Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[scrappinginontario]

I wish they would release the dec dates too, I'm so impatient! And so I can finalize flight plans when southwest release the tickets in May!

Any idea of their next release date? We're looking for November and February flights so watching releases carefully.

 

[I<3theMouse]

I still don't understand how it is free. Unless you are staying at a resort where there are no room only discounts, but which is included in the free dining offer. More like discounted dining. OR in your case, sharply discounted dining
I personally only stay at the DVC resorts, so maybe that's why I can never pay rack rate.

If you're staying deluxe, depending on party size RO discount may work out better than Free Dining.

For my family of 4 to stay at WL in Nov, with a hypothetical discount of 30% off rack rate, the discount off the room is $1070.05 (my example is for 8 night stay & includes 3 Disney adults & 1 child) Reg dining plan is $1609.20. So, even in this scenario, we are better off with a FD offer (saving $538.70. No way we could eat on $60/day and enjoy Character Meals or TS each day).

However, our overall cost will be much less as we don't stay deluxe. Probably stay moderate & hoping FD is avail for Nov!!

 

[wdwmaw]

So does that mean we should not expect free dining pins for September?

Historically, the next set of PINS or Unique Offer Codes should be for the end of Sept-Dec time frame Last year those starting to show up in inboxes the first of May

 

[heathjh]

Ok family of 5'ers! 1st Resort Option- POR with the murphy bed. 2nd- ?? Joining rooms at a value, if so which one? Then I would have to pay for the upgrade from Quick service to table... but im ok with that.. What say you?? suggestions? and what are your plans ? Waiting is agonizing LOL might as well chatter till Monday?

I ran numbers last night. I included the upgrading dining in my numbers. We have 24 people in our party. We will shuffle kids/adults around as needed depending on room configuration.

POR is our best bet. ASMu or Mo next. Then it jumps up a bit to Beach Club. Then it jumps up even more for ASM suites. Then a huge jump to AoA suites. Then everything else is way out of reach.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I still don't understand how it is free. Unless you are staying at a resort where there are no room only discounts, but which is included in the free dining offer. More like discounted dining. OR in your case, sharply discounted dining
I personally only stay at the DVC resorts, so maybe that's why I can never pay rack rate.

We have a full price package booked now. When I add FREE dining, the price will not go up. Therefore...free. Our room is $1900 full price, the dining plan is $2400. A 100% room discount would not beat that. I could see if two people staying in a DVC resort a room discount would be better, but saying free dining isn't free....i will gladly show you my invoice before FD and after they add it, the dining plan will be added and the price will not change.

 

[stephyamber]

Another question about upgrading a young child to adult status: if the child still wants to order child meals at some restaurants are they able to? Do they just make ita larger portion of the child food selection or is it still the normal child portion serving?

 

[scard192]

Any idea of their next release date? We're looking for November and February flights so watching releases carefully.

Last year Fall FD and RO discounts came out August 1. Historically Fall discounts come out in July.

 

[Pkltm]

As long as you check in by the last day it is offered and there is availability you can get for whole stay right?

Example offer is check in dates through Nov 1 and we check in Oct 31 for 10 nights?

 

[smitch425]

As long as you check in by the last day it is offered and there is availability you can get for whole stay right?

Example offer is check in dates through Nov 1 and we check in Oct 31 for 10 nights?

As long as your check in day is a covered date, and there is availability, you will get free dining for up to 14 nights.

 

[mrsap]

We have a full price package booked now. When I add FREE dining, the price will not go up. Therefore...free. Our room is $1900 full price, the dining plan is $2400. A 100% room discount would not beat that. I could see if two people staying in a DVC resort a room discount would be better, but saying free dining isn't free....i will gladly show you my invoice before FD and after they add it, the dining plan will be added and the price will not change.

Don't you also have to buy tickets for everyone too if you add a dining plan?

 

[I<3theMouse]

Don't you also have to buy tickets for everyone too if you add a dining plan?

Usually, FD requires at least a 2 day ticket for each person.

 

[martinmont]

Any idea of their next release date? We're looking for November and February flights so watching releases carefully.

May 19th according to the southwest site.

 

[martinmont]

What about RO discount since your dates need to be covered entirely? Let's says it ends sept 28th, would you get the discount for the 28th night or u need to check out on the 28th?

 

[wdwmaw]

Don't you also have to buy tickets for everyone too if you add a dining plan?

