2011 Free Dining is Extended! New dates as of 8/3

[EMI]

We have a vacation planned for Dec 11-20..hopefully Free Dining will be extended.. If anyone has info please keep me posted, would really appreciate it!

 

[beroh2253]

Free or not we are still going in October cause we have AP so we will use the room discount. Still the Free DDP is a better deal but not the deal it was in 2006 & 2007 it was unbelievable 2005-2007

 

[abminer]

We weren't planning to return to the world until 2013 (once the Fantasyland expansion was over), but a college pal of mine has just announced her wedding will be Oct. 2 in...Orlando! She grew up there and isn't having a Dis wedding, but I know she hopes that the guests will take this as an excuse to visit WDW, which she and her fiance love.

I got a free DDP pin code postcard a while back, but chucked it. It didn't extend through Oct. 2 anyway (I don't think). Not sure if we'd really wanna do the Dis or go cheaper and stay elsewhere, but free DDP could swing the vote toward WDW.

Do people expect the Values to only get the quick service DP? We haven't been in two years and back then all categories of resort were getting the standard DDP.

I'm on the look-out for a free DDP date extension

 

[phabric]

I received a email from Disney Destination today. Before opening it, I thought to myself I have a new PIN early, before they finish the two they have now. Only to see it is a welcome letter to us for our August trip. What a disappointment. Hope they bring a new PIN or offer for the end of August out soon.

 

[SteveTrek]

Here's my sitch...am I out of luck for free dining?:

--Booked trip via a TA 1/11/11.
--Arrival on 5/30/11, departure 6/6/11
--Have paid a deposit, but balance not due until 4/15/11.
--Staying at BCV.
--DDP is on the ressie.
--ADRs for all on-site meals have been booked.
--TA is on vacation so I can't ask her about this.
--Don't have a clue what a FD PIN is or how to use one

Thanks ever so...I've already gotten so much indispensible info from this board that our trip (only our 2nd) has been saved from possible pitfalls more than once!

 

[Colleen27]

But, the newest pin codes that are out for that time frame only include QSDP with values and moderates so if it does come out, my guess is the regular DDP will only be for deluxe resorts.

I don't know if even that is anything to go off of... People are getting PINs for less than the just-expired room % off offer (some for as little as 10% off), so I don't think it is out of the question that future general public offers might be better than currently circulating PINs. PINs seem to be used as tests, and if the free QS at the moderates doesn't bring in bookings the general public offer likely won't be the same.

I have a hard time believing Disney is going to choose hotter than Hades/hurricane season to scale the discounts back severely. I think we'll see it done more gradually than that, with longer blackouts and less lucrative offers around holidays first, 30 or 35% offers instead of 40% for slow times, etc. rather than the cold-turkey ending of an extremely popular promotion at a time when Orlando occupancy is generally at a year-long low.

I also think we're going to start seeing the discounts release later and later as they adapt not only to advance bookings but also to cancellations from those who booked in anticipation of a discount. September bookings might be looking good now, but how good will they be looking come June or so if the offer so many people expected when they booked never comes?

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We are booked with free dining for May, but due to the threat of a Gov. shutdown (DH is a Fed Employee), we may have to move it to Nov or Dec so I am keeping my eyes open for free dining again.

 

[laceemouse]

Here's my sitch...am I out of luck for free dining?:

--Booked trip via a TA 1/11/11.
--Arrival on 5/30/11, departure 6/6/11
--Have paid a deposit, but balance not due until 4/15/11.
--Staying at BCV.
--DDP is on the ressie.
--ADRs for all on-site meals have been booked.
--TA is on vacation so I can't ask her about this.
--Don't have a clue what a FD PIN is or how to use one

Thanks ever so...I've already gotten so much indispensible info from this board that our trip (only our 2nd) has been saved from possible pitfalls more than once!

