Free Dining - Never used it, what does it entail?

[pixietwin]

Okay, we've booked a room in Nov with the 40% discount. My family went to Disney in Feb of 2008 and we just brought our own b'fast and lunches since we had a fridge and large room at SOG - brought stuff for lunch sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks. We bought our dinners each night.

Now it's going to just be me and my husband - still planning on bringing somethings for several lunches but since we'll be there for 9 days, can't bring everything. I have no idea what free dining (if it becomes offered) entails - I've been confused by some posts where people talk about credits, snack credits etc and honestly it seems hard to understand. Do you have to keep up with 'credits' to get meals? In the past, does free dining include snacks at kiosks - can you use these free credits for Dole, funnel cakes, cookies, etc? How on earth do you find out about the credits required to buy an entree, appetizer etc. And are all Disney restraurants participating?

I have Disney Reward points which we had planned on using for our food but this might be better? What type of value is the dining plan good for? What is the price value for each day?

I know there must be a FAQ somewhere, can somebody link it for me? Thanks

 

[RMulieri]

You are confusing the Free dining promotion with the dining plan.The dining plan is available to everyone for purchase with a MYW vacation pkg.The Free dining Promotion is the Disney Basic dining plan for free when you purchase a Full priced non discounted Myw vacation pkg with a minimum of a 1 day park ticket per person.It is announced in early April for trips on select days during late August-Mid September only.It has not been announced yet for 2009.Important to note if you have already used a 40% off you would not be entiteld to both discounts.You would need to choose one or the other.For more info on the dining plan, head over to the restaurant boards and look under the dining plan sub forum...lots of info there.

 

[catne]

this past year, Free Dining was offered mostly end of August until early October only. They did offer some additional dates (non-holiday weeks) during November & December to Disney Visa cardholders.

But as PP said, you can't use two promotions, so if you're using a 40% off room rate you could not use Free Dining even if they offered it during your dates. You just have to "do the math" to see which offer would save you more money. Typically, the 40% will save more if your staying at a more expensive resort...if you're staying at a value resort, the Free Dining is often the bigger savings.

 

[RMulieri]

Another important note..the general public free dining promotion last year ended 9/20/08.But as long as you check in on the last eligible day of free dining , you have it the whole trip.There were free dining dates throughout Oct,Nov, and Dec. BUT they were not for the general public.First they were sent out as a random person specific pincode postcard and email.Then Disney Visa holders were also offered the discount.The general public was not offered it.

 

[su_A_ve]

this past year, Free Dining was offered mostly end of August until early October only. They did offer some additional dates (non-holiday weeks) during November & December to Disney Visa cardholders.

Actually, the visa deal this year did include the xmas holiday. The real expiration date for the promotion was Dec. 23rd, which meant that you could check in on Dec. 23rd and stay for up to 14 days.

I was there Dec. 22nd to Dec. 28th, with free dining...

 

[pixietwin]

How did you like it? Were you able to eat wherever you wanted with that promotion?

 

[heartsy77]

So how long before we know about 2010? I don't think they have announced free dining for 2009 Aug- Sept? We want to go and take all 4 kids for free dining in Aug-sept 2010... is it always offered that time of the year? I would hate to plan on going this time period only to find out that no free dining will happen?

 

[RMulieri]

So how long before we know about 2010? I don't think they have announced free dining for 2009 Aug- Sept? We want to go and take all 4 kids for free dining in Aug-sept 2010... is it always offered that time of the year? I would hate to plan on going this time period only to find out that no free dining will happen?

It has not been offered for 2009 yet..You won't know till April 2010, and there is no gurantee or way to predict if Disney will offer it each and every year.

 

[d1gitman]

How did you like it? Were you able to eat wherever you wanted with that promotion?

The DDP works well (although, prior to 2008 changes, it was even better).

The DDP (Disney Dining Plan) works like this (we'll assume the basic DDP for this discussion as there are CS, deluxe, platinum plans as well).

1 TS (table service meal), per person, per day: The majority of theme park restaurants are 1 TS point. The exception at MK is Cinderella's Royal Table (castle), Hollywood Studio Brown Derby. These use 2 TS meal points. Epcot & Animal Kingdom restaurants are all 1 TS meal points to the best of my knowledge. There are also several restaurants at the resorts that use 1 TS meal point and some that use 2 TS meal points. Downtown Disney is also a mixture of 1 TS, 2 TS and some non-participating restaurants.

1 CS (counter service), per person, per day: This is all of your walk-up and order your food places within the parks and also includes the cafeteria style restuarants found at the resorts (for value resorts, this is the only restaurant type option).

1 Snack, per person, per day: this would be most snacks at the vendor carts and counter service eateries in the parks. Things like soda, water, fruit, chips, ice cream bars, popsicles, popcorn, etc...


Things to know in general about the DDP are this:

1. TS meals DO NOT include tips, you must pay for that out of pocket (can be done on room charge). Prior to 2008, tips were included in all TS meals. There are a couple of meals we had in 2008 where the tip was included as an exception to the rule, we just tipped extra anyway. I would budget tips for all TS meals.
2. TS meals include the entree, non-alch beverage, dessert. Appetizers are no longer included.
3. CS meals include the entree, non-alch beverage, dessert/snack. Tipping is not needed for CS as it is a fast food type set up.
4. Not everything on the menus is included as DDP. As far as I can recall, all the menus whether it be TS, CS or Snacks had the DDP logo next to DDP Items. No need to worry, the vast majority of items are included in the DDP and I can't think of anything we couldn't have that we wanted.
5. You can use your DDP Points at any rate you wish. Your Room Card will be 'loaded' with all the DDP points on day one. Once you run out, you run out. We have never run out of meals, but usually burn through the snacks by mid-trip.
6. We have found the portion size for meals at Disney to be large. We have usually left the table stuffed, unable to finish. We are big eaters.
7. You will want to make reservations at the TS restaurants, well in advance of your trip (I think it is limited to 90 days ahead now). This will also force you to decide what parks you will do on what days, if you eat in the parks.
8. We are a family of 4 and every time we run the math, the DDP is still a significant savings vs. paying cash for meal. Even with our two sons eating off of our plates and only having their own drinks. It is worthwhile to run the math. Menus with pricing can be found on wdwinfo.com