October 2013 Code Watch?!

[jenjersnap]

I don't know if anyone else saw this or not, but a few weeks ago prior to the summer offer being offered to Visa card holders (I think, it may have been before it was released to the public). I saw something on the WDW site. There was link to current offers and when I clicked it came with what looked like the same room discount plus ticket discount that they have been offering. The dates at the bottom were selected times throughout the year. I know I looked and saw our dates (oct 19-24th), but I didn't catch anything else. It was only up for a few minutes. I tried to quote my vacation for my dates, but it wouldn't let me select a date after April. It could mean absolutely nothing, just thought I would let everyone know what I saw.

Thanks for posting that! Sounds like it is exactly in line with the predictions of those in the know (though it seems also, from what Danny25 has said, that TPTB are still not totally decided on late summer/fall general public discounts, ie, if free dining offer in late August to late September will continue and, if so, what form so I guess it all subject to change based on bookings so far).

 

[grimley1968]

Okay, our school system just posted the 2013-14 fall schedule. Our fall break is when I thought it would be, 10/7 through 10/11. Now come on Disney, give me a discount I can use, and I'm on it!

Even if there is a discount, we're probably going to have to give up our costly deluxe habit this year (we're building a house), and if we do any dining plan, it would be the QSDP, since that fits our lifestyle (and budget) more than the regular DP. It still includes the resort refillable mugs.

A free QSDP would actually save us more money at a moderate than even a 50% discount on the room (not that that's going to happen). Given how expensive the regular dining plan has gotten, it is impossible for me to imagine they'd give that to guests paying rack rates at the mods and values this year. Maybe for deluxe resort guests, who pay around 2x or more for their rooms as moderate resort guests. But I'll take just about anything offered for that week.

Come on Disney!

 

[ALD85]

Airfare went down today! Just booked our flights! Excited!!!

 

[amccu18007]

Airfare went down today! Just booked our flights! Excited!!!

Yay for cheaper airfares!!!

 

[TarrahA]

Is this an east coast exclusive thing? I just checked flights from Dallas today & if anything, they increased slightly. Ugh! If anyone has any good advice on fares out of Dallas that'd be great. I'm usually too gun shy until its too late & I've missed the deals =/

 

[ALD85]

Is this an east coast exclusive thing? I just checked flights from Dallas today & if anything, they increased slightly. Ugh! If anyone has any good advice on fares out of Dallas that'd be great. I'm usually too gun shy until its too late & I've missed the deals =/

I'm east cost, so maybe!

 

[grimley1968]

Is this an east coast exclusive thing? I just checked flights from Dallas today & if anything, they increased slightly. Ugh! If anyone has any good advice on fares out of Dallas that'd be great. I'm usually too gun shy until its too late & I've missed the deals =/

I live in Kentucky, and noticed that SWA airfares dropped for our dates of travel for many flights, sometimes down to around $127 each way. If I use SWA, I fly out of Louisville or Nashville.

 

[amccu18007]

I am feeling a little discouraged.....after reviewing all of the "deals" from this year it looks as though free dining probably won't be offered. I was really hoping to get this as it would it would really help. I bought airfare so we are def. going but we may want to stay offsite if no deal comes along. Here is hoping that positive thoughts will get us(all of us ) a great deal!

 

[grimley1968]

I am feeling a little discouraged.....after reviewing all of the "deals" from this year it looks as though free dining probably won't be offered. I was really hoping to get this as it would it would really help. I bought airfare so we are def. going but we may want to stay offsite if no deal comes along. Here is hoping that positive thoughts will get us(all of us ) a great deal!

I don't think I'd be all that discouraged in your case. At least not yet. I see in your signature you're going the very first week or October. That should be before the blackout period for "free dining" begins around Columbus Day (10/14 this year). We're going the week after you and might have some blackouts, but I think the first week of October this year, with Columbus Day being so late, may be prime time for discounts. If you'll notice my post a couple of pages back, the blackout period for "free dining" started the Thursday before Columbus Day, in both 2011 and 2012. If that holds true again this year, that corresponding Thursday would be 10/10. Of course this all depends on a) Disney holding to its recent history for discounts dates and b) whether they even offer "free dining" this fall. But I don't think it's time yet to assume either way whether they will.

 

[Marsheliz]

Anyone know if anything is typically available for the week of the 27th?

 

[amccu18007]

I don't think I'd be all that discouraged in your case. At least not yet. I see in your signature you're going the very first week or October. That should be before the blackout period for "free dining" begins around Columbus Day (10/14 this year). We're going the week after you and might have some blackouts, but I think the first week of October this year, with Columbus Day being so late, may be prime time for discounts. If you'll notice my post a couple of pages back, the blackout period for "free dining" started the Thursday before Columbus Day, in both 2011 and 2012. If that holds true again this year, that corresponding Thursday would be 10/10. Of course this all depends on a) Disney holding to its recent history for discounts dates and b) whether they even offer "free dining" this fall. But I don't think it's time yet to assume either way whether they will.

