Free dining in September 08?

[tink713]

I've been hearing about possible free dining in September 08? What is this all about, any truth to it?

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

They have offered it to the UK and they have offered a bounce back deal but as far as offering to the general public we will not know until April 08.

 

[mom2my3kids]

I am hoping, we were not able to book it when we were there in Sept because we were not sure we could get the vacation time and dates. So now I got my vacation time, I am just waiting if and when free dining is announced. I am praying it is, we had a blast..

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I've been hearing about possible free dining in September 08? What is this all about, any truth to it?

They offered us the Free Dining Bounceback when we were there Sept. 12 - 22 for next Sept. When we left home we had every intention of booking for next year, but the crowds and the heat were so horrible we didn't book it. We will never go back in September again. My husband said he would happily pay the $1,300 we saved to go during a cooler and slower time.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I am hoping, we were not able to book it when we were there in Sept because we were not sure we could get the vacation time and dates. So now I got my vacation time, I am just waiting if and when free dining is announced. I am praying it is, we had a blast..

We're in a similar boat. Does anyone remember when the bounceback dates started for 2008? Was it the week before Labor Day?

 

[TDC Nala]

They offered us the Free Dining Bounceback when we were there Sept. 12 - 22 for next Sept. When we left home we had every intention of booking for next year, but the crowds and the heat were so horrible we didn't book it. We will never go back in September again. My husband said he would happily pay the $1,300 we saved to go during a cooler and slower time.

You can definitely do cooler. But September is the slowest time.

Your only recourse may be January (as long as it's not Martin Luther King weekend)/early February.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

You can definitely do cooler. But September is the slowest time.

Your only recourse may be January (as long as it's not Martin Luther King weekend)/early February.

I was there in Sep as well, and the crowds were not bad at all.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

You can definitely do cooler. But September is the slowest time.

Your only recourse may be January (as long as it's not Martin Luther King weekend)/early February.

We have been the first week of December, the last week of January and the first week of February and those were slow times. You could tour at a leisurely pace and see everything and hardly never have to use fastpasses or fight heavy crowds (especially in January, completely dead, we walked on everything). September was nothing like those slow times. I am a faithful fan of the UG and if it weren't for knowing about their touring plans and knowing how to utilize the Fastpasss system the lines would not have been manageable. There was the occasion that you walked up to something in the late afternoon and there was only a 10 or 15 minute wait, but most of the headliners kept 30 minute or more waits. On our last day at MK Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait at 3:30 p.m. And when you compounded the unbelievable heat with the crowds and the waits, well let's just say it was hard to keep that fun disney attitude. And I love disney.

We did love the Free Dining as far as the value and we did have awesome food on our trip. We ate at Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree, Planet Hollywood, 50's Primetime Cafe, Garden Grill, Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohana (best meal we had), and Crystal Palce. We had ADRs for all and always had to wait at least 20 minutes for our table, a couple of times we waited almost 30 minutes. Saw them turning away walk-ups at all restaurants. Counter service was not too crowded, but we tried to eat early around 11:15 a.m.

I am not trying to rain on anybodys parade, but I wanted to share our Free Dining experience so other people will not be disappointed. We went with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and their three kids and it was their first trip ever. It was hard dragging around the seven children in the crowds and the heat. We all wished we had spent the extra money to go for a Christmas trip the first week of December.

I hope that everybody that goes for Free Dining this coming year has a great time and better luck with the heat and crowds than we did.

The flyer in our room offered Bounceback Free Dining from August 30 - September 27. In past years the Free Dining deal was offered around April 11or 12. First to Disney Visa holders and then to the general public. With the popularity of the last few years and the obvious rise in attendence, I would say it is a pretty good bet it will be offered next year again.