A PIN code is a special deal just for you, via e-mail or postcard. I doubt you will get one enticing you to book since you already HAVE booked but you never know. IF free dining is offered for your time period, yes, your TA can try to re-book your trip and get it for you. Did you get ANY deal like a room discount or anything? Sometimes those are just as good or better than free dining, free dining is for rack room on your room.
My guess is that if they announce free dining again it will be for August/September, like it was in the beginning. Then it could be extended into the fall and winter (I hope so anyway!)
So, to answer your questions, if some better deal comes along for your time period your TA could still get it for you. But don't count on anything. You never know.

 

[wendy3]

The other glitch you might encounter is staying at BCV. My understanding is that free dining is generally only offered with a room/ticket package. If you are DVC members or renting points from DVC members you won't qualify for any free dining offers that may come up. I think.

 

[SteveTrek]

Did you get ANY deal like a room discount or anything? Sometimes those are just as good or better than free dining, free dining is for rack room on your room.

Actually, my TA was able to get me a discount on the room rate. Guess I should be grateful with what I've got and not push my luck!

Thanks for your reply...I was really scratching my head about this PIN thing. Perhaps now that I've made a couple of trips to WDW I'll get an offer in the future. Wouldn't mind going back again sometime when I'm done paying college tuitions!

 

[Bekah21]

When Disney releases new specials do they do them overnight so they appear in the morning? Do they randomly post new deals during the day? I know the historical information on mousesavers with date timing, but was wondering should I check multiple times a day? Only in the morning? Does anyone know?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Joining the watch hoping for a free dining announcement!

Also curious to see if anyone knows approx what time of day/night these announcements come up? Any idea when?

In the past I thought it was early April but with free dining already being offered in 2010 through some of 2011 it's anyone's guess if/when it will be announced.

 

[SteveTrek]

The other glitch you might encounter is staying at BCV. My understanding is that free dining is generally only offered with a room/ticket package. If you are DVC members or renting points from DVC members you won't qualify for any free dining offers that may come up. I think.

I'm not DVC, just booking a 1-BR villa at BCV. Still, it sounds like I might have missed the boat. I'm OK with that, though, since my TA got me a much better rate on my room/ticket package than if I'd tried to book it myself through disneyworld.com.

 

[BLReed]

Subbing...

 

[Naisy68]

We weren't going to Disney this year but the hubby says that if they were to offer free dining again that will probably change. So... I am hoping to hear something soon.

 

[TorontoGirl]

Just rec'd a PIN code email for Free Dining from Apr 23-Aug 13 (book by Apr 30)...doesn't that mean that Free Dining is about to be offered to the gen public in the coming weeks?

The ridiculous thing is I have a room only booked after my cruise in Sep! AND I have been hoping for Free dining - then I woudl switch to a Package instead of getting my tix from Undercover Tourist!

Hoping and mad I can't use the PIN for MY vacation!

 

[DisneyGuess]

Count me in. I'm hoping for a FD offer for late fall/winter. We're planning on going in Dec. If we happen to get one, like last year, I'm figuring it will be announced about the same time as last year, which was beginning of July but sooner would be awesome!

 

[OatsZoo]

I just got a pin code for free dining too. Problem, I want September too. I have been twice in September and love the low crowds. So now do I wait and see if free dining will be announced for Sept or book for as late in Aug as I can get?

Does anyone know how the crowd level Aug 13-Aug 20 compares to mid September???

 

[TorontoGirl]

Last year this time PINs were released - then DVC, Annual Passholders, Disney VISa peeps got to book it - then it was realeased to the gen public....and yeah I seem to remember the fall extensions being announced around July!

I hate waiting :-(

Hey just noticed your from Canada - maybe they are trying for us to get down there....since we are AT PAR right now

Any americans getting PIN Codes?

 

[TorontoGirl]

Just got a PIN Code email for Arp 23-Aug 13 (book by Apr 30).

I can't use it but hopfully this means Free Dining being announced soon for everyone and then an extension for the fall