Free Dining Oct-Dec Is Here!!

[photos_101]

I am not doubting the dates here because they are usually pretty accurate but I find it hard to believe the WDW would offer FD until 12/22. Two years ago they offered it until 12/17 and quickly pulled it back to end on 12/15 because it was crossing into Christmas territory and they know they will already be booked then. The way this stands a person could check in 12/22 and have free dining throughout Christmas and New Years.

A dream come true but we will have to wait and see.

Last year they ended up extending the FD date to include up to Dec 20th. We Checked in Dec 17th and checked out Dec 23rd. I had no plans of taking a Christmas trip last year UNTIL they extended it!! We just couldn't pass up free dining and my DS ended up only missing 2 days of school thanks to the extended days.
This year we plan to check in Dec 22nd and stay until Jan 1st. So we could get free dining for the entire time. All the way thru the holidays.
Now the question remains..Will the free dining discount be better than a CM room discount??? That is what I have to wait to find out. I may just have to book the FD until the CM discount (if any) is released. I would hate to miss out on FD because I waited to long to book. I will not book until they release these discounts though, don't want to jinx myself! lol

 

[skelly916]

The GP offer added a few dates and took away several dates. This is typical. They see what/where/when they need to fill once the pins get booked, and then they create the needed offer for the public.

Thanks! When the GP offer comes out I'm going to try to change my dates. It's nice to know I have FD anyway.

 

[LINYMOM]

When I talked to Disney today they said they don't limit the offer.

 

[black562]

Just wanted to sprinkle some pixie dust on those who still need a PIN to get some free dining.

As we draw nearer and nearer to the release, this thread will get insanely busy, so if you don't get an answer to a question...please ask again cause someone may have missed it in the hustle.

The morning of a release is always a wild and fun time here. For those who experienced it for the September release, you'll recall how fast the posts came in of everything from an odd experience with a CM...to people stating where they booked and what kind of deal they got. Everyone was very helpful laying out any exclusions or room types that were unavailable. It was both fun and stressful...but mostly very helpful.

Cheers everyone!!!

 

[imabeimabe]

Just wanted to sprinkle some pixie dust on those who still need a PIN to get some free dining.

As we draw nearer and nearer to the release, this thread will get insanely busy, so if you don't get an answer to a question...please ask again cause someone may have missed it in the hustle.

The morning of a release is always a wild and fun time here. For those who experienced it for the September release, you'll recall how fast the posts came in of everything from an odd experience with a CM...to people stating where they booked and what kind of deal they got. Everyone was very helpful laying out any exclusions or room types that were unavailable. It was both fun and stressful...but mostly very helpful.

Cheers everyone!!!

I'm thinking I may have to take a vacation day on the DV release date. I won't be able to tear myself away from this thread!
Thanks again Joe for all you do to keep us in the know!

 

[smitch425]

When I talked to Disney today they said they don't limit the offer.

Not sure what you mean by "limit". Can you elaborate?

 

[aaarcher86]

Not sure what you mean by "limit". Can you elaborate?

I imagine they mean the rooms - limited number of rooms for the offer.

To the poster that Disney told that to, it as inaccurate. If you meant something else, I'm with Smitch. Please elaborate!

 

[smitch425]

I imagine they mean the rooms - limited number of rooms for the offer.

To the poster that Disney told that to, it as inaccurate. If you meant something else, I'm with Smitch. Please elaborate!

There are all sorts of limits with a FD offer. Dates, resorts, room types, length of stay... wasn't sure what they were referring to, but my hunch is whatever limit it is, the CM was wrong.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

I am not doubting the dates here because they are usually pretty accurate but I find it hard to believe the WDW would offer FD until 12/22. Two years ago they offered it until 12/17 and quickly pulled it back to end on 12/15 because it was crossing into Christmas territory and they know they will already be booked then. The way this stands a person could check in 12/22 and have free dining throughout Christmas and New Years.

A dream come true but we will have to wait and see.

I know the dates are incredible! They will allow for FD for Jersey Week (just check in on 11/2), Thanksgiving Week, and Christmas Week.

 

[ALD85]

Since I've never had free dining, just a few (probably dumb) questions....QS meals- ANY QS meal? Or are their limitations on where etc...and well the same question for TS meals. Desert is included in the TS meals right? But no appetizer?

 

[LGTD]

So I am new to this whole leak thing. It would appear by some comments that leaks come out every year before the actual offer. Is this something disney officials let get out or would the employee's potentially lose their jobs for telling. Just curious about how it all comes about.

