Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Lost in Disney's futile attempts to 'hide' the 'news' that's been known to some degree for a year regarding the new DVC tower at the Contemporary, was this juicy tidbit at Mouseplanet.com regarding the problems that the Disney Dining program -- specifically the free add-on the next two months -- is wreaking on availability. So here it is ... thoughts? <<Thanks to the popularity of the free dining plan promotion for stays between August 13 and September 30 (reservations for this plan closed back in June), many popular restaurants have long been booked solid for those dates. Responding to complaints of an inability to book favorite meals, Disney has extended mealtimes at several restaurants for the period from August 13 through September 4. The Concourse Steakhouse, Grand Floridian Cafe and 'Ohana will begin seating 60 minutes earlier for dinner. Boma will open dinner 30 minutes early. The Liberty Tree Tavern, Crystal Palace and Tony's Town Square will have extended dinner hours that will vary by day. The character breakfast at 'Ohana will seat guests for an additional 30 minutes, and Chef Mickey's will offer a lunch buffet from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. All of those seatings are now available at the Disney Dine Line, 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463). The Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station will be adding a dinner buffet for those same dates, but will be for walk-ups only and no reservations will be available. Dinner shows will also be added during this period. The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show will add a second show on August 20, 27 and September 3. Mickey's Backyard BBQ is also adding shows on August 18, 25 and September 1.>>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 My thoughts are exactly as they always have been -- I hate the free dining giveaway for this very reason. I like the DDE idea where you give people who already were planning on eating there a discount ( for a price) as a reward -- if you give free meals daily to those who normally would never eat there- you do not have the capacity seating wise to handle it. If they want to do a giveaway to entice people who normally don;t eat there to try it, give them one meal or one days worth of meals..but the demand outstrips the supply otherwise...just stupid. I would NEVER attend during one of these periods as the dining is important to me there...
Originally Posted By ChiMike I attended last Sep/Oct for the tail end of free dining and while I wasn't on the program I thought it was the worst idea that Disney could have had. So somebody pays rack rate at All Stars instead of getting a $30 or $40 discount and their entire party gets to eat for free. Well, can't say I wasn't surprised by the resulting outcome. I was upset with my service and have detailed incidents at the Contemporary Grill and Japan a few months ago. I agree VBDad, After last Sep., I will never visit when they are running that promotion
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^at the risk of being called a hypocrite, I am taking advantage of the offer ... but I'm also doing it as a test of how it really works and to see the level of quality of the food. I won't be accepting anyone else's half-eaten steaks like at DLP (see the trip report that hasn't been written yet!)... I EXPECT and DEMAND the same quality I'd get without the plan. ...
Originally Posted By Labuda Eric (DH) & I did the free dining last year (and used DDE for the alcoholic drinks we usually had with dinner) - worked out great for us everywhere EXCEPT The Kona Cafe, where the food was good, but our server Sandy was the WORST waitperson I've ever encountered.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < I EXPECT and DEMAND the same quality I'd get without the plan. ... < good luck with that !
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^I know, you'd think with all my 'pals' at Disney that I'd be smart enough to bring a 'taster' to dinner with me ;-)
