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

[Elsaalltheway]

I'm ready for Free Dining to be released......like at any second now would be perrrrfect!!!

I agree, but last year this page created some great little groups

We already booked SW flights. Hoping not a hassel to change flights either.No change fees is awesome.Has anyone here changed flights cuz of FD?

This is nice, the no baggage fee for large families is also a plus. well I don't have a large family so I don't mind paying an extra 50 for one bag round trip.

 

[FinnsMom7]

So...you are both hooked now! Welcome to the club...and please join us for the 4 a.m. eastern time party upon release!

As a kid we went almost every summer, and for 3 years I went with my Aunt to "babysit" my cousins or help out then college came and went and no trips for about 5 years. Got the chance to go for a day with a co worker when in Florida since she is friends with a Disney Cast Member and the Disney juice set it. That October I booked a trip with my brother for my 30th then the following year 2 trips with friends and last year with my BF - loved that he is hooked now too! Makes my endless planning and research seem a "little' less crazy!

 

[smallworldnh]

I'm on the phone immediately at check in time and I've never gotten A boarding. But...usually are in B. If I wait just 10 more minutes cause the lines are busy, I end up at the end of B!

I actually paid extra for the express check in option, it was like an additional 15.00. This way you're guaranteed A level boarding. I'm looking at Jet Blue flights right now for the return trip, they don't look too bad but I'm hoping they drop a bit.

 

[FinnsMom7]

I pay for the early bird and have never gotten A (at least as far as I can recall), but we have been very low B.

I haven't flown SW yet, lucky that JetBlue was cheaper - my brother and his gf flew it last summer and were B on way there but C on way home, he said that was fine that they were split up 11 days in Disney together a 2 hour flight apart was fine

 

[VillainFavs]

Totally off topic---but since SW discussion is happening anyway.... If you're going to do Early Bird check in, please do it for your whole family!!! The trick someone mentioned of getting it for one person and just saving a ton of seats, for one, is just rude. But then can cause a lot of conflict. Unless there's a bottom planted in a seat, it's open and anyone can take it. But the person saving the seat may think it's theirs...see where this is going? Do you really want to start off your vacation fighting with strangers over a seat on the plane.

Either buy the EBCI for your whole family. Or be content with wherever you sit. Choice is yours. But don't set yourself up for trouble from the beginning!

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Fair question. My response would be that kids have set time off while most adults don't, with the possible exception of christmas.

Having said that, if a parent works a job where they have set time off, or must take their vacation at certain times, then that is a different story.

In my job we have a shift bid for vacation time, it can get pretty bad. When you have hundreds of people trying to get only a few weeks based off what is available. Sometimes you take what you can get.

 

[stayathomehero]

Last time we did Disney (2015), we got the tail end of JetBlue's free checked baggage. That was a nice perk that was sad to go.

 

[Jellybass]

Totally off topic---but since SW discussion is happening anyway.... If you're going to do Early Bird check in, please do it for your whole family!!! The trick someone mentioned of getting it for one person and just saving a ton of seats, for one, is just rude. But then can cause a lot of conflict. Unless there's a bottom planted in a seat, it's open and anyone can take it. But the person saving the seat may think it's theirs...see where this is going? Do you really want to start off your vacation fighting with strangers over a seat on the plane.

Either buy the EBCI for your whole family. Or be content with wherever you sit. Choice is yours. But don't set yourself up for trouble from the beginning!

I agree and it happened to us one time, but we sat on either side of the person who was "holding seats", never said a word and the person moved.

 

[agassizsmile]

Mine calls me a nerd for being so obsessed and planning

 

[Dinsey2013]

I have a question on what to do if FD is offered at CBR. I do have the $75 GC. I didn't have the "change reservation button", but now I do. However, it brings me to the page where I should be able to change it and it still tells me to call. (Whenever I go to my reservation page, it's got code written where other things are. Anybody else see that?)

If FD comes out at CBR and I can use it with the GC, what's the best thing to do? If I call when phone lines open, since I can't change it online, I think I may not get it. I'm thinking of booking a new ressie at CBR online at the release time, then call when lines open to see if they have FD available and can apply it to my original ressie. If not, I'll tell them that I booked a FD ressie online and see if they will transfer it to my original ressie. Do they do that

I would love to have the ability to change my ressie online, but I don't, at the moment. What would you do?

