Free Dining Announcement by April 12

[TDC Nala]

I was hoping Free dining would be offered at the start of value season (August 5th)

The Bounce Back offer was given for those dates. I suppose they had enough bookings from that, and the fact that Florida schools are starting late this year, to fill rooms for the first part of the month.

The resorts are very busy in October, and more so over the Columbus Day weekend, which is early this year. The Bounce Back dates were August 5-September 29. Maybe they also got enough bookings from this to take up most of the rooms that would have been empty the last week of value season.

 

[TDC Nala]

That is fine but to say Deluxe hotels should get free dining because they cost more doesn't exactly make more sense. You choose to spend more.

IF Disney only needed to fill rooms in its deluxe hotels, then no doubt they would only offer free dining for the deluxe hotels. That wouldn't mean they have anything against value resorts or the people who stay there, only that Disney didn't need an extra enticement to fill the rooms.

Generally when they make discount offers, they make them across the board for the entire property, so it seems they are looking to help fill all resort rooms they can over hurricane season with the dining offer.

 

[TDC Nala]

We will be going in September. We will be using my parents DVC points to stay at Boardwalk. Do they or rather did they last year offer the free dining plan to those staying onsite with DVC points?

"Free" dining has never been offered to DVC members. It's only offered for those booking room/ticket packages in Disney resorts.

DVC, as I usually say when answering this question, does not need to offer its members an extra incentive to book. We're lucky that we're now allowed to purchase the plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

Unfortunately, August and September are, historically, the worst months for hurricanes in FL.

However, we've been to WDW *during* a hurricane (Charley in '04!) and it didn't ruin our vacation at all. Disney has an incredible system for bracing for a hurricane and cleaning up afterwards.

When Charley blew through, they shut the parks early, 11AM, on the day it was supposed to arrive. They asked everyone to go back to their resorts and wait ... movies were playing non-stop on about 6 Disney resort channels to make sure there was *something* to do in the rooms. The actually hurricane arrived a 8PM and had passed over by midnight (Charley was fast-moving and that was actually good for us tourists!).

They have a good system. But I was there for Frances. She was extraordinarily slow moving and kept the parks closed for 2 days. They didn't want you to leave your resort room for that entire time (I was at Pop Century; in a deluxe you could probably leave the room but not the hotel). They gave you notice that Frances was coming and you had plenty of time to buy supplies at the food court, which was shut down entirely during the storm. I had two days of cereal, some bread, peanut butter, 2 liters of Diet Coke and a couple of little wine bottles.

Pop doesn't have refrigerators so you had to leave the room if you wanted ice...but you weren't supposed to. Housekeeping left extra towels.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I hear people saying that they might not come out with free dining if too many people book already.. but...
last year there was free dining... and we arrived end of September... The parks (to me) were quite empty, even with all these free dining bookers! So it looks good that they'll announce again this year. I hope they do, I got the 40% off, but our friends just booked and they are hoping for free dining...

 

[kbmoo]

I heard a rumor that they are going to start the presale on April 7th for Disney Visa customers. I booked Aug 30-Sept 4 at POP. But I was planning to go again the end of Sept. Hopefully they will extend the time. It is so funny how crazy we get about the free dinning. I already booked LeCelliar for Sept 1st. I am excited.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I heard a rumor that they are going to start the presale on April 7th for Disney Visa customers. I booked Aug 30-Sept 4 at POP. But I was planning to go again the end of Sept. Hopefully they will extend the time. It is so funny how crazy we get about the free dinning. I already booked LeCelliar for Sept 1st. I am excited.

The WDW TA site is now showing Sept MYW Pkg Plus Dining under special offers. The default arrival date is 8/26.
Might be coming sooner than we thought!
However, you get an error message when trying to book.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

The WDW TA site now includes an option to book the Sept MYW PKg with Dining, however when you attempt to book it an error appears.

The default arrival date is coming up as 8/26.

