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

[monica9]

What I'm still trying to figure out... The end of March the current promotions expire for new bookings.... Those were good thru 1st part of June, right????
In my experience is when an offer expires a new offer comes available fairly soon if not the next day.... If this is the case we are looking at some kind of special being released very end of March/1st of April??? What do you guys think it might be and what dates would this include?????
My preference is to travel to Disney in October... But if I can get free dining for the end of September and know I have it for sure I think I'd do that atleast have something booked. Thoughts????

Yes, this usually happens. But it might only be for June-end of September

 

[disneyfantotheend]

The next offer will likely be a percentage off for the summer months and it will likely run until late April. Then will come September deals which may or may not include the rest of the year. Disney does tend to switch things up, so really nothing is set in stone, but that is how it USUALLY works.

 

[pinkle]

The deal now is open to book until april 27 and runs to June 15, we might not see an offer until April 28

 

[jb82]

You will definitely see people post, if they get a pin code. Do not rely on mail or email from Disney Visa. It is very hit and miss. I have received one twice, but both times was after many already had it booked. You are better off to keep your eye out here. It is open to all Disney Visa and debit card holders, you do not need any type of code once it is opened.

Hoes does it work then ... is there a specific page on the main disney offer page or a special link you need? Or perhaps a link from a disney visa website? I'm just worrying I'll miss it somehow!!!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Hoes does it work then ... is there a specific page on the main disney offer page or a special link you need? Or perhaps a link from a disney visa website? I'm just worrying I'll miss it somehow!!!

You cannot usually book the early Disney Visa release on the computer. You need to call the regular booking number and tell them you want to book free dining. Keep watching this thread. It will go crazy once it opens and there is often a leak ahead of time too. So if that happens, it would be on here a couple days prior to when you actually have to call. Just BEWARE leaks are not always full proof. Usually they are accurate, but I have been here when a release didn't happen until a couple days after the supposed date. Everyone went nuts and thought it wasn't happening at all. It did though, just a few days later than expected. If you are watching any travel agent sites, Disney information sites or Disney fan sites on Facebook, it will also be on those. I have a lot of those, so I usually see it many times on release day.

 

[Honeybee83]

What I'm still trying to figure out... The end of March the current promotions expire for new bookings.... Those were good thru 1st part of June, right????
In my experience is when an offer expires a new offer comes available fairly soon if not the next day.... If this is the case we are looking at some kind of special being released very end of March/1st of April??? What do you guys think it might be and what dates would this include?????
My preference is to travel to Disney in October... But if I can get free dining for the end of September and know I have it for sure I think I'd do that atleast have something booked. Thoughts????

It will probably be a summer promotion from June-August. I would guess either a play stay and dine or a lesser room only discount than is offered in the fall. The summer room only' seem to be about 5% less off per tier resort than the fall dates. It will probably allow you to book through April or the first week in May, and then in May they will release their first fall promotion. That's my guess based on what I've seen in the past. We're also going in October so I'm anxious to see what they have too. My husband and I are really hoping for free dining, but based on last year we don't feel very optimistic. I hope we are pleasantly surprised.

 

[Funfire240]

Jersey week is a week where most of the New Jersey schools have conferences, so no school. Many people from New Jersey take to the skies and go to Disney for their time off. So it has been dubbed Jersey week. I am not 100% convinced it is not all New Jersians filling the park those days , BUT that is what it has been named all the same. Anyway for some reason that week is a little higher in bookings than most November dates, so it is often blacked out.

Our district in NW Ohio has 2 days off that week - election day and conferences - so we will be heading down then

 

[nemorocks]

Jumping in! So I know last years sad news of Port Orleans not being included in the free dining caused a lot of hassle for a lot of people. Can anyone tell me if POFQ is ever included in free dining and does that always correspond with whether or not POR is included? I'm having the hardest time deciding where to stay for our November trip. We will go regardless of FD, but of course we would love to get it added. Also, does anyone know if the buses at CBR have gotten more crowded since it became a 5 person/rm resort? Last time we stayed at POR, the buses were horrid. Thanks!!

 

[saramd]

Fingers crossed they do free dining!

 

[smitch425]

Jumping in! So I know last years sad news of Port Orleans not being included in the free dining caused a lot of hassle for a lot of people. Can anyone tell me if POFQ is ever included in free dining and does that always correspond with whether or not POR is included? I'm having the hardest time deciding where to stay for our November trip. We will go regardless of FD, but of course we would love to get it added. Also, does anyone know if the buses at CBR have gotten more crowded since it became a 5 person/rm resort? Last time we stayed at POR, the buses were horrid. Thanks!!

POFQ has been excluded more times than POR. Not sure about the buses at CBR, but I doubt it's made it much more crowded.

 

[MissMaryQC]

Couple of questions:

1. If I am able to book with my Disney Visa am I paying the whole cost of the package at that time or just the $200 deposit!
2. Do I have to use the Visa for said charge?
3. What if I already have an existing reservation, can it just be changed or is it cancelled and rebooked?
4. This is a "more" question, what time can I start booking ADRs online, 5 am or 6 am?

