Ladies and gentlemen boys and girls tonigth .......

[Wendy31]

But when was the last time we saw a 40% off code? I thinks that's where the cut backs have been ;-)

It's been a while! And, even then, our 40% discount was from a PIN code we received through email (the only PIN code we've ever received actually!) & not a general public discount.

However, if there is a 30% room only discount, I still plan to compare the 30% discount savings to the free dining savings. For our family (2 adults, 2 "Disney adults," & 1 child), free dining is probably going to save us more, but you never know. It probably also depends on the resort as well as to which is a better savings.

 

[cefcdana]

My travel agent said that in the past with other promotions, in order to qualify for the discount at Port Orleans Riverside, you need to be in a preferred room rather than a standard room.

Danny25 or whoever else might know... Do you know if this is true for the upcoming Free Dining offer for September? I am trying to weigh out my options for keeping my current reservation at AoA and paying to upgrade to the regular dining plan or switch over to Port Orleans Riverside. We are a family of 5 so have to have a room that accomodates 5.

Aside from that, does anyone know if the Royal Rooms at POR have a murphy/trundle bed in them? If I have to get a preferred room, those rooms sure look nice compared to the others!

 

[brizzer79]

We can't get back until September 2014 and now I'm getting nervous for any free dining at all next year after seeing the cut back this year. Maybe they'll lose customers this year and have to bring back more next year.

Not sure if this is any real measure tool but according to travelplans.com the dates we are going (9/7 to 9/15) have nearly doubled in the crowd level predictions since we booked less than 2 months ago. I go during that time for the low crowd level so I am not happy about the increase but it really is great for Disney.

 

[black562]

My travel agent said that in the past with other promotions, in order to qualify for the discount at Port Orleans Riverside, you need to be in a preferred room rather than a standard room.

Danny25 or whoever else might know... Do you know if this is true for the upcoming Free Dining offer for September? I am trying to weigh out my options for keeping my current reservation at AoA and paying to upgrade to the regular dining plan or switch over to Port Orleans Riverside. We are a family of 5 so have to have a room that accomodates 5.

Aside from that, does anyone know if the Royal Rooms at POR have a murphy/trundle bed in them? If I have to get a preferred room, those rooms sure look nice compared to the others!

I've done free dining every year it's been offered and stayed at Riverside many times. I've never had to stay in a particular room to qualify.

 

[MuchLovedMama]

Not sure if this is any real measure tool but according to travelplans.com the dates we are going (9/7 to 9/15) have nearly doubled in the crowd level predictions since we booked less than 2 months ago. I go during that time for the low crowd level so I am not happy about the increase but it really is great for Disney.

Wow! That's crazy. We've went mid-September in 2008, 2010 & 2012. That's my favorite time to go too because crowds are so low but gradually it has increased with each time. We went mid-September in 2000 as well and crowds were so low that we'd be on a ride and it would return to the load/un-load area and many times they'd ask if wanted to just stay on and ride again. It was a ghost town back then. I see why they started offering deals to bring people in. I just hope the deals don't end altogether.

 

[MuchLovedMama]

Not sure if this is any real measure tool but according to travelplans.com the dates we are going (9/7 to 9/15) have nearly doubled in the crowd level predictions since we booked less than 2 months ago. I go during that time for the low crowd level so I am not happy about the increase but it really is great for Disney.

Did you mean the touringplans website? travelplans doesn't come up for me.

 

[Lehuaann]

My travel agent said that in the past with other promotions, in order to qualify for the discount at Port Orleans Riverside, you need to be in a preferred room rather than a standard room.

Your travel agent is incorrect. I have stayed in both POR and POFQ Standard Rooms on FD.

 

[Kina]

Sorry to crash, but is there usually an offer like this in November?

 

[Three cats]

My travel agent said that in the past with other promotions, in order to qualify for the discount at Port Orleans Riverside, you need to be in a preferred room rather than a standard room.

Danny25 or whoever else might know... Do you know if this is true for the upcoming Free Dining offer for September? I am trying to weigh out my options for keeping my current reservation at AoA and paying to upgrade to the regular dining plan or switch over to Port Orleans Riverside. We are a family of 5 so have to have a room that accomodates 5.