 

[babydoll65]

Since I've never had free dining, just a few (probably dumb) questions....QS meals- ANY QS meal? Or are their limitations on where etc...and well the same question for TS meals. Desert is included in the TS meals right? But no appetizer?

The first time we got fd(2011) was the qs and included all qs in resort's and parks but found csr pepper market to be the best as far as variety. Ts includes dessert with every meal but no apps. Ts includes all character breakfasts and if doing any signature dining will take two ts credits.

 

[black562]

I know the dates are incredible! They will allow for FD for Jersey Week (just check in on 11/2), Thanksgiving Week, and Christmas Week.

Last year's dates weren't too different. Looks like that third set of dates is a bit longer, but you could've got all the major holidays in with varying lengths of stay. See a comparison below:

2012 Free Dining Dates
9/30 – 10/4
10/19– 11/1
11/9 – 11/15
11/23 – 11/29
12/10 – 12/20

2013 Free Dining Dates
9/29 - 10/2
10/18 - 11/2
11/11 - 11/23
12/12 - 12/22

 

[sharadoc]

Last year's dates weren't too different. Looks like that third set of dates is a bit longer, but you could've got all the major holidays in with varying lengths of stay. See a comparison below:

2012 Free Dining Dates
9/30 – 10/4
10/19– 11/1
11/9 – 11/15
11/23 – 11/29
12/10 – 12/20

2013 Free Dining Dates
9/29 - 10/2
10/18 - 11/2
11/11 - 11/23
12/12 - 12/22

Except the MAJOR difference being the week after Thanksgiving was included in 2012 and is not in 2013 and that totally affects us. I hope the RO will cover us, we really would prefer to stay onsite but won't be able to do so without a discount. We prefer the free dining but we haven't gotten a pin code since 2009 so there's no hope there.

 

[aym4Him]

Thx for the pixie dust. We need all we can get. We booked last month (after ticket prices increased, but that's fine. We weren't even aware) not even knowing there would be a chance for free dining. Finding out it could happen (our dates are 11/11-11/19) was exciting.

I called to see if, by chance, I had a PIN for anything today & there wasn't anything. She said to keep checking and went on to name all the things our son might be interested in doing while there. Haha. She was so nice but that call was long and DS (4 1/2) was left to his own devices as I ducked out into the bedroom to make (what I thought) would be a quick call!

Anyway- she didn't let anything slip (haha- I was kind of hoping).

Pixie dust appreciated on the home front. DS's cardiologist is moving at the end of the month and we aren't sure who we will switch to. We had dinner with him & his family tonight. It's really got me down.

Thx for letting me ramble.

 

[black562]

Except the MAJOR difference being the week after Thanksgiving was included in 2012 and is not in 2013 and that totally affects us. I hope the RO will cover us, we really would prefer to stay onsite but won't be able to do so without a discount. We prefer the free dining but we haven't gotten a pin code since 2009 so there's no hope there.

I totally understand...I think everyone was taken by surprise by that exclusion.

I didn't keep track of those that had PIN codes and what dates they booked, but quite a lot of them must have been during those dates.

 

[ALD85]

Not that it will stop me, but I feel like when I call first thing the rumored DV morning and ask for FD, the CM's are going to think I'm nuts. It seems like most CM's aren't on the same page ever. Im supposed to tell them I heard it on Dis boards or what? Or should they know? I know Black said to me before that if they don't know I should ask for them to check. Idk, I'm just being weird I guess! :rotf2:

 

[darnheather]

Which week did you put in. If you were planning on going that particular week anyway it shouldn't matter. And I don't think your one ress is going to make or break the fd promo.

The week before Thanksgiving. Thanks for the reply. We really can't go without the free dining. We were supposed to go during the September free dining but spouse now can't get the time off for the week I first reserved and the week he can get off no ADR's are left.

 

[babydoll65]

So I am new to this whole leak thing. It would appear by some comments that leaks come out every year before the actual offer. Is this something disney officials let get out or would the employee's potentially lose their jobs for telling. Just curious about how it all comes about.

No one is going to lose there jobs over this leaking out. Some leaks come from outside the US. Leaks tend to ease everyones minds while waiting for the official day it can be applied.

 

[glenpreece]

Not that it will stop me, but I feel like when I call first thing the rumored DV morning and ask for FD, the CM's are going to think I'm nuts. It seems like most CM's aren't on the same page ever. Im supposed to tell them I heard it on Dis boards or what? Or should they know? I know Black said to me before that if they don't know I should ask for them to check. Idk, I'm just being weird I guess! :rotf2:

This has happened to me on many different occasions when the CM's have no idea what is going on.