Thanks guys!

 

[smitch425]

Couple of questions:

1. If I am able to book with my Disney Visa am I paying the whole cost of the package at that time or just the $200 deposit!
2. Do I have to use the Visa for said charge?
3. What if I already have an existing reservation, can it just be changed or is it cancelled and rebooked?
4. This is a "more" question, what time can I start booking ADRs online, 5 am or 6 am?

Thanks guys!

1. Just $200 (Unless you are within 45 days from travel, then it would be in full)
2. If you have already paid a deposit with a different form of payment, you must make a $200 payment with the DV at the time you add the Visa offer.
3. If you've booked a package, it would remain the same conf#, and if you've booked a room only, it would be canceled and rebooked as a package.
4. 6am EST online, 7am EST by phone

 

[bdillahu]

1. Just $200 (Unless you are within 45 days from travel, then it would be in full)
2. If you have already paid a deposit with a different form of payment, you must make a $200 payment with the DV at the time you add the Visa offer.
3. If you've booked a package, it would remain the same conf#, and if you've booked a room only, it would be canceled and rebooked as a package.
4. 6am EST online, 7am EST by phone

On #4, I believe the online time has varied over the years... Sometimes it occurred a little after midnight Eastern, if I recall correctly, although I don't think that was the case last year.

 

[aaarcher86]

On #4, I believe the online time has varied over the years... Sometimes it occurred a little after midnight Eastern, if I recall correctly, although I don't think that was the case last year.

ADRs have always been the same.

It's the FP+ timed that have varied - sometimes midnight and sometimes 1am.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Can anyone tell me if POFQ is ever included in free dining and does that always correspond with whether or not POR is included?

We had free dining at POFQ in 2010. It is rare but has happened. POR was included most years. When we stayed at POFQ, the bus service was shared with POR. They picked up FQ first, so you were good for getting on, but you still had to make all the stops at POR.

 

[Dawn Dis]

Just got off the phone with a CM regarding another question and I asked about a pin. She said check backat end of month...but...would not give me any more info. Not sure what it could mean but it has me hopeful for something.

 

[ammag]

We have never used a plan before and my only concern if we upgrade to the plan that includes TS (staying at pop so if it's free we get only CS) I am concerned about the amount of time it takes to do sit down meals. The good thing is including the party we have 8 park days and I think we would maybe do one or two 2 credit meals....but I don't want to spend the money if we will end uo regretting time away from park fun. I have only ever had Ohana at dinner, and CRT for lunch so my table experience is almost none!

 

[scard192]

run the numbers when/if FD comes out and see if the cost to upgrade would cover the cost of the TS meals you want to do. My family has had the Free DDP the last 2 trips when the kids were little and loved using the TS credits for character buffets. Next trip in 2016 we are staying t POP and hoping for CS FD. the kids will be older 17, 12, 10, 6 and have been very vocal that next trip they don't want to "wasting" time at TS meals when they could be on rides! I am planning one TS meal and plan to use my Disney Visa rewards to pay for it. Kind of looking forward to not having to be looking at my watch constantly because we have an ADR. enough looking at the time to get to FP+.

 

[SPOERLX3]

The TS dining plan can definitely take away from park time but sometimes it is a welcome break, other times, not so much.
With the TS dining plan, you need to expect about 1.5-2 hrs for each meal if your ressie is during busy dining hours (12-2 for lunch and 5-8 for dinner). And if your TS is at a resort, such as O'hana or Whispering Canyon Cafe, you would need to allow an extra 45 min-1 hour for travel & wait time.
To avoid time away from the parks, here are some of the things we do when we are on the TS dining plan:

• Use our TS credits and try to get the earliest "before park opening" ressies at Tusker House, CRT, Crystal Palace etc.
• Plan any out of the park dinner ressies on our Animal Kingdom day since they close earlier than the other parks.
• Plan the rest of our TS ressies later in our trip after we have had a full day already at the park.

Our past 2 trips we have done the quick service dining and loved it! We did pay out of pocket for one dining ressie at Sci-Fi just to get out of the sun, relax and have a snack. We just went for shakes and a sundae for the kids but never again. They were 30 minutes behind and it took 3 full hours away from our park time. Definitely not worth it!

 

[SPOERLX3]

run the numbers when/if FD comes out and see if the cost to upgrade would cover the cost of the TS meals you want to do. My family has had the Free DDP the last 2 trips when the kids were little and loved using the TS credits for character buffets. Next trip in 2016 we are staying t POP and hoping for CS FD. the kids will be older 17, 12, 10, 6 and have been very vocal that next trip they don't want to "wasting" time at TS meals when they could be on rides! I am planning one TS meal and plan to use my Disney Visa rewards to pay for it. Kind of looking forward to not having to be looking at my watch constantly because we have an ADR. enough looking at the time to get to FP+.

Exactly!