Might be coming sooner than everyone thought! I would check back Monday...Good Luck

Also confirmed on the Codes Threads:
Originally Posted by kutchyone (Thanks Cheryl!)
"Playing around on the TA site and came across this:

September Magic Your Way Package plus Dining

Enjoy this special Magic Your Way Package offer, available most dates between 8/26/07 - 9/22/07. This ticket-inclusive package provides complimentary dining at select locations during your stay!

A three night minimum stay is required, and tickets must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply.
What are you shopping for today?

When I click on continue it says:

September Magic Your Way Package plus Dining

Enjoy this special Magic Your Way Package offer, available most dates between 8/26/07 - 9/22/07. This ticket-inclusive package provides complimentary dining at select locations during your stay!

A three night minimum stay is required, and tickets must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply.

* We are unable to process your reservation; please try again or contact The Disney Reservation Center at (407) 939-6244.

What are you shopping for today?

So I called them and they still don't show the package offer in their system."
__________________

 

[lady_hlh]

I'm so excited, if this is true then we'll be going to WDW right before my DD starts first grade.

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

Can't wait.. I'm ready and waiting to get free dining!!!!!

 

[JSDisneyMommy]

I really don't want to ask a stupid question, but I am new to the boards and am wondering what the WDW TA site is. Thanks!

 

[lady_hlh]

I really don't want to ask a stupid question, but I am new to the boards and am wondering what the WDW TA site is. Thanks!

I think that TA stands for travel agent site which is why I got so excited by this post.

 

[LIBLULA]

I booked a WDW trip Sept. 22- 29. Does that mean I can still qualify for the free dining if and when it comes out?

 

[DisneyBound2007]

When and if the Free DDP is announced, I'm sure there will be news of it on here within minutes or seconds for that matter, but where would it ultimately be announced first....Will they put it on the disneyworld main site, or will it show up only on the disney visa site under special offers. I just see how pumped everyone is about it being announced and do not want to miss out, as this would make financing DGF and my trip so much easier. I do hold the visa card, so I'm hoping they find out first. I just called WDW a few minutes ago and the person I spoke too said they are usually the last ones to know and that the guests usually tell them.
I'm assuming some kind of code will be needed when you call, some promotion code that when entered into their system will show Free Dining is available? Anybody know how this works???

 

[disneyfanUSA]

Well, last yearwe found it on intercot.com! We didn't need any code we just had to book a hotel on Disney Property for certain number of nights! Things may be different this year though will just have to wait and see i guess!

 

[cslittle999]

I booked a WDW trip Sept. 22- 29. Does that mean I can still qualify for the free dining if and when it comes out?

If there is a room available at your resort and that room category when you call to change your reservation. Disney allows you to use discounts that are active on your check-in day for your entire stay.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I really don't want to ask a stupid question, but I am new to the boards and am wondering what the WDW TA site is. Thanks!

Not stupid at all - my mistake...Sorry about that...lady hlh is correct - that stands for the Walt Disney World Travel Agent site.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I booked a WDW trip Sept. 22- 29. Does that mean I can still qualify for the free dining if and when it comes out?

Just as cslittle999 said, if the rules are the same as last year, yes you will qualify for free dining for the length of your stay. In 2006 we checked in the last day free dining was offered and received it for the full length of our stay.
Originally we were booked at the WL woods view. When I called to switch to free dining (which was the first day Disney Visa holders were allowed to book), no woods view rooms were available for the promotion. We had to upgrade to a courtyard view. Still saved us a ton though. Wish we could do it this year for those dates, but with the kid's school schedules it isn't an option

 

[divi2000]

Would the free dining for the UK bounceback program be for Euro Disney and not for Disney in the USA? Should this be true the parks might not be as crowed in August.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

Would the free dining for the UK bounceback program be for Euro Disney and not for Disney in the USA? Should this be true the parks might not be as crowed in August.

From what I heard it's for the US Disney and I'm sure the parks will be a tad bit busier for that time of year.