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

[yamkins]

Did anyone book moderate and switch to deluxe and found out it saved them more? I've looked at the numbers and I'm getting $2000+ more to switch to a deluxe hotel/villa.

We're a party of 5a, 1c (2y/o) and have 2 standards in CSR, 4 PH tickets, 7N/8D. I was looking at the numbers, even if moderates only get QSD and upgrade to DDP, it's $2000+ to switch to deluxe. Am I missing something here?

 

[Halbleib1]

Staying deluxe it is usually a better deal to use a room only discount vs free dining. I am not surprised by that number. I haven't run the numbers lately but it was always cheaper to get two rooms at a value and pay to upgrade to the reg. dining plan over staying in a mod as well for a family of 5.

 

[Disneylover99]

Did anyone book moderate and switch to deluxe and found out it saved them more? I've looked at the numbers and I'm getting $2000+ more to switch to a deluxe hotel/villa.

We're a party of 5a, 1c (2y/o) and have 2 standards in CSR, 4 PH tickets, 7N/8D. I was looking at the numbers, even if moderates only get QSD and upgrade to DDP, it's $2000+ to switch to deluxe. Am I missing something here?

No, you're probably right. Two rooms at CSR will probably cost $450 or more per night, plus another $109 per night to upgrade dining.

 

[Greg36]

I booked the FD bb last August before the Canadian discounted tickets were announced. I also haven't heard anything about Canadians booking the FD bb in Sept/Oct. and getting the discount. You're right. You'd think we'd hear it from someone if it were possible.

Be interesting to see if you had any luck modifying it to include the Canadian ticket deal now... That would be such a good deal. Guessing it will be regular ticket and room requirement for any FD offer, but who knows. Disney does interesting and unexpected things sometimes...

 

[Imbetterwithbacon]

Last year, the RO discount came out the same day as FD....won't be too long to determine what's the best deal!

There did not seem to be any RO discounts offered last year in April?

https://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#codetrends

 

[jessiegirl1982]

There did not seem to be any RO discounts offered last year in April?

https://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#codetrends

View attachment 232355

It is there.. just a bit out of order!

8/1/16-11/5/16 20%-30% off room-only rates for the general public (also bookable as package) 4/25/16, exp 8/31/16

 

[pooch]

So I have been in discussion with my TA (Dreams) and we have agreed on this:

We currently have 2 standard rooms (3A/1C and 2A/2C/1Infant) booked at CSR (hubby would not like a value) for 11/11 thru 11/18. When Free Dining drops she will try to get it for both rooms for 11/14 thru 11/18 and book rooms only for 11/11 thru 11/14. THEN we will take a breathe and determine what to do with it all, ie; RO discounts for the first half or perhaps better TM discount at US/IOA for those nights and whether to upgrade one or both rooms to Reg DDP. The numbers have my head spinning & I just want it over and booked!!!!

 

[GMU MOM]

Sorry I only have about 30 minutes this morning and it appears no one on this morning knows what was said 4 pages back - me included!! Last night while I was trying to shut off my addiction to the DIS and go to sleep someone posted that Dad said that FD blackout dates worked exactly as RO blackout dates. He stated this was how it worked last year as well. I don't believe this to be true so I'm just confirming - we are ignoring this and moving on right?

I know you posted this several pages back but this thread moves so quickly... Yes, what Dad posted is completely wrong. I'm the one who posted last night that last year we checked in on the very last day of the promo which was 12/21 and got free dining for our entire trip. We'll be doing the same this year.

Am I the only one still holding out hope that FD at mods will be the regular plan and not just QS? Is it just the South American deals that that's based on? Or is there something more pointing in that direction?

UK has had QSDP with mods for some time now. Couldn't the South American deal just be matching up to that and not necessarily carry over to the US?

