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

[totebagg]

Ps. I have a deposit for oct/nov but I received the pin for room discount plus free park hoppers the day before the discount was announced. I don't know if that's positive or not as far as already having a booking since it is outside the timeframe. But how many people do they expect to book twice in a few months? Or did they just send it randomly? I've gotten one other pin last fall one year after our last trip and nothing booked. Same offer.
I ask for info form them and go to ot their website, I do have a visa but haven't activated it yet. Who knows?!?

This also happened to me. We are booked for October and before the summer discounts were released, I received the same PIN offer. This is the first one I've ever received so seems really random!

 

[ThistleMae]

From above:

You can start making your first dining reservation at 180 days out but since there is the +10 rule you can make up to 180 plus the following 10 days (so if your going for a week for example you can make all of your dining reservations) because of the 10 day rule. Instead of making each one as the 180 day comes out for that date of your trip. Hope that made sense

Oh, I get it. So we are staying 10 days, so I can make all of my reservations at the 180 day mark, right?

 

[aaarcher86]

Oh, I get it. So we are staying 10 days, so I can make all of my reservations at the 180 day mark, right?

Yep.

 

[loveshak22]

This also happened to me. We are booked for October and before the summer discounts were released, I received the same PIN offer. This is the first one I've ever received so seems really random!

It's crazy how random the PIN codes are! I haven't gotten one on forever but if I remember correctly the ones I did get weren't any different than the GP discounts, except maybe (again if I am remembering right) it included more hotels or dates?? Was your recent PIN the same as the summer discounts?

Ammag?? Was yours the same?

 

[donp]

It's crazy how random the PIN codes are! I haven't gotten one on forever but if I remember correctly the ones I did get weren't any different than the GP discounts, except maybe (again if I am remembering right) it included more hotels or dates?? Was your recent PIN the same as the summer discounts?

Ammag?? Was yours the same?

This is usually the case. Most often, there are less restricted resorts and some expanded dates.

 

[garris3404]

Booked all my ADRs (yesterday and today) for my September trip. Got all my desires and favorites. Now wanting for the Free Dining fairy to sprinkle her Free Dining pixie dust.

 

[luvmylatte]

Me too me too!

 

[MinnieMO]

Joining in have just about everything booked just waiting for free dining!!

 

[Cindyrella8129]

Hopping on board to watch for free dining. I've taken many trips to WDW without free dining but on my last couple of trips I was lucky to get it. With the falling Canadian dollar it sure will be helpful if they offer it again this year. Good luck to everyone waiting to see if their dates are offered!

 

[jhaig]

So glad booked a bounceback with FD last year, although I will miss being on hold with Disney for two hours trying to get FD. I still hope they offer the promo since so many families depend on it to better afford their vacation.

 

[Disneylover99]

So glad booked a bounceback with FD last year, although I will miss being on hold with Disney for two hours trying to get FD. I still hope they offer the promo since so many families depend on it to better afford their vacation.

I agree. And if they don't offer fd this year, it probably doesn't bode well for people who book the fd Bounceback every year. I doubt they will offer fd as a Bounceback if it's not offered at all to the general public.

 

[jhaig]

I agree. And if they don't offer fd this year, it probably doesn't bode well for people who book the fd Bounceback every year. I doubt they will offer fd as a Bounceback if it's not offered at all to the general public.

Not to be Johnny Raincloud or anything, but does Disney HAVE to offer FD? If they reach their goals as far as hotel occupancy, why would they offer a discount? I'm sure many have booked trips for Sept in anticipation of FD. How many of those trips will be canceled if there's no FD? Seems like a delicate balance for Disney to deal with.

 

[aaarcher86]

Not to be Johnny Raincloud or anything, but does Disney HAVE to offer FD? If they reach their goals as far as hotel occupancy, why would they offer a discount? I'm sure many have booked trips for Sept in anticipation of FD. How many of those trips will be canceled if there's no FD? Seems like a delicate balance for Disney to deal with.

