Free Dining is a crazy popular promotion, but things don't always go the way people think the will.

Today, I have 10 lessons we can learn from Free Dining, along with lots of news and a quick tip of the day.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

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10 lessons learned

1. Existing hotel reservations don’t help you when promotions are announced. Promotions have certain availability. New vs. existing reservations have the same chance. Might want to make a reservation beforehand to make ADRs, but only pay the deposit.
2. Promotions are created for less busy times and many dates in fall aren’t unbusy anymore. Supply and demand.
3. Compare apples to apples. Upgraded rooms and tickets might end up costing too much. (And, no, Disney didn’t increase prices just before releasing Free Dining.)
4. Room-only discounts might save more money. You'll have to do the math.
5. Online is usually better than phone. Free Dining was released online at 4 a.m. eastern/3 a.m. central. Phone lines open at 7 a.m. eastern and had long wait times and disconnected calls. Website has some issues, but you can always try to book a new reservation online and cancel the old one later.
6. If booking a new reservation while also having an old reservation, use a different browser or clear cookies/cache in your existing one.
7. If modifying an existing reservation, click the “change reservation” link, then try to change all elements of your reservation to find the promotion. Don’t see the change reservation link? Hit refresh.

   

8. However, you can’t change package reservations online if you have Memory Maker. Might wait to add it after promotions are released. Travel insurance and Magical Express can cause issues online as well.
9. Flexibility with resorts, rooms, and dates will help. Don’t book flights until after a promotion is released. Have backup resorts in mind. As long as you check in during promotion dates, you can get it for your whole trip.
10. Be careful when choosing an agent. They need to be up early, and make sure they’re following promotion rules. No guarantee they’ll get you Free Dining or any other promotion though.

News

• Toy Story Mania third track opens Memorial Day weekend. That just means that the ride will have more capacity, and therefore shorter lines.
• Soarin' Around the World at Epcot opens June 17. FastPass+ is now available.
• Frozen Ever After and the new Anna/Elsa meet-and-greet at Epcot are also opening in June, but no specific date was announced.
• New Star Wars fireworks at Hollywood Studios are coming in June.
• Finding Dory characters are coming to Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot in May.
• Tiffins restaurant at Animal Kingdom opens Memorial Weekend.
• Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire, a stage show at Magic Kingdom, begins in June.
• Though Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom has been delayed, "The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic" has been confirmed to begin Memorial Weekend while they continue to work on Rivers of Light.
• Updated park hours for May, September, October, and November were released this week (here's what changed). AK extended until 11pm starting May 27. Some FP+ for later AK hours have recently opened up.
• TheDIBB’s FastPass+ link is no longer active.

Quick tip of the day

Jedi Training Academy signups have recently been allowed before Hollywood Studios opening time. Look for the separate line for that at the entrance.

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Predicting times to visit Disney World isn't as easy as it used to be. In this episode, I discuss the thought process behind how we put together a crowd calendar.

I also have news and a quick tip to help you maximize your FastPass+ reservations.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

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Picking dates for your Disney World trip

In this episode, I discuss how we put together the 2016-2017 crowd calendar.

News

• This Sunday, April 10, the My Disney Experience app will be updating to allow people to make bonus FastPass+ reservations within the app after the first 3 FP+ are used or expired. Be sure to update your app so you can use that functionality during your trip.
• Another FastPass+ change is that people making their FastPass+ reservations before their trip will be able to choose times more easily than previously allowed. Instead of the app/site suggesting times, you'll be able to choose them upfront.
• Joy and Sadness are now meeting at Epcot in the new Character Spot location where Baymax is also located. There isn't a FastPass+ to meet them and lines have been long. I suspect the lines will remain long until the new attractions open at Epcot, so plan to see them at park opening if you want to do it without too much of a wait.
• Rivers of Light, the new nighttime show coming to Animal Kingdom, was supposed to open on April 22 but the opening has been delayed. Disney said they'll provide an update in mid or late May.
• FastPass+ for Anna/Elsa and Rapunzel/Cinderella at Magic Kingdom are not available for June right now. That's likely due to the fact that Anna/Elsa will be moving to Epcot and they are still working out the logistics of that.

Quick tip of the day

As soon as you check in for your third FastPass+ reservation, open the My Disney Experience app and get a 4th.

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Epcot's undergoing lots of changes, including the addition of some new attractions. We'll talk about those today, and how touring Epcot could be affected.

We'll also discuss recent news and a quick tip to help you get the dining reservation times you want.

These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.

Become a WDW Prep To Go Patron

WDW Prep To Go Patrons pay a little to unlock even more content than what’s on the main podcast feed, such as a private FB Group and exclusive audio that’s released on a private podcast feed.
 
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Changes coming to Epcot

These things are coming to Epcot soon:

• Joy and Sadness are coming to Epcot on April 3. They'll be in the new Character Spot location which doesn't currently have a FastPass+ option.
• Finding Dory characters will be part of Turtle Talk with Crush.
• Soarin' Around the World will be opening in summer 2016 with a new film and additional theater.
• Frozen Ever After and the new Anna/Elsa meet-and-greet area will be opening in the Norway section in summer 2016. Though the World Showcase mostly opens at 11 a.m., these will likely open at 9 a.m.

Touring advice

We'll have to see what the ride tiers end up being, but generally you'll want to ride a popular ride at rope drop, and then ride other popular rides later using FastPass+. Starting at Frozen Ever After and working around Future World might make the most sense.

This is the general order I'd suggest (this map is part of the touring plan tools available to Level 2 WDW Prep Members).

News

• Anna/Elsa FastPass+ not available in June.
• Extra Magic Hours and park hours often change. Check the app during your trip.
• Railroad at Magic Kingdom will be closed April 11-22, 2016.
• Stitch has replaced Marie for a meet and greet at Magic Kingdom.
• Writer’s Stop at Hollywood Studios undergoing changes, including maybe becoming a Sci Fi Dine in Lounge. The carrot cake cookie can still be found at Sweet Spells, near Starring Rolls Cafe.

Quick tip of the day

To increase your chances of getting the dining reservation times you want, select a time and not a meal when making your reservation. If staying onsite and unable to book for whole trip, log out and back in. If that doesn’t work, call.

Subscribe to get new episodes

There are a few ways to get new episodes of WDW Prep To Go (if you're used to listening on the website, subscribe so you can take new episodes with you on your phone)

• Subscribe in iTunes (and please leave a review!)
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