2012 Free Dining Watch and Wait HERE

[mickeystoontown]

Disney did not release Free Dining dates for 2011 in August of 2010, it was October 2010 when they released those multiple dates for 2011.

I booked our May/June, 2011 free dining package on August 16, 2010.

 

[ajschell]

Disney did not release Free Dining dates for 2011 in August of 2010, it was October 2010 when they released those multiple dates for 2011.

Free Dining was actually announced last August (2010) for 2011. We booked our trip for Feb-Mar 2011 with free dining in the first week of September

 

[tink15823]

We got our free dinning for our Sep 2010 trip in April 2009 . In the past the free dinning was open to Disney card holders 1st then 2 weeks later gen public. Not sure how they did it last year because we only go every 2 years. Hoping for it I would LOVE to book Poly.

 

[BDL]

When I booked my December trip last year in February, I had to pay for the DDP. But in May/June, Disney released more free Dining dates. 1 of which started the day after I arrived. I bumped my vacation back a day so I could opt into free Dining. My only advice is, don't give up hope until you are finally boarding the plane to fly to The World.

Keep the faith (of Free)

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We got our free dinning for our Sep 2010 trip in April 2009 . In the past the free dinning was open to Disney card holders 1st then 2 weeks later gen public. Not sure how they did it last year because we only go every 2 years. Hoping for it I would LOVE to book Poly.

Disney Visa holders do not get the free dining discount offers weeks in advance, it's usually 3 days before they come out to the general public.

 

[mskermit]

YIKES!!

double yikes!!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

No 2012 dates yet, but The Dis just posted this rumor to their homepage and to their Facebook page, they must know something or have some reason for thinking these dates are real or they would NOT have posted this info . . . . .

Rumor - free Dining Plan to be released August 3rd
by Scott Smith
Jul 29, 2011

A rumor has begun circulating that Disney will offer a free Dining Plan for select dates. According to the rumor, bookings beginning August 3rd, 2011 will be eligible for the free Dining Plan for the following travel dates:



October 2, 2011 - October 8, 2011

October 23, 2011 - November 5, 2011

November 13, 2011 - November 19, 2011

November 27, 2011 - December 3, 2011

December 11, 2011 - December 17


Quick Service dining would be available to Value resort guests and Regular Dining for Moderate, Deluxe and Villa resort guests. To read more about this rumor, visit this thread on DISBoards.com.

 

[pixie_mtl]

I thought I read that on August 13 Disney would announce some kind of special. I wish I could find the post where I saw it But my guess is Free Dining dates for 2012

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I thought I read that on August 13 Disney would announce some kind of special. I wish I could find the post where I saw it But my guess is Free Dining dates for 2012

I wouldn't count on free dining dates to be released for 2012 on August 13. If they are having this huge free dining announcement on August 3 for free dining dates that cover the rest of this year, they aren't going to turn around 10 days later and release a whole slew of FD discounts for 2012. I would look for 2012 discounts around October 2011.

The August 13 release date has been a rumor that has never been confirmed. This August 3 release date is on The Dis Homepage, their Facebook page and a number of TA site and blogs, so somebody know something.

 

[Hockeychic]

I wouldn't count on free dining dates to be released for 2012 on August 13. If they are having this huge free dining announcement on August 3 for free dining dates that cover the rest of this year, they aren't going to turn around 10 days later and release a whole slew of FD discounts for 2012. I would look for 2012 discounts around October 2011.

The August 13 release date has been a rumor that has never been confirmed. This August 3 release date is on The Dis Homepage, their Facebook page and a number of TA site and blogs, so somebody know something.

Any idea where and when would be the best place to find out the next special release date and time? I am hopoing for my next disney trip but unfortunatley can not be online all day at work but would like to know when I do get a chance to check approx what time are the specials released and which website should I check???

Thank you soooo much for all your insight.

Kim

 

[Goofypop]

Any idea where and when would be the best place to find out the next special release date and time? I am hopoing for my next disney trip but unfortunatley can not be online all day at work but would like to know when I do get a chance to check approx what time are the specials released and which website should I check???

Thank you soooo much for all your insight.

Kim

Honestly, don't look for any 2012 Discounts until late December, Possibly January.

 

[Hockeychic]

Honestly, don't look for any 2012 Discounts until late December, Possibly January.

Actually I did book free dining for Jan 2011 in August of 2010, but I don't remember when or how I found the info if it was here or on the WDW website directly.

Kim

 

[Goofypop]

Actually I did book free dining for Jan 2011 in August of 2010, but I don't remember when or how I found the info if it was here or on the WDW website directly.

Kim

Sorry. I should have expounded on my answer. I think it will be Dec or Jan only because they (Disney) are biding their time and seeing what worksand what doesn't. I think tht this time they may wait until then to make any kind of real decision for 2012.

 

[nklooz]

Subscribing - hoping for free dining Sept or early October 2012

 

[disneycrazy2004]

hoping for Free Dining in Dec 2012

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Any idea where and when would be the best place to find out the next special release date and time? I am hopoing for my next disney trip but unfortunatley can not be online all day at work but would like to know when I do get a chance to check approx what time are the specials released and which website should I check???

Thank you soooo much for all your insight.

Kim

Codes and Rates Board here on the Dis

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Honestly, don't look for any 2012 Discounts until late December, Possibly January.

Disney isn't going to wait until December of 2011 or January of 2012 to release free dining or room discount for January - March/April 2012 dates, those should be released by the late fall.

