2018 Free Dining Watch Thread V3

[deakam]

So, I don't have any dates picked nor do I have a resort preference---any rumor on dates? I was there this past January, thinking I would get out of the cold up here in Wisconsin but nooooo--we had to wear coats and long pants the whole week. I even had to buy a winter hat. Really cute, looks like a Panda. Got it in China on sale for $8.00. Souvenir bargain of the decade. As I ramble---I don't think I want to wait---think I want September then I know it is going to be warm.

 

[Miss Bianca 351]

Rumor has it that All Star Movies WILL be included this year. I’m guessing that has something to do with the fact that it will be under construction during the whole free dining period.

I was hoping that would start later. Is music going to be under construction to?

 

[Heidimarshall87]

So when I book a value resort if I get the free dining can I upgrade right then to regular dining with the table service?

 

[Disneylover99]

So when I book a value resort if I get the free dining can I upgrade right then to regular dining with the table service?

Yes.

 

[jsburas123]

Question—I’m a new Disney Visa Card Holder, does the Disney card offer open up same time as free dining for public? Or do I get a code in my email?

 

[BA75]

Rumor has it that All Star Movies WILL be included this year. I’m guessing that has something to do with the fact that it will be under construction during the whole free dining period.

Ahh, thank you! I missed that there was going to be room refurbishments going on now until 2019. Maybe we will wait on a stay there until then!

 

[SG131]

I was hoping that would start later. Is music going to be under construction to?

Movies has already started construction. I haven’t seen anything posted for music renovations as of now. Maybe someone has more inside information.

 

[Weirdjay18]

Movies has already started construction. I haven’t seen anything posted for music renovations as of now. Maybe someone has more inside information.

What kind of construction is taking place at all star movies? I was debating booking there

 

[sharonabe]

If I do a split stay 2 days RO, then 9 days w/9 days of tix (to pick up free dining for the 9 days) would I be able to...

1) Use the dining credits from the 9 day during the 2 day stay? (I'm guessing no way)
2) Use the tix from the 9 day stay during the 2 day stay?
3) Use the Memory Maker from the 9 day stay during the 2 day stay?

Thanks!

1. Cannot use dining plan until day of check-in with reservation that has the dining plan.
2. Yes, you can access the tickets by going to guest services. You will NOT be able to make FP+ for the days that don't have a ticket attached.
3. I don't know.

-any rumor on dates?

Check the first post.

Question—I’m a new Disney Visa Card Holder, does the Disney card offer open up same time as free dining for public? Or do I get a code in my email?

As far as we know, it will open at the same time. You may or may not get an email.

 

[BA75]

What kind of construction is taking place at all star movies? I was debating booking there

Looks like room refurbishments. What I saw said now until early 2019.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

We used a Disney TA that is a family friend, whom assures us no matter the time dropped she will be ready to modify our reservation for FD. I planned on trying to book a new reservation just in case she doesn’t get it, but trying at 5:30 est when I normally wake for work. My question is, if I start a new reservation, how long will it hold before I have to pay the deposit? I can’t be logged into my account since that would cause errors on her end if she is in it too, so I wouldn’t know until later if she got it or not. Thanks

Most TAs book through a totally different site for TAs only, not through the commercial site I which case their should be no problem with her on the TA site and you making a new reservation through MDE.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

Can anyone confirm? My agent is trying to get us a booking and I said I’m willing to try and she said to do a hold. Inwant to transfer the res to her. But I dont seena hold button?

They have that option on the TA site, is regular folks booking through MDE can’t. Though maybe you can if you call.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

I have to agree with this. A while back, someone even mentioned that disney has already decided how many rooms to offer for free dining so it doesn't make a difference if people prebook with plans of modifying. So here is my scenario. Say there is a certain room catagory at a certain resort that only has 300 rooms. So 3 months ago disney looked at how many of these rooms were booked already and say 150 were booked. That leaves 150 unbooked rooms. At that time Disney planned to offer 75 of these rooms free dining. The free dining craze started and 100 people prebooked with plans of modifying to free dining. A couple days before release of the promotion disney looks again at how many empty rooms they have. Now, they only have 50 of these rooms available. Well, they can't offer 75 rooms free dining because what if they are all new booking instead of modifying. So, they decide to only offer 25 rooms free dining.