 

[scard192]

I actually paid extra for the express check in option, it was like an additional 15.00. This way you're guaranteed A level boarding. I'm looking at Jet Blue flights right now for the return trip, they don't look too bad but I'm hoping they drop a bit.

you are not guaranteed an A boarding position. All EBCI guarantees is that SW computers will check you in 36 hours before your flight time. A lot more people are purchasing EBCI and some have posted on the Transportation Board that they have gotten B boarding positions.

Also depends on when you purchase EBCI. I added it (for everyone in our party) when I booked our November 2016 flights in June 2016.
PVD-MCO we had high 20s to low 30s. MCO-PVD we have numbers in the mid 30s.

 

[wenpop]

Well I hope free dining comes out before the Monday I fly home from Vegas on Southwest... I don't think I could handle staying up all night to get FD, but I will if I have to... We are flying out April 27 and coming home on May 1st.......

 

[Elsaalltheway]

If the weather here would only break, I could pass the time getting out and doing spring clean up. I'm recovering from knee replacement and because of all the snow and ice I've been glued to these boards...and the time is dragging. But I do have to say...I'm loving all the anticipation! Oh, and...I'm not even eligible for FD this year, LOL...staying off site. I'm stalking to practice for next year, my grandson's HS graduation. It's like I'm in training!

I have a bounce back from last year im using, so this is just all for the anticipation and encouragement.

 

[pigletto]

Last time we did Disney (2015), we got the tail end of JetBlue's free checked baggage. That was a nice perk that was sad to go.

I agree. I pack a lot less these days though. Our one week trip in May is a super budget bonus trip. We're paying for one large suitcase for four of us, and each bringing a carry on. That will be more than enough for pyjamas, swim stuff, toiletries , 2 pairs of shoes and outfits for four days. I'll do laundry halfway through the trip. Not ideal, but to take 2 trips this year, I'll cut corners where I can.

 

[JackieO]

From what I see all the deals, but this new ticket deal or deals for passholders, have to be booked by March 30th. Does that mean new deals will drop April 1st, or are there times that there are no deals offered?

 

[agassizsmile]

This is a sneaky trick, but have at least one member of your party pay for the early bird check in feature ($15) so they will get the beginning of Group A. Then they go on and save seats for the rest of you. But it works best if you have at least one person per row (if you have more than 3 people).

It's me and three small kids plus another adult whose not doing EB.I have EB for me and kids only they are twins age 8 and one 11.So we should save the non EB adult a seat by having two kids in one row and me and third child in adjacent row to save seat for our fifth person?Never flown SW

 

[agassizsmile]

I believe the BB offers do include spring/summer dates, perhaps this was the case.
Bounceback offers are not available for the general public to book. The Free Dining bounceback for 2017 includes the following check-in dates:

• May 30 through June 6, 2017
• June 30 through July 5, 2017
• August 11 through September 9, 2017
• December 8-20, 2017

I read on a blog I think Disney tourist that the BB offer coincides with FD dates and are off by maybe a week later

 

[Annam3]

I have a question on what to do if FD is offered at CBR. I do have the $75 GC. I didn't have the "change reservation button", but now I do. However, it brings me to the page where I should be able to change it and it still tells me to call. (Whenever I go to my reservation page, it's got code written where other things are. Anybody else see that?)

If FD comes out at CBR and I can use it with the GC, what's the best thing to do? If I call when phone lines open, since I can't change it online, I think I may not get it. I'm thinking of booking a new ressie at CBR online at the release time, then call when lines open to see if they have FD available and can apply it to my original ressie. If not, I'll tell them that I booked a FD ressie online and see if they will transfer it to my original ressie. Do they do that

I would love to have the ability to change my ressie online, but I don't, at the moment. What would you do?

I am in the same boat. I'd love to know what to do!

 

[agassizsmile]

I hope this is true. However, FD was not released on the 27th of April last year. It was the 25th.

My TA got it for me four days later on 29th once more rooms were released. At POR.
I almost missed out.

 

[vever]

I am in the same boat. I'd love to know what to do!

Me too!