Do you think they will bring back Free Dining, really? Really?

[KELLY]

Here's what I know

Every year for 5 years now, these boards have been all atwitter that they won't do general public free dining this year.

Every year (for mid-August to 1st-October) they put out free dining.

They have offered more free dining than ever this year - even currently offering PINs for the SUMMER season.

I know they offered it in the fall, but look, while they haven't offered it in the fall before to the GP, they offered it as a bounceback for years, and they've offered it in the UK for years.

The VAST majority of people do NOT book their Disney vacations 9 months in advance. (This is just knowing the personality of the average human being - I know more people that plan their vacations with < 3 months before than those that plan them > 3 months, and we're the only people we know that plan them a year ahead.)

A lot of this is circumstantial, but I think regardless of how much they cut the deals back (which so far I see very little evidence of them doing) they will always have deals in late-August through early-September as the only way to keep the hotels full. I am confident enough that I would gladly bet $100 that they will have another GP free dining.

I am not so confident that we'll see 4th quarter free dining...but I am sort of betting my vacation on that too...

I have to agree with this. Most of my friends that go to Disney book 2 months out. Not a year. I'm sure most of us on the boards book ahead more than 2 months but the majority don't.

I have the kids free promo right now. We thought we were going to go to a tropical vacation this year. But decied to go back to disney. Yes it was stupid for me not to put the 200.00 down and cancle. Knowing our track history with disney we should have. But I didn't. If FD is re released again it will save me 350.00. That I will be spending in disney. Either to upgrade to a moderate,MNSSHP tickets,BBB for 2 girls. So either way disney will get my 350.00 back. It really is all just a game. LOL

 

[Colleen27]

The VAST majority of people do NOT book their Disney vacations 9 months in advance. (This is just knowing the personality of the average human being - I know more people that plan their vacations with < 3 months before than those that plan them > 3 months, and we're the only people we know that plan them a year ahead.)

I think this can't possibly be overstated. It isn't even about personality, it is about the logistics of planning so far in advance for those of us who have inflexible work or school schedules to take into account.

We still don't have our district calendar for the 2011-2012 school year. Even if we knew 100% for sure that we were going to be going in the fall, we couldn't have chosen dates in December or even right now without knowing when the fall break and standardized test weeks are going to be (or even when the school year will start, if anything comes of the rumblings of repealing the law that mandates a post-Labor Day start). Now, since I'm a DISer I know how flexible Disney is about changes even to discounted reservations, but the first time or occasional visitor isn't going to know that because it is a significant deviation from hotel industry standard and isn't likely to book before being reasonably sure of their travel dates.

 

[skier_pete]

I think this can't possibly be overstated. It isn't even about personality, it is about the logistics of planning so far in advance for those of us who have inflexible work or school schedules to take into account.

We still don't have our district calendar for the 2011-2012 school year. Even if we knew 100% for sure that we were going to be going in the fall, we couldn't have chosen dates in December or even right now without knowing when the fall break and standardized test weeks are going to be (or even when the school year will start, if anything comes of the rumblings of repealing the law that mandates a post-Labor Day start). Now, since I'm a DISer I know how flexible Disney is about changes even to discounted reservations, but the first time or occasional visitor isn't going to know that because it is a significant deviation from hotel industry standard and isn't likely to book before being reasonably sure of their travel dates.

Well, you are very right - some people can't plan their vacations so far in advance...in my personal case, the larger the notice, the more likely that you will not be refused. But I still maintain most people wouldn't book nine months in advance even given the choice to.

 

[trickiwoo]

When Free Dining was announced for 2011 dates, we started asking friends and family members if they'd be interested in going to WDW with us in the fall of 2011 (which fall is really the only time we're able to take a vacation due to our jobs). We couldn't get anybody to commit. Everyone we asked said it was "too far away to make any sort of vacation plans."

We considered booking and going by ourselves, but before the December deadline we had some medical and personal emergencies that left us completely broke and very much in debt. We decided that financially we wouldn't be able to go to WDW at all in 2011.

Just recently our financial situation has started to improve. I was able to get a second job so we were able to get out of debt sooner. So just in the past couple of weeks we've realized that we might actually be able to do a WDW trip this year. But... only if free dining (or some other equally enticing offer) is offered.

So yeah, I imagine there are a lot of other people that for whatever reason weren't able to book before December, but are able to book now.

 

[nooneshome]

My guess is that the window to book free dining for the summer is over. They offered it last year for that time frame.

I think the next offer we are going to see is going to be the Oct-Dec. offer.

The Oct-Dec FD offer may not be the next offer but it will definitely be offered. Our next trip is late May early June with FD so I am hoping they hold off with the Thanksgiving offer. Hard for me to rationalize having two trips reserved at the same time.

 

[MissElizabeth]

I couldn't book back in December for a trip in 2011. It was school schedules or anything, its just a general sense of not wanting to commit that far in advance to a luxury.

