2013 Free Dining Watch

[disneydad1000]

It's usually offered at the very end of August.

Last year the free dining plan for everyone was announced on march 5 and you had until may 18th to book,and it was from Aug 25th thru Sept 29th..we always take advantage of the bounce back offer while we are there so our free dining last year started on Aug 18th and this year it also starts Aug 18th so I dont know if it will be the same this year or not,I know alot of people are against the free dining plan but for us it works out great..my wife is a teacher so taking vacations in the summer works out perfect for us..

 

[TheDisney411]

How exactly is FP+ changes going to fill rooms? I must have missed something?

No, you haven't missed anything, no correlation.

 

[TheDisney411]

Do you usually go at this time of year? We have been to disney the past 10 years for the last 2 weeks of August. Each year it has been busier and busier. Last year I will say that our last day had to have been the busiest I remember Magic Kingdom. It was so busy I just went back to the hotel. I was completely baffled why it was so busy if it is supposedly the least busy time of the year. That being said, if they do have enough people visiting now during late summer they may not need to give a discount.

Why, yes, yes I have. Why do you think the crowd numbers have grown so tremendously during the height of hurricane season over the last 9 years? They started free dining 9 years ago, that's why. If they get rid of August/September free dining those park and resort crowd levels will go back down just as quickly as they went up.

 

[TheDisney411]

Rumor is FP+ will only be for people staying onsite, sort of like EMH is only for onsite guests.

All of the Fastpass+ stuff is still a rumor right now, but from what I read and understand,

FP+ will be a perk for on site guests, giving you a chance at a few extra fastpasses and that off site guests should still have access to some form of Fastpasses.

I highly doubt FP+ will be the cause of the death of free dining.

Again, I just guess we wait and see . . .

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Why, yes, yes I have. Why do you think the crowd numbers have grown so tremendously during the height of hurricane season over the last 9 years? They started free dining 9 years ago, that's why. If they get rid of August/September free dining those park and resort crowd levels will go back down just as quickly as they went up.

This is the exact reason why we went to WDW the third week of August almost two years ago, because of the free dining offer. Otherwise we wouldn't go that time of year again unless we absolutely had to or get an exceptionally great deal because the August humidity, daily rain, and fearing our flight would be cancelled due to the heavy storms caused by Hurricane Irene rolling through was all a bit too much for us. This year we are going to WDW in May. We know it is going to be hot (we don't mind the heat) but we are going before the start of hurricane season so we hope to experience way less rain and humidity than our late August trip....fingers crossed on that

 

[micknpluto]

Last year the free dining plan for everyone was announced on march 5 and you had until may 18th to book,and it was from Aug 25th thru Sept 29th..we always take advantage of the bounce back offer while we are there so our free dining last year started on Aug 18th and this year it also starts Aug 18th so I dont know if it will be the same this year or not,I know alot of people are against the free dining plan but for us it works out great..my wife is a teacher so taking vacations in the summer works out perfect for us..

yes, I agree. The FD offer comes out usually march-april but travel dates usually start very end of august thru the month of sept.

 

[DebbieB]

Look at the November / December 2012 bounce back and you decide !

I'm at BLT right now and the bounceback is 35% off deluxe & villas, 30% off moderates. Remainder of the year, blackout dates apply.

 

[micknpluto]

Poop. That doesn't sound promising for free dining.

 

[wheels on fire]

Uk wise we don1t get FD at value resorts.and mod its QSDP only

i know you say about filling but often Uk fly out last two weeks of August as cheaper and Us schools gone back to and way things are people are stretched and often book value as feel better than noting and eat cheap or offsite.Maybe Wdw are counting on this to help fill .


This year been ok as uk its released year before but no rumour of a sniff for next years at all and normally out soon

 

[mickey2000]

I'm at BLT right now and the bounceback is 35% off deluxe & villas, 30% off moderates. Remainder of the year, blackout dates apply.

Guess TOO MANY are holding room and dummy dining reservations for Disney to offer FD to the public !

 

[micknpluto]

^I think that might be it too many people booked with hopes of fd. U have up to 45 days til vacation start to cancel.

 

[smitch425]

Guess TOO MANY are holding room and dummy dining reservations for Disney to offer FD to the public !

That room offer bounceback is normal for this time of year. It is not a factor in predicting a dining offer. Free dining bouncebacks are generally only available during Aug-Oct. stays.

 

[trixiemuffin]

That room offer bounceback is normal for this time of year. It is not a factor in predicting a dining offer. Free dining bouncebacks are generally only available during Aug-Oct. stays.

I don't think Mickey2000 is referring to the bounceback offer. A lot of people have already booked Magic Your Way packages and dining reservations without discounts in the hopes that they may add free dining later. All these room bookings might lower the chance of free dining being offered.

 

[mickey2000]

That room offer bounceback is normal for this time of year. It is not a factor in predicting a dining offer. Free dining bouncebacks are generally only available during Aug-Oct. stays.

Maybe October !
However the BB for FD November December 2012 for Aug Sept 2013 was pulled early December 5th because as I was told by guest services an overwhelming response ...... JMO

 

[5 Disney Fans]

Hoping someone can answer this for me.... I did do a search and no exact match came up and I can't make it through this entire thread...

If I have a annual pass, can I book FD if it is available for my dates? And if so, is it even worth it? We are going for 4 days in August.

We are staying 4 nights and if they were to offer an AP discount on the room for say 30% off I wouldn't be able to use it w/ FD. And then I would have to buy park tickets (1 day or 2 day?) in order to get free dining I calculate I'd be out around $1100 (in park tickets and missed discount on the room). Is that even worth it for 4 adults and 1 child?

 

[jelliott04]

If I have a annual pass, can I book FD if it is available for my dates? And if so, is it even worth it? We are going for 4 days in August.

Nope.

 

[Kathymford]

I just want to say that FP+ isn't really a rumor. It's happening. There have been tests, and it's all part of the Magic bands. It's coming and soon. The new poles are at all of the rides.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I just want to say that FP+ isn't really a rumor. It's happening. There have been tests, and it's all part of the Magic bands. It's coming and soon. The new poles are at all of the rides.

I don't think anyone is saying FP+ is a rumor, more so the details of how it is going to work. There are many, many rumors regarding that.

 

[TDC Nala]

Hoping someone can answer this for me.... I did do a search and no exact match came up and I can't make it through this entire thread...

If I have a annual pass, can I book FD if it is available for my dates? And if so, is it even worth it? We are going for 4 days in August.

We are staying 4 nights and if they were to offer an AP discount on the room for say 30% off I wouldn't be able to use it w/ FD. And then I would have to buy park tickets (1 day or 2 day?) in order to get free dining I calculate I'd be out around $1100 (in park tickets and missed discount on the room). Is that even worth it for 4 adults and 1 child?

You can BOOK it, but you will need to buy at least 2 day park tickets. There's no ticketless packages for anybody on free dining.

You'd have to calculate if it's worth it to you or not based on what meals you were planning on doing and comparing the cost of those with the cost of the 2 day tickets. You can save the 2 day tickets and use them later, or use them to renew your AP. Remember if you go for the dining you won't get an additional room discount either.

 

[Chabby]

I don't think Mickey2000 is referring to the bounceback offer. A lot of people have already booked Magic Your Way packages and dining reservations without discounts in the hopes that they may add free dining later. All these room bookings might lower the chance of free dining being offered.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!
I don't blame them because they want to secure their ADRs in case they get to go, but I wish people stopped booking to increase chances of promotions!