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

[vrajewski10513]

People have said the last two years there wasnt going to be fall FD, and they still offered it. Theres def more blackout dates that before but I still think they will have it in some capacity. These are just all educated guesses, I wouldnt get worked up about anything thats not set in stone.

 

[PirateD]

Oh, no! That makes me worried. I had listened to them a couple of weeks ago and they had said that they expected FD. I wonder what has made them change their minds. If there is no FD, we will have to stay offsite or not go. I actually think we probably won't go. I can't imagine staying offsite Christmas week. Previously, we have stayed with family that week, but had AP's and this was before FP+. How disappointing! I hope his suspicions are wrong.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Just listened of the dis podcast Pete seems to be suspicious that they won't offer free dining this fall. Hope he is wrong!

I could be wrong, but pretty sure they were also suspicious it wouldn't be offered last year.

 

[PirateD]

People have said the last two years there wasnt going to be fall FD, and they still offered it. Theres def more blackout dates that before but I still think they will have it in some capacity. These are just all educated guesses, I wouldnt get worked up about anything thats not set in stone.

I could be wrong, but pretty sure they were also suspicious it wouldn't be offered last year.

OK. You are offering us all some hope! I will try not to panic!

 

[monica9]

If that's the case then most people will either cancel their trip, change their dates to a promotional time or stay offsite. I know I won't be paying full price for disney when the last 4 years I've had a promotion. Their prices are too high.
It wouldn't make sense to not have a promotion going on during the slow season when kids are back to school. Wouldn't they rather have a tourist come at a cheaper price then to not come at all? It really doesn't make sense why they even do promotions during the summer months.

 

[monica9]

You really should wait to book until the free dining promo comes out. The more people who book in advance, the less likely Disney is to offer a promo/ the more exclusions and blackouts may happen. That's why both port orleans resorts were excluded last year. Enough people booked in advance so they didn't need to offer a discount. We know we're going in October, but we won't book until the discounts are released to the public.

Don't they take into consideration that people will change their vacation if a promotion doesn't come out? They have to know that people are booking with hope that a promotion will be offered for their stay in the coming months. They have to be smarter than that.

 

[monica9]

I understand the point about Disney not offering discounts if they don't need to because everyone books early but I tend to think the number of Disney-obsessed folks that plan out as far as those of us on this board are few. Assuming I'm wrong and a large number of people book pretty far out and then the resorts fill up and then no discount comes out, it seems like it would backfire if all of us book anticipating a discount and then cancel when none come out within 45 days of our trip. Then Disney is left with a huge number of cancellations and empty rooms with little time to get them filled.

By only requiring a refundable $200 deposit to hold the room, while allowing cancellation up to basically 6 weeks before the vacation, no discounts seems risky to me.

There has to be more to what, when, and where discounts are offered than the number of predicted empty rooms over a period of time. Disney knows a lot about its consumers and they know how many times we've visited and how many of us are repeat customers who know about RO and FD discounts and expect them. They have to predict that a certain percentage will refuse to pay rack rate, cancel their room, and either downgrade resorts or stay offsite. And again, that puts them in a much worse position because then they risk running out of time to fill the rooms.

I'm with you and I'm hoping we are right!!

 

[vrajewski10513]

If that's the case then most people will either cancel their trip, change their dates to a promotional time or stay offsite. I know I won't be paying full price for disney when the last 4 years I've had a promotion. Their prices are too high.
It wouldn't make sense to not have a promotion going on during the slow season when kids are back to school. Wouldn't they rather have a tourist come at a cheaper price then to not come at all? It really doesn't make sense why they even do promotions during the summer months.

The most logical reason fall FD dates are getting lesser and lesser is because more schools are having fall breaks now than they used to. More families are traveling to WDW in the fall, which means Resorts fill up quicker even before a discount is released. Theyre not going to offer a discount if they dont need to.

 

[smitch425]

A few comments...

Every year people claim "free dining is dead", yet every year it is released. Granted, the dates and resort options are shrinking, but it still gets released.

Disney knows people will cancel/switch resorts, and it's a sure bet that they allow for some cushion with their promo releases.

Fall Breaks are becoming increasingly popular among schools, which have decreased the dates offered dramatically. Some even have breaks in September now, but most are in October. That is why very few October dates were eligible last year.

There is really no way to predict what will be included this year. You're just going to have to be patient, and have back up plans ready in the event you don't get your ideal choice.

 

[vicarrieous]

This will be our first trip to Disney as a family and my first trip since I was 5. Either way we will be going this fall and more than likely on the dates we selected due to some good airfare tickets.

I just wish the promos came out sooner because I am a little type A and would like to have my budget locked down and then we would have even more free money to play with while we are down there.

Like others have said, I am guessing Free Dining will still be offered this year, but I won't be surprised if its more restrictive or harder to get. Here is hoping my TA does her job!

 

[Honeybee83]

Its def not as easy to get what you want if you do wait for free dining to start your ADR's. Last year I booked early and scheduled all of my ADR's at 180+10 in March for my September trip. If I would have waited to book any ADR's until free dining came out in May I would have been almost two months behind the game.

You don't have to book your trip to book your ADRs. You can book 180 days out from the date without a vacation package. Otherwise annual pass holders and people staying offsite would not be able to book ADRs.

