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

[Dashzap]

No car for us. We usually eat breakfast in the room and spend most of our day in the parks, however, there's one evening though that we may want to eat at the resort. I'm just torn! lol

If you only need one dinner, that doesn't sound like a deal breaker. It's not like there won't be some dining options at CB.

"Centertown, a dining location, will serve an all‐you‐care‐to‐enjoy buffet for breakfast and dinner. A selection of grab‐and‐go meals will be conveniently available for purchase in 3 new island markets located in the Aruba, Jamaica and Martinique regions of the Resort. Additional à la carte offerings will be available at mobile food vending locations. Our in‐room dining will remain available. Disney dining plans will be accepted."

 

[Aurora410]

AKL is fabulous. One of my favorites (WL is another fave). If you can, get a savanna view. It's really an experience you can't get at any other resort.

Thanks for the tip! I will look into it!

 

[McFlea]

First of all I want to thank Black, Steve and Ron for their valuable information! Some of you guys know how important this trip is to me, my daughter is very critically ill and I wanted this trip as a chance for her, my SIL, grandson and myself to have what is quite possibly our last family trip together. Thanks to knowing when dining was going to drop I was able to get free dining for the exact dates and resort we wanted (All Star Sports). I also was able to upgrade to DDP. The best part was I saved enough for us to be able to afford the Star Wars Fireworks dessert party AND we're going to do MNSSHP! I am so happy we have the opportunity to do this in this difficult time.

The only issue I had booking yesterday was I could only book standard view on one room, when I went to upgrade the second room only preferred was available. But I got some pixie dust today, I checked and was able to change the preferred room back to a standard room! I really wasn't expecting to be able to change it this soon, but was very happy to be able to do it.

Also need to thank the wonderful people here. I've been on the disboards a long time but never posted a lot because sometimes people could be sarcastic, or even a bit mean. This is the warmest, most helpful group I've ever encountered! So I thank all of you as well.


Terri

So happy you got what you wanted, have a magical trip! Prayers for your daughter.

 

[Gatita78]

So HAPPY right now. Yesterday booked ASSp (only available with FD at that time) but today could switch to Pop that was my first choice

 

[Neeky78]

Just curious, has anyone had any luck modifying an existing reservation at CBR w/the $75 gift card offer over Thanksgiving week? We're booked in a standard room 11/18-11/26 currently but no luck on changing online. We've got a backup plan at ASSports but I'm trying to take advantage of the GC offer as well as free dining. Haven't seen anything available except pirate rooms since the offer went live...

I did it on the phone last night but there were no standard rooms avail so cm put me in a water view for no extra charge (I had been waiting on hold a long time!) to get fd. Gift cards remained even tho it was a new reservation but that's because I did it on the phone with GS.
Def try calling as they seem to have different inventory than what was showing up online.

 

[DJFan88]

Free dining is MINE!

Luckily my vacation fell in the Disney Visa extra days window. I couldn't modify online, but I was able to call (after 40 minutes on hold and at least 10 attempts over a few hours to even be allowed to get in the hold queue). The price is almost exactly the same as my previous package (I just booked a standard room at CBR; and should be able to keep my $75/night gift cards), but I get the park hopper option that I didn't have on my package before.

Now I need to see if I should make different Advanced Dining Reservations considering I have the park hopper option now... I'm sure there's not much available since everyone now has dining packages!

But you upgraded to the regular dining plan too?

 

[babydoll65]

Here is a question. Every year about this time we kick ourselves for not booking the bounce back free dining promo. We get done with the vacation and say "okay, we got our fill, let's go somewhere else next year" and then long about Feb we start saying.... "let's go back" and then start stalking the free dining.

What are the odds that the bounce back offer for free dining is also QS at mods? What is the chance that it stays at the old way of being DDP for the moderates?

Stacy

I've been booking the bounce back offer for many years now. And I'm so glad I booked last September so I was locked into the tickets before the increase. They will probably offer the free dining bounce back for 2018 starting the beginning of August through the end of October this year for select dates in 2018 but will most likely be the offer the gp got this time. One good thing about the bounce back is more room availability and better dates.

 

[OlafSchmolaf]

I did it on the phone last night but there were no standard rooms avail so cm put me in a water view for no extra charge (I had been waiting on hold a long time!) to get fd. Gift cards remained even tho it was a new reservation but that's because I did it on the phone with GS.
Def try calling as they seem to have different inventory than what was showing up online.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm trying that route now...on hold. Seems like phone gives a different experience for some. Really hoping for this option but if not we'll be just fine with our backup plan.

 

[Marianm]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm trying that route now...on hold. Seems like phone gives a different experience for some. Really hoping for this option but if not we'll be just fine with our backup plan.

I was able to get FD on the phone.. my mom called today for her reservation and was on the phone for close to four hours! But she got FD

 

[OlafSchmolaf]

I was able to get FD on the phone.. my mom called today for her reservation and was on the phone for close to four hours! But she got FD

Four hours? Yikes. Congrats on FD.

