free dining plans??

[nlginny]

Hi. I have a question. We are planning a 2 week trip to disney in december next year. I know that sometimes if you book on a certain date for 6 nights sometimes, dining is free. We want quick service dining. Is it even possible to get it free for 2 weeks? If not, we would much rather pay the 1400 for 2 weeks for eating then pay over 2000 for the dining plan. Whats the good thing about the dining plans?

 

[Disney-Chick]

FD starts on certain dates. For example, we are checking in on the last day of FD (Nov. 29). We are staying for 14 days and will have FD the whole trip. So yes you can receive FD for 2 weeks. And to have only quick service dining you will have to stay at a Value Resort.

Now depending on when you are going in December since there usually isn't FD during the first week. Most people will wait to see which dates they are releasing before booking. Or you can look at the previou year's dates and book and hope they are similar.

I hope this helps.

 

[vicki_c]

Keep in mind that when you use a free dining offer, you are giving up any other discounts that might be offered at the same time. Depending on the make-up of your party, resort level, etc., a room discount may offer you a bigger savings than free dining. You just have to compare all the options once Disney releases offers for that time frame (which will probably be quite a while still).

 

[Kristina]

I've always had good luck getting free dining for my two week trip during that time period but every year makes me nervous, you just never know. Otherwise if your check in date falls under free dining you have always been able to get it for the length of your trip and that won't change. I stay value and pay the difference so that I can eat at a table service restaurant each day. I do not think the dining plan is worth it financially without free dining.

 

[Cyrano]

Moving to the Dining board.

 

[TDC Nala]

It'll completely depend on what Disney decides to offer. For winter 2013 they have gone with a package discount/room discount for the general public, rather than free dining.

Yes you can get free dining for up to 14 nights - but you must check in on a day that is listed in the offer. Free dining is not a 6 night deal. The minimum you can book it for is 3 nights, the maximum 14 nights. If you see anything else in an ad, that's just an example for pricing purposes.

The way the offer has been going, if you want the quick service plan as your free dining plan you should plan to book a value resort. Personally I think the only good thing about the dining plan is the prepayment aspect. Especially with the quick service plan, you shouldn't really plan on saving all that much money over buying the meals yourself (with a paid plan; YMMV on free dining).