaining to you all!

Yep, same boat here. We were so excited for POR this year. This is one we've never done. We were down in Jan (Kissimmee not Disney) to visit my parent's condo and we made a special trip to the food court to hide a penny for ourselves when we stay in Sep. Upgrading from QS to TS will be at least $800. That leaves us considering heading off property or downgrading to Pop. We like Pop and have enjoyed nice big condos in the past, but we were all psyched for POR. I know how whiny this is, but it does stink.

The struggle is real

 

[meaganmg]

Looking for some feedback from you Disney Pros... our group is 4 adults visiting in November. The plan was to stay at CSR, so we have that booked with a TA and hoping for FD for mods to include the regular plan. If it's true they only have QSDP for mods, my first thought was to stay at POP and update to the regular dining plan. However, I think the beds will be too small and after running the numbers I am considering staying offsite. Anyone ever stayed at Sheraton Vistana? There is a great deal through Costco travel for a 2 bedroom suite. With the estimated cost of food factored in, we would basically break even between that and POP.

So "cons" of staying offsite... (1) not completely immersed in the "Disney Magic" (two of the adults will be their first trip to WDW, though we make annual trips to DL); (2) transportation/parking (thinking of adding a car rental as free shuttle times seem sparse); (3) have to wait until later to make FP+ reservations.

Am I missing anything? If not, just trying to weigh the benefits of a comfy room with 2 bathrooms, kitchen, etc. with the listed cons versus the convenience of being onsite.