(another) Free Dining Question - Passholders

[Caglehead13]

Ok...I'm getting bits and peices of this, so I'm trying to get clear. From what I've read, last year passholders were required to buy a 1 day MYW ticket in order to get the Free Dining. Was this 1 ticket per person in order to get the Free Dining? (for example, we'll have 3 adults, 2 kids - so we would have to buy 5 single day MYW tix? - assuming it's set the same as last year of course)

 

[Mariposa]

Ok...I'm getting bits and peices of this, so I'm trying to get clear. From what I've read, last year passholders were required to buy a 1 day MYW ticket in order to get the Free Dining. Was this 1 ticket per person in order to get the Free Dining? (for example, we'll have 3 adults, 2 kids - so we would have to buy 5 single day MYW tix? - assuming it's set the same as last year of course)

The MYW ticket requirement was there to "make it a package"- at that time you couldn't get dining on a room-only ressie. Now you can do that, I guess- but I'm still not sure that WDW considers those traditional "packages" so much as they consider it an effort to appease the angry Passholder-mob (me included)... so, I'm thinking we'll still have to buy a one-day MYW ticket.

 

[dclfun]

For the Free Dining promo there is still the requirement to purchase at least a one/day/one park pass per person in your party as it is a "package" promo. BTW the dining promo being added for AP holders and DVC members was based mostly on a system upgrade that allowed the code to be put on to those types of ressies- I think plans all along were to allow people with those types of ressies to add the dining package as it increased revenue for the Company, not for the DDP to be restricted to package reservations only. You can still get only one discount though, so for an AP rate ressie you can't get free dining. Since FD is a package discount ressie only, then you have to buy a ticket.---Kathy

 

[jerseygal]

Still a great deal for those who can travel during those dates!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Day Base Ticket is not really that bad!!! Enjoy the parks for a Day!


For those with College Students, High School Sports Kids, School in South..
we're outta luck....

Would have been nice if it coincided with Disney "WONDERFUL WEEKS OF SUMMER" On website Wonderful Weeks of Summer Start August 12th...
Interesting...Wonderful, would have also meant free dining...No consistency unforunately!!!!!!

For those lucky enough to use it, ENJOY!!! Free dining, is a nice deal.

 

[disneymomjcs]

We've used the stay with free dining before and you can save the admission and use it when its time to renew your annual pass. They can apply each persons addmission to their renewal.

We've applied the one day to new ap's one year.

 

[meljw1960]

I am an AP holder and I was able to book a "package" which was room + dining, there is NO discount on the room, I had decided that if free dining was NOT offered, OR was not in our dates, I would have my TA check for an AP discount, but as long as it looks like our dates fall within the FD dates then I am still good. As long as you are not getting a discounted room rate, you should be ok. Thats my understanding. My TA is prepared to apply the FD to our "package" if and when it is offered.

 

[petchie]

Between the AP packages with dining and the date based pricing, it is like uncharted water for free dining this year!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

They started allowing AP holders to add the DDP to their reservations like they have done for DVC for a while.

This is how it always worked for DVC members in the past for FD: You must book the package in order to get free dining.

If you book room only or book with DVC points, you must pay for the DDP as you normally do.

I am assuming this is going to be the case for the passholder dining, as well. You either book the full price package and get free dining OR you book room only and pay for your dining.

We ran the numbers for both the first year, and it was far cheaper for us to pay for the DDP for our trip than to pay for the room and tickets to get free dining.

 

[minniesmom55]

I'm trying to figure this out myself. I have reservations already booked at AKL 8/31 - 9/3. I am a passholder, but the AP rates have not been announced for that time yet so I'm waiting for that and then I was planning to call in and apply the discount. When I made the initial reservation I was told that on average the AP discount would be 20%, but of course there are no guarantees. So today I called and asked if I could do the free dining instead of the AP discount (because what if it's lower than 20%, or not available or not even offered, etc.). The CM I spoke with said that I could "change" the reservation if I call in with the free dining code.

Here's my dilemna - do I call on Monday (assuming the rumors are true about free dining for Disney Visa holders) and change to free dining? Is there a possibility I won't get it due to availability? And if I do get it, and then the AP discount announced for my dates is like 35% or something crazy like that, have I potentially lost my place in line to get my dates because I switched to free dining? Does anyone have any idea what the AP discount will be for Aug/Sep?

Would love to hear your opinions!