We just booked our trip this past week, and I feel like I'm almost ahead of myself, but I wanted to jump on Delta's $165 round trip fare since I think prices will be going up along with gas prices.

I'm really hoping for FD so that I can update my booking, I think it will save us about $400.

 

[mfinley]

My family was there Dec. 15th-22nd with free dining. I didn't even consider booking another trip in December. Not only because we were already there, but because of Christmas. I never thought that there wouldn't be anymore great special offers to choose from! I just took for granted that there would always be something to keep us coming!

 

[juliek75]

This is totally us. Last fall we were planning to do something different this year, since our last vacation was Disney in Spring 2009, last year we put our money into home improvement. So at the time the discount came out we were busily planning that this years big vacation was going to be a week in the Smokey Mountains and going to Dollywood with my in-laws. It wasn't until about 3 weeks ago that we started getting the "Disney Bug" again and annalyzed our budget to realize that we could possibly be able to pull off a fall Disney trip if we pinch pennies, if we continue to get good paychecks like we have been and most importantly IF we can get FD. So yeah plans change and here's to hoping Disney is nice enough to give us FD for September or October.

 

[posh*tots* resale]

We booked our 9/17/2011-9/24/2011 trip back on August 3, 2010!! We got the offer for FREE DINING & booked it ASAP! We had NO CLUE whether we would be able to "swing" a DISNEY trip after completely gutting/renovating our house (had to move out & live in an apt for a year). But....my husband said, just put the $200 REFUNDABLE deposit down & we'll see how the year goes. THANK GOD I DID!!! We charged as much as we could on our DISNEY VISA throughout the home renovation process in order to get the "points" and we are soooooooooo happy w/ put the deposit down. Back for our 2007 & 2009 September trips, we booked FREE DINING in January. I'm having a feeling that DISNEY is changing their "ways" about FREE DINING. Just my opinion.

 

[Celidh]

Here's what I know

Every year for 5 years now, these boards have been all atwitter that they won't do general public free dining this year.

Every year (for mid-August to 1st-October) they put out free dining.

They have offered more free dining than ever this year - even currently offering PINs for the SUMMER season.

I know they offered it in the fall, but look, while they haven't offered it in the fall before to the GP, they offered it as a bounceback for years, and they've offered it in the UK for years.

The VAST majority of people do NOT book their Disney vacations 9 months in advance. (This is just knowing the personality of the average human being - I know more people that plan their vacations with < 3 months before than those that plan them > 3 months, and we're the only people we know that plan them a year ahead.)

A lot of this is circumstantial, but I think regardless of how much they cut the deals back (which so far I see very little evidence of them doing) they will always have deals in late-August through early-September as the only way to keep the hotels full. I am confident enough that I would gladly bet $100 that they will have another GP free dining.

I am not so confident that we'll see 4th quarter free dining...but I am sort of betting my vacation on that too...

Pete, I'd gladly pay you that $100.00 if it meant I get FD for late August/early September!!

So many here seem to think that the FD will be offered for fall, not many seem to be mentioning this time period. I feel that given it is such a low season for them, I can't see that they wouldn't offer for this period but would offer for later in the fall when they are busier.

I am so stressed it's not funny and I am driving myself nuts on this computer every day!

I just want it over with so I can book my trip, relax and start planning in earnest instead of just hoping and saying "IF" we get to go.

 

[mom2rtk]

Pete, I'd gladly pay you that $100.00 if it meant I get FD for late August/early September!!

So many here seem to think that the FD will be offered for fall, not many seem to be mentioning this time period. I feel that given it is such a low season for them, I can't see that they wouldn't offer for this period but would offer for later in the fall when they are busier.

I am so stressed it's not funny and I am driving myself nuts on this computer every day!

I just want it over with so I can book my trip, relax and start planning in earnest instead of just hoping and saying "IF" we get to go.

But the point IS........ They ALREADY offered it for this time period. They have NOT offered it for Oct-Dec. They might already have enough bookings to fulfill what they want to offer for Aug/Sept. If they don't they might fill in with a few more PIN offers.

Given the unprecedented nature of the first free dining offer for 2011, I don't think there's any way to hazard a guess whether that was it for Aug/Sept.

 

[Celidh]

But the point IS........ They ALREADY offered it for this time period. They have NOT offered it for Oct-Dec. They might already have enough bookings to fulfill what they want to offer for Aug/Sept. If they don't they might fill in with a few more PIN offers.

Given the unprecedented nature of the first free dining offer for 2011, I don't think there's any way to hazard a guess whether that was it for Aug/Sept.

Yes, I realize that it has already been offered for this time, as it has been pointed out to me many times already. Just because they haven't offered it for late fall, doesn't mean they will only offer for late fall and won't do it earlier.

Let's face it, they are offering it now for summer through pins, which historically is a much busier time than late August/early September. My thoughts are if they are offering free dining during summer to fill resorts, even if it isn't a general public offer but only a pin, I can't imagine their resorts are full for late August/September. That is the reasoning behind my thinking.

