>> FREE DINING 2011 WATCH - Read Post # 1 BEFORE Posting

[flea1267]

so sorry to be "blonde" but exactly what is the deal/date, etc?

 

[hannah_03]

I'd rather have the CD. Boo!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

so sorry to be "blonde" but exactly what is the deal/date, etc?

FREE DINING dates released: Disney Visa holders can book, starting today, free dining packages for the dates of August 28 - September 24, 2011. These free dining dates will open for general public bookings on Monday, May 2. If you check in by September 24, you can receive the free dining discount for your length of stay, up to 14 nights.

http://disneyrewards.disney.go.com/offers.html

 

[jcarwash]

Hmmm...interesting move on Disney's part. First reduce QSDP at Values (this actually makes sense to me, as the saving of regular DDP vs room rate is HUGE).

QSDP at Values was the deal for 2010 free dining, and for the previous 2011 free dining promotion that ran in 2010. So that part is nothing new.

 

[TDC Nala]

QSDP at Values was the deal for 2010 free dining, and for the previous 2011 free dining promotion that ran in 2010. So that part is nothing new.

Before 2010 all resorts were regular dining for free dining (except on the British offer).

The photobook thing is likely more marketing. Disney knows how popular free dining is, they know guests will book it no matter what, and they might as well tie in their new memories theme and try to sell some photobooks - maybe the free dining guests who have to get the photobook will report how much they liked having it, encouraging other guests to purchase it.

 

[donaldtutter]

Before 2010 all resorts were regular dining for free dining (except on the British offer).

The photobook thing is likely more marketing. Disney knows how popular free dining is, they know guests will book it no matter what, and they might as well tie in their new memories theme and try to sell some photobooks - maybe the free dining guests who have to get the photobook will report how much they liked having it, encouraging other guests to purchase it.

Sorry if I misunderstand, but is it required that you purchase the photobook for $100?

 

[mom2rtk]

Sorry if I misunderstand, but is it required that you purchase the photobook for $100?

If they're going to require a purchase of that book...... they need to add more variety the page designs!

 

[Sandisw]

Sorry if I misunderstand, but is it required that you purchase the photobook for $100?

Yes, the new deal that is out is the Memories package which includes the photobook and free dining.

So, your price will include the price for the book, tickets (2 day minimum), and rack rate for the hotel room.

 

[taylor3297]

I looked on the photopass website and the 20 page photo book is $79.95. You don't have to purchase the cd in order to get the book, You just have to download your pics to the website or enter your photo pass card number.

 

[DisneyMom5]

I looked on the photopass website and the 20 page photo book is $79.95. You don't have to purchase the cd in order to get the book, You just have to download your pics to the website or enter your photo pass card number.

I didn't sign in to check it out, but the books START at $79.95, so I'm guessing the cheaper one is a different configuration than the one included in the package?

I'm still kind of miffed they found a way to tack on $100 per room.

That said...I did order a calendar from there last trip, and was very happy with the quality and how I was able to mix photopass and personal pics.
You can really fit a LOT of pics in a 20 page book!

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

I'm annoyed that they upped the free dining price to include this photo book too, but I'm trying to put a positive spin on it in my head (good luck, right?). So, I was wondering, if they let you put your photo pass card photos on there without buying the CD to put into your 20 page photo book, are any of the neat photo pass features included? Like magically holding Tinkerbell or Simba or looking at Stitch?

 

[KEPE]

Does anyone know with this deal, the photobook, if you choose not to get the photopass I assume your photobook is the pictures you will download onto the site and use? Can you also use any of the pics that the CM's take in the park if you don't buy the photopass?

 

[DisneyMom5]

Does anyone know with this deal, the photobook, if you choose not to get the photopass I assume your photobook is the pictures you will download onto the site and use? Can you also use any of the pics that the CM's take in the park if you don't buy the photopass?

You don't have to pay for a "photopass". It's a free card they give you when they take your picture (which they do for free, all over WDW).
You can access those photos for free online (or at the parks at the photo shops, I believe) for a limited time.
The only charge is if you purchase a CD of the photos, or create anything with the photos to purchase. You can edit all the photos online for free, and upload your pics for free.

I'm not sure you could even access the site to upload your pics without a photopass card/account. Anyone know?

 

[clanmcculloch]

The photobook thing is likely more marketing. Disney knows how popular free dining is, they know guests will book it no matter what, and they might as well tie in their new memories theme and try to sell some photobooks - maybe the free dining guests who have to get the photobook will report how much they liked having it, encouraging other guests to purchase it.