I feel like they have it down to a science percentage wise, rooms that will cancel, etc.

I think they're just going to widdle down the availability to see how it impacts attendance, until they end up not offering it. But, they could always not offer it, see the impact, and then pull it out and offer it later if they needed it, too.

 

[vicarrieous]

You are right that its a balance and I bet they will see cancellations if free dining isnt offered.

Not to be Johnny Raincloud or anything, but does Disney HAVE to offer FD? If they reach their goals as far as hotel occupancy, why would they offer a discount? I'm sure many have booked trips for Sept in anticipation of FD. How many of those trips will be canceled if there's no FD? Seems like a delicate balance for Disney to deal with.

We have a November trip planned and will go no matter what, but have not purchased airfare yet so we can be flexible if this promo comes out. I wish they would just release it or announce they aren't because waiting is killing me! I am the type of person who wants to have everything locked down and my budget planned, but I am sitting in limbo. Although I realize Disney does not make their schedule around me lol. I am just impatient

 

[jhaig]

I think it was released last year in early May?

 

[vicarrieous]

I feel like they have it down to a science percentage wise, rooms that will cancel, etc.

I think they're just going to widdle down the availability to see how it impacts attendance, until they end up not offering it. But, they could always not offer it, see the impact, and then pull it out and offer it later if they needed it, too.

Very true. I have to hope that atleast some promo will come out and have some savings. Even if its only a room only discount for a couple hundred dollars.

 

[donp]

I feel like they have it down to a science percentage wise, rooms that will cancel, etc.

I think they're just going to widdle down the availability to see how it impacts attendance, until they end up not offering it. But, they could always not offer it, see the impact, and then pull it out and offer it later if they needed it, too.

It sure seems this way. We have been part of the FD anticipating crowd the past few years and have followed these boards. It did seem that last year, many room types and resorts were filled much more quickly than in years past. Which means either less rooms were available for the promotion, or more folks were taking advantage early. I suspect that former. Wonder if they would do a step down to the Stay, Play, and Dine option first as they have for the early part of the year.

I do wonder, though, if the free dining does something else for Disney--it keeps their restaurants full in a time of year where the crowds might be down. I know that we, personally, would not go to a TS restaurant every night and spend all that money for our large family unless FD was being offered. I am sure that many are in the same boat. Since tips are not included, and the servers make much of their income from tips, this keeps everyone employed and working steadily. And, really, getting a meal for $50 for "free" with FD might have actually cost $15 worth of actual food cost (or less). And, since we paid full rack rates for the room and tickets, it is a bit of a win-win for both Disney and families like me. Agreed, though, that when the resorts become more full as well the restaurants with customers paying full price AND not relying on discounts, why would they continue FD? As for now, we are riding this train until it dies!!

 

[Disneylover99]

Not to be Johnny Raincloud or anything, but does Disney HAVE to offer FD? If they reach their goals as far as hotel occupancy, why would they offer a discount? I'm sure many have booked trips for Sept in anticipation of FD. How many of those trips will be canceled if there's no FD? Seems like a delicate balance for Disney to deal with.

No, Disney certainly doesn't have to offer free dining and if they don't, I won't be upset about it. But I have a feeling they will offer it.

 

[ammag]

I have no clue if this means anything for crowd levels but my dates 10/30-11/8 for renting time share points are apparently very full, I ended up keeping pop as the price was almost double for the AKL the agent found.

We've decided if we are offered free dining then we will be upgrading. If not then we will probably do two TS and one additional character to keep costs lower. I've never done any dining plan so I am also just curious how it feels to use that and not worry about the prices while in the park,etc. Either way will be great!

 

[lustergirl]

No, Disney certainly doesn't have to offer free dining and if they don't, I won't be upset about it. But I have a feeling they will offer it.

I remember going in September 2005 with the free dining promo and it has come out every year since. Oh the anticipation.

My husband and neighbor think I am crazy and I always say "Rumor has it" in regards to the free dining promo being announced. There will certainly be quite the buzz on these boards.