 

[SmallWorld71]

We have been the first week of December, the last week of January and the first week of February and those were slow times. You could tour at a leisurely pace and see everything and hardly never have to use fastpasses or fight heavy crowds (especially in January, completely dead, we walked on everything). September was nothing like those slow times. I am a faithful fan of the UG and if it weren't for knowing about their touring plans and knowing how to utilize the Fastpasss system the lines would not have been manageable. There was the occasion that you walked up to something in the late afternoon and there was only a 10 or 15 minute wait, but most of the headliners kept 30 minute or more waits. On our last day at MK Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait at 3:30 p.m. And when you compounded the unbelievable heat with the crowds and the waits, well let's just say it was hard to keep that fun disney attitude. And I love disney.

We did love the Free Dining as far as the value and we did have awesome food on our trip. We ate at Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree, Planet Hollywood, 50's Primetime Cafe, Garden Grill, Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohana (best meal we had), and Crystal Palce. We had ADRs for all and always had to wait at least 20 minutes for our table, a couple of times we waited almost 30 minutes. Saw them turning away walk-ups at all restaurants. Counter service was not too crowded, but we tried to eat early around 11:15 a.m.

I am not trying to rain on anybodys parade, but I wanted to share our Free Dining experience so other people will not be disappointed. We went with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and their three kids and it was their first trip ever. It was hard dragging around the seven children in the crowds and the heat. We all wished we had spent the extra money to go for a Christmas trip the first week of December.

I hope that everybody that goes for Free Dining this coming year has a great time and better luck with the heat and crowds than we did.

The flyer in our room offered Bounceback Free Dining from August 30 - September 27. In past years the Free Dining deal was offered around April 11or 12. First to Disney Visa holders and then to the general public. With the popularity of the last few years and the obvious rise in attendence, I would say it is a pretty good bet it will be offered next year again.

Thank-you for the bounce back dates.
It's funny how crowds are relative. I can only go on school vacations (teacher) and compared to President's week and April vacation, free dining was a walk in the park. (Albeit a hot one!)

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I am hoping to get in on free dining, as I missed it last year. I paid for DDP, and ate well, although more than I usually would. Also, having to get to your ADR on time took away some, but I was traveling solo, so not as hard to do as get a group or family together and at the ADR on time.

 

[pta-mom]

Actually, I'm pretty disappointed...we were there this year from Sept 21 to Oct 3, staying at POR, but we were NOT offered the bounce back promo! Now, we are planning a trip the last week of August & I was hoping that Free Dining would be offered for the general public for my dates but see that August 30 was the start date & I want to be there only from August 23 to Sept 2, which I assume means I won't get the free DDP regardless of whether or not it's offered to the public! DRAT!!

 

[skier_pete]

PTA-Mom:

You must have missed the flyers. We were at POFQ 9/22 - 9/29, and we saw flyers around for the bounceback program, but they didn't have them prominently displayed.

As for everyone else:

We had a very good time, but I have to agree with some PPs, the weather was really awful. The heat was unpleasant but bearible, but the rain made us totally miserable. I anticipated a hard shower in the afternoon, and we got that most days, but 3 of our 8 days we got hard showers off and on all day. You got soaked and then didn't really dry off. Towards the end of the week, I thought that I would have rather spent the extra money on good weather. I could see where it appeared crowded. (Lots of people milling around.) But the lines for the actually RIDES were very short indeed. (We waited > 15 minutes once the whole week, and then rest of the time was <10 minutes, and almost entirely walk-ons.) Restaurants were very busy.

Free Dining was indeed a great deal, but not nearly as great as it looks on paper. Since when you get free dining, you have to pay full price for your room, you can actual save a lot of money getting a room discount. IF you are just 2 adults, the advantage of free dining is marginal at best, and if you stay at a deluxe resort, not even a savings. Our friend was originally going just her and her nine year old daughter, and I calculated at the Mod we were staying at it was cheaper for her to get the room discount than the free DDP, but then her husband ended up coming. Now, if you have to parents and 2-3 kids >9 in the same room, the free dining can be huge. i think for us, I wouldn't use it again until our DD is 10, so we'll see you all for free dining 2013!