I guess, I believe prebooking causes less rooms to get the promotion.

This would not happen because when ever Disney made the decision to offer X amount of rooms for the promo those rooms would have been taken out of inventory and held until the promo. So in your example 3 months ago those 75 rooms would have been set aside so that only 75 people could book rooms until the resort showed “full.” Then when the promo drops those 75 held rooms will be available. All hotels play tricks with inventory availability for all kinds of reasons including promos. If a hotel had 500 empty rooms they may only be released in blocks of 20 so it appears there are always only a few rooms left. They have complicated inventory management software that handles most of this electronically. They want their hotels to appear almost full all the time to create a sense of urgency to book and a willingness to upgrade room to secure a booking. So probably someone told that software months ago reserve ___# of rooms of this category at this resort for these date for FD. And when the promo drops the computer makes those available. Hence booking early has no bearing because you are not able to impact those held rooms.

 

[sharonabe]

any rumor on dates?

Check the first post.

So sorry! I forgot we are on version 3 of this thread and that info is NOT on the first post. Someone posted it again a few pages back. I know all of Sept is included, so you should be good.

ETA: Took another look and the info IS on the 2nd post. It's time for this thing to drop already!

 

[123SA]

I'm hoping for the early date. I currently have AS Music Suite booked. It sucks to book for a family of 5. If I can't get the ASMusic Suite, I think I'll try the Contemporary or 2 value rooms

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I find it funny that even though we've never taken advantage of the fall free dining promo I'm always excited and anxious for it's release! We've traveled to Orlando in November each of the past 3 years (making it 4 this year) but it's our non-Disney trip for the year so we hit Universal, SeaWorld, LegoLand, etc.

Anyways just checking in and hoping everybody get's what they want! Not much to dissect with the free dining deal so I'll be here when Stay Play Dine comes out in the fall for winter bookings

 

[elle325]

This would not happen because when ever Disney made the decision to offer X amount of rooms for the promo those rooms would have been taken out of inventory and held until the promo. So in your example 3 months ago those 75 rooms would have been set aside so that only 75 people could book rooms until the resort showed “full.” Then when the promo drops those 75 held rooms will be available. All hotels play tricks with inventory availability for all kinds of reasons including promos. If a hotel had 500 empty rooms they may only be released in blocks of 20 so it appears there are always only a few rooms left. They have complicated inventory management software that handles most of this electronically. They want their hotels to appear almost full all the time to create a sense of urgency to book and a willingness to upgrade room to secure a booking. So probably someone told that software months ago reserve ___# of rooms of this category at this resort for these date for FD. And when the promo drops the computer makes those available. Hence booking early has no bearing because you are not able to impact those held rooms.

How interesting!

 

[elle325]

I find it funny that even though we've never taken advantage of the fall free dining promo I'm always excited and anxious for it's release! We've traveled to Orlando in November each of the past 3 years (making it 4 this year) but it's our non-Disney trip for the year so we hit Universal, SeaWorld, LegoLand, etc.

Anyways just checking in and hoping everybody get's what they want! Not much to dissect with the free dining deal so I'll be here when Stay Play Dine comes out in the fall for winter bookings

We are hoping for the stay play and dine as well if the free dining offer doesn’t work for us date wise. We’ll just wait a few more months and go in Jan or feb. But the sooner I can go the better!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

We are hoping for the stay play and dine as well if the free dining offer doesn’t work for us date wise. We’ll just wait a few more months and go in Jan or feb. But the sooner I can go the better!

Well the way Stay Play Dine has been eroding in value lately I'm worried about how bad it will be this year, lol!

Last year we didn't even use it - which seemed crazy to me, we just went in a different direction with how we booked. But this year we're planning to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to pay for most (maybe all??) of our trip so the direct Disney discounts (whether room only or SPD) will mean a lot to us If the discounts are good enough...A Free trip could be in the cards

 

[Bekah97]

Hey guys! I've been following this thread for a while but haven't ever participated. My fiance, soon to be husband, and I will be going to Disney for our honeymoon in August. We booked a room at contemporary, and were hoping to try for free dining. Anyone know if this will be included? Thx in advance!