Free Dining Plan?

[sparkledpixie]

Hi all, I'm new here. Went to Disney for the first time last year and loved it so much that we are planning to go back next year in September time... last year there was an offer of free dining plan if holidays were booked by a certain time... does anyone know if this was a first time offer or whether it is offered every year?

 

[wayneg]

Welcome to the boards.
The free dining was offered again for this year, cant remember the dates but something like from 12th august for about a month, bookings for this finished earlier in the year.
Disney are offering it now if you book hotel and ticket package.
Detail here. Who knows for next year? if it gets people thru the gate at quieter times then yes they will do it.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/special/offerDetail?id=07_Q4FreeDineOfferPage

 

[sparkledpixie]

Thanks for that... I think I will wait till around September this year and then think about booking. I'm wondering if the travel agents would be able to tell me how often they have this kind of offer... we have the possible option of timeshare so it is within their best interests!

 

[Elise79]

This year was the first time that the Dining Plan had been offered free direct to UK holidaymakers.

You had to book a package including tickets to qualify and book between the end of august 06 and start of november 06 for travel in August & September 07.

This the thrid year that they have offered the DDP free in the USA.

Who knows what they will do about next year

Elise

 

[sparkledpixie]

This year was the first time that the Dining Plan had been offered free direct to UK holidaymakers.

You had to book a package including tickets to qualify and book between the end of august 06 and start of november 06 for travel in August & September 07.

This the thrid year that they have offered the DDP free in the USA.

Who knows what they will do about next year

Elise

Thanks I didn't know whether this was a new thing or if it was something they offered every year. I priced up for this year (although couldn't afford to go) and it worked out to cost the same price as we paid last year but including the Disney tickets and Dining Plan so it was an excellent offer. I guess I'll just wait and keep everything crossed!

 

[wayneg]

Thanks I didn't know whether this was a new thing or if it was something they offered every year. I priced up for this year (although couldn't afford to go) and it worked out to cost the same price as we paid last year but including the Disney tickets and Dining Plan so it was an excellent offer. I guess I'll just wait and keep everything crossed!

If you want to go more often and on a budget consider offsite, We had chance of free dining this year in August but we turned it down to stay offsite again, we actually prefer offsite and eating away from Disney, If we stayed onsite we would only be able to do 2 trips a year offsite we can do upto 4.
Also consider indirect flights, can save a lot sometimes.
I don't know what 2 weeks onsite costs now with free dining but Offsite in Sept can be done for under £1,000 for a couple and food is for nothing.
Not for everyone but we don't want Disney 24/7.

 

[sparkledpixie]

If you want to go more often and on a budget consider offsite, We had chance of free dining this year in August but we turned it down to stay offsite again, we actually prefer offsite and eating away from Disney, If we stayed onsite we would only be able to do 2 trips a year offsite we can do upto 4.
Also consider indirect flights, can save a lot sometimes.
I don't know what 2 weeks onsite costs now with free dining but Offsite in Sept can be done for under £1,000 for a couple and food is for nothing.
Not for everyone but we don't want Disney 24/7.

It worked out at £1600 for everything included staying at the Pop Century. We felt the benefits were great last time we went. I would be more than willing to stay offsite and my OH's parent's have a timeshare which I am sure we could use and then just pay for the flights but my OH really enjoyed staying onsite. I don't know... I think I'll wait until around August/September time this year and if they don't do the free dining plan offer look elsewhere. Golden Corral and Bahama Breeze were our favourite restaurants anyway... we could always camp up there

 

[tashasmum]

We got the free dp this year with Virgin and are looking forward to trying some new restaurants. When i enquired with Virgin if they were doing it again next year they said no but as some people have pointed out it is given by Disney and not travel companies so we are waiting before we book as there will be about 12 of us going.
Nice to see some-one on these boards from my local area.

 

[paulh]

We got the free dp this year with Virgin and are looking forward to trying some new restaurants. When i enquired with Virgin if they were doing it again next year they said no but as some people have pointed out it is given by Disney and not travel companies so we are waiting before we book as there will be about 12 of us going.
Nice to see some-one on these boards from my local area.

Virgin origanaly pulled out of offering the ddp as disney wouldent give them a big enougth discount,there offered the free ddp last year as all uk TAs did.Think they are offering it for next year but there price is £30.00 per addult and £20.00 per child a huge mark up on what disney themselfs charge $39.00 per addult and $12.00 per child.thats near a £ v $ rate of $1.30.
I know its hard to get flights for 12 but would surgest getting fly drives and booking rooms direct with disney.Were a party of 10 doing a flydrive aug and booked all our rooms direct with disney.3 rooms at dvc with 7 nights paid ddp and 7 nights pop with 5 nights on free ddp
Paulh

 

[sparkledpixie]

We got the free dp this year with Virgin and are looking forward to trying some new restaurants. When i enquired with Virgin if they were doing it again next year they said no but as some people have pointed out it is given by Disney and not travel companies so we are waiting before we book as there will be about 12 of us going.
Nice to see some-one on these boards from my local area.

Nice to see I'm not the only one hoping for this offer too! I noticed Virgin were quite a bit more expensive than other places on the whole. If I hear anything I will let you know! Where abouts are you? It's nice to meet Disney addicts near home!

 

[Pootle]

You will find lots of discussions about booking the dining plan directly on this forum of the boards http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=93. Also, if you've not seen it, mousesavers.com is always a good source of information - even for Brits.

Nice to see some-one on these boards from my local area.

I used to teach in 'Shevvy' and have a home in Newburgh too

 

[sparkledpixie]

Thanks so much for that. I've not seen mousesavers before... will have a look. 'Shevvy' isn't far at all... I thought most people on here would be from miles away!

 

[paulh]

Thanks so much for that. I've not seen mousesavers before... will have a look. 'Shevvy' isn't far at all... I thought most people on here would be from miles away!

not far from pie land myself
Paulh