2013 Free Dining Watch

[TheDisney411]

Hey guys I'm heading down Nov 5-11! Staying at AoA. Over the past few years them have offered free dining. Has anyone heard anything yet?

AoA has only been open about a year, but the AoA suites have been included in almost all general public discounts. The Little Mermaid standard rooms have not been included in hardly any of the general public discounts. If the LM room are included on the upcoming FD promo, they will most likely be extremely limited. Each resort is only allotted so many FD rooms, so always have a back up room category or resort when you call to book or add the FD code to an existing reservation. Also, those dates may be blacked out due to Jersey Week.

 

[mommy2paisley]

We check in November 1-10. Any guesses if our dates might be included if they offer FD for November?

 

[salemnews]

From everything I have read it is very unlikely your dates will fall into FD this year. Jersey Week is normally blacked out for discounts. I myself am going Nov 3-8 and booked thru a TA who was offering an agency exclusive for my dates due to Jersey Week normally being blacked out.

Thank you for your help, I know the past few years the last week off food and wine was free dining, but it is what it is! Thanks. If you hear anything let me know

 

[babydoll65]

Just went to target this morning and noticed they are not selling the 25.00 gift cards. So I came home and looked on target.com and there not selling them either. I live in Rhode Island so has anyone else noticed this?

 

[xdanielleax]

Just booked our trip! Staying at the Carribean Beach Sept 2-8! Can't wait til the 9th to add dining!

 

[xdanielleax]

Since my trip is booked, should I make my meal reservations now? Or will I have to change them once I receive free dining?

 

[grimley1968]

Since my trip is booked, should I make my meal reservations now? Or will I have to change them once I receive free dining?

You can go ahead and make them. They don't need to know whether you have the dining plan ("free" or paid) until you actually have your meal. And no ADR's need to be changed if and when you change your reservation to include free dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

Make them now. They will not change if you alter your room reservation. People have been making reservations for weeks now in anticipation of free dining so you may not want to wait much longer to secure the restaurants you want.

 

[TheDisney411]

Since my trip is booked, should I make my meal reservations now? Or will I have to change them once I receive free dining?

Oh gosh, book now, today. Do a search on the WDW dining site and see what is still available. A lot of the character meals and popular restaurants will already have very limited openings.

 

[LoveMickeyMouse1]

Hi guys! Does anyone know if Disney will officially announce the free dining plan prior to may 9? Thanks!

 

[smitch425]

Hi guys! Does anyone know if Disney will officially announce the free dining plan prior to may 9? Thanks!

If it opens to the Disney Visa holders first, the offer page at www.disneyrewards.com will give the date that the deal will go public.

 

[WDW Beets ALL]

Just went to target this morning and noticed they are not selling the 25.00 gift cards. So I came home and looked on target.com and there not selling them either. I live in Rhode Island so has anyone else noticed this?

I have looked several places. I'm only finding the $50-$500 ones. Sorry

 

[Elisa]

You can buy the gift cards at the Disney store, CVS, Target, Costco. Etc. Then you just use them like a credit card. They accept the Disney gift cards at all Disney parks, restaurants and Downtown Disney.

So I'd probably have to get a bunch of smaller denomination gift cards? Not just one with, let's say $1300 on it? Of course that would be devastating to lose one big one versus $200 worth of gift cards for the day, but I want the convenience of not having to carry a lot of stuff. What about charging all food to our room, like we can store purchases, and then pay it off at the end of the trip? Is that possible?
I forgot to mention that I'm Canadian and don't have most of those store except for Costco and I don't think they sell Disney cards there.

 

[TheDisney411]

So I'd probably have to get a bunch of smaller denomination gift cards? Not just one with, let's say $1300 on it? Of course that would be devastating to lose one big one versus $200 worth of gift cards for the day, but I want the convenience of not having to carry a lot of stuff. What about charging all food to our room, like we can store purchases, and then pay it off at the end of the trip? Is that possible?
I forgot to mention that I'm Canadian and don't have most of those store except for Costco and I don't think they sell Disney cards there.

You can charge everything, food, souvenirs, tips, etc., to your resort room and pay it off at check out.

 

[mouserrificmom]

So I'd probably have to get a bunch of smaller denomination gift cards? Not just one with, let's say $1300 on it? Of course that would be devastating to lose one big one versus $200 worth of gift cards for the day, but I want the convenience of not having to carry a lot of stuff. What about charging all food to our room, like we can store purchases, and then pay it off at the end of the trip? Is that possible?
I forgot to mention that I'm Canadian and don't have most of those store except for Costco and I don't think they sell Disney cards there.

You should be able to go to the Disney Store and load one with the amount you want on it. They MAY have an upper limit, but I don't think so. It would be silly to buy multiple cards. I would think you should also be able to order any denomination online as well. You can order personalized gift cards now too which is fun -
You can use a family photo as the card graphic. Cute stuff!

 

[theguda]

Stop waiting for FD. You can get a better deal anytime you want and not have to wait for a FD offer. Read this...

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3105456

 

[TheDisney411]

Stop waiting for FD. You can get a better deal anytime you want and not have to wait for a FD offer. Read this...

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3105456

We have a large family and normally get 2 connecting rooms at a value resort and travel during free dining weeks. We have priced out renting DVC points twice and we would need at least 2 bedroom villa and it does come close to our FD price. It's over $2000 more on an 8 day trip for us to rent points at DVC instead of applying a FD discount on 2 connecting value rooms.

If you are planning on staying at a deluxe resort and have a family of 4, you can get a cheaper deal renting points over a FD offer, but not by much and you still have to buy food.

Renting points is usually only a better option during higher crowd season when the discounts are few and far between, not during free dining weeks.

Also stays where you rent DVC points are non-refundable, you get no housekeeping services and you don't qualify for deep discounts like free dining or even a room discount.

 

[Austinsmom068]

Sorry I think this was posted somewhere already bit how much is it to upgrade to regular dining. Like if I stay @ a value and get free qs but want regular dining instead. Thanks

 

[TheDisney411]

Sorry I think this was posted somewhere already bit how much is it to upgrade to regular dining. Like if I stay @ a value and get free qs but want regular dining instead. Thanks

There's a sticky on the top of this board.

About $18 per adult and about $3 per child, per night.

 

[jpessa]

So I'd probably have to get a bunch of smaller denomination gift cards? Not just one with, let's say $1300 on it? Of course that would be devastating to lose one big one versus $200 worth of gift cards for the day, but I want the convenience of not having to carry a lot of stuff. What about charging all food to our room, like we can store purchases, and then pay it off at the end of the trip? Is that possible?
I forgot to mention that I'm Canadian and don't have most of those store except for Costco and I don't think they sell Disney cards there.

The gift cards you can buy at Canadian Disney Stores are not valid in the US, and NOT valid at WDW. I asked just 2 weeks ago. They are ONLY valid in Canada (they are in $CAN). You would have to go over the border to purchase an American Disney gift card for use at WDW.