OP said she had a full price package booked now (package is room/tickets)

 

[smitch425]

What about RO discount since your dates need to be covered entirely? Let's says it ends sept 28th, would you get the discount for the 28th night or u need to check out on the 28th?

Your check in date just has to fall within the offer, not the entire trip. It will just be discounted for the included nights, so if the dates for the room offer were Sept. 20-30, and your stay was Sept. 27-Oct 3, you would get a discounted rate for the nights of Sept. 27, 28, 29 and 30, and then Oct. 1 and 2 would be full price.

 

[bookgirl]

We did Free Dining last year. It saved the two of us about $150, we had mixed feelings about FD.

I did two 2 credit dinners because I had the credits to spend but typically would not eat two huge meals for dinner in a four night trip.

We typically eat light for breakfast, then snack/share for lunch and then dinner. In fact we typically either get two entrées or get one appetizer and one entrée and share. We really are more snackers than formal meals.

We don't tend to want desserts after meals. (sweet snacks okay but only like one a day, but not after a big meal).

We only refilled our mugs twice in 5 days.

we stayed at a mod and the type of room my mom wanted it made sense as the room only discount was still slightly more with the one expensive meal we had planned and all the F&W festival "snack credit" items we were going to buy. Only $150 but enough for us to use the package and kind of adapt it to our eating style.


This year we are not planning a Fantasmic Dinner Package, we will not be trying as many F&W snacks (we kind of know what we like so will only hit a few favorites and maybe try a couple new), I actually have an AP so I don't need a ticket and my mom is crushing on WL Courtyard view. (I do love my Mama, so right now WL is the hotel)

This year FD will probably not save us any money. With the way we normally eat and our plan to have only one higher priced meal (lunch at Brown Derby with other meals either CS or one or two lower tier TS like BOG where we only order what we actually will want or eat) and no need for mugs. I'm betting that a room only (either GP or AP Which should be around $300-$400 dollars) will be more then the amount of food we will pay OOP).

For us it's not a matter of "FREE" it's a matter of numbers. Any deal can be better IF the parameters of the deal fit your style, level or use of the discount itself.

I will run the numbers for both and make final decisions then. This is IF Free Dining is offered for our dates in Oct.

 

[mrsap]

OP said she had a full price package booked now (package is room/tickets)

Wasn't sure if tickets were a must with free dining, and I didn't see the cost of the tickets in her price breakdown, that's why I'm asking. Never did the DP or FD before.

 

[Alexis772]

Ok family of 5'ers!
1st Resort Option- POR with the murphy bed.
2nd- ?? Joining rooms at a value, if so which one? Then I would have to pay for the upgrade from Quick service to table... but im ok with that..
What say you?? suggestions? and what are your plans ?

Waiting is agonizing LOL might as well chatter till Monday?

I'm planning a trip for my 3 kids, MIL, and myself (hubby isn't a big theme park guy...). I've been pricing things out as well. We are planning on going 11/30-12/6. Was leaning towards POR as it is the east expensive option. I'm probably going to go with ASMo instead and ask for connected rooms- it will give us 4 beds, 2 bathrooms, and a little more room to spread out for about $300 more. If FD is offered, I may switch us to POR, since the difference the goes up to nearly $700. The reason I was looking at ASMo instead of the others is I've already stayed at ASMu and I think the kids will enjoy the theme more- it will be my 5yo twin boys first trip and they love toy story. We won't get a preferred room, but after the connected room request, I plan on requesting close to food court/bus stop- even if we are put somewhere other than toy story, we can still walk over and check out the giant woody and buzz

I agree waiting is a pain- and with our trip not until Nov/Dec, we will be waiting for a while longer...

 

[smitch425]

Wasn't sure if tickets were a must with free dining, and I didn't see the cost of the tickets in her price breakdown, that's why I'm asking. Never did the DP or FD before.

FD requires a minimum two day base ticket for everyone on the reservation ages three and up. If you are purchasing a dining plan, the requirement is a one day ticket for everyone on the reservation ages three and up. If you have an annual pass or you are doing a DVC stay, there is no ticket requirement to purchase a plan.

 

[mrsap]

FD requires a minimum two day base ticket for everyone on the reservation ages three and up. If you are purchasing a dining plan, the requirement is a one day ticket for everyone on the reservation ages three and up.

Thank you very much, that's very helpful!!!