Free Dining announced

[DisFlan]

Free Dining has been announced for Disney Visa card holders (and everyone else soon)... 8/24 to 9/20/08. And we arrive on 9/20. Thank heavens we don't have to battle for ADRs with the free food people. Thank you, Disney gods! I'm just hoping it isn't extended.

We went last year during the tail end of FD (overlapped a couple of days), and we really didn't want to fight the hoards of FD people again this year.

DisFlan

 

[ericamanda01]

I hate free dining! I mean it's a wonderful deal for those that wouldn't otherwise be able to buy it. But the restaurants and parks are so over crowded. We already have our trip planned and it falls right in the middle of this mess. Thank goodness we are eating in our room most of the time this trip!

 

[DisFlan]

I hate free dining! I mean it's a wonderful deal for those that wouldn't otherwise be able to buy it. But the restaurants and parks are so over crowded. We already have our trip planned and it falls right in the middle of this mess. Thank goodness we are eating in our room most of the time this trip!

Cute dog!

We wanted to go back in Sept. to get another use out of our APs, DDE and golf card before they expire. So we took a chance on running into FD. I'm glad we'll be out of it, but I hope you and your family have a great trip!

DisFlan

 

[castleri]

The bounce back program had longer dates I think since DD has reservations for 9/17-9/24 with free dining alreaady.

 

[Muushka]

We signed up for it starting 9/24. Sorry!

 

[Muushka]

Oops, and to add insult to injury, it looks like they are allowing the free dining if you check in by the 20th and they will extend it up to 10 days. Sorry!

 

[ericamanda01]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound so harsh. I think it's a great deal, and I wish we had known it was happening, we might have taken advantage of it. It's just the crowds of early Sept have increased and it's not as slow as it used to be. I think we got a little spoiled from the trips before. I was smart enough to call this morning and make all our AR and I got all the times we wanted. We only have 3 so it's not such a big deal.

DisFlan, thanks, he's REALLY spoiled!

 

[jennyl772003]

Don't mean to hijack, but...

The free dining is only with a room and tix package, correct? We are going during the free dining period, but we have an AP and are staying on points. If we wanted to take advantage, we'd have to totally change our ressie and rebook, correct?

Thank goodness we've already made our ADRs
(sorry, DH won't believe me, he needs a second opinion)

 

[Muushka]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound so harsh. I think it's a great deal, and I wish we had known it was happening, we might have taken advantage of it. It's just the crowds of early Sept have increased and it's not as slow as it used to be. I think we got a little spoiled from the trips before. I was smart enough to call this morning and make all our AR and I got all the times we wanted. We only have 3 so it's not such a big deal.

DisFlan, thanks, he's REALLY spoiled!

You didn't sound harsh, I just wanted to warn you that all was not well in Dodge City! It should be a little calmer by the time you and I are there. I hope you have a great time!

Don't mean to hijack, but...

The free dining is only with a room and tix package, correct? We are going during the free dining period, but we have an AP and are staying on points. If we wanted to take advantage, we'd have to totally change our ressie and rebook, correct?

Thank goodness we've already made our ADRs
(sorry, DH won't believe me, he needs a second opinion)

Yes, you are correct and your husband is not!
I love it when that happens!!! (not very often in this house).

You would have to stay on cash at one of the designated resorts (don't know which) and buy the 1 day pass for each in your party.

 

[islandtimect]

Yes, free dining is only if you pay for room and package with money and not points. We went for FD last Sept and it was great! Saved a ton of money and the parks weren't crowded. Definitely need to make ressies early, but with so many good places to eat, we were only disappointed once. Aa it turns out, at our own resort, GF, it was hard to get dinner ressie.

 

[DisFlan]

lol - well, thanks, everyone, for the "good" news. I'll start working on some ADRs ASAP.

DisFlan

 

[emutrackster]

How crowded and how expensive would it be to go over labor day? I have an annual pass, would this count as a ticket?

 

[DisneyDreams21]

Labor Day is a little busier than normal but if you book soon you should be ok. The AP doesn't count as a ticket--you need to book a package with rack rate room and at least a single day ticket for everyone in the room.

 

[icouldlivethere]

We went for free dining last September and really enjoyed it. Although it seemed like there was a lot of people there the lines were very short for the rides and we walked on almost everything.

We booked again for this year using the bounce back offer but I plan on canceling it. The bounce back offer did go later. I know my reservation starts in late September and goes into October. The deal isn't as good as it used to be now that it doesn't include tips and appetizers. It still is a good deal though.

We are currently awaiting our closing on a small BWV contract and decided we would rather book something with that later in the year and cancel the free dining reservation we have.

 

[ldo]

you can get the DVC discount and "trade" your 1 day ticket in towards AP with DVC discount. Also, you do not have to do it during Free dining--you can "save" the UNUSED 1 day ticket for a future AP (or any type of ticket) purchase--you get the dollar value of what you paid applied--as long as unused, it never expires. Only thing I am unsure of is if you can apply it towards renewal of AP--never asked that.
We have 4 one day tickets from last year's free DDP that we will Upgrade for 6 day passes this June.

 

[nunzia]

The bounce back program had longer dates I think since DD has reservations for 9/17-9/24 with free dining alreaady.

What is the bounce back program?

 

[jmatias]

OP thanks for the heads-up on the free dining.

Going to a trade show mid September and booked my dining ressies this morning.

Aloha,
Jen

 

[Muushka]

What is the bounce back program?

The bounce back program was for people who were there last year for the same thing, free dining. They offered it to us again for this year. But the dates were a little longer, latest check in date was 9/27.

 

[stopher1]

We were there the last 3 yrs on FD - and even took the bounceback for this year - but then joined DVC. We enjoyed the food part, but not the extra crowded restaurants. We're looking forward to our first trip home in October. Of course we can't, but it sure would be nice to have the FD, too! At least the food... The FD has definitely transformed a very slow period of the year into a moderately busy period!