2008 Free Dining Questions from Newbie

[flowers]

I'm trying to understand free dining. I have a cruise booked on the Magic leaving 10/4/08. I have been evesdropping over here for a while and so full of questions.

Does free dining end on 9/30?

Say you booked a value resort at $82, do you get the free dining for both people staying in the room? Or is the $82 for only one person.

Does it have to be booked directly with Disney? I see other TAs who book Disney vacations including the sponsor of this site.

When does this free dining for 2008 open?

I understand cruising basics, but all these abbreviations I get lost, how do you keep them all in your head so you dont have to look each one up? (rhetorical question, but whew I feel lost reading these posts).

 

[bradk]

the free dining promotion hasn't been announced for 2008, so there's no guarantee there will be one. with that said, the dates have varied each year, so it's not really possible to get an exact end date without it being formally announced.

and any TA can book the dining package, free or not.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The window gets less and less each year, but with the being said there is no guarantee it will be less, more or even exist at all.

This year it ended on 9/22 if I recall correctly.

 

[Amy&Dan]

The Free Dining would be for all guests of the room. Since its a package, each person must have a park ticket, be part of the room and then receive their dining credits. The only exception is children under 3, they eat for free and get into the parks for free. That is they eat for free off their parent's plates and off the buffet. They don't receive their own entree at a non buffet restaurant. Click on this link for a list of abbreviations, they become second nature very quickly!


http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

 

[flowers]

Yes, I know it hasnt been announced for 2008, Im just trying to understand how it works period. Been evesdropping on the 2007 posts and finally decided to just ask.

I will be there in Orlando this September 2007, but already had booked a hotel, and then got on this Disney kick so we have 3 days precruise in less than 2 months to check out some of the Disney resorts but I wanted to go armed with some information. I already read about Earl of Sandwich and places to go eat while we are there this September.

I am just trying to figure out what to expect and about when you were able to book it in 2007 so I can gauge when to start watching. Im a complete Disney newbie.

 

[flowers]

Thanks Amy&Dan. I think I need that list propped up next to almost all the posts, lol.

All this I stilled in POQR and POR and whatever...shesh. sorry to laugh but Im still sorting this all out.

thanks again.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Amy&Dan. I think I need that list propped up next to almost all the posts, lol.

All this I stilled in POQR and POR and whatever...shesh. sorry to laugh but Im still sorting this all out.

thanks again.

You are most welcome! Here is a Disney Dining Plan information thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1479952

I cannot remember when they announced free dining for this year. If you post that question on the Restaurants Board, specifically on the Disney Plan section, I'll bet you'll get an answer very quickly! I want to say it was in March, but I may be very wrong.

One thing to bear in mind, you have to be onsite (obviously), and the Swan Dolphin, and Shades of Green Resorts do not qualify to get the DDP (Disney Dining Plan) free or not. I also want to say that camping (tent or RV) at Ft. Wildnerness is not included in the free dining promotion. Also, you will pay rack rate for the room when the dining is free. When you pay for the DDP, you can still get discounts on your room. Check out that thread, it will tell you a ton about the DDP in general, then if you post a specific question about when they announced it for this year, you should get that answered too! Enjoy your research and planning, thats part of what makes Disney vacations so fun and addicting!

 

[flowers]

The window gets less and less each year, but with the being said there is no guarantee it will be less, more or even exist at all.

This year it ended on 9/22 if I recall correctly.

thanks, then I wouldnt count on it, as we would probably be there the week before 10/4 so would just miss it if dates are similar, but we still might want to stay on the Disney property, it still sounds fun even without the dining.

Ill keep on reading the posts too and maybe more of what is being said will start sinking in. Im really starting to want to check out all this Disney Magic stuff lol. I hope it doesnt become as addicting as cruising.

 

[teethrdh]

I think that they announced the free dining about March or April that it would start booking around April 11 if I remember correctly, Visa Disney cardholders got a few days head start prior to the general public. They only have so many rooms at each resort blocked out for the free dining, so rooms may be available but not with free dining attached to them, I had to keep calling back to get WL-either someone cancelled or they open more rooms. Everyone on the reservation for that room gets free dining but you must buy a park pass (don't know how many days) and everyone in the room must- have the same tickets-I think- so you only pay for the rooms nightly rate and park admission. I just called Disney directly but I am almost positive you may use a travel agent. Like someone else said who knows if or when they will offer it next year, I just heard about it through the boards, waited and called and called and called until I got what I wanted. I booked my trip Sept 22-27 and have free dining for the duration, because they go by when you check in for the package deal, but I heard that is changing. I think that is about my extent of knowledge for free dining.....Heather

 

[flowers]

Well thanks for all that. Im gratefull for any explanation....now gotta go get that list again someone else gave me to figure out your AK lol. Oh yea, Animal Kingdom. I can see why they had to call one ASSports and spell out the last word...cracked me up reading thru that abbreviation list.

thanks everyone

 

[Amy&Dan]

I also want to add that they had a bounceback free dining program. This was for guests who went to WDW in December of 2006 and were offered free dining the following September if they booked another trip by a certain deadline. I was made aware of that program by my TA (Debbie Lasher at Dreams Unlimited) because I had booked a package at WDW for the month of December. So that was the first inkling that Free Dining would most likely happen. I was offered that I think, before I even left for my December trip. I didn't book it, since September doesn't work with my kids schedule (major bummer). So in addition to the Disney Visa offering, they had another one as well before they opened it up to the general public. And most definitely a TA can book that for you.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Well thanks for all that. Im gratefull for any explanation....now gotta go get that list again someone else gave me to figure out your AK lol. Oh yea, Animal Kingdom. I can see why they had to call one ASSports and spell out the last word...cracked me up reading thru that abbreviation list.

thanks everyone

And the funny thing is, that abbreviation for All Star Sports (listed on that link I gave you) is not the one most commonly used. Almost always I see All Star Sports referred to as: ASSP. And All Star Music as: ASMU. So there were a few on there that are not as commonly used. Just to confuse you more!

 

[DisneyDeeva]

Just wanted to add, in case it hasn't already been mentioned. You can't get a resort room for a discounted rate AND get free dining. In order to be eligible for free dining you had to book the room at rack rate and add a park ticket for each person in your party. If you check in on the last day of the promotion, your entire stay is eligible for the promo (that's what I am doing - Sept 22 to Oct 2...free dining, MNSSHP, Epcots rededication, and F & W...what more can a girl ask for!)

 

[flowers]

Thanks, no I had not figured that much out. So you buy the hotel full price and pick a disney park ticket (of some kind, any kind?) to be elgible. Im glad I have lots of time to plan the trip. Seems like there is so much info here to absorb.

 

[flowers]

And the funny thing is, that abbreviation for All Star Sports (listed on that link I gave you) is not the one most commonly used. Almost always I see All Star Sports referred to as: ASSP. And All Star Music as: ASMU. So there were a few on there that are not as commonly used. Just to confuse you more!

lol well right now confusing me <more> is subjective if I can be confused any more I read thru a long thread about codes for October and it finally sifted thru my brain that I think you have to have a AP, annual pass, to use those codes lol. That's why it took me so long to start asking questions specific to Disney. Iv been to Orlando before but we only did Universal. Now Im getting all hopped up to check out Disney after reading this forum.