2016 Free Dining Watch ~ Part 2

[sahm2two]

The last time we went was 2011 and free dining was AWESOME then lol. We went after memorial day weekend and stayed at all star movies and got free dining with no planning or stress. Ah the good ole days!

 

[SJSloan]

Maybe free dining is not the best option for you. Truly nothing is ever really free---it just is a good deal some times. If you can not work it out to be a lower price then stick with what you have. We stopped paying for a dining plan because it was more food than we eat. We did do free dining because we were going anyway and at the time it was the best deal. Now that we are pass holders the room only discount at a deluxe usually covers our dining.

I have crunched every number possible and every resort option, and free dining is the best deal for us as it would save $1,000 on our current reservation. That includes evaluating what we would spend on food, everything. I am an accountant and TA and love that kind of stuff. But that is only at CBR as POR is excluded. Cabins, value Suites, and anything Deluxe results in a higher price. And a RO discount would only save us $150 as we would have to apply the current room and ticket prices. So free dining would be the best deal, unfortunately only if I can get it at CBR.

 

[Haneyman]

I am reading these pages and everyone is freaking out about not getting free dining. In all the years we have been doing this I have never met anyone that did not get free dining when they wanted to get free dining. You may have to pay more for a different room category. You may have to stay at a resort you did not initially want to stay at or you may have to tweak your days here and there but the chances of getting free dining if you want it is pretty good. This promo sits on the website for months after initial release---there are thousands upon thousands of people that book this promo without ever coming to this website. Stay calm---relax and get your behind up before the crack of dawn and all will be well. I have booked free dining since it was first offered. Sad year for me. Not going during free dining.

Booked last year online using my phone at 4:30am central time riding up the interstate in my carpool.......took 15 minutes

 

[Jax335]

Having travelled with free dining a few times I just thought I would throw this out there. If it drops Monday and you can't get the resort you want, don't panic! People will be changing existing reservations like crazy. I've booked a couple of times at resorts I didn't really want because what I did want had no availability but I kept checking, eventually somehow I ended up finding availability and switching. So all is not lost if at first you don't succeed, keep checking back! Once the craziness dies down you may be able to get what you wanted!

When you did this did you have just a deposit down or had you already paid in full? Im just wondering bc if i cant get what i want and book something else would i be better to just put a deposit down in hopes of being able to switch it if what i want becomes availible or will they still let me switch if ive paid in full?

 

[carlys13]

When you did this did you have just a deposit down or had you already paid in full? Im just wondering bc if i cant get what i want and book something else would i be better to just put a deposit down in hopes of being able to switch it if what i want becomes availible or will they still let me switch if ive paid in full?

i had just the deposit down every time, I don't usually pay in full until close to the due date just to make things less complicated if I need to change something. As long as you are before the full payment due date I don't see why they wouldn't. You'd have to check their fine print, they charge fees in some instances.

 

[CandiceF]

That help my anxiety some, but I am still freaking out. There is no other resort that is an option for us that would be cheaper with our current offer, which was booked before the price increase but at the same resort. Our dates are also not flexible with the exception of possible arriving one day later but then would could not add a day onto the end. The only options for us are to change room categories. I need a third job...

I don't think you could keep your current discount and add FD. We booked last year too before price increases and might just end up keeping what we have unless POR opens up for FD in November. I would suggest to plan to budget for what you already have booked and if you can't get FD you at least still have a discount! I think more inventory will open up after Monday when people finalize their plans.

 

[Duckiedee]

Anybody know off hand what the difference is between Deluxe dining and regular is per day? I'm trying to figure out if I can throw around some pixie dust and make deluxe dining at a deluxe comparable to deluxe dining at a moderate lol. I'm probably delusional

Dining Plan: $63.70 (tax included) per night per adult or junior (ages 10+), $22.85 (tax included) per night for children (ages 3-9)
Deluxe Plan: $115.08 (tax included) per night per adult or junior (ages 10+), $35.49 (tax included) per night for children (ages 3-9)

We're staying for 10 nights and with 3 adult/Junior tickets and one Child... it is a HUGE savings for us. We are bumping it up to Deluxe. It'll cost us about $1666 over 10 days to do so.

