2015 FREE DINING THREAD _ All Questions HERE!!

[Funfire240]

I just did this for our Sept trip. I haven't stayed at the all-star resorts since 1996. If I remember correctly, as far as transportation goes I think sports is first to be picked up to go to the parks. We're travelling with two boys anyway so this will seem new.

That is right about the buses - if you have to share, 1st to be picked up and 1st to be dropped off on the way back.
We stayed there a few years ago and are returning on 10/31 this year.

 

[Aubrav]

Thank you everyone! Now I don't feel bad about switching at all! I really appreciate it. Now if I could just get the website to work...

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

@Aubrav We stayed at Sports in 2013 and loved it! We'll definitely stay there again soon. And it's the first bus stop for the All-Star resorts!

 

[MichaelandAllison08]

Thank you everyone! Now I don't feel bad about switching at all! I really appreciate it. Now if I could just get the website to work...

What are your dates? Flying or Driving?

 

[3pletprincesses]

I have the feeling they pulled out the FD offer because of the glitch this morning. I can book anything else but for FD it tells me rates are not available at the moment to try later

 

[jlundeen]

Disney adjusts promos as needed to fill the rooms and parks. I'd expect it to be the same as years prior. If it would drop crowds, then they'd launch a better promo.

Actually, when I was there in December, it was during a time when "traditionally/historically" crowd levels were rated as LOW...first week/second week...however, they were doing FD then, and the crowds were crazy - especially on the weekends. Everyone I talked to said that they were there at that time because of the Free Dining.

The week that I booked our reservation at Beach Club, according to the crowd calendars was SUPPOSED to be LOW crowds...in fact, according to the crowd calendar I have for October, the whole month, with the exception of Jersey Week is listed as LOW crowds (3) and my week is listed at the 5th best week to be there...(low crowds, low resort prices except for Mods)...so I'm thinking that some of the "predictions" of the folks who put these calendars can't always get it right...but hey, no one has a crystal ball, so all they have is HISTORICAL info to go on...and now that resorts are filling up without the special offers, crowds will probably be a factor any time of the year.

Bottom line - they need to build more resorts...especially once Avatar and Star Wars additions are completed...just my two cents.

 

[Team Bunch]

Nothing at CBR for our family of 5 in October or November, broken hearted. Had to get 2 rooms at pop.

 

[Aubrav]

How is pop coming up $400 more for some of you??

It's only like a $70ish difference for me... Little worried I'm missing something?? We're a fam of 3.

When I originally priced it, it was in a standard room at POP. Now, with the premium pool room requirement, it adds an additional $231 to the POP reservation. But Sports is even less than the original cost of POP in the standard room. I think POP was $2889 and Sports is now listed as like $2700. Maybe the rates are cheaper at Sports for my dates? I can't check the breakdown for sure because the website won't let me.

 

[Camaro305]

I have the feeling they pulled out the FD offer because of the glitch this morning. I can book anything else but for FD it tells me rates are not available at the moment to try later

Something's definitely up. When I quoted a trip at 5am it gave me a price, but when I called at 7am they told me fd wasn't available for my checkin of August 28th, only a room offer.

 

[Aubrav]

What are your dates? Flying or Driving?

We are driving, dates are 10/2- 10/10 or 10/11 (I have through 10/11 booked right now)

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I know it is frustrating with the lack of availability with this offer, but honestly we are the ones at fault. No business puts out discounts for sold products.

I know we want first crack at ADRs, but remember we are all hurting ourselves in terms of discounts.

Having a reservation put you at no advantage from the people booking today. In fact it is easier to book new.

Simple example.... Let's say CBR has 5 standard, 5 preferred, and 5 pirate rooms. People book all 5 standard, 3 of the preferred, and 2 pirate rooms in anticipation of the discount. What does Disney see? In it's inventory there are only 2 preferred rooms and 3 pirate rooms yet to fill. They offer these for FD.

This morning everyone who booked calls to modify and is offered the sale rooms. There are only 5 FD rooms available for 10 people who booked early and for anyone making a new reservation today.

The sad thing is there probably were quite a few rooms booked before the discount that were actually long shot/hoping for pixie dust/donating my plasma hopeful vacations. (I am guilty of this in the past)

PSA summary... Early booking hurts us all.

