2016 Free Dining Watch

[scard192]

I wish POFQ would be included. It seems people have mixed feelings on whether or not to book in advance. With limited availability, what is the negatives around booking a room in advance in one of the likely participating resorts and then adding the discount on?

the more rooms that are booked, the less reason Disney has to offer a discount. If you are going no matter whan the thought is to book; if not it's best to wait for the discount.

POFQ was the resort I wanted to stay at so much last trip and it was not included, but my sister got an FD PIN and it was included.

 

[vrajewski10513]

I wish POFQ would be included. It seems people have mixed feelings on whether or not to book in advance. With limited availability, what is the negatives around booking a room in advance in one of the likely participating resorts and then adding the discount on?

A lot of people follow the fact that if all the rooms are booked up prior to a discount being released then Disney sees it as they're having no trouble booking the rooms at rack rate, so no reason to release a discount.
I, however, feel that if your sticking with your dates regardless of a discount or not, then you should book whenever you're ready.

 

[scard192]

it's probably already been said, but be ready with alternative resorts and dates (if possible) in case your 1st choice is not available. My resorts are:
POP
ASMu
ASsp

would love to stay at All Star Movies but it has been excluded the last few years for our dates (November)

 

[mandis77]

There are other possible issues that can crop up with applying the discount to an already booked trip, but I have always waited to book so another could probably answer that better. I would only book now if you are going to go anyways with or without the FD discount, and your dates are not flexible for when you are going to be traveling. Basically, if you are going these certain dates no matter what.

In 2014 I had already had a room reserved at CSR. That year it was released to Disney Visa holders first so I had to wait a few days for the general public release. Then, since you weren't able to modify reservations online then I had to wait until the phones opened then waited on hold for 45+ minutes. By the time I got through to a CM all the rooms allocated for FD at CSR were filled. So, I had to switch resorts to CBR to take advantage of free dining. In the end CBR was beautiful and we loved having FD - but this year I am waiting to book.

 

[mandis77]

it's probably already been said, but be ready with alternative resorts and dates (if possible) in case your 1st choice is not available. My resorts are:
POP
ASMu
ASsp

would love to stay at All Star Movies but it has been excluded the last few years for our dates (November)

Same here.

 

[SunnieRN]

7am

Ty very much!!!

 

[Allisonmomofthree]

Last year it was around 4:30am.

Thank you for this info !!

 

[Allisonmomofthree]

What time in the morning does the promotion usually go live? Is it earlier online vs. by phone?

Thanks for asking this , I thought I was the only one that didn't know

 

[Kingdome8]

A lot of people follow the fact that if all the rooms are booked up prior to a discount being released then Disney sees it as they're having no trouble booking the rooms at rack rate, so no reason to release a discount.
I, however, feel that if your sticking with your dates regardless of a discount or not, then you should book whenever you're ready.

But disney is smart. They also look at how many of the room reservations just have deposit down compared to fully paid. They probably know if discounts or free dining isn't offered they may have a lot of back outs. Who knows.

I have to have these dates I booked last November. But even if I could be frlexible I would still book for peace of mind

 

[vrajewski10513]

But disney is smart. They also look at how many of the room reservations just have deposit down compared to fully paid. They probably know if discounts or free dining isn't offered they may have a lot of back outs. Who knows.

I have to have these dates I booked last November. But even if I could be frlexible I would still book for peace of mind

I fully agree. I think they know a lot if those held reservations will go bye bye with no discount.

 

[flav]

To add to the confusion if you are Canadian and travelling mid-August...
Last year, the room discount ran until 2015/08/27 and FD started (for Canadian) 2015/08/15.
My dates are not flexible so I booked with a room discount and I am keeping an eye for a FD discount instead. Calculations are made and resort preferences voiced, we are ready!

 

[GatorChris]

But disney is smart. They also look at how many of the room reservations just have deposit down compared to fully paid. They probably know if discounts or free dining isn't offered they may have a lot of back outs. Who knows.

It's really simply for us. If they don't offer free dining, we can't afford to go. Sure I could save about $500 for a stay at a Moderate, but we'd save $1000 more than that on food with free dining. If they don't offer it, we'll probably just drive down to Disneyland again. But it would be nice to get back to the World.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

It's really simply for us. If they don't offer free dining, we can't afford to go. Sure I could save about $500 for a stay at a Moderate, but we'd save $1000 more than that on food with free dining. If they don't offer it, we'll probably just drive down to Disneyland again. But it would be nice to get back to the World.

Thats how it is for us as well. We could probably afford it if we went with a strict budget for food, but that's just not enjoyable for us.

 

[vrajewski10513]

It's really simply for us. If they don't offer free dining, we can't afford to go. Sure I could save about $500 for a stay at a Moderate, but we'd save $1000 more than that on food with free dining. If they don't offer it, we'll probably just drive down to Disneyland again. But it would be nice to get back to the World.

I'm really excited to finally be trying out a moderate resort. But truth of the matter is, if no free dining is offered we will more than likely be staying at a value resort.

 

[chewysmom]

It's really simply for us. If they don't offer free dining, we can't afford to go. Sure I could save about $500 for a stay at a Moderate, but we'd save $1000 more than that on food with free dining. .

This is us too. We went last year w/o FD and said never again. We didn't do any character meals, did QS the entire stay and we were all disappointed. We save at least $1000 with FD.

If they don't offer FD this year, I just don't see how we can go. *fingers crossed!*

 

[scard192]

If there is no FD for our dates in November, the fall back plan is to get pricing from a travel agency that members have posted about getting awfully good rates from. I based my budget on SPD, hoping if no FD that this might be what they offer instead.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

This is us too. We went last year w/o FD and said never again. We didn't do any character meals, did QS the entire stay and we were all disappointed. We save at least $1000 with FD.

If they don't offer FD this year, I just don't see how we can go. *fingers crossed!*

We stay at the values with FD, and do the QS meals. However, we tend to supplement it with a few Out of Pocket table service meals. This time we are doing Garden Grill Breakfast with the Characters. And Free Dining is must for us to go. We love to eat, so watching dollars on vacation to eat is not our idea of fun. Disney food is super expensive. And we love our snack credits! haha!

My mom had never been a free dining person, she always said that the room discount was better. This last trip I insisted on FD (a room discount at a value is not as good) and she converted to FD is Great right after our first meal that first day. We sat down at the table and she said, "This would have been a hundred dollars for these meals!!!" Yep, FD convert right there.

 

[Just Love Disney]

True. Just hope they don't sell out of rooms. Plus now u can add free dining on the app. Save time. Plus if there are rooms available. U can always cancel current room and book new one same as you would if u waited for free dining to come out. Just gives piece of mind

I didn't know that was available. How do you do it (add FD that is)? Thanks!

 

[rsbh00]

If we don't manage to get FD for CBR or POR then our next option will have to be off-site or not gong at all. With it being 5 of us the values are out unless I rent 2 rooms and that will start adding up fast.

 

[Just Love Disney]

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

Could you update this part daily, pretty please?