 

[Jax335]

Anybody know off hand what the difference is between Deluxe dining and regular is per day? I'm trying to figure out if I can throw around some pixie dust and make deluxe dining at a deluxe comparable to deluxe dining at a moderate lol. I'm probably delusional

I forget the amount to upgrade but it is quite a bit. I know you can find it on disneys website or just google it. If i were you I would do the math for your family first, it takes a while but its worth it. We were going to upgrade to deluxe dining before i went thru menus where i thought we would eat and did the math. we are TS people too....not every meal but one or two per day and we came out MUCH cheaper to just pay out of pocket for the few meals that would not be covered by the regular plan

 

[Tracy11th]

OK true confessions here. My FD frenzy caused me to be unfaithful. Sheer madness is what I'm blaming it on.... Yes, I strayed........
To another forum.

There 2 people posted that their TA's hinted that Mon would be the Disney Visa release. Quoting them here. (hope this is not against forum rules)-----
"....mentioned the rumor to my TA, who can't officially confirm or deny whether the "Monday for VISA Cardholders" rumor is true, although she did give me a wink and a smile..."
"That is basically what my travel agent friend said, he said he can't confirm or deny but was shaking his head yes the whole time"

I know credible sources here have forecast a straight to GP release, but now this has got me wondering if a DV pre-release is not entirely out of the realm of possibilities.

 

[Tracy11th]

OK true confessions here. My FD frenzy caused me to be unfaithful. Sheer madness is what I'm blaming it on.... Yes, I strayed........
To another forum.

There 2 people posted that their TA's hinted that Mon would be the Disney Visa release. Quoting them here. (hope this is not against forum rules)-----
"....mentioned the rumor to my TA, who can't officially confirm or deny whether the "Monday for VISA Cardholders" rumor is true, although she did give me a wink and a smile..."
"That is basically what my travel agent friend said, he said he can't confirm or deny but was shaking his head yes the whole time"

I know credible sources here have forecast a straight to GP release, but now this has got me wondering if a DV pre-release is not entirely out of the realm of possibilities.

I don't have a Disney visa but some friends that were helping me plan have asked me do many times if I have one I'm also wondering if 4/25 could be a DV release - I'll be up checking either way - but if it is a DV release its not all bad for the rest of us in the sence whatever dates become available for DV and the details of the promo will be the same for the rest of us right?

 

[carlys13]

Dining Plan: $63.70 (tax included) per night per adult or junior (ages 10+), $22.85 (tax included) per night for children (ages 3-9)
Deluxe Plan: $115.08 (tax included) per night per adult or junior (ages 10+), $35.49 (tax included) per night for children (ages 3-9)

We're staying for 10 nights and with 3 adult/Junior tickets and one Child... it is a HUGE savings for us. We are bumping it up to Deluxe. It'll cost us about $1666 over 10 days to do so.

Thank you! It's just me and DH so I'm crunching numbers. I would LOVE to stay at a deluxe since this will be our last vacation for a while but I also want Deluxe dining and don't see how we could ever afford both.

 

[Sharongal74]

I have seen info on split stays. Can you split stay during free dining without buying additional tickets.
If I stay at CBR for 6 days and CSR 6 days do I have to buy 3 day ticket each time?

 

[carlys13]

I forget the amount to upgrade but it is quite a bit. I know you can find it on disneys website or just google it. If i were you I would do the math for your family first, it takes a while but its worth it. We were going to upgrade to deluxe dining before i went thru menus where i thought we would eat and did the math. we are TS people too....not every meal but one or two per day and we came out MUCH cheaper to just pay out of pocket for the few meals that would not be covered by the regular plan

Thanks! We are table service people too and I've had both dining plans, I really wanted us to splurge this year so I have all the ADRs already and with all the signature options, I find it ends up being worth it for us but it is definitely a splurge!

