When will we find out if there is free dining this year?

[sassyat30]

HAs the info already been released?

I'm looking at possibly going back in Sept/Oct to take my Mom for her first trip and I'm wondering if there is going to be free dining again?

Thanks! :)

[PrincessTiffany]

HAs the info already been released?

I'm looking at possibly going back in Sept/Oct to take my Mom for her first trip and I'm wondering if there is going to be free dining again?

Thanks! :)
Since 2005, Disney has been offereing Free Dining during the last part of August until the end of September, give or take a few days. It was already been offered to UK visitors for bookings at moderates and deluxes from the end of August through September and for this August 30 - September 27, 2008 for those of us who were there at WDW during Free Dining this past September as a bounceback. The free dining for this year should be announced during the first week of April. The first couple of days it will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public, as it has been the previous three year.

Some people have been saying that they may not offer it this year, but I don't believe that. Free Dining has been a brilliant plan on the part of Disney to fill the crowds during what was previously their slowest season, and hurrican season to boot. And then having the bounceback for free food while the free diners are there in the parks, on their Disney high, well I would call that pure marketing genius. We expected low crowds on our trip in September and the crowds were not low. The Free Dining Secret is out and I don't think it will be ending anytime soon.

[RMulieri]

If offered, I would suspect it will be announced the beginning of April.My guess is it will probably be offered, however I spoke to several Cms that say no...but we all know that CMs are generally the last to know.:goodvibes

[sassyat30]

Thanks! :thumbsup2

I guess I'll keep my eyes and ears pealed for the first week of April. ;)

[mickey2000]

When I was there during bounce back several resorts were full. They idicated to me that the rooms are limited and most were already taken from prople in England and visitors who arrived prior to me.
I don't believe it will be offered this year unless additional rooms are added to the inventory for this promotion ??
Good Luck !!!!
It's the only way I would ever do DDP (if its free).
In the future I will be paying OOP :rolleyes:

[PrincessTiffany]

When I was there during bounce back several resorts were full. They idicated to me that the rooms are limited and most were already taken from prople in England and visitors who arrived prior to me.
I don't believe it will be offered this year unless additional rooms are added to the inventory for this promotion ??
Good Luck !!!!
It's the only way I would ever do DDP (if its free).
In the future I will be paying OOP :rolleyes:
Disney is making money hand over fist during Free Dining in September, which was previously their slowest season. We love Disney and for us it is the happiest place on earth, but first and foremost Disney is a large corporation and it will always do what is best for it's bottom line. Free Dining is very, very good for Disney's bottom line. I am sure they will "find" quite a few blocks of rooms to open up for Free Dining again this year.

[starwarsdisney]

How does using a Disney Visa help your chances of being offered a free dining? What do you have to pay for with it to get this Free Dining?

[HopperFan]

Cardholders get to book prior to the public release by a couple days, so first shot at rooms.

Deposit $200 must be on your Disney Visa card. I paid the rest off in cash.

[lexmelinda]

Deposit $200 must be on your Disney Visa card. I paid the rest off in cash.In 2007 I made our hotel reservations and ADRs prior to the announcement of free dining. I put the deposit on my debit card and then added the free dining code to the reservation the first day that Disney Visa holders could book. They told me the reservation was fine the way it was but the balance would have to be paid with the Disney Visa.

[nikkyluvsmickey]

What if you have already booked the deluxe plan and free dining comes out What happens then?

[PrincessTiffany]

In 2007 I made our hotel reservations and ADRs prior to the announcement of free dining. I put the deposit on my debit card and then added the free dining code to the reservation the first day that Disney Visa holders could book. They told me the reservation was fine the way it was but the balance would have to be paid with the Disney Visa.
We booked with $200 down on our Disney Visa and also paid the balance in cash. My BIL and SIL did the same thing.

[PrincessTiffany]

What if you have already booked the deluxe plan and free dining comes out What happens then?
You will have to call and have the Free Dining Code added to your reservation and you will have to pay the $32.00 per person difference in the plans. Anyone who already has a reservation in the Free Dining timeframe will have to call and have the code added to their reservation, you will not get it automatically. Also, some people had to rebook their reservations last year to get the Free Dining. Each resort is only allotted so many blocks of rooms.

