Free Dining at Disney - Booking DIY at WDW advice please

[cjc]

Hi
I am hoping WDW will be offering free dining in 2011 - not sure when I will know if this will be available.
I was thinking of doing a DIY package, flights or flydrive, then WDW and Universal hotels, etc separately.
Who should I book the WDW hotel with to get free dining 'if' it becomes available? Does it have to be a UK company as believe free dining only offered to us Brits!
If you've booked DIY package for this year then welcome advice on the dos/donts? How do you book to ensure you get the best room rates - believe codes change and some agents will alter your booking to ensure you get the best deal - but perhaps this doesnt work with free dining - sounds a bit confusing.
Thanks in advance
CJC

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

I am far from an expert (one will be along in a minute) but I will start you off.

I booked accomodation and flight drive separately. I got my disney accomodation through the disney uk website which had a great deal with free dining and room discounts at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs Resort (I think 42% off). The Disney uk website had really good deals this year and maybe we will be lucky again for next year. I booked my flydrive with globespan (ouch) and then with continental. BTW if you book a flydrive you are covered by ATOL if the airline goes bust wheras for a flight only you would not have this coverage but could claim through your credit card company.

Hope this helps a bit

 

[2Tiggies]

To get free dining you have to book accommodation and tickets at the same time in the same transaction and specifically select (online) or state (by phone) that you wish free dining to be added. I have found Disney UK to have the best deals over the last 18 months. I am also looking out for next year's FD offers. Last year they were released at the end of May so hopefully we will know soon.

I am also keeping my eye on the Disney US prices. It is a bit of a gamble if you want to pay it off with the fluctuation of the £/$ rate at the moment, but the US releases offers much closer to the time so it means booking much later. I want to try POP next year which doesn't qualify for FD on the UK but if I get it in the US and they offer QS which is what I want, I will go for it.

It is worth shopping around. I think Virgin Holidays is to release their new brochure quite shortly too so keep your eyes peeled in your TA/s

 

[2Tiggies]

Sorry, forgot about your last comment. Regarding adding FD to a reservation, this is commonly done in the US, but Disney UK work very differently and I have not heard of anyone just being able to add it after booking. You may want to have this confirmed before risking it.

The US offer of FD means you don't get a discounted rate on your room so it is more expensive for the room to get free dining. UK does not offer the variable room rate. Free dining is there when its there and you can take it or leave it but your room rate remains the same regardless of what you do with the dining option.

If you want to upgrade to Deluxe Dining Plan, again you are better off booking with a US company or Disney itself there as they are allowed to pay the difference between the free dining plan and Deluxe. UK only allows you to pay in to upgrade from QSDP to regular. If you want deluxe, you fork out the whole £76 pppn! A lot of the maths will depend on what level of resort you stay at and how many people you have in a room.

Hope I haven't confused you.