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

[Dashzap]

You can actually add a dining plan to a RO reservation. You just need to call and do it. Can't do it online.

You can add a dining plan onto a ticketless package*...a basic plan. You can't add a dining plan onto a room only reservation. They are separate systems. If you call, they have to book a new package (with a new deposit) to have a dining plan and then cancel the room only reservation (and refund your deposit within 1-2 billing cycles).

* frequently you can add a DP onto a ticketless package, but not for all offers. Gotta check the small print.

 

[TomServo27]

You can actually add a dining plan to a RO reservation. You just need to call and do it. Can't do it online.

Learn something everyday.

 

[KimBean]

Okay, thought I had this all planned out and then.... Well, as of today, there's standard availability at WL for our dates. So I did the numbers on that compared to what we already have at BC. Here are the options we're looking at right now and really, really having a tough time deciding.

Details - Family of 4--me, DH, DS17, DS15. 6 nights/7 days, third week of August. All prices include 6-day park hopper.

BC - Standard Room - No dining plan - $3206, pay for all food OOP

WL - Standard Room - Free dining plan - $4,172, no extra OOP.

So it's basically $1,000 more for WL but food would be covered. We've done DP on all our trips so far, and never really needed much beyond what's included in the plan (we share some meals, have some breakfasts in the room, etc.). I know $1,000 probably won't cover all our food for the week, but I don't think the difference will be huge. Current ADRs include BOG breakfast/lunch, Via Napoli, Tusker House ROL, 'Ohana dinner, and not sure what else we'll include.

This is all assuming that the mods are only get QSDP as is rumored this year. If that's the case, the difference between upgrading to the regular plan and just going deluxe is so little it doesn't make sense not to do it. If, by chance, the mods get regular dining included for free, then it's a no-brainer for us to go that way.

Stayed at WL last year and loved it!! Have never stayed at BC. Thoughts? And why?

That is tough. Have you stayed at WL before? I think with it being close (for you - wouldn't be for me I have our OOP food at $1750 but that is 10 days) you should just choose which resort you want to be at the most. Also factor in the carefree spirit of FD. Is there anyone that stresses over food costs once you are there (factor for me but not for everyone.)

 

[krisfan]

We are 2 adults and 2 children under 10.

Just few posts back i attached zip file (disney-1234) which contains an excel sheet .. you can compare different options side by side

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Ok so my sister and I discussed and this is what we think we will do depending on how FD plays out... If we go at all that is since we were just there last week and we'll be at DL in late June so we really shouldn't go but darn it we love it there!

Stay at POR in a RR only if DDP is offered.... If it's not we will go on the cheap and stay at POP in a standard room and just stick with QSDP.

 

[VillainFavs]

That is tough. Have you stayed at WL before? I think with it being close (for you - wouldn't be for me I have our OOP food at $1750 but that is 10 days) you should just choose which resort you want to be at the most. Also factor in the carefree spirit of FD. Is there anyone that stresses over food costs once you are there (factor for me but not for everyone.)

Well, I honestly didn't price out every meal, just kind of going from past experience and knowing approximately what meals are like down there. Although if you did and came up with $1750 for 10 days, then my $1,00-plus a bit for 7 days sounds pretty close! We did stay at WL last year and loved it. Never been to BC.

As for the stressing over food costs--we keep saying we absolutely won't do that if we pay OOP. But I know there will be some sticker shock when we look at the menu! Cheap habits die hard!!! On the other hand, sometimes I'd be perfectly happy just ordering an appetizer and dessert instead of a full meal. And I know we could do some sharing of meals, too.

Decisions, decisions.....

 

[luvallprincesses]

Okay, thought I had this all planned out and then.... Well, as of today, there's standard availability at WL for our dates. So I did the numbers on that compared to what we already have at BC. Here are the options we're looking at right now and really, really having a tough time deciding.

Details - Family of 4--me, DH, DS17, DS15. 6 nights/7 days, third week of August. All prices include 6-day park hopper.

BC - Standard Room - No dining plan - $3206, pay for all food OOP

WL - Standard Room - Free dining plan - $4,172, no extra OOP.

So it's basically $1,000 more for WL but food would be covered. We've done DP on all our trips so far, and never really needed much beyond what's included in the plan (we share some meals, have some breakfasts in the room, etc.). I know $1,000 probably won't cover all our food for the week, but I don't think the difference will be huge. Current ADRs include BOG breakfast/lunch, Via Napoli, Tusker House ROL, 'Ohana dinner, and not sure what else we'll include.

