Free Dining History - Predictions for '08

[esdras]

There are - not surprisingly - a number of Free Dining threads. A lot give information on past offers, who was eligible and the dates - but I went back and considered just how many days each dining offer lasted. It surprised me - a little.

2005:

General Public From: 8/21/05-10/04/05 (45 Days)
Florida Res. From: 8/21/05-10/04/05 (45 Days)
General Public From: 8/21/05-10/04/05 (45 Days)


2006:

Disney Visa From: 8/13/06-9/30/06 (49 Days)
General Public From: 8/13/06-9/30/06 (49 Days) - Announced in April
General Public From: 8/20/06-9/30/06 (42 Days) - Announced in June


2007:

Bounceback From: 8/5/07-9/29/07 (56 Days)
United Kingdom From: 8/12/07-9/29/07 (49 Days)
Disney Visa From: 8/26/07-9/22/07 (28 Days)
General Public From: 8/26/07-9/22/07 (28 Days)


2008:

Bounceback From: 8/30/08-9/27/08 (29 Days)
United Kingdom From: 8/10/08-9/27/08 (49 Days)

Can we make any guesses about Free Dining for the General Public? I'm not sure.

Since the general public got the shortest window in '07, will the '08 bounceback be the short one with general public getting in the 40-50 day range?

Will it be identical to the Bounceback? It hasn't been before.

Will it be a staggered start date, with identical end dates? That could have it start on perhaps the 23rd of August, perhaps even earlier.

In '07, it ended before the U.K. and Bounceback - which could mean starting on the 23rd this year (the closest equivalent date to last year's 26th) and ending around September 20.

Only three out of twelve Free Dining offers have lasted less than 30 days - so trying to figure out exactly when (if it happens) the general public dates will fall is likely impossible.

It might very well be a very short window, but I think there's enough history that we can at least hope for an offer with a longer time-frame.

And, of course, this all depends on what the demand has been for Free Dining from the Bouncebackers and Brits... as if Disney will give us those numbers.

So, I'm still hoping for Free Dining, but I don't think there is any way to say what the most likely dates will be - other than sometime in August and September.

 

[CathrynRose]

So, I'm still hoping for Free Dining, but I don't think there is any way to say what the most likely dates will be - other than sometime in August and September.

I dunno.... But, I do know.....

(open your wound, I have salt ready to go )

Im booked for Free Dining Bounce back - 9/14 - 9/24!!! Yee ha!!!

Im sure they WILL release it to the public. Im pretty confident about that. It appeared when I was able to book bounce back - it wasnt being offered at all resorts or even all the ROOMs and the ones it was being offered at (not everyone had a sheet in their room, but if they called - they managed to get it)

 

[Momto8]

But in addition to the free dining bounceback they also offered the 30% off bounceback this year. Wasn't that for the same time frame as the free dining? I don't remember them doing that last year. That would surely fill up the resort more and make them less likely to offer the free dining to the general public or at least for a lesser amount of time, or have less rooms to offer. I know they had the PIN code offer, but they also have that this year as well. That is one other thing to consider in your equation.

Don't get me wrong, even though I have the free dining bounceback offer, I am hoping they offer it too, because DD now wants to go at the same time and she doesn't have the free dining.

 

[CathrynRose]

But in addition to the free dining bounceback they also offered the 30% off bounceback this year. Wasn't that for the same time frame as the free dining? I don't remember them doing that last year. That would surely fill up the resort more and make them less likely to offer the free dining to the general public or at least for a lesser amount of time, or have less rooms to offer. I know they had the PIN code offer, but they also have that this year as well. That is one other thing to consider in your equation.

Don't get me wrong, even though I have the free dining bounceback offer, I am hoping they offer it too, because DD now wants to go at the same time and she doesn't have the free dining.

Yes - that is true. I had one of those offers in my room, in January.

INteresting.,

We shall see.

 

[esdras]

But in addition to the free dining bounceback they also offered the 30% off bounceback this year. Wasn't that for the same time frame as the free dining? I don't remember them doing that last year. That would surely fill up the resort more and make them less likely to offer the free dining to the general public or at least for a lesser amount of time, or have less rooms to offer. I know they had the PIN code offer, but they also have that this year as well. That is one other thing to consider in your equation.

Don't get me wrong, even though I have the free dining bounceback offer, I am hoping they offer it too, because DD now wants to go at the same time and she doesn't have the free dining.

The 30% Bounceback was actually for a longer period - but more limited availability - according to mousesavers:

"Bounceback" room-only offer only for guests staying at WDW Resorts and willing to prebook their next vacation for selected dates in 2008 (at selected resorts only, and dates available vary by resort)

But in '07 there were also room-only and package discounts from July 29 to Sept. 29 - although not as good as 30%. Same as in '06 - package and room only, not steep, and shorter time period - Aug. 18 to Sept. 30.

