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

[camper06]

I have a couple questions I hope you guys can answer for me.

What time do your dining credits expire? If we check out at 9am on our last day can we still use a dining credit for lunch or dinner?

Is park hopper an all or nothing deal? If we need 8 day tickets, can we apply park hoppers to just 4 of them?

I feel like I should know the answers to these questions but I don't.


An update on our plans though - we originally were booked at CBR with the gift card offer. I can't apply FD to our current offer (no room availability)

So I made a second reservation at Pop with FD (upgraded to regular plan) and now have to decide which one I want. Pop is the better deal I think...but man those double beds. My DH and I are both tall and my oldest child sleeps in starfish position and spins.

Not sure when exactly dining credits expire, but we have used them after our checkout for lunches and dinners. We usually take an evening flight (7pm) so spend the day at Disney Springs, and have never had a problem using them on our last day.

All or nothing. Park hopper costs the same whether its for 4 days or 8 days or 10 days. It is a straight fee that is applied to your ticket for however many days the ticket is for. So there would be no savings even if you could do it (which you cant).

Good luck deciding where to stay! We love both Pop and CBR but with the construction at CBR, I don't know if I would want to stay there at this time. But I totally get what you're saying about the beds!

 

[dolewhipdreams]

Getting two different 4-day tickets will be WAY MORE expensive than just getting an 8-day.

Oh wow, duh. This is what getting up at 3am does to my brain

 

[jmkrat]

It seemed like it took forever for the Specials to show up, but once they did I was able to get the free dining. I got the resort of my choice but not the room I had wanted. That's ok though, I'm going to Disney and getting free dining. I have no idea what the Royal rooms are like but I'll find out. I will be there for my Birthday and it will be the best Birthday ever.

 

[pigletto]

Well we will be one of the families who downgraded in room to make the price worth it! Free Dining is still the best savings for us (with four, now five kids) by a long shot. Our kids are ages infant - 8 years, and character meals are still a huge part of our trips. We typically stay at CBR, but pirate rooms do not work for us, and that price was not worth it after upgrades. Grandparents are coming along this time so we could spread kids out in rooms, and it made more sense to stay at ASMU with upgraded dining for over $1,000 less than CBR without the upgrade. Now I won't feel the least bit guilty buying MVMCP tickets! So...we'll be checking in November 25 - December 1 with two rooms at ASMU!

This offer didn't make any sense for us financially at a mod, but by booking POP for the four of us, it comes out way cheaper than I can even make going offsite. Offsite would afford us WAY more room in a nicer resort. On the other hand, by staying at POP we would save about $600 ($780 Canadian) have food covered, waterparks (wouldn't purchase them offsite), mugs, and will be in the bubble.

 

[Taylor F.]

Yeah it's tough to complain about this. I plan on spending a lot of "break time" at The Poly to make up for it!

Just tried to book Boardwalk and it booked up instantly. FML

 

[Kiki_pa]

Finally got through!!!! Only 11 minute hold so they say. I need some luck!

 

[Lothlórien]

That's so stupid! I was up first thing and jumped right on it. It is what it is and Im going regardless but it just doesn't seem right that because I booked months in advance I miss out...

It is not stupid and regardless of when you book, nobody is entitled to it. I understand that you are disappointed, I get that, but the purpose is for Disney to fill empty rooms. This is not about doing favors for guests. I think for years we have all become accustomed to what they offer and now it is the expectation instead of a happy surprise. They are not going to offer something if it does not make financial sense to them. They do not owe anybody discounts.

Have you priced out other options to see if another hotel or room category might make sense for your vacation? Upgrading your room category or hotel might still save you money over what you will pay for your meals.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I feel sick to my stomach! I called my TA at 9 a.m. and she wasn't in the office yet, finally got her at 9:20. She's not as hyped up over FD as me, understandably. She tried to modify online and it wouldn't let her, so now she's on hold with the TA line and there's a 45 minute wait. I think it's going to be close, if I get FD at all. She asked if we were willing to upgrade from Value to a Moderate and I said go ahead, so long as it comes in under our original package price. No sense paying for FD if it makes the trip more expensive. My Zen approach from last night is not working anymore-I'm officially freaking out.

 

[stayathomehero]

I think you have until Midnight the day you check out to use the dining credit.

That's correct! It makes for a fun last day dash after checking out to use all your snack credits left over before heading home.

 

[mamamelody2]

My experience this morning:
Set alarm for 3:40. Woke up bleary-eyed and started hitting refresh.
FINALLY at about 5:30 the dining offer show up on the special offers page.
I click it a few times, but it takes me to a Goofy error page.
I just go direct to search my dates and pick ASSp and there it is. I had picked ASSp even though I wanted POP, because of how everyone says POP sells out super fast, limited availability etc. I decide I should at least look. POP standard room available for November 14-20. It took like 2 minutes to book it. No glitches or weirdness. Yay!! Much easier than I expected.
We did not upgrade dining, because we want the freedom of no ADRs, although we may get a couple while there. And I'm determined to get BOG lunch, but that is still a quick service meal.
I'm so excited! Now I feel like our trip is set.

