2016 Free Dining Watch

[CaraMiaBelle]

Last year it was around 4:30am.

Was that EAstern, Central or Pacific time?

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

Was that EAstern, Central or Pacific time?

Eastern

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Eastern

Wow! That's early!!!

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

I hope they do it early again! Set those alarms! Haha

 

[Disneylover99]

https://orlandobyjoe.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/free-dining-2016-thoughts-musings/

I think this is positive news. It means it's probably going to happen. We knew there was going to be restrictions on dates, room availability and resorts anyways. Just call, book online as soon as possible and have a backup plan or two if your resort or dates are not available.

 

[vrajewski10513]

I think this is positive news. It means it's probably going to happen. We knew there was going to be restrictions on dates, room availability and resorts anyways. Just call, book online as soon as possible and have a backup plan or two if your resort or dates are not available.

Historically the whole month of September has always been included, even with them scaling back every year. So if his predictions are right and only half of September is included then a lot of people are going to have to shuffle plans unfortunately.

 

[Disneylover99]

Historically the whole month of September has always been included, even with them scaling back every year. So if his predictions are right and only half of September is included then a lot of people are going to have to shuffle plans unfortunately.

A couple of things.....

I get being disappointed if your specific dates aren't included. But if that's the case, it's better to know now and see if you can shift your dates a few days forward or backwards to take advantage of the offer. I know it's not always possible, but it's good if you can have a back up plan.

Also, there are a lot of people that think free dining won't be happening anyways. To me, this is a positive sign that free dining might actually happen. Exact dates are pure speculation anyways, it's good to expect the worst and hope for the best.

FWIW, I hope you get exactly what you want.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Wow! That's early!!!

Yes, but those of us that stayed up all night got booked before the websites started crashing!! A lot of people were under the impression that it would hit at 6:00 or 7:00, it proved that it can happen ANY time, so be ready.

 

[vrajewski10513]

A couple of things.....

I get being disappointed if your specific dates aren't included. But if that's the case, it's better to know now and see if you can shift your dates a few days forward or backwards to take advantage of the offer. I know it's not always possible, but it's good if you can have a back up plan.

Also, there are a lot of people that think free dining won't be happening anyways. To me, this is a positive sign that free dining might actually happen. Exact dates are pure speculation anyways, it's good to expect the worst and hope for the best.

FWIW, I hope you get exactly what you want.

Thanks, I hope so too. We moved our trip up a couple days so we could check in on 9/28 because we figured we'd have a better chance at Free Dining. If it ends 9/14 we can't push our vacation up that early

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Yes, but those of us that stayed up all night got booked before the websites started crashing!! A lot of people were under the impression that it would hit at 6:00 or 7:00, it proved that it can happen ANY time, so be ready.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Yes, but those of us that stayed up all night got booked before the websites started crashing!! A lot of people were under the impression that it would hit at 6:00 or 7:00, it proved that it can happen ANY time, so be ready.

True. So true. People are on hold for HOURS sometimes.
Unfortunately I would never make it long if I woke up at 4:30 every day from now until release. With my luck it would be 2
Months from now!! I am NOT a morning person! I hope we hear more clues as it gets closer...

 

[syrscuba]

We have a reservation at POR 8/29-9/6 through AAA. When (if) free dining opens up (for Disney Visa card holders), can we obtain the free dining offer online or do we have to work with our travel agent at AAA, who don't arrive in office until 9:00am? Thanks

 

[vrajewski10513]

We have a reservation at POR 8/29-9/6 through AAA. When (if) free dining opens up (for Disney Visa card holders), can we obtain the free dining offer online or do we have to work with our travel agent at AAA, who don't arrive in office until 9:00am? Thanks

To modify your existing reservation you would have to go through your travel agent at AAA. But you can always book one on your own as a back up just in case your TA can't get it for you.

 

[ARAITHEL]

I'm thinking the FD promotion follows the bounce back from the previous year. Any thoughts?

 

[wdw4rfam]

We have a reservation at POR 8/29-9/6 through AAA. When (if) free dining opens up (for Disney Visa card holders), can we obtain the free dining offer online or do we have to work with our travel agent at AAA, who don't arrive in office until 9:00am? Thanks

They would have to do it for you. So your best bet would be to book a new one and cancel that one when they open. If you book with AAA Disney will not let you change it because it's "their" reservation technically.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm thinking the FD promotion follows the bounce back from the previous year. Any thoughts?

I don't know. It's hard to tell. Aug. 26th is the latest fd bb in recent memory. Usually it starts around Aug. 20th. FD for the general population is usually offered a week or more after the bb begins, but anything is possible. The dates could be the same this year.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

We're lucky, our dates are flexible enough that we could really go any time in October or November. I'm hoping for October for the Halloween stuff since we did November last time. We're also flexible with resorts, our first choice are any of the values to save a few hundred, but we could book at a moderate if we had to.

 

[firedispatch227]

So IF it is the 25th, will Visa card holder members (IF they do that) will be earlier or will the 25 be for Visa card holders?

 

[The Dirty Steve]

I feel the anxiety level building. Lots of posts over the last few days.

If I could, let me give you a little advice as we get closer to a possible promotion announcement. BREATHE

Some of us have been through this many times. Lots of us look forward to this time every year with excitement, knowing our trip planning officially starts when our reservation is secured.

Rest assured, rumors will start. Things will be posted in this thread over the next few weeks that will make you doubt that a promotion will actually drop or that the reservation you want will not be available because of something someone says. PANIC will start to set in and that doesn't help anyone.

So, RELAX. There are no credible rumors out there. Some of us are here to help and will be glad to answer questions as you have them.

Likelyhood of a promo drop tomorrow.....very close to 0%!

 

[The Dirty Steve]

So IF it is the 25th, will Visa card holder members (IF they do that) will be earlier or will the 25 be for Visa card holders?

No one knows what will happen. The 25th is just a guess. Last year, no advance offer for Disney Visa. Previous years there have been.