2016 Free Dining Watch

[G719]

The only thing I can think of is the fact that the rooms are way more expensive during those times so it makes the FD less of a deal. Same reason why they took away Sept. as value season for the values and mods.. FD...bigger profit.

Makes sense. I didn't think about that. I've read that the hotels pay for the free dining so they'd want to do it when the rates are higher to cover the cost.

 

[Kingdome8]

Hate this no October. Hope we are shocked.

 

[sharonabe]

Please forgive me if this has been asked and answered already...

We already have our reservations booked. For FD do I need to call release day to have it applied or can I wait for the calls to settle down from people who are booking trips bc of FD and have it applied a few days later? I guess what I'm asking is, does FD have a limitation on the number of rooms per resort that can have FD? Hope this question makes sense... TIA!

There are limited numbers, but no one knows what they are. No matter when you call, you may have to change resorts, dates, type of room or all of the above or you may not get it at all. Calling earlier SHOULD be better, but many have said they actually got what they wanted when they called a few days to a week after it was released and things settled down. You need to decide what you are comfortable with doing. Personally, if FD was important to me, I'd call sooner rather than later. You can always call again during the promo time frame and change things up again if there is availability.

 

[The Dirty Steve]

This is the group who basically were spot on, correct?

Slightly off but this is NOT where I got my final info from last year.

 

[Hunter9101]

I know that no one can figure out the exact reasoning behind the dates they use, but I thought this was supposed to get more people to come during the slow times. If that's the case why would the first week of December not be included when pretty much the rest of the month is? I was always told the first week is pretty slow and the crowds build the closer you get to Christmas.

 

[The Dirty Steve]

I'm seeing several reports now (including this link) of April 25 being the likely date of the big reveal. Are you hearing anything that might contradict that at this point?

There are others who are saying other dates. I'm listening but I have no solid info. Earliest date I've heard is Monday, April 18 and that is a rumor!!!

 

[Iowamomof4]

There are others who are saying other dates. I'm listening but I have no solid info. Earliest date I've heard is Monday, April 18 and that is a rumor!!!

Gotcha! Could be the 18th, could be the 25th, could be some other date yet to be named!

 

[LovingDisney2012]

Steve, what's your thought on early release to Disney Visa?

Slightly off but this is NOT where I got my final info from last year.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I know that no one can figure out the exact reasoning behind the dates they use, but I thought this was supposed to get more people to come during the slow times. If that's the case why would the first week of December not be included when pretty much the rest of the month is? I was always told the first week is pretty slow and the crowds build the closer you get to Christmas.

First week in December is already heavily booked at many resorts. It's also Pop Warner.

 

[SunnieRN]

The rates for rooms during free dining should be the rates from the dis chart I posted earlier. It is the rates for each category of room, at each resort, by dates and weekday vs weekend. I don't think disney raises the room rates, I think they just charge the full price for the room. Which if you get free dining is a wonderful deal, for most families in value or moderate categories.

 

[CMAG38]

Any chance that the Poly club level will get the free dining?

 

[LM0601]

I have a dining question regarding dessert. If you do not use your dessert for the table service meal, do you lose that or does that get added on as a snack to your plan? I see you also get dessert for your quick dine meal too. In addition, if you do the quick dine at the resort and use your refillable mug, do you get a credit back because you did not get a beverage? Any dining experts, can you help? This is so confusing. Thanks!

 

[wilkeliza]

I have a dining question regarding dessert. If you do not use your dessert for the table service meal, do you lose that or does that get added on as a snack to your plan? I see you also get dessert for your quick dine meal too. In addition, if you do the quick dine at the resort and use your refillable mug, do you get a credit back because you did not get a beverage? Any dining experts, can you help? This is so confusing. Thanks!

Portions of the meal are use or lose. So if you don't order a drink or dessert for QS or no dessert at TS then you lose those.

 

[Minnie368]

I have a dining question regarding dessert. If you do not use your dessert for the table service meal, do you lose that or does that get added on as a snack to your plan? I see you also get dessert for your quick dine meal too. In addition, if you do the quick dine at the resort and use your refillable mug, do you get a credit back because you did not get a beverage? Any dining experts, can you help? This is so confusing. Thanks!

When we eat at the resort with our refillable mugs we grab a bottled drink to go for later. You have to use it when you redeem your credit. Same thing with the dessert. A lot of places have things like cookies, chips, etc that you can take for later.

 

[vcmartin413]

Slightly off but this is NOT where I got my final info from last year.

Steve,
In your experience, is September always included in FD? We already reserved dates in late October but, the rumored dates make me super nervous. Because of this my group is now considering changing our plans to the end of September.

 

[otg]

Is anyone saying anything about park hopper being required this year? I haven't translated the Spanish blog post yet so I don't know if hoppers are mentioned.

 

[Disneylover99]

Just wondering we have tickets we purchased through Disney but then ended up having to cancel a trip. Is there any way if you call they can take those tickets and upgrade them to make it a package and count for free dinning? I know we can either just keep them and use them next year or just buy the minimum and then use those plus the 4 day but trying to just keep the ticket amount of the trip to 4 or 5 days and then go over to universal on the other 2 days we have in town.

You can't take tickets you've already purchased and upgrade them to free dining, but you can keep either set of tickets and use them for another time.

 

[wilkeliza]

You can't take tickets you've already purchased and upgrade them to free dining, but you can keep either set of tickets and use them for another time.

That's what I thought. I already told my fiance and he is going to number crunch and see what will be best for us.

 

[Schilltastic4]

We currently have a 2 room reservation for December at a value resort, if/when the fd deal drops is it possible for me to book them online? If I booked 2 separate reservations and then called could I link them and get adjoining rooms (Like 1 reservation in my husbands name and one in mine each a child in each)

 

[Disneylover99]

That's what I thought. I already told my fiance and he is going to number crunch and see what will be best for us.

We often have AP's and we just get two day tickets and use them whenever we book room only. Works great!