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

[TDC Nala]

Where did you hear that it COULD be JULY?

It was July last year. July 24 I believe. Although there's no guarantee they will do things this year the same way they did things last year.

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

It was July last year. July 24 I believe. Although there's no guarantee they will do things this year the same way they did things last year.

It was July 24th/27th in 2009 and July 6th in 2010, but with everything being so late this year (AP discounts, schedules etc.) and Disney resorts seemingly filling faster, it could be August before we see anything.

 

[tpettie]

Is anyone else on pins and needles waiting for free dining to be extended into October and beyond? Rumor is an announcement COULD come sometime in July so I keep checking back and there's NOTHING!! We're going either way but it sure would be nice to have the dining plan for FREE.

I'm waiting..... Hope it extends through to Dec. I have a Trip planned for 2012 and my theory is if they offer it again this year then our odd of being able to get it for 2012 go up.... I know alot of waiting and wishing but isn't that what disney is

 

[Moon Child]

Sorry if it's already been asked, but if they do release Free Dining for Oct 2011, how will that those staying in a value resort?
Trying to understand what kind of a break we would get~ thanks in advance

 

[princssdisnygina]

Sorry if it's already been asked, but if they do release Free Dining for Oct 2011, how will that those staying in a value resort?
Trying to understand what kind of a break we would get~ thanks in advance

Typically the free dining for values are for quick service dining but you can upgrade to regular dining for a small charge ($12-$15 per adult). As far as October goes... if you are going Halloween week don't count on it. There are a few black out weekends in Oct.

 

[Moon Child]

Typically the free dining for values are for quick service dining but you can upgrade to regular dining for a small charge ($12-$15 per adult). As far as October goes... if you are going Halloween week don't count on it. There are a few black out weekends in Oct.

Thx, no, we are going Early Oct, the first week

 

[beroh2253]

Typically the free dining for values are for quick service dining but you can upgrade to regular dining for a small charge ($12-$15 per adult). As far as October goes... if you are going Halloween week don't count on it. There are a few black out weekends in Oct.

The last 2 years we went with free dining the last week in Ocotber. 09 at POP and last year Riverside. This year we have the AP so we have to go the next to last week because unless we renew the AP it runs out Oct. 24. It may be better for us this year to get the AP room rates then pay for the Photo pass ($100) and a 2 day parkpass I know we can upgrade these later for furure AP or additional days. We went for 4 nights in June with out the DDP (wanted to make use of our AP) for the first time since 2006 and wasn't too bad didn't miss the DDP. We will have to crunch the numbers when free dining comes around for October, but with the Photo Pass I don't know, have enought Disney pictures. Those 2 snack credits each would be really nice at the Food and Wine Fest. if we go Value Resort and get the QSDP.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Typically the free dining for values are for quick service dining but you can upgrade to regular dining for a small charge ($12-$15 per adult). As far as October goes... if you are going Halloween week don't count on it. There are a few black out weekends in Oct.

Halloween week is typically pretty slow and there has been a free dining promo that last week of October for the last three years. I believe the week of Columbus day was blacked out last year.

 

[Colleen27]

Halloween week is typically pretty slow and there has been a free dining promo that last week of October for the last three years. I believe the week of Columbus day was blacked out last year.

Last year's blackout ran from a few days before Halloween through Veteran's Day/Jersey Week. We're still waffling on our dates waiting on a code, and I was very surprised when I saw that by last year's dates our early Nov dates fell within a blackout but our post-Thanksgiving option (checking in Fri or Sat) didn't.

 

[kena12]

I don't have any predictions, but I'm with you. Whether we stay at the Yacht Club or Dophin will depend on whether there is free dining in November. I don't know if they've ever had it in November, but I can hope Did it thru SW too so my airfare was included ( and didnt get hit by all the airline increases since then). Also, when booking SW thru travel agent, you can just put down deposit instead of paying in full as it would require online

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Last year's blackout ran from a few days before Halloween through Veteran's Day/Jersey Week. We're still waffling on our dates waiting on a code, and I was very surprised when I saw that by last year's dates our early Nov dates fell within a blackout but our post-Thanksgiving option (checking in Fri or Sat) didn't.

