Anyone feel the same that the FD offer will be very crowded this year?

[Bete]

All of us are anxious I think that the free dining offer may be very limited on dates this year and may only include this one offer coming up hopefully for mostly September.

Usually, we go for November or December, but I don't want to pass on free dining; so, we are considering moving our trip plans up.

Anyway, I started to think there has to be many of us thinking the same way.

So, anyone else changing their dates because of this FD offer coming up?

 

[babydoll65]

I'm going in November and will not be changing my dates . I think the dates I picked stands a very good chance for fd (10-16) believe me it took alot of researching to find what dates will work so I picked the week after Jersey week which the crowds drop drastically if you look at touring plans. I'll be taking my mom on this trip and she will be turning 70 she told me September is too hot for her.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Went in August of 2010, this trip we are doing November. I am still hoping for free dining, but not thinking it is going to happen. However, I will risk no free dining over going in that killer heat again.

 

[MomofKatie]

We are considering a trip because of FD- our anniversary is during the promotion. DH told me if we can afford a trip, to book it- just waiting for Monday so I can make the reservation.

As for crowds, September is one of the slowest months of the year. It might be more busy than a normal September, but it will still be far less crowded than other times of the year. I'm not worried about 2 hour waits or anything.

 

[TheDisney411]

All of us are anxious I think that the free dining offer may be very limited on dates this year and may only include this one offer coming up hopefully for mostly September.

Usually, we go for November or December, but I don't want to pass on free dining; so, we are considering moving our trip plans up.

Anyway, I started to think there has to be many of us thinking the same way.

So, anyone else changing their dates because of this FD offer coming up?

The October - December FD dates aren't normally even released until July, sometimes August and I haven't heard anything yet that makes me think there will be no free dining at all for that time frame.

Every single year on this board, since 2006, people have been claiming that Disney is not going to offer deep discounts like FD again and that FD is over, a flash in the pan, if you will. Not only did they continue to offer it, they added many more FD weeks in 2009. Free dining has been a financial coo for those marketing geniuses at Disney. Free dining has allowed them to fill their resorts and parks during historically low crowd weeks and has made them millions and millions of dollars since 2005. Anything is possible, and they could end free dining discounts tomorrow, but within a year or two those resort and park numbers would once again plummet during those historically low crowd weeks. I mean, really, what is the incentive for me (and the thousands of other parents out there) to take my kids out of school during Veterans Day/Week, for example, if I'm going to have to pay full price or settle for a 15% discount at All Star Movies which saves me about $15 per night? I can go during the summer with a measley 15% off discount during June and not have to take my kids out of school. Anyway, like I said, anything is possible, but I don't think the end of free dining is in the cards just yet. Of course, that is just my opinion

 

[babydoll65]

The October - December FD dates aren't normally even released until July, sometimes August and I haven't heard anything yet that makes me think there will be no free dining at all for that time frame.

Every single year on this board, since 2006, people have been claiming that Disney is not going to offer deep discounts like FD again and that FD is over, a flash in the pan, if you will. Not only did they continue to offer it, they added many more FD weeks in 2009. Free dining has been a financial coo for those marketing geniuses at Disney. Free dining has allowed them to fill their resorts and parks during historically low crowd weeks and has made them millions and millions of dollars since 2005. Anything is possible, and they could end free dining discounts tomorrow, but within a year or two those resort and park numbers would once again plummet during those historically low crowd weeks. I mean, really, what is the incentive for me (and the thousands of other parents out there) to take my kids out of school during Veterans Day/Week, for example, if I'm going to have to pay full price or settle for a 15% discount at All Star Movies which saves me about $15 per night? I can go during the summer with a measley 15% off discount during June and not have to take my kids out of school. Anyway, like I said, anything is possible, but I don't think the end of free dining is in the cards just yet. Of course, that is just my opinion

I feel the same way you do. I don't feel disney is going to give up something that's been working for so many years. At this point I could move my dates to Sept but as much as want fd, I don't want to ruin my mom's vacation because of the heat. I prefer 70-80 degree weather and very little rain. And I know the time frame I'm going is one of the lowest times of the year.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I think the chances of Disney cutting back on free dining promotions is not just a rumor it has become a reality this year. This is the first time free dining is going to be offered for 2013 and it is all the way into September. Usually they would have offered free dining last year for Spring of this year. They didn't. And now a very limited one month free dining offer?

