Free Dining Plan in '08?

[PortieOwner]

My guess is free dining will be back. The 2008 program amounts to a 20 percent cut in the benefit, so it is cheaper for Disney to offer it.

High energy prices now lead one to think gas prices next summer and fall will be higher than we have seen so far, which means less demand for WDW trips and more vacancies.

 

[kaia739]

Wait - Sorry, I'm confused (going to Disney for the 1st time and I know very little)!

I plan on going in August 2008. Can I book now, and still get the free dining plan (if it is in fact offered) when it is announced? Or do I have to wait until April to book if I want this plan?

Thanks,
- K

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Wait - Sorry, I'm confused (going to Disney for the 1st time and I know very little)!

I plan on going in August 2008. Can I book now, and still get the free dining plan (if it is in fact offered) when it is announced? Or do I have to wait until April to book if I want this plan?

Thanks,
- K

You are the first person I get to tell: to the DIS!

You can book now and if the offer is made, call and see if you can apply the code. The catch is that we won't know the dates the promotion is available until they release it. The "bounceback" special that some of us booked was available for trips starting 8/30/08. For 2007, I think the first day offered was around 8/21/07.

The other catch will be availability at your particular resort. They only set aside a certain number of rooms for the promotion at each resort for each day, so you might have to change resorts or dates. You can increase your odds of getting the deal if you have a Disney Visa card - the promotion has opened to card-holders about 4-5 days before the general public in the last couple of years, so they (we!) get first dibs.

Hope this helps! Have fun planning your trip! You definitely want to check this board, the Codes & Rates board, and the Theme Parks Board as you plan. You'll find a lot of terrific information. And the Restaurant Board so you know where to make your Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) for your trip when you hit 180 days to your arrival date (which is a necessity if you plan to go during Free Dining).

 

[kaia739]

Thanks so much for your warm welcome and all your information! The planning certainly seems a bit overwelming at this point, but here's hoping I get the hang of it! Do you think it's a good idea to book now then? Or would a bit further in the future be best?

- K

P.S. I tried to PM this to you, but I received an error message! So if you get it three times, you know why!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

You got an error message when you tried to PM because you have to have posted a certain number of messages before you are allowed to PM.

If you absolutey know the dates you want to go and where you want to stay, it doesn't hurt to book a room-only reservation. That will require a deposit of one-night's lodging.

If your dates are still flexible, I'd wait. IF "free dining" becomes available, you'll have to change your reservation to a Magic Your Way package, paying regular price ("rack rate") for the room, and adding MYW tickets for everyone in your party, to be able to get the promotion. That requires a $200 deposit and must be paid off 45 days before you arrive. A room-only reservation does not have to be paid off until you arrive.

I would recommend that you pick up a Disney guidebook of some sort to help you with some of your initial planning. The Birnbaum guide is the "official" guide and gets good reviews. I like the Unofficial Guide to WDW - it has tons of information.

Keep plugging along and asking questions on the different boards, especially the Theme Park Attractions & Strategy board. That will really help you!