Free Dining 2008 Watch

[ShhhQ]

I was just looking at the free dining watch from last year and realized that we didn't even know WHEN fd would be released until after APRIL 1st!!!
YES there were many rumors! Yes the rumors were correct on the travel dates... HOWEVER! We did not know it at the time! People were still speculating as to the dates this time last year, and we had NO IDEA when it would be released.... to the point that several people CALLED DISNEY on April 1st and being told to call back later!
This year the rumors seem to tell us when it will be released but no real details... I DO BELIEVE it will be released to the PUBLIC on APRIL 10 and probably Disney Visa holders on the 7th or 8th. I just hope it is open to all resorts and starts at least by the same time as the bounceback! (Since I am arriving on the 31st to meet Mickey for my Birthday Dinner)

 

[maddhatir]

Just made ressies for dinner @ the Plaza Restaurant for Aug 26th with NO problems at all- they had almost every time available.

I know it is not a very popular restaurant that would fill up right away- but I could pick any time I wanted.

I never ate at the Plaza- thought I would try it for the first time after 14 times in Disney

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Just made ressies for dinner @ the Plaza Restaurant for Aug 26th with NO problems at all- they had almost every time available.

I know it is not a very popular restaurant that would fill up right away- but I could pick any time I wanted.

I never ate at the Plaza- thought I would try it for the first time after 14 times in Disney

I called yesterday and was able to get Le Cellier for the same date (however it was an early afternoon seating -- but that's okay for us). So it looks like there's definitely availability at this point.

I've got my fingers crossed along with everyone else that something will be announced very soon. Also, someone posted on another thread that a lot of the pin codes that have been going out recently had to be booked by 3/29 -- perhaps another indication that a new promo will be available shortly thereafter!

 

[Villains_Rock]

When I called last week to make mt ADRs they were very limited for Le Cellier on Sept 3rd...only 3 slots open!!

 

[maddhatir]

When I called last week to make mt ADRs they were very limited for Le Cellier on Sept 3rd...only 3 slots open!!

That's odd! Usually right after Labor Day the parks are very quiet!

 

[disney_momma21]

I made my ADR's last Wednesday (for Sept. 15-25) and was able to get all the times I wanted. The only one that was pretty full was Le Cellier. I was still able to get the time we wanted which was a lunch time (1:00). The CM told me that it was good that we wanted a lunch time since they were pretty full for the rest of the day. But that is the only place that was busy. All the other places were fully open. I had no problem getting the days and times I wanted. I'm still hopeful that they will once again offer free dining!

Our ADR's for a party of 6 adults and 1 three year old:

-Chef Mickey's
-Hoop Dee Doo
-Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House
-Crystal Palace
-Liberty Tree Tavern
-Whispering Canyons
-Le Cellier
-Sci-Fi Dine In
-Ohana's Lilo and Stitch Breakfast
-Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare

 

[DizzDoll]

Wow...when I made my ressies 2 weeks ago I could get what I wanted, where I wanted and when I wanted. Any and every time slot imaginable. Even for LeCellier!!! For that one I chose lunch this time.

 

[Villains_Rock]

That's odd! Usually right after Labor Day the parks are very quiet!

Yeah...I thought it odd as well. I had to go a couple hours later than I had wanted...or a couple hours early. She said..."I have a couple of slots in the late afternoon or one for 7:55." So I grabbed the 7:55pm. Hopefully the CM didn't mess up the day when she plugged it in...now I'm worried!

 

[maddhatir]

Yeah...I thought it odd as well. I had to go a couple hours later than I had wanted...or a couple hours early. She said..."I have a couple of slots in the late afternoon or one for 7:55." So I grabbed the 7:55pm. Hopefully the CM didn't mess up the day when she plugged it in...now I'm worried!

I have a feeling it just must be that particular restaurant.

I don't think you should worry!

 

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

SUBSCRIBING!!! Already made ressies 8-23-08 to 9-1-08 at POR! Waiting for FREE DP promo!!!

 

[Goofy22]

I was just looking at the free dining watch from last year and realized that we didn't even know WHEN fd would be released until after APRIL 1st!!!
YES there were many rumors! Yes the rumors were correct on the travel dates... HOWEVER! We did not know it at the time! People were still speculating as to the dates this time last year, and we had NO IDEA when it would be released.... to the point that several people CALLED DISNEY on April 1st and being told to call back later!
This year the rumors seem to tell us when it will be released but no real details... I DO BELIEVE it will be released to the PUBLIC on APRIL 10 and probably Disney Visa holders on the 7th or 8th. I just hope it is open to all resorts and starts at least by the same time as the bounceback! (Since I am arriving on the 31st to meet Mickey for my Birthday Dinner)

I was siting around thinking about this earlier today when we were slow at work! if they do make the promo available to the General Public on April 10th we would go with Three days earlier for Disney Visa Card Holders which brings us to the 7th! I would assume we would definitely have a good idea of dates by March 31st! Note this is my assumption!

