2013 Free Dining Watch

[TDC Nala]

Do you guys think if I book LM room on Free Dining I will be able to upgrade to the regular dining plan?

Danny does not say in his post that Little Mermaid rooms will be available for free dining. But he doesn't say they won't, either.

Campsites have never been included, it would be different to have them included this year. The cabins are usually included. If the campsites turn out to be available, just switch your reservation back to the campsite. Won't help you with the airfare though, unless it's Southwest.

 

[black562]

SO confused, and clearly out the Dis loop.. who is this Danny, and why is his word legit? Not being snarky, just never seen anyone take another disers word to heart so entirely.

Just FYI, more than one person got this scoop at the same time...so I wouldn't worry about it not being legit.

Of course I always say to wait until the date it's released before booking anything permanent, because anything can happen. Your desired resort may be booked, or any number of things.

 

[GaBelle]

SO confused, and clearly out the Dis loop.. who is this Danny, and why is his word legit? Not being snarky, just never seen anyone take another disers word to heart so entirely.

He is the Yoda of Disney Discounts. He has been spot on since 2011.
His handle is Danny25.

Oh and Black562 is legit too!

 

[GaBelle]

I think I already know the answer to this but just in case I am wrong:
I am currently booked at BLT, 2 bdrm villa. If it is sold out, I am out of luck applying a discount, yes?
I just asked my kids what they're 2nd and 3rd choices are!

 

[faindrops27]

I agree...I still don't think it's a good idea to book a reservation before the sale, BUT...I have been in on free dining discussions ever since 2005...and believe me when I say...EVERY year we have the EXACT same discussions. Will there be FD? When will they announce it? What dates will it cover?
ETC., ETC., ETC.

They WILL have a discount for September, and it will probably be announced by May 1st (my best guess).
Details...who knows.
But there is no need to panic...things are exactly as they have been in the rumor mill since 2005...and things always turn out ok.

And as always it is here! I think everyone needs to panic yearly for some reason.. I am glad everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.. It is ironic, I tried to book BOG 180 days out no dinner seating.. What is with that?

 

[Artechr]

Ok so I understand. Our vacation starts sept 30-oct5. In a little mermaid room. Are we able to change reservation to take advantage of fd?

 

[TheDisney411]

Ok so I understand. Our vacation starts sept 30-oct5. In a little mermaid room. Are we able to change reservation to take advantage of fd?

You can take advantage of the FD offer, but you will have to change your check in date to September 25th. If they have availability at the LM rooms under the FD promo they will apply the discount, if not you may have to switch resorts too. It's all a reservation modification, they can do it for your over the phone and you don't have to cancel your reservation and you keep your reservation number.

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

SO confused, and clearly out the Dis loop.. who is this Danny, and why is his word legit? Not being snarky, just never seen anyone take another disers word to heart so entirely.

You are absolutely right - usually much of what is said is just speculation. However, I've been lurking for years and Danny25 and Black562 are legit. If they say something, everyone listens. Historically speaking, they are always right.

Just FYI, more than one person got this scoop at the same time...so I wouldn't worry about it not being legit.


Of course I always say to wait until the date it's released before booking anything permanent, because anything can happen. Your desired resort may be booked, or any number of things.

Yes! And thank you very much for that!!!

 

[faindrops27]

Wife is a teacher and one child will be in school so early to mid August is the only time we can do the trip. Considering free dining probably won't be available are we best to book directly if I don't care what is in the magic your way package? Or, I can get a 10% discount from one of the online travels sites plus 6-7% in cashback from a referral site. Also, I can cancel 4 days out instead of the 45 days without penalty. The one downside is you pay when you book the room.

Likely the kids won't always make it to dinner time and we'll probably take some midday breaks to go back to the hotel so the kids can make a few late nights. The tickets discount for booking a room and tickets doesn't seem to be any better than what you can get using one of the ticket resellers. I can see us booking a few character dining experiences, but I can't see paying for QSR at around $100 or the Deluxe at around $140 a day.

Anything I'm missing that makes booking with Disney directly better?

How old are your kids, and how many people are in your party..If more than 4 in a party the dining plan works out better financially..

