Free Dining 2013

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Not sure if it is possible for your budget but you can always stay there and pay the difference to upgrade to the DDP. We are staying at ASMo and paying the difference to get the DDP.

Actually, if you're upgrading 4 people from QS to DDP for a Value, it's probably about the same price as a moderate. When we priced it out for our family of four it made no sense to stay at an AS and upgrade. Upgrade is about $18 per person x 4 = $72 per day. Came out to only about $100 difference for the whole 6 nights to go moderate instead.

 

[Adrian70]

I know everyone says we will know when they release free dining for visa because it will be all over the boards, but how do the people talking about it on the boards find out so they know that morning? The visa reward site, or do they just call every morning until a CM says yes it has been released? Because according to a lot of people's experience, many CMs do not know. I know it's usually three days prior, but do people check somehow to make sure it's not already released earlier? This is my first post so forgive me if I have done anything incorrectly

 

[black562]

You would be surprised at how little the CM's are told until right before a new promotion comes out. There are severe penalties if a CM is found to have leaked information early.

Yea. The first few callers that morning will be in for a slow booking while they get into the swing of things.

 

[mouserrificmom]

I figured...but one can wish lol...oh well POR it is for our 5!! I'd love the extra space of the suite but free dining always works best for us as we are 4 Disney adults and only one child. And, we eat a lot od TS meals...it's DH's one request so I need to keep him happy so I can keep going So, QS won't cut it for us Thanks for the answer! I am just going to be on pins and needles for the next few months until FD does or doesn't get released for end Oct!

We are also a family of 5 where only one of our kids is still a 'kid' in Disney pricing - no matter how I slice it, POR always comes out the least expensive. Even when splitting rooms with my parents - with the upgrade cost of 4 adults, the difference between the two are too negligible to make a difference.

 

[Shmily1]

Do you know the minimum number of nights this time?

 

[mcurran]

Do you know the minimum number of nights this time?

Minimum 3 nights, max 14 nights. Must buy at least a 2-day tickets for each person.

 

[Jenmia]

So how will I find the FD PIN on May 9th? Do you think it'll be posted on this board at 7am EST?

 

[TheDisney411]

It's just hard to predict anymore. The week night hard ticket parties almost never used to sell out, except for opening and closing nights, many of the parties, even on week nights sold out last year. I'm sure I have a list of sell out nights from last year somewhere, I'll see if I can find it and maybe have some more specific insight for certain dates.

Okay, the 2 MVMCP the week before Thanksgiving last year sold out. I would assume a lot of people bought those tickets so the could experience the party since it does not show during Thanksgiving week.

There have been a ton of questions about crowds on MNSSHP and MVMCP nights. Generally the week nights for MNSSHP are going to be less crowded then weekend nights - locals come in on the weekends and make the crowds larger. There is little chance that the September MNSSHP nights will sell out, but weekends will have higher crowds.

The October MNSSHP week nights will also be less crowded than weekend nights. But in October there is going to be a higher chance of weekends selling out and as you get closer to Halloween there are going to be a lot of sell out nights. Halloween night will ALWAYS sell out and November 1 probably will too.

There are not as many MVMCP dates and more of them will sell out. The majority of the November dates did sell out last year. The early December MVMCP weeknights should have slightly less crowds than weekends. The last week of the MVMCP will all most likely sell out.

 

[disneycruisegal]

We are staying at the Beach Club October 14 through the 18th, does anyone know if Columbus Day week has been blocked out in the past?

I read in a past post that May 6th would be the first day to call for Disney Visa card holders... is that the consensus?

I'm surprised they offer free dining during the Food and Wine Fest.



...I just read the OP, looks like the dates are only going out to September. Good luck to all you September people, I will continue waiting with the other October people.

 

[TheDisney411]

Do you know the minimum number of nights this time?

All FD promos have a 3 night minimum and 14 night maximum booking.

 

[winnieatepooh]

I have never booked over the phone, so I have a few questions and would love input if anyone has any opinions.

1) Like a few posters above me, how will we get the code for FD - will it be posted on May 6? I'm happy to say my fiance has a Disney Visa so I'll be calling at 7AM!

2) As I said above, it is not my Visa, but hell would freeze over if my fiance woke up at 7AM, let alone sit on hold with Disney making our reservations, so I will be calling. Is it going to be a problem that I'm making the reservation with his Visa? I think I read somewhere that they don't really care what you make the reservation with as long as the trip is paid off, but I just wanted to be sure I won't have to speak in a man's voice when making our reservations

3) I haven't really read anything about people booking their flights with Disney. Last year I booked through AAA and they took care of everything for us and just gave us the confirmation numbers so I was able to confirm our reservations myself online. I'm assuming it will work the same way with Disney booking it for us?

Thank you so much everyone for all of the helpful tips and information. I don't know how I would be able to book these trips without all of you!

