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

[_auroraborealis_]

Does anyone know if AoA LM or Family Suite rooms are usually included in the RO discount? And if so what the discount has been? Lastly do those usually release on the same day as FD or later?

LM is almost never included. Suites are sometimes included. RO is usually released on a different date.

 

[Greg36]

Going the last week in September too. On the fence though. We've booked CSR but you guys are really making Pop sound way too fun. Anyone stayed at both that could share their take on it?

Trying to make this decision myself... We have stayed at both. Comparing the two, I think POP has a better bus service and many of the rooms are closer to the main building where dining and everything else is. The pools are nice, but there are no hot tubs or slides like CSR has. CSR has a really nice main pool. CSR is really spread out though so there is a fair amount of walking depending on where you are staying and the bus has multiple stops. The beds are queen though (POP has doubles, at least the old rooms have doubles). Both have some entertainment (e.g., movies at night) but CSR has a fire pit with marshmallow roasts... There are more dining options at CSR (including a TS) but POP has some nice options too (they have a great yogurt parfait station which is great for breakfast--it is a snack credit)... We found POP more noisy (walls were VERY thin) and the beds were definitely less comfortable compared to CSR. We liked the feel of CSR better. It felt more like a resort. Having said that, our kids definitely thought the large iconic figures all over POP were very cool. It is a hard one... We are going for 14 nights and for us it is a difference of about $1,000 USD (around $1,370 Canadian). I am definitely leaning towards POP if the moderates are offering free QS....

 

[Rusty2rules]

I Need help! I dont' know where to even start. Right now we are booked at CBR with the GC offer but I can' figure out if it would be better to try to get two rooms at Pop(which scares me because we may not have connecting rooms), stay at CBR and pay upgrade for DDP instead of QSDP or move to a Deluxe and get DDP free there. Does anyone have any idea which would be a better value?

This is just me. Personally, if I already have the GC and the desired adjoining rooms, I'd keep my reservation at CBR. Now the questions are (A) how important is having a food court to you? (CBR won't have one due to construction) and (B) will standard rooms even be included in the offer? The overwhelming theory seems to be only the pirate rooms will be included. If CBR is included, again, the overwhelming theory is you be able to keep the GC and get the FD offer.

Edit: I re-read your post. You're staying at CSR not CBR. Ugh. All of these abbreviations start to look the same after awhile.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I Need help! I dont' know where to even start. Right now we are booked at CBR with the GC offer but I can' figure out if it would be better to try to get two rooms at Pop(which scares me because we may not have connecting rooms), stay at CBR and pay upgrade for DDP instead of QSDP or move to a Deluxe and get DDP free there. Does anyone have any idea which would be a better value?

I would start by calculating the "bottom line" for each option (room cost + DDP cost + tickets). Then consider other factors that impact "value" to your family. For example, if a nice pool area is important to you, there is value in CBR vs Pop. Do you want more space? If so, 2 rooms at Pop might have more value then one room at CBR.

 

[lok1sgrl]

Trying to make this decision myself... We have stayed at both. Comparing the two, I think POP has a better bus service and many of the rooms are closer to the main building where dining and everything else is. The pools are nice, but there are no hot tubs or slides like CSR has. CSR has a really nice main pool. CSR is really spread out though so there is a fair amount of walking depending on where you are staying and the bus has multiple stops. The beds are queen though (POP has doubles, at least the old rooms have doubles). Both have some entertainment (e.g., movies at night) but CSR has a fire pit with marshmallow roasts... There are more dining options at CSR (including a TS) but POP has some nice options too (they have a great yogurt parfait station which is great for breakfast--it is a snack credit)... We found POP more noisy (walls were VERY thin) and the beds were definitely less comfortable compared to CSR. We liked the feel of CSR better. It felt more like a resort. Having said that, our kids definitely thought the large iconic figures all over POP were very cool. It is a hard one... We are going for 14 nights and for us it is a difference of about $1,000 USD (around $1,370 Canadian). I am definitely leaning towards POP if the moderates are offering free QS....

Thank you so much! Exactly what I was looking for actually. Like you, I probably won't make a decision until Monday but Pop is probably what I'll do if free dining goes as the rumor says.

 

[Avalon_toon]

Our schools developed a new policy that if you have more than five unexcused absences, you fail your classes, even if you are an A student....talk about a control issue!

That's ridiculous - its basically an admission that for this particular school district, education isn't about learning, its about obedience.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Since so many people are talking about POP, I think everybody staying at POP the last week of September should get together and have a party.

 

[Disneylover99]

Going the last week in September too. On the fence though. We've booked CSR but you guys are really making Pop sound way too fun. Anyone stayed at both that could share their take on it?

I liked CSR, but I love Pop. CSR was way too spread out to me. It felt much bigger then POR. We had a great room location in the Cabanas section near the main pool and one of the bus stops. But it was a hike to the main building. I find Pop so much more compact and I love walking over to eat at AofA.

 

[KimBean]

I also don't like that the excuse tends to be "children who miss X amount of days are more likely to fail math" or "more likely to drop out of school." This excuse simply does not apply to kids who do well in school yet are absent due to family vacations. The kids who are doing poorly in school are failing not because of going to Disney World but due to other more important issues.