If you are coming in October or November I would make sure you aren't counting on free dining to be able to go.

I wouldn't go in September with that horrible heat and humidity if the whole trip was free.

 

[TARAMEOW]

I changed my dates from late August to Sept. I have always booked during free dining and didn't want to miss out.

 

[TDC Nala]

They've already cut back on free dining this year. No general public free dining in January/February. No general public free dining before Labor Day at all. We have yet to see what the rest of the year will bring.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My personal opinion is that they have already cut way back on FD. Except for bounce back offers, we've only seen FD for 23 days for the entire year. There are only 3 months left in which to offer it, and with F&W, MNSSHP, Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and Christmas, I don't know if they need to offer it again. Maybe only for a week or 2 at a time?

I think Disney uses FD to fill rooms when it looks like there will be a lot if unused rooms. I think that is why FD was at its peak in '09 and '10 when people had no money or were afraid to used it for vacations. Now that more people are traveling, they are cutting back.

I THINK Disney will always keep FD in their back pocket for when bookings are low. But I have no proof or inside knowledge so that is just my bust guess and opinion. I know several people think I'm wrong, and that's fine. I could very well be wrong.

 

[TheDisney411]

My personal opinion is that they have already cut way back on FD. Except for bounce back offers, we've only seen FD for 23 days for the entire year. There are only 3 months left in which to offer it, and with F&W, MNSSHP, Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and Christmas, I don't know if they need to offer it again. Maybe only for a week or 2 at a time?

I think Disney uses FD to fill rooms when it looks like there will be a lot if unused rooms. I think that is why FD was at its peak in '09 and '10 when people had no money or were afraid to used it for vacations. Now that more people are traveling, they are cutting back.

I THINK Disney will always keep FD in their back pocket for when bookings are low. But I have no proof or inside knowledge so that is just my bust guess and opinion. I know several people think I'm wrong, and that's fine. I could very well be wrong.

Actually, if you check in by the last day of an FD promo, you can have the discount applied to your entire stay up to 14 nights. So the current FD promo will actually cover 39 days.

Disney will still need to fill resort rooms during select historical low crowd weeks in Oct - Dec and I haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe they won't release some FD dates for that timeframe.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Actually, if you check in by the last day of an FD promo, you can have the discount applied to your entire stay up to 14 nights. So the current FD promo will actually cover 39 days.

Disney will still need to fill resort rooms during select historical low crowd weeks in Oct - Dec and I haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe they won't release some FD dates for that timeframe.

Do you think it is worth it to release it for only a week or 2 at a time? I'm just asking, not arguing. I ask because in Oct, Nov and December there are only 1 or 2 weeks each that have lower crowds.

 

[TheDisney411]

Do you think it is worth it to release it for only a week or 2 at a time? I'm just asking, not arguing. I ask because in Oct, Nov and December there are only 1 or 2 weeks each that have lower crowds.

Of course. If I had to predict FD dates for that timeframe, I would say:

Oct 1-5 or 6 and Oct 19 or 20 - Nov 1 or 2
November 10 - 21
Nov 29 or 30 - Dec 5 or 6 and Dec 14 - 19

Give or take a day or two, if FD is released for this timeframe, these dates should be pretty close.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Of course. If I had to predict FD dates for that timeframe, I would say:

Oct 1-5 or 6 and Oct 19 or 20 - Nov 1 or 2
Nov 29 or 30 - Dec 5 or 6 and Dec 14 - 19

Give or take a day two, if FD is released for this timeframe, these dates should be pretty close.

Oh no!!! What happened to the week between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving? Is that looking like higher occupancy now? I know originally you predicted those dates.

 

[sjs314]

I think the chances of Disney cutting back on free dining promotions is not just a rumor it has become a reality this year. This is the first time free dining is going to be offered for 2013 and it is all the way into September. Usually they would have offered free dining last year for Spring of this year. They didn't. And now a very limited one month free dining offer?

If you are coming in October or November I would make sure you aren't counting on free dining to be able to go.

I wouldn't go in September with that horrible heat and humidity if the whole trip was free.

Exactly how I feel!

 

[TheDisney411]

Oh no!!! What happened to the week between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving? Is that looking like higher occupancy now? I know originally you predicted those dates.

Sorry! Typo, I'll fix it

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Sorry! Typo, I'll fix it

Phew! You scared me. LOL

 

[TheDisney411]

Phew! You scared me. LOL

Lol!!!