 

[malacajo]

So how will I find the FD PIN on May 9th? Do you think it'll be posted on this board at 7am EST?

There won't be a PIN, it'll just be a discount that Disney is offering!!! You can just call!

 

[black562]

I have never booked over the phone, so I have a few questions and would love input if anyone has any opinions.

1) Like a few posters above me, how will we get the code for FD - will it be posted on May 6? I'm happy to say my fiance has a Disney Visa so I'll be calling at 7AM!

2) As I said above, it is not my Visa, but hell would freeze over if my fiance woke up at 7AM, let alone sit on hold with Disney making our reservations, so I will be calling. Is it going to be a problem that I'm making the reservation with his Visa? I think I read somewhere that they don't really care what you make the reservation with as long as the trip is paid off, but I just wanted to be sure I won't have to speak in a man's voice when making our reservations

3) I haven't really read anything about people booking their flights with Disney. Last year I booked through AAA and they took care of everything for us and just gave us the confirmation numbers so I was able to confirm our reservations myself online. I'm assuming it will work the same way with Disney booking it for us?

Thank you so much everyone for all of the helpful tips and information. I don't know how I would be able to book these trips without all of you!

1. Don't worry about a code. Just tell them you want free dining and if they don't know then they will find out.

2. I don't see that as a problem but worst case you'd have to wake him up to tell them it was his.

3. I would assume as such.

 

[TheDisney411]

There won't be a PIN, it'll just be a discount that Disney is offering!!! You can just call!

I think they meant FD code. There will be specific codes, and they will be all over the boards, but you most like wont need the code to book.

 

[jenseib]

I think they meant FD code. There will be specific codes, and they will be all over the boards, but you most like wont need the code to book.

You never need the code for the public offer

 

[TheDisney411]

1) Like a few posters above me, how will we get the code for FD - will it be posted on May 6? I'm happy to say my fiance has a Disney Visa so I'll be calling at 7AM!

2) As I said above, it is not my Visa, but hell would freeze over if my fiance woke up at 7AM, let alone sit on hold with Disney making our reservations, so I will be calling. Is it going to be a problem that I'm making the reservation with his Visa? I think I read somewhere that they don't really care what you make the reservation with as long as the trip is paid off, but I just wanted to be sure I won't have to speak in a man's voice when making our reservations

3) I haven't really read anything about people booking their flights with Disney. Last year I booked through AAA and they took care of everything for us and just gave us the confirmation numbers so I was able to confirm our reservations myself online. I'm assuming it will work the same way with Disney booking it for us?

1. You won't need the code, just the DV CC number in hand.

2. As long as both of your names are on the reservation it won't be an issue.

3. You can book air through Disney, but they are usually MUCH higher than if you book your air yourself. You can book your air on your own and then call back and have your flight info added to your reservation.

 

[serene56]

We are staying at the Beach Club October 14 through the 18th, does anyone know if Columbus Day week has been blocked out in the past?

I read in a past post that May 6th would be the first day to call for Disney Visa card holders... is that the consensus?

I'm surprised they offer free dining during the Food and Wine Fest.



...I just read the OP, looks like the dates are only going out to September. Good luck to all you September people, I will continue waiting with the other October people.

May 6 is for Sept free dining. I read nothing about it being extended to include October. With this year-- so far only sept has seen any offers like that

 

[winnieatepooh]

1. Don't worry about a code. Just tell them you want free dining and if they don't know then they will find out.

2. I don't see that as a problem but worst case you'd have to wake him up to tell them it was his.

3. I would assume as such.

Thank you! Nervousness = gone.

 

[winnieatepooh]

1. You won't need the code, just the DV CC number in hand.

2. As long as both of your names are on the reservation it won't be an issue.

3. You can book air through Disney, but they are usually MUCH higher than if you book your air yourself. You can book your air on your own and then call back and have your flight info added to your reservation.

Thank you! I'll need to do a final comparison for flight prices...as it is now, they are about the same if I did it myself compared to the disney site, but I will double check to make sure I'm not overpaying. Thanks again!

 

[TheDisney411]

We are staying at the Beach Club October 14 through the 18th, does anyone know if Columbus Day week has been blocked out in the past?

I read in a past post that May 6th would be the first day to call for Disney Visa card holders... is that the consensus?

I'm surprised they offer free dining during the Food and Wine Fest.

...I just read the OP, looks like the dates are only going out to September. Good luck to all you September people, I will continue waiting with the other October people.

The October - December FD dates are not released annually until around July, sometimes August.

Columbus Day/Week is almost always blacked out for discounts, has been the last 4 years. The second and third weeks of October are generally going to be blacked out due to many school fall breaks and a lot of conventions are held at WDW during that time and they don't need to fill resort rooms. If FD is offered for October it will probably be October 1-5 or 6 and October 19 or 20 - 31.