Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[tinklvsu]

ok, so we are planning on checking on 9/27. do you think this date won't be included in this first release. I was hoping that since F&W starts a week earlier this year we would be ok with this date. do you think it will even be included at all or blacked out?

We too are suppose to be checking in on the 27th, however the flight prices have not changed (as of today) and we are very flexible. I have very little hope that this day will be included looking at past dates. BUT like you said though, with the festival dates changing who knows!

Keeping my fingers crossed, I'd rather not have to change flight info, but will if needed

 

[Later_Mater2009]

Waiting... hoping.. praying... I love this thread

 

[GaBelle]

I'm going to crunch through some data and come back with a date range. Be back in a few.

You're my new favorite person!

 

[heathjh]

I wish Disney would do a bunch of rooms that just have 3 queens or 3 doubles. No need for a suite. Suite=$$. 3beds= affordable.

Someone mentioned the possibility of Disney having blocked off rooms to have reserved for FD. I am hoping that is the case. Not sure how that would benefit Disney though?

Also worried about potential black out dates at the end of Sept. If the start of your vacation starts on a free dining date, can you still receive it for your whole trip if your end date is outside of FD?

 

[amg35]

You're my new favorite person!

Can I ask what he means? Thanks.

 

[jadingirl]

I have a question.

If % off and free dining do come up I am thinking about doing % off and staying at one of the monorail resorts as we are really more focused on Epcot and MK.

So we would pay OOP for food but I want to be able to split entrees with my daughter as she is 10 and not a big eater there is no way she would be able to eat as much as they would expect for an adult. Do the restaurants let you split entrees when you are paying OOP or are they strict about that kind of thing?

 

[Victoriasmom98]

You're my new favorite person!

Even though he refuses to wear the superhero tights???[

 

[wdwmaw]

Can I ask what he means? Thanks.

Hopefully exactly when free dining will be released and dates for the promotion

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[GaBelle]

Can I ask what he means? Thanks.

It means he's going to try to determine a potential date range for upcoming FD offer.

 

[LoveSplashMountain]

So glad I found someplace for people who like to plan their vacations as much as I do!!!

 

[GaBelle]

Even though he refuses to wear the superhero tights???[

Some things are just better left to the imagination!

 

[heathjh]

What is the extra $200 deposit for? Even if we paid the $200/room already?

If FD is released earlier to DV card holders, you would need to put down additional money to use that perk. They are wanting you to use the Disney card, not another card. So that is why they offer this perk.

 

[GaBelle]

I have a question.

If % off and free dining do come up I am thinking about doing % off and staying at one of the monorail resorts as we are really more focused on Epcot and MK.

So we would pay OOP for food but I want to be able to split entrees with my daughter as she is 10 and not a big eater there is no way she would be able to eat as much as they would expect for an adult. Do the restaurants let you split entrees when you are paying OOP or are they strict about that kind of thing?

I can't think of any that would not allow you to split if you're paying OOP, with the exception of buffets.

 

[SPOERLX3]

If FD came out Thurs for Visa, and Mon for Gen Pop, then it means that Visa holders not ONLY get a head start, it means that they have the option to compare the MM discount with FD and choose accordingly, while the general public does not.

VISA holders is intended to be a perk, but getting BOTH a head start AND the ability to choose discounts is one heck of a pair of perks. More likely to me, the VISA discount would only be a head start and not the overlap of promotions.

Also, if we are looking at Disney handing out OT to CMs as a prognosticator, I would think that they'd need OT for VISA as well: it will still be a spike in phone calls.

So, it seems to me that Monday will be the earliest FD is offered to anybody and the question is whether Monday will be general release or to VISA holders as a lead up to general release on Thurs of next week.

Even though Disney does offer 2 separate discounts periodically (there are actually a couple different ones out there right now that let's you choose which works best during summer months) I do agree that more than likely Monday will be the date, either for Disney Visa advance offer or for everyone (without any advance offer at all for DV).

 

[SPOERLX3]

I have a question.

If % off and free dining do come up I am thinking about doing % off and staying at one of the monorail resorts as we are really more focused on Epcot and MK.

So we would pay OOP for food but I want to be able to split entrees with my daughter as she is 10 and not a big eater there is no way she would be able to eat as much as they would expect for an adult. Do the restaurants let you split entrees when you are paying OOP or are they strict about that kind of thing?

You can split anything except a buffet. During our last trip with 2 of our granddaughters, they split the adult chicken dinner at 50's PT and we were on the dining plan. They have no problem splitting. Being at a deluxe resort the room discount may definitely be the best discount for your family.

 

[tbone00]

If FD is released earlier to DV card holders, you would need to put down additional money to use that perk. They are wanting you to use the Disney card, not another card. So that is why they offer this perk.

So if I wait to book with the general public, do you still have to pay the $200? And if not do then do I risk not getting it if I wait?

 

[FrugalFashionista]

Right about now is when folks start panicking. I've already seen a couple of facebook comments saying things like "maybe they've done away with free dining". Free dining certainly brings out the many stages of emotion....excitement, nervousness, panic, fear, dread, anger, and eventually relief.

Instead of the stages of grief we have the stages of FD.

 

[heathjh]

So if I wait to book with the general public, do you still have to pay the $200? And if not do then do I risk not getting it if I wait?

The $200 is the deposit on the room. You can put a deposit down or pay in full. If you want the Disney Visa perk, you will need to put $200 on your Disney card, even if that means you have already made a deposit with a different card.

 

[LaurLaur04]

What are the chances they release a RO discount next week?

 

[ziravan]

So, if Disney is going to let the MM promotion run out before offering FD, then it leaves something of a decision to be made for some.

For people where the comparison between a room discount and FD might be close (small number of guests staying in deluxe resort for a short period, for example), then it might be good strategy to book the free MM package that expires on Sunday and then compare with the details of FD when it comes out.

In addition, this strategy might work for those with questionable historic dates of exclusion: If you want to book around Aug 26-28, or the week of F&W start (Sept 18 - 25 or so), then it might be to your advantage to hedge your bets with free MM room discount promotion first, and then "trade up" if FD includes your dates.

If you book on Sunday (the day free MM ends), then surely Disney's plan for FD next week would be set and you wouldn't be guilty of causing them to change plans because of your booking.

The downside is that if you book MM on Sunday, then you can't book FD at midnight on Monday; you'll have to wait until the phones open at 7pm.

Decisions, decisions.