Free Dining in 2007?

[Hooked_on_Mickey]

Does Disney have plans to offer free dining again in 2007? It is a great deal, but I like to plan trips for the off season for lower crowds. It seems the free dining really boosts attendance.

Has Disney ever offered the free dining in the past, or is this the first year?

 

[disneypharm]

Disney had free DDP last year for the first time in Sept/early Oct. I am not sure if they will offer it again next year.

 

[bicker]

Some folks have speculated that Disney has been running promotions for two years in a row and then change them. That would mean no free dining promotion next year. I haven't really noticed that specific trend, so I wouldn't put much stock in that. It's 50/50 AFAIC. However, what should be noted is that, as with any promotion where it is perhaps perceived that Disney has been under-pricing, they learn their lesson pretty quickly, so expect that if it is an extraordinarily good deal up-to-now, it'll be just a regular good deal next year.

 

[salmoneous]

Free dining was first offered in 2005. Nobody knew if it would be repeated in 2006, but more people on the DIS felt it would not be offered again than felt it would be offered again. The naysayers were wrong.

We'll just have to see what Disney does 2007.

 

[laceemouse]

Does Disney have plans to offer free dining again in 2007? It is a great deal, but I like to plan trips for the off season for lower crowds. It seems the free dining really boosts attendance.

Has Disney ever offered the free dining in the past, or is this the first year?

It is getting more and more difficult to plan an "off season" trip. There is always something special going on at WDW,or it is Jersey Week, Pop Warner, ect, ect. You can rest assured that if a week or two is lagging behind in room bookings Disney will add SOMETHING to get the crowds back up. Exactly what time do you consider "off season"??? I'll bet there is something going on that will get you worried about crowds!!! Lacee (who has been to WDW in summer, at Spring Break, Halloween, Christmas, ect. and always had a great time anyway!)
PRAYING for free food in '07!!!!

 

[Destination Disney]

I think they will becasue I printed up the DDP 2007 list of particiapting resturants! Why would they compile that if they were not going to offer it?

 

[mytwotinks]

I think they will becasue I printed up the DDP 2007 list of particiapting resturants! Why would they compile that if they were not going to offer it?

That list is just for the dining plan in general, not the "free dining plan." They are already offering it for sale in 2007, but there is no word on whether or not it will be offered for free and probably won't be until spring/summer 2007.

 

[DiszyDean]

Well, I certainly hope they will offer it next year but you may see it more limited next year as far as how many people they will offer it to. I think they did underestimate the response to this year's free dining promotion.

I know there are some people who would like to see it go away forever. Along with any other discounts that would allow people to go to WDW that may not be able to go otherwise. It would certainly reduce the crowds but it would not be in the best interest of Disney, the company or the vision that Walt had for his world.

 

[bicker]

I'm not so sure that they under-estimated it by much -- at least not by as much as many folks might think. The objective was to fill hotel rooms, and since the offer was inventory limited, they deliberately decided to open up at least that much availability with the free Dining Plan promotion. So the difference between what they expected and what they got must have been with respect to how many guests still PAID for the Dining Plan during this period. (Perhaps they didn't factor us DVC members in?) Either that, or they weren't surprised at all, and had these contingencies available on an "if needed" basis, all along.

 

[bicker]

It does seem likely now that they'll be offering free dining again in 2007, since they're already allowing international guests booking vacation packages through Disney for that time period to take advantage of the free dining offer.

 

[jjohnson]

It does seem likely now that they'll be offering free dining again in 2007, since they're already allowing international guests booking vacation packages through Disney for that time period to take advantage of the free dining offer.

I completely agree with your prediction and contemplated with DH last night moving up our trip. Free dining for the 6 of us is a huge savings -even at rack rate. We also need to purchase tickets next year. It's very tempting.

 

[Lewisc]

The plan being offered to UK visitors requires a pass purchase for the length of your stay. I wouldn't be surprised if "free" dining required a longer pass purchase.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I too agree with the predictions for 2007 free dining based on the offer to UK residents right now.

We are definitely going next year if they offer it!!!!

 

[laceemouse]

WooHooo!!!!!Hope you are right !!!

 

[PaulaSB12]

I am planning a 21 day trip next time, with a few days at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Universal and Kennedy Space Centre. I'll use the ts credits for them to go to the 2 ts resteraunts. Just waiting for the ok from work.

 

[newbienicole]

Or should I say when did they first offer it this year???

 

[bicker]

They offered it first last year, and then again this year. It is offered during the heart of hurricane season, late August until the end of September.

 

[newbienicole]

Or should I say when did they first offer it this year???

 

[newbienicole]

I'm sorry....what I meant to say was when do they first offer it to be booked.....I know what dates it was good for this year, but wasn't sure when they first announced it. L

 

[Cinderumbrella]

It was March 28th+/-
Everybody wondered if it was an April Fools joke!
It was first offered to Disney Visa holders than to the general public 2-3 days later if memory serves...