So, there are always other offers during Free Dining periods - just varying discounts.

Basically, my whole point with this is to say that there is a pretty good chance for a public Free Dining promotion again this year - it is a very successful marketing device.

BUT - for all the doomsayers who believe that it either won't be offered, or will be for an even shorter period than last year, or... whatever... really, there is just NO way to predict the dates based on history alone.

We would need to know occupancy rates, how many other promotions have been offered and booked, etc.

Disney won't release that info, and without those details, all of our guesses are just that, guesses!

 

[dawgsgirl]

Free dining started in 2005--the year after all the hurricanes hit Orlando. I call it the hurricane discount. Lots of people have already signed up for it and the world has had time to forget all those hurricanes. I think if it is available, it will be much more limited than in the past--meaning there will not be as many rooms at this discount.

 

[Momto8]

But in '07 there were also room-only and package discounts from July 29 to Sept. 29 - although not as good as 30%. Same as in '06 - package and room only, not steep, and shorter time period - Aug. 18 to Sept. 30.

So, there are always other offers during Free Dining periods - just varying discounts.

Basically, my whole point with this is to say that there is a pretty good chance for a public Free Dining promotion again this year - it is a very successful marketing device.

BUT - for all the doomsayers who believe that it either won't be offered, or will be for an even shorter period than last year, or... whatever... really, there is just NO way to predict the dates based on history alone.

I agree there is no way to predict free dining but I also don't believe I'm being a doomsayer. In fact this is the first time I've posted on this topic that I can remember. I was just pointing out some discounts that weren't offered last year to consider if you hadn't thought about them already.

 

[esdras]

I agree there is no way to predict free dining but I also don't believe I'm being a doomsayer. In fact this is the first time I've posted on this topic that I can remember. I was just pointing out some discounts that weren't offered last year to consider if you hadn't thought about them already.

Sorry, I wasn't meaning to say anyone in particular was being a doomsayer - I was replying to your post where you made a very relevant comment about additional discounts.

My "doomsayer" comment is more of a general reply to what has taken place every year since '05 - there are always people who are certain that it won't be offered, or it will be extremely limited, or some other negative aspect.

Sure, some of the last offers have been of a shorter duration - but in both '07 and '08, the UK got 49 days (albeit with some restrictions on resort level - at least for '08)

Even if Florida hasn't suffered an Andrew type hurricane in the last couple of years, almost everyone knows that the risk is always there, and late summer through to October is prime hurricane season.

Essentially, we know that by August 18, most of kids in the U.S. are back to school. We also know that this is hurricane season. Historical attendance, despite Free Dining, shows that this is still one of the two lowest attendance periods - January (after New Years) and February being the other.

Disney still wants to get people there during the slow times - that's likely why the ticket upgrade promotion for those going in January and February ALSO included a 15% off the room-rate - unlike the current promotion for April and May (busier time) which is ONLY the ticket upgrade.

I'm still pretty confident in a good discount (even if not Free Dining) for late August through to end of September. While the Bounceback has been a good idea, not everyone can go two years in a row, and I'm sure that response to Bounceback Free Dining is no where near the numbers for those who went Free Dining on the public codes.

Anyway, I've rambled again...

Once again, I did not mean to offend anyone with the "doomsayer" comment, and it isn't directed at any particular person.

 

[angeleigh]

I noticed in the original post that free dining for 2006 was announced to the general public in June. We booked ours in May of 2006 from an email we got. Maybe it was a pin and I didn't know it .
I have been reading about people being offered the bounceback during their stays last year. We stayed from August August 26-Sept 2 and didn't have anything in our room offering it. Maybe we overlooked it.

 

[esdras]

I noticed in the original post that free dining for 2006 was announced to the general public in June. We booked ours in May of 2006 from an email we got. Maybe it was a pin and I didn't know it .
I have been reading about people being offered the bounceback during their stays last year. We stayed from August August 26-Sept 2 and didn't have anything in our room offering it. Maybe we overlooked it.

Sorry, I've gone back and edited the post.

In 2006, Free Dining was offered to the general public twice - the initial (longer timeframe) offer came out in April. Although a lot of people took advantage of the offer, shortly after it expired it seemed as though a lot of people only just noticed it and were disappointed that they missed the deal. Apparently, for whatever reason (not enough response the first time perhaps?) Disney offered it again, but the eligible dates started a week later than the original offer.

 

[CarolA]

OK. So how does the fact that the UK Free Dining (not bounce back) not include values fit it?