My family will be there in August either way. And if we don't get DDP at a mod, we're actually moving up to a deluxe! But I'm still of the mindset where I'd like to save as much as I can. So I still have this glimmer of hope that we'll get regular DDP at the moderates.

Who wants to come and squash my last bit of hope???

I am also hoping that the US offers are different and that we get the regular DDP with mods. For us the QSDP just doesn't work so we will have to upgrade.

 

[Disneylover99]

Be interesting to see if you had any luck modifying it to include the Canadian ticket deal now... That would be such a good deal. Guessing it will be regular ticket and room requirement for any FD offer, but who knows. Disney does interesting and unexpected things sometimes...

I was thinking about that, but it wouldn't do me any good anyways. I'm just getting two day tickets and saving them for another time cause I already have an AP. If I try to upgrade those Canadian tickets in the future, I'd lose the value in them.

 

[Imbetterwithbacon]

It is there.. just a bit out of order!

8/1/16-11/5/16 20%-30% off room-only rates for the general public (also bookable as package) 4/25/16, exp 8/31/16

I see it ... Thanks

Guess I wasn't looking close enough... since our stay is late November

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Thank you for doing that for me!
I also have one more to book but can't decide yet on which one I want. Seems upgrading is what is right for me. While some loved the GC, I would much rather just get the DDP and not the QSDP. I really hope my logic is making sense on the difference I am coming up with spending the GC vs what cash we would spend anyway.

I think the main problem some people get stuck on is the free dining at TS restaurants. When we were thinking of paying OOP to upgrade from QS to TS dining plan we looked at all the restaraunts and really struggled at where we would eat, what we would need to eat to make our money back. When free dining started people were eating steak every meal and lobster to make sure they were really sticking it to Disney, but since then now that people are paying for it you really have to think about what you want. For instance I'm taking two people with me and we are doing Ohana's and the Boathouse OOP. So if I was to upgrade it would cost roughly 185 to upgrade. Ok lets go. So Ohanah's is 55 plus tax. Ok not bad, then we get to Boathouse. My one friend is going all out with drinks 40 desert and what not. WHOA. Me eh I'm good with a club at 14 and water. filling enough. But again Boathouse is two credits sooo that's now one day down to one meal, but i can snack credit through F&W, but now i'm down unnecessary snack credits. So now I'm down snack credits, one meal, and NOW I have to pay for TIPS on top of that for ever meal, at least five dollars a table so instead of just out 185 I need to add at least another 45 for tip. . for a total of 230. AND that's just me, not the whole party, now we have to times that by three.
But if I out of pocket those two meals. I keep all my snack credits. I have two extra meals that use on the last day while I wait for the bus. and I'm only out 80 OOP. winner winner chicken dinner...
But then again, thats just me.

 

[Lesley Wake]

So, new game-what is the best Character Meet you have had?

Last year we went to DL on Dapper Day, and my sister was wearing the Han Solo dress from Her Universe-it was pretty cute! We saw the line for Chewbacca wasn't long, so we decided to say hi. When we walked into the room, he noticed her dress immediately and ran across the room during the Wookie shout! And gave her a huge hug, then did a forehead-forehead bonding moment! I was wearing a dress with BB-8 on it, so he grabbed my hand and twirled me around, as well as big hugs! It was amazing! We were in tears we were laughing so hard, and the photopass photographer had a huge smile on his face too!

 

[sharonabe]

This is true $900 is a lot to spend on souvenirs. We have never spent close to that! Maybe IF I can snag the QSDP at CBR can I always wait to decide if I want to upgrade? My plans change frequently when I discover something new I want to try. $900 in GC with QSDP and the cost of upgrade if a lot of food. Right? Dessert isn't necessary, we only ever got it because it was part of the plan.

You can wait to decide, but it will have to be done at least 72 hrs before arrival.

 

[SG131]

I cannot imagine how they could exclude the monorail resorts!

In case you're curious, I think the confusion came because bb offer exluded the villas along the monorail.