 

[Honeybee83]

If that's the case then most people will either cancel their trip, change their dates to a promotional time or stay offsite. I know I won't be paying full price for disney when the last 4 years I've had a promotion. Their prices are too high.
It wouldn't make sense to not have a promotion going on during the slow season when kids are back to school. Wouldn't they rather have a tourist come at a cheaper price then to not come at all? It really doesn't make sense why they even do promotions during the summer months.

I agree. They even have a pretty decent room only discount going on now for the summer months. I'm sure that for the slower fall season there will be some sort of promotion offered.

 

[Honeybee83]

Don't they take into consideration that people will change their vacation if a promotion doesn't come out? They have to know that people are booking with hope that a promotion will be offered for their stay in the coming months. They have to be smarter than that.

I hope so. Free dining has come out every year since 2008/2009. I don't know what the impact would be if it weren't offered but would guess that there would be a big drop in attendance.

 

[misspelledone]

So if free dining doesn't get offered, would you guys stay off property or not go? Just curious what everyone else thinks. For me, we are a family of 7 and even staying in a value, the vacation still costs us $8500+....... and we drive!

 

[sukhakuli]

I have a FD question. We have a kid who will be almost 3 when we go. He turns 3 in late November and we're going in Sept. He is by far my biggest kid and is a huge eater. I know he can eat off our plates, but he probably needs his own meal, especially at CS places. It's probably not economical to upgrade him to 3 and buy him a ticket so he can get the plan, is it? Would he have to have 10 day tickets also?

You don't have to book your trip to book your ADRs. You can book 180 days out from the date without a vacation package. Otherwise annual pass holders and people staying offsite would not be able to book ADRs.

I thought being able to book 180 days out was a resort guest perk. I know the extra 10 days booking is, which is how we got Be Our Guest dinner on our upcoming trip. AP is a different class of guest.

So if free dining doesn't get offered, would you guys stay off property or not go? Just curious what everyone else thinks. For me, we are a family of 7 and even staying in a value, the vacation still costs us $8500+....... and we drive!

We're still going. We have the 40% off military discount at the Yacht Club. I did the math, and free dining vs the discount and paying OOP for us is almost the exact same price. It's like Disney knows. I prefer free dining just so I don't have to think about it. When the kids order steak and then eat 3 bites and say they're full, it doesn't hurt as much.

 

[vrajewski10513]

I have a FD question. We have a kid who will be almost 3 when we go. He turns 3 in late November and we're going in Sept. He is by far my biggest kid and is a huge eater. I know he can eat off our plates, but he probably needs his own meal, especially at CS places. It's probably not economical to upgrade him to 3 and buy him a ticket so he can get the plan, is it? Would he have to have 10 day tickets also?

I'd guess not. Its probably cheaper to just buy him his own meals when he needs them.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Would he have to have 10 day tickets also?
Everyone needs the same tickets. so if the rest of you are getting 10day, he would need them too. Not sure if it is worth upgrading him. I almost think you would be better off paying for some of his meals OOP and let him share other meals. But that is very hard to tell without really knowing the child.


I thought being able to book 180 days out was a resort guest perk. I know the extra 10 days booking is, which is how we got Be Our Guest dinner on our upcoming trip. AP is a different class of guest.
The plus 10 is the on site benefit. 180 days is for everyone.

Happy you at least have a great discount if for some reason free dining is not offered, but I think it will be. Just my opinion of course.

 

[piglet1979]

We just got back from our first trip ever last month. We had missed the free dining plan last year when we booked by a couple weeks We are planning our next trip and thinking September. I heard this was "normally" when they have the free dining. Any tips on booking and trying to add it or waiting it out and seeing if the rates go up etc? Also, last time we stayed at a value resort and had the regular dining plan…its my understanding that we would only get the quick service dining plan for a value resort, right? So if we want the regular dining plan with table service meals we would need to stay at a moderate resort this time? Any advice on picking a moderate resort if we need to that is relatively inexpensive for 2 adults, 2 kids and a 2 yr old?
Also, I am new to this board and still pretty new to Disney so sorry in advance if I don't know something obvious or need to post this in another area of the board.

A few years ago we did the free dining in September at a value resort. We paid the difference to get the regular dining plan. If you want to stay a moderate CBR might be good. We haven't stayed their yet but are on our next trip. Their pools looks amazing for kids and they have a camp fire with smores at night.

 

[DisMama5]

Has Pop century always been included in FD promos. I know all star movies is one value that changes here and there with being included but from what I some-what remember pop has always been included atleast dating back to 2009? Just making sure that info is right?

We have never stayed at pop, im thinking it might be a nice change instead of an all stars (which weve stayed at all of those)

 

[PirateD]

I just listened to the podcast on my way to work. It sounded mainly like speculation to me-not really based on any inside information. I'm going to go with the thought that it is just speculation and still hope for free dining.

I am going to start exploring a couple of back-up plans though. Some options for us might be to come at Thanksgiving when prices are not at peak season rates, stay offsite for part or all of Christmas week, or plan to stay at ASMu with one family suite and two rooms and pick up breakfast items, snacks, and sandwich stuff so we can eat two meals a day in the suite. I think some of these options would free up money in our budget to cover the cost of food if there's no FD.