Free Dining 2010

[TeriofTerror]

Free Dining has been announced for Disney Visa holders:

Disney Visa Cardholders can now get Magic Your Way Packages with the free Disney Dining Plan
For stays 08/15/10-10/02/10

Guests who book one of Disney's Value Resorts will get the Quick Service dining plan. Upgrade available at small additional cost.

Includes accommodations and minimum 2-day Disney base ticket.

Must be booked by 08/14/10 and deposit must be paid at time of booking with a Disney Visa.
Same offer expected to be made available to general public within the next few days.

 

[mainegal]

Sure, this is good, but I won't be at WDW until December!

Question - if there is "free dining", does that mean peopel pay full price for their hotel room? If I were to go (perhaps at another time), might I get a room discount and pay cash for my food and come out close to the same financially?

 

[TeriofTerror]

Sure, this is good, but I won't be at WDW until December!

Question - if there is "free dining", does that mean peopel pay full price for their hotel room? If I were to go (perhaps at another time), might I get a room discount and pay cash for my food and come out close to the same financially?

That is a hotly debated topic with WDW fans. My personal opinion is that by getting a good room discount and using other dining strategies, you can definitely come out ahead. For example, I find Disney food portions to be quite large. My husband and I will share an appetizer and an entree, and usually be quite full. The dining plan provides way too much food, IMHO. Who eats dessert at every meal?

 

[mainegal]

My personal opinion is that by getting a good room discount and using other dining strategies, you can definitely come out ahead. For example, I find Disney food portions to be quite large. My husband and I will share an appetizer and an entree, and usually be quite full. The dining plan provides way too much food, IMHO. Who eats dessert at every meal?

Exactly.
The "free dining" is a perceived value. But is it?

Personally, I'd rather be more in control of my money. Some days I don't want to take the time for a sit down meal. Sometimes I want an appetizer, other times dessert. Or neither. The "free dining" plan might encourage me to order the most expensive item on the menu, when I might be satisified with something on the other end of the menu.

Plus, the "free dining" puts such a strain on the restaturants, making it hard for non-free dining people to find a place to eat. encourages people to make multiple reservations.

Then there is making reservations 180 out - I don't know where I want to eat six months from now!
People end up making multiple reservations, not a good thing.

 

[BriarRosie]

Sure, this is good, but I won't be at WDW until December!

Question - if there is "free dining", does that mean peopel pay full price for their hotel room? If I were to go (perhaps at another time), might I get a room discount and pay cash for my food and come out close to the same financially?

Yep, you're paying rack rate to get "free" dining. It's a better value for families with 4 persons to pay for vs. solo travelers and couples.

AP holders used to get the 1 day base ticket to bypass the mandatory ticket rule, but I see Disney's forcing people to get a 2 day base ticket now. That's going to bump up the price, as well. It would probably work better to get an AP rate and pay for the dining plan, especially for solos and couples.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Giving any promotion via Disney Visa only is a sure fire way to piss off all of your international customers, ones that probably stay the longest.

As a DVC owner, I don't qualify for free dining, but as a Canadian I'd like to at least have the choice to take the free dining offer with a cash reservation. For example, my parents want to come with us next March, and since we're getting the dining plan, it would be a nice option for them.

 

[TeriofTerror]

Giving any promotion via Disney Visa only is a sure fire way to piss off all of your international customers, ones that probably stay the longest.

As a DVC owner, I don't qualify for free dining, but as a Canadian I'd like to at least have the choice to take the free dining offer with a cash reservation. For example, my parents want to come with us next March, and since we're getting the dining plan, it would be a nice option for them.

Usually, these just get offered to Visa holders first, and the general public in a few days. You may still get your chance!

 

[jodiey]

Usually, these just get offered to Visa holders first, and the general public in a few days. You may still get your chance!

From what I heard they will be offering free dining to the general public on Monday 5/3

 

[meeskamouska0730]

Hello!! I'm new to DisBoards. Question....I have a Disney Visa, but booked my September vacation using another method of payment. Is being a cardholder enough to try for free dining today? Or do you need to use your Disney Visa?

 

[Dorisk3]

You need to use your Disney visa. I would call if you are staying at a hotel you think will fill up fast- maybe they can put the new deposit down on the disney visa and credit your other one.

 

[LeahZ]

The information on this promotion is on our website here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneypackages.htm#visa