Free Dining Plan in '08?

[jberry5]

Does anyone know when they have generally announced the "free" dining plan in the past? And how likely to be people think this program is to continue, given some of the changes that apparently have been made to the dining plan?

TIA

 

[sunlover13]

This year, I believe they announced it in April and you had to book by June 24. I remember this b/c we booked on the last possible day. Not sure if they will offer it again or not..........

 

[cinderkelli]

Yeah last year they officially announced it April 1 I believe. I wonder the same thing with the dining plan having different stuff. I am just glad we got to do it this year!!

 

[jberry5]

Yeah, yeah, rub it in about that last day signing up.



We went late August/early September during the promotion, however, we didn't realize we would have to stay at Disney until about a week after the promotion sign-up ended. We thought we would be staying at my brother's place, but then they decided to move.

 

[jberry5]

Is it okay to book your ADRs prior to an offer like this? If it is announced say April 1st, the 180-day would be Sept. 27th, I think. If we make ADRs before booking a free-DDP trip, will that cause problems? It seems like they always ask when making ADRs, if you are on the DDP. Is this something that you make the ADRs, later sign up for free-DDP, and then just call ADRs back up to state you're now on DDP?

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Is it okay to book your ADRs prior to an offer like this? If it is announced say April 1st, the 180-day would be Sept. 27th, I think. If we make ADRs before booking a free-DDP trip, will that cause problems? It seems like they always ask when making ADRs, if you are on the DDP. Is this something that you make the ADRs, later sign up for free-DDP, and then just call ADRs back up to state you're now on DDP?

Just to clarify: when the "free dining" promotion was offered in April, it wasn't for trips starting immediately. It was only good for packages booked for between about the 4th week of August and 4th week of Sept. I was already planning a trip to WDW for Labor Day week and I had made ADR's in mid-March. I used those ADRs on my free-dining trip with no problem. When you make ADRs it does not matter if you are planning to use the DDP or not.

I hope this helps!

 

[ajcolorado]

First of all, Claire&TheBoys,- that photo of Coronado Springs at Dusk is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing it.

I have a couple of suggestions for those interested in free dining for '08:

1) You can sign up for the newsletter at www.mousesavers.com and they'll send a monthly newsletter and an occasional special deal alert which will include free dining information.


2) If you don't want a lot of extra stuff in your inbox, Build A Better Mouse Trip is offering to let people know if/when free dining is offered but you aren't signing up for anything else. See:
www.buildabettermousetrip.com/freedining.html

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

Can someone please tell me what "free" dining is.....I've seen it posted a million times and I still dont' know what it means.

Thanks!

 

[Crystal_27]

Can someone please tell me what "free" dining is.....I've seen it posted a million times and I still dont' know what it means.

Thanks!

Disney offers the Disney Dining Plan for FREE (during 2008 it will be the basic plan for free or the deluxe plan at a discount) during certain times of the year or under other circumstances provided you pay rack rate for the hotel room. A definite savings. Hope this helps!

 

[jberry5]

Just to clarify: when the "free dining" promotion was offered in April, it wasn't for trips starting immediately. It was only good for packages booked for between about the 4th week of August and 4th week of Sept. I was already planning a trip to WDW for Labor Day week and I had made ADR's in mid-March. I used those ADRs on my free-dining trip with no problem. When you make ADRs it does not matter if you are planning to use the DDP or not.

I hope this helps!

I should have been clearer on that. Yes, we would work our trip timing around this promotion (if it doesn't happen, we're just going to go in October, as either way, we want to check out MNSSHP), and I think it's been the tail end of August - September the past couple of years, so I'm sort of assuming, if they have it in '08 that's when it would be. If that's the case, and it's announced in April, it would just be inside that 180-day ADR period.

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

I would like to start planning our trip for October 2008 within the next month or two. I don't know how soon they would have a free dining promotion, but if we booked, and it came out, are we eligible or is that the gamble you take by booking early?

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'm moving this over to the Resorts/CODES & RATES board where they generally tend to monitor the release dates of promotions and discounts like FREE DINING.

Thanks!

