2013 Free Dining Watch

[jacksgirl]

Just hangin' out, waiting for news, and watching my ticker move...lol.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Well, Disney certainly has their strategy, and it obviously pays off, but they lost my money here with this delay. Not that this year is any different than any other.

For some people, the difference between free dining and not is the difference between taking the vacation or not. Not that I can't afford to go if it isn't free dining, but we just went in January, are going back Jan 2014 and considered an extra trip in there, but as September gets closer, other options start to fill.

We have opted for a 4 day cruise instead of a short Disney trip.

 

[ptmmg]

I agree I have my flights for the last week of August waiting on FD if it doesnt happen we may do the other park and sea world for a change!

 

[gummie22]

I need FD cause I refuse to pay $40 (or whatever it costs per day for regular DDP) if DS only eats chicken nuggets with grapes and chocolate pudding. Oh and chocolate milk. I am still optimistic - I think next week we will know. Just a gut feeling!

Hopeful (the 8th Dwarf)!
Lorri

 

[OThopeful35]

I need FD cause I refuse to pay $40 (or whatever it costs per day for regular DDP) if DS only eats chicken nuggets with grapes and chocolate pudding. Oh and chocolate milk. I am still optimistic - I think next week we will know. Just a gut feeling!

Hopeful (the 8th Dwarf)!
Lorri

It's $55.59 per night My DS is 10 and he just doesn't eat that much food a day.

 

[usd2bmd]

From everything I have heard it is looking less and less likely that it will be offered this year. Which shocks me... The rumors I am hearing is that the New Fantasyland has people coming. My thinking is that if it is offered it will come out later but for the same time period.
We changed our minds and decided on an 8 day cruise instead. Maybe we will wait til they redo Downtown Disney.

 

[JVelasquez]

We are really hoping for FD to come out but the longer we wait the more I feel like we should just cancel our trip and go somewhere else. It's sad because we really want to go to Disney

The only other way we will be able to go is if we push our trip from Aug to October. We don't want to put any of our trip on credit cards so if we don't get FD at least we would have a few more weeks to save up. The downside to going in October is we would have to take DS out of school (and see if DH and I can get our vacation time approved). So here is a question... Is it a bad idea to take your child out of school for a week for a vacation? Our DS will be in 2nd grade and he's doing good in school and isn't struggling in any areas.

 

[McKelly]

We are really hoping for FD to come out but the longer we wait the more I feel like we should just cancel our trip and go somewhere else. It's sad because we really want to go to Disney

The only other way we will be able to go is if we push our trip from Aug to October. We don't want to put any of our trip on credit cards so if we don't get FD at least we would have a few more weeks to save up. The downside to going in October is we would have to take DS out of school (and see if DH and I can get our vacation time approved). So here is a question... Is it a bad idea to take your child out of school for a week for a vacation? Our DS will be in 2nd grade and he's doing good in school and isn't struggling in any areas.

In 2nd grade, I would say take him out, especially if he is not struggling. You can take him to one of the Halloween parties! I think the only time a school would have an issue is if you pulled him during state testing, but I think 2nd grade is too young for those tests...maybe I am wrong.

 

[JVelasquez]

In 2nd grade, I would say take him out, especially if he is not struggling. You can take him to one of the Halloween parties! I think the only time a school would have an issue is if you pulled him during state testing, but I think 2nd grade is too young for those tests...maybe I am wrong.

Thank you! DH and I have a lot to think about.

 

[DisneyMom5]

1) FD isn't even late yet, so do not despair or lose hope. It was WAY early last year.
2) They just offered a sale for one of their busiest times of year (summer.) Sept. is NOT their busiest time of year. More people MIGHT be going overall due to Fantasyland, but that would only be a percentage.
There WILL be a sale, it might not be FD in name, but there will be a sale, because there always is.

 

[momto2inKC]

1) FD isn't even late yet, so do not despair or lose hope. It was WAY early last year.
2) They just offered a sale for one of their busiest times of year (summer.) Sept. is NOT their busiest time of year. More people MIGHT be going overall due to Fantasyland, but that would only be a percentage.
There WILL be a sale, it might not be FD in name, but there will be a sale, because there always is.

Agreed! Last year was odd as far as when they released free dining. All years prior it was later, more towards summer before they released the Sept and later deals.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Do you book your room now for the time you believe free dining will be offered and then when it comes out upgrade to free dining? I haven't booked a free dining trip in a long time but the last time I did that's how I did it.What are anticipated dates if it happens?

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Agreed! Last year was odd as far as when they released free dining. All years prior it was later, more towards summer before they released the Sept and later deals.

Not really. I remember them offering free dining in Dec of 2010 for Aug-Sept of 2011.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[momto3gr8boys]

I need FD cause I refuse to pay $40 (or whatever it costs per day for regular DDP) if DS only eats chicken nuggets with grapes and chocolate pudding. Oh and chocolate milk. I am still optimistic - I think next week we will know. Just a gut feeling!

Hopeful (the 8th Dwarf)!
Lorri

I am hoping too! if not, it's $55 a night, but there's no rule saying you have to buy the dining plan. If FD is not offered just pay for your meals OOP if you won't eat that much.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

Not really. I remember them offering free dining in Dec of 2010 for Aug-Sept of 2011.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

That was really odd though. I used it that year and I was surprised it was that early. For the last seven years it's consistently been at the end of April/early May, with the exception of the last two years.

 

[momto2inKC]

Not really. I remember them offering free dining in Dec of 2010 for Aug-Sept of 2011.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Pardon me, the last 2 years. Before that, for years, it was much later.

 

[micknpluto]

Honestly I don't remember it being much later in April. I've been going for several years. With free dining. We are heading into the second week of April now.

 

[momto2inKC]

I think someone posted this a few pages back, but this shows the dates they've released promos.
http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/
Edited to add- I just realized it only goes back 3 years. I thought it had more than just the past 3 years listed.

 

[black562]

Here are the Historic Patterns for fall free dining offers.

2006 - Booking started April 1
2007 - Booking started April 9
2008 - Booking started April 7
2009 - Booking started March 30
2010 - Booking Started April 29
2011 - Booking Started April 28
2012 - Booking Started March 1

 

[DisneyMom5]

Here are the Historic Patterns for fall free dining offers.

2006 - Booking started April 1
2007 - Booking started April 9
2008 - Booking started April 7
2009 - Booking started March 30
2010 - Booking Started April 29
2011 - Booking Started April 28
2012 - Booking Started March 1

And in 2005, I think it was June.
The 2010, 2011 dates were really late, weren't they? I'm betting that's what we are looking at this year.