 

[Tonyz]

Just tried to book Boardwalk and it booked up instantly. FML

That sucks. Where are you looking at now?

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

So as rumored no FD for Yacht Club during our travel dates (Nov. 1-11). The only other time that we could conceivably go is late October (and that would require losing the money for our runDisney Wine & Dine races) but I checked those dates for the hell of it and no availability at Yacht Club. Will have to hold out for a room only discount during our travel dates.

 

[Chime]

Not sure when exactly dining credits expire, but we have used them after our checkout for lunches and dinners. We usually take an evening flight (7pm) so spend the day at Disney Springs, and have never had a problem using them on our last day.

All or nothing. Park hopper costs the same whether its for 4 days or 8 days or 10 days. It is a straight fee that is applied to your ticket for however many days the ticket is for. So there would be no savings even if you could do it (which you cant).

Good luck deciding where to stay! We love both Pop and CBR but with the construction at CBR, I don't know if I would want to stay there at this time. But I totally get what you're saying about the beds!

Thanks so much! I am wary of the construction too.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I was able to snag FD for an AOA suite for our 3 Night/2-Day PH tickets with no issue. If you click to view "details" in the Special Offer, it will tell you the 2-Day PH. The details, copied from the site:

Valid Travel Dates

• August 21 through September 30, 2017
• November 14 through November 20, 2017
• November 25 through November 27, 2017
• December 8 through December 23, 2017

Package Includes

• Room
• Theme park ticket(s) with Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus Option
• Dining Plan (Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan with Value and Moderate Resort hotel packages; Disney Dining Plan with Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resort hotel packages)

Important Details

• The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.
• Advance reservations required.
• Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use.
• Children ages 3 to 9 must choose from the children’s menu, if available.
• Some table-service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.

Ticket Requirements

• Minimum 2-day Magic Your Way ticket with Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus Option

Offer Restrictions

• Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.
• Excludes alcoholic beverages and gratuities.
• Everyone in the same room must be on the same package.
• Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

Yes but it does not tell you the minimum number of nights required in those details.
It is 3 nights minimum though.

 

[ILikeWaffles]

I wasn't able to get FD for my rooms at POR in the fall, but I had a travel agent who was able to get me a huge discount at Beach Club, so it's only about $300 more (total for two rooms) than to stay at POR. I'm pretty pleased with that.

 

[stayathomehero]

I woke up at 4 and did 30 minute naps until seeing it come live at about 5:30. Goofy pulled a prank for about 10 minutes, until the offer really went live and got it done without any hiccups.


8/21-9/2 at Pop Century, (and also booked Port Orleans Riverside, but we're probably going to throw that one back, because with the upgrade it's just a little too pricey).

 

[Lothlórien]

For all of those who were unable to get what they wanted, I am sorry. I am really grateful that Disney is NOT offering free dining the first full week of December. For those of us who are Members, that is the best time to go a

I feel sick to my stomach! I called my TA at 9 a.m. and she wasn't in the office yet, finally got her at 9:20. She's not as hyped up over FD as me, understandably. She tried to modify online and it wouldn't let her, so now she's on hold with the TA line and there's a 45 minute wait. I think it's going to be close, if I get FD at all. She asked if we were willing to upgrade from Value to a Moderate and I said go ahead, so long as it comes in under our original package price. No sense paying for FD if it makes the trip more expensive. My Zen approach from last night is not working anymore-I'm officially freaking out.

If you upgrade and pay $200 more for your stay, but food would cost you $600 out of pocket, it is still a win.

 

[mamamelody2]

So as rumored no FD for Yacht Club during our travel dates (Nov. 1-11). The only other time that we could conceivably go is Late October so I checked that for the hell of it and no availability at Yacht Club. Will have to hold out for a room only discount during our travel dates.

There's no FD at all anywhere in October. And the first FD day in November is the 14th.

 

[Elle23]

How long does it usually take for modifications to show up? It let me upgrade to preferred and add a day to my reservation online (and charged me accordingly), but my old reservation is still showing up (unless I click on change reservation, then the new stuff is there).

I knew I should have just left it all alone.

Ok...I received a confirmation email with the new updates. Still not sure why they aren't showing up under my reservations though.

 

[mowork48]

Thanks, hopefully we have it. He told me he wouldn't be sending out emails until after he has helped all his clients which I can understand. We already had the dining and park hoppers on the package so trying to see if there was something else there that would show me it had been switched to free dining. We were booked at POP with a standard room and nothing has changed there either. I have a feeling we didn't get it.

Well, if you can let me/us know, I know we all are in this together. If you don't mind me asking, what resort were you trying to get FD for and the dates? Maybe if someone on the board sees one or is going to cancel one they can give you a heads up