Free Dining Disney Visa

[cmdg]

I'm not sure if anyone can answer this, but I wonder if it is worth it for us to get a Disney Visa with the hope of getting a free dining offer for our July 21 2013 trip? I see that general public FD discounts are usually released about 3 days after those to visa holders, so I wonder if there is any advantage? Are there any other benefits ($) related to the disney visa?

Finally... last question! When might we expect free dining to be announced for next summer? Thanks!

 

[Brave]

In the 8 years that Disney has been offering free dining discounts they have never had a free dining promo/discount for the month of July. Disney really only offer free dining dates during low crowd times or when they historically need to fill rooms. July is one of the most expensive and largest crowd seasons and they do not ever need to fill resort rooms in July.

These are the historic free dining dates:

Free Dining Promos/Discounts Released Spring of the Year Offered
August 21 – October 4, 2005
August 13 – September 30, 2006
August 26 – September 22, 2007
August 30 – September 27, 2008
August 16 – October 3, 2009

July 27, 2009(First Time for quick service at values, free Disney Dining at moderate and deluxe resorts)
Free Dining released for travel from October 4 – December 17, 2009

May 3, 2010
Free Dining released for travel from August 15 – October 2, 2010.

July 6, 2010
Disney extended the Free Dining offer for travel through early fall 2011. Many dates were blacked out:

August 15 – October 7, 2010
October 22 – October 28, 2010
November 12 – November 18, 2010
November 27 – December 2, 2010
December 10 – December 21, 2010

January 1 - 5, 2011
January 9 - 13, 2011
January 21 - February 3, 2011
February 11 - 17, 2011
February 25 - March 3, 2011
May 27 - June 2, 2011
August 19 - September 29, 2011

March 2011
Free Dining Discount released for August 28 - September 24, 2011

August 3, 2011
Free Dining Discounts released for dates through early Spring 2012
October 1 – October 6, 2011
October 22 – November 3, 2011
November 12 – November 17, 2011
November 26 – December 1, 2011
December 10 – December 15, 2011
January 8 – January 12, 2012
January 21 – February 2, 2012
February 11 – February 16, 2012
March 3 – March 8, 2012
March 24 – March 29, 2012

March, 2012
August 25 - September 29, 2012

 

[Seahunt]

I can only answer the part about Free Dining in July - sorry to say but per mousesavers there hasn't been a Disney VISA or general public FD offer for July in the last couple years:

2011 dates
For check ins 1/1/11-3/3/11 package deal ("free dining") for general public became available on 8/16/10, exp 12/20/10
5/27/11-6/2/11 package deal ("free dining") for general public 8/16/10, exp 12/20/10
8/19/11-9/29/11 package deal ("free dining") for general public 8/16/10, exp 12/20/10
8/28/11-9/24/11 package deal ("free dining") for Disney's Visa cardholders 4/28/11, exp 8/27/11
8/28/11-9/24/11 package deal ("free dining") for general public 5/2/11, exp 8/27/11
10/1/11-12/15/11 package deal ("free dining") for general public (reissued with slightly changed set of dates) 8/24/11, exp 10/29/11
10/2/11-12/17/11 package deal ("free dining") for general public 8/3/11, exp 10/29/11

2012 dates
1/8/12-3/29/12 package deal ("free dining") for general public (reissued with slightly changed set of dates) 8/24/11, exp 10/29/11
1/8/12-3/29/12 package deal ("free dining") for general public (extended for early 2012 dates only) 10/27/11, exp 12/17/11
1/8/12-3/31/12 package deal ("free dining") for general public 8/3/11, exp 10/29/11
8/25/12-9/29/12 package deal ("free dining") for Disney's Visa cardholders 3/1/12, exp 5/18/12
8/25/12-9/29/12 package deal ("free dining") for general public 3/5/12, exp 5/18/12

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html#codetrends

Plus add these 2012 dates to be released on July 12:
9/30 to 10/4/12
10/19 to 11/1
11/9 to 11/15
11/23 to 11/29
12/10 to 12/13

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2951866

Though maybe someone received a PIN code offer for July dates and will post those here.

As far as FD announced for next year, look around March/April 2013, unless you'll be staying at a WDW resort this Aug/Sept (maybe into Oct) this year and then you might receive a FD bounceback offer to come back next year (Aug/Sept).

Brave - great minds think alike! But your typing speed is way better than mine LOL

 

[Mariep26]

More on the subject of the Visa card.. If you are in the market for a rewards card and you visit Disney regularly, I would recommend the card. I personally save up the Disney reward dollars and use that for souvenir money.

 

[cmdg]

More on the subject of the Visa card.. If you are in the market for a rewards card and you visit Disney regularly, I would recommend the card. I personally save up the Disney reward dollars and use that for souvenir money.

Thanks everyone for the information!

It looks like our trip is planned at the worst time for promotions and discounts.

We get a lot of miles from using our VirginAmerica visa and we use those miles for free airfare, so the disney reward dollars probably wouldn't be as useful to us.

 

[disney20082011]

I love my Disney rewards card, but not necessarily for free dining reasons. I use it for all large purchases and then use the rewards while on our Disney vacations. Last trip, I did not have to use any OOP for tips, souveniors, etc. This year we are using part of the rewards to take an Illuminations Cruise. To me if is like "free money".

 

[kddisney502]

There are better rewards cards out there, so definately consider that before getting the disney rewards visa. They do have a deal going on right now that might make it worth it. You get a credit of $100 after your first statement. Also note that there is a regular rewards card with no annual fee. But the premier rewards card that has an annual fee of like $50. That can definately eat into your rewards dollars. Other perks can be found here http://www.disneyrewards.com/perks/card-perks

 

[sixkristy6]

I have the Disney rewards Visa (the regular one) and it gave me a $50 gift card when I signed up. Then, they sent me something in the mail telling me if I opeed a Disney Rewards Visa, I would get a $200 gift card! So, I called the people at Chase, and they credited my account 150 points (meaning $150 toward the Disney gift card for a reward). In case you do open it, and that happens to you, call Chase and ask if you can get the better deal (just keep the offer that was mailed to you so you can reference the numbers on it).

 

[SL30]

Will I get an email from Chase if the FD offer comes out prior to the GP offer or is there somewhere on the website I need to look?

 

[extravaganzamom]

Will I get an email from Chase if the FD offer comes out prior to the GP offer or is there somewhere on the website I need to look?

I need to know this also! Hopefully someone will tell us!

 

[smitch425]

Will I get an email from Chase if the FD offer comes out prior to the GP offer or is there somewhere on the website I need to look?

Emails are hit or miss, but you can always check here...

http://www.disneyrewards.com/offers

 

[DisneyMom5]

MOST of the time I find out about Disney Visa promotions from the Disboards or mousavers before I hear from them directly, or before it shows up on their site.
They eventually do contact you, but not immediately.
Still worth having, in my opinion.