2013 Free Dining Watch

[micknpluto]

We are so funny. How we are obsessing over this lol what makes it hard for me, is the thought of having to cancel all my dining plans.

 

[black562]

It might inconsequential, but if you go back further, I think you'll see that the end of the first week of April was standard at the beginning? Not that it matters... I'm going to fathom a guess that last year was an anomaly and we won't hear anything til mid-April.

Yes they did bounce it around more early on. Interestingly enough, they seem to like dropping the booking date on a Thursday for free dining...and it's dates usually begin not long after the summer promo stops, sometimes the day after. I think the bounceback is a good clue, it starts on 8/18 but the end dates vary. The moderates have a shorter window than the deluxe, and they all end the last week of September (26th I believe). So it looks like chances are they will shorten the time frame.

Though I've heard otherwise, I really don't imagine them dropping free dining for value resorts altogether. The quick service was a good bone to throw, and to leave them in the cold would be a slap. I believe it will be the same as before with QS at Values and TS at Mod/Deluxe...only with a shorter window of offering. This makes most sense, rather than leaving an entire resort group off the promo completely. Incidentally, the bounceback didn't mention the values; however, others have mentioned receiving it when they called about it.

 

[wheels on fire]

I agree. We've gone the last week of August for the past couple of years because of the free table service plan at moderate resorts. I heard somewhere that UK citizens were offered a counter service plan for moderates and a table service plan for deluxe. Since UK offers are usually different from US offers (at least to my knowledge), we will hopefully see a free dining plan offer more in line with the bounceback that was offered to guests for this same time period this year.

yes your right we get QS with moderates and DDp with luxury .i booked my trip last year and upgraded to DDP at £238 total at time, 2 adults one child for 14 nights ( costs more now to upgrade) plus got $200 card thrown in .ut that offer went down to $100 in dec time and the free dining for this year ended in Jan


people now looking for next years normally out April in uk

 

[sjs314]

Yes they did bounce it around more early on. Interestingly enough, they seem to like dropping the booking date on a Thursday for free dining...and it's dates usually begin not long after the summer promo stops, sometimes the day after. I think the bounceback is a good clue, it starts on 8/18 but the end dates vary. The moderates have a shorter window than the deluxe, and they all end the last week of September (26th I believe). So it looks like chances are they will shorten the time frame.

Though I've heard otherwise, I really don't imagine them dropping free dining for value resorts altogether. The quick service was a good bone to throw, and to leave them in the cold would be a slap. I believe it will be the same as before with QS at Values and TS at Mod/Deluxe...only with a shorter window of offering. This makes most sense, rather than leaving an entire resort group off the promo completely. Incidentally, the bounceback didn't mention the values; however, others have mentioned receiving it when they called about it.

My thought is they will offer FD but only QS at Values and Mods, DDP at Deluxe. Why? Disney has many more Value rooms to fill now give QS to both Value and Mod and people who "need" the DDP since they do Character meals will no longer book the Mods as they will need to upgrade the dining plan making staying at the Value resorts a better Value for families with children.

People staying at Deluxe Resorts will continue to upgrade to DxDP to take advantage of onsite Signature Restaurants. A certain % of Guests staying at Mods will also upgrade to DxDP.

Remember FD is offered to fill rooms and I see this as a way to fill all theses added Value Suites.

 

[MyZoeJane]

Just to be safe, I booked our check in for 9/13, which was the last date that Free Dining was offered for the bounce back. I think it's reasonable to suspect that Disney will continue to shorten the window during which they offer FD in the Fall. Maybe they won't, but it's possible. Late September and into October has become increasingly more popular with MNSSHP. If FD is offered to the general public again and I am lucky enough to get it for the four rooms I booked at Pop for my own family and the others who are traveling with us, we will pay to upgrade to DDP. It's still a huge savings.

We will still go if they don't offer FD, we will just eat fewer table service meals and spend less on other stuff.

 

[alimbrogno]

Jumping in to keep my eye on this as well. Really hoping for some sort of discount, FD or % off room for the end of September!

 

[2lovebugs]

We have booked and paid for our trip in Sept. but it would be nice to have some extra spending cash if they do the free dinning! Keeping my fingers crossed. The Disney lady I talked to on the phone when booking (I had lots of questions) she told me that they should put out the new discounts in May. So we will see!

 

[mickey2000]

Found this on Whats Up With The Mouse
Posted March 4 2013

A “bounce back offer” is a discounted vacation offer Disney World Resort guests find inside the welcome packet they receive at check-in. It is an attached insert in the middle of the “Be Our Guest Guide”that they can only take advantage of if they book it during their current stay. If your packet does not include one of these offers, ask a cast member at the front desk if a bounce back offer is available. These offers generally have indicated what might be released to the general public later during the year.



This past week, we received an offer of 35% off deluxe resorts and villas; 30% off moderate resorts. The dates included are: 4/14-5/21; 5/28-6/8; 8/4-10/5; 10/20-11/2; 11/17-11/23; 11/30-12/4; 12/15-12/19. What we particularly found interesting was this is not a free dining offer for late August into September as has been expected. We also did not receive an offer to stay in a value resort. Plus, if you look at the dates again most of June and all of July is not discounted at all.

