Free Dining Fall 2015? (and a whole lot more)

[Aubrav]

I have ran theses numbers so many times my head is spinning. We just can't figure out what to do. We have some must do TS and for 6 if I add them it's more than we would pay to upgrade. It's killing me because Disney has us. It's still going to cost the same but I'd have hoppers and the dining plan and not need to watch spending. I don't need hoppers, but the flexibility of ADRS not locking us in to what park to go to sounds tempting. I know we will end up booking FD and moving resorts, because we were only planning 5 TS our entire 10days, and now we would have 10, plus having 3 teenagers, I'm sure they would like hoppers......I'm just sad we won't be saving money, but we will be getting more I guess.

Will the table service meals that you absolutely have to do add up to more than $1000 on their own? (Now I'm trying to help lol) you could stay in a value resort or just upgrade to a value suite at ASMu and that should be cheaper than two mod rooms right? then you would only have to worry about ADR's for the nights you want to experience them out of pocket.

I might need to look at it on paper lol.

 

[Aubrav]

I have ran theses numbers so many times my head is spinning. We just can't figure out what to do. We have some must do TS and for 6 if I add them it's more than we would pay to upgrade. It's killing me because Disney has us. It's still going to cost the same but I'd have hoppers and the dining plan and not need to watch spending. I don't need hoppers, but the flexibility of ADRS not locking us in to what park to go to sounds tempting. I know we will end up booking FD and moving resorts, because we were only planning 5 TS our entire 10days, and now we would have 10, plus having 3 teenagers, I'm sure they would like hoppers......I'm just sad we won't be saving money, but we will be getting more I guess.

Will the table service meals that you absolutely have to do add up to more than $1000 on their own? (Now I'm trying to help lol) you could stay in a value resort or just upgrade to a value suite at ASMu and that should be cheaper than two mod rooms right? then you would only have to worry about ADR's for the nights you want to experience them out of pocket.

I might need to look at it on paper lol.

 

[Aubrav]

Joe just posted this on Facebook.

Update: It appears a Disney banner ad showed up for a few folks a bit early. The ad mentions Free Dining with a package that includes a room, and tickets with park hopper option.

Does this mean that park hopper will now be a requirement for Free Dining, or is this merely an example? I suppose we'll all find out soon enough.

That's what we've been talking about the last few pages. One of our friends posted a picture of the banner ad they saw.

 

[G719]

Joe just posted this on Facebook.

Update: It appears a Disney banner ad showed up for a few folks a bit early. The ad mentions Free Dining with a package that includes a room, and tickets with park hopper option.

Does this mean that park hopper will now be a requirement for Free Dining, or is this merely an example? I suppose we'll all find out soon enough.

I think this means Joe has been following this thread! Lol

 

[karen4546]

So I could use a friends Disney Visa even if they aren't going?

you are going to have to call to book when the offer comes out for Disney Visa. You can not go online. So one of the people making a reservation should be the cardholder. I called and made 3 separate reservations using a Disney Visa and just put the deposits down. All other payments were made using Disney gift cards. I hope that helps.

 

[Aubrav]

Joe just posted this on Facebook.

Update: It appears a Disney banner ad showed up for a few folks a bit early. The ad mentions Free Dining with a package that includes a room, and tickets with park hopper option.

Does this mean that park hopper will now be a requirement for Free Dining, or is this merely an example? I suppose we'll all find out soon enough.

That's what we've been talking about the last few pages. One of our friends posted a picture of the banner ad they saw.

 

[placeela]

1. Yes but they have to be in separate names I believe
2. yes separate number for each ressie
3. yes balances can be paid off using different payment method than original

someone please correct me if i am wrong, but I have done this in the past

Thank you!!

 

[Shuggie5864]

My family is booked at POR for Nov 13-22 with hopes of the free dining...but looking at the rumors, it looks as though this resort will not be included.

I am wondering if I should go ahead a switch to CBR before Monday, then add free dining if it becomes available... We were counting on free dining in order for us to return to Disney this soon after out last trip.
What would you all do? Thanks in advance!!!

 

[wdw4rfam]

GO for it!!!!
I laughed out loud really about the 3 teenagers. Yes they will. And if you are at the resorts there is flexibility of early bird parts of the group and meet you there later members of the group, and you have access to Extra magic hours. And depending when you go if the crowds are higher than expected, Disney does add surprise EMHs at times. They added hours until 2am one time when I was there with my 14 year old son.
(Pout he is 21 now)

You were going to spend the money anyway. Relax and enjoy! I'm getting old and unfortunately learning that in life there is no saving money. If you don't spend it here, you'll end up spending it on something else you hadn't planned for. This winter killed me with the Massachusetts storms.

BTW, I like your AVATAR Mickey Head. Our Family Autism Resource center is doing their annual walk for awareness tomorrow.

You would laugh out loud even harder at me if I added that we are bringing DD's 19 YO boyfriend which is making the 3erd teenager in the first place. When we were there last year she spent the entire trip sky ping him and talking on the phone in the hallway of the resort all night. When he told us he had NEVER BEEN TO DISNEY We figured he had to go, and we may actually see our daughter more this trip. Plus I have no idea how much longer she will go with us, so not worrying about the money. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR WALK TOMORROW. We are putting together a team now for Cleveland's autism walk this summer.