 

[beroh2253]

Okay, I have a 9 night reservation room only at POP starting August 15th. I was able to get all my ADR's including CRT breakfast for my niece. I am thinking about changing my reservation when free dining is announced but really don't want to lost my ADR's.

How likely is it that I would get into the following restaurants once free dining is announced? I could easily move my reservation to later in August, just want to make sure I would still have Crystal Palace and CRT because we are celebrating my DS and DN's birthdays at those restaurants.
And tomorrow is our 180 + 10 day to start ADR's for this years bounce back.

Chef Mickey's
CRT
Crystal Palace
Sci-fi
Rainforest
WC
Ohana (dinner and Lilo & Stich breakfast)

TIA

Last year we were signed up for the last week in Sept. with the DDP we were going to pay for and had all of our ADR's made. Then free DDP came out (I think it was April 9) we were able to add it and didn't have to change any ADR's or do anything they were already made for the same dates we would be there.

 

[Twinkler]

Last year we were signed up for the last week in Sept. with the DDP we were going to pay for and had all of our ADR's made. Then free DDP came out (I think it was April 9) we were able to add it and didn't have to change any ADR's or do anything they were already made for the same dates we would be there.

Why would anyone have to change ADRs?? (Please note I"m new at this.)

 

[thunderbird1]

Why would anyone have to change ADRs?? (Please note I"m new at this.)

You wouldn't, since ADR's are tied to your phone number and not your resort reservations number, but a lot of people don't know this. Unless, of course, you had to change your dates in order to take advantage of free dining. Obviously, then you'd have to change at least some of your ADR's.

Less than two weeks until we know for sure! Hoping for lots of for everyone--free food ROCKS!

 

[Twinkler]

You wouldn't, since ADR's are tied to your phone number and not your resort reservations number, but a lot of people don't know this. Unless, of course, you had to change your dates in order to take advantage of free dining. Obviously, then you'd have to change at least some of your ADR's.

Less than two weeks until we know for sure! Hoping for lots of for everyone--free food ROCKS!

Oh. I see, I think.

We are considering upgrading from POFQ to the Poly. I'm nervous about doing it until we know about Free dining, just for cost reasons. It would be so nice to be close to MK for our two kids (2 & 4 at time of trip).

Man, I just keep praying like crazy.

 

[mickey2000]

 

[OlinFroid]

sooooooooooooooooooo, if the free dinning is announced on here, where on the site? on this page or front?

to beat a dead horse, what if i booked through a AAA agent? do you think i can change it through them?

 

[aprince2001]

We booked through AAA and were told we could add free dining if it became available. We added dining and it is priced in our package but will be removed if free dining is used. So heres to hoping and watching.

 

[OlinFroid]

ok, i called the 407 wdisney # and talked to a "reservation specialist" named Demtri who told me 2 things:

1-they did offer the free delux dine in the past, BUT they were not planning to this year as far as he knew...he said it was a perk they offered with some reservations, for example--

no free dine with value resorts, but if i went mod it was included
or if i went higer level it was also free

BUT the prices were quite a bit more than we wanted to spend vs. the value resorts

2-He said, "I think there are some people expecting it this year, and I dont think it will be the large dinning promo that it was in the past...."


sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo--i dont know how to take that it was only the words of 1 guy, so i dunno

has anyone else directly??

 

[DisneyDeeva]

ok, i called the 407 wdisney # and talked to a "reservation specialist" named Demtri who told me 2 things:

1-they did offer the free delux dine in the past, BUT they were not planning to this year as far as he knew...he said it was a perk they offered with some reservations, for example--

no free dine with value resorts, but if i went mod it was included
or if i went higer level it was also free

BUT the prices were quite a bit more than we wanted to spend vs. the value resorts

2-He said, "I think there are some people expecting it this year, and I dont think it will be the large dinning promo that it was in the past...."


sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo--i dont know how to take that it was only the words of 1 guy, so i dunno

has anyone else directly??

Isn't 2008 the first year to have a deluxe DDP?