Free dining in the fall?

[Elsaalltheway]

No problem. We were in 5, the other 60s building. Standard room, lake view, just around the corner from preferred rooms. Basically everything you said about 4, minus the fireworks.

I'm going to try for the 50's lake view. That should allow for some of the HS ones but I think the trees will get in the way for Illuminations and the fireworks that will be in the MK for sept.

 

[tink15823]

I believe it was the 60's. Its the building to the right just as you walk out on the right side. The play dough with lake view. I would even think the 50's with lake view would get you the same thing. But the 60's lake view was, in my opinion, the sweet spot. I wish I knew what building it was.

Building 4

Thank you both we have been tossing back and fourth between Pop and All Star Sports . We loved AOA its just not in the budget this year and I keep thinking we could at least stroll over to AOA .

 

[BJ7644]

Thank you both we have been tossing back and fourth between Pop and All Star Sports . We loved AOA its just not in the budget this year and I keep thinking we could at least stroll over to AOA .

We've only been once and stayed at Pop, so I can't compare it to any others, just can say I'd stay there again. We wanted to walk over to AoA one day but never found the time.

If you are going to try for free dining its not a bad idea to have 2 choices in mind. Hopefully at least one of them will have availability and you won't feel like you are settling.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I think with most bounce backs they usually have you reserve preferred rooms. I was lucky and got a bounce back for PoP with a standard room. The year before we were forced to get a preferred but when we did our pre check in we asked for a standard because we wanted a specific spot and it was a standard room, so we took the downgrade but still paid for the preferred.

I have had excellent luck with booking bounce backs in standard rooms. Have booked BB standard in POFQ and CBR, and booked one for upcoming July in a standard at POR. I have found that bounce backs booked nearly a year in advance are very open and easy to book a room of choice. Booking regular FD when it is released in the spring, on the other hand, seems to be nearly impossible to get a standard room.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

I may try for a moderate. I've stayed at Pop so many times, will try something different next year.

 

[dlavender]

I may try for a moderate. I've stayed at Pop so many times, will try something different next year.

Be careful, its hard to go back...

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Be careful, its hard to go back...

My brother was a PoP fan, then stayed at Wilderness Lodge and has gone back to PoP. The only other place he would even consider staying is the Boardwalk and he will be staying there in Jan, I think after that he will be back at PoP. I have a friend who finds it hard to stay anywhere but the GF.

 

[SpaceMonkey35]

Is it better to have a room already booked that you'd assume would get FD. Or is it possible that when dates are released to call and book right away?
I'll be attending WDW anytime in the month of October for 10 days. Thanks in advance

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Is it better to have a room already booked that you'd assume would get FD. Or is it possible that when dates are released to call and book right away?
I'll be attending WDW anytime in the month of October for 10 days. Thanks in advance

You will find two groups of people with this. The first issue with already having your room booked, lets say everybody was in this frame of mind. Disney offers the deal depending on how they can fill the rooms, but if everybody has booked with the hopes of getting free dining, Disney might not offer it because the rooms are already filled, or offer it at that time. We tend to assume that they will always offer it matching the previous years bounce back, but there is no guarantee. Last year they kept saying it was better not to pre book because it showed the hotels more empty and gave an incentive to actually continue with the offer. If you continue to follow the list they will announce when it will be booked and the only thing to think about, is be preapared for a long hold, and possibly not having any rooms available for what you want. That also goes back to pre booking, the room or hotel that you are booking at may not be offering it for the type of room you have a reservation for. Standard as opposed to preferred.

 

[laenfante]

Since we'll be there 10/21 - 10/30 I'm not holding my breath about free dining being available during that time. It would be really spiffy, but if not...hey...we'll be at WDW!!!

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Since we'll be there 10/21 - 10/30 I'm not holding my breath about free dining being available during that time. It would be really spiffy, but if not...hey...we'll be at WDW!!!

Yeah the bounce back I got from last year ended on sept 9th and didn't start up again till Nov. So most of Sept and all of Oct was gone and then it was only a week or two here or there till right before Xmas.

 

[itsjustryan]

FYI. There is an official FD Watch thread out there now.

Best of luck to everyone!!!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...watch-wait-and-dream-official-thread.3576059/

 

[SpaceMonkey35]

You will find two groups of people with this. The first issue with already having your room booked, lets say everybody was in this frame of mind. Disney offers the deal depending on how they can fill the rooms, but if everybody has booked with the hopes of getting free dining, Disney might not offer it because the rooms are already filled, or offer it at that time. We tend to assume that they will always offer it matching the previous years bounce back, but there is no guarantee. Last year they kept saying it was better not to pre book because it showed the hotels more empty and gave an incentive to actually continue with the offer. If you continue to follow the list they will announce when it will be booked and the only thing to think about, is be preapared for a long hold, and possibly not having any rooms available for what you want. That also goes back to pre booking, the room or hotel that you are booking at may not be offering it for the type of room you have a reservation for. Standard as opposed to preferred.