This is all assuming that the mods are only get QSDP as is rumored this year. If that's the case, the difference between upgrading to the regular plan and just going deluxe is so little it doesn't make sense not to do it. If, by chance, the mods get regular dining included for free, then it's a no-brainer for us to go that way.

Stayed at WL last year and loved it!! Have never stayed at BC. Thoughts? And why?

They are both great resorts. What is more important to you:
1. Being able to walk to 2 parks or being closer to MK?
2. Pre-paying your food?
3. Having a decent counter service with choices (WL) or very limited (BC)?

 

[KimBean]

If any body want to crunch the numbers .. i hope this excel will help
numbers will almost match including tax.. you can compare as many combinations you want..just find the room price per night.. other tickets and DP price it will calculate
caution : I am not responsible for mistakes

Nice looking! Mine I'm working on is similar except I'm setting it up to compare resorts but not having to reenter information for multiple comparisons, plus room discount, and offsite. Yours is prettier though!

 

[PrancingPony]

There's a commenter on the disney world subreddit saying that current FD rumor is for Values to only get Breakfast, Mods QSDP, and Deluxe regular DDP. I thought that was U.K.... Did I miss something?!

 

[VillainFavs]

They are both great resorts. What is more important to you:
1. Being able to walk to 2 parks or being closer to MK?
2. Pre-paying your food?
3. Having a decent counter service with choices (WL) or very limited (BC)?

These are exactly some of the arguments we're having with ourselves!

1. I love the idea of being able to walk to Epcot! But then I'm not too thrilled with the idea of having to walk to HS. I know it's a little less than a mile, but in the summer heat, that's extra walking I'm not sure I want to do! It would be nice if they had a bus that went there as well! The access to MK from WL was great!
2. This is the one we're really struggling with! On one hand, we really like the idea of not worrying about cost once we're there. On the other hand, we like the idea of the freedom of ordering just an app for dinner or just having snacks/grazing or whatever we want! Sometimes with the plan, you focus on getting the most "value" out of your credits instead of what you really want at the time.
3. We don't use the CS at the resort much anyway, so that's not really a factor.

Can you tell we're being just a bit wishy-washy on this????

 

[DisTXMom]

I know it's still early, but I thought I would go ahead and set up the new thread before it gets too busy here. Here's the link to the thread. Again, we don't have to leave this one. The new thread is to ensure that those who want to continue planning together can, should this thread get closed.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/2017-fall-planning.3599042/

Thank you. They are making fun of us on other message boards. I guess they think we are a bunch of spazzes for having +500 pages on free dining. So what!?!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

There's a commenter on the disney world subreddit saying that current FD rumor is for Values to only get Breakfast, Mods QSDP, and Deluxe regular DDP. I thought that was U.K.... Did I miss something?!

LOL that would be absolute crap for my sister and I because we don't even like breakfast!
Let's hope that rumor is wrong.

 

[Dashzap]

But then I'm not too thrilled with the idea of having to walk to HS. I know it's a little less than a mile, but in the summer heat, that's extra walking I'm not sure I want to do!

You can take the boat to HS. You don't have to walk.

And BC has Stormalong Bay.

 

[KimBean]

Well, I honestly didn't price out every meal, just kind of going from past experience and knowing approximately what meals are like down there. Although if you did and came up with $1750 for 10 days, then my $1,00-plus a bit for 7 days sounds pretty close! We did stay at WL last year and loved it. Never been to BC.

As for the stressing over food costs--we keep saying we absolutely won't do that if we pay OOP. But I know there will be some sticker shock when we look at the menu! Cheap habits die hard!!! On the other hand, sometimes I'd be perfectly happy just ordering an appetizer and dessert instead of a full meal. And I know we could do some sharing of meals, too.

Decisions, decisions.....

Yes and my price had 2 signatures in it with lobster/crab. We've already decided if we don't get free dining then we will pay for it. I just like the money to be spent and the enjoyment to begin. I think everyone but my 8 yo would be looking to cut corners. Which is great if you have to, to be able to go. We've done it before. but I don't think we have to this trip.

 

[monorailrabbit]

No dining plans on room-only reservations.

You can actually add a dining plan to a RO reservation. You just need to call and do it. Can't do it online.