 

[Aubrav]

My family is booked at POR for Nov 13-22 with hopes of the free dining...but looking at the rumors, it looks as though this resort will not be included.

I am wondering if I should go ahead a switch to CBR before Monday, then add free dining if it becomes available... We were counting on free dining in order for us to return to Disney this soon after out last trip.
What would you all do? Thanks in advance!!!

Smitch and other veterans have been recommending not to change anything based on rumors. Anything can happen so just wait until you know for sure before you go to plan B. If you don't care whether you stay at POR or CBR then it's up to you.

 

[lazer]

My family is booked at POR for Nov 13-22 with hopes of the free dining...but looking at the rumors, it looks as though this resort will not be included.

I am wondering if I should go ahead a switch to CBR before Monday, then add free dining if it becomes available... We were counting on free dining in order for us to return to Disney this soon after out last trip.
What would you all do? Thanks in advance!!!

Wouldn't switch. Having a room there already doesn't give you any advantage if free dining opens up. There are usually a certain number of rooms set aside for free dining, so if there are some still available when you call or go online you'll be able to get free dining.

 

[Just Love Disney]

1. The 6 night minimum requirement isn't anything yet, not even a solid rumor.

2. latest rumored release dare is monday for DV holders. there is some worry that that will be the public release date as well

3. DV must be booked over the phone, gp can be modified online.

4. We dont know about any specific room requirements yet, only speculating based on room availability right now.

Thanks! BTW, did your DV show up yet? Fingers crossed for you that it did

 

[Just Love Disney]

That's what we've been talking about the last few pages. One of our friends posted a picture of the banner ad they saw.

I reviewed the banner ad. I noticed the 6 night/7 day requirement (rumor?) but I am curious if you would have to have 7 days of park tickets in order to qualify for the FD. Any thoughts, anyone? We are planning 6 nights but only 5 days of tickets (with PH).

 

[hellerjw]

The benefits of having the PH option are obviously going to depend on your visiting style. For us, we have been so many times now that the PH has become mandatory. It allows us to cherry pick the things we want to do without having to worry about planning each day's activities around a single park. Once we start adding TS reservations into the mix the need to be able to move around freely becomes even more important. Throw in the differing interests of our group and we almost always end up breaking off into smaller groups, each headed in different directions, just to reunite later in the day. Its all about the flexibility the PH option affords us. We would be purchasing it anyway so making that a requirement of FD has no effect on us.

I know others prefer sticking to one park each day and should the rumors prove true it could be the tipping point in their savings calculations.

I wonder if this also isn't a subtle move by Disney to gently push visitors into redistributing their dining reservations among multiple parks. Just like limited FP reservations for popular attractions sometimes force you to rethink which park you start out in or finish in each day. If you are limited to a single park each day your options for FPs and dining reservations are much more restricted. It probably won't stop the popular restaurants from being fully booked, but it may help alleviate some of the negative feedback they get from folks on the dining plan who complain they aren't able to make any TS reservations.

 

[minerva78]

I reviewed the banner ad. I noticed the 6 night/7 day requirement (rumor?) but I am curious if you would have to have 7 days of park tickets in order to qualify for the FD. Any thoughts, anyone? We are planning 6 nights but only 5 days of tickets (with PH).

I believe most of us think that's just one of Disney's standard marketing ploys to convince you to stay for a certain length of time rather than an actual requirement. At least we hope so! What the actual minimum length of stay or tickets are at this point, I haven't heard any speculation.

 

[ehoops120912]

IMO (and I dont have any inside knowledge), I think the whole parkhopper tickets rumor is true if the rumored dates start with Aug 15. If you think about it... Normally in pasts Disney has started it close to Aug 31, and this year the rumored Aug 15 opens the window for free dinning more, but if that was true, they did it because "You must have a 7 night with day parkhopper tickets" which narrows the window back down to contain it more.

Personally, we are going on our honeymoon for atleast 8 nights anyways with Park Hoppers, so it doesnt effect our plans. But as a person looking in, I can totally see what Disney (if true) is trying to do.

Just my 2 cents worth

 

[NoodlesMom]

The previous offers also had the same 7 day 6 night verbiage but only 3 or 4 nights was required. Also, I think, prior to last year only 1 day park ticket was required but it changed to 2 last year.

 

[22Tink]

I'm new here! Great info!! We're going Nov 10-18 and soooo hoping for FD. I already have my room booked so I'd have to change my ressie when FD comes out. I'm from Canada and the thought of being on hold for hours on my cell phone on an international call scares me so I'm hoping to rebook online to include FD and then cancel my existing ressie. Will this be a problem? Do I HAVE to do it over the phone? Thanks in advance!

 

[Kshell40]

Was it always a 6 night minimum to get free dining. I don't recall that in previous years. If that's the case we are out this year. Just can't do a 6th night due to scheduling

 

[Emr410]

New here. I've been lurking for all 192 pages (and what seems to be the same questions over and over and over... ) and decided to finally join in the conversation. We are planning on going in September, really hoping for free dining, and have not decided if we will stay at a value with an upgraded plan or a moderate. The numbers are fairly close depending on the room type available. I am getting excited and anxious for it to be released!