2016 Free Dining Watch

[Wood Nymph]

I also have quick question, if I have a second reservation for my oldest son and his GF, can I change theirs or do they have to call and do that...Still trying to figure out if I should book theirs now or wait(either way I will be paying the deposit for them-and they are gone on s spring vaca this week into next)

If you want their room to be in the same resort and have the same category, then I would book both rooms together. Room categories often sell out quickly, especially the cheaper standard view rooms.

I have been able to call Disney and have them apply a discount to my daughter's existing reservation without any problems. I have also booked and paid for our other daughter's reservation. I think they are used to parents paying for the kids.

 

[Just Love Disney]

Rumor is 4/25

I would be interested in this information as well! We would prefer to go 10/29-11/6, but if there is not free dining for that time, we will be going 11/18-23. Obviously, I would prefer the longer visit, but the November dates would have me spending my birthday in my happy place

I have been lucky enough to spend the last 4 of my birthdays at Disney. This year will be number 5

 

[Susan Doeberl]

What time are you waking up? And where do you look?

I am waking up at 2:30 am and 4:30 am. I am checking on the disney site for the FD offer.

 

[Taran430]

If you already have ADR's (including the tough to get BOG) under the first reservation, can those be transferred to new reservation, or are those lost?

Your ADR are under your name and aren't linked to resort reservations I was told.

 

[scard192]

Some TA's saw the 15th date I've seen. I'm still hoping for the 11th

hoping that date of the 11th might be right, but our reliable sources here are saying the 15th. I am working on how to make a split stay with RO 11/12-11/14 and then FD staring on the 15th work as far as the park tickets and FP+.

 

[black562]

I yield the floor once the boss rolls into the thread. Hope all is well, my friend.

That may be the nicest things anyone has said to me in a long long time. Thank you for that.

You're doing an awesome job in here!

 

[SunnieRN]

Can anyone explain Jersey week to me? There are really that many people from New Jersey there that they don't offer free dining. Very cool if so.

 

[LM0601]

Can anyone explain Jersey week to me? There are really that many people from New Jersey there that they don't offer free dining. Very cool if so.

I am in NJ. We have Teachers Convention every year usually the first or second week of November on a Thursday and Friday. Some districts have the entire week off. It seems a lot of people from NJ go to Disney World that week, especially Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Airfare is doubled during that time even if we fly out of NY or PA. I am a TA and I have my friend who is a teacher booked that week. She checks out on that Sunday so I am not sure if I can get her any sort of room discount or FD, but it would be neat as it is her daughters first visit and it would make them so happy.

 

[Minnieloves4]

Can anyone explain Jersey week to me? There are really that many people from New Jersey there that they don't offer free dining. Very cool if so.

I can't really speak on how crowded the parks are that week but I do know that the kids get a 4 day weekend and alot of my daughters friends tend to go that week.

 

[CaperTiff]

Oh my gosh!!!! Like little garden snakes? Those wouldn't be so bad. Or are they the dangerous kind? I think I'd honestly prefer snakes to big bugs, though. We have June bugs up here and those are bad enough.

June bugs are terrifying !

 

[kimyinpink]

If the window does open early for Visa Card holders will that apply for both the card with and without the annual fee? We lucked out last year (didn't have the card) and got FD with the general public, but now we have the no annual fee card and am hoping for a head start.

 

[Confederate Scott]

PS this is so off topic and I HATE when we get off topic here but my PP says I can only go in December. This is due to having a child now in college. It all changes, my friends, when they go to college. Don't be afraid to take them out of school when they're little!

I completely agree with you about not being afraid to take your kids out of school when they are little. They can make up the work and/or do it while they are there.

 

[coley444]

Does anyone have an old UOC / individual PIN offer email they can reference?

What was the subject line or text within the body of the email?

I'm going to search my inbox to see if I've ever received one. This way I also know what to keep an eye out for.

My dates are fixed, 11/9 - 11/14. We're part of the Jersey Week phenomenon as my sister has off of school the 10th and 11th - she's a teacher.

Not looking too optimistic for us for free dining this year- unless that 11/11 date pans out then I'd have it for a portion of my trip. However, I'm not sure I'd want to deal with the headache of a split stay reservation. I've never booked that way before.

Maybe a room only discount would be the way to go for us.

My DTS aka Disney Twin Sister (just made that up lol) and I like to stay at CSR.

If no free dining is available on our dates, maybe we'll just stay at a value instead. I've crunched numbers on various price scenarios, and staying at All Star Movies with a hopeful 10% room only discount (based on last year's July room only promo), UT tickets, then upgrading to DDP is comparable to free dining at CSR.

 

[Confederate Scott]

We are going for the first time this November, and will pull the kids, 17 and 10 at that time, out of school for 5-6 days. I hesitated on this, but we are limited because my daughter gets overheated quickly due to her heart condition, so we can't go in the summer. We also needed to be conscious of the cost, and the free dining will help if we get it. We plan to work on their homework on the drive down there and back.

If you have never been to Disney in November but have been there during the summer you will truly appreciate how much nicer November is.

 

[Sharongal74]

how much advanced notice do Disney Visa card holders get if they get to book early?

 

[PeterPanFan123]

Hi everyone, I have been booking FD since 2012, but new to post to DIS...have been a faithful follower (i.e. lurker... sounds so strange!)...I would just want to mention that many people relied on the past on the DIS boards for confirmation that FD had been released, but I recall last year that the release happened to coincide with DIS boards' down time, i.e. time when the DIS is down for maintenance, etc...perhaps others can confirm this, but I remember checking DIS in the a.m. of the expected announcement, and going back to sleep because no one had posted that FD was live! We ended up reserving an upgraded room at WL in order to receive FD (not standard, which was the room we originally had reserved). P.S. Black and Stitch and Dirty Steve have been so amazing over the years for all of us trying to save money for our family trips...they deserve a lot of appreciation, thank you! And I hope everyone gets what they hope for!

 

[scard192]

If the window does open early for Visa Card holders will that apply for both the card with and without the annual fee? We lucked out last year (didn't have the card) and got FD with the general public, but now we have the no annual fee card and am hoping for a head start.

yes, any Disney Visa card will do.

 

[scard192]

how much advanced notice do Disney Visa card holders get if they get to book early?

I never get an e-mail from Chase until late afternoon, I hear first here. check this thread at 7AM on the day it starts (if it does). people will be posting as soon as they get through to a CM and can book FD.

 

[scard192]

Black and Stitch and Dirty Steve have been so amazing over the years for all of us trying to save money for our family trips...they deserve a lot of appreciation, thank you!

SO TRUE, they have helped so many of us. "thank you" just doesn't seem like enough.

 

[scard192]

Does anyone have an old UOC / individual PIN offer email they can reference?

What was the subject line or text within the body of the email?.

Personal offer code for summer savings inside!

Unique Offer Code for Disney Summer fun inside!

those are the 2 my sister got for the summer. she has gotten some too something like "because you have been here before".