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

[scard192]

If this year's blackout dates are similar to last year's then that's a bummer for us because we would be traveling at the beginning of November. Keeping my fingers crossed though, just in case.

there should be a RO in November and if you say at a Deluxe the RO is often a better deal.

 

[yamkins]

Last year we had QS free dining. One of our family members left 2 days early to get back for work. We were able to use the dining credits because they were linked to the room, not a certain person.

Does anyone know what happens if you manage to get free dining with x number of people for y number of days, but not all of x number of people are going to stay for the full y number of days?

Here's a related answer from Disney Moms Panel too:
https://disneyparksmomspanel.disney...w-grandma-health-issues-sometimes-she-336327/

 

[disneydreamer1980]

some sites say 12/3-12/23 some say 12/8 to 12/23. 12/8 seems more likely due to pop warner

 

[Disney Ron]

This waiting is tiring. I don't buy the Chip & Co speculation. We'll see if Tom Bricker drops another more telling email. And if Visa releases its offerings on Friday.

My "hunch" is FD won't be released early for Disney Visa holders.

 

[Disney Ron]

I thought you had to pay a non-discounted rate to get FD. Am I wrong?

You can't combine deals for WDW. You'd either have to use a Room Only discount OR a FD discount.

 

[Moocabn2258]

PM me.

ANYONE who wants to I can do it. I might not be on too much today (shocker) but I will respond.

Thanks @KimBean ! You are awesome. I'll be sending you mine as well I thought I had it all figured out, but the more I crunch my numbers the more I confuse my self and I feel like I'm missing something.

 

[agassizsmile]

PM me.

ANYONE who wants to I can do it. I might not be on too much today (shocker) but I will respond.

Hi can you pls crunch my numbers?since you are offering! It's two adults and one 11 year old and two 8 year olds.Doing 9 days 8 nights with PH plus at either CBR or POR or FW cabins
Will upgrade to DDP if QS is offered only. Wondering if staying at BC or YC would be just a few hundred dollars more ....then that'd be better than staying at a Mod and having to pay to upgrade!We plan on one TS a day for nine days

 

[Moocabn2258]

Anyone else finding more available for their dates? Ever since I found out I would possibly have to change my BB Dates (January) I've been checking online. WL has had nothing but club level rooms available for months!!! Now there seems to be almost everything! I was even able to change to a standard room for the earlier dates even though the website says standard is not available! Why the sudden influx in rooms?!?

I noticed this too! I've been checking every day for almost a month. I go on yesterday and all of a sudden there were a bunch of room categories available (across resorts) that were previously sold out. Doesn't change my plans at all, but good for others!

 

[sarah24]

Anyone know what the deluxe room only discount usually is and when it is historically released?

 

[smallworldnh]

Not yet, I just checked the Disney Rewards site.

From what OP's have said about it not being the case the past couple of years, I'm not holding out any hope for this year, at least for the earlier drop. We should have heard something by now.

 

[Jchoma]

If I have base tickets linked to my MYW package and it's pretty certain I'll need the Park Hopper option to qualify for FD, should I go ahead and add it? Or is it just easier to make all modifications at once once FD drops?

Also wanted to share that the first leg of our trip is at CBR and we qualified for the gift card offer, so I just called Disney to confirm that we will still get the gift cards if I make changes. I was told that if as long as I don't change dates, I can make other changes (including room type, if I have to to do so to qualify for FD) without losing the GC offer. I really hope that's true! We decided to split our stay and initially I was kicking myself, because we'll now be re-checking in and losing FD for 3 days.

But now, I'm realizing that between the gift cards and the fact that we could get a room-only discount on the last 3 nights of our trip, it'll work out. We can use those cards towards dining. We're also not checking in until late on our first day, Sunday 11/26, so we can use the QS dining credits from that day before they expire at midnight on our "checkout" day, Thursday. So we're really only missing out FD on 2 days, Friday and Saturday, the last 2 days of our trip. If everything goes according to plan (fingers crossed!!!) and I can score FD at CBR with a standard room, we'll be fine.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

I am in the same "quandary" as others, to upgrade from QSDP (staying at POP) or leaving it as is - our cost would be $148 each for 7 nights - we plan to eat at Biergarten, Ohana, Prime Time, and France or Japan so far and probably a character lunch or breakfast. I tried explaining to DH last night but he wasn't in the mood to talk Disney (I know how dare he!) Am i wrong to think, that if planned OOP is at $150 we might as well upgrade since we would have another 2 TS for use? I know this seems like simple math but the waiting and stress really has my brain on this one

LOL. I totally understand this delema. I did a bounce back from last year so free dining is already on my plan. I'll also be at POP during those days. The people Im going with have never been before. One jumped into planning with two feet and the other we are pretty much dragging. I told them both to pick an OOP so I can do the reservationis. If they wanted one. One chose Boathouse and the other Ohana. Once I started doing the math I was like,,,,hmm maybe I should upgrade, but then though about it. It would be TOO much planning and scheduling. Plus I'm not sure how these two newbies will hold up. One is walking miles a day already and the other I don't think will be able to make it till the end of the day so we decided to scrap that and have a more of an open plan.