 

[Kshell40]

Hi, I didn't see that anyone had answered you yet, sorry if they have already. The shared busing is not bad, if you're Sports (1st) or Music (2nd) drop off and pick ups, then it's ok and pretty manageable when it happens. Movies is the 3rd pickup, and we loved the resort but hated the buses because of that. Now when we stayed at Sports, they did not always share, but it did sometimes happen during our trip. I personally would not worry about it unless you were at Movies. I'm sure you will be ok. Personally, I would choose Music over Sports, but if busing is your main concern then pick Sports as they are the 1st drop off and pick up. Hope that helps.

Thanks so much. We have gone the past few years and I have been thinking..... we are never in our rooms. We always think we will take a resort day and never do. Our kids are park people. So why spend the extra ... again. Thanks

 

[Aurora410]

I'm so glad so many people are happy with their FD deals! And I'm sorry if people haven't been able to get what they were looking for, but keep trying, things might open up!

 

[anitsa123]

Ok, I just canceled POR for 20-30 of Sept. I will be staying at a preferred room at All Star Sports

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

We are requesting either Jamaica or Aruba as well. I don't really like being in the "hub" of the resort but also don't want to be way out by the pirate rooms either. We are taking one day off half way through our vacation because the guys in our group want to go to NASA (my son is a space geek) and the girls want to explore the Christmas decorations at the resorts and go to Disney Springs. We are only renting a car for the day that the guys are going to NASA though.

Aruba and Jamaica are great! I have stayed in both. A few days before your trip call the hotel and ask for Jamaica 44,45, or 46....they are closest to bridge. I have always called the resort I am staying at a few days before and request a room and bedrails.....I've been very lucky to have gotten my requests filled every year! Jamaica is also usually first bus stop

 

[JenniKleims]

what are the odds that rooms will open up (for FD) going forward at resorts that say they have no availability?
We wanted to stay at POR but the dates we picked were blacked out...and all our TA was able to get us was a standard room at All-star music (grateful that she was able to snag this for us) but my sister has a disability and needs her own bed...so this leaves me with two kids in my bed (or one of us on the floor)
we are going November 27 to December 2nd. Hoping a room at CBR opens up for that time frame. Should I ask my TA to keep her eyes open for that (or am I dreaming of something that may never occur)

 

[black562]

First of all I want to thank Black, Steve and Ron for their valuable information! Some of you guys know how important this trip is to me, my daughter is very critically ill and I wanted this trip as a chance for her, my SIL, grandson and myself to have what is quite possibly our last family trip together. Thanks to knowing when dining was going to drop I was able to get free dining for the exact dates and resort we wanted (All Star Sports). I also was able to upgrade to DDP. The best part was I saved enough for us to be able to afford the Star Wars Fireworks dessert party AND we're going to do MNSSHP! I am so happy we have the opportunity to do this in this difficult time.

Terri

I will say a prayer for your precious daughter. I hope your trip is absolutely perfect. May God bless her and your family, so you can take many trips together in the future!

 

[coolsonicjaker]

what are the odds that rooms will open up (for FD) going forward at resorts that say they have no availability?
We wanted to stay at POR but the dates we picked were blacked out...and all our TA was able to get us was a standard room at All-star music (grateful that she was able to snag this for us) but my sister has a disability and needs her own bed...so this leaves me with two kids in my bed (or one of us on the floor)
we are going November 27 to December 2nd. Hoping a room at CBR opens up for that time frame. Should I ask my TA to keep her eyes open for that (or am I dreaming of something that may never occur)

It's pretty likely that something will open up. I was able to snag free dining at POR just yesterday after just refreshing and checking relentlessly during the day.

 

[aekelburg]

what are the odds that rooms will open up (for FD) going forward at resorts that say they have no availability?
We wanted to stay at POR but the dates we picked were blacked out...and all our TA was able to get us was a standard room at All-star music (grateful that she was able to snag this for us) but my sister has a disability and needs her own bed...so this leaves me with two kids in my bed (or one of us on the floor)
we are going November 27 to December 2nd. Hoping a room at CBR opens up for that time frame. Should I ask my TA to keep her eyes open for that (or am I dreaming of something that may never occur)

Occasionally it does happen. Just this morning more room options opened up for me in POP for the last week of August. Last year after about a week of Free Dining being released the room I was looking for at AOA (lion king suite) opened. As more people change, modify, and cancel, more things are bound to open up. Definitely keep checking back.

 

[cshell624]

See y'all around August for the next round.

No need to rush off. Feel free to hang out and plan with the rest of us.

 

[ianhead]

Aruba and Jamaica are great! I have stayed in both. A few days before your trip call the hotel and ask for Jamaica 44,45, or 46....they are closest to bridge. I have always called the resort I am staying at a few days before and request a room and bedrails.....I've been very lucky to have gotten my requests filled every year! Jamaica is also usually first bus stop

This is good to hear. I'll be staying at CBR for the first time this December and targeted those numbers in Jamaica.