2016 Free Dining Watch

[scard192]

Hi there. I had surgery to remove a kidney stone yesterday, and am having some lingering issues, but hope to be getting things under control finally. I'm about to go to bed for the night, but I'll check back in tomorrow as long as I can stay out of the ER. It's been a rough week!

hope you are feeling better soon

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I apologize in advance for the length of this response/plea for advice or help.

I have been planning on this vacation for nearly a year. For those who have seen my original post, I am sorry for the repetition, but it is my family's first real vacation. My son will be 17, and heading to the military the next summer, so it is probably our last chance for a big family vacation. My daughter has been wishing for this. She is 10, and has been through 3 open-heart surgeries. She will most likely require a transplant at some point. This trip means so much. Because of this, I scoured the history of deals, and chose our dates based on them - 11/12 through 11/19. My husband, a 911 operator, had to put his request for these dates off of work in December. We are not flexible at all.

Now, I am seeing the rumor of 11/11 or 11/15. The 11/15 date scares me, and makes me believe I will not be able to get this deal. I am also seeing this rumor of DVC holders getting the first shot. I do not have a DVC. I am starting to think all of my planning is falling apart, and the promises I made my children will now be broken. I am seriously falling apart right now. I do not think I can do this trip without this deal. Please tell me if you think I am jumping the gun and there is hope. Perhaps there is another magical deal I am not aware of. I really don't want to tell my children I couldn't make this happen.

You could also think about staying off site, there is a whole forum on that. You can get a beautiful 2 bedroom condo with full kitchen and gorgeous pools often for under $700 for the week. I get that people want to be in the " middle" of the Magic, but honestly we have had extremely magical and amazing vacations staying off site (1-2 miles away!) for a fraction of the price. You should check out the offsite thread to get some back up ideas.

 

[Sharongal74]

Okay quick question and asking it here since it will actually be apart of my decision on if we do free dinning or not. When you buy a package can you upgrade your tickets before you pay in full and get to the parks etc? We have decided just holding onto the 2 4-day tickets we have would be smartest since we know we will use them and then just book free dinning since we are staying deluxe for a week straight. However, we don't yet know how many days we want to do WDW. We know minimum 4 at WDW but it could be 5 or 6. Will just depend on what we figure for Universal and if we want to go there or not.

I believe you can add days at the discounted rate while you are there if you decide you need more park time

 

[scard192]

I apologize in advance for the length of this response/plea for advice or help.

I have been planning on this vacation for nearly a year. For those who have seen my original post, I am sorry for the repetition, but it is my family's first real vacation. My son will be 17, and heading to the military the next summer, so it is probably our last chance for a big family vacation. My daughter has been wishing for this. She is 10, and has been through 3 open-heart surgeries. She will most likely require a transplant at some point. This trip means so much. Because of this, I scoured the history of deals, and chose our dates based on them - 11/12 through 11/19. My husband, a 911 operator, had to put his request for these dates off of work in December. We are not flexible at all.

Now, I am seeing the rumor of 11/11 or 11/15. The 11/15 date scares me, and makes me believe I will not be able to get this deal. I am also seeing this rumor of DVC holders getting the first shot. I do not have a DVC. I am starting to think all of my planning is falling apart, and the promises I made my children will now be broken. I am seriously falling apart right now. I do not think I can do this trip without this deal. Please tell me if you think I am jumping the gun and there is hope. Perhaps there is another magical deal I am not aware of. I really don't want to tell my children I couldn't make this happen.

Our dates are 11/12-11/19 as well and can't be changed due to work obligations and when my sister's vacation time resets. If the date is the 15th my plan is:

RO 11/12-14
FD pkg 11/15-19 with 7/8 day PH tix.
you can pick up your park tix early. so would go to Guest Relations and do that. Can't do FP+ for the 12-14 because no tix, but once the tix are activated you can start making FP+ for the missing days. I think we will hit MK early on the 13th, activate the tix. I plan to have my sister take all the kids to ride some attractions while I see what same day FP+ I can make for us all. wondering when I can make FP+ for the 14th (on my phone while in the park on the 13th?).

Logistically will be more difficult but I know I can make it work. We will have to pay for food OOP of course.

I do have the Disney Visa card so hoping to be able to book early, if not will be on the computer early the day FD drops. Resorts are POP/ASMu or ASSp so hope will all the rooms at the values I can get two for FD, RO.

I know what you mean about not wanting the tell the kids we won't be going to Disney this year, I have been saving for this trip for 3 years.

