Free Dining 8/26-9/22-Anyone Else Hear This?

[Nicholfamily5]

While I am bummed that we won't get free dining...am I the only one mildly excited in hopes that the crowds will be a touch smaller?
I know we still have P&P to contend with, but I booked the 16th -22nd of August with the smaller crowds in mind!

 

[G&J's Mom]

But having one day tickets and using an AP isn't a given either. Didn't the UK deal require length of stay tickets??? No telling how all this deal is going to pan out if it does.

Denise

 

[ruthma]

Last year you only had to purchase a one day MYW ticket for each person in the room. (We have Seasonal Annual Passes, so that's what we did.)

Also, to the previous poster, be aware that you have to purchase the same ticket for everyone in the room. If one person gets a one day ticket, you ALL get one. If one person gets a five day ticket, you ALL get one. If you want different days on different tickets it's easier to get the one day tickets and just upgrade at the parks.

That said, who knows how Disney will work things this year.

Thanks...I knew someone would know...

 

[cinderkelli]

So when you book your package, do they send you the park passes in the mail right away? I was hoping to use three of the days before my September trip. Would I be able to do it that way?

 

[Ziggy]

But having one day tickets and using an AP isn't a given either. Didn't the UK deal require length of stay tickets??? No telling how all this deal is going to pan out if it does.

Denise

The UK deal did require a length of stay pass, you had to buy a 7 day or 14 day pass although there is only about $18 difference between the two, my friend who is going for 10 days had to buy 14 day passes for all her family. The offer was limited to a few tour operators and you had to buy flights, passes and accommodation to qualify - I was using miles for my flights so did not qualify. Disney.co.uk also offered it but as we wanted DVC the dates we wanted were not available during the offer period so I am hoping to get a better deal than my 15% of AAA rate that I have at present .

 

[Amyrlin]

The UK offer that was already made for free dinning required that you bought at least a 5 day ticket and had a 7 day stay (some travel agents made it up to 7 days IIRC)

 

[Mariposa]

But having one day tickets and using an AP isn't a given either. Didn't the UK deal require length of stay tickets??? No telling how all this deal is going to pan out if it does.

Denise

Yeah, I'm not sure how it's going to work this year, just noting how it worked last year.

I think the UK had to do length of stay in '06 too, though? So, that might not be anything unusual.

And to the PP that asked if you get your passes in the mail, that's a nope. You don't get the tickets until you check in since they're part of a package. Sorry.

 

[aubriee]

US residents who stayed on site last December were able to book the same weeks that the UK residents book.

The general public, has a shorter window to work with.

Actually the dates for the UK Program and the Bounce Back Program were different. The UK Program was for check ins from mid August to Sept 29th and required length of stay passes. For the Bounce Back program our dates started August 5th and went through Sept 29th and required only a one day base ticket.

 

[CathrynRose]

Ill be honest - I hoped NOT for free dining only to lessen the crowds, but heck...

If theyre gonna offer it, I'm taking it!!!

Im currently booked with a package 9.13-9.17 and an additonal "room only" day on the 12th.

I might have to play with my ressie right now....maybe add the 12th? Now?

UGH!

LOL! Free dining is incoveniencing me!

 

[rstamm]

I only had to get a one day ticket with the bounceback program.
We have AP's so it will work great for us.
If they do offer free dining to everyone I don't know what that will require, they seem to just make things up as they go.
Different dates for the Uk from Bounceback program to the next offer.

 

[d23cndrela]

Free dining is making people extremely crazy!!!

 

[Kitty-chan]

Free dining is making people extremely crazy!!!

Excellent! I've been crazy for years, and now I can blame free dining!!

 

[HayGan]

So when you book your package, do they send you the park passes in the mail right away? I was hoping to use three of the days before my September trip. Would I be able to do it that way?

No, you do not receive your park passes until you check in to your resort.

 

[LakeAriel]

So when you book your package, do they send you the park passes in the mail right away? I was hoping to use three of the days before my September trip. Would I be able to do it that way?

No, theme park tickets are built into your room key. They cannot be used till check in.

 

[sorul82?]

Excellent! I've been crazy for years, and now I can blame free dining!!

 

[chipirrina2]

No idea if anyone knows the answer to this, but if they do Free Dining, I know you have to buy at least a one day ticket to the parks with your room, correct? My question is, if you are staying 5 days, with the free dining plan, can you buy park tickets for longer? I am going this summer too and would love to go ahead and buy like a ten day non expiration if I could, instead of buying a few days for June and a few days for September.

If you mean using part of your tickets before you check in at your hotel, I don't think you can.

Last year (silly me), as we were staying at Universal first I thought I'd get tickets for a couple more days and maybe visit Disney during those days, so my tickets were for more days than my hotel stay. But I found out those extra days could only be used after my Disney hotel stay and not before.

 

[square pond]

Hi, Just Wanted to let everyone know that you can actually get your passes before your stay begins. Last year we booked the Magic your way with 10 day expiring tickets and free dining. Our stay was only for 6 nights at WL but we were staying off property the week before we arrived at Orange Lake. We just went to Guest services at Epcot and they pulled them off of the package reservation. The only downside is they will not be on your room key when you check in. You will have to carry seperate paper tickets. I know a lot of people don't believe this can be done. I was told no by AAA and Dreams when I asked about it but it can be done if you want too.

 

[HayGan]

Hi, Just Wanted to let everyone know that you can actually get your passes before your stay begins. Last year we booked the Magic your way with 10 day expiring tickets and free dining. Our stay was only for 6 nights at WL but we were staying off property the week before we arrived at Orange Lake. We just went to Guest services at Epcot and they pulled them off of the package reservation. The only downside is they will not be on your room key when you check in. You will have to carry seperate paper tickets. I know a lot of people don't believe this can be done. I was told no by AAA and Dreams when I asked about it but it can be done if you want too.

This is one of those cases where your experience may be different from others. Very few people have been able to get passes prior to checking in at their resort. Apparently it is a hassle for the CMs and it is actually Disney policy not to provide the tickets before check-in although some pixie dust is spread from time to time. Just don't count on being able to get those tickets before arrival!

 

[5DisneyNuts]

This is a really good point. Thanks for explaining how it worked last year! My dh only plans to grudgingly go into the AK one day, so I'm better off sticking with room only reservations if I can only get the free dining plan for one day...

Not sure if I'm understanding correctly, but if you have a 3 night reservation you will receive dining for all in your party for 3 nights regardless of the amount of days on your park passes.

For example, 2A 1C staying 3 nights with a 1 day base MYW park pass for each, will receive 6 Adult Table Services, 3 Child Table Services, 9 Counter Services, and 9 Snacks. You can always upgrade 2 of the passes with more days at the front desk.

If things work the same as free dining last year...

However, you may decide the room only discount is a better deal if you are not interested in character meals or sit down dining.

Hope that helps!

 

[square pond]

This is one of those cases where your experience may be different from others. Very few people have been able to get passes prior to checking in at their resort. Apparently it is a hassle for the CMs and it is actually Disney policy not to provide the tickets before check-in although some pixie dust is spread from time to time. Just don't count on being able to get those tickets before arrival!

I realize a lot of people believe that it is a hassle but it took all of 5 min. The infomation about getting the tix ahead of time actually came from Deb W.'s site in an old Anita answer post. They cm that pulled our passes off never even blinked about it. The catch is you have to go to guest relations. You can't just go to a ticket window. Good Luck