Free Dining is Back!!! August 13 - September 30

[DebIreland]

.......... ya know, I never thought of that.....

There's no way it's a joke. Mary at Mousesavers wouldn't be that cruel!!!

 

[Connor&Cody'sMom]

I was planning a late August trip. Can I purchase the magic your way plus dining package for the regular magic your way package price, AND purchase the park hopper/water parks and more options, or would I be limited to the base (one park only per day) tickets? For some reason I was thinking that regular magic your way package just came with base tickets.

If I can get the free dining and add these options, I will be

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Grrr...my VISA has been approved (and I can see it on my Chase account) but I haven't received it yet. I called today and they need the whole number to book. Doggonit!!

BTW: I was quoted $630.43 for five nights at ASMo with a one-day base ticket for two adults and one 3YO minus trip insurance. Guess I'll have to wait for the general public dates on Tuesday.

ETA: MY CARD CAME IN THE AFTERNOON!! I GOT TO BOOK!!!

 

[DebIreland]

I was planning a late August trip. Can I purchase the magic your way plus dining package for the regular magic your way package price, AND purchase the park hopper/water parks and more options, or would I be limited to the base (one park only per day) tickets? For some reason I was thinking that regular magic your way package just came with base tickets.

If I can get the free dining and add these options, I will be

Even if the offer only comes with the base ticket, you can go to Guest Services at any of the parks and upgrade your tickets. I'm almost sure that wouldn't be a problem. Disney always allow upgrading of tickets, but never downgrading. You shouldn't have a problem. I'm sooooo jealous of all that free food that we'll miss.

 

[Anniegirl]

We had a 3 night room only booked at POFQ through AAA. Just got off the phone with my AAA agent. She is reprocessing our reservation for 3 nights with dining and single base MYW tickets for each of us. We will use the basic one day tickets to apply towards our AP (we did this last year also). It is just like prepaying part of our APs and getting the dining for free. I confirmed with Disney, this rate is good for packages starting at 3 nights. Many many thanks to the original poster! I never got the email either.

 

[webairs]

First timer here. going to Disney 9-24 through 9-30. Was wondering if it is necessary to use a travel agent to book a trip and get the free dining or if I can just book online or via phone and still get the free dining package. Help....That's me, my husband, and my four kids.....this will save me a bundle. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, can you make your own ADR's or does an agent have to do that?

Missy.

 

[ciera321]

We're going (already have the air tickets) August 7 - 18....I know some people have gotten the deals to carry OVER after expiration, but does it work on the front end, too??? Probably not lucky enough for that ....Any thoughts???

 

[DebIreland]

We're going (already have the air tickets) August 7 - 18....I know some people have gotten the deals to carry OVER after expiration, but does it work on the front end, too??? Probably not lucky enough for that ....Any thoughts???

You could change to two reservations. Reservation 1 for Aug 7 to Aug 12 and Reservation 2, Aug 13 to 18 (with free dining). Perhaps try to get an AAA package for the first reservation (saving 20%) and do budget dining and then do all the expensive meals during Reservation 2? You could use the MYW hoppers from Reservation 2 for a future stay maybe? On Aug 13 you could check in for Reservation 2 really early so you avail of your dining credits immediately.
Or can you just change your flights? Perhaps even with a penalty to change flights, you'd still save money?

 

[ciera321]

You could change to two reservations. Reservation 1 for Aug 7 to Aug 12 and Reservation 2, Aug 13 to 18 (with free dining). Perhaps try to get an AAA package for the first reservation (saving 20%) and do budget dining and then do all the expensive meals during Reservation 2? You could use the MYW hoppers from Reservation 2 for a future stay maybe? Or can you change your flight? Perhaps even with a penalty to change flights, you'd still save money?

I thought of the 2 ressies, but with having to buy the extra tickets instead of our 10 day tickets, we'd be paying over $600 more and losing the discount on the rooms. It doesn't work out to be that much of a savings for us just for the last 5 days of our trip. As for the airlines tickets, it would be a lot more to change anything on them, plus go into the start of school. Guess I will wait for AP rates and hopefully be able to go that route. Thanks for your input!!!