Aside from that, does anyone know if the Royal Rooms at POR have a murphy/trundle bed in them? If I have to get a preferred room, those rooms sure look nice compared to the others!

No, the Royal Rooms do not have the trundle bed. Only the Alligator Bayou section of the resort has those.

 

[sgill204]

Yes, if you are paying full price for the room (not DVC points) and buy at least a 2 day MYW ticket. Plus it has to be available for your date and room type (there is a limit to the number of rooms for the promo).

Thanks! We booked it through RCI trading our timeshare for the room, so we are not paying the rack rate for the room. We will definitely be getting MYW tickets for at least 4 days. So I guess I will need to go back through our travel agent to find out if we can get the free dining? or do I just ask Disney? Also, do we do ADR through Disney? And now I'm worried that we didn't get in on time with it.

 

[grkmbee]

No, that's no correct. The suites have been included in all discounts since they opened and nothing has been said about them being blacked out this time.

In general, AoA suites have been included in the offers. However, particular suites may not have been. When I called about my Nemo suite, they were not eligible for the promotion. Now, I know that CMs can be wrong, however, I tried calling several times so I spoke to a variety of CMs, plugged an enormous variety of dates into the computer system for varying number of days and NEVER was I able to get a NEMO suite for the summer promo. The last CM I spoke with said that these suites, because of their location and popularity were not being included. And, the calling and searching were on the release dates of the promo. I imagine this may be similar to a particular category being excluded from a promo. Just like at other resorts, you can move to a different room for the promo (Cars or LK).

I hope that if Nemos are included for the late summer FD promo (hey they're supposedly including LM rooms) that when/if they release the late summer RO discounts that Nemos are also included. (fingers crossed!)

 

[ptmmg]

do Conventions make the the parks more or less crowded?

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks! We booked it through RCI trading our timeshare for the room, so we are not paying the rack rate for the room. We will definitely be getting MYW tickets for at least 4 days. So I guess I will need to go back through our travel agent to find out if we can get the free dining? or do I just ask Disney? Also, do we do ADR through Disney? And now I'm worried that we didn't get in on time with it.

An RCI Trade would not be eligible. Before you go to your travel agent or Disney about a full rate room, take a look at the rates:

http://www.mousesavers.com/2013-bay-lake-tower-at-contemporary-room-rates-season-dates/

Studios start at $431 plus tax (12.5%).

If you want to stay at BLT, you would probably be better off with your RCI trade and paying for the dining plan or paying for food on your own. This offer does not come out until May 9 (rumored).

 

[PrairiesProud]

Here's a bit of history to give you an idea...
2010
10/2 - 12/21 - Free dining - Announced on 8/16
10/3 - 12/31 - Room only discount - Announced on 8/16

2011
10/2 - 12/17 - Free dining - Announced on 8/3
10/30 - 12/23 - 15%-30% Room discounts - Announced 10/5

2012
9/30 - 12/13 - Free dining - Announced on 7/12
9/30 - 12/22 - 5%-30% Room discounts - Announced 8/27

I'll throw out what I'm seeing at the moment.

Room only discount for travel dates between August 15 and September 28 with some exclusions. Available for booking possibly on May 9. I can't tell if this covers US residents but I think that may be the case.

Black, thank you for the historical data! Historically speaking, has there typically been a gap between the end of late summer discounts and the beginning of fall discounts? For example with the FD offer ending on Sept. 25 and a 'room only' discount ending Sept. 28, could a fall discount potentially follow right through on the 29th... or do they usually come out again a few days into October?

 

[smitch425]

do Conventions make the the parks more or less crowded?

It balances out. Conventions take up rooms that would normally be filled by other guests. The conventions typically have things going on during the day which makes the parks less crowded, but at night they hit the parks which makes them more crowded than during the day. Conventions can also have an effect on park hours, primarily at DHS, which tends to hold private parties for convention goers.

 

[TheDisney411]

My travel agent said that in the past with other promotions, in order to qualify for the discount at Port Orleans Riverside, you need to be in a preferred room rather than a standard room.

Danny25 or whoever else might know... Do you know if this is true for the upcoming Free Dining offer for September? I am trying to weigh out my options for keeping my current reservation at AoA and paying to upgrade to the regular dining plan or switch over to Port Orleans Riverside. We are a family of 5 so have to have a room that accomodates 5.

