Free Dining August 2013 QUESTIONS

[petsaregreat]

HI!
I see the 2013 room rates are finally out! We are planning a mid/late august 2013 trip. Really need the free dining to afford it. Is my best bet to book a Wilderness Cabin now and hope to apply a free dining discount to it whenever (if ever) it is released?
We are canadian and my sister got free dining for this august starting on the 19th. When I look at the history of free dining it says there wasn't any in previous years until after the 25th. I need to be back by then to prepare for school starting (teacher). How do I know what the best day is to select as our check in day?

 

[mickeynut1]

Unless you're going regardless of whether or not free dining is offered, I would wait to book. Disney releases discounts to fill rooms and booking now "in hopes" of a discount will lessen the chances of that resort being offered in a promo if/when there is one released. Having a reservation already in place does not guarantee you will be able to apply it to your reservation as your resort has to have availability under free dining or another discount in order to have it applied.

 

[jwboucher]

HI!
I see the 2013 room rates are finally out! We are planning a mid/late august 2013 trip. Really need the free dining to afford it. Is my best bet to book a Wilderness Cabin now and hope to apply a free dining discount to it whenever (if ever) it is released?
We are canadian and my sister got free dining for this august starting on the 19th. When I look at the history of free dining it says there wasn't any in previous years until after the 25th. I need to be back by then to prepare for school starting (teacher). How do I know what the best day is to select as our check in day?

We are hoping for a discount of some sort for Aug 2013. Probably the first couple of weeks. This years free dining starts 8/25 thats too late for us.

 

[gregger]

We book last year late Aug 2011 without any discount code and about 2 weeks after I made the deposit I got a postcard from Disney that said "Hay "X" family...how would you like free dining?" So I called and added to my trip. Not sure if this happens to everyone.

I'm also looking for some deals near the end of Aug 2013......

 

[saskdw]

HI!
I see the 2013 room rates are finally out! We are planning a mid/late august 2013 trip. Really need the free dining to afford it. Is my best bet to book a Wilderness Cabin now and hope to apply a free dining discount to it whenever (if ever) it is released?
We are canadian and my sister got free dining for this august starting on the 19th. When I look at the history of free dining it says there wasn't any in previous years until after the 25th. I need to be back by then to prepare for school starting (teacher). How do I know what the best day is to select as our check in day?

The best thing to do is not to book anything until the promos are released.

 

[petsaregreat]

Thanks!!

 

[mantysk8coach]

We're planning the last week of August 2013 as well. I'm waiting to book until at least after the holidays. It was March when free dining for THIS August came out, so will probably just hold off until then, which will already be past our 180 day ADR window.

 

[Simba's Girl]

We are also planning last week August/1st few days Sept for next year too...

Won't book till the discounts come out (though I want to!) LOL

Not too worried about ADRs...my kids aren't into the characters any longer and aren't big princess fans

 

[petsaregreat]

We r going to go around August 20th or so. Free dining 2012 (Aug 25th) is way to late for us next year as well. I will hold off and check everyday for specials. No need to book now.....although i want too lol!

 

[jwboucher]

We r going to go around August 20th or so. Free dining 2012 (Aug 25th) is way to late for us next year as well. I will hold off and check everyday for specials. No need to book now.....although i want too lol!

I can't wait either!! But we are considering renting a house if free dining isn't offered.

 

[JRennie]

We book last year late Aug 2011 without any discount code and about 2 weeks after I made the deposit I got a postcard from Disney that said "Hay "X" family...how would you like free dining?" So I called and added to my trip. Not sure if this happens to everyone.

I'm also looking for some deals near the end of Aug 2013......

Anytime I have booked and there have been promos after booking, as long as disney has the availability at your resort, (apparently only a certain number of rooms per resort is given the discount), they have always let me add it at a later date. I just keep an eye on the Disney website under their promotions area.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I can't wait either!! But we are considering renting a house if free dining isn't offered.

This is pretty much the plan we have too. We are strongly considering going back next year around the third week of August and if we aren't able to secure free dining or a comparable promotional discount then we will look into our offsite options because the big discount promotions are what makes it possible for my family of six to stay onsite (even at the value level). I was also surprised that only the very last week of August was included in the general public free dining promo for August/September this year. For our August trip last year, both the general public free dining and kids stay/play free promos were available for the third week of August (the week we went) and earlier in August if my memory is correct.

 

[BuzzandWoodyMom]

HI!
I see the 2013 room rates are finally out! We are planning a mid/late august 2013 trip. Really need the free dining to afford it. Is my best bet to book a Wilderness Cabin now and hope to apply a free dining discount to it whenever (if ever) it is released?
We are canadian and my sister got free dining for this august starting on the 19th. When I look at the history of free dining it says there wasn't any in previous years until after the 25th. I need to be back by then to prepare for school starting (teacher). How do I know what the best day is to select as our check in day?

It looks like they have had a free dining discount every August since 2005, so every year for the last 8 years. The free dining guidelines thread said the August/September free dining dates are always released in the spring around the end of March or first of April. I would say it looks like a pretty safe bet.

On a personal note, we stayed at the cabins one year and though they were okay, I thought they were really overpriced for what they were. I don't think they should be in the moderate category.