Free Dining 2008 Watch

[skater]

We also stayed at POR in 06 during free dining, and we are booked there this Sept. with the bounceback promo.

 

[Disneymommy2006]

We are booked for POR also- but this will be our 1st time in a moderate. I noticed some people are questioning free dining...just my opinion but I think it will be offered and if not something will- September is hurricane season and there will be some type of offer. Look at this link (scroll down to read about possibility of free dining....http://www.mousemisers.com/):banana:

 

[TLHB70]

I would also like to know.... I never thought to call and ask them , they may be more reliable than some CM's I have talked with.

I tried calling last year when rumors started flying. Disney Visa people couldn't tell me anything. They acted as if they had no idea what I was talking about. As a matter of fact, I called them the opening date of free dining and they couldn't answer any questions at all. They were just no help. DISers knew more than they did. Thankfully when I called booking for WDW they knew what I was talking about.

 

[Brooknwdw]

Can anyone answer this for me, I do not have a Disney Visa but my sister does, if fddp is offered to Visa holders first, can she book for me with her card?

I have wondered this myself..does anyone know?

Also, I wanted to add that I booked a trip for Sept 20-27th at POFQ. I made ADR's for all seven days of my trip at exactly 180 out.

I had absolutely NO trouble getting ANY ADR at the times I wanted. I even got several tables for 6 people! I had to book a table for 4 instead of 6 at LeCellier, for the exact time I wanted. That was the only exception, and if I had been willing to eat at 8:30 at night, I could've gotten a table for 6 at Lecellier.

That is a positve sign I think!

Here's hoping, because if free dining isn't offered, I will not go in Sept! The free dining saves us over $1000! I will cancel and rebook for another time thats a bit cooler. But my husband has already asked off, so I really hate to cancel!
YEEAHHH Free Dining!!

 

[tusers]

In another thread, choirfarm wrote the following about free dining dates. Has anyone else heard this. I was really counting on the 27th ending date. I am really nervous now since I have booked all my dining from 19-27 in hopes of free dining.

choirfarm's post under free dining ends 20th??? thread

Well, we changed our reservation to September 20-27th thinking that would be good, but the VERY nice guy who took our reservation when I asked about free dining said, "Well, I don't know anything about if but if I did, I would say you need to call back and ask our marketing department about it next Monday at this time. He was very cute and saying it was going to be offered without saying it, but then he said, "You will need to be flexible on your dates as it won't be offered past the 20th. So... I guess I will just wait to see what they say. I started to make ADR's but it took 15 minutes for the 3 I made and I thought...why am I doing this if I have to change all of my dates. So... I'm just waiting. After I see what dates we get, I will make it. Especially since they charge your card for Hoop De Doo and it will just be held if we have the dining plan..at least that is what the lady from the ADR line said.

 

[Tricia1972]

In another thread, choirfarm wrote the following about free dining dates. Has anyone else heard this. I was really counting on the 27th ending date. I am really nervous now since I have booked all my dining from 19-27 in hopes of free dining.

choirfarm's post under free dining ends 20th??? thread

Well, we changed our reservation to September 20-27th thinking that would be good, but the VERY nice guy who took our reservation when I asked about free dining said, "Well, I don't know anything about if but if I did, I would say you need to call back and ask our marketing department about it next Monday at this time. He was very cute and saying it was going to be offered without saying it, but then he said, "You will need to be flexible on your dates as it won't be offered past the 20th. So... I guess I will just wait to see what they say. I started to make ADR's but it took 15 minutes for the 3 I made and I thought...why am I doing this if I have to change all of my dates. So... I'm just waiting. After I see what dates we get, I will make it. Especially since they charge your card for Hoop De Doo and it will just be held if we have the dining plan..at least that is what the lady from the ADR line said.

The 27th was the date offered for bounce back. If you look at Last year's dates, what the CM said about the 20th (for the general public) makes sense.

Last year General Public was through Sept 22 and Bounce Back through Sept 29

This year General Public may be through Sept 20 and Bounce Back is through Sept 27

It certainly would follow Disney's pattern if this were the case for this year.

 

[connie254]

subscribe

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

Since this year they are letting annual and seasonal pass holders purchase the plan without the 1 day ticket, will the same apply here, do you think?

 

[wdwmaw]

Since this year they are letting annual and seasonal pass holders purchase the plan without the 1 day ticket, will the same apply here, do you think?

No, I have a AP Dine pkg. booked and the CM told me that if I wanted free dining I would just have to add the 1 day tix and change the code.

 

[robinb]

Because using the WDW site to compare prices (as we'd have to pay the rack room rate) the room rates are higher during "free" dining.

Coincidence? I think not. You're paying for it somewhere.

Well ... the rates are rack rate is $149 ($168 per night with taxes). The AAA discount is 20% so you're paying $119 (133.40 per night with taxes) for a real cash savings of $35 per night.

And remember, when you add the dining plan onto your trip, you are automatically buying a package..which must include at least a one day base MYW ticket.

I can buy the tickets cheaper through a different site, so using "free" dining isn't a good value for us.

{shrug} None of the places for discounts (including those through Mousesavers) I see save you give you a savings of more than $2-$3 per day. IIRC there are just two of you, so you're saving about $41 per day with your two combined discounts.

And I don't plan on scheduling my days around food...we've figured out using the "free" dining will actually cost about $100 more...once you add in tip for food (on TS anyway).

I guess it all comes down to intangibles. If you don't like to eat at TS restaurants then the DDP is never good for you. Your $41 in savings using your AAA discount and discount ticket sources will cover an average of 2 CS meals a day for 2 people. IF you were planning to eat even at even one buffet per day (dinner at Crystal Palace costs almost $60 with tax for two), then you would come out ahead with the DDP.

