2016 Free Dining Watch

[prettypatchesmsu]

great post! I think I remember you from 2013. Thought I would be in on the FD excitement/chaos that year but my sister got an FD PIN that we used for POFQ; did not even have to change my dates, thanks to advice from Smitch.

I love WDW and follow FD every year, black562 and the dirtysteve have been spot on as you said. Ready for FD this year, hoping our dates (11/12-11/19) will be covered, have my Disney Visa ready if we get the advance booking, if not will be on my computer EARLY.
thanks for those additional telephone #s.

Hey! I do remember you! You're welcome. I do not have a disney visa, but it would be nice if they did not skip over the DV people this year! Yes, those PINs are nice, we can only seem to get one on the years we are not going haha! I'll be rooting for you to get what you want

 

[jannalynn_11]

2. This question is actually more of a concern. If the rumored dates are correct and there are no October FD dates, do you think that will make more people switch to September, thus making September much more busy? We chose Sept for MNSSHP and lowest crowds.

Purely speculation on my part (no real data/numbers), but I don't think that many people would jump to September. Some, sure. But others would just not go, some move to Nov or Dec. Plus, FD seems to have less and less available each round, so likely wouldn't be enough people to make a real difference anyway

 

[vcmartin413]

Based on what I have been reading on the board so far about FD, it appears that if/when FD is made available that as long as your arrival date is during the FD time frame then you can get the FD. What happens if your arrival date starts within the FD time frame but, but your last few days are outside the time frame?

 

[CounselorX]

I've noticed by looking at the poll at the top that December doesn't seem to be a popular time. Does that mean we have a better chance at getting what we want? We are planning to stay 12/16-12/22 which is in the rumored FD dates.

Not necessarily. I would say September has the best chances of getting free dining because it is the lowest crowd level month of the year. That's not to say that December won't get free dining, but better chances than the other months? No

 

[vrajewski10513]

Based on what I have been reading on the board so far about FD, it appears that if/when FD is made available that as long as your arrival date is during the FD time frame then you can get the FD. What happens if your arrival date starts within the FD time frame but, but your last few days are outside the time frame?

You still get it. As long as your check in is included you get it for your whole stay

 

[vcmartin413]

You still get it. As long as your check in is included you get it for your whole stay

Thanks!! I's still crossing my fingers for a possible late October FD date.

 

[keys2kingdom]

The UK tends to do the best out of the Free Dining Offer. For the past fews years, Free Dining is available for stays at any stage, bar a few weeks over Easter and December. This year is following the same trend - Free Dining is valid for stays 5 nights or more from Jan 1- Mar 30 and Apr 17 - Nov 30 2017. I don't think I've ever seen anywhere else have as generous an offer.

It's also worth noting that UK Travel Agencies are also reporting the the QS and Regular Plans are going to see the addition of an extra snack, whilst losing the dessert element from the Quick Serivce Meals. Up to this point the Dining Plans have been the same across the board so Im interested to see if this change will be across the board too once the 2017 Dining Plans are officially released. For my family, an extra snack as opposed to the dessert with a QS meal works a lot better! Both sites below have details on the changes

http://www.maximisethemagic.com/dining/big-changes-coming-disney-dining-plans/
http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/special-offers/disney-dining-plan

This is really interesting information, thanks for posting those links. If you read the terms of those offers the free dining offer was tiered by resort. Values got free breakfast, Moderates got free Quick Service and Deluxe got Regular Basic DDP. I wonder how long their offers have been tiered like that? Foreshadowing??

 

[CMAG38]

If you already paid for a dining plan, do they give refunds if we switch over to the free dining?

 

[vrajewski10513]

If you already paid for a dining plan, do they give refunds if we switch over to the free dining?

Yes

 

[jannalynn_11]

If you already paid for a dining plan, do they give refunds if we switch over to the free dining?

Yes

 

[scard192]

Hey! I do remember you! You're welcome. I do not have a disney visa, but it would be nice if they did not skip over the DV people this year! Yes, those PINs are nice, we can only seem to get one on the years we are not going haha! I'll be rooting for you to get what you want

thanks for the good wishes, I have not gotten PIN since early 2013, but my sister is still getting them (got the Summer one twice) and we vacation to Disney together so if there is an FD one and she gets it, we can both use. LOL she would have NO clue what to do with it, she just forwards me the e-mail.

 

[Confederate Scott]

If you already paid for a dining plan, do they give refunds if we switch over to the free dining?

Not sure on a refund and how that is handled but they will not automatically switch you to free dining. You have to call and see if available for your dates and hotel.

 

[jannalynn_11]

Yes

Jinx!

 

[CMAG38]

Yes

Great! Are there any "rules" to this free dining? Like some places won't honor it. I can only get this or that. We have Quick Dining for our trip. I'm hoping there are no stipulations.

Not sure on a refund and how that is handled but they will not automatically switch you to free dining. You have to call and see if available for your dates and hotel.

I will most definitely call.

 

[Confederate Scott]

Great! Are there any "rules" to this free dining? Like some places won't honor it. I can only get this or that. We have Quick Dining for our trip. I'm hoping there are no stipulations.




I will most definitely call.

I do not think there are any stipulations on the meal plan that you would get with free dining. As long as the restaurant you choose participates you should be good.

Good luck securing the free dining if or when it is released.

 

[piglet1979]

Have any of you got FD through a TA?

I used a TA for last Septembers trip and the one 2 years before that. She is a friend of my from High school. 2 years ago we were late to the game. I think we book a few weeks after FD was announced. Last year we had our tripped booked a head of time and when free dinning was released she switched it for us. It still took her until like 1pm to get it. The TA's were having the same problems with their site as we were. It kept crashing. We did get FD for our third choice. I gave her about 4 different hotels just to be save. She got us in at Coronado. We loved it.

 

[jannalynn_11]

I used a TA for last Septembers trip and the one 2 years before that. She is a friend of my from High school. 2 years ago we were late to the game. I think we book a few weeks after FD was announced. Last year we had our tripped booked a head of time and when free dinning was released she switched it for us. It still took her until like 1pm to get it. The TA's were having the same problems with their site as we were. It kept crashing. We did get FD for our third choice. I gave her about 4 different hotels just to be save. She got us in at Coronado. We loved it.

Exactly what our awesome TA is doing for us. In fact, she had us send this over, so she can get exactly what we want!
1. Caribbean Beach standard
2. Any other moderate standard
3. Pop Century standard
4. Pop Century preferred
5. Caribbean Beach water or pool view
6. Any other moderate water or pool view

 

[piglet1979]

I do not use a TA. To me part of the thrill of a Disney vacation is the planning.

I still do all of the planning when we use a TA. All the TA does for us is book the trip. I book the ADRs and Fastpasses. She will ask if I have questions or if I need help with anything. She will also send me reminders of when things open up.

 

[shap39]

Oh the one mod is DEFINITELY cheaper. The suites at AOA are easily $100 more per night than the mod, and you're only getting Quick Service dining plan with them. If you go to a mod you'll save over $100 a night and get the regular dining plan. It will be a little more crowded and you'll only have one bathroom, so you'll need to see what's more important for your family.

Thanks for the info. one other ? If you don't mind, what if I took the room discount at AoA instead of staying there and upgrading from QS to DD

 

[SunnieRN]

We are staying at a family suite at AoA I wonder what would be cheaper

Earlier in this thread a really sweet poster gave me this link:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disney-rates-2016.htm#frenchquarter

It gives you rack rates for rooms based on seasons. You can compare the rates at AoA vs a moderate hotel. Have fun with your planning!!!