2013 Free Dining Watch

[LikeSeriously]

Yes! though we already have it on a bounceback for Sept dates I am highly optimistic it will be offered. Personally I think it will be offered no later than the end of June for fall dates. So make sure you have your ADR's in order.

It seems every year people get all riled up and stressed over will it be offered and in the end it always is.

We will be there the first full week in October. Since Columbus Day is a week later this year, it looks like we are in good shape for FD. This past Monday was my 180 mark so I have all of our ADRs done! There may be a few changes to make but the important ones are set at least.

 

[jska482]

Our dates are 10/2-10/9. Last year free dining was 8/25-9/30 I believe. How did people get free dining in October last year? Maybe a pin code? I am doing all I can to get special offers/discounts/pin codes. Any tips are appreciated because we are SO hopeful for free dining! We aren't going in Sept because of hurricane risk. I realize early Oct isn't much better, but it makes me feel better for some reason. Thanks in advance to all for your info!

 

[4butlers]

Our dates are 10/2-10/9. Last year free dining was 8/25-9/30 I believe. How did people get free dining in October last year? Maybe a pin code? I am doing all I can to get special offers/discounts/pin codes. Any tips are appreciated because we are SO hopeful for free dining! We aren't going in Sept because of hurricane risk. I realize early Oct isn't much better, but it makes me feel better for some reason. Thanks in advance to all for your info!

Typically, there is FD for "early" fall and for "late" fall. August/September are considered early fall, while October-December are considered late fall.

 

[faindrops27]

We will be there the first full week in October. Since Columbus Day is a week later this year, it looks like we are in good shape for FD. This past Monday was my 180 mark so I have all of our ADRs done! There may be a few changes to make but the important ones are set at least.

I hope your dates will be offered!

When we were offered free dining I believe the check in dates started early/mid August and ended before the end of September maybe Sept 27? The dates we chose were Sept 24th-Oct 1st.

So, if they offered it to the general public the same dates. You could check in on Sept 27 and receive FD into the first full week of October. But, you must check in on the last day of the FD offer.

 

[jska482]

Great info, thanks!

 

[faindrops27]

Our dates are 10/2-10/9. Last year free dining was 8/25-9/30 I believe. How did people get free dining in October last year? Maybe a pin code? I am doing all I can to get special offers/discounts/pin codes. Any tips are appreciated because we are SO hopeful for free dining! We aren't going in Sept because of hurricane risk. I realize early Oct isn't much better, but it makes me feel better for some reason. Thanks in advance to all for your info!

We've been going since 2005 in September I only took off 2 years to go on cruises/other trips. Only big storm we got was Wilma Disney was excellent the storm came through, the next day everything was up and running it was amazing! So do not let September scare you away.

 

[smitch425]

Our dates are 10/2-10/9. Last year free dining was 8/25-9/30 I believe. How did people get free dining in October last year? Maybe a pin code? I am doing all I can to get special offers/discounts/pin codes. Any tips are appreciated because we are SO hopeful for free dining! We aren't going in Sept because of hurricane risk. I realize early Oct isn't much better, but it makes me feel better for some reason. Thanks in advance to all for your info!

There was a Fall FD offer for select dates in Oct-Dec. Last year's Oct. dates were Oct. 1-4 and Oct. 19-31. The dates in 2011 were similar.

Typically, there is FD for "early" fall and for "late" fall. August/September are considered early fall, while October-December are considered late fall.

The Aug/Sept offer is called "late Summer".

 

[jpessa]

Do you get the offer based on your arrival date? For example if they offer it until Sept 30th, and I arrive on Sept 29th, I still fall within the FD dates?

Although, I won't qualify regardless as I'm staying at AoA LM rooms. I've already priced it, and to switch to POR with FD would be the same price as keeping my AoA LM room and paying for the DP. (I wouldn't do a different Value, only staying at AoA because DD is obsessed with Ariel.)

 

[jska482]

Are A of A LM rooms typically excluded from free dining? I know the 15% room discount is. We are also staying in LM

 

[smitch425]

Are A of A LM rooms typically excluded from free dining? I know the 15% room discount is. We are also staying in LM

Yes. The LM rooms are blacked out of pretty much every promotion. Even PINs.

 

[smitch425]

Do you get the offer based on your arrival date? For example if they offer it until Sept 30th, and I arrive on Sept 29th, I still fall within the FD dates?

Although, I won't qualify regardless as I'm staying at AoA LM rooms. I've already priced it, and to switch to POR with FD would be the same price as keeping my AoA LM room and paying for the DP. (I wouldn't do a different Value, only staying at AoA because DD is obsessed with Ariel.)

FD is based solely on your check in date, and you get it for up to 14 nights--even if 13 of them are not during the promotion. You are right that you will likely not get FD in a LM room, however, you could switch to POP and walk across the bridge to AoA to see the LM stuff outside. POP is a great resort. We stay there every year and it is a very short walk to AoA.

 

[jpessa]

Hmmm. Good point on POP. I also heard that LM rooms are closer to POP than AoA main building. Although, a whole room with Ariel theming? Hard to beat. We'll see. IF the FD is offered, I'll price it out.
Thanks!

 

[jska482]

Ok....I'll have to keep that in mind. I kind of had my heart set on LM for my 2 girls since it was only $82 extra beyond All Star movies price for 5 night stay. But, with free dining at stake I may have to really think about that! Thanks for the info

 

[smitch425]

Hmmm. Good point on POP. I also heard that LM rooms are closer to POP than AoA main building. Although, a whole room with Ariel theming? Hard to beat. We'll see. IF the FD is offered, I'll price it out.
Thanks!

LM rooms are definitely not closer to POP than their own food court. You might be confusing the walking distance a bit. People were complaining that the LM rooms were very far from AoA's food court, but they are no farther away than some of the POP buildings are from POP's food court. Could that be what you read?

 

[jas792]

In November the AoA LM rooms were included in the FD plan - why wouldnt they be this year?

 

[TheDisney411]

If you have the disney vacation club can you still get free dining if it is offered??

Free dining is the reason we have never purchased DVC and probably never will. We have a large family and the minimum buy in for us is about $28,000 - we haven't spent they much in 7 years of free dining trips.

 

[TheDisney411]

Our dates are 10/2-10/9. Last year free dining was 8/25-9/30 I believe. How did people get free dining in October last year? Maybe a pin code? I am doing all I can to get special offers/discounts/pin codes. Any tips are appreciated because we are SO hopeful for free dining! We aren't going in Sept because of hurricane risk. I realize early Oct isn't much better, but it makes me feel better for some reason. Thanks in advance to all for your info!

They have had a general public free dining offer for select October dates for the last 5 years - they usually release the October - December free dining dates in July.

 

[TheDisney411]

Ok....I'll have to keep that in mind. I kind of had my heart set on LM for my 2 girls since it was only $82 extra beyond All Star movies price for 5 night stay. But, with free dining at stake I may have to really think about that! Thanks for the info

You won't see any kind of discount on those Little Mermaid rooms.

 

[okienick]

So is the rumor that the Free Dining for Moderates will only be the quick service plan? I sure hope not! I am hoping to stay at POR with free regular dining the week of Labor Day.

 

[TheDisney411]

In November the AoA LM rooms were included in the FD plan - why wouldnt they be this year?

No, that's not correct. They only had free dining on those rooms with a pin code, not for the general public and even with the pin code it was very limited.