 

[Momto8]

Sorry, I wasn't meaning to say anyone in particular was being a doomsayer - I was replying to your post where you made a very relevant comment about additional discounts.

My "doomsayer" comment is more of a general reply to what has taken place every year since '05 - there are always people who are certain that it won't be offered, or it will be extremely limited, or some other negative aspect.

Sure, some of the last offers have been of a shorter duration - but in both '07 and '08, the UK got 49 days (albeit with some restrictions on resort level - at least for '08)

Even if Florida hasn't suffered an Andrew type hurricane in the last couple of years, almost everyone knows that the risk is always there, and late summer through to October is prime hurricane season.

Essentially, we know that by August 18, most of kids in the U.S. are back to school. We also know that this is hurricane season. Historical attendance, despite Free Dining, shows that this is still one of the two lowest attendance periods - January (after New Years) and February being the other.

Disney still wants to get people there during the slow times - that's likely why the ticket upgrade promotion for those going in January and February ALSO included a 15% off the room-rate - unlike the current promotion for April and May (busier time) which is ONLY the ticket upgrade.

I'm still pretty confident in a good discount (even if not Free Dining) for late August through to end of September. While the Bounceback has been a good idea, not everyone can go two years in a row, and I'm sure that response to Bounceback Free Dining is no where near the numbers for those who went Free Dining on the public codes.

Anyway, I've rambled again...

Once again, I did not mean to offend anyone with the "doomsayer" comment, and it isn't directed at any particular person.

Esdras, No offense taken. I didn't really think you were saying I was a "doomsayer" but was more of a general comment. You are right, though, that there are always some every year who will predict no discounts. I am trying to keep a positive outlook and hope that they have discounts this August/September.

 

[lilyv]

If I'm lucky and there is an offer how does it work? Say the offer is good for only two days of my visit, can I sign up for only those two days? (based, of course, on availability....)

 

[Momto8]

In previous years, there was a 3 day minimum stay to book this special. If you are flexible with your resorts, then you should have a good chance in getting all of your dates if they offer it. Also If I remember correctly, last year POP sold out first in the value category, but a couple of weeks later they released more discounted rooms at there.

CarolA, That's a good question. I don't know why the UK can't book values on the free dining.

 

[DISNEYNY]

If I'm lucky and there is an offer how does it work? Say the offer is good for only two days of my visit, can I sign up for only those two days? (based, of course, on availability....)

I believe you would have to book a seperate ressie and buy another one day ticket in order to get the fdp. In order to get the plan a ticket purchase must be included. I arrived last year for fdp two days before it started. I had to have a seperate ressie for the first two days.

 

[lilyv]

I believe you would have to book a seperate ressie and buy another one day ticket in order to get the fdp. In order to get the plan a ticket purchase must be included. I arrived last year for fdp two days before it started. I had to have a seperate ressie for the first two days.

Thanks, DisneyNY for the info. I understand how it works better now.

 

[Momto8]

I'm a little confused by what DisneyNY is saying and maybe I'm misunderstanding what was said. You can't combine 2 stays to make it a 3 night stay.

If it stays the same as in the past, you would have to book a 3-night stay in order to get the free dining. You also have to buy at least a 1 day ticket.

 

[DISNEYNY]

I'm a little confused by what DisneyNY is saying and maybe I'm misunderstanding what was said. You can't combine 2 stays to make it a 3 night stay.

Maybe I misunderstood lilyv - I took her question as she was already going to be at Disney and then FDP would start. I that case I don't think you can combine the days of the reservation.

If it stays the same as in the past, you would have to book a 3-night stay in order to get the free dining. You also have to buy at least a 1 day ticket.

You are probably right about the three night stay. I forgot about that. We have always stayed more then 7 days during FDP, so it wasn't an issue....sorry.

 

[goinback]

Long story short, but I had booked a free dining bounceback in Sept from POP. A few days after we returned home I canceled because I was very ill and we did not know what was wrong or if I was even gonna be around in Sept. I just found the flyer in my Disney stuff and I am wondering if I called the "special" bounceback"# and explained the situation, give them my previous confirmation #, would they let me rebook? I think it is probably a longshot, but I guess you never know unless you ask. Here goes! I'll let you guys know what happens!

 

[donnajz]

But in '07 there were also room-only and package discounts from July 29 to Sept. 29 - although not as good as 30%. Same as in '06 - package and room only, not steep, and shorter time period - Aug. 18 to Sept. 30.

We stayed at POFQ last August and received a discount offered to the general public...although I can't recall how much the discount was. Does anyone remember what % of discount was offered during that time for a Moderate?