Good luck!

 

[scard192]

ALSO:

Can I sign up for the Disney Visa today and still get the early promo? I do not currently have the Visa.

Thanks!!!!!

it might be too late, would take 10-14 days to get the card once you applied and you do have to have the card in hand to book the DVisa offer

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

Don't panic, it's all still very much rumors and really the basis for the rumor is pretty slim, i.e. it's not inside information but just a TA saw a Free Dining add on a TA site that was then quickly removed which could mean anything.

I for one would not be surprised if it's a couple days earlier than the 15th. Historically, Jersey week has been blacked out from Sunday to Saturday (which for this year would be 11/6/-11/12). Based on that you would think FD would start on 11/13. Another reason for thinking it would start on 13th is that having the check ins run so close to Thanksgiving (21st) as others have said does not make sense. Really the only reason for thinking they would wait until the 15th was because F&W ends on the 14th but if they were really trying to prevent overlapping FD with F&W then why would then entire last half of September be included in FD.

Worst case if it really is the 15th (or anything after 12th) then you can always do a split reservation getting the meal plan from 15-19 with all your tickets booked under that reservation and then do a separate reservation for 12-14 for only a room and I am almost certain you will be able to get a Room discount on that which of course is not as good as free dining but will help offset some of the additional food expenses.

In regards to DV, they may or may not. 2 (Oct-Dec 2013, Entire 2015) out of the last 3 Free Dining promotions have NOT been opened to DVC early. So in the last 3 years DV has only gotten early release in 2014 and for September 2013. Even if there is early release as others have said things come open even weeks after FD is released. Last year I had to book a Pirate room at CBR on the day it was released but about a week later Standards started popping up at CBR and I was able to switch. Alot will also depend on what resort you want or if you even are particular about the resort. If you are open to Value or Moderate then that gives you ALOT of flexibility. One advantage you have is that 11/13-11/19 is a VERY slow week.

Not trying to give you false hope but certainly there is no reason to lose hope.

It's interesting about the jersey weeks. I find it so odd that FD would start on 8/23 and not 8/25 because all the current offers end 8/25...why would they go back 2 days for the new offer??? I'm wondering if whoever saw the blip online actually transposed the 5 and 3 in the first set of dates that they saw so the 8/23 start date is really 8/25 and the 11/15 is really 11/13.....that seems to make more sense but I guess we'll have to wait a little longer!!!!

 

[Disneylover99]

Okay quick question and asking it here since it will actually be apart of my decision on if we do free dinning or not. When you buy a package can you upgrade your tickets before you pay in full and get to the parks etc? We have decided just holding onto the 2 4-day tickets we have would be smartest since we know we will use them and then just book free dinning since we are staying deluxe for a week straight. However, we don't yet know how many days we want to do WDW. We know minimum 4 at WDW but it could be 5 or 6. Will just depend on what we figure for Universal and if we want to go there or not.

You can definitely upgrade your tickets once you are there. Buy your four day tickets with your package now, and upgrade in the park on your fourth day at the latest, if you decide you want to add days.

 

[Michigan_tinkerbell]

Okay, I am at work and cannot go through 96 pages of post, I did go through the last three. But I missed what date people think the FD will come out. Monday the 18th or Thursday the 21 or Monday the 25? We really need FD to be able to go in August. HELP. please and thank you.

 

[Disneylover99]

It's interesting about the jersey weeks. I find it so odd that FD would start on 8/23 and not 8/25 because all the current offers end 8/25...why would they go back 2 days for the new offer??? I'm wondering if whoever saw the blip online actually transposed the 5 and 3 in the first set of dates that they saw so the 8/23 start date is really 8/25 and the 11/15 is really 11/13.....that seems to make more sense but I guess we'll have to wait a little longer!!!!

I'm really miffed about that Aug. 23rd date too. We talk about Disney scaling back and trying to get rid of the fd promotion and yet that would be the earliest offer for fd in the past few years. Plus it's earlier then the beginning of the bb offer which was Aug. 26.

 

[Disneylover99]

Okay, I am at work and cannot go through 96 pages of post, I did go through the last three. But I missed what date people think the FD will come out. Monday the 18th or Thursday the 21 or Monday the 25? We really need FD to be able to go in August. HELP. please and thank you.

Check the website on those three dates.

