Free Dining 2008 Watch

[wdwmaw]

I agree with the Brain (now that sounds funny) that compotition is good. Its just that Disney is just so huge. Last year MK had 17,060,000 visitors and universal had 6,200,000 visitors. Here is the thread http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=23824123&postcount=5. I think Disneys bigger concern is with the prices that the resorts have gone to more people are finding it more of a value to stay off property. Thats what other destinations need to do is pull you off property. With dining plan and magical express Disney had made itself almost all-inclusive and thats killing the other resorts.

 

[mom2faith]

I agree with the Brain (now that sounds funny) that compotition is good. Its just that Disney is just so huge. Last year MK had 17,060,000 visitors and universal had 6,200,000 visitors. Here is the thread http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=23824123&postcount=5. I think Disneys bigger concern is with the prices that the resorts have gone to more people are finding it more of a value to stay off property. Thats what other destinations need to do is pull you off property. With dining plan and magical express Disney had made itself almost all-inclusive and thats killing the other resorts.

I am with you on this one!

I have been all over evey board looking to save money along the way, and with the DDP it is just not worth it to stay off site. We could save money on hotel, but then we pay for the Character meals - and let me tell you, this being our first trip ever, I booked a lot of character meals. Based on my calculations and using the menus from sites like allearsnet, we a easily saving money, and maximizing our experience (character meals).

 

[tarheelmjfan]

No Contest IMO .............. Disney will always win !

When comparing dining plans the way they are currently offered, WDW definitely wins by a landslide. IMHO, they don't always win though. Some things Universal does better than WDW. I've spent many visits at both resorts. Things can go wrong at either, but on an avg. visit they both have many more positives than negatives. I agree that competition is a good thing. That way the guest always wins.

As for finding better deals offsite, I agree that one would hard pressed to find a deal better than free dining @ WDW. The exceptions could be a single guest staying in a mod. or a couple w/ small kids (free or under 10) staying in a deluxe. Regardless of what you often read on here, in many cases free dining is indeed "free".

 

[krisgil88]

We are taking our kids to WDW for the first time during the week of Aug 17. .
We purposely waited to go until the end of the summer hoping that the crowds would not be as bad. While I would love free dining as part of our trip I'm wondering what kind of an impact free dining has on the crowds in the park.

Kris (41) DH (38) DS (9) DS (6)

 

[Heathr6913]

We are taking our kids to WDW for the first time during the week of Aug 17. .
We purposely waited to go until the end of the summer hoping that the crowds would not be as bad. While I would love free dining as part of our trip I'm wondering what kind of an impact free dining has on the crowds in the park.

Kris (41) DH (38) DS (9) DS (6)

When I went for free dining in '06 the restaurants were extremely busy but all the rides were pretty much walk ons. The longest wait I saw posted was 20 minutes. Most of them had 15 minute wait posted but we waited maybe 5 minutes max. It was awesome!

 

[disneygal65]

Dates confirmed by Disney cast member just a few minutes ago. They are definitely offering free dining for this fall
The dates will be Aug 23 through Nov6...that really surprised me!!! But she said yes they are extending through Nov 6. She couldnt confirm the release dates when I asked her about Visa holders for the 7th and general public for 10th. But I'm thinking those are probably the dates because she got kind of quiet when I mentioned those dates and the rumors floating around. Just thought I would let everyone know!
Happy Planning!!!

 

[gabriellyn]

Oooh - November??? Wow! I would soooo love to slip in a little late summer trip w/free dining, but I am surprised about November! We're going in December so it won't work out for us, but that is still interesting!

 

[gigi1313]

Dates confirmed by Disney cast member just a few minutes ago. They are definitely offering free dining for this fall
The dates will be Aug 23 through Nov6...that really surprised me!!! But she said yes they are extending through Nov 6. She couldnt confirm the release dates when I asked her about Visa holders for the 7th and general public for 10th. But I'm thinking those are probably the dates because she got kind of quiet when I mentioned those dates and the rumors floating around. Just thought I would let everyone know!
Happy Planning!!!

personally, i would not bet the ranch on those dates... they are WAYYYYY beyond anything disney has ever done before, a much longer promo than they typically run, and w/the food/wine festival in there, imo highly doubtful!

i expect that the dates would be the same or less than the bounceback dates... i think your cm was mis-informed!