But ... given that it sounds like you're not planning to eat at any TS restaurants then you did your math right . It's not best for you.

 

[wdwmaw]

Well ... the rates are rack rate is $149 ($168 per night with taxes). The AAA discount is 20% so you're paying $119 (133.40 per night with taxes) for a real cash savings of $35 per night.
{shrug} None of the places for discounts (including those through Mousesavers) I see save you give you a savings of more than $2-$3 per day. IIRC there are just two of you, so you're saving about $41 per day with your two combined discounts.

I guess it all comes down to intangibles. If you don't like to eat at TS restaurants then the DDP is never good for you. Your $41 in savings using your AAA discount and discount ticket sources will cover an average of 2 CS meals a day for 2 people. IF you were planning to eat even at even one buffet per day (dinner at Crystal Palace costs almost $60 with tax for two), then you would come out ahead with the DDP.

But ... given that it sounds like you're not planning to eat at any TS restaurants then you did your math right . It's not best for you.

"Free" dining will actually cost us about $100 more on our trip.

I really want to see your math. I just can not figure out how that is. Now if you were staying at a deluxe with 40% I can see it but you say you are at POR with AAA.Here is what I come up with ~

Savings
AAA=$203.55 without tip
Free dining=$387.70 (with tip$262.70 savings)

I just did 2 adults free dining would save you $77.54 per day
AAA would save you with 20% $33.53 per night
Tix on 5 day hopper through discount broker is a savings of $17.95 per adult so that is a total of $203.55 for 5 nights at POR with 5 day hoppers for 2 and you would still have to leave a tip..
The dining plan would yield a savings of $387.70. Even if you left $25 for each of the 5 sit down meals ( that is the ave. we will be leaving for the 4 adults in our party) then you would still yield a savings of $262.70. Then again I am assuming you are eating at sitdown resturants.
I am not trying to be a meanie, just want to know your secret.

I did the same figuring yesterday. On another post she has made ADR's for the whole week. She posted on another thread that she made them last Sat. I hope I am not being an awful person I just don't want her to think she is saving more without free dining. Yes, some are and for some the dining plan is not there best deal. But with the info given then I think she needs to rethink or fill us in on the specifics. I truly only have only good intentions here and want the best for here situation.

 

[MomDad&2boys]

So am I right in assuming that there are no AAA discounts if you want the free dining? So it is just best to book directly with Disney?

I'm also really hoping that AP holders don't have to buy the one-day ticket.

 

[wdwmaw]

You can not stack discounts, it is either AAA discount/pin/ bounceback or free dining.
Yes, if you have the AP dine then you will not have to buy the 1 day tix but if you choose the free dining then you would have to have a 1 day tix. I have this booked and this was what I was told. My AP dine pkg (no discount as of yet for Sept. travel) looks just like a regular pkg on paper without the tix. It is not a MYW pkg though and those are what free dining will be given.

 

[robinb]

I did the same figuring yesterday. On another post she has made ADR's for the whole week. She posted on another thread that she made them last Sat. I hope I am not being an awful person I just don't want her to think she is saving more without free dining. Yes, some are and for some the dining plan is not there best deal. But with the info given then I think she needs to rethink or fill us in on the specifics. I truly only have only good intentions here and want the best for here situation.

Sorry, I didn't see your earlier post as I was in Chicago for the Cubs home opener .

Well ... in that case if she made ADRs for September at exactly 180 days (so much for not wanting to schedule her days around food) she's wrong. The free DDP will be a better value for her. She "eats free" on her combined AAA/ticket discount if she eats only at CS restaurants. Once she books TS restaurants it's going to cost her more. In addition, I don't think it's fair to count tips in the comparison because you would have to pay them OOP either way.

BTW, sassyat30 ... I don't mean any disrespect either. Things just were not making sense to me, then they made sense, and now that don't again. I think I might need some more coffee and work on my own August vacation.

 

[wdwmaw]

robinb ~ I posted this on another thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1772129. Hope you had a great time. Glad that opening day wasn't april 8 ha! ha!

 

[robinb]

robinb ~ I posted this on another thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1772129. Hope you had a great time. Glad that opening day wasn't april 8 ha! ha!

It took me a minute to figure out what April 8 had to do with anything, LOL!

The game was good, but the Cubs lost to the Brew Crew in the 10th. Plus, the person who was supposed to pick up my 8-year old DD from dance class (back in MADISON 150 miles away ... someone else dropped her off) came down with the flu and fell asleep. I had tried to call her repeatedly though the day and never got through to her so I called the dance studio and found out that my DD was there and waiting for someone to pick her up! I had no idea where my friend was or that she was sick. I spent the entire 9th inning on my cell phone in the concession area trying to find someone who could pick her up and missed F*kudome's (his whole name was blanked out!) big home run. Luckily, my neighbor came through for me and now I owe her "big time" .

 

[jeffreynmichelle]

We just signed up for a Disney Visa so we can find out sooner about the free DDP.....how will we find out when it is available? Will Disney Visa email us or is the info supposed to come in the mail?

Thanks!!

 

[The Brain]

We just signed up for a Disney Visa so we can find out sooner about the free DDP.....how will we find out when it is available? Will Disney Visa email us or is the info supposed to come in the mail?

Thanks!!

email, but I'll be honest with you... odds are you won't get your card in time to book early now. I'm sorry.

 

[Treeglum]

We are going with another couple, We have the Visa they do not. Can they use the code I get? or is it only for card holders?(probably an obvious no for them) If so, if I book their vacation on my card would that work for them?
Lastly would/could 3 days make a huge differance? Waiting until the 10th that is.

 

[wifey1220]

mousemisers.com says free dining will be released April 7th to disney visa card holders. But that is just a rumor.