Free DDP in September?

[Barbara C]

Does anyone know if the free dining plan is being offered in September? I looked on the Disney site but didn't see anything.

Thanks!

 

[disneymeces]

I don't think they have said anything yet...I think everyone (including me) is waiting til the end of March to find out. Fingers crossed they do it again!

 

[notaclue]

Last year they didn't announce free dining until the end of March. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

As the PP have mentioned, nothing has been released, look for Disney to release something towards the end of March if they plan to.

I'm on the fence to whether they will or not, they've definately indicated they're are switching to a different discount style to start to reduce these. We've seen it in their most recent offer with the gift cards, they also played with the Free Dining for International Guests last year, tiering the levels of Free Dining based on the level of resort (QSDP for Value, DDP for Moderate/Deluxe) with upgrades to the other levels available.

That said, there is no doubt September is a tough month for Disney, demand is already weak because of the time of the year (school, hurricane season), couple that with the economic issues reducing demand, so I think they'll have hard time bringing the level of guests needed to meet their forecasts without discounting or free dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

It has not been announced yet (except for various random PIN codes - but nothing for the general public) but is expected - although not confirmed - at the end of March.

 

[chumsmum0916]

I received a pin code today for free quick service meal plan to travel up to July 3rd...however I am too waiting to see if there is something (I hope fingers and toes crossed) wiill be announced for Sept or Nov!

 

[pauly's girl]

I also got a pin for free dining through July...i have already booked for Sept. My friend received a pin starting aug 14th so she at least has free QSDP! I too am hoping for something (I am paying for 8 of us so getting the free dining will save me 2000.) Here's hoping!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

As the PP have mentioned, nothing has been released, look for Disney to release something towards the end of March if they plan to.

I'm on the fence to whether they will or not, they've definately indicated they're are switching to a different discount style to start to reduce these. We've seen it in their most recent offer with the gift cards, they also played with the Free Dining for International Guests last year, tiering the levels of Free Dining based on the level of resort (QSDP for Value, DDP for Moderate/Deluxe) with upgrades to the other levels available.

That said, there is no doubt September is a tough month for Disney, demand is already weak because of the time of the year (school, hurricane season), couple that with the economic issues reducing demand, so I think they'll have hard time bringing the level of guests needed to meet their forecasts without discounting or free dining.

It's already been offered through a bounceback to last fall's free diners and it's currently available this fall to UK visitors. The general public code will be realeased at the end of March/first of April, as it has for the last 5 years. I would expect the dates to be for August 15 - October 2, 2010.

Free Dining has been a brilliant plan on the part of Disney to fill the parks with crowds during what was previously their slowest season, and hurrican season to boot. And then having the bounceback for free food while the free diners are there in the parks, on their Disney high, well I would call that pure marketing genius. I, personally, don't see Free Dining ending anytime in the near future.

 

[Barbara C]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!! I'll keep my fingers crossed until the end of March.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

It's already been offered through a bounceback to last fall's free diners and it's currently available this fall to UK visitors. The general public code will be realeased at the end of March/first of April, as it has for the last 5 years. I would expect the dates to be for August 15 - October 2, 2010.

Things have changed since they offered a Bounce Back, Disney has a new game plan. UK residents are also very different in terms of their spending and travel styles then US visitors. Neither of these should or really can be used assume that the plans will be the same.

If they offer it (again, I'm on the fence), I doubt it will be as far up as August 15th, my guess is they'll revert back to end of August and carry it through the first bit of October.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Things have changed since they offered a Bounce Back, Disney has a new game plan. UK residents are also very different in terms of their spending and travel styles then US visitors. Neither of these should or really can be used assume that the plans will be the same.

If they offer it (again, I'm on the fence), I doubt it will be as far up as August 15th, my guess is they'll revert back to end of August and carry it through the first bit of October.

I'm not sure what game plan you are talking about. But, we are still in a recession and September is still hurricane and low season, which was the why they started offering Free Dining in the first place. Those marketing geniuses at Disney know what they are doing.

The current general public offer ends on August 14, so free dining should start on the 15, just like last year and just like the bounceback offer from last year and this year.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm not sure what game plan you are talking about. But, we are still in a recession and September is still hurricane and low season, which was the why they started offering Free Dining in the first place. Those marketing geniuses at Disney know what they are doing.

