Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[shanneepants]

Thanks for the great update!

 

[black562]

Thank you again Black!~

Can't wait to see if you can dig up some info on the date range that it will cover in September and if Monday will be for DV early booking or for the GP

Should I take off my rose colored glasses

In the past, the date is usually the public date....and then we all assume the visa date coming before.

If that's the way it is this time, then Thursday would be a Visa offering.

Hopefully we will narrow down which is which...and avoid another repeat of last August.

 

[scard192]

I found a PIN code that I got last year for FD.
I received it on May 9 (the same day it was available for the general public) but the dates were a little different and it looks like it details the black out dates and it opened up dates from the beginning instead of having to wait for Oct-Dec dates for the 2nd round of GP discounts:
"Since you’ve been here before, we wanted to make it easy for you to come back and see us again. That’s why we’re serving up this scrumptious special offer! We’re even giving you lots of dates to choose from.
ENJOY A FREE DINING PLAN
when you purchase a non-discounted 5-night/5-day Walt Disney Travel Company room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels!

For arrivals most nights 8/25–10/2/13, 10/18–10/31/13, 11/11–11/23/13,
11/30–12/4/13 and 12/15–12/22/13.

Book by 8/14/13.
The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited."

The DV offer came out on 5/6, GO on 5/9 with dates to book: 9/2 thru 9/25.
Then the 2nd round came out on 8/1 with dates to book: 9/29 thru 12/22.

My sister got that PIN last year on May 9 too and we used it to book 2 rooms at POFQ with Free Dining. I saw all the posts here about Fall FD PIns going out so decided to call. No PIN for me and decided to ask CM if my sister had one and she had the FD one! FQ was not included in the GP Fall FD offer so pretty excited that she got it. She still likes to remind me that after all the effort I put into doing everything I could to keep getting PINs (was getting them until about 1 year ago),SHE got the PIN I wanted the most and she didn't do anything to get it.

 

[LoveSplashMountain]

In the past, the date is usually the public date....and then we all assume the visa date coming before.

If that's the way it is this time, then Thursday would be a Visa offering.

Hopefully we will narrow down which is which...and avoid another repeat of last August.

This thread is better than Christmas!!! What a great find! Thanks for the guidance - and for helping ease the anticipation while waiting for the big announcement!

 

[Camaro305]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;51202239]This has not been our experience. My picky DS12 has gotten adult portions of chicken nuggets and plain pasta at many places including CRT.[/QUOTE]

If that's true, my apologies!

 

[wdw4rfam]

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

Yes, our package price is $3100, I was just saying that our room is only $1900of that. I was simply showing you that our room alone is less money than the dining plan for 10 days. So NO room discount even free room, would be better than FD.

 

[mrsap]

Yes, our package price is $3100, I was just saying that our room is only $1900of that. I was simply showing you that our room alone is less money than the dining plan for 10 days. So NO room discount even free room, would be better than FD.

The breakdown is great, helps a lot. I wasn't sure if the cost you posted was including tickets. I thought maybe you didn't need to purchase them. We already have two sets of tickets, so we have no intention of purchasing more. I think the RO would work best for us.

 

[wdw4rfam]

This thread is better than Christmas!!! What a great find! Thanks for the guidance - and for helping ease the anticipation while waiting for the big announcement!

It is better than Christmas. My kids are laughing at me as I "check" the boards every hour for any new "surprises" I haven't turned my computer off in days except when I go to bed.

 

[sbarisch]

Hey guys, just a note that as new information arrives, I am updating the first post of this thread with all the details.

Hey Joe, Just FYI you have Riverside listed twice in the Moderate list in the first post of the thread.

 

[LoveSplashMountain]

It is better than Christmas. My kids are laughing at me as I "check" the boards every hour for any new "surprises" I haven't turned my computer off in days except when I go to bed.

Lol!!! I love it. Checking on my iphone mostly and have major separation anxiety without checking every hour!! What can I say??? I LOVE VACATION PLANNING! DH and 2 DD may laugh now but will love it when we are at Disney world.

Happy planning!

 

[wdw4rfam]

The breakdown is great, helps a lot. I wasn't sure if the cost you posted was including tickets. I thought maybe you didn't need to purchase them. We already have two sets of tickets, so we have no intention of purchasing more. I think the RO would work best for us.

I know FD isn't for everyone, there are definitely times RO works out better, especially in DVC resorts or deluxe with 2 people. I was just saying free dining is certainly free for us

 

[Kat016]

Don't some people receive PIN codes before FD goes out to the public. And just wondering if Black has an inside source or is it just a guess?

I got a PIN on Mothers Day last year for FD in October of last year.

 

[mrsap]

I know FD isn't for everyone, there are definitely times RO works out better, especially in DVC resorts or deluxe with 2 people. I was just saying free dining is certainly free for us

No, I understand. I really appreciated your breakdown, it was so helpful!!!!

 

[wdw4rfam]

Lol!!! I love it. Checking on my iphone mostly and have major separation anxiety without checking every hour!! What can I say??? I LOVE VACATION PLANNING! DH and 2 DD may laugh now but will love it when we are at Disney world.

Happy planning!

I know, what will we do once we get FD, and have nothing to stress over I guess then I will have to look for something else to change. The planning is MOST of the fun. The trip will be over in 10 short days, but the 12 months of planning lasted longer Now hurry up black....I'm getting new gray hairs every minute.

 

[tbone00]

If FD is released to DV holders, is it for all holders or just select? So if I see that it is released to DVD holders, can I just call and assume I got it too?

 

[black562]

If FD is released to DV holders, is it for all holders or just select? So if I see that it is released to DVD holders, can I just call and assume I got it too?

Anyone that has a Disney Visa is eligible.

 

[tbone00]

Anyone that has a Disney Visa is eligible.

Thanks!! New to all this!! Haven't received my card yet, but also not going till November, so sounds like I should have some time, but hope it's here the end of the week just to be safe!

 

[black562]

From what I can tell, I am going to estimate the offer dates will run from August 29 to September 24. Again, these could vary a day or two.

Looks like the basic exclusions: Mermaid Rooms, Campsites, GF Villas, 3 Bedroom Villas. It is always possible that POFQ and/or All Star Movies "could" exclude at the last minute. We saw some of that happen the day before release last year.

Still working...

 

[Kat016]

Thank you. I really hate the argument that free dining isn't really free I agree with you, good point!!! I know that FD saves us almost $3000 for our trip. Even if we ate CS and shared meals, the 5 of us couldn't eat for the $400 that a room discount would give us. The dining plan for 5 of us costs more than the resort and tickets together for our 10 day trip!!!!So yes free dining is FREE.

I agree! FD saves us almost $1300, so it is definitely a discount

 

[Ava]

Here's a hypothetical scenario I am now worried about -

We're already booked for Sept 20-27. I can't really change my dates, as this week coincides with school being closed for 2 days and a slow week at work, plus I have an 8:05am ADR at CRT on 9/21 that I refuse to part with. So, if the first weekend of F&W (aka my check-in date) is excluded from FD, can I do a room-only res for 1 night and then get the package w/ FD starting 9/21? Is it possible to do that without actually having to change rooms?