Free Dining '10 Update: Disney Visa FD Released (See pages 1 & 57+ for details)

[disneyfan55]

I'm booked as 1 adult and 3 children (9,8, & 5) and all 3 are free with only me paying!

Wow! That's a really good deal for you!

 

[doccoc2002]

I had an existing reservation and just switched to the DV kids eat/ play free. We are 2 adults and 2 kids. The total was just a bit higher than I thought (by a few dollars) and when I confirmed that the CM upgraded us from the QS to the regular DDP, she said it was $3 to upgrade our girls.

I am waiting to get the e-mail to check, but I thought to upgrade kids it is $2 each and it is $10 per adult. Did I miss something?

Tax maybe???

 

[Leeanne]

I had an existing reservation and just switched to the DV kids eat/ play free. We are 2 adults and 2 kids. The total was just a bit higher than I thought (by a few dollars) and when I confirmed that the CM upgraded us from the QS to the regular DDP, she said it was $3 to upgrade our girls.

I am waiting to get the e-mail to check, but I thought to upgrade kids it is $2 each and it is $10 per adult. Did I miss something?

According to the Dining Plan stickie the difference in prices from QSDP to DDP for adults are $16 and children $3.

 

[lovemickeyshouse]

How much more for Deluxe dining with the free qs offer?Thanks for your help

 

[EAWildman]

I just read this update on another unofficial Disney website. This was posted this morning. Short story: Free dining offer starting August 15th available to Disney Visa Card holders on Thursday. General public will get offer on Sunday.

Just rumor of course...but it's the latest rumor.


Free dining coming?

We are hearing rumors of a new discount offer that may appear this Thursday, of a free dining offer valid from August 15 through October 2. This offer is apparently being offered on Thursday, April 29 only to Disney Rewards Visa cardholders, after which it becomes available to the general public on Sunday, May 2. There are many conflicting stories of what the dining offer may be, ranging from Quick Service dining for all resorts to the same as last year, which was Quick Service dining for stays at value resorts and standard Dining Plan for all other resorts. Our money is on Quick Service for value and moderate resorts (same as a PIN code postcard offer this spring) and the standard Dining Plan for deluxe and deluxe villa resorts. Of course, those getting the Quick Service plan would have the option to purchase the standard plan for the cost of the difference between the regular cost of the plans. In any case, if you're planning to travel to Walt Disney World late summer or early fall, keep your eyes open later this week to be able to jump on this offer when it's announced, as popular dates may disappear quickly.

 

[beth_cam]

I had an existing reservation and just switched to the DV kids eat/ play free. We are 2 adults and 2 kids. The total was just a bit higher than I thought (by a few dollars) and when I confirmed that the CM upgraded us from the QS to the regular DDP, she said it was $3 to upgrade our girls.

I am waiting to get the e-mail to check, but I thought to upgrade kids it is $2 each and it is $10 per adult. Did I miss something?

The dining plan varies by the season. Summer is more expensive, making it 16
and 3 as the pp said.

 

[Leeanne]

How much more for Deluxe dining with the free qs offer?Thanks for your help

DxDDP is $71.99 for adults and $20.99 for kids, QSDP is $31.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids. Adult difference is $40 and childs is $11

 

[beth_cam]

How much more for Deluxe dining with the free qs offer?Thanks for your help

QS Child 9.99 Adult 31.99
DDP Child 11.99-12.99 Adult 41.99-47.99
Delux Child 20.99 Adult 71.99

So for children ages 3-9 it costs $10/night to upgrade, and for adults it costs $40/night to upgrade from QSDP to Delux dining.

 

[g3pak]

We are going the last week of Sept., so the price difference from QS to regular DDP should be $2 per child and $10 per adult, right?

 

[beth_cam]

We are going the last week of Sept., so the price difference from QS to regular DDP should be $2 per child and $10 per adult, right?

Yes it should. Maybe the cm just guessed at why the price was different. Let us know what exactly is inlcuded (dates, ages, tickets, etc) and maybe we can figure it out.

 

[doccoc2002]

We are going the last week of Sept., so the price difference from QS to regular DDP should be $2 per child and $10 per adult, right?

Yes as long as the days are before Oct1st...that is when reg season starts and it would go up to $3/child and $15/adult

 

[WDWKOOK]

Here is a link to a news article I just posted to the News and Rumors forum which includes some speculation about WDW's future discounts:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2453312

Here is part of the article by Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel:

Braun and other analysts attributed Disney World’s market-share gains to the resort’s targeted use of discounts, which helped lure tourists despite a steep drop in travel overall. All of Disney’s most significant promotions during the year — including seven nights for the price of four and free dining — required travelers to stay in the resort’s hotels.

