Who WON'T go this year W/O free dining.

[JimboJones123]

I know we have money set aside to sign right on if it is offered, but a trip is just out of the question without it. We may go to DL instead for a long weekend or go to Hershey instead. We just can't afford to have the $2K bill at the end of the trip when we go. Anybody else in the same boat.

Free Dining or Bust!

 

[Dagger]

 

[Master Yoda]

I agree, that is some pretty crazy logic there.

I think if it were me, I'd go ahead and make my plans, with a good 6 months to spare there is plenty of time to save extra money for dining and I could purchase the regular dining plan. If they do decide to do free dining, which they haven't offered for very long and could stop doing anytime they so choose, then great, I have my plans all made and I have saved alot of money that I can now use on other stuff, but if not then I can still afford to pay for meals.

It is not all that crazy it is more like good planning in my eyes. We all make decisions and plans based on what could happen and this is no different. If and when free dinning is announced Jimbo will be all set while the rest of the masses will have to eat lunch a 3:00 PM at restaurant that was their 4th choice.

Save me a seat at Le Celer Jimbo:wave:

 

[JimboJones123]

It is not all that crazy it is more like good planning in my eyes. We all make decisions and plans based on what could happen and this is no different. If and when free dinning is announced Jimbo will be all set while the rest of the masses will have to eat lunch a 3:00 PM at restaurant that was their 4th choice.

Save me a seat at Le Celer Jimbo:wave:

Thanks, we did the same thing last year... and it worked out. I bet KK has plenty of reservations on hold "if" free dining occurs.

I didn't think this would actually be a topic where I would get bashed. :shrug:

 

[New2WDW]

I didn't think this would actually be a topic where I would get bashed. :shrug:

You should of planned ahead! :lol: Just kidding!:wave:

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I didn't think this would actually be a topic where I would get bashed. :shrug:

I'm pretty suprised myself Jimbo!! In no way did I feel you were saying you were entitled to a free promotion, or going to punish Disney by not going if they didn't offer it.

I thought you were like a lot of us out there who are - quite simply - hoping for free dining!! There's certainly nothing wrong with that!

By the way, I'm going to be making "just in case" ressies soon myself. I don't want to miss out on Cinderellas or California Grill because I waited until free dining was - or wasn't - announced!

 

[Dwarful]

Well, we moved our trip from June to August. We are going with a girl scout troop of about 40 people. Pam did all the booking for us and arranged our meals accordingly. Bless her for putting up with us. We did have it all set for June. But then I thought "hey they might offer free dining in August" so I called Pam and she rearranged 10 rooms for us. We have been working our rear ends off (we only make .50 on a $4.00 box of cookies) and will go to WDW with or without the free dining. The fd would really help the girls out with their budgets, but if not at least I know the girls will all eat well. I insisted that everyone going gets the dining plan. ( I didn't want 1/2 the girls eating pbj's while the others were doing character dining because people did not plan accordingly).
Free dining would be wonderful. But we will be going regardless but we have really done a tremendous amount of work to get this trip done. (parents working St.Louis Cardinals & Blues food stands, girls selling cookies, babysitting for parents night out in Dec., spaghetti suppers etc). They know a trip of this magnitude requires hard work and sacrifice...they have of course earned badges for these things along the way!

 

[slappy magoo]

Thanks, we did the same thing last year... and it worked out. I bet KK has plenty of reservations on hold "if" free dining occurs.

I didn't think this would actually be a topic where I would get bashed. :shrug:

Well, I don't think I ashed you per se, & I won't, but you have to make a promise...

If WDW doesn't ofer free dining this time, you're not allowed to say the three little words that are so overused by people who have no clear sense of justice, just selfish litte me-monkeys:

"IT'S NOT FAIR!!!"

And is usually followed by the rote frowny face or the wahhh face.


Can't fault a fella for hoping for a break, if he doesn't go off thinking he's owed one.

 

[celticdog]

The dining plan is not what it used to be. They have made some significant changes. The plan now includes one counter service, one table service and one snack. This may be more than enough for some, but others may want three meals a day. At $40 per day per adult, you really need to know your restuarants to get the most for your money.

 

[mousermerf]

I personally don't like it when people make reservations they're not positive they're going to keep.

Reservations at many restaurants are hard to get. That's just the truth. What if this all backfires and Disney sees that the restaurants are booked and the hotels are "well, kinda booked" and they decide that they can't offer free dining and give out something like free water park fun and more or something else entirely not "free dining."