You can add a dining plan onto a ticketless package*...a basic plan. You can't add a dining plan onto a room only reservation. They are separate systems. If you call, they have to book a new package (with a new deposit) to have a dining plan and then cancel the room only reservation (and refund your deposit within 1-2 billing cycles).

* frequently you can add a DP onto a ticketless package, but not for all offers. Gotta check the small print.

Ok so I want to make sure i understand. We CAN'T do RO and get the dinning plan? We have 4 day park tickets, currently in a package and we are paying for dining. So basically if I want the dining plan I need to either score FD or pay full price? I'm sorry, I'm just confused with the conflicting information. Never looked into RO before.

 

[jods]

Not the case for us. We would save a TON more with FD than a RO. We're staying at CR.

Us too. We're staying a week at BC in august. Room only is 3300ish. 30% is about 1000 off. My kids are 10 and13 so disney adults. So for 4 of us dining would be about 1950. FD is a way better deal.

 

[Disneylover99]

These are exactly some of the arguments we're having with ourselves!

1. I love the idea of being able to walk to Epcot! But then I'm not too thrilled with the idea of having to walk to HS. I know it's a little less than a mile, but in the summer heat, that's extra walking I'm not sure I want to do! It would be nice if they had a bus that went there as well! The access to MK from WL was great!
2. This is the one we're really struggling with! On one hand, we really like the idea of not worrying about cost once we're there. On the other hand, we like the idea of the freedom of ordering just an app for dinner or just having snacks/grazing or whatever we want! Sometimes with the plan, you focus on getting the most "value" out of your credits instead of what you really want at the time.
3. We don't use the CS at the resort much anyway, so that's not really a factor.

Can you tell we're being just a bit wishy-washy on this????

Take the boat to HS. Do not attempt to walk it from the BC in August. I made that mistake once.

 

[PrancingPony]

LOL that would be absolute crap for my sister and I because we don't even like breakfast!
Let's hope that rumor is wrong.

Absolutely! Seeing as how so many of us are relying on POP for either their first or second choice, Breakfast only would be disastrous!

 

[squirrel]

Well, I honestly didn't price out every meal, just kind of going from past experience and knowing approximately what meals are like down there. Although if you did and came up with $1750 for 10 days, then my $1,00-plus a bit for 7 days sounds pretty close! We did stay at WL last year and loved it. Never been to BC.

As for the stressing over food costs--we keep saying we absolutely won't do that if we pay OOP. But I know there will be some sticker shock when we look at the menu! Cheap habits die hard!!! On the other hand, sometimes I'd be perfectly happy just ordering an appetizer and dessert instead of a full meal. And I know we could do some sharing of meals, too.

Decisions, decisions.....

I have stayed at the BC. It was a very nice resort. I wasn't prepared for that resort as I was suppose to be at Pop so I was kind of mad. The CS meals at BC are limited. Most will probably be fine, I however am rather picky so my choices were almost nothing. Had I known that I was staying there I would have figured out things a bit more. Part of the problem was we tried going over to the Boardwalk but any food over there that I wanted wasn't on the Dining Plan. Paying out of pocket would have been better at that resort or having transportation on our off days to DS (DTD). The pools are very nice and we saw DVC members that wanted to use the pool but weren't allowed.

 

[Moocabn2258]

These are exactly some of the arguments we're having with ourselves!

1. I love the idea of being able to walk to Epcot! But then I'm not too thrilled with the idea of having to walk to HS. I know it's a little less than a mile, but in the summer heat, that's extra walking I'm not sure I want to do! It would be nice if they had a bus that went there as well! The access to MK from WL was great!
2. This is the one we're really struggling with! On one hand, we really like the idea of not worrying about cost once we're there. On the other hand, we like the idea of the freedom of ordering just an app for dinner or just having snacks/grazing or whatever we want! Sometimes with the plan, you focus on getting the most "value" out of your credits instead of what you really want at the time.
3. We don't use the CS at the resort much anyway, so that's not really a factor.

Can you tell we're being just a bit wishy-washy on this????

Ok, so we stayed at BC for our honeymoon and loved it! We were there during F&W so it was great being so close to Epcot! There is boat transportation to HS which didn't take long at all, so don't let that scare you. And the pool...can we just talk about the pool for a minute. It's Amazing!!! We aren't necessarily people who plan for resort days, but we did take a pool break and afterwards, I had wished we'd taken more time to enjoy the resort.

With that all being said....we're considering WL for this trip. We've also heard great things. Hope that helped