View Full Version : Dining Plan or smaller queues?
Lots of people are delighted about the Disney Dining Plan and the amount of money it is going to save them but not everyone is happy about it............including me!!!!!!!:(
I booked my holiday last summer and deliberately picked the last 2 weeks of August as this is a time when the crowds usually drop somewhat. I have to go during the school holidays because my eldest DD will be sitting her exams soon so she can't take time off.
Just my luck then that just after I book Disney announce their FREE Dining plan, which will mean everybody delaying their holidays to coincide with this - namely the last 2 weeks of August!!!:mad2: So now the parks are going to be packed!!! :nonono:
I deliberately picked accomadation off-site to save me money, so the Dining Plan won't benefit me in any way as it only applies to guests staying at a Disney hotel.
Personally though, I would much rather spend extra money on our food and have less people in the parks than save money and have huge queues.
Does anyone else agree with me? I'm not happy at all!!! :nonono:
jacqui1965
1 Mar 07, 11:51 AM
Hi
Im Staying At Disneys Port Orleans This Year....what Is This About The Free Dining Plan I Havnt Heard About This
Is This Given Along When You're Booking Your Holiday??
What Does It Mean Anyway...and As Im Onsite Would I Be Eligible For This??
Jacqui
I JUST READ THE DISNEY SITE & LOOKS LIKE IM NOT ELIGIBLE EITHER!!!!
(Book between August 25 and November 6, 2006 for arrivals between August 12 and September 29, 2007 to get this delicious deal)
I DID BOOK BETWEEN THESE DATES BUT ARRIVE A WEEK BEFORE (3RD AUG) AND AM STAYING FOR 3WKS.....DOES ANYONE KNOW IF IT WOULD BE WORTH MY WHILE CONTACTING PORT ORLEANS BY EMAIL TO CHECK???
IM GUTTED BIG TIME
Hi
I DID BOOK BETWEEN THESE DATES BUT ARRIVE A WEEK BEFORE (3RD AUG) AND AM STAYING FOR 3WKS.....DOES ANYONE KNOW IF IT WOULD BE WORTH MY WHILE CONTACTING PORT ORLEANS BY EMAIL TO CHECK???
IM GUTTED BIG TIME
Wouldn't do you any harm to check. Looks like we are both gutted - but for different reasons!!!
Rebelrebel
1 Mar 07, 12:24 PM
Hi
Im Staying At Disneys Port Orleans This Year....what Is This About The Free Dining Plan I Havnt Heard About This
Is This Given Along When You're Booking Your Holiday??
What Does It Mean Anyway...and As Im Onsite Would I Be Eligible For This??
Jacqui
I JUST READ THE DISNEY SITE & LOOKS LIKE IM NOT ELIGIBLE EITHER!!!!
(Book between August 25 and November 6, 2006 for arrivals between August 12 and September 29, 2007 to get this delicious deal)
I DID BOOK BETWEEN THESE DATES BUT ARRIVE A WEEK BEFORE (3RD AUG) AND AM STAYING FOR 3WKS.....DOES ANYONE KNOW IF IT WOULD BE WORTH MY WHILE CONTACTING PORT ORLEANS BY EMAIL TO CHECK???
IM GUTTED BIG TIME
I doubt you will get it. Who did you book your holidays with? I have done DIY and am hoping it will come up in the US and then I will get it applied to my booking at BCVs.
debs2028
1 Mar 07, 12:35 PM
to be honest I can understand how you feel :cry: . I changed my plans to get free dining. I never thought i would be able to afford to stay on site and eat in the wonderful restaurants we have planned :cool2: so at the risk of being petty
Na na nanana (joking of course):d:
Rebelrebel
1 Mar 07, 12:39 PM
Steve if it helps I was there the last two weeks of August last year and they had the free dining on for the US visitors, we found the queues were not that bad although some of the restaurants were busy. Also could you not change you accommodation and stay on-site or did you book a package? :)
Steve if it helps I was there the last two weeks of August last year and they had the free dining on for the US visitors, we found the queues were not that bad although some of the restaurants were busy. Also could you not change you accommodation and stay on-site or did you book a package? :)
Package I'm afraid. I don't mind about the restaurants being busy, we can just pick up a quick bite then have something proper later. Just the extra numbers around the parks is what's bugging me. I hope you're right about what you say but I've got a bad feeling about it!! :cry:
Enright78
1 Mar 07, 12:54 PM
I'd certainly agree with you, I am als a bit dismayed at the potential increase in crowds in late august. We wouldn't be interested in Dining as we seldom spend that much time on Disney property anyway and do lots of other things on our trips. We also like the wide range of dining outside the resorts and parks. I suppose we will just have to do fewer park days and perhaps visit Universal and other attractions more.
Rebelrebel
1 Mar 07, 01:03 PM
I expect most people on the DDP will be using the EMHs so these parks will get really busy, so visit the parks that have had the EMH the previous day. I must say this system worked quiet well for us last year :).
digdisney
1 Mar 07, 01:03 PM
This is the 3rd year in a row that the free dining has been offered for August - September time.
We took advantage of it ourselves last August. From what ive been reading it seems most people have gone for September than August for 07.
I cant see the parks being that much more busy. It will be busier than August used to be at this time, But still managable. I wouldnt worry.
Bec x
Leanne1977
1 Mar 07, 01:11 PM
We went in August 2005. We were not aware at the time that free dining was on as we were in a villa.
But we did notice a big drop off in the crowds after around the 16th 17th August.
Hope that helps. I can understand, i would probably feel the same if i were going in August with no free dining.
We have free dining and are going in Sept. We went at the same time last year without free dining and although there were lots of people there the queues werent too bad. EMH was very busy though.:(
jacqui1965
1 Mar 07, 01:37 PM
DO YOU HAVE TO BOOK THROUGH THE DISNEY SITE TO GET THE FREE DINING PLAN?
I BOOKED THROUGH GOING PLACES HERE IN BELFAST...DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
JACQUI:mad2:
Cinders Mum
1 Mar 07, 01:42 PM
there is no free dining on offer at this time.
last autumn there was an offer in the uk with selected tour operators for clients wishing to travel aug/sept 2007.
the only potential is IF disney offer free dining in the USA and then we can book this for people, but at the moment there is nothing on offer for those dates.
Rebelrebel
1 Mar 07, 01:43 PM
DO YOU HAVE TO BOOK THROUGH THE DISNEY SITE TO GET THE FREE DINING PLAN?
I BOOKED THROUGH GOING PLACES HERE IN BELFAST...DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
JACQUI:mad2:
Some tour operators were offering it, I know Virgin Holidays was, you could also book it through disney.co.uk.
Hi,
The issue I have is that I stay off-site so therefore I now expect the restaurants to be much busier than before, this is when ADRs come into their own.
I usually would not book them but I feel that I have to now to avoid to many disappointments.
freedomathome
1 Mar 07, 02:15 PM
We have booked the first two weeks in sept and were originally going to stay offsite. When TCD phoned to offer us the free DDP if we stay onsite, we did our sums and booked in a flash. I have mixed feelings though. The free DDP will allow us to eat in restaurants that we would not normally be able to afford,and we are extremely excited about that.......but, we are also a bit concerned about the crowds in the parks because of the free plan!! In balance, we think the free DDP is worth it.
Steve, the parks will just be a bit busier but you will be fine. I just loved them not being busy at all then so wanted it to always be like that ....awe well. I was just used to empty parks and then had to learn to share!!The restaurants will be busier. After about the 25th and 26th the drop off in crowds was very noticeable. You will be fine.
Margaret
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