 

[ean]

I know you posted this several pages back but this thread moves so quickly... Yes, what Dad posted is completely wrong. I'm the one who posted last night that last year we checked in on the very last day of the promo which was 12/21 and got free dining for our entire trip. We'll be doing the same this year.

I am also hoping that the US offers are different and that we get the regular DDP with mods. For us the QSDP just doesn't work so we will have to upgrade.

Am I the only one still holding out hope that FD at mods will be the regular plan and not just QS? Is it just the South American deals that that's based on? Or is there something more pointing in that direction?

UK has had QSDP with mods for some time now. Couldn't the South American deal just be matching up to that and not necessarily carry over to the US?

My family will be there in August either way. And if we don't get DDP at a mod, we're actually moving up to a deluxe! But I'm still of the mindset where I'd like to save as much as I can. So I still have this glimmer of hope that we'll get regular DDP at the moderates.

Who wants to come and squash my last bit of hope???

Usually the South America deals are the same than the ones offered in USA.

I live at a SA country, however I book directly with Disney thru its webpage.
In one occasion I booked with a local TA and I had no issues, but I prefer to deal directly with Disney.
So, the deals were always just the same.

 

[KimBean]

There did not seem to be any RO discounts offered last year in April?

https://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#codetrends

View attachment 232355

Just not in the same spot but it is on mousesavers:

8/1/16-11/5/16 20%-30% off room-only rates for the general public (also bookable as package) 4/25/16, exp

 

[yamkins]

Staying deluxe it is usually a better deal to use a room only discount vs free dining so I am not surprised by that number.

I'm still getting $1222 more to stay deluxe even if I play RO rates at even 35%. This is for CSR vs BC-RO 2 standards.

CSR: inclusive tickets and DDP
Rm1 (3A,1c) = $4648.47
Rm2 (2A) = $3596.78 (with travel insurance)
Free QS = ($1686.70)
-------------------------
TOTAL $6558.55


BC-RO
Rm1 (4A, 1c) = $3040.00
Rm2 (1A) = $2690.00 (with travel insurance)
less 25% =($1432.50)
------------------------
$4297.50

Tickets = $2125.00
Food = $1700.00
-------------------------
$8122.50

 

[Disneylover99]

So, new game-what is the best Character Meet you have had?

My kids met Mickey and Minnie on their very first trip. Mickey took my son's hand and Minnie took my daughter's hand and they walked over to Dumbo with them. They went through the exit of the ride and then rode Dumbo together. They felt like celebrities. My husband and I just dumbly followed. After the ride, my kids escorted Mickey and Minnie back to Cinderella castle and we waved goodbye. Even now it seems like a dream.

 

[Obi Shaun Kanobi]

So, new game-what is the best Character Meet you have had?

We took our daughter to Disneyland a few years ago and then to Disney World last year. Mickey didnt talk at Disneyland, but DOES at Disney World. She thought that was SO COOL!!!!!!!! She still talks about that!

But, since this is a dining forum, my best character dining experience was Tusker House. Anyone else agree with that? The reason I am so anxious for FD to drop is so we can do more character dining. It is the best!

 

[krisfan]

I'm still getting $1222 more to stay deluxe even if I play RO rates at even 35%. This is for CSR vs BC-RO 2 standards.

CSR: inclusive tickets and DDP
Rm1 (3A,1c) = $4648.47
Rm2 (2A) = $3596.78 (with travel insurance)
Free QS = ($1686.70)
-------------------------
TOTAL $6558.55


BC-RO
Rm1 (4A, 1c) = $3040.00
Rm2 (1A) = $2690.00 (with travel insurance)
less 25% =($1432.50)
------------------------
$4297.50

Tickets = $2125.00
Food = $1700.00
-------------------------
$8122.50

If u r trip is more than 4 days and u r party is more than 2 adults.. no other deal will beat FD.. only exception is if the room cost is more than 600..