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

[yamkins]

NO! No sharing credits! The server will verify your identity using fingerprint verification and a cheek swab DNA analysis to verify your true identity.

(Kidding!)

Yes you can do that. And it's a very savvy way to customize Dining credits to fit your needs when booking two rooms. Credits are charged using your Magic Band along with the 4 digit PIN you will set up. So just make sure you have the proper MB and PIN# that coincides with the meal plan you want to charge it to when the server comes to scan at the end of your meal.

How many nights are you staying there?
-Deluxe plan includes 3 Table service and 2 snacks per night.
-Quick service plan includes 2 Quick (a.k.a. Counter) service and 2 snacks per night.
You mentioned you would get an additional 8TS and 8snacks using this strategy and I couldn't figure out exactly how many nights. It seems you may be getting more TS than you think.

Cool! So basically, the DxDP room will just "pay" for our TS meals and the QSDP room for our QS meals.

We're staying from 09/02-09/09. So, 7N/8D. No parks on the arrival or departure dates, doing 4 days PH. 2 of the other days, we will visit Universal (so we wont use the credits during these days except for breakfast).

Our previous arrangement was all DDP for 5 adults. So, we had 40 QS credits and 40 TS credits. Changing it to 3A QSDP and 2A DxDP, it gave us 48 QS credits and 48 TS credits. (if I understood it correctly)

Right now, we have 3 meals/day for our park days, 2 in our arrival day, 1 for Universal days, 1 for departure. LOL. I have a surplus of snacks and QS credits (like around 13). Good thing it will be the Food and Wine Festival then...soooo much eating LMAO.

 

[Mac Graham]

I translated that Argentinian travel agent's website. Check in dates are the same as other leaks besides the December date change.

http://tinyurl.com/freediningtranslate

 

[notrub98]

I'm just wondering does RO discount actually work better foranyone?
I mean it certainly does NOT for me. EVER.
Example:
2 adults in ASMo standard room $111 per night with a 20% discount making it $105 per night.
Over 4 nights that is a total savings of $24.
Free QSDP $48 per person per night. $96 per night. 4 nights. Total savings of $384.
BTW we'd already be getting the dining plan anyways.
Definitely not trying to argue but it always just confuses me why people say FD is not a good discount.

Also, IF it turns out that you HAVE to buy PHs for FD.... that makes no sense mathematically for us. We don't hop. We don't need that extra $250 expense. So I can flip that $250 into food and the RO deal makes far more financial sense for us. But this is very family-specific. You have to do the math. Finally, I personally feel that the mods and deluxe are worth a little extra money.

 

[ashleyteira77]

Ditto that my 7yo was 48" last trip and fit fine in it, had to hunch to pull the sun shade over his head though. The GT is taller.

So get the GT and not the regular citi mini? My kids are smaller so we could get away with either. Just worried about it on the busses really. But I imagine any stroller is probably a pain in the butt on the busses.

 

[notrub98]

So get the GT and not the regular citi mini? My kids are smaller so we could get away with either. Just worried about it on the busses really. But I imagine any stroller is probably a pain in the butt on the busses.

I prefer the GT anyway. I will say.... I had a crappy double last time and collapsing it was an absolute nightmare every single time. So, test it out when you pick it up. If it doesn't collapse very easily, it needs some WD40 - call the rental company and ask for an exchange. Don't do what I did and fight with it for a week, cursing the Gods. . To answer your question, strollers are a pain in the butt on the bus, trams - no matter what you do. But they are worth that aggravation to me.

 

[txwdwmom]

I'm just wondering does RO discount actually work better foranyone?
I mean it certainly does NOT for me. EVER.
Example:
2 adults in ASMo standard room $111 per night with a 20% discount making it $105 per night.
Over 4 nights that is a total savings of $24.
Free QSDP $48 per person per night. $96 per night. 4 nights. Total savings of $384.
BTW we'd already be getting the dining plan anyways.
Definitely not trying to argue but it always just confuses me why people say FD is not a good discount.

It's usually better for anyone staying at deluxe resorts, but not values or mods. And if there aren't more than 4 in your group. General rule of thumb but YMMV.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Also, IF it turns out that you HAVE to buy PHs for FD.... that makes no sense mathematically for us. We don't hop. We don't need that extra $250 expense. So I can flip that $250 into food and the RO deal makes far more financial sense for us. But this is very family-specific. You have to do the math. Finally, I personally feel that the mods and deluxe are worth a little extra money.

We never used to hop but we have really gotten our touring style down and really only need 1 day between HS and EPCOT and then if we go to a party at MK only need another half day at MK and then can hop to AK for a little while and we have done all we wanted to we'd be getting the PH anyways on these shorter trips we've been doing.

 

[Meeko5]

So get the GT and not the regular citi mini? My kids are smaller so we could get away with either. Just worried about it on the busses really. But I imagine any stroller is probably a pain in the butt on the busses.

