hoping for free dining in Aug

[akayf]

We are in the process of planning a trip in Aug. I know Disney has done the free dining in the past in Aug. If they offer it and we have already booked, can we get a price adjustment? I know we're taking a gamble since who knows if they'll do the dining thing this year, but what week do you think has a better chance of having free dining..Aug 16 or Aug 23?

[ReneeA]

I'm guessing it will start 8/16, but it has started as late as 8/26 before (if I remember correctly.

We've gone for free dining every year since it started in 2005 (except 2009) and have found that we enjoy arriving the second week so much more than the first week. It's normally busier the first week and check in the first day of free dining is mass chaos.

[beroh2253]

We have gone for the free DDP the last 4 years in a row and I think it started a year before that. First time we were booked early and then the free dining came out and were able to add the free DDP but had to switch from ASMO to ASMU, second year the same we booked POP and they switched us to ASMU saying POP was booked for free dining but we wanted POP and keep calling back until there was an opening at POP. 3rd year we booked the bounce back for the following year (while there on trip 2) so we got POP right away, and this past year we weren't going to go but got a pin code for free DDP from Oct-Dec., so we went the last week in October and got POP right away when booking. This free DDP is addictive.
Anyway the later in Aug. you book the better cause you never know when free DDP will start, the way the economy is I think they will have to offer it. We have our fingers crossed for a pin code again, the last week in Oct. was a little cooler 90-95 and less humid then Sept then we usually go, and the Food and Wine Fest was a little less crowded.

[TDC Nala]

If I had to guess, I would say that free dining August/September 2010, if offered, will begin no earlier than August 15. The bounceback offer starts August 15 but the general public offer for the past few years has had different dates from the bounceback. I'd select as late in the month as you are comfortable with.