Free dining in the fall?

[VillainFavs]

You would select change button and the current offers would come up- select free dining offer - if the offer is available for your dates then accept the changes - you reservation number should not change.

That's if the change button actually works. Mine just makes an endless loop back to my reservation page. It's there, but can't do a thing with it!

 

[jonhall]

Where am I supposed to see this change button? When I go into my Disney experience and bring up my reservations, I have view details or make a payment. Should I be looking elsewhere for the change button?

 

[5DisneyNuts]

For those that are not following the thread on the dining forums, here's the latest from a very credible source:

Looks like free dining could be dropping on April 24. Minimum of 4 nights, maximum of 14, with park hopper and park hopper plus add on. Check in dates: 8/13-9/30, 11/14-11/20, 11/25-11/27, 12/3-12/23.


As always, information is fluid and more detail will hopefully come.

I am surprised at the dates close to Thanksgiving and Christmas check in again. That didn't wok well last year.

Also sounds like it may be QS plans for Value and Moderate and DP for Deluxe only. Not sure of resorts that are eligible. Also minimum of 4 day tickets with PH and PH+ add on is a higher requirement than the past if true.

 

[Moliphino]

I'm really glad I booked the bounceback offer if those details are true. I have no need of the PH+ option and booked a moderate with the regular dining plan free.

 

[Roxyfire]

Also sounds like it may be QS plans for Value and Moderate and DP for Deluxe only. Not sure of resorts that are eligible. Also minimum of 4 day tickets with PH and PH+ add on is a higher requirement than the past.

I think that's pretty interesting. It's a good way to devalue the free dining and get more money back from those committed to it. The moderates would have slim pickings anyway, and Pop will have a decent amount of rooms out of commission too. I'm very curious to see how this shakes out.

 

[orangecats2]

Wow! That doesn't sound like a very good deal anymore if you have to buy a park hopper. Also only quick service at moderates!!! So stay at a value and upgrade dining or stay less days at either AKL or WL just to get the DDP. Why stay at a mod at all? I feel like I may not be going to WDW many more times. I had thought about buying into DVC but rethinking that as well.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Wow! That doesn't sound like a very good deal anymore if you have to buy a park hopper. Also only quick service at moderates!!! So stay at a value and upgrade dining or stay less days at either AKL or WL just to get the DDP. Why stay at a mod at all? I feel like I may not be going to WDW many more times. I had thought about buying into DVC but rethinking that as well.

I hear you! Last year you had to add the park hopper, also. If this is true, this year you have to add the park hopper + option, too. I totally agree with you about the mods. Not much incentive to stay there with this offer.

 

[smallworldnh]

I hear you! Last year you had to add the park hopper, also. If this is true, this year you have to add the park hopper + option, too. I totally agree with you about the mods. Not much incentive to stay there with this offer.

From what others are saying, you have to have either/or park hopper or PH+. It doesn't make sense for it to be worded as Park Hopper and Park hopper + since if you bought the +, that already includes the PH. Does this make any sense??

 

[Staarr11]

I have never used FD before so forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question, but is FD that huge of a discount? Does it really incentivize people who weren't planning to visit to now visit?

 

[mom2rtk]

I have never used FD before so forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question, but is FD that huge of a discount? Does it really incentivize people who weren't planning to visit to now visit?

In some cases, yes. In some cases, no.

All you can do is figure your costs with a room only discount (including what you expect to spend on food) and figure your costs with free dining. Since room discounts on value rooms tend to be very small, it's easier to make it pay at a value resort, especially if you have 3 or 4 people in the room qualifying for the deal. 2 people staying in a deluxe resort will probably find the room only discount more beneficial.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Looks like free dining could be dropping on April 24. Minimum of 4 nights, maximum of 14, with park hopper and park hopper plus add on. Check in dates: 8/13-9/30, 11/14-11/20, 11/25-11/27, 12/3-12/23.


As always, information is fluid and more detail will hopefully come.

From what others are saying, you have to have either/or park hopper or PH+. It doesn't make sense for it to be worded as Park Hopper and Park hopper + since if you bought the +, that already includes the PH. Does this make any sense??

I'm just quoting the source, who I'm told is very, very reliable.

 

[Bethislucy]

I wonder how it will be broke down by the different resorts. For the values depending on the size of your party that may not be worth the deal at all unless you were already adding the park hopper plus option.

 

[TwoMisfits]

It's just step 2 in getting rid of this by Star Wars...1st take full DDP away from values (done already), then take full DDP away from moderates (and up requirements to 4 days), next year will probably bring only 1 meal a day to values (and 5 day requirements), and then by 2019, with ticket and stay requirements probably up to 6 days each, people really won't miss it when it doesn't actually show in 2020...

It's the same "boil the frog" mentality, now just on their most popular discount...

 

[MDChris]

Any more about the expected drop date for this? History suggests Monday the 24th, but was curious if there were any more credible rumors on this.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Any more about the expected drop date for this? History suggests Monday the 24th, but was curious if there were any more credible rumors on this.

A very credible source has it dropping April 24th.

“Looks like free dining could be dropping on April 24. Minimum of 4 nights, maximum of 14, with park hopper and park hopper plus add on. Check in dates: 8/13-9/30, 11/14-11/20, 11/25-11/27, 12/3-12/23. It also appears that values AND moderates may get quick service, with regular dining only for deluxe resorts.”

 

[saskdw]

As far as I'm concerned they might as well not offer anything if it's QS FD at the Mod resorts. They will need Reg FD at the Mods if they want my business.

 

[smallworldnh]

I found the change button on mine. But I dont see anywhere to put in an offer code. Would I add dining plan to my reservation than checkout. And at checkout find somewhere to enter an offer code

I tried the change button as well today to "practice" when FD finally drops. It took me to a page that said "no special offers available at this time". I'm thinking when FD is official, there will be a way to add it!

 

[Rusty2rules]

As far as I'm concerned they might as well not offer anything if it's QS FD at the Mod resorts. They will need Reg FD at the Mods if they want my business.

I dunno. I totally understand where you're coming from. But free QS is better than a sharp stick in the eye. Me personally, I don't want a TS every day. Too much time wasted. I'd rather have the QS, snacks, refillable mug, and then pay for one or two TS meals OOP. The biggest problem I have with this new promotion – assuming it's true – is taking it from 3 nights to 4 and now having to add the park hopper plus. Adding the park hopper was bad enough, but now the PH+? That's my biggest complaint.

 

[lovemy2girls4eva]

i'm confused .. is it park hopper plus?

I was reading the spanish article posted and it looks like it's park hopper or park hopper plus

 

[Rusty2rules]

Think about it. Why would they give you that choice? Of course everybody's going to go with the cheaper option. The source is saying park hopper plus.