Aside from that, does anyone know if the Royal Rooms at POR have a murphy/trundle bed in them? If I have to get a preferred room, those rooms sure look nice compared to the others!

The royal rooms do NOT have the trundle.

 

[TheDisney411]

Sorry to crash, but is there usually an offer like this in November?

Yes, but those dates wont be released until probably the summer.

Historic Free Dining Dates and Promo Release Dates:

Free Dining Promos/Discounts Released Spring of the Year Offered:
August 21- October 4, 2005
August 13 - September 30, 2006
August 26 - September 22, 2007
August 30 - September 27, 2008
August 16 - October 3, 2009

July 27, 2009(First Time for quick service at values, free Disney Dining at moderate and deluxe resorts)
Free Dining released for travel from October 4 – December 17, 2009

May 3, 2010:
Free Dining released for travel from August 15 – October 2, 2010.

July 6, 2010:
Disney extended the Free Dining offer for travel through early fall 2011. Many dates were blacked out:

August 15 - October 7, 2010
October 22 - October 28, 2010
November 12 - November 18, 2010
November 27 - December 2, 2010
December 10 - December 21, 2010

January 1 - 5, 2011
January 9 - 13, 2011
January 21 - February 3, 2011
February 11 - 17, 2011
February 25 - March 3, 2011
May 27 - June 2, 2011
August 19 - September 29, 2011

March 2011:
Free Dining Discount released for August 28 - September 24, 2011

August 3, 2011:
Free Dining Discounts released for dates through early Spring 2012
October 1 - October 6, 2011
October 22 - November 3, 2011
November 12 - November 17, 2011
November 26 - December 1, 2011
December 10 - December 15, 2011
January 8 - January 12, 2012
January 21 - February 2, 2012
February 11 - February 16, 2012
March 3 - March 8, 2012
March 24 - March 29, 2012

March 3, 2012:
August 25 - September 29, 2012

July 11, 2012:
September 30 - October 4, 2012
October 19 - November 1, 2012
November 9 - November 15, 2012
November 23 - November 29, 2012
December 10 - December 13, 2012

 

[TheDisney411]

Thanks! We booked it through RCI trading our timeshare for the room, so we are not paying the rack rate for the room. We will definitely be getting MYW tickets for at least 4 days. So I guess I will need to go back through our travel agent to find out if we can get the free dining? or do I just ask Disney? Also, do we do ADR through Disney? And now I'm worried that we didn't get in on time with it.

I'm sorry, your reservation is NOT eligible and can not add the free dining discount. You have to be booked under a Magic Your Way package that includes room, tickets and dining. You can not take advantage of a free dining if you are renting points through RCI or any other company.

Your ADRs don't have anything to do with your resort reservation or free dining discounts. You can book ADRs up to 180 days before your check in date. Anyone can make advance dining reservations whether they are staying at a Disney resort or not.

 

[Jfarrellcoupon]

Im confused and need a little clarification. Please be patient with me, this is my first post on the DisBoards. We have reservations at AOA LM room, checking in Sept 23rd.....will the LM room be included in the free dinning? We are prepared to move our ressie to POP, but I dont want to make that room till we have all of the details. TIA for any assistance with this, and Im sorry if this has already been answered.

 

[jcarwash]

Im confused and need a little clarification. Please be patient with me, this is my first post on the DisBoards. We have reservations at AOA LM room, checking in Sept 23rd.....will the LM room be included in the free dinning? We are prepared to move our ressie to POP, but I dont want to make that room till we have all of the details. TIA for any assistance with this, and Im sorry if this has already been answered.

The initial word is that LM AoA will be included in the free dining offer, however, we are all skeptical how long that availability will last once the offer starts. There is also expected to be a 2-3 day window of time where Disney Visa cardholders will have access to the offer before it is open to the general public.

You don't need to change your reservation ahead of the offer being released. If you are prepared to switch to Pop, the scenario would be to keep your LM AoA reservation, call when the free dining offer is available, and see if it can be applied to your LM room. If not, that's the time when you can look at switching to a resort where the free dining is applicable, perhaps at Pop.