In September 2012, guests who were staying at a Walt Disney World Resort received bounce back offers to return this August that included the Free Dining offer. However, the travel dates were different depending upon where you were staying on property. Current guests have NOT reported receiving this type of offer which leads us to assume the free dining promotion might not be released this year as it typically has in the past.

Take a look at last week’s offer…

This DOES NOT mean that travel for June and July will not be discounted. Disney is just closely guarding their plans for that travel period or that the dates that have been released to the bounce back offer has had lack luster sales and they need to fill those rooms sooner rather than later. June and July are typically busier months and might not need they help a bounce back offer can give to reservations.

 

[WDW-A-RAMA]

I am hoping for free dining in November. I went ahead and booked my trip to arrive on 11/21 in hopes of carrying it into the next week, which is always blacked out because of Thanksgiving. This will help tremendously since we must book two rooms because of the size of my family (7). Historically the last day of free dining is that Thursday before Thanksgiving. We were able to accomplish this for the first time in 2010. Before that we always paid for dining. Any thoughts?

 

[micknpluto]

Everyone is assuming. We don't know for sure. If we get through April without an offer for FD in the fall then I'd start to worry as its usually released by April. I think this thread is causing unneeded anxiety. At least it is for me!

 

[black562]

Typically the offers match the bouncback offered the year prior. So what we are looking for is the offer from last fall, which was free dining but for a shorter window of dates

 

[micknpluto]

Typically the offers match the bouncback offered the year prior. So what we are looking for is the offer from last fall, which was free dining but for a shorter window of dates

Sounds good to me.

 

[mickey2000]

Danny25 who usually knows first prediction
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3080258

 

[TheDisney411]

Danny25 who usually knows first prediction
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3080258

Yes, the summer offer. It has nothing to do with the late summer/early fall free dining promo. Just because they are releasing these room only discount does NOT mean they won't release free dining or other promos for this year. They have run free dining and room only and other types of discounts simultaneously in the past. Two or three years ago they ran free dining and kids stay and play free discounts for the same exact dates in August - October. I think people are freaking out/giving up prematurely here.

 

[black562]

Disney typically does a summer discount first. September is their least crowded time, so that's why they offer free dining. Only in recent years have they done free dining in other months. These are the times they have pulled back, but no signs of changes in any other pattern.

As for predictions. There are many folks who predict these things quite well. Free dining has typically dropped on a Thursday for Disney visa holders. See my historic dates for more insight. Only Disney knows what they're doing. Sometimes many CMs don't even know for sure until the morning it's released but many here often make the prediction a few days prior.

I'm looking at around April 25th.

 

[mickey2000]

Yes, the summer offer. It has nothing to do with the late summer/early fall free dining promo. Just because they are releasing these room only discount does NOT mean they won't release free dining or other promos for this year. They have run free dining and room only and other types of discounts simultaneously in the past. Two or three years ago they ran free dining and kids stay and play free discounts for the same exact dates in August - October. I think people are freaking out/giving up prematurely here.

Thanks for the positive idea!

 

[black562]

I blogged on this a couple years ago when the sentiment was very similar to what it is now. The writing on the wall is eerily similar as well. The string of discount offerings for room only is following a very similar path and the end dates of the summer promo seem to hit right on target to the start dates from last year's free dining bounceback for fall 2013. On top of that, looking at ADRs, with the exception of Be Our Guest, I can find times for any restaurant for any of the dates I'm looking at for my trip in August. This means the ADRs are not booking up...I even found times for Ohana and CRT, which are usually one of the first to go. People are sitting back and waiting on this promo, and Disney knows it. Sure, they've been pulling back on free dining offers, but the ones they've been pulling back are the other months that usually didn't have it up until a few years ago. The September free dining used to be the only time it was offered. While they may be shortening the window of dates, I don't expect them to not offer it at all. If they didn't, many that booked would cancel, and many more wouldn't even book. Disney knows this....and they've admitted in the past that they monitor boards like this....so they know.

Have a look at this and notice the similarities between then and now: http://www.disneybyjoe.com/search/label/Free Dining

 

[jacksgirl]

Still waiting patiently here...

 

[MacDalt]

I'm not sure how Free Dining works. Do they post the dates somewhere? Is it available to the general public? Do I need to already have a package booked? Thanks for your help.

 

[navywifetill2002]

I'm not sure how Free Dining works. Do they post the dates somewhere? Is it available to the general public? Do I need to already have a package booked? Thanks for your help.

"Free Dining" is a promotion Disney runs. In 2012 it was "free" QS with a value resort and the regular dining plan with Moderate or Deluxe rooms. For some "Free Dining" comes out better then a room only discount for others it doesn't, you'll have to run the numbers to see which is best for you.

It is often available to Disney Visa card holders first then opens to the general public.

There is no need to already have a reservation booked (if you do you can add a promotion to your package at any time if your room qualifies for the deal), once free dining is released you just need to make your reservation.