2013 Free Dining Watch

[DisneyFEB2013]

Originally Posted by jcamacam

Yep there was! We were there - great week, low crowds and free dining!

I noticed in your signature that you were at Disney the last week of February 2011. How were the crowds that week? We will be there 2/23/13-3/2/13 and are curious about the crowds!

Thanks!

[Sherrkel]

Originally Posted by DisneyFEB2013

I noticed in your signature that you were at Disney the last week of February 2011. How were the crowds that week? We will be there 2/23/13-3/2/13 and are curious about the crowds!

Thanks!

We'll be there 2/21-3/2/13. This will be our 4th time going in February since 2007. The crowds are pretty manageable the week that follows President week. Another crowd factor is Mardi Gras and as long as that doesn't fall on the last week of February than it only makes that crowds that much less! We've gone twice during the week that follows Pres week, and once during Pres Week itself - there is definitely a huge difference in park attendance, the latter being very busy. Hopefully we'll all be lucky and again experience low crowds.

[hitomi04]

i was having the same question XD i have to decide between 2/25 to 2/3 or 2/3 to 3/9 but i think the first week of march is less crowded and hopefully they will give free dining plan there.

[jcamacam]

Originally Posted by DisneyFEB2013

I noticed in your signature that you were at Disney the last week of February 2011. How were the crowds that week? We will be there 2/23/13-3/2/13 and are curious about the crowds!

Thanks!

It definitely can be depending on how the "last week" falls - I just checked your dates and it looks like the President's Day week crowds should be leaving when you're arriving (President's Day falls on the 18th next year). Anyway, we've gone the last two years and it was great! Crowds were low - comparable to when we've gone the first week in December (after the Thanksgiving crowds and before the Christmas crowds).

Also just a heads up that the Princess Half Marathon is 2/22-2/24 next year but it really doesn't add to the crowd levels in the parks. You may see some people walking around with their medals or shirts :-).

We'll be there 2/28-3/9 and all signs point to a good week :-)

Have a great trip!

[oiralinde]

We are hoping to go in September 2013. Would it be wise to book the room/tickets now and add on the DP later if they don't offer it free? I have no idea what to do, whether I should wait until the spring to book everything, or to do the booking earlier and then add on later. Thoughts?

[Get me to Disney!]

Originally Posted by oiralinde

We are hoping to go in September 2013. Would it be wise to book the room/tickets now and add on the DP later if they don't offer it free? I have no idea what to do, whether I should wait until the spring to book everything, or to do the booking earlier and then add on later. Thoughts?

What I did - now this was in 09 so things could have changed. I booked my entire trip without adding dining about a year in advance. That way I was able to book my ADR's. Once they released the free dining, I added it to my package and it was easy. I think it's kind of kept secret that you can do it this way because they want you to hear of free dining, call and make a res with dining, and then they hope you'll forget to call back to make it free Good luck!! FREE DINING is the greatest - at least it was for us!!

[mariela]

Hello, know something of the free dining plan 2013, when will the dates? I'm from Argentina .... thanks

[Glittercat]

Just another person watching for dates for free dining for Sept. 2013. I'm probably booking our resort this afternoon- once we've all decided. My husband the Mister very much wants DDP, and of course would prefer it to be free. I would prefer to go without the plan this year, but as this is his vacation too and he likes not feeling like we're paying out of pocket at the World so I'll book it. Going to keep a close watch on dates though just in case it is FD! *waves*

[TDC Nala]

Originally Posted by mariela

Hello, know something of the free dining plan 2013, when will the dates? I'm from Argentina .... thanks

There are no dates yet. Currently the only way to get it is 1) move to Great Britain, or 2) visit WDW now and book a bounceback offer while you are there for next August-September.

[DisneyFreak06]

Originally Posted by TDC Nala

There are no dates yet. Currently the only way to get it is 1) move to Great Britain, or 2) visit WDW now and book a bounceback offer while you are there for next August-September.

Yeah! I was there in July... the bounceback was only room discount until the end of December! Not fair... I wanted the free dining!

[BuzzandWoodyMom]

Originally Posted by oiralinde

We are hoping to go in September 2013. Would it be wise to book the room/tickets now and add on the DP later if they don't offer it free? I have no idea what to do, whether I should wait until the spring to book everything, or to do the booking earlier and then add on later. Thoughts?

There has been a free dining discount in September every year for the last 9 years, so it's a pretty safe bet to book in September for a free dining promo. The August/September free dining discounts are usually released around the end of March/first of April.

[enchantedrosex]

Has there ever been free dining available for mid/late December or early January trips? I'm looking to go next Dec/Jan, I'm I'm hoping to get the free DP!!

[dakotix]

Originally Posted by enchantedrosex

Has there ever been free dining available for mid/late December or early January trips? I'm looking to go next Dec/Jan, I'm I'm hoping to get the free DP!!

Last year the FD for Jan started on Jan 8th. A week later was marathon weekend which was not included. This coming January the marathon weekend is earlier (around the 11th I think) so it may happen so the FD is offered earlier as well like Jan 1. The UK version of FD for next year has already been released. There's starts Jan 1st so having then is not unheard of.

I just hope they don't begin FD for January after the marathon. In that case we wont be able to take advantage of it. We'll still go though, there likely will be a room discount which will be nice to take advantage of. Right now we're booked Jan 9th-15th...cant wait!

[disneyfantotheend]

The UK dates usually do not match our dates for free dining. But I hope it works out for all those waiting.

[Zipears Fan]

Originally Posted by Get me to Disney!

What I did - now this was in 09 so things could have changed. I booked my entire trip without adding dining about a year in advance. That way I was able to book my ADR's. Once they released the free dining, I added it to my package and it was easy. I think it's kind of kept secret that you can do it this way because they want you to hear of free dining, call and make a res with dining, and then they hope you'll forget to call back to make it free Good luck!! FREE DINING is the greatest - at least it was for us!!

Yeah, we did the same thing in '09. Unfortunately, now in 2012 and beyond there are two things wrong with this approach: (1) Disney has offered FD to those checking in during limited windows of days and, if anyone books a year in advance, nobody what those windows are, so there is the risk you may need to adjust your ressies; and (2) Whether a guest seeks to make ressies thru her DDP or outside of it, there is around a 180 day or so advance limit.