Free Dining 2008 Watch

[Ashlander]

My aunt said she was reading last night that a cast member posted that the free dining will end Sept. 20th, I really hope thats not true, I am checking in on the 26th.......I guess we will have to wait and see

I was planning on checking in on the 21st, but I can move it to the 20th. If free dining ends that day will I be able to extend the free dining through the end of my stay?

Thanks!

 

[Tricia1972]

I was planning on checking in on the 21st, but I can move it to the 20th. If free dining ends that day will I be able to extend the free dining through the end of my stay?

Thanks!

There are mixed reports on that. Some were able to extend (who used bounce back) and others were not (again with bounce back)

 

[Tyler'sDisneyMom]

I am going to Disney on Monday, April 7 for 4 days with my 4 year old son and my elderly grandparents. I typically go to Disney for 10+ days so I am really looking forward to an August/Sept Disney trip again. My son's birthday is on Sept 2 and we have gone to Disney every year for his birthday for years. I really hope the Disney dining is free, but I will get dining anyway. Last December, my son and I took a trip the week prior to X-mas for 9 days. I ate counter-service (my son hardly ate kids meals, he wanted rotisserie chicken and all things not offered as a kids meal.) We only ate at two table service dinners - Chef Mickey and Ohana. It still cost me almost as much as if we had the dining plan. I spent $45 on average per day for 2 CS meals and snacks (plus we shared a breakfast plate at pop century and 1 or 2 snacks per day that we shared.) The dining plan would have cost us $50 a day! and we could have eaten at a table service every night rather than just twice.
Well, anyway, I called Disney Visa to ask when I could schedule for the Aug/Sept free dining promotion since I will be at disney on Aug 7th - 10th and don't want to miss it. The guy I spoke to was very nice, researched, spoke to a few people and really tried to help me. He told me that it doesn't look like there is a promotion this year. I am hoping that he was wrong. Regardless of whether the dining is free or not, it still may be the right decision for your fam (unless you have food discounts in the park or kids who share their food
I am trying deluxe dining this coming week with my grandparents (they are in their late 70s and food is going to be the best part of the trip for them.) We are going to

day 1 -fly in & Narcoosies (dinner)
day 2 - OHANA (breakfast and dinner - we are staying in the poly)
Crystal Palace (lunch)
day 3- Chef Mickey (b-fast)
Le Celier (lunch)
Tutto Italia (dinner)
day 4 - Yak & Yeti (lunch) & fly home

This just seems like too much food. I don't think we will do deluxe dining again.

C'MON FREE DINING!!!!

 

[flea1267]

I've heard there would be a 4 night minimum stay but I've also heard it was just a 3 night minimum stay...it's been 3 in the past...has anyone heard anything about the minimum stay requirement? Thanks!

 

[pinocchio2004]

We received bounceback free DDP for 2008 however we were NOT allowed to book past the date range given (8/30-9/27). We were basically told "when it's over, it's over". We tried three different times. Some people that bounced back were allowed to extend it into October, some were not. If (when) the free DDP is announced to all it will be interesting to see the terms!

Kim-TRY AGAIN! We have gone every year since 2005, checking in on one of the last days and extending our stay past the end date with free dining. This year we are booked for Sept 27-October 5th. Just added another day yesterday. As long as your start date falls within the range and you don't go longer than 10 days past the end date (I think it was 10 days, maybe 14? don't quote me on that) you would still get the free dining for all days. I don't know why you are having so much trouble. I'm assuming your start date is before Sept 27th, right? If so, call back.

 

[Joan1]

Kim-TRY AGAIN! We have gone every year since 2005, checking in on one of the last days and extending our stay past the end date with free dining. This year we are booked for Sept 27-October 5th. Just added another day yesterday. As long as your start date falls within the range and you don't go longer than 10 days past the end date (I think it was 10 days, maybe 14? don't quote me on that) you would still get the free dining for all days. I don't know why you are having so much trouble. I'm assuming your start date is before Sept 27th, right? If so, call back.

Yes but all discounts for 2008 so far have had a hard end date meaning that the last day of the discount is the last day you can get it for. Any dates after that do not include the discount

 

[bdiddy]

We are going for a week regardless and were planning on going Sept 22-29 IF we get the free dining and those dates work. If we miss the cut off we'll just go from the 15-22. If they don't offer it at all we probably won't go until October so I haven't booked anything yet.

I'm on pins and needles waiting until the announcement! This next week can't go fast enough!!

 

[dlpcarden]

We are planning on going Sept 17 - 28. We even booked our trip last October. Our son is out for intersession then so that time worked best for us.

