Free Dining always in September?

[Rayvn]

Is free dining always in September? When do they put up the dates for free dining for 2012? How much does it cost to upgrade dining plans?

Is the dining plan worth it?

I will be traveling with a 2yo and almost 5yo when we go. The eldest child has a cow's milk sensitivity/allergy and is on the autistic spectrum.

Leslie

 

[wdw4rfam]

They have had free dining every year since AT LEAST 2006 in September. Sometimes they will add dates throughout the year. They usually announce it in April- but last year they announced dates sometime in the summer for various dates in 2011. I personally feel that if you are planning on doing at least a couple character meals or sit down meals , the dining plan is WAY worth it. I would never go without it. They are very accomodating with allergies. My son is also on the spectrum- if you don't already know, make sure you bring a note from the doctor to guest services. The guest assistance pass is a godsend to us parents with kids on the spectrum. Especially when you have a child like mine that just wants to ride the Buzz ride 20 times in a row, and Toy Story Mania.

 

[minnie mum]

Is free dining always in September?You can't guarantee when (or if) Disney will offer free dining; but it has been offered in Aug/Sep in the past. When do they put up the dates for free dining for 2012? Since we dont know IF they'll offer it at all, no one can say for sure. However if memory serves, the free dining offer for this year came out in April How much does it cost to upgrade dining plans? Depends on what dining plan you're starting with. Value resorts came with a QSDP. Mods and deluxes came with a (regular) DDP. To find out how much it would cost to upgrade, check out the prices for each plan over at MouseSavers.com. The new 2012 prices for the dining plan are APPROX. : QSDP:$35 adult/ $12 child. DDP:$51-53 adult/$15-16 child. Deluxe DP: $85-89 adult/$23-25 child. Note that you can upgrade by paying the difference, but you cannot downgrade.

Is the dining plan worth it?Depends on whether you and your family can take full advantage of all the meals provided by the plan you select. Of course if it's free, then its worth it. If you are paying for DDP but not eating a TS meal and a CS meal and a snack EACH every day, then it's probably cheaper to pay out of pocket instead.

I will be traveling with a 2yo and almost 5yo when we go. The eldest child has a cow's milk sensitivity/allergy and is on the autistic spectrum.

Leslie

Hope that helps a little bit. If you have a child with special eating requirements, the people at Disney are really good at trying to help meet them, especially if they are given a heads up when you make your ADRs.

 

[nkereina]

Is free dining always in September? Typically it has been for the last several years

When do they put up the dates for free dining for 2012?
No one knows. Last year they announced free dining dates for August/September 2011 in November and then re-released some dates in April I believe. Announcing them so early, almost a year out, was unprecedented. It will depend on how they are doing in the bookings department that will dictate when or if free dining will be announced.

How much does it cost to upgrade dining plans?
Whatever the difference is in the plan cost per day. We upgraded from regular to DxDP and I believe it around approx $40-ish per day per person to upgrade.

Is the dining plan worth it?
Many people suggest going through the menus and picking out what you'd order and adding up the costs. Then see how much you'd spend on the dining plan. If it's a savings, then yes. If you break even or it's not a savings, then no. On regular DP, you get a dessert with every meal. On DxDP, you get an appetizer and dessert. It's a lot of food so if you don't eat that much, it's probably not a great value. If you can get it for free, it would be worth it.

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