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

[lazer]

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!

That's definitely not a slow week at Disneyworld. Especially with Food & Wine, Jersey Week (which I think is that week), the last of the Halloween Parties and the Wine & Dine Half Marathon.

Also, keep in mind when renting timeshare points...you won't be eligible for Free Dining, as you have to book a package thru Disney, not a third party.

 

[ammag]

Yes thanks sticking with POP

I know the week isn't empty but crowd levels are supposed to be around 4 that's not too bad. Going to be strategic with parks chosen and ADRs. We have 8 park days so should be ok!

 

[lazer]

Yes thanks sticking with POP

I know the week isn't empty but crowd levels are supposed to be around 4 that's not too bad. Going to be strategic with parks chosen and ADRs. We have 8 park days so should be ok!

Yeah, we've been during that week, it was totally manageable. The last time we left early to head home because that friday before the race was more crowded than I've ever seen it...but, we always go for about 8 days too, then we aren't rushing and you still are able to see everything twice PS: We totally LOVE POP!

 

[ThistleMae]

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 agree. I think some people may have to cancel if it is not offered. I have read quite a few posts encouraging people to hold off on booking until the offer comes out. I do believe this is why...but it's hard to tell for certain. I know my daughter and her family are waiting for the offer to book. They really can't afford to go this year unless they have free dining.

 

[ThistleMae]

Is everyone expecting the offer in April?

 

[aaarcher86]

I'm not. I expect it later, like 2013.

 

[donp]

I'm not. I expect it later, like 2013.

Okay. Or, maybe May??

 

[donp]

I'm not. I expect it later, like 2013.

Got it. I am slow. Release it as a similar timeframe as they did in 2013.

 

[theotherlostprincess]

Im hoping for may. Im going in november and want to get my mvmcp tickets when they come out so i want to have the room booked but the free dining is the difference between staying at cbr or aoa in an ariel room

 

[aaarcher86]

Okay. Or, maybe May??

Got it. I am slow. Release it as a similar timeframe as they did in 2013.

Lol, yeah 2013. It seems like things are so limited lately and with rumor feeling like they may not release it at all, it feels like a safe bet IMO. Feel out the bookings up to the last minute and release it if needed.

Could be wrong. I don't know how successful releasing the rest of the year was in May. Interested to see what they do with POR and CBR.

 

[PlutoLover93]

so I have a question. If I book my trip and pay for the dining plan and have it paid off in full before FD comes out I know they refund you the money if it fits within the limits. What happens if I pay the trip off with a Disney gift card? Do they give me gift cards back?

 

[vrajewski10513]

so I have a question. If I book my trip and pay for the dining plan and have it paid off in full before FD comes out I know they refund you the money if it fits within the limits. What happens if I pay the trip off with a Disney gift card? Do they give me gift cards back?

I'd probably hold off on paying it off until you find out about free dining if possible.

 

[aaarcher86]

so I have a question. If I book my trip and pay for the dining plan and have it paid off in full before FD comes out I know they refund you the money if it fits within the limits. What happens if I pay the trip off with a Disney gift card? Do they give me gift cards back?

They would refund the GCs.

 

[donp]

Lol, yeah 2013. It seems like things are so limited lately and with rumor feeling like they may not release it at all, it feels like a safe bet IMO. Feel out the bookings up to the last minute and release it if needed.

Could be wrong. I don't know how successful releasing the rest of the year was in May. Interested to see what they do with POR and CBR.

Yes, I am with you. I think that there was a TIDAL WAVE of bookings that went from POR to CBR/CSR for September bookings when FD was excluded there. I would not be surprised if we see the two prong release wtih September being opened first and POR being included, but excluded later in the year on the second prong release. We'll see.

 

[scard192]

Got it. I am slow. Release it as a similar timeframe as they did in 2013.

2013 - there were SO many people here that were so anxious/worried when the Fall (October - December) FD was not released unit August 1. I felt so bad for them but in the end most got they wanted. We got lucky my sister got an FD PIN ~ around May 10th that we were able to use to stay at POFQ which was excluded from the GP offer.

IMO if we have to make ADRS at 180 days to get the hard to get ones, then Disney should release discounts 180 day in advance too!

 

[siskaren]

Im hoping for may. Im going in november and want to get my mvmcp tickets when they come out so i want to have the room booked but the free dining is the difference between staying at cbr or aoa in an ariel room

You don't have to have a room booked to buy MVMCP tickets, and it sounds like you're planning to go whether there's free dining or not.

 

[PlutoLover93]

I'd probably hold off on paying it off until you find out about free dining if possible.

Very true! As long as I have my down payment in I'm safe. I'm just worried about having to type 500 different GC codes in all at once instead of doing a couple a day and getting it done early. I just wish they'd release FD early and save everyone. Heyyy it's nice to dream isn't it lol

They would refund the GCs.

Alright thank you! Guess I won't buy a whole lot for now cause I can't imagine what Id do with them if we get FD. We could use some in the parks but I couldn't see us needing more than a couple hundred dollars for the park and we'd get back a couple thousand with FD.

 

[ThistleMae]

Okay. Or, maybe May??

It looks like it came out in August in the year 2013! I looked at the Mousesavers past years.

 

[ThistleMae]

This is so frustrating....the waiting is just awful! I'm all set with my trip because we are paying for dining OOP. But....my daughter and grandkids can't go unless they have free dining. It would be nice to know whether we are vacationing together or not. She is just so anxious to know if they can go!

 

[lustergirl]

Just a question... If you go during free dining why not book a BB for the next year so you won't be anticipating FD- you will have it from BB?

As another poster said "and miss all the fun?" I like talking with others hoping to get the FD just as I. Who knows maybe I will get lucky and a BB for free dining during the end of September will be offered when I go on my solo trip coming soon.