We will be there whether FD is offered of not. Hopefully, it will be offered because it would save us 1400.00. Saving money is always a great thing...

 

[ajcolorado]

What time does Disney update the computer system for online bookings?

The phone lines open at 7PM EST but what time of day are these announcements made?

Also, do Disney Visa holders have to pay their deposit at the time of booking - using the Disney Visa card - or can they get a usual 14 day hold?

Thank you,

 

[dsnygirl2006]

I just read that if free dining is offered, you cannot stay at a Value Resort, only Mods and up, has anyone else heard this???

 

[mickey2000]

I just read that if free dining is offered, you cannot stay at a Value Resort, only Mods and up, has anyone else heard this???

Yes my neighbor was told this several weeks ago when making reservations for September. The CM was trying to help them....

Who Knows /?? I have heard so many stories by CM's ????

 

[esdras]

I just read that if free dining is offered, you cannot stay at a Value Resort, only Mods and up, has anyone else heard this???

That was another of the "rumours" based primarily on the fact that the '08 Free Dining offer for UK residents excluded Value Resorts.

Essentially, anyone who assumes that the '08 Free Dining offer to the Public will match exactly to one or the other (or both) of the '08 Bounceback and '08 UK offers are using VERY limited criteria for their estimates.

Each offer is designed and implemented to target a certain demographic - the times and details are tailored specifically to make it best for Disney.

 

[mickey mommy]

That was another of the "rumours" based primarily on the fact that the '08 Free Dining offer for UK residents excluded Value Resorts.

Essentially, anyone who assumes that the '08 Free Dining offer to the Public will match exactly to one or the other (or both) of the '08 Bounceback and '08 UK offers are using VERY limited criteria for their estimates.

Each offer is designed and implemented to target a certain demographic - the times and details are tailored specifically to make it best for Disney.

I sure hope not. We're hoping it starts a week earlier on the 23rd. We have our plans for 8/25-31st. We'll still go either way. It's just a matter of whether or not we'll fly or drive!

 

[pinocchio2004]

Yes but all discounts for 2008 so far have had a hard end date meaning that the last day of the discount is the last day you can get it for. Any dates after that do not include the discount

Are you referring to the free dining as a discount? I have free dining for 8 nights starting on September 27th, I'm paying rack rate for the room. Anyone else have free dining past the end date of the promo?

 

[The Brain]

Yes but all discounts for 2008 so far have had a hard end date meaning that the last day of the discount is the last day you can get it for. Any dates after that do not include the discount

difference is, free dining is a one time add on. If that's the case it shouldn't be viewed the same as the percentage discount. The one time add on of free dining could in theory be used all in that one first day. So basically they would just be adding the dining package on to you plan at no cost.

 

[ExtinctDino]

What time does Disney update the computer system for online bookings?

The phone lines open at 7PM EST but what time of day are these announcements made?

Also, do Disney Visa holders have to pay their deposit at the time of booking - using the Disney Visa card - or can they get a usual 14 day hold?

Thank you,

Last year we received the Disney Visa e-mail promo during the day on April 9several hours after the phone lines opened (7 AM Eastern time). They began booking free dining reservations when they opened, i.e. before we received the e-mail.

 

[LoveTwoTravel]

Last year we received the Disney Visa e-mail promo during the day on April 9several hours after the phone lines opened (7 AM Eastern time). They began booking free dining reservations when they opened, i.e. before we received the e-mail.

Did you call Visa or Disney directly to book (on the day that the email came out and the phone lines opened earlier) to book with the Disney Visa?

Thanks!

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

Disney directly

 

[LoveTwoTravel]

Disney directly

Thanks for that! We've never gotten the free dining (though we went during that time before we just didn't know about it). We're going to try for this year because we have racked up a TON of Disney Rewards Dollars. Whooo hoooo!

I'll try Disney directly in a few days (the anticipation makes me anxious).

My other question: if we call ASAP that morning is it okay that we don't "know" the code? I mean, can we just ask for the free dining and they will go ahead with it?

 

[ExtinctDino]

Thanks for that! We've never gotten the free dining (though we went during that time before we just didn't know about it). We're going to try for this year because we have racked up a TON of Disney Rewards Dollars. Whooo hoooo!

I'll try Disney directly in a few days (the anticipation makes me anxious).

My other question: if we call ASAP that morning is it okay that we don't "know" the code? I mean, can we just ask for the free dining and they will go ahead with it?

Last year I didn't mention a code, just free dining.