Thank you very much. I haven't booked yet because I wanted to wait either for FD or Room discount. We're up in the air on where to stay

 

[lockedoutlogic]

FYI. There is an official FD Watch thread out there now.

Best of luck to everyone!!!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...watch-wait-and-dream-official-thread.3576059/

Is there an official "water boarding" thread? I'm up for that one instead...

 

[dlavender]

FD is definitely a shell game.

I have definitive proof from planning our upcoming trip over Christmas.

When priced out on Disney's site, total package was $4500, no dining.

When I reached out to an infamous TA, total package was $3300, no dining, $4500, with dining.

So, I could have moved our trip to start on the 21st, if thats going to be the last day of FD again this year, and hold out for FD, but I'd pay $4500, and probably even more since sometimes you have to upgrade to a preferred room.

Disney could just offer the package for $3300 without dining, like the TA was able to do, but no, they force you into FD, and everyone celebrates.....

 

[lockedoutlogic]

FD is definitely a shell game.

I have definitive proof from planning our upcoming trip over Christmas.

When priced out on Disney's site, total package was $4500, no dining.

When I reached out to an infamous TA, total package was $3300, no dining, $4500, with dining.

So, I could have moved our trip to start on the 21st, if thats going to be the last day of FD again this year, and hold out for FD, but I'd pay $4500, and probably even more since sometimes you have to upgrade to a preferred room.

Disney could just offer the package for $3300 without dining, like the TA was able to do, but no, they force you into FD, and everyone celebrates.....

Christmas? Do I have to drive over there and slap you or something?


And that's not quite a shell game...you do get the better package with the dining I suppose (plus $500 or so In guaranteed out of pocket because of the dining)...

I thin your point is that they have a minimum they'll sell the park and room for...and "free dining" tends to be a 20% sweetener that they line item off into the billing somewhere.

Here's where my rub is: that same package at Caribbean in 2003 (before dining plan...so room and tickets) was around $1900 for a week at christmass...as little $1200 in January...

Not kidding...looked at it every single day for months...

So, what have all the "discounters" gained?

You paying $12 for a gallon of milk these days?

 

[dlavender]

Christmas? Do I have to drive over there and slap you or something?

DW has wanted to do a Christmas trip ever since we had our first little one almost 9 years ago. Growing up in Central FL, we were taught two things, 1) You don't want what they are selling on OBT and 2) don't go to Disney over Christmas.

However, the stars aligned this year, and we are taking the plunge.

Subconsciously, maybe I'm hoping it breaks the WDW addiction. Once I see the IASW wait at 90 mins, I'm sure it will do the trick.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

DW has wanted to do a Christmas trip ever since we had our first little one almost 9 years ago. Growing up in Central FL, we were taught two things, 1) You don't want what they are selling on OBT and 2) don't go to Disney over Christmas.

However, the stars aligned this year, and we are taking the plunge.

Subconsciously, maybe I'm hoping it breaks the WDW addiction. Once I see the IASW wait at 90 mins, I'm sure it will do the trick.

Honestly...and I'm not trying to bring you down...you're gonna hate it.

Those properly trained can't shift into warp to the level you would need to be comfortable with it.

...that being said...and this is huge stretch for me...we might try thanksgiving.

October is ridiculous anymore and I can't stand jersey week...it's been ruined by...well...jersey. And an unnecessary run Disney event.

Good OBT reference...by the way.

To add: "never trust a timeshare or "luxury" apartment sale in Kissimmee, bvl, or St. Cloud"

 

[dlavender]

Honestly...and I'm not trying to bring you down...you're gonna hate it.

Those properly trained can't shift into warp to the level you would need to be comfortable with it.

...that being said...and this is huge stretch for me...we might try thanksgiving.

October is ridiculous anymore and I can't stand jersey week...it's been ruined by...well...jersey. And an unnecessary run Disney event.

Good OBT reference...by the way.

To add: "never trust a timeshare or "luxury" apartment sale in Kissimmee, bvl, or St. Cloud"

I already know. DW is about to learn.

I'm already practicing the conversation we are going to have on Dec 26th at 11 AM standing in front of Peter Pan. "remember when I said....."

Thanksgiving isn't too bad. I've never been in the parks on the actual day, but the preceding days, and the weekend after we were pleasantly surprised. That's when we went last year.

I'll add one more: "That crappy hotel that now says "condo", is still the same crappy hotel it was yesterday"

 

[scrapbooksellman]

We are thinking of going Thanksgiving week. Hoping for free dining.

Anyone been to Universal that week? We might go there for a few days too. Though I hate to leave Disney. Our son loves Harry Potter.