 

[LBKMAMA]

We had originally thought of going first week of Oct...but DH was hesitant. We had a trip booked for first week of December. When I told him we could save over $1,000 he changed his mind! My dtr. isn't three yet which helped also with these new dates and with the free meal plan boy was it worth it! Plus my kids will only miss three days of school so all around this is really working out. I called for ADR's this morning and got all the ones I wanted for that too...except this new Toy Story thing which isn't finalized yet... Yippee

 

[cobbler]

Just wondering, we are going 12/8 -12/18, since this expires 9/30, does that mean we have no chance of getting free dining, or other special. Do they ever run specials for that time period?? Thanks for any help! Janice

Don't know if someone has helped you yet or not but free dining only was avail last year through 10/4 which ended value season.

They didn't offer it any other time after that and is extremly unlikly they will offer it during December.

The time they are offering it is peak hurricane season.

 

[TyRy]

Somehow I missed this thread yesterday!!! Anyway - I woke up to an e-mail from our travel agent saying our rate had gone down by $500.00 Now I know why - this is awesome!!!

Tracy

 

[cobbler]

I am getting the AAA room rate. will I be eligible for the free dining plan?

If you are getting an AAA room only rate no you won't be eligible for it.

You must book a package and pay full room price with at least a one day base ticket for every member in your party.

 

[cobbler]

Will I be elegable? I booked my holiday directly with Disney and have booked a package with dining plan.

If you are going during that time frame you will be eligible. You will call and have them apply the discount code to your existing reservation.

 

[cobbler]

The offer says 5 nights 6 days. Does anyone know if you can add more days but still get the same deal??

Yes you can have the offer for longer stays. On Mousesavers it was just a sample offer to demonstrate.

I do think you can only get it for up to 10 nights. I think packages are restricted for up to 10 nights.

 

[cobbler]

First timer here. going to Disney 9-24 through 9-30. Was wondering if it is necessary to use a travel agent to book a trip and get the free dining or if I can just book online or via phone and still get the free dining package. Help....That's me, my husband, and my four kids.....this will save me a bundle. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, can you make your own ADR's or does an agent have to do that?

Missy.

You can book directly through Disney. Just call them and tell them you want to book the package with the free dining and you can take care of everything yourself.

You can also make all your ADR's yourself.

 

[cobbler]

I thought of the 2 ressies, but with having to buy the extra tickets instead of our 10 day tickets, we'd be paying over $600 more and losing the discount on the rooms. It doesn't work out to be that much of a savings for us just for the last 5 days of our trip. As for the airlines tickets, it would be a lot more to change anything on them, plus go into the start of school. Guess I will wait for AP rates and hopefully be able to go that route. Thanks for your input!!!

Remember you only have to buy a one day base ticket for the package.

I guess you could get a room only AP rate or AAA rate for the first half of your vacation so that way you won't have to buy tickets and then do the package for the second half and just buy the one day base for that.

Or since you want 10 day tickets, break it down into 5 day tickets the first half and 5 day the second half.

 

[DebIreland]

Remember you only have to buy a one day base ticket for the package.

Yes, that's what I was thinking too.

ciera,
According to Mousesavers Disney's prices for a 1 day base ticket are: $67.10 adult and $55.38 child. As you see the adult ticket price is less than 2 days adult dining so I think you'll come out on top splitting your reservations! And it's an investment for your next trip too - you can upgrade those tickets to whatever you want next time you go! Good luck with your decision. It must be the Irishness in me, but I would go to great lengths to get that free food.

 

[Cupmom]

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it!!!!!
I just changed my ressie from AAA room only rate to the Visa Dining Free Package
It me DH, DS13, DS 5 7 day hopper with free dining staying at the WL

$2500

 

[ciera321]

Yes, that's what I was thinking too.

ciera,
According to Mousesavers Disney's prices for a 1 day base ticket are: $67.10 adult and $55.38 child. As you see the adult ticket price is less than 2 days adult dining so I think you'll come out on top splitting your reservations! And it's an investment for your next trip too - you can upgrade those tickets to whatever you want next time you go! Good luck with your decision. It must be the Irishness in me, but I would go to great lengths to get that free food.

When I run all the numbers, (I have a AAA package 10 day tickets, dining, and resort discount on split stay BC/CSR, without that pesky 1 day ticket base they say you have to have for a split stay w/dining...) I get just about the exact amount I would pay for the new package with free dining. I guess the AAA discounts at BC and CSR and not buying the 3 base tickets at @201.30 I'd have to buy for the free dining wash out the free dining savings. If I could move our dates, I would.. Thanks for all the input. It did make a difference on the base ticket since I was figuring wrong, but not enough to make it of value to us. It's so nice to have sooooo much great info from everyone here!!!!