Free Dining Plan effect on August crowd levels

[chimcho]

Does anyone know how successful the free dining plan / magical beginnings promotion has been? I am looking to take a trip the last week of August, however if the crowds are going to be large I might pick another time. Does have any information?

 

[kennygman]

I think the 13th-19th will have a slight bump. They sold out of those packages before extending the deadline. After that I don't think it will make too much of an effect.

 

[shoppingnut]

We did it last August and found that the crowds weren't that bad.

 

[JimboJones123]

Ditto. I know WE all know about free dining.. but most guests still won't even know about it. It is enough to boost ADRs, but to get the plan, you have to know the code... and the average guest prob doesn't know that the code even exists. So it does boost attendence, but prob not too much. Besides us, how many people actually know what a great deal free dining is anyways. "Great -- a trip of free cheeseburgers"

 

[New2WDW]

Ditto. I know WE all know about free dining.. but most guests still won't even know about it. It is enough to boost ADRs, but to get the plan, you have to know the code... and the average guest prob doesn't know that the code even exists. So it does boost attendence, but prob not too much. Besides us, how many people actually know what a great deal free dining is anyways. "Great -- a trip of free cheeseburgers"

Yeah! Last year we went down on this plan and just happen to mention it in a food line and another person behind me was furious - cause he paid full price on his vacation! So, I learned to keep quit while down on my trip.:lookaroun

 

[JimboJones123]

Yeah! Last year we went down on this plan and just happen to mention it in a food line and another person behind me was furious - cause he paid full price on his vacation! So, I learned to keep quit while down on my trip.:lookaroun

YES -- but if they make fun of you for ordering a bunch of desserts at counter service, you can say -- at least MINE ARE FREE

 

[New2WDW]

YES -- but if they make fun of you for ordering a bunch of desserts at counter service, you can say -- at least MINE ARE FREE

:lol: Then I would have to wipe all that chocolate cake off my face, thus losing my free dessert.

 

[chimcho]

Good info. Now that I looked a little closer at the events that week I see the Wiggles are going to be at MGM. I know they are popular with preschoolers I wonder if that will make a difference in the crowds.

 

[JimboJones123]

It may, but again, I don't know how well the word has spread that they will even be there. Is it in Parents mag? do they do ads during playhouse disney??? I don't think they do much WDW stuff there, it's kinda something they don't do much during kiddo hours on disney channel. People in the "know" know about the concert, but I don't know how many more people do.

 

[kennygman]

Good info. Now that I looked a little closer at the events that week I see the Wiggles are going to be at MGM. I know they are popular with preschoolers I wonder if that will make a difference in the crowds.

I do think all the special events will boost attendance SOME at MGM, but that means, lighter at EP and AK, MK will boost on Little Ones opening days for fantasyland too. Overall attendance won't be all that huge though.

 

[kennygman]

It may, but again, I don't know how well the word has spread that they will even be there. Is it in Parents mag? do they do ads during playhouse disney??? I don't think they do much WDW stuff there, it's kinda something they don't do much during kiddo hours on disney channel. People in the "know" know about the concert, but I don't know how many more people do.

I've thought about how little Disney uses there own resources. In order to see a show about Disney World you have to watch the Travel Channel or Discovery or Food Network? I would have new shows about ALL the disney parks coming out at least yearly and everytime I launch something new. You could play some of the stuff they show at the resorts like Top 7 or something on a regular basis too.

 

[shoppingnut]

I've thought about how little Disney uses there own resources. In order to see a show about Disney World you have to watch the Travel Channel or Discovery or Food Network? I would have new shows about ALL the disney parks coming out at least yearly and everytime I launch something new. You could play some of the stuff they show at the resorts like Top 7 or something on a regular basis too.

That is so true, they definitely don't use their resources. They probably don't want to pay for the production of a show which I think is very foolish.

 

[GenerationX]

Take a look about halfway down this page. It will give you the expected crowd levels and best parks to tour for each day of your trip. It's created by the authors of The Unofficial Guide.

 

[WaltzingMatilda]

We're going the last week in September, when we had originally planned the first week of October. My BIL was in charge and he made the executive decision to go when there was the free dining plan. I was originally worried about this, but having survived PRESIDENT'S WEEK last year(due to poor planning decisions), I'm pretty sure I'm up for anything.

Having said that, I am surprised at : how few people use FastPass, the "slow" season", etc. Maybe it is a marketing thing.

Enjoy your trip, and YES get the Unofficial Guide.