The promotions effectively worked in tandem with other strategic moves Disney has made over the years — such as the launch of a complimentary airport shuttle and luggage service that eliminates the need to rent a car — to help Disney keep an even greater share of its guests on its property and away from its rivals.

Abe Pizam, dean of the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, noted that Disney has historically avoided discounts for fear of undermining the premium prices it typically commands. But he said the resort clearly now sees promotions as a way to further its strategy of capturing the entirety of its guests’ vacation spending.

“They have done it very smartly,” Pizam said.

Still, the approach came at a cost for Disney: In large part because of those discounts, operating profit for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts shrank 25 percent during the company’s 2009 fiscal year, which ended in October.

Analysts also said that Disney could have trouble returning to full prices without triggering an attendance drop. The company has said it is trying to wean consumers off of promotions gradually; Disney World, for instance, is currently reducing hotel rates by as much as 30 percent, which, while significant, is a significantly smaller discount than last year’s seven-days-for-the-price-of-four offer.

Discounts “don’t necessarily make for a sustainable market-share shift,” Braun said.

 

[mousebit]

This is not encouraging. But I still say if Disney only keeps one promo discount a year, it should be for FD during hurricane season. Without it, I think they will definitely see a massive attendance drop this fall. I know that without FD I will regrettably be spending my fall vacation budget elsewhere where I can get more bang for my buck without being concerned about the weather.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

According to the Dining Plan stickie the difference in prices from QSDP to DDP for adults are $16 and children $3.

Upgrading adults would actually about $10 per night..not $16.

 

[beth_cam]

Upgrading adults would actually about $10 per night..not $16.

That was what the discussion was about - In certain times of the year, it is 16/night in others, it is 10. The conclusion is for the poster we were talking about, hers should have been 10 - but the cm said she was being charged 16.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

That was what the discussion was about - In certain times of the year, it is 16/night in others, it is 10. The conclusion is for the poster we were talking about, hers should have been 10 - but the cm said she was being charged 16.

Sorry! Missed that.

 

[2Tiggers]

This is not encouraging. But I still say if Disney only keeps one promo discount a year, it should be for FD during hurricane season. Without it, I think they will definitely see a massive attendance drop this fall. I know that without FD I will regrettably be spending my fall vacation budget elsewhere where I can get more bang for my buck without being concerned about the weather.

I totally agree!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Kids Stay and Play FREE Package

Anyone can take advantage of an exclusive offer for stays most nights May 2 - October 2, 2010. When you purchase a 4-night/5-day Magic Your Way vacation package that includes room and theme park tickets, a child (ages 3-9) can stay in the same room and get 5-day theme park tickets for FREE!

Note that children ages 3-9 normally stay for free in the same room with their parents, so that is no savings. However, the savings on theme park tickets can be substantial, particularly if you have two adults and two children in the correct age range.

You must book by 8/14/10. The number of packages available at this rate is limited. Child must stay in room with adult. Tickets are for one theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. Maximum of four guests per room.

No group rates or other discounts apply. Offers cannot be combined and are nontransferable. Advance reservations required.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I just read this update on another unofficial Disney website. This was posted this morning. Short story: Free dining offer starting August 15th available to Disney Visa Card holders on Thursday. General public will get offer on Sunday.

Just rumor of course...but it's the latest rumor.


Free dining coming?

We are hearing rumors of a new discount offer that may appear this Thursday, of a free dining offer valid from August 15 through October 2. This offer is apparently being offered on Thursday, April 29 only to Disney Rewards Visa cardholders, after which it becomes available to the general public on Sunday, May 2. There are many conflicting stories of what the dining offer may be, ranging from Quick Service dining for all resorts to the same as last year, which was Quick Service dining for stays at value resorts and standard Dining Plan for all other resorts. Our money is on Quick Service for value and moderate resorts (same as a PIN code postcard offer this spring) and the standard Dining Plan for deluxe and deluxe villa resorts. Of course, those getting the Quick Service plan would have the option to purchase the standard plan for the cost of the difference between the regular cost of the plans. In any case, if you're planning to travel to Walt Disney World late summer or early fall, keep your eyes open later this week to be able to jump on this offer when it's announced, as popular dates may disappear quickly.

Thanks for posting; I think it got overlooked

Here is the link to Mouseplanet's FD announcement rumor:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/9233/Walt_Disney_World_Resort_Update

I've updated the first page with all the latest.

 

[Don Disney]

We were at POP Sept.18-28th 2009,and it was Regular Dining Plan for free.