Probably either would work for you then - I'm not sure how the non GT version is different other than height. Do you have a store that you could go in and test them out at? I know the GT folds very easily with 1 hand, so if the other version isn't the same that could be a pain?

 

[notrub98]

It's usually better for anyone staying at deluxe resorts, but not values or mods. And if there aren't more than 4 in your group. General rule of thumb but YMMV.

Not necessarily on Mods. Sometimes RO is the better deal, but it is definitely YMMV on family size, deal %. This is why we obsess and crunch the numbers. Killing the deluxe dining at Mods this year changes the game completely IMHO.

 

[JenK0108]

I'm so glad to hear this! It's hard to beat The Beach Club and I don't want to feel let down when we get there. We will be spending less this time but it is in no way a cheap vacation!!! How was the pool?

My DD was perfectly happy with the pool, and we liked the nearby hammocks and the hot tub. This will be our first time at BC (if we get it), and I'm sure the POR pool can't compete with SAB. That said, we liked it as much as the pools at AKL, CR, and GF. It was our first time not doing deluxe (I know...spoiled) and I had the same worries you do, but it really didn't feel like a downgrade. My daughter and husband would pick it over WL or AKL, and we'll be headed back to POR if we don't get a good deal on BC.

Sounds like you guys love BC. Were you bothered at all by their limited QS? That's the only thing I'm really concerned about since we tend to eat at our resort at least a few times per trip.

 

[Magicalcarpetride]

https://*******.gg/78YpH

Thanks!

 

[notrub98]

We never used to hop but we have really gotten our touring style down and really only need 1 day between HS and EPCOT and then if we go to a party at MK only need another half day at MK and then can hop to AK for a little while and we have done all we wanted to we'd be getting the PH anyways on these shorter trips we've been doing.

I agree with you in theory - I KNOW this is true. But I never end up following my own plan LOL. For me, I have just accepted that I get FOMO and never leave the park I am in .

 

[SouthernSoprano]

Quietest night all week.

Possible calm before the storm??

 

[notrub98]

My DD was perfectly happy with the pool, and we liked the nearby hammocks and the hot tub. This will be our first time at BC (if we get it), and I'm sure the POR pool can't compete with SAB. That said, we liked it as much as the pools at AKL, CR, and GF. It was our first time not doing deluxe (I know...spoiled) and I had the same worries you do, but it really didn't feel like a downgrade. My daughter and husband would pick it over WL or AKL, and we'll be headed back to POR if we don't get a good deal on BC.

Sounds like you guys love BC. Were you bothered at all by their limited QS? That's the only thing I'm really concerned about since we tend to eat at our resort at least a few times per trip.

My first BC stay was in November - LOVED IT. But yes, QS is dismal. I liked Hurricane Hannas for burgers at lunch or dinner but other than that, the food court was a downside.

 

[Mbuksa]

I'm hoping for a room at ASSp check in date Aug 15. I do have a Disney Visa. Assuming that this date is elegible ONLY with a Disney visa, is that something I can even reserve at 4am? Or would I have to wait until 7am anyway?

I need to know the same thing. My check in date is 8/16,

 

[smallworldnh]

So I have a paid off reservation at ASSp with park hopper tickets within the date range for FD with nothing extra added yet. It "should" be an easy online modify to add free dining, correct? I just want this to go as quickly and as painlessly as possible (as I know ALL of you do!! and I hope it does!). Thank you!

 

[sharonabe]

Its a hard decision financially to figure out which is best.... and the least stressful....
Sorry to ramble but it's hard for others to understand the rambling thoughts about this and I'm hoping I can get some suggestions.

Let me add one more scenario to your muddling:

Why not just book yourself into the FD package and leave her off completely? Upgrade to the DxDDP. You would then have 3 x no of nights worth of meals to share between you. You wouldn't have to buy her a ticket, but would have one yourself to use as you please. Once you get there, I think you can add her to the reservation. If not, it would just mean she wouldn't be spending the night with you. '

Would this work?

 

[notrub98]

I need to know the same thing. My check in date is 8/16,

I don't think we will know for sure until Monday, but I would guess you can book online at 4:00 am with everyone else.

 

[Avalon_toon]

Not necessarily on Mods. Sometimes RO is the better deal, but it is definitely YMMV on family size, deal %. This is why we obsess and crunch the numbers. Killing the deluxe dining at Mods this year changes the game completely IMHO.

Things got way more expensive once my kids became "Disney adults" - without the free regular dining plan at the mods, we're unlikely to stay at mods again, the added cost of the rack rate rooms, plus the cost to upgrade at the "adult" price for all of us, plus the Canadian rate of exchange, puts it out of our reach.

 

[Magicalcarpetride]

Update:

The start dates for Aug and Dec FD offer are Aug 21 and Dec 8.

PH "or" PH+ are required as part of the package.

This will be my last update. I would appreciate if no one asks any questions. I have given you all I know.

Best of luck to everyone.

Thank you!