Free dining 09 question - newbie

[girlpenguin]

Hello,

DH, myself, our 3-year-old and his parents are planning our first trip to WDW in September 2009. We wre planning on purchasing the dining plan, but then I saw that this is traditionally the time that free dining is offered. We can't actually book our vacation until January, because we want to stay in the Wilderness Lodge Villas and they won't open up reservations until January at the earliest (we are not DVC members).

So, I have a couple of questions about how I can get free dining when we book in January.

1. I just applied for (and was accepted for) a Disney visa card. Will I get a free dining code for me to use when we book the trip in January? If so, how will I get that code? If the code does not come to us by January, and we go ahead and book the trip and then receive the code a couple months later, will we be able to apply the code to our already-booked trip?

2. Because the in-laws are coming with us and they will be staying in the room with us (we are planning on a 2-bedroom suite), do I, as the person making the reservations, also have to put their tickets/dining plans on our Visa card when we book in January? And will the free dining cover them since they will be in our room? If not, can THEY apply for a Disney visa and also get free dining?

3. We were going to book through a travel agent. Is this going to cause any problems in getting free dining if I use the free dining code provided by Visa?

I hope my questions make sense. We are very excited about the prospect of free dining! Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide!

 

[2forMe]

No when you book in January you will not be able to get free dining for Sept. Traditionally the free dining is announced in April (beginning I think) so you would have to call back then to have the code applied to your rooms... if you can.. nor sure about the WL Villas.. but I would assume you could. Everyone in the party staying in your suite would have to have the same package i.e. tickets and dining plan etc.

I am sure others will chime in with more info for you

 

[girlpenguin]

I thought I read on here, in another thread, that Disney visa holders have already received dining codes for next year? This is Disney Visa holders only, not the general public.

 

[t1lersm0m]

I could be wrong, but I think the only people who hae been able to book this year so far were people who stayed there in that timeframe this year, and UKer's?

I don't remember reading about Visa holders getting the offer this year for next year......

 

[Nohal]

The free dining in Sept usually is announced in April. Some people have been offered this deal already through a bounceback offer. Also the UK has received this deal but it is only for the Counter Service plan. No one knows if free dining will be announced and if it is which dining plan it will be. Disney Visa card holders have a few days to book before the free dining is announced to the general public. I understand that you can book your trip and if free dining becomes available you can apply the code to your existing reservation if there is availability.

 

[katieam1]

I thought I read on here, in another thread, that Disney visa holders have already received dining codes for next year? This is Disney Visa holders only, not the general public.

I am a Disney Visa Card holder and I have not yet received the next years offers yet. I did receive a last minute free dining for the end of this year but not 2009's. When I called Disney reservation line for this years offer they told me nothing was offered yet for 2009. But told me to keep watching.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Free Dining for the general public is announced in April. Disney VISA holders get to start booking three days before everyone else; you would need to pay the deposit with your Disney VISA to prove you're eligible. You can pay the balance any way you choose. So you could pay for your share and your in-laws could use their own credit card to pay for their share. You would need to have your package paid in full 45 days prior to arrival.

The Free Dining codes you've read about are for VERY limited periods over the next couple of months.

 

[girlpenguin]

So, if in January, I book the trip and pay the deposit, and then in April free dining comes out, I can apply the free dining for the trip in September?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

So, if in January, I book the trip and pay the deposit, and then in April free dining comes out, I can apply the free dining for the trip in September?

Yes, if there is availability at your resort of choice. Each resort is only alloted so many free dining rooms per promo, so I always tell people to have a back-up resort, just in case.

Here's some free dining info I usally post for new people:

Since 2005, Disney has been offering the Free Dining promo for Magic Your way packages with a 3 night minimum and a 14 day maximum (Basic Dining Plan; 1 TS, 1 CS, 1 Snack per person per night) during the last part of August until the end of September, give or take a few days. The free dining offer is usually announced during the first week of April. The first couple of days it will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public. The booking dates for this year for the general public were August 24 through September 20 and you had to book by June 22 to receive the FD offer.

If you were staying on-site at WDW during the current free dining promo you could have booked a free dining "bounceback" for next fall by calling WDW dining from your resort room and putting down a $200.00 deposit.

In September Disney Destinations sent out some emails that offered free dining pin codes for select dates in October, November and December. These emails were random, not for the general public, and the codes were non-transferrable. Last month Disney Visa send out a free dining code for their card holders for the same select dates in October, November and December. These pin codes are not part of the Fall Dining promotion.

Hope some of this info helps.

 

[DanaAustinChelsea]

So, if in January, I book the trip and pay the deposit, and then in April free dining comes out, I can apply the free dining for the trip in September?

Yes, you can unless you book through the travel agency then they will need to switch it for you if your resort & dates are available. You cannot combine a room discount & get free dining. Everyone in the room is eligible for the free dining if they have at least a one day MYW pass. We did free dining this September & loved it