Free Dining 2013

[TheDisney411]

So do I and I'll tell you why. The switchboards didn't exactly blow up this morning or Monday. There were glitches that caused the phones to go wonky, but many people didn't wait that long at all. This year, as I said before, was painless compared to the past when everyone waited an hour+.

I don't see the PINs going crazy either...remember, we are a small tiny percentage of the public who receive these things. Many will just go to junk mail or be deleted...lost in the shuffle of many many emails.

When that doesn't work, they turn to the general public offer. The only reason the dates wouldn't be near to the same would be if a certain week sells well with the PIN, then they would just exclude that from the public offer.

But don't be surprised if these dates fall...I was just as surprised as anyone that this happens, and it certainly changes LOTs of things in terms of my thoughts on free dining.

My web page and FB page blew up today, which caused my email and phone to blow up today. It's been insane, I had a lot of people tell me they were on hold for over an hour. Then I was a crazy, busy mess with kids activities all afternoon. Came home to catch up and had the PIN email waiting!

So exited for everyone who got free dining today and got the FD pin. My October - December FD friends, things are certainly looking good for this summer!!!!

Yay, Free Dining!!!!!

 

[TheDisney411]

seriously what is the secret to getting these pins? lol I want one!

I don't know! In 40 years of WDW trips I just received my second one ever

 

[black562]

Don't leave us hangin. What are those thought changes?

Thought Changes...just look at the PIN dates. Just like 411 said, I could see most if not all of these drop for the public.

I was teetering on the edge before, wondering if history would continue to prevail or if they would really just offer it for September only. A PIN like this dropping now....that really changes everything.

My hope is that it also means a free dining bounceback in September for next year....if that happens, I'm all over it.

 

[black562]

I don't know! In 40 years of WDW trips I just received my second one ever

Yeah I know, it's like the biggest secret ever as to how someone gets one. I think it's right up there with the formula for Coke and KFC.

 

[vnuzz]

Oh I agree! We had our first ever WDW experience in December 2012 and we are now booked for September 2013 and already talking about going again in April 2014! WOW

I hear you on that! We have 2 girls 16 & 13 and I keep telling my wife that they're growing up quickly and we need to go as much as we can. After going twice last year I had to give in to her and go somewhere different this year so we're going to Cali at the end of the month and will be hitting DisneyLand for a couple days. Not sure she's happy about that but it's somewhere different and because of it the girls and I were able to gang up and get our way for a trip back to DW in September!

You guys are so lucky to live so close! It costs us an arm and a leg just to fly there from Australia...hence why we are doing both DL and WDW in one trip! We thought our first time in 2010 was a trip of a lifetime so we're very grateful to be experiencing it again

 

[Leeanne]

I can finally do the free dining dance! Got the email from my TA a little while ago that it has been applied! Saved us $785 and Disney owes me $330! Woohoo!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

And if you are like us that $330 that Disney "owes" you....they might as well keep and put toward your room charges, cause I can so spend that on stuff in the park!! LOL!!!

 

[Mattressman]

Its the greatest secret ever. Nobody really knows, to be honest. Put your email in Disney's hands in every way you can. Go to the site and make a profile, order park maps and give it to them there...it's a rather random thing.

Never have gotten a pin or bounce back offer and it will be our 11th trip with the email repeatedly being entered in their system. Last year before checking out in December inquired about a bounce back but the system was down for 1-2 days for the start of the new system upgrade and was unable to find.

 

[monorailrabbit]

Its the greatest secret ever. Nobody really knows, to be honest. Put your email in Disney's hands in every way you can. Go to the site and make a profile, order park maps and give it to them there...it's a rather random thing.

I don't know! In 40 years of WDW trips I just received my second one ever

Ugh! That's what I always hear... Honestly I expected better from you two!

 

[scard192]

Was booked 10/19 -26 at POFQ, my sister's family and mine, hoping for an October discount in a few months. Read about the FD Pin, checked my e-mail - nothing. Decided to call Disney, no PIN for me but there was one under my sister's name!! Had to upgrade to garden view but got FREE Dining! So excited, the kids really want to stay at FQ because of the pool and now they will be.

I enjoyed reading all the happy September FD posts today, never imagining I/we would get FD today too.

ADRs (except BOG)have been made for weeks, besides watching for airline deals now what will I do for the next 5+ months?

Thanks to all the experts here on the DIS, we decided to arrive Oct 19 based based on your posts and it paid off.

 

[black562]

Ugh! That's what I always hear... Honestly I expected better from you two!

Hey, who do you think we are? Hertz?

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

So anyone want to take a guess as to whether that last week of August FD goes public???

I know it's all speculation and guesses, but I'd love to hear what you experts think!

 

[black562]

Was booked 10/19 -26 at POFQ, my sister's family and mine, hoping for an October discount in a few months. Read about the FD Pin, checked my e-mail - nothing. Decided to call Disney, no PIN for me but there was one under my sister's name!! Had to upgrade to garden view but got FREE Dining! So excited, the kids really want to stay at FQ because of the pool and now they will be.

I enjoyed reading all the happy September FD posts today, never imagining I/we would get FD today too.

ADRs (except BOG)have been made for weeks, besides watching for airline deals now what will I do for the next 5+ months?

Thanks to all the experts here on the DIS, we decided to arrive Oct 19 based based on your posts and it paid off.

What a great story...I love it when a plan comes together!!!

 

[TheDisney411]

Ugh! That's what I always hear... Honestly I expected better from you two!

I agree. Pathetic!

 

[black562]

I agree. Pathetic!

Ahh, hey, now...don't you encourage her

 

[TheDisney411]

Read about the FD Pin, checked my e-mail - nothing. Decided to call Disney, no PIN for me but there was one under my sister's name!! Had to upgrade to garden view but got FREE Dining!

Thanks to all the experts here on the DIS, we decided to arrive Oct 19 based based on your posts and it paid off.

Yay! So happy for y'all!

 

[TheDisney411]

So anyone want to take a guess as to whether that last week of August FD goes public???

I know it's all speculation and guesses, but I'd love to hear what you experts think!

Anything is possible, but probably not. I think it will pick up with the October dates, but don't hold me to it just yet. I'm going to look at all my info and see what I can find

 

[monorailrabbit]

Ahh, hey, now...don't you encourage her

 

[black562]

Anything is possible, but probably not. I think it will pick up with the October dates, but don't hold me to it just yet. I'm going to look at all my info and see what I can find

Yea, from what I was told, the last week of August had good bookings. I'm sure those couple conventions had a little to do with it. There were no standard rooms available at CSR a while back for that week. That's where one of the conventions is being held.

Those weren't the only reason, but bookings were pretty good at that time.

 

[black562]

Now listen here wwwwwabbit.

Speaking of which, I have a rabbit story that I totally can't tell on the public boards. It's a bit sad

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Yea, from what I was told, the last week of August had good bookings. I'm sure those couple conventions had a little to do with it. There were no standard rooms available at CSR a while back for that week. That's where one of the conventions is being held.

Those weren't the only reason, but bookings were pretty good at that time.

That's what I was thinking, but then the new PINs are including that last week, but not the week before it. The previous offer ended 8/14, then the RO offer starting the 15th, and now FD starting 8/25 (which just happens to be our check-in date!) So I was wondering if the last week had opened up or something.

Wishful thinking....