 

[tinkgirl2007]

You know that the swan and dolphin are offering rooms in August for just $125 a night. Don't know if this is in your budget but I thought you might want to look into it. But you have to book quickly it is only bookable until 2/14 or 2/15.

 

[bgraham34]

I had free dining included with my package last year but when they announced passholder discounts I took the room only discount and paid for my meals on their own.

 

[Dwarful]

I think small groups may do better not paying for the plan. But with big groups that get that hefty tip added on automatically it can save some serious $$$.

Side note: when booking big groups its hard to get all the dining done at once. I had to make several selections and then go back and try for others that we really wanted. Then when we got those I had to cancel the first set. Sometimes its unavoidable in booking and then calling back to make changes.

 

[JimboJones123]

Well, I don't think I ashed you per se, & I won't, but you have to make a promise...

If WDW doesn't ofer free dining this time, you're not allowed to say the three little words that are so overused by people who have no clear sense of justice, just selfish litte me-monkeys:

"IT'S NOT FAIR!!!"

And is usually followed by the rote frowny face or the wahhh face.


Can't fault a fella for hoping for a break, if he doesn't go off thinking he's owed one.

Don't worry, you never will. I am a supporter of the ticket price hikes as well. I'll take what I can get, fer sure. This isn't bitterness to Disney, but to get the trip we want this year, this is what has to happen. If not, we are already making plans for the Candy Cane Inn for 4-5 nights in Sept instead. Better to plan ahead!

 

[JimboJones123]

You know that the swan and dolphin are offering rooms in August for just $125 a night. Don't know if this is in your budget but I thought you might want to look into it. But you have to book quickly it is only bookable until 2/14 or 2/15.

$125 is still a bit more than the $77 at Pop, My home resort (ahhh, to some day be a Poly )

 

[slappy magoo]

$125 is still a bit more than the $77 at Pop, My home resort (ahhh, to some day be a Poly )

Plus, I don't think Swan/Dolphin guests aren't eligible to even buy into the Dining Plan, let alone get it for free if WDW brings the promotion back (if I'm wrong, lemme know)

EDIT: As per allearsnet.com

NOTE: The following resorts do not participate in the dining plan: The Swan, Dolphin, Shades of Green and the Downtown Disney resorts on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, which are not Disney owned or operated.

 

[slappy magoo]

Hey, Jimbo, I don't know your current situation as far as marital status and/or kids goes. Any chance you have a friend or relative you can tolerate enough to share a room with them? This way, you could book one room to share and split the cost, but then if WDW does offer the free dining plan again, you can make it a 2-room reservation for the same money.

If you're already a family of 3 or 4, then disregard my suggestion as asinine.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I personally don't like it when people make reservations they're not positive they're going to keep.

Reservations at many restaurants are hard to get. That's just the truth. What if this all backfires and Disney sees that the restaurants are booked and the hotels are "well, kinda booked" and they decide that they can't offer free dining and give out something like free water park fun and more or something else entirely not "free dining."

Point taken. I am afraid lots of people are booking rooms just in case and Disney won't offer the free dining because of it. We're not booking rooms until we know, and we're only getting dining reservations at restaurants we know we will miss out on if we don't - like Cinderellas.

 

[Dagger]

Point taken. I am afraid lots of people are booking rooms just in case and Disney won't offer the free dining because of it. We're not booking rooms until we know, and we're only getting dining reservations at restaurants we know we will miss out on if we don't - like Cinderellas.

Hopefully it won't be so many that it would alter their decision about a potential persuasion to book more vacations in that month.

I foresee the disadvantages of this will be a "non-refundable" deposit in the near future. Maybe you wouldn't lose the deposit, but maybe you wouldn't be able to get the money back, but could only use it towards future WDW vacations.

Not judging anyone for doing what they gotta do, just saying...

 

[fjm777]

So when did they announce the free dining last year? I know I booked in June. Is that when it was announced or was it earlier?

 

[fizzle75]

I guess it's because I plan my fall around "going" more than "not going".

I won't just go because of free dining on a whim, but I have already planned dining reservations and start booking them in a few weeks. If no free dining, I just cancel everything.

My wife and I are making ressies tonight for a trip in April that may or may not happen depending on how much we get back in taxes. If we don't get as much back as we hope we will,we will just cancel the ressies and start saving for an october trip instead so I definitely understand Jimbo. AND we just joined the DVC.