 

[Moocabn2258]

Ok, so work has totally been getting in the way of my DIS Board reading lately as well as my last minute planning. I've been trying to keep up in between conference calls and meetings. I think I'm finally back with you all!

We're in the home stretch people!

 

[Stacie Rinehimer]

Woah!! Lots of reading today. Seems nothing new- YET!?
I have been racking my brain for the past week since the rumor came out. We are booked at CBR Sept 25- Oct 1. 2 rooms they're are 7 of us total. 4 adults 1 child and 2 infants. We love CBR. News came out about construction and gift card offer, wasn't enough to turn us away (we've stayed during room construction and we're not bothered) more space is a big deal to us. Pools for kids is big deal for us. Even though we only have 1 rest day. QSDP is throwing me for a loop. I just don't know what to do. Book value and upgrade if dining is released or stay CBR and upgrade. If we can get any at all. Difference will be $927 between CBR and POP. BUT we will be getting $900 in GC which we thought OK that will be our spending. We either pay it up front for the package and get back to spend or go lower package and we will spend that anyways. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated because this brain is toasting with all the thinking. I am trying my hardest to figure and can't seem to see if a RO would benefit us. Our ADR are made
Ohana- Whispering canyon- BOG lunch and dinner- Tusker ROL- LTT- Cape may cafe
We want to do all of these, breaks for us work. OOP seems like a lot even if we used the gift cards. UGh
I hope everyone else planning is magical

 

[scrappinginontario]

You can't combine deals for WDW. You'd either have to use a Room Only discount OR a FD discount.

Possibly not true. Not sure if you'd call it 'combining' deals but currently Canadians can get room only discount + discounted Canadian tickets on the same reservation. I have 2 of these booked for different friends right now.

 

[Disney Ron]

Woah!! Lots of reading today. Seems nothing new- YET!?
I have been racking my brain for the past week since the rumor came out. We are booked at CBR Sept 25- Oct 1. 2 rooms they're are 7 of us total. 4 adults 1 child and 2 infants. We love CBR. News came out about construction and gift card offer, wasn't enough to turn us away (we've stayed during room construction and we're not bothered) more space is a big deal to us. Pools for kids is big deal for us. Even though we only have 1 rest day. QSDP is throwing me for a loop. I just don't know what to do. Book value and upgrade if dining is released or stay CBR and upgrade. If we can get any at all. Difference will be $927 between CBR and POP. BUT we will be getting $900 in GC which we thought OK that will be our spending. We either pay it up front for the package and get back to spend or go lower package and we will spend that anyways. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated because this brain is toasting with all the thinking. I am trying my hardest to figure and can't seem to see if a RO would benefit us. Our ADR are made
Ohana- Whispering canyon- BOG lunch and dinner- Tusker ROL- LTT- Cape may cafe
We want to do all of these, breaks for us work. OOP seems like a lot even if we used the gift cards. UGh
I hope everyone else planning is magical

Stacie, my thought is I wouldn't give up the GC's so I would stay at CBR with FD and upgrade to the DDP. Especially since you love the resort and may be disappointed if you don't stay there. It all comes down to what you can comfortably afford.

 

[DiaryofaDisneyKid]

Wow this thread moves fast, LOL! I've been trying to catch up all day but every time I leave the room for something I have about 5 more pages to catch up on. We want to use our snack credits for Starbucks, F&W, anything from Karamell-Kuche and the kiddos love the Giant soft pretzels. I think my youngest DS might finally be tall enough for Splash Mountain, so I am hoping it opens up for the end of our trip. My DH doesn't like how wet he gets on the ride so I think he is hoping it's still closed because he knows I won't take all three kids by myself.

 

[Disneygurl84]

Not yet, I just checked the Disney Rewards site.

Do you have to log in or something to see any deals for Disney visa?

 

[sharonabe]

If I have base tickets linked to my MYW package and it's pretty certain I'll need the Park Hopper option to qualify for FD, should I go ahead and add it? Or is it just easier to make all modifications at once once FD drops?

Leave it alone until FD drops. What if you can't get FD at CBR at all? Do you still want the PH? Will you move to another resort? Just wait.

Possibly not true. Not sure if you'd call it 'combining' deals but currently Canadians can get room only discount + discounted Canadian tickets on the same reservation. I have 2 of these booked for different friends right now.

The difference is Free Dining. Historically, you could never combine any other discount with free dining. The GCs at CBR are the wild card that I think are getting people's hopes up of combining other discounts, but I don't see that happening.

Combining other discounts has been around. Your Canadian one is a good example. Military discounts can also be stacked. It just depends on the discount. BUT free dining has ALWAYS required rack rate room and full-priced tickets.

 

[Disney Ron]

Possibly not true. Not sure if you'd call it 'combining' deals but currently Canadians can get room only discount + discounted Canadian tickets on the same reservation. I have 2 of these booked for different friends right now.

I can't comment on Canadian offers, but for we in the states, if booking through Disney, it's 1 special offer per reservation. I know some TA's offer discounted rooms and tix, but that's another story.