 

[BookGirl305]

Back again.
I am a solo, traveling 8/22-8/26 at the Pop. I currently have a room only deal for the 4 nights at $86 each. I plan to buy a 4 day Park Hopper regardless. My total on that if I kept my current room is $809.
If I understand this correctly, my discount is $28 a night, which would be offset if I rebooked at full price on Monday and added the free quick service dining plan. That's about the same deal either way, right? Two meals at $12 each and a drink? The only reason I can see for me to do this would be if I was able to keep my Awaken Summer room discount and get the free dining, but y'all say that won't happen.

So, should I upgrade my reservation from room only to package with Park Hopper tonight and take the chance I qualify for free dining or leave as it is and call it a day?

 

[gskywalker]

So according to my wife I have a sickness. I keep reading all of these pages, commenting, telling her about the news and she sits there and says "but we already have free dining and our flights booked right?" "well yes dear we have our bounceback offer from last year but free dining will come available on Monday....." yup I have a sickness. It would be much easier if you please just shut down all threads about free dining....and if you could make it August 28th so we would be there, yup if you did that it would be great

 

[deakam]

I don't think you could keep your current discount and add FD. We booked last year too before price increases and might just end up keeping what we have unless POR opens up for FD in November. I would suggest to plan to budget for what you already have booked and if you can't get FD you at least still have a discount! I think more inventory will open up after Monday when people finalize their plans.

This is true---you can only have one discount so if you are currently booked with a discount you can not simply add free dining.

 

[deakam]

Back again.
I am a solo, traveling 8/22-8/26 at the Pop. I currently have a room only deal for the 4 nights at $86 each. I plan to buy a 4 day Park Hopper regardless. My total on that if I kept my current room is $809.
If I understand this correctly, my discount is $28 a night, which would be offset if I rebooked at full price on Monday and added the free quick service dining plan. That's about the same deal either way, right? Two meals at $12 each and a drink? The only reason I can see for me to do this would be if I was able to keep my Awaken Summer room discount and get the free dining, but y'all say that won't happen.

So, should I upgrade my reservation from room only to package with Park Hopper tonight and take the chance I qualify for free dining or leave as it is and call it a day?

Free dining also includes the refillable mug and a snack. Look at the QS menus---they can be quite a bit higher than $12.00---especially when you add in the dessert. I spent $15.00 on a hot dog at Casey's with a drink---no dessert. If you eat a meal at the resort you can also use your mug and switch your drink out for another snack---like a muffin for breakfast---or even a bottle of water for in the parks.

 

[battynanny]

Question on the bounce back offers. Is there any kind of minimum stay to be qualified or would a one night room only reservation at a value qualify as well?
Can you book more than one room? And
Also if I remember correctly the free dining ones were usually in September and October right? Thanks for all the help guys, You're all Awesome!!!

 

[hulagirl87]

I need to get some Disney gifs for our party! I have way too many Supernatural ones, lol.

Oh my gosh! DH and I are huge Supernatural fans and have watched this parody way too many times to count!!!!

Here's a non dining question for all of you.... This is our first trip as a family of four. We took DD a few years ago when she was turning 3 and stayed at the Polynesian after we got a really good deal. Right now we are set to stay at AoA but I would love to stay at the Poly again, or even a moderate, but am curious about the families with small kids that all stay in one room. How does sleeping go? I would be worried that DD would keep DS up or vice versa. I know that a day in the parks would probably knock both of them out, but they aren't really good sleepers to begin with. Plus, DH tends to snore. Just curious how things go all sleeping in one room...

 

[SJSloan]

I don't think you could keep your current discount and add FD. We booked last year too before price increases and might just end up keeping what we have unless POR opens up for FD in November. I would suggest to plan to budget for what you already have booked and if you can't get FD you at least still have a discount! I think more inventory will open up after Monday when people finalize their plans.

This is true---you can only have one discount so if you are currently booked with a discount you can not simply add free dining.

I don't have a current discount, just have the "old" prices. I know that if I add free dining the new rates would be applied, but our savings will still be $1,000.