 

[scard192]

Okay, I am at work and cannot go through 96 pages of post, I did go through the last three. But I missed what date people think the FD will come out. Monday the 18th or Thursday the 21 or Monday the 25? We really need FD to be able to go in August. HELP. please and thank you.

nothing firm yet, first rumor was 4/25 for DVisa card holders, 5/2 for GP. 3-4 days ago perhaps "sooner", the 18th has been mentioned.

 

[sharonabe]

Question for those that have done FD & split stay.

One post said 11/11 was a potential free dining date. I know 11/15 was more frequent, but I check out the 14th so I'll assume the 11th qualifies in this hypothetical scenario.

My fixed dates would be 11/9 - 11/14.

11/9 I would check in really late to the resort and it wouldn't be a park day. 11/10 we wanted to go to a park.

So my first reservation would be room only 11/9 - 11/11. We always do the dining plan where possible but I think it would be too complicated with the credits expiring at midnight of check out day the 11th. So I would most likely forego the dining plan on the first booking.

Then my second reservation for Free Dining would be 11/11 - 11/14. Since I have to book tickets to get free dining, I would get 5 day park hoppers on this second package.

Can someone confirm that I can visit guest services to activate my tickets from the 11/11 package early to enter a park on 11/10?

But I can't book FP+ for 11/10 in advance, correct? In other words I can only do day of FP+ for 11/10.

Thanks never done split stay. Oh Disney so many complications lol

You are correct on all points. Hope it works out that you don't have to do the split stay, but you're ready if you do!

 

[Michigan_tinkerbell]

nothing firm yet, first rumor was 4/25 for DVisa card holders, 5/2 for GP. 3-4 days ago perhaps "sooner", the 18th has been mentioned.

Ugh, this is going to drive me more crazy then planning. Thank you

 

[Wood Nymph]

If we go every October, why are our BB's for every September? Is it always for 11 months after one's current vacation?

The bounce back offers have already been for fixed dates that are published in a booklet. They have never been based on an individual reservation.

We are booked at a non participating location (Little Mermaid Suite). MDE allows me to currently modify this reservation. IF I DO THIS NOW/TODAY and modify the resort to Caribbean Beach Resort, will I then just be able to call and secure the FD once that promo officially hits. I have read this thread and researched and can't determine the best steps.

BASICALLY:

Why book an entire new reservation if I can simply modify my resort to a participating resort????? That's my confusion. Everyone says to book a new package????

Or am I supposed to wait till the 2 am / 4:30 am time frame when the promo hits and do my modified reservation then.

ALSO:

Can I sign up for the Disney Visa today and still get the early promo? I do not currently have the Visa.

Thanks!!!!!

Are you talking about the Little Mermaid value room, a regular resort room or are you talking about an AoA suite? The suites usually are included in the free dining offers but the Little Mermaid rooms are not.

I would not change your reservation until the free dining offer is announced. You don't know the dates, terms or availability yet.

You won't be able to get the Disney credit card in time to use it to make a reservation. It takes at least ten days to ship it and there isn't any guarantee that free dining will open early for Disney Visa cardholders.

 

[RigatoniFeline]

When I was panicking about the summer offer ending on 8/25 (because we have an 8/24 or 8/25 arrival) my TA said that offers can overlap. I am pleasantly surprised by the rumors for August. I booked my trip as late as
I possibly could in hopes of FD.

 

[AEB123]

Is everyone thinking they will have the same park hopper requirement like last year in order to get FD?

 

[LovingDisney2012]

Good morning, I hope everyone got some rest last night. I am super excited to find out what today has in store for us! Maybe @black562, or @The Dirty Steve will have good news today. At the very least, I am sure they will be here for moral support. I love our group, my husband is 100% not a planner so, this is where I come to justify my obsession lol.

 

[LovingDisney2012]

Is everyone thinking they will have the same park hopper requirement like last year in order to get FD?

I would assume so, unless there are a large number of rooms needing to be booked, I do not see them dropping a previous requirement.

 

[beck00]

Good morning, I hope everyone got some rest last night. I am super excited to find out what today has in store for us! Maybe @black562, or @The Dirty Steve will have good news today. At the very least, I am sure they will be here for moral support. I love our group, my husband is 100% not a planner so, this is where I come to justify my obsession lol.

I'm right here with you! My husband loves the benefits of having a planning wife, but just doesn't get into it like I do. Happy to be among kindred spirits

 

[LovingDisney2012]

I'm right here with you! My husband loves the benefits of having a planning wife, but just doesn't get into it like I do. Happy to be among kindred spirits

At least we can say they appreciate it!