2012 fall discount should be released in the spring of 2012

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Actually I did book free dining for Jan 2011 in August of 2010, but I don't remember when or how I found the info if it was here or on the WDW website directly.

Kim

Out of the 7 years that Free Dining had been offered, last year was the one and only time that they released dates that far in advance. It doesn't look like they will be doing that again this year and will probably go back to their old release schedule.

Of course, this is all speculation, Disney can always surprise us, but I wouldn't look for fall/winter 2012 discount until about march/april of next year. It will be interesting to see how it plays out this year . . .

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Maybe this will help with all of the reoccurring questions and misunderstandings that keep popping up about the WDW Free Dining Promotion and Promotion Guidelines (Of course, this info will be based on Free Dining Guidelines for the past 7 years, Disney can change their policies at any time.):

FREE DINING FACTS AND INFORMATION

The Free Dining Promo/Discount was first introduced in the fall of 2005 and up until the fall of 2009, was, basically, just offered during the timeframe of mid August to the first of October (height of hurricane season) and included the Basic/Plus Dining for all levels of WDW resort. Starting in the fall of 2009, they offered a second Free Dining Promo/Discount that covered dates between October 1st and the third week of December and they also started including the Quick Service DDP for Value resorts and the Basic/Plus DDP for Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. With the popularity of the Free Dining Promo, last year, for the first time, WDW offered multiple Free Dining discounts during this year that included many value season/low crowd weeks.

To take advantage of a Free Dining (FD) discount you must be booked at a Disney-owned resort and purchase a Magic Your Way Package that includes room, tickets and dining with a 2 day base ticket purchase. The FD promos have a 3 day booking minimum and a 14 day booking maximum. You can not include Annual Passes or previously purchased tickets for Disney or any other outside ticketing agent.

The current FD promos have included the Quick Service Dining Plan for Value Resorts and the Basic/Plus Dining Plan for Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. You can not downgrade to the Quick Service Dining if you are staying at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort - there have been reports that, once in the parks, guests have been able to trade/convert Table Service (TS) credits for Counter Service (CS) credits, but this is not advertised on the WDW website and should not be considered WDW "policy." You can however pay the monetary difference and upgrade to the Basic/Plus DDP or the Deluxe DDP if you are staying at a Value Resort and can upgrade to the Deluxe Plan if you are staying at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. The Deluxe Dining Plan has never been included in any free dining promos. Here is a breakdown of FD upgrade costs for 2011:

Upgrade from Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Basic/Plus DDP $45.99/$11.99
$11.00 per adult 10+; $0.00 per child 3 - 9

Upgrade from Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Deluxe DDP $78.99/$21.99
$44.00 per adult 10+; $10.00 per child 3 - 9

Upgrade from Basic/Plus DDP $45.99/$11.99 to Deluxe DDP $78.99/$21.00
$33.00 per adult 10+; $10.00 per child 3 - 9

Your check in date must fall within the dates of the FD promo to apply the discount to your reservation. If your check in dates do not fall within the FD dates, you can not apply the discount - even if every single night of your vacation falls within the promo, except for your check in date, you can not take advantage of the FD promo.

If any of your vacation dates fall within a FD promo dates you can receive the FD discount for your entire vacation stay, up to 14 nights, even if you are checking in on the last day of a FD promo, you can still recieve the discount for up to 14 nights.

If your vacation starts a couple of days before a FD promo, it's possible to do a Split Stay - meaning, you can do a room only reservation for 1 to 3 nights at the beginning of your vacation, pay for your food out-of-pocket for those days, and be allowed to pick up your PACKAGE TICKETS up to 3 days early at guest relations at any of the four parks or at Downtown Disney (For further info on picking up tickets early, please see Diser, CheshireFigment's, Ticket Sticky on the top the Themeparks Board.)

If you already have an existing reservation that falls within the dates of a FD promo, you can call and have the FD code added to modify that reservation. You can not add the FD code on line, you will need to call WDW Reservations, 407-W-Disney. You do NOT have to rebook, your reservation number does not change and there is not a fee - if you are within your 45 day window, they can charge you a $50.00 change fee, but, most FD promos come out before the 45 day window, so this shouldn't be an issue. If you have already paid your package in full, WDW will refund you the monetary difference - this can take up to 2 billing cycles or about 2 months. Each resort is only allotted so many FD rooms, so if you call and your resort is sold out of FD promo rooms, you can change your resort and do not have to cancel or pay a fee and your reservation number stays the same. If your existing reservation is a room only reservation, then you would have toTy cancel and rebook under a Magic Your Way Package to receive the FD discount.

Typically, in the past, other than last's August FD announcement, Disney Visa holders ere given the FD Promo Code three (3) days before it opens to the general public. In the past, all you had to do to get the Disney Visa FD discount was put $200.00 down with your card, the balance did not have to be put on the Disney Visa.

If you already have Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) changing or modifying a reservation does not effect or cancel your ADRs. You would have to go on-line or call WDW Dining to cancel ADRs, even if you completely cancel a vacation/reservation. Remember, anyone can make ADRs, even offsite guests and don't have to be linked to your reservation in any way. If you have already booked and paid for any restaurants and/or dinner shows, and then a FD promo/discount is released, you can contact Disney Dining once you modify your reservation to include the FD code and give them your reservation number, and they will credit you the amount you pre-paid. This type of refund also takes 2 billing cycles or about 2 months.

Hopefully this info will give everyone an overview of the current Free Dining Guidelines.

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Princess Tiffany as usual excellent answers to all the questions. We missed you today. Must have been doing lots of laundry and packing for your vacation.