Free Dining anytime soon?!

[alimbrogno]

Still waiting...

 

[Disco]

I'll put an end to all this foolishness.
Disney absolutely will not be offering free dining this year at WDW. This is a 100% certainty.
How do I know this as a fact? Any year that I go to Disney World there are no discounts.
Now, I am only thinking about going this year so there will be room discounts. However I am determined to go next year so there will be no room or dining discounts, you can bet on it.

 

[kcwiak]

Maybe you are joking but On the off chance that you're not I am confused by what you say. You said because you were thinking of going this year there would be no discounts but then you say there were be room discounts. And then you say if you go next year there will be no discounts. so I'm confused. Of course if you're joking then you can ignore my confusion.

 

[Marsheliz]

^^^^ Don't worry, I am confused too....

 

[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.

 

[Disco]

Maybe you are joking but On the off chance that you're not I am confused by what you say. You said because you were thinking of going this year there would be no discounts but then you say there were be room discounts. And then you say if you go next year there will be no discounts. so I'm confused. Of course if you're joking then you can ignore my confusion.

LOL,
It is actually very logical. I want to go this year but I won't bite the bullet without the free dining offer. The room discounts are tempting but not enough for me to jump onboard especially considering the FL mine train won't be done till next year. So that means room discounts this year but no free dining.
Next year I will have to go. It has been too long and my babies are getting older. That means no room discounts or free dining (as I'll actually be going).
I try to go every 3-4 years so 2015 and 2016 will have all the offers. I would like to say that I'm just joking around but statistics don't lie.

 

[*blessedbyHim*]

So, Disco...


When was the last time you went? They have had free dining the last several years and other discounts at other times. I find it hard to believe there was a year (one you went) that had NO discounts.

 

[kcwiak]

Mickey2000 is that a bounce back offer pictured?

 

[mickey2000]

Mickey2000 is that a bounce back offer pictured?

Posting was interesting with what was said about FD. This is suppose to be the current BB...............

 

[Disco]

So, Disco...


When was the last time you went? They have had free dining the last several years and other discounts at other times. I find it hard to believe there was a year (one you went) that had NO discounts.

I think it was 2006. If I remember right after we went they started doing the free dining promotions as almost a regular thing.
I'll concede one year I did get a room discount, think it was 2003 (parks were still empty from 9/11).
Did DL a couple years ago to tie us over till our next DW trip. Boy even if they have room discounts no way I could afford to stay at one.

 

[mickey2000]

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

 

[Marblies]

I'll put an end to all this foolishness.
Disney absolutely will not be offering free dining this year at WDW. This is a 100% certainty.
How do I know this as a fact? Any year that I go to Disney World there are no discounts.
Now, I am only thinking about going this year so there will be room discounts. However I am determined to go next year so there will be no room or dining discounts, you can bet on it.

Umm. Maybe this is a little selfish of me, but could you just plan on staying home this year? I really would like the FD discount for Sept.

Seriously though, we have had FD in September for the last 4 years as offered to the general public. Our Feb trip we got cash discount for our package room/parks/dining which almost equaled FD, so we would be happy with that too.

 

[black562]

Still too early for free dining to drop. With the exception of last year, it usually drops around the last Thursday of April...lets say April 25th. I've been posting a lot on this topic lately, and I'm seeing all the same patterns this year that would lead to free dining being offered beginning on or around August 18th.

You'll start hearing ramblings about it way before specifics are announced. As usual, the Disney Visa holders will get a three day advance crack at it.

Though the bounceback offers only mentioned moderates and deluxe resorts, many people called and booked values as well. They were offered, just not mentioned...probably to keep bookings to a minimum. Of course, same deal, QS at values and TS for mod/deluxe. I don't see them not offering any free dining at all for the values because of two reasons. For one, offering only QS allowed them to get extra money for those upgrading to TS credits. Second, if they excluded values from this offer, they would see their occupancy plummet at the value resorts. They want to entice a few folks to bump up to moderates with a full TS plan; however, they don't want to completely kill off their value business.

 

[wergoin2camouse]

I Would like to know if anyone booked a package with a one day ticket and could still qualify for dining?

 

[smitch425]

I Would like to know if anyone booked a package with a one day ticket and could still qualify for dining?

The only requirement with purchasing a dining plan is that you book a package including a minimum of a one day base ticket for everyone on the reservation age 3 and up.

 

[black562]

The only requirement with purchasing a dining plan is that you book a package including a minimum of a one day base ticket for everyone on the reservation age 3 and up.

Yeah that always upset the folks with APs since they had to buy a ticket they wouldn't use.

 

[smitch425]

Yeah that always upset the folks with APs since they had to buy a one day ticket they wouldn't use.

AP holders can book a ticketless package and buy the dining plan as long as they are booked under an AP rate. For free dining, they have to buy a 2 day ticket, but they can put it toward their AP renewal later.

 

[wergoin2camouse]

I should rephrase... Was lookin to qualify for free dining offer if released for the fall. I have read that we would have to buy two park days and 3 night minimum, we are staying 5 nights but only wish to have 1 park day! Anyone qualified for free dining with a one ticket package?

 

[smitch425]

I should rephrase... Was lookin to qualify for free dining offer if released for the fall. I have read that we would have to buy two park days and 3 night minimum, we are staying 5 nights but only wish to have 1 park day! Anyone qualified for free dining with a one ticket package?

You must buy a two day base ticket for everyone in the room in order to get free dining. No way around it UNLESS you get a PIN code in the mail that requires only a one ticket, but that is EXTREMELY rare.

 

[cbtshewmake]

If Disney does offer QS FD can you pay the difference and upgrade it?