I'm clearly more jaded than you are. I figure they know that lots of people will forget or not bother with the photobook meaning that's an extra $100 in Disney's pocket. I'd order it just because I already paid for it but I wouldn't order it without it being a required element of my package. I always order the CD and I've built my own photobooks on sites like shutterfly for a fraction of the price or I've made scrapbooks at home (it's my one crafty thing that I do).

I'm annoyed that they upped the free dining price to include this photo book too, but I'm trying to put a positive spin on it in my head (good luck, right?). So, I was wondering, if they let you put your photo pass card photos on there without buying the CD to put into your 20 page photo book, are any of the neat photo pass features included? Like magically holding Tinkerbell or Simba or looking at Stitch?

You don't have to buy the CD to do the photo editing to add the fun borders and you don't have to buy the CD to get the magic photos with Tink, Simba, Stitch, Hook, etc. Any of these can be included in the photobook. Just make sure if you're adding borders that you play with which size you safe your photo as to make sure that you're getting the full border in the photo book. I prefer to use pictures without borders for photo books since I can't seem to get them to size right so that the whole border shows correctly (though I've never done it with the photopass photo book so maybe they make it easier. Also don't forget that the photos will expire from your photopass account 30 days after you add them (you can pay to have that extended) so you only have 30 days from when you add the cards to your account to get your book completed and ordered.

 

[clanmcculloch]

You don't have to pay for a "photopass". It's a free card they give you when they take your picture (which they do for free, all over WDW).
You can access those photos for free online (or at the parks at the photo shops, I believe) for a limited time.
The only charge is if you purchase a CD of the photos, or create anything with the photos to purchase. You can edit all the photos online for free, and upload your pics for free.

I'm not sure you could even access the site to upload your pics without a photopass card/account. Anyone know?

You have to create an account. You can upload your own pictures to your account and use exclusively those if you don't want to bother with getting any photopass pictures.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I didn't sign in to check it out, but the books START at $79.95, so I'm guessing the cheaper one is a different configuration than the one included in the package?

It includes shipping so that's part of it, and it's possible it's better than the basic but I don't know much about the photopass books, never done that.

I'm clearly more jaded than you are. I figure they know that lots of people will forget or not bother with the photobook meaning that's an extra $100 in Disney's pocket. I'd order it just because I already paid for it but I wouldn't order it without it being a required element of my package. I always order the CD and I've built my own photobooks on sites like shutterfly for a fraction of the price or I've made scrapbooks at home (it's my one crafty thing that I do).

Ding, ding, ding!! Who knows how many will end up not ordering it so that's just extra money in their pockets. $100 is ridiculous, you can buy 3+ for that on sites like Shutterfly and Snapfish.

 

[mom2rtk]

So once Disney starts getting those extra $100 payments (for the required photobooks) I can't imagine them then giving that up on future deals. I wonder what their excuse will be once the Memories campaign ends!

 

[mom2rtk]

Ding, ding, ding!! Who knows how many will end up not ordering it so that's just extra money in their pockets. $100 is ridiculous, you can buy 3+ for that on sites like Shutterfly and Snapfish.

That should tell you that even IF everyone orders the book, it's mostly profit. Not quite as much as if they don't bother, but it's still mostly profit even if ordered.

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

I don't think they will need an excuse - Disney's free dining gets more expensive every year with less and less offered with it. Years ago everyone got the Dining Plan regardless of where they stayed on site - now Value (and in some promos, the Moderates) get quick service. I think as the years go by, Disney will begin to either phase out free dining or increase the number of add-ons people will have to pay for to get free dining (or both).
I also think Disney inlcuded the photobook and not the CD because so many people already buy the CD and will continue to do so. Why push something that already sells?
Either way it's still a good savings for most of us and I'm hoping for a free dining offer this summer for November/December!

 

[skier_pete]

So once Disney starts getting those extra $100 payments (for the required photobooks) I can't imagine them then giving that up on future deals. I wonder what their excuse will be once the Memories campaign ends!

A thought occurred to me though - maybe part of the reason they added the photobook is that back in the fall when the Free Dining came out, part of the marketing was "You won't get this good a deal again all next year." When, you think about it, if they had come out with free dining again in the fall, they would have probably pissed off some people that had booked the "best deal of the year". By adding this photobook, they're not doing that.

Also, if they had had the standard free dining right now, then in December 2011 they offer it for next year as "your only chance!" people might say...oh that's what you said last year.

In other words, it's not just a way to make extra money off free diners (which it clearly is) but also a way to keep their marketing promise. 2-for-1 as it were.