I believe the end date for October was the 28th and, as with all free dining offers, as long as you booked by that date you could apply the discount up to 14 nights, so I believe a lot of people had the fd discount for Halloween and through the first of November. I think Veteran's day week was blacked out last year because Jersey week landed that week. I think someone on another FD thread said Jersey week was earlier this week (?), so maybe Veteran's Day week won't be blacked out this year.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I don't have any predictions, but I'm with you. Whether we stay at the Yacht Club or Dophin will depend on whether there is free dining in November. I don't know if they've ever had it in November, but I can hope Did it thru SW too so my airfare was included ( and didnt get hit by all the airline increases since then). Also, when booking SW thru travel agent, you can just put down deposit instead of paying in full as it would require online

They have had Free Dining for select dates in November for the last three years.

Also, whether you book on-line with WDW or over the phone, all you have to put down to book a Magic Your Way package is $200.00. The balance is not due until 45 days before your arrival date.

 

[Jakesmom504]

Thx, no, we are going Early Oct, the first week

OMG DS would totally flip out over your Phillies Mickey!! Where was that at? That is so cool!

 

[chrisw127]

It was July 24th/27th in 2009 and July 6th in 2010, but with everything being so late this year (AP discounts, schedules etc.) and Disney resorts seemingly filling faster, it could be August before we see anything.[/QUOTE]

I agree it could be later, but I'm not seeing the resorts filling up. I'm a TA and on the phone a lot with Disney and there's tons of availability. Unless you're looking at the Contemporary, booking a standard value, or a two-bedroom villa, there's a lot of room. I talk a lot to other TAs and they're saying the same thing.

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

That's exactly what I want to hear I think it's going to be before the end of July - there have been several new posts about CM's dropping hints, expiry dates on PIN codes and general rumors that I just don't see Disney waiting til August....hopefully sooner than later, my nerves can't take much more!

 

[jm-mom]

We are going Oct. 18-25 and I made our ADR's yesterday just in case free dining comes out. We do a lot of character buffets which in the past have been hard to get when we wanted them. Yesterday I found multiple times at every popular character meal which tells me attendance isn't huge yet for this time frame. A free dining offer may increase it which I would think Disney wants. It seems inevitable to me, a no brainer even, that free dining is going to be extended. It's just a matter of WHEN will that announcement be made. Soon please!!!

 

[Princess Mindy]

I booked my trip with a room only pin and added the Dx dining package. Because I have the pin, am I eligible for free dining also? And if I am, can I just pay the difference to keep the Dx?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I booked my trip with a room only pin and added the Dx dining package. Because I have the pin, am I eligible for free dining also? And if I am, can I just pay the difference to keep the Dx?

You can not stack discounts. You can have the room discount OR the free dining discount, not both. If you choose to add the free dining discount you can pay the difference and upgrade to the Deluxe plan. The savings is going to depend on where you are staying. Free Dining is usually a better discount than a room only discount if you are staying at a Value Resort or a Moderate Resort. If you are staying at a Deluxe resort, and the room discount may be a better deal.

 

[smitch425]

I booked my trip with a room only pin and added the Dx dining package. Because I have the pin, am I eligible for free dining also? And if I am, can I just pay the difference to keep the Dx?

If you are currently booked with a room only discount and want to switch to free dining, you will have to turn your room only reservation into a package adding at least a 2 day ticket for everyone in your party. You cannot use a room discount AND a free dining discount at the same time. If you choose to switch to free dining, and there is availability at your resort for this promotion, you can pay the difference to upgrade it to the DxDP. Just keep in mind that you will be paying $90.90 for a Photopass voucher to make a photobook, so be sure to add that amount in your calculations to see which would give you the better rate.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

If you are currently booked with a room only discount and want to switch to free dining, you will have to turn your room only reservation into a package adding at least a 2 day ticket for everyone in your party. You cannot use a room discount AND a free dining discount at the same time. If you choose to switch to free dining, and there is availability at your resort for this promotion, you can pay the difference to upgrade it to the DxDP. Just keep in mind that you will be paying $90.90 for a Photopass voucher to make a photobook, so be sure to add that amount in your calculations to see which would give you the better rate.

I believe she meant she booked with a room-only discount, not a room only reservation. She indicated that she already had the Deluxe Dining Plan, so they would already have to have a MYW package booked.