SkierPete

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Actually, I'm pretty disappointed...we were there this year from Sept 21 to Oct 3, staying at POR, but we were NOT offered the bounce back promo! Now, we are planning a trip the last week of August & I was hoping that Free Dining would be offered for the general public for my dates but see that August 30 was the start date & I want to be there only from August 23 to Sept 2, which I assume means I won't get the free DDP regardless of whether or not it's offered to the public! DRAT!!

I know that there were a lot of people who said they didn't hear anything about the promo while there. We recieved a flyer in our room, but I'd already known about it thanks to the DIS. It's a shame you missed out.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You must have missed the flyers. We were at POFQ 9/22 - 9/29, and we saw flyers around for the bounceback program, but they didn't have them prominently displayed.

Yep. I never saw a flyer, but I knew about it from the DIS. Then I happened to see the information on one of the Disney TV channels - and booked.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Actually, I'm pretty disappointed...we were there this year from Sept 21 to Oct 3, staying at POR, but we were NOT offered the bounce back promo! Now, we are planning a trip the last week of August & I was hoping that Free Dining would be offered for the general public for my dates but see that August 30 was the start date & I want to be there only from August 23 to Sept 2, which I assume means I won't get the free DDP regardless of whether or not it's offered to the public! DRAT!!

We were at POR from the Aug. 26th to Sept. 1st and they were sticking them on everyone's bed.
I'm in the same situation as you though I just realized. Labor Day is early this year (9/1) so I would need to go the week before free dining is being offered. They cut out a week.

Like was just said, it may not be the best value for all. But with 3 kids, 2 of whom eat as much as adults, it was a great deal. And the boys really enjoyed being able to have things such as salmon, mahi mahi, shrimp etc...

Oh well, I guess I'll keep my eye out for a good discount code for August.

 

[pta-mom]

Oh well, I guess I'll keep my eye out for a good discount code for August.

Where are you all finding these discount quotes? When would one typically come out for the last week of August?

 

[pigby]

They have offered it to the UK and they have offered a bounce back deal but as far as offering to the general public we will not know until April 08.

I have booked a package with free dining for 2 weeks starting from 15th August next year. I am from the UK, but I was a little surprised to find out this wasn't available to residents of the US, especially not those dates. In the UK, the last 2 weeks in August are the last 2 of the school summer holidays (for most of the country - but not Scotland) and I have always loved those 2 weeks anyway.

I just wondered if people knew why Disney did this - as if I was living in America, I be a bit fed up - especially if I lived in the North East, where I think many schools are still closed at this time. I know the British market is very important to Disney and we stay a long time and spend a lot on the package as a whole but still....you guys go for shorter periods but often go more freqently.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Where are you all finding these discount quotes? When would one typically come out for the last week of August?

Occasionally, people get postcards in the mail with room discount codes. I haven't gotten one of those but last year, Disney did an advertised room discount for August/September for a limited time. Mousesavers.com is a good site to find current discounts. If you subscribe (free) to their newsletter, they will update you each month.

 

[RichardC]

I'm from Canada (Toronto) and we we also offered to return with Free Dining in Sept 08. I didn't, as I couldn't guarantee good flight pricing. If all works out, westjetvacations.com (in canada) offers all disney discounts as well as cheap flights the last two years in April when the deal came out.
Watch for it.

I paid $2300 canadian dollars for 2 adults and 1 child for 1 week at ASM starting labour day. No lineups. The week after it was busy.

 

[pegryfun]

Hi,
My DH and I were at WDW late Oct. this year with the DDP (not Free). The weather was ok, some rain, cloudy most of our stay. We want to return again and were thinking of Sept this year, so my questions are (after reading about the free dining):
1. If they offer the free dining to the public do you think it would be the same dates as the offer to the "bounceback" and UK people?
2. If they offer this, is it at all Disney resorts? We liked Pop Century.
3. If we booked (we like AAA) now could we still get this offer after they announce it or should we wait until they do.
Thank you for any answers.