 

[black562]

You are absolutely right - usually much of what is said is just speculation. However, I've been lurking for years and Danny25 and Black562 are legit. If they say something, everyone listens. Historically speaking, they are always right.

Thanks again guys!!!

My dining reservations have been made for a while, now my choice is to catch a Halloween party perhaps.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

To bring everyone up to speed.

Free dining dates: Sept 2-25
Booking begins: May 9

Quick service for Values
Regular dining for Moderates

3 night minimum stay required

2 day minimum ticket required

Thank you for that! My head was spinning when I opened this up today and I have not has a chance to catch up.

Is this for Visa card holders? I am a card holder.

 

[RUSTYGATOR]

How old are your kids, and how many people are in your party..If more than 4 in a party the dining plan works out better financially..

2 Adults and 2 kids 3 turning 4 during the trip and 8.

I don't expect that we'll eat 2 meals a day at the park and would imagine due to the cost and the way we eat, we won't eat full meals all the time. Since we are going in August we may go back to the resort to get out of the hottest part of the day and to eat more cheaply too. Kids may not always make it to dinner time.

Will probably order pizza from one of the majors chains if they deliver to the hotel or pickup pizza at the resort a couple of times. Breakfast will probably almost always be something quick in the room with maybe 50% of the time easting at the resort.

So since I can save an additional 15% or so on the room than the current discounted rates am I better to book through one of the major online sites?

 

[WendyBelle]

Question: My sister-in-law will be at a convention at Coronado Springs until Sept. 26th. Our plan was for my BIL and our family to drive down and start our family vacation on Sept. 26th when she was done. If we all drive down on the 25th and check-in at Pop could he just stay that night without her and SIL join us on the 26th and still get free dining? Guessing she might have to come over and be present at check-in?

Any thoughts? Our vacation dates would then be Sept. 25-Oct. 5th (a whole extra day in Disney)

 

[black562]

Thank you for that! My head was spinning when I opened this up today and I have not has a chance to catch up.

Is this for Visa card holders? I am a card holder.

Card holders should get a head start, usually three days.

 

[TheDisney411]

Question: My sister-in-law will be at a convention at Coronado Springs until Sept. 26th. Our plan was for my BIL and our family to drive down and start our family vacation on Sept. 26th when she was done. If we all drive down on the 25th and check-in at Pop could he just stay that night without her and SIL join us on the 26th and still get free dining? Guessing she might have to come over and be present at check-in?

Any thoughts? Our vacation dates would then be Sept. 25-Oct. 5th (a whole extra day in Disney)

Yes

 

[sparty7798]

Does anyone who knows a lot about this know it is cheaper to do the moderate with free dining or do the value and upgrade. We are two adults and two kids but one child is only 2.

Thanks!

 

[WendyBelle]

Does anyone who knows a lot about this know it is cheaper to do the moderate with free dining or do the value and upgrade. We are two adults and two kids but one child is only 2.

Thanks!

We've always come out cheaper staying at value and upgrading and our upgrade cost is for 3 adults (since son is 12) and one child.

 

[black562]

Does anyone who knows a lot about this know it is cheaper to do the moderate with free dining or do the value and upgrade. We are two adults and two kids but one child is only 2.

Thanks!

It's not really cheaper, but if you plan to do a value and upgrade to regular dining, the difference isn't all that much.

You really just need to price it out and see. One easy way is to just price a reservation online without dining (room+tickets) and remember for a value you just add $18 a day per adult and $3 a day per child and that gives you a total for value resorts. For a moderate/deluxe, it would just be whatever the room+tickets would cost. Then you can easily compare.

 

[sparty7798]

We've always come out cheaper staying at value and upgrading and our upgrade cost is for 3 adults (since son is 12) and one child.

Thanks...that is what I was thinking.

 

[WendyBelle]

Thanks...that is what I was thinking.

Actually just ran our numbers for this year's rates, and since we are now 4 Disney adults (myself, DH, DS13 and DD10) it would only save us $38 on a 10 night trip to stay value and upgrade. So for $38, we could stay at a moderate, but for the other party with us, which is only 2 adults, they save $400 on the 10 days. So we'll probably stay at POP