Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[Aeryn76]

I didn't plan to get the memory maker but with the dates I had picked out, it was free and I figured why not and got it. And I will only be there for a week. Come in Sunday night and leave Saturday morning. So only a week in the parks.

 

[Tifley]

The boards are eerily quiet! Too quiet for a week before FD!!!

 

[donp]

Do we know for sure that the DV offer is coming out first or is there a chance the DV and GP offer will be offered at the same time?

I don't think anything is for sure, even whether FD is truly back. The powers that be suggest that at least for September they expect DV to come out first.

 

[tinker&belle]

I have lost track... Is May 1st thought to be the date for DV OR GP?

 

[donp]

I didn't plan to get the memory maker but with the dates I had picked out, it was free and I figured why not and got it. And I will only be there for a week. Come in Sunday night and leave Saturday morning. So only a week in the parks.

You could always go back in to the Disney website and price out your same package WITHOUT putting in the QSDP. ThAt should give you the price difference of what you have now and what FD package would look like.

 

[mouserrificmom]

There is also a room discount associated with the memory maker plan so with only one person in your party, it might work out to be the greater discount .... But if you didn't want or care about the mm than it may be better to go with FD. I don't think there would be an easy formula to predict which would be best in your case because there are a lot of variables, especially since you have a meal you will already be paying for OOP. If you want to keep the memory maker, I'm pretty sure you'd likely end up ahead sticking with what you've already got.

 

[donp]

the boards are eerily quiet! Too quiet for a week before fd!!!

**crickets**

 

[estephenson]

Historically has the late fall/winter FD offer been open for DV member first or straight to GP?

 

[donp]

Historically has the late fall/winter FD offer been open for DV member first or straight to GP?

Last year, it went straight to the general public.
I believe this caused quite a brouhaha on this site.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Depends on how long you are staying, for one thing. The MM is one cost no matter how long you are going to be there, but the dining plan is around $40 a night. So, if you are staying five days or less, with the free MM and the slightly reduced package cost with that MM promotion that was out, you are probably about even to do either (that is assuming you would be buying MM if you got free dining). If more days, or more people in your room, looks like scales tip to FD.

I agree and I think it also depends on the way/how much you eat in the warm weather.
In the hotter months, I can no way eat 2 or 3 meals a day. Many times, I like to just snack (egg roll, corn dog, pretzel, etc) and have just 1 meal sometime during the day/early evening. I know that if I was going solo, I would get a bigger bang for my buck with a room discount/MM and paying OOP for my food especially in the warmer months. With my family, the FD definitely is the best deal for us.

 

[KNovacovschi]

It has been reported that the MM cannot be cancelled once you pay the MM deal in full, so if you want to switch deals, you will have to pay the cost of MM first. You might be better off with your current deal, but definitely run the numbers.

You can actually cancel without having to pay the cost of the MM. I confirmed this with about 3 different CMs. When I booked I specifically asked if FD was released & wanted to switch would I have to pay for the MM I was told no. That was my biggest concern when I changed my package to the MM promo.

 

[DisMama5]

Are the AOA suites usually excluded from the "fall" free dining offer.. Which covers oct-dec?? I read in a previous post that someone said AOA suites were only included in late summer FD offer.....

 

[6loversofdisney]

So, I am so very lost and confused. I know I could look through each of these responses and find the answer but please help me here instead. So May 1st something is possibly going to happen? I was expecting to have to wait until July or August to find out if free dining was coming in December. Is that still the case or might something come out sooner? Maybe the May 1 date is for those of you who are hoping for it in the fall?? Let me know please.

 

[CJK]

So, I am so very lost and confused. I know I could look through each of these responses and find the answer but please help me here instead. So May 1st something is possibly going to happen? I was expecting to have to wait until July or August to find out if free dining was coming in December. Is that still the case or might something come out sooner? Maybe the May 1 date is for those of you who are hoping for it in the fall?? Let me know please.

May 1st will likely be the day that free dining is released for September dates only. You are correct and will have to wait until late July/early August for your December travel dates. It's a waiting game for us!

 

[CJK]

Are the AOA suites usually excluded from the "fall" free dining offer.. Which covers oct-dec?? I read in a previous post that someone said AOA suites were only included in late summer FD offer.....

I thought that AOA suites were included in the fall free dining offer last year, but I just went back and checked, and the whole resort was in fact excluded along with Port Orleans French Quarter, All Star Movies, Fort Wilderness Campsites and some DVC villas. We don't know for sure what will or will not be included for 2014, but I would recommend you have a back-up resort in case AOA is excluded again. Good luck!

 

[DisMama5]

I thought that AOA suites were included in the fall free dining offer last year, but I just went back and checked, and the whole resort was in fact excluded along with Port Orleans French Quarter, All Star Movies, Fort Wilderness Campsites and some DVC villas. We don't know for sure what will or will not be included for 2014, but I would recommend you have a back-up resort in case AOA is excluded again. Good luck!

Aw say it ain't so! I was hoping that was wrong lol aiming for a nov trip with FD at AOA.. Looks like that may not be an option... Guess time will tell!

 

[TriciaTurnerRN]

Is it just me or does May 1st seem like a million days away Trying to be patient here how about everyone else???

 

[tony609]

Is it true if booking early with DV I have to call no online? I have to wait until 7am FL time?

 

[EAWildman]

Is it just me or does May 1st seem like a million days away Trying to be patient here how about everyone else???

Trying to be patient...but failing! I usually wait until I actually book the FD package before looking at dining reservations...but I broke down yesterday and booked some sit down meals for us. Not sure that will be the final plan, but at least I got some ADR's in place.

Also struggling with the decision of what resort to stay at. Usually we go with POP Century. Last year we got a room towards the back of the POP so we could have a shorter walk over to the AoA food court. We just pay the extra to upgrade to the regular Dining Plan. But I ran the numbers and for an extra $250 (aprox.) we could stay at a moderate resort. I have stayed at POR (AB) once and at CS once. Enjoyed both resorts very much. We have two adults and our 6 year old son. We get along just fine in a value standard room. So, just not sure if it's worth upgrading to a moderate. But then I was thinking I could just pay that difference with my Disney Visa Reward Points and it would be "free" to me.

Thoughts?

Eric

 

[EAWildman]

Is it true if booking early with DV I have to call no online? I have to wait until 7am FL time?

If they have a DV FD offer, it is usually the same offer that gets released to the GP a few days later. So, when the DV FD offer is released, only DV card holders can book it. All DV card holders have to call to book a package, there is no online option. So, yes, you have to wait until the phone lines open...but so will everyone else. There won't be a GP offer available when the DV FD offer drops. The GP FD offer will come a few days later. So, you are not at a disadvantage.

Eric