 

[The Brain]

Dates confirmed by Disney cast member just a few minutes ago. They are definitely offering free dining for this fall
The dates will be Aug 23 through Nov6...that really surprised me!!! But she said yes they are extending through Nov 6. She couldnt confirm the release dates when I asked her about Visa holders for the 7th and general public for 10th. But I'm thinking those are probably the dates because she got kind of quiet when I mentioned those dates and the rumors floating around. Just thought I would let everyone know!
Happy Planning!!!

I wonder if that will be due to limited availability for rooms??

 

[Twinkler]

I'm just happy that there is some word that they will be offering it. We are mid-late Sept.

 

[bdiddy]

Wow - that would be really nice if it was into Nov since we originally wanted to go in Oct but I'm not going to hold my breath on those dates. I'm not planning anything until I hear it from Disney themselves.

Thanks for the potential scoop though!

 

[n2mm]

No way....Looks like the CM was having fun with someone here.

 

[LoveTwoTravel]

Dates confirmed by Disney cast member just a few minutes ago. They are definitely offering free dining for this fall
The dates will be Aug 23 through Nov6...that really surprised me!!! But she said yes they are extending through Nov 6. She couldnt confirm the release dates when I asked her about Visa holders for the 7th and general public for 10th. But I'm thinking those are probably the dates because she got kind of quiet when I mentioned those dates and the rumors floating around. Just thought I would let everyone know!
Happy Planning!!!

Thanks for sharing! Next week can't come quickly enough for me!

I wish someplace "official" would just put up the dates and save us all of this grief!

Did you go ahead and book while you were on the phone or were you just scouting out the real deal from the CM?

 

[wildirishrose]

wow that would be awesome if the promo goes to Nov. I am doing a girls weekend for Food and Wine and would love to get the special on that as well (may just have to extend that trip to hit all the places I dont get to go to on the Sept trip) Crossing my fingers

 

[The Brain]

I'm doubting this because why would the promo end on a Thursday??

 

[mickey2000]

Dates confirmed by Disney cast member just a few minutes ago. They are definitely offering free dining for this fall
The dates will be Aug 23 through Nov6...that really surprised me!!! But she said yes they are extending through Nov 6. She couldnt confirm the release dates when I asked her about Visa holders for the 7th and general public for 10th. But I'm thinking those are probably the dates because she got kind of quiet when I mentioned those dates and the rumors floating around. Just thought I would let everyone know!
Happy Planning!!!

I would take this with a grain of salt
November 6th !!! Lets get a reality check here ......
They know the dates and offer to tell you however no idea when the offer starts ???????????
Yea right... This CM could be fired for giving you dates
I'll believe it when its posted in the newspaper or travel agent.. JMO

Just maybe they thought today was April 1st

 

[disneygal65]

personally, i would not bet the ranch on those dates... they are WAYYYYY beyond anything disney has ever done before, a much longer promo than they typically run, and w/the food/wine festival in there, imo highly doubtful!

i expect that the dates would be the same or less than the bounceback dates... i think your cm was mis-informed!

I totally agree with you on that. I cant see them offering free dining during the food and wine festival. I'm wondering if it should be maybe Oct 6. That would sound more reasonable and would be in line with the Universal offerings But I am inclined to believe the Aug 23 start date and the fact that they will definitely be offering it

 

[Goofy22]

Dates confirmed by Disney cast member just a few minutes ago. They are definitely offering free dining for this fall
The dates will be Aug 23 through Nov6...that really surprised me!!! But she said yes they are extending through Nov 6. She couldnt confirm the release dates when I asked her about Visa holders for the 7th and general public for 10th. But I'm thinking those are probably the dates because she got kind of quiet when I mentioned those dates and the rumors floating around. Just thought I would let everyone know!
Happy Planning!!!

Wow! that would be awesome! Maybe she meant Oct 6th then those dates would only be a week shy of Universal's free dining promo! Because normally it is the end of Sept so Oct 6th would make sense if they are extending it a few days on each side the start and end of the promo! Wow! I really hope this is fact! I will be in my glory! It will make this all that more magical!

 

[kowalchicky]

that's impossible...
I think Jersey Week is November 1 - November 8th

 

[TDC Nala]

Dates confirmed by Disney cast member just a few minutes ago. They are definitely offering free dining for this fall
The dates will be Aug 23 through Nov6...that really surprised me!!! But she said yes they are extending through Nov 6. She couldnt confirm the release dates when I asked her about Visa holders for the 7th and general public for 10th. But I'm thinking those are probably the dates because she got kind of quiet when I mentioned those dates and the rumors floating around. Just thought I would let everyone know!
Happy Planning!!!

I find those dates extremely unlikely. WDW doesn't need to offer incentives to get people to visit in October the way they do at the peak of hurricane season.