Knox

 

[faindrops27]

I would like to start planning our trip for October 2008 within the next month or two. I don't know how soon they would have a free dining promotion, but if we booked, and it came out, are we eligible or is that the gamble you take by booking early?

A NY Outlaw.

Just to clarify with you. Usually the free dining promo is offered to the public in April sometime. For some reason. I believe it was offered to the public on April 12th. For trips checking in the end of August, to almost the end of Sept. They do not offer the package in October. However, some have claimed they have checked in on the last day of check-in, in Sept and have extended thier vacations through the beginning of the October.

Free dining is great!! I have been two years in a row. I am currently booked for free dining mid Sept 2008. In 2008. The standard dining plan, will include 1 counter service meal, 1 snack, and 1 table service meal, less the appetizer, per person in the party, per night of stay. Without, inclusion of the tip. But, I am still going, and I cannot wait! Good luck with your planning!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Free Dining for fall of 2007 was announced around April 6th to the best of my memory. That's the day that I created this thread..

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1411411

Which was the 'All about Free Dining' kinda thread.

Knox

 

[faindrops27]

CanadianGuy. I thought for the general public it was April 12th. I remember the fiasco, of redialing @ 6:58 a.m. I was on the phone for about 58 minutes hoping that all the rooms at POP were not booked up. As, it was reported on the boards, that they may very well be. To make matters worse, I got a tired, overworked, cranky cm. Who demanded the free dining promo code, as soon as I asked to please be booked with the free dining promo. In such a nasty tone.. I remember wanting to light into her. But, being extra nice, as I could not afford to be disconnected. Thank goodness, I do not have to wait until April to try to book. However, I wish the best of luck for those wanting to book.

 

[jberry5]

CanadianGuy. I thought for the general public it was April 12th. I remember the fiasco, of redialing @ 6:58 a.m. I was on the phone for about 58 minutes hoping that all the rooms at POP were not booked up. As, it was reported on the boards, that they may very well be. To make matters worse, I got a tired, overworked, cranky cm. Who demanded the free dining promo code, as soon as I asked to please be booked with the free dining promo. In such a nasty tone.. I remember wanting to light into her. But, being extra nice, as I could not afford to be disconnected. Thank goodness, I do not have to wait until April to try to book. However, I wish the best of luck for those wanting to book.

Is there a reason that you don't have to wait until April to get the free DDP? Is it something that once you do it, you can sign up for the following year?

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Is there a reason that you don't have to wait until April to get the free DDP? Is it something that once you do it, you can sign up for the following year?

Not necessarily. Occasionally, Disney will offer "bounceback specials" to guests currently registered at Disney Resorts. They have done it at different times of the year, for return trips at various times. This year they started offering "bounceback with free dining" at the end of August, and it was supposed to go through about 9/27 but I saw reports here on the DIS that it got extended through the first couple of weeks of October. I saw it here on the DIS before I left for my trip on 9/3 and was able to book it for next year. Other guests had flyers in their rooms or saw it on the Resort TV channel in their rooms. The catch was that you had to be a current guest at a Resort to book the promo, although some guests said they weren't notified and were able to talk CRO into booking it for them after they returned home.

Some people feel like since Free Dining was offered as a bounceback special, that it will be offered to the general public again in the Spring. But, of course, it's all a guess until the codes are actually released! The best way to find out is to keep tuned to the DIS!

 

[jberry5]

Well shoot, maybe we're not supposed to do the free DDP.



Just missed out on the promo this year, and then traveled during the free-DDP. And then had no idea about this bounceback special even being offered. Had we known, we would have booked it immediately.

 

[mom2LLN]

We were able to book a 2008 Free Dining Package while at Disney during the free dining this year. There was a newsletter in our room with info and a phone number to call to book the package. We had to book before we checked out of the resort. The dates for 2008 Free Dining were 8/30 - 9/27. The package comes with Free Standard Dining or you could upgrade to the deluxe for an additional $31.01 per adult per day.

 

[MickeyT]

Here is a link to the historical dates that all the discounts came out.

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html

PS>We were at the World when the bounceback program was offered (at the WL) and knew nothing about it. No flyers. Didn't watch much TV so we missed it and was eligible........bummed out!!!