WDW newbie..how to book free dining?

[DnA2010]

O.k WDW vets, I need your help!

My MIL is receiving some money and has asked me to look into possibly taking the family to WDW! I She saw something about free dining and asked me to look into it…
My family visited WDW in 2011 but stayed offsite so I don’t know anything about onsite bookings…I just did one quick search and didn’t really come up with anything. Is there a way to search and see where and when free dining is available or do you have to always put set dates in? I’m thinking we could be pretty flexible. There also seemed to be something along the lines of room discounts? It seems there are limited rooms available so I am guessing we might be too late to get something?

We would need 3 rooms- 1st- 2 adult, 1 8 yro, 2nd- 4 adult, 3rd- 2 adult, 1 child age 11, 1 child age 8- is there any easy way to try to come up with some numbers?

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Hi:

I'm very new to the board but not WDW -- I will let others answer regarding dining as I am fairly clueless how it works. However, given how many people you have going -- have you thought about booking one of the villas or suites? We've had 8 people - 2 adults 5 teenagers and a preteen stay in Saratoga Springs Springs 2 bedroom villa. It might work out a lot cheaper for 1 villa than 3 rooms -- plus - they are homes away from home with tons of amenities and are generally in great locations.

Tom

 

[mickeynut1]

If you go to the Disney website, click on "special offers" at the bottom of the page and it will bring up all the promos that are currently being offered.

Free Dining:

Enjoy a FREE dining plan with this great offer!

Get a FREE dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way room and ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels, for arrivals most nights:

Sep 30 - Oct 4, Oct 19 - Nov 1, Nov 9 - 15, Nov 23 - 29, Dec 10 - 20
Book through September 29, 2012! The choice is yours

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Room Discount:

Save Up to 30% at Select Disney Resort Hotels this Fall!

With great rates at Disney Resort hotels this fall—as well as typically cooler weather and smaller crowds—now's the perfect time to plan a fun-filled family vacation in the middle of the magic! Save up to 30% at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights September 30, 2012 through November 16, 2012 and November 24, 2012 through December 22, 2012.

The number of rooms available at this rate is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price of the same room. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. Minimum stay requirements may apply. Book by September 29, 2012.
See Important Details. Check Availability
Book online, call (407) 939-1315† or call your Travel Agent. Be sure to mention the booking code H8J when calling.

 

[DnA2010]

If you go to the Disney website, click on "special offers" at the bottom of the page and it will bring up all the promos that are currently being offered.

Free Dining:

Enjoy a FREE dining plan with this great offer!

Get a FREE dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way room and ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels, for arrivals most nights:

Sep 30 - Oct 4, Oct 19 - Nov 1, Nov 9 - 15, Nov 23 - 29, Dec 10 - 20
Book through September 29, 2012! The choice is yours

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Room Discount:

Save Up to 30% at Select Disney Resort Hotels this Fall!

With great rates at Disney Resort hotels this fall—as well as typically cooler weather and smaller crowds—now's the perfect time to plan a fun-filled family vacation in the middle of the magic! Save up to 30% at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights September 30, 2012 through November 16, 2012 and November 24, 2012 through December 22, 2012.

The number of rooms available at this rate is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price of the same room. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. Minimum stay requirements may apply. Book by September 29, 2012.
See Important Details. Check Availability
Book online, call (407) 939-1315† or call your Travel Agent. Be sure to mention the booking code H8J when calling.

Hi there,

I can find this, but whenever I search I don't seem to come up with any rooms?

 

[mickeynut1]

Hi there,

I can find this, but whenever I search I don't seem to come up with any rooms?

Click on the link for the promo you want and it will walk you through the steps to get a quote . Keep in mind that you have go through the link for a particular promo in order to get the discount. If you call, you have to mention the discount you want, otherwise, you will be quoted without it.

 

[DebbieB]

Hi there,

I can find this, but whenever I search I don't seem to come up with any rooms?

There is only a limited number of rooms at each resort for the offer. They might be already soldout.

 

[MMS1125]

What are your dates? and are you flexible to change them if you need to?

 

[MMS1125]

given how many people you have going -- have you thought about booking one of the villas or suites? We've had 8 people - 2 adults 5 teenagers and a preteen stay in Saratoga Springs Springs 2 bedroom villa. It might work out a lot cheaper for 1 villa than 3 rooms -- plus - they are homes away from home with tons of amenities and are generally in great locations.

Tom

it won't work out to be cheaper to get a villa than 3 rooms. OP would need a 3br to all be together. Especially with free dining. It's $$ to pay for 11 people to eat. Even with a good room discount free dining would beat that for sure

 

[DnA2010]

We are flexible- probably would like a Moderate. Flexible between later October and early Dec. I have found a few spots in November at Carribean so far.

 

[MMS1125]

Can you go the weekend after thanksgiving? I'll be glad to play with some numbers with/for you this evening if you wish

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[DnA2010]

Can you go the weekend after thanksgiving? I'll be glad to play with some numbers with/for you this evening if you wish

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Yes, I think that time might work. We were looking at 7 or 8 nights.

 

[MMS1125]

Nov 24-Dec 1
7 day PH
Free Dining
Coronado Springs-Standard room
I went with CSR b/c with 4 adults you will probably want queen beds vs the doubles at CBR. There were no Free Dining rooms for POFQ or POR when I looked. I had to choose CSR manually to get it to show up as well

2 adults
1 8yr old
2490.65

2 adults
1 11yr old
1 8yr old
2658.99

4 adults
2914.48
there is an extra adult fee over 2 adults plus their tickets are a bit more $$ that's why this is pricier

You might just have to play with dates to get choices to come up. Avoid Oct 21st night though it's sold out so if that date spans any of your choices it won't come up

 

[cwt580]

Nov 24-Dec 1
7 day PH
Free Dining
Coronado Springs-Standard room
I went with CSR b/c with 4 adults you will probably want queen beds vs the doubles at CBR. There were no Free Dining rooms for POFQ or POR when I looked. I had to choose CSR manually to get it to show up as well

2 adults
1 8yr old
2490.65

2 adults
1 11yr old
1 8yr old
2658.99

4 adults
2914.48
there is an extra adult fee over 2 adults plus their tickets are a bit more $$ that's why this is pricier

You might just have to play with dates to get choices to come up. Avoid Oct 21st night though it's sold out so if that date spans any of your choices it won't come up

Wow thats service..!!!!!!!

add 1 thing to that.... BOOK NOW !!!!!! your already going to struggle with ADR's at this late of planning stage....also the park hoppers are not always needed .. save few more $. we plan our days for 1 park and schedule around that day.

 

[DnA2010]

Thanks guys! Hopefully we ok a trip!