2016 Free Dining Watch

[Laura7906]

Thanks for the responses! One more question: we are traveling with my parents and my sisters family for this trip and they each have a reservation. Am I able over the phone to use my Disney visa to add the free dining to their reservations? I've been making all the plans and the reservations/deposits and have access to their Disney accounts which are linked to ours, etc. But will I be able to make those changes on their reservations?

 

[tinkerone]

After hearing the single rumbling of April 25 to May 2 as possible booking dates, I did check into Disney Dad. He has a position of saying you should book now even though so many would say that "throws off the balance so you should wait".

Did he say why he felt this way? Its contrary to what I have been told in the past.

Who is Disney Dad? Is that his DIS name or just a nickname?

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Did he say why he felt this way? Its contrary to what I have been told in the past.

Who is Disney Dad? Is that his DIS name or just a nickname?

I assume that is only if you would be going whether u get FD pricing or not. Otherwise it really wouldn't make sense to do.

 

[6loversofdisney]

Did he say why he felt this way? Its contrary to what I have been told in the past.

Who is Disney Dad? Is that his DIS name or just a nickname?

Disney Dad has a website only. He also has a blog but if he is on here, I don't know what he goes by. He is the only one who's proclaimed a date for possible FD release to my knowledge.

I assume that is only if you would be going whether u get FD pricing or not. Otherwise it really wouldn't make sense to do.

He takes this position because he feels if you wait until the dates are released and then try to get what you want, you may not get it. He says that people's fears of Disney not offering FD at all just because some of us book are unfounded.

 

[Lisa J]

I'm going to book a trip during free dining. I've done this before so I know the basics. But, this time I'm trying to book for multiple family members. We will be booking 4 rooms. My question is can this be one reservation. If this is one reservation I'm thinking that I would only need to pay for travel insurance once. This could save a lot of money. Is there a way to book online and get 4 rooms together. I've read that I can book all separate then call and have them linked together. How would that affect the travel insurance. We would also save on Memory Makers. I'm planning on booking with a TA and then watching for the Free Dining and booking myself just in case the TA can't get it added to my reservation. I'm not sure if a TA can link the rooms together. I know I seem worried about the insurance so much. But, last trip grandma was given just weeks to live, a week before our trip. It was already paid for and if she had passed before I'm not sure what we would have done. I would greatly appreciate any help on this booking question.

 

[tinkerone]

Disney Dad has a website only. He also has a blog but if he is on here, I don't know what he goes by. He is the only one who's proclaimed a date for possible FD release to my knowledge.

He takes this position because he feels if you wait until the dates are released and then try to get what you want, you may not get it. He says that people's fears of Disney not offering FD at all just because some of us book are unfounded.

good to know. can you post a link to his blog? I would love to read him.

but, I would counter his thoughts of 'if you wait until dates are released and then try to get what you want you may not get it' with 'if you couldn't get it in that case then you will not get it if you already have a room booked because it would be full anyways'. just because you have a room doesn't mean it would be eligible for free dinning. hope that is understandable.

i'm not saying he is wrong, I just don't agree. I could be wrong.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

good to know. can you post a link to his blog? I would love to read him.

but, I would counter his thoughts of 'if you wait until dates are released and then try to get what you want you may not get it' with 'if you couldn't get it in that case then you will not get it if you already have a room booked because it would be full anyways'. just because you have a room doesn't mean it would be eligible for free dinning. hope that is understandable.

i'm not saying he is wrong, I just don't agree. I could be wrong.

I know what you are saying. And I also do not agree with him.

 

[nkereina]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but anyone else follow Pete Werner on Facebook? He said this morning a Dreams agent noticed a "glitch" on the travel agent web site offering a free dining package. Should be soon!

 

[vrajewski10513]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but anyone else follow Pete Werner on Facebook? He said this morning a Dreams agent noticed a "glitch" on the travel agent web site offering a free dining package. Should be soon!

Someone posted yesterday about a page that they found listed in Google for free dining and it was dated 4/8/16 but when you click on it it just brought you to an error page. Wonder if it's the same thing.

 

[SGMCO]

If everyone pre-books expecting FD--Why should Disney offer it?

 

[vrajewski10513]

If everyone pre-books expecting FD--Why should Disney offer it?

Because they know what will happen with a large portion of those reservations if they don't offer a discount.

 

[tinkerone]

Because they know what will happen with a large portion of those reservations if they don't offer a discount.

however a discount doesn't always equate to free dinning. they offer tons of discounts but this year has shown that fd isn't necessarily a for sure. look at the quick service offer. that was new and people were expecting fd at that time.
I'm hoping for fd but I would not be surprised if it was a room discount or a limited dining plan much like the quick service offer. the more rooms booked the less they have to offer.
jmo

 

[vrajewski10513]

however a discount doesn't always equate to free dinning. they offer tons of discounts but this year has shown that fd isn't necessarily a for sure. look at the quick service offer. that was new and people were expecting fd at that time.
I'm hoping for fd but I would not be surprised if it was a room discount or a limited dining plan much like the quick service offer. the more rooms booked the less they have to offer.
jmo

Wasn't the quick service meal offered for summer time? There's never free dining in summer.

 

[vrajewski10513]

Or I should say in recent years there hasn't been

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

that was new and people were expecting fd at that time.

Actually, no one was expecting FD at that time. FD hasn't been offered during the summer months for years.

 

[VACamm]

I am back here for the 5th year in a row waiting for Free Dining to be released!!

2012: Pop Century- Free Dining 6 nights
2013: Coronado Springs - Free Dining 9 nights
2014: Port Orleans French Quarter (my dad got a Free Dining Pin that we applied to our reservation since we were taking him with us!) 7 nights
2015: Coronado Springs : Free Dining 7 nights during Christmas Week
2016: We are praying for Free Dining and to stay at Caribbean Beach Resort

I'm happy to be here with you all.... and hopefully we will all be able to get Free Dining. The waiting is awful... but at least we can all go crazy together!

 

[vrajewski10513]

I am back here for the 5th year in a row waiting for Free Dining to be released!!

2012: Pop Century- Free Dining 6 nights
2013: Coronado Springs - Free Dining 9 nights
2014: Port Orleans French Quarter (my dad got a Free Dining Pin that we applied to our reservation since we were taking him with us!) 7 nights
2015: Coronado Springs : Free Dining 7 nights during Christmas Week
2016: We are praying for Free Dining and to stay at Caribbean Beach Resort

I'm happy to be here with you all.... and hopefully we will all be able to get Free Dining. The waiting is awful... but at least we can all go crazy together!

Just curious, but if you go every year, why don't you book a bounce back? Or are your dates usually outside of the bounce back.

 

[Mrspeaks]

if I need two rooms, can I do this online with one MDE account or do I need to call?

 

[tinkerone]

Wasn't the quick service meal offered for summer time? There's never free dining in summer.

Actually, no one was expecting FD at that time. FD hasn't been offered during the summer months for years.

sorry, I didn't say that very well. what I meant was the quick service package was new. people were expecting fd however while I made it sound like it was for the same time what I actually meant/should have said was they were waiting for fd offers. Disney switched it up with a new offer. they could switch it up again.
I still stand behind my thought that the more rooms reserved, the less they have to offer.
again, jmo and not meant to change minds.

 

[SGMCO]

Even if you pre-book there are no guarantees that the resort that you booked is going to be on FD list of resorts,
I have heard of people missing out on FD because of pre-booking resorts expecting to add FD.
Having to scramble to find any resort that offers FD if any or left.