 

[PirateD]

We stayed in POP last year and LOVED it! I just don't know if we loved it enough to spend an additional $230 on top of the $270 for tickets. I mean, worst case, we don't like Sports as much as POP right? I mean, it won't be terrible either way because it's Disney, right? Please reassure me! lol.

Funny! We have always stayed at All Star Music and loved it, but just last night decided we should try something new. We decided to go with POP because of how highly it is regarded on the Dis. Of course, I am starting to have doubts and wonder if we will love POP as much as ASMu. Typical for me because I always second guess myself! I can reassure you, if you can reassure me, lol!

We love the themimg of the All Stars, and that it is a smaller resort. I've heard that the brand new food courts at ASMu and Sports are great. We've always had great experiences with the bus system and most of the time did not share and when we did it really wasn't an issue because the bus was pretty empty and it didn't add much time at all. I love the atmosphere there! I'm kind of missing it already! I hope we wil love POP just as much. We have fond memories at All Stars but I guess it's good to make new ones too and new places, right?

In the end, it is Disney so I know it will be great! And I can't get over the fact that we have free dining over Christmas! I was so worried it couldn't be done! I'm so grateful for all of the tips on this thread and wish everyone else pixie dust in all of your bookings and planning!

 

[MichaelandAllison08]

We are driving, dates are 10/2- 10/10 or 10/11 (I have through 10/11 booked right now)

Same here, 10/2-10/10 at AS Sports, driving. Could not find flights that were under $1000 for us.

 

[JMac29]

I finally booked online! After dialing for over an hour without being able to get through while simultaneously trying online. The system crashed, sent me through a loop, reservations disappeared out of my cart. So frustrating! I got the dates and resort I wanted, but had to take a Pirate room with water view. I'm hoping I will be able change to a standard room if something becomes available after the madness today. Good luck, and keep trying. It finally worked for me!

 

[jerseygal]

GOOD LUCK even trying to get through to Disney Dining! ADR's will be booking FAST!

 

[hellerjw]

How is pop coming up $400 more for some of you??

It's only like a $70ish difference for me... Little worried I'm missing something?? We're a fam of 3.

It was for me too, around a $9/night difference between Pop and any of the All Stars, but that was for standard rooms. I think folks are finding now that all the standard rooms are booked and they are having to upgrade to preferred rooms to get the FD promo. That can add another $20-$30/night so that is probably where the difference is coming from.

 

[mjallemand]

How is pop coming up $400 more for some of you??

It's only like a $70ish difference for me... Little worried I'm missing something?? We're a fam of 3.

Yeah, I didn't do an exact calculation, but it appeared to be a $50-$70 difference between All-Star and Pop this morning.

For that little difference, Pop was a no-brainer.

 

[MichaelandAllison08]

For 10/2-10/10 I did not show availability at POP

 

[Aubrav]

Funny! We have always stayed at All Star Music and loved it, but just last night decided we should try something new. We decided to go with POP because of how highly it is regarded on the Dis. Of course, I am starting to have doubts and wonder if we will love POP as much as ASMu. Typical for me because I always second guess myself! I can reassure you, if you can reassure me, lol!

We love the themimg of the All Stars, and that it is a smaller resort. I've heard that the brand new food courts at ASMu and Sports are great. We've always had great experiences with the bus system and most of the time did not share and when we did it really wasn't an issue because the bus was pretty empty and it didn't add much time at all. I love the atmosphere there! I'm kind of missing it already! I hope we wil love POP just as much. We have fond memories at All Stars but I guess it's good to make new ones too and new places, right?

In the end, it is Disney so I know it will be great! And I can't get over the fact that we have free dining over Christmas! I was so worried it couldn't be done! I'm so grateful for all of the tips on this thread and wish everyone else pixie dust in all of your bookings and planning!

Well, I can't compare it to All Stars, but I can definitely reassure you that POP was fantastic. The buses were never full, the kids enjoyed the pool activities as much as the park, except for breakfast the food court wasn't too busy... and, like I said, our favorite part was being able to walk across the beautiful bridge to Art of Animation to have cook-to-order pasta and other options at their food court.

"brand new food courts" you say? That can't be bad news at all. And your description makes me think that the three resorts will have just the atmosphere I want. And yes, new memories are the best as well as you never know what you're missing if you don't try it

 

[disneydoll87]

I have been calling for an hour and a half and I can't even get a ring tone...just a busy signal or all circuits are busy message!!!!

me too!