I feel I can hazard any guess I choose to even if you don't feel that way, that is why it is a guess. I was just agreeing with another poster. As we all know, everything is speculation here and nobody knows what Disney will offer when.

I think I have a right to hope as much as anyone without being told I am wrong. I am only hoping to take my kids on their first real vacation every and my whole family's first trip to Disney.

 

[cml758c]

Yes, I realize that it has already been offered for this time, as it has been pointed out to me many times already. Just because they haven't offered it for late fall, doesn't mean they will only offer for late fall and won't do it earlier.

Let's face it, they are offering it now for summer through pins, which historically is a much busier time than late August/early September. My thoughts are if they are offering free dining during summer to fill resorts, even if it isn't a general public offer but only a pin, I can't imagine their resorts are full for late August/September. That is the reasoning behind my thinking.

I feel I can hazard any guess I choose to even if you don't feel that way, that is why it is a guess. I was just agreeing with another poster. As we all know, everything is speculation here and nobody knows what Disney will offer when.

I think I have a right to hope as much as anyone without being told I am wrong. I am only hoping to take my kids on their first real vacation every and my whole family's first trip to Disney.

Thanks for writing what I was thinking. It seems the response is frequently that it has been offered already, we know that, but the question is will it be offered again. For many reasons, we may not have been prepared to commit to a vacation by December 20th, but now we can, no point in rehashing what was missed. We can hope together for free dining and for the opportunity to have a magical vacation with our families.

 

[sillylily]

Thanks for writing what I was thinking. It seems the response is frequently that it has been offered already, we know that, but the question is will it be offered again. For many reasons, we may not have been prepared to commit to a vacation by December 20th, but now we can, no point in rehashing what was missed. We can hope together for free dining and for the opportunity to have a magical vacation with our families.

I'm with you on this exactly. In December, I was booked for March! Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to cancel, and rebook for September. I honestly hope they bring back FD, but.... I am not holding my breath. Truth be told, I lost hope when this last offer came out and it was room only for deluxe. I would love to see them offer FD for the remainder of the year, so everyone would have the ability to use it if they chose, but I'm afraid that the September FD ship has sailed.

 

[dltnboz3mom]

I just caved and booked on the deluxe resort discount. I booked with park hopper and DDP, Contemporary Resort with a Theme Park View. It is my 40th Birthdayand I wasnt willing to take any chances. I booked my ADRs at the time of booking and had no problem getting anything that i wanted.(not even the coveted LeCellier ressie). Maybe this is a sign that Disney is not as full this summer as they would like to be. I hope this results in Free Dining for everyone!

 

[Tikitoi]

Maybe they will just put out more of their "jump through so many hoops" 25% off coupons. They have those now for Easter week.

 

[ctnurse]

Maybe they will just put out more of their "jump through so many hoops" 25% off coupons. They have those now for Easter week.

 

[Colleen27]

But the point IS........ They ALREADY offered it for this time period. They have NOT offered it for Oct-Dec. They might already have enough bookings to fulfill what they want to offer for Aug/Sept. If they don't they might fill in with a few more PIN offers.

Given the unprecedented nature of the first free dining offer for 2011, I don't think there's any way to hazard a guess whether that was it for Aug/Sept.

Or they might have decided that they need it to fill rooms in the slow time, but that it isn't needed (or is too costly a promotion) for the historically busier 4th quarter. At this point it is anyone's guess how it'll play out, but past patterns indicate that something big will come along for late Aug and Sept to fill rooms at probably the least desirable time for Disney vacations, while a significant offer for Oct to Dec is possible solely as a response to the continually weak economy.

I've been thinking that free dining, even the quick service plan, during food & wine festival is going to be one of the first deals to disappear. All those snack credits at the festival booths is almost too good to be true, and I don't think it'll be much longer before we either see them go back to room-rate discounts for that time of year (the more likely option IMO) or eliminate those booths as a use of snack credits (less likely because it discourages the full-price purchase of any of the plans for that time of year).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

On the Free Dining offer that needed to be reserved by 12/20/10, I always wondered if WDW wanted to bring back for October 2011 and other months it wasn't offered, why didn't they just add those months when it was available? So there must have been a reason why September 29, 2011 is the last day for Free Dining in 2011, because since the offer was available to reserve for a long time WDW could have added more months to it and they choose not to.

 

[TheRatPack]

I just caved and booked on the deluxe resort discount. I booked with park hopper and DDP, Contemporary Resort with a Theme Park View. It is my 40th Birthdayand I wasnt willing to take any chances. I booked my ADRs at the time of booking and had no problem getting anything that i wanted.(not even the coveted LeCellier ressie). Maybe this is a sign that Disney is not as full this summer as they would like to be. I hope this results in Free Dining for everyone!

Isn't LeCellier a 2 credit meal now? I would venture a guess that if it's switched over to being a 2 credit meal now many people won't be booking there. It was good but not 2 credit good LOL Have a grand birthday celebration....that's where I'd like to spend every one of my birthdays (Disney not LeCellier) LOL