The current general public offer ends on August 14, so free dining should start on the 15, just like last year and just like the bounceback offer from last year and this year.

The game plan is the overall reduced levels of discounting, and Disney has actively been pushing in that direction, albeit in a somewhat jagged method.

Again, I think it's unwise to assume anything, especially with such firm dates as you have. Oh, and we're probably no longer in a recession from a technicality point of view.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

The game plan is the overall reduced levels of discounting, and Disney has actively been pushing in that direction, albeit in a somewhat jagged method.

Again, I think it's unwise to assume anything, especially with such firm dates as you have. Oh, and we're probably no longer in a recession from a technicality point of view.

Have you been on the Codes & Rates Board here on the Dis lately?

There are 2 general public discount offers right now that go through the entire summer. And at least 3 different pin code offers that have come out since January and also go through most of the summer. I haven't really seen any reduction in general discounts or historical discounts. So, I would have to say it's a pretty safe bet to count on Free Dining this year. And I'm afraid a huge portion of the U.S. population would argue that we are, indeed, still in a recession.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Have you been on the Codes & Rates Board here on the Dis lately?

There are 2 general public discount offer right now that go through the entire summer. And at least 3 different pin code offers that have come out since January and also go through most of the summer. I haven't really seen any reduction in general discounts or historical discounts. So, I would save it's a pretty safe bet to count on Free Dining this year.

PIN Codes are vastly different then general public discounts. The Public Discounts have included some new variations including the gift cards, which is a different game plan and represent a different discount method versus the past year.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

PIN Codes are vastly different then general public discounts, but there are posters on the Codes and Rates board that have gotten 3 pin codes in the last week. 3 pin codes is unheard of. The Public Discounts have included some new variations including the gift cards, which is a different game plan and represent a different discount method versus the past year.

I didn't say pin codes weren't different from general public offers. The point is they are offering just as many discounts this year as they have in previous years. There's nothing in their marketing this year that suggests that they won't offer the fall free dining promo, as they have for the past 5 years. And no matter what our different view of WDW discounts are, late August through September is still the height of hurricane season, and prior to free dining, Disney's lowest crowd season. Those two factors have not changed.

 

[TDC Nala]

Honestly, we can't at this time predict with certainty what Disney will do with the general public discount offer. We won't really know the dates or terms until they actually release it.

I think the change factor referred to is probably more geared toward the speculation that Disney might change the terms of the offer, like quick service dining free for values (which has been offered via the recent PIN codes and in the second general public free dining offer made in 2009) instead of basic dining for every reservation. There's no way we can know whether they'll do that for the general public offer yet.

 

[Sandisw]

I didn't say pin codes weren't different from general public offers. The point is they are offering just as many discounts this year as they have in previous years. There's nothing in their marketing this year that suggests that they won't offer the fall free dining promo, as they have for the past 5 years. And no matter what our different view of WDW discounts are, late August through September is still the height of hurricane season, and prior to free dining, Disney's lowest crowd season. Those two factors have not changed.

Yes, they are offering discounts this year, but the 2009 discounts were better than the 2010 discounts. In summer 2009, it was 4/3 but this year it was a GC (that did not amount to the same discount as 4/3).

I am with the PP who said that while it does seem like free dining is likely in August, there is nothing that suggests it will be the same as last year. There has been a report by someone in Disney (can't remember his name) that discounts for the 2nd half of 2010 would be cut back.

I personally think, given that this years free dining pin code was for QSDP at values (and last years code was for the full dining plan) that will be what is offered to the values this year. And, the pin code that went out for regular free dining required a stay at the moderates.

For those that are hoping for the same deal, I do hope it comes through, but until the end of March, when the current discounts expire and new ones are released, everything else is simply speculation.

 

[nushiekitty]

I just booked my trip to disney for Sept and I asked about the free dining and the person I spoke to said they would be shocked if they didn't do it and was 95% sure they would. Of course who really knows.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Just to keep us all happy I hope they offer it in the beginning of Sept
I got the free dining plan pin and am going in August so I kind of want low crowd levels