[sassyat30]

Cardholders get to book prior to the public release by a couple days, so first shot at rooms.

Deposit $200 must be on your Disney Visa card. I paid the rest off in cash.


I just want to clarify this...so to get free dining, you have to have a Disney Visa??

[PrincessTiffany]

I just want to clarify this...so to get free dining, you have to have a Disney Visa??
No. If you have a Disney Visa you get to book 3 days before the general public. Just gives you a better shot at getting the resort you want.

[bertalander]

Hmmm, so some have managed to book earlier and then add free dining? That would be the ticket for me... I'll have to look into that.

Thanks!

[sassyat30]

No. If you have a Disney Visa you get to book 3 days before the general public. Just gives you a better shot at getting the resort you want.

Thanks for clearing that up. :)

[wwazza]

You will have to call and have the Free Dining Code added to your reservation and you will have to pay the $32.00 per person difference in the plans. Anyone who already has a reservation in the Free Dining timeframe will have to call and have the code added to their reservation, you will not get it automatically. Also, some people had to rebook their reservations last year to get the Free Dining. Each resort is only allotted so many blocks of rooms.

If you had already booked the dining plan and Disney decide to make it free dining, would you get your money back?

Regardless of where you booked from, but we are planning to book the dining plan along with accomodation from attraction tickets direct, they seem the cheapest.

[PrincessTiffany]

If you had already booked the dining plan and Disney decide to make it free dining, would you get your money back?

Regardless of where you booked from, but we are planning to book the dining plan along with accomodation from attraction tickets direct, they seem the cheapest.
If you have already booked a package with the dining plan and the package has been paid in full, you will be refunded on the regular dining package portion. But as I said that may entail you having to rebook and you may or may not get the resort of your choice.

I have never heard of Attraction Tickets Direct, so I don't know what they offer. I don't think you can book a Disney Magic Your Way Package through any on-line ticket brokers that I've ever heard of. You can book directly through Disney, AAA (by the way you do not get your AAA discount with the free dining offer. The free dining offer cannont be combined with any other discounts.), or a travel agency. I always call directly through Disney and book through them. There were a number of people last year who were pretty ticked off at there TAs because they didn't even know what free dining was.

[wwazza]

Thanks for that info on the free dining, it is good to know, as we plan to book in the next couple of days.

I think the site I mentioned is for UK customers only, and they offer all the disney hotels, an ultimate ticket (14 day all parks, water parks etc, park hopper) and disney dining.

Basically a magic your way package but worked out just under £200 cheaper (about $400), for the whole lot

Can't argue with prices like that

[ki711]

Do you know if the free dining applies to the DVC resorts? We have reservations in Sept at OKW through a DVC member. We have DDP on our reservation but have not yet paid for it. We will pay for the DDP upon check-in.

[mickeyfan1226]

Ok I need some help. What is the free dining and how does it work. This is the first time I have heard anything of free dining.

[n2mm]

Do you know if the free dining applies to the DVC resorts? We have reservations in Sept at OKW through a DVC member. We have DDP on our reservation but have not yet paid for it. We will pay for the DDP upon check-in.


No you can not get free DDP if you are staying on points. However, if you book your DVC resort through CRO and pay cash -- full price, you can hopefully get the free ddp if it is offered at that particular resort. Sometimes certain resorts and catagories are no longer available. Last year my DIL had a hard time booking Pop (even though she already had a reservation there, she could not apply the free ddp because there was no availaiblity for her timeframe. She had to switch to the A/S Music to get the free ddp package.)

[connie254]

Is it too early to start this as a thread that I subscribe to for notification when it will be available?

[PrincessTiffany]

Ok I need some help. What is the free dining and how does it work. This is the first time I have heard anything of free dining.
Since 2005, Disney has been offereing Free Dining during the last part of August until the end of September, give or take a few days. It has already been offered to UK visitors who book mods or deluxes from the end of August until and end of September and for this September and to those of us who were there at WDW during Free Dining this past September for the dates of August 30 - September 27 2008. The free dining for this year should be announced during the first week of April. The first couple of days it will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public. To receive the free dining discount you must book a package - rooms, tickets, dining. Free dining can't be combined with any other offers including AAA.