I can't say it still works like this but when I was in high school I never missed school ever. I had strep throat. It happened to be the day that all students were counted for funding for the whole year. They made a big deal of it, some day in October, posters all over the school don't miss this day!! Well I had strep throat went to the doctor had a note all that. The principal called my father and pleaded with him to just bring me for one hour. My father refused and the principal cussed him out. I was homeschooled the next year. So maybe there are other reasons, and not putting any of this on teachers, but from that moment on I could only see schools as more focused on money and funding then children.

I homeschool my kids.

 

[Mollymovacca]

Was devastated to hear the rumor about mods getting only QSDP so instead of my 9 day relaxing dream vacation we decided to stay at the cabins as planned but cut our trip short and pay the difference to upgrade to TS for 6 days. I researched staying at a delux resort and there is only a slight difference to paying for the upgrade by my DH wants to stay at the cabins. My husband hasn't been any help as he gets grumpy and annoyed every time I try to talk about Disney plans with him . I've still got my fingers crossed that the rumor isn't true and we'll get TS included with FD for the cabins as we had in previous years.

I too have a husband who gets grumpy and annoyed when I talk DIsney! I basically do every single thing then just tell him what days to take off work! But then again, I kinda love making all the decisions and being in control!! Haha!

 

[Confederate Scott]

I can't say it still works like this but when I was in high school I never missed school ever. I had strep throat. It happened to be the day that all students were counted for funding for the whole year. They made a big deal of it, some day in October, posters all over the school don't miss this day!! Well I had strep throat went to the doctor had a note all that. The principal called my father and pleaded with him to just bring me for one hour. My father refused and the principal cussed him out. I was homeschooled the next year. So maybe there are other reasons, and not putting any of this on teachers, but from that moment on I could only see schools as more focused on money and funding then children.

I homeschool my kids.

Completely agree. My wife did home school with our youngest for a bit. He is currently back in the public school system but we may go back to home school.

 

[Atinsley22]

For what it's worth, I've gone twice in December and had a ball in the pools! But I'm a northerner, too. LOL You know the pools are heated, right? Having said that, I don't go to WDW for the pool. ;-)

I did not know that. My munchkins may enjoy the pools then! Thank you for that piece of advice.

 

[dznygrl70]

]I can't say it still works like this but when I was in high school I never missed school ever. I had strep throat. It happened to be the day that all students were counted for funding for the whole year. They made a big deal of it, some day in October, posters all over the school don't miss this day!! Well I had strep throat went to the doctor had a note all that. The principal called my father and pleaded with him to just bring me for one hour. My father refused and the principal cussed him out. I was homeschooled the next year. So maybe there are other reasons, and not putting any of this on teachers, but from that moment on I could only see schools as more focused on money and funding then children.

I homeschool my kids.[/QUOTE]

 

[dznygrl70]

]I can't say it still works like this but when I was in high school I never missed school ever. I had strep throat. It happened to be the day that all students were counted for funding for the whole year. They made a big deal of it, some day in October, posters all over the school don't miss this day!! Well I had strep throat went to the doctor had a note all that. The principal called my father and pleaded with him to just bring me for one hour. My father refused and the principal cussed him out. I was homeschooled the next year. So maybe there are other reasons, and not putting any of this on teachers, but from that moment on I could only see schools as more focused on money and funding then children.

I homeschool my kids.

[/QUOTE]
Good for you ! Glad to see more and more homeschooling!

 

[LucyBC80]

Some quick news about the RO discount! For Brazilian TAs the RO discount will only offer RO from selected nights from August 1st to October 7th. No RO discounts for either November or December is part of the current promotion. INCLUDED hotels are: BC, YC, WL, Contemporary, AKL, Boardwalk, AKL Villas, BCVillas, Boardwalk Villas, Poly Villas, Saratoga, Boulder Ridge Villas. No other hotel is included.

The wording for the brazilian Free Dining offer is indeed OR. You'll need either a 4 day Park Hopper OR a 4 Day Park Hopper Plus.

POR is included on reservations starting till September 30th for FD. No POR for November or December.

 

[dznygrl70]

Good for you ! Glad to see more and more homeschooling![/QUOTE]
Somehow, I goofed up that reply.

 

[lok1sgrl]

Good for you ! Glad to see more and more homeschooling![/QUOTE]

On our 6th year of homeschooling. No regrets here.

 

[Cbtexan04]

Do you guys think I will have any issues finding a reservation for 9 nights if I book the morning it drops? This'll be my first FD promotion, and I'm really not sure how to gauge how fast reservations get snatched up.

 

[JackieO]

Do you guys think I will have any issues finding a reservation for 9 nights if I book the morning it drops? This'll be my first FD promotion, and I'm really not sure how to gauge how fast reservations get snatched up.

It really depends, the more flexible you are on dates, resorts and room type, the better your chances. What resort are you hoping for?

Remember, if you don't get what you want in the morning FD drops just keep trying. People will be changing and dropping reservations.

 

[Disneylover99]

Do you guys think I will have any issues finding a reservation for 9 nights if I book the morning it drops? This'll be my first FD promotion, and I'm really not sure how to gauge how fast reservations get snatched up.

It's really hard to say. It depends on dates and what resort you're looking at.