Thank you for the hope I guess I was more concerned because Disney hasn't seemed to offer free dining this year I have everything crossed for free dining though!

 

[Shuggie5864]

Hi Fellow Code Watchers! I have a question that may have been answered before, but I hoped that you may be able to help me out. We are looking to travel to Disney beginning October 17- October 27. If free dining would happen to be offered, we should be close to the time it has traditionally been offered in the past. My question is: if we would arrive too early (check in date), we would miss the free dining for the whole week. Would Disney split my reservation in 2, so I could get free dining for the remainder of the week?
For example: If I check in on the 17th and free dining starts on the the 19th, could they change my reservations to 17th-19th and 19th-27th? Hopefully this makes sense!! Thanks in advance!!

 

[smitch425]

Hi Fellow Code Watchers! I have a question that may have been answered before, but I hoped that you may be able to help me out. We are looking to travel to Disney beginning October 17- October 27. If free dining would happen to be offered, we should be close to the time it has traditionally been offered in the past. My question is: if we would arrive too early (check in date), we would miss the free dining for the whole week. Would Disney split my reservation in 2, so I could get free dining for the remainder of the week?
For example: If I check in on the 17th and free dining starts on the the 19th, could they change my reservations to 17th-19th and 19th-27th? Hopefully this makes sense!! Thanks in advance!!

You will have to split it up yourself, they will not do it automatically. That comes with the risk of having to change rooms when you check out and back in, but they will do everything they can to keep you in the same room. Also, your tickets would be tied to your dining package stay. As of right now, you can pick up package tickets up to 3 days early, but no one knpws if that will still hold true once the magic bands are fully implemented.

 

[delilah18]

Is the last week of October usually blacked out for free dining?

Thanks

 

[Shuggie5864]

You will have to split it up yourself, they will not do it automatically. That comes with the risk of having to change rooms when you check out and back in, but they will do everything they can to keep you in the same room. Also, your tickets would be tied to your dining package stay. As of right now, you can pick up package tickets up to 3 days early, but no one knpws if that will still hold true once the magic bands are fully

Thanks so much for the info. I would call to split the reservations, but I am not sure what you mean when you say the tickets are tied to my dining package and picking them up 3 days early. Can you clarify for me? Thanks so much! Looking to save money if I can

 

[smitch425]

Is the last week of October usually blacked out for free dining?

Thanks

That week has been included in the promotion in years past. Last year's October FD dates were the 1-4 and 19-31. The dates in 2011 were similar.

Thanks so much for the info. I would call to split the reservations, but I am not sure what you mean when you say the tickets are tied to my dining package and picking them up 3 days early. Can you clarify for me? Thanks so much! Looking to save money if I can

In order to take advantage of a FD offer, you must purchase tickets as part of the FD package. Therefore, in your above scenario, your tickets would have to be a part of the second stay, and your first stay would be a room only reservation. Currently, you can pick up tickets that are part of a package stay up to 3 days before the start of your package. This can be done at any guest relations window at the parks or DTD. So you could get your same number of ticket days to cover both stays, but technically they would be tied to the second part of the stay and you would need to get them early to use them for the first stay. We just don't know if the availability to do early pick up will go away once they switch to the magic band ticket media.

I hope that all makes sense. It did in my head, but sometimes it is hard to explain. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[worm761]

DH decided that we should go to Disney last night. Should I transfer the down payment for the package from my savings account today? How soon does everyone think that free dining will come out?

 

[smitch425]

DH decided that we should go to Disney last night. Should I transfer the down payment for the package from my savings account today? How soon does everyone think that free dining will come out?

October deals typically come out in July or even early August. Where are you planning to stay?

 

[TheDisney411]

DH decided that we should go to Disney last night. Should I transfer the down payment for the package from my savings account today? How soon does everyone think that free dining will come out?

The October - December free dining discounts aren't usually released until July, sometimes early August. But, you can always go ahead and book your Magic Your Way package, with a minimum $200 deposit, and then call Disney reservations when the discounts are released and have them add the FD code to your existing reservation and they will credit the difference to your balance.

 

[worm761]

The October - December free dining discounts aren't usually released until July, sometimes early August. But, you can always go ahead and book your Magic Your Way package, with a minimum $200 deposit, and then call Disney reservations when the discounts are released and have them add the FD code to your existing reservation and they will credit the difference to your balance.

We would be checking in on Sept 30. Does that make a difference?