Free Dining "Promotions"?

[Dreamsdocometrue9112]

I have noticed some people that receive the Free Dining Plan during times that it has not been offered yet, i.e. August of 2012. I'm not sure if I am reading it right, but is there a way, such as if you stay in Disney World during some time before that, that you can book a reservation (while you are there) and possibly get Free Dining for your next trip?

Honestly, I'm not sure if I have just been reading things wrong or whether this is a possibility. If it is, I have pretty interested in finding out whether or not I have a way of doing this if I book my next vacation next time I am there.

I hope this makes sense

 

[joshsmom]

There's a thread somewhere that talks about "typical" times when free dining is offered. Sometimes when you stay at WDW, there is an offer for you to come back later in the year during free dining. But it is generally during a specific time period already designated as free dining.

 

[sanapp]

You could have read that someone received a pin for free dining, but I am not sure if they are giving them out through August. Nobody knows how exactly to get them though.

 

[Seahunt]

I have noticed some people that receive the Free Dining Plan during times that it has not been offered yet, i.e. August of 2012. I'm not sure if I am reading it right, but is there a way, such as if you stay in Disney World during some time before that, that you can book a reservation (while you are there) and possibly get Free Dining for your next trip?

Sometimes there is a FD Bounceback offer that comes out in August to resort guests to be able to book a return trip a year in advance and get FD. This is usually offered to resort guests who are staying at a WDW resort in August thru the first part of October.

For example, DISer jgraney106 posted a copy of the flyer that was in their room last August(2011) that shows that they could book the FD BB for 8/17-9/27 of this year (2012):

NOTE: THIS 2011 OFFER IS NOW EXPIRED!

This is the bounceback that I had in my room:

It runs from 8/17 thru 9/27/2012. Quick service for values and regular dining for the moderates. Be on the look out for this in your room.
Looks like maybe general public will maybe eventually get this . Lets hope!
The lady at the reservations said it was first placed in the rooms on 8/8/2011.

For stays before this FD BB offer opened (and after this FD BB offer expired), the BB offers are usually for room discounts only - no free dining.

So if you will be at a WDW resort this August, September, October you might be able to book a year in advance for next years FD dates.

Prior to that, you might get a room discount BB with dates to choose from until the end of this year (i.e December 2011), like this one posted by kind DISer ancestry:

The BB is 35% off Deluxe, 30% Mods, 25% Values:

We were just in Disney December 11-16. Here is a photo of the bounceback card that was in our room in case anyone needs to see the blackout dates, etc.

The offer was for 35% off of Deluxe resorts but I know that a 30% off of the mods was offered as well as that is what I booked. Not sure about the values as I didn't ask.


Bounceback Front by ancestrydetective, on Flickr


Bounceback by ancestrydetective, on Flickr

HTH!

 

[TwistGrl101]

They weren't offering FD for deluxe resorts??

OK, help me out here...when a BB offer is announced...is it EVER later announced to the general public? Could this be a clue to the summer discounts??

 

[PrincessTiffany]

They weren't offering FD for deluxe resorts??

OK, help me out here...when a BB offer is announced...is it EVER later announced to the general public? Could this be a clue to the summer discounts??

Everyone has been speculating the Free Dining Offer that they will announce this spring, late March/early April, will be for the dates of August 15 - September 27, 2012, but it's all still speculation at this point.

For the Op's question, if anyone already has a free dining discount for August 2012, it was obtained either through an email pin code, which is name-specific and non-transferrable or through a Disney resort bounceback offer.

Here is a link to all the Free Dining guidelines, info and historic dates:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2771101

 

[CupcakeLisa]

i believe free dining was offered to guests from the uk in august

 

[Lindy Loo]

Free dinning was offerd to UK people for this Aug, probably over 10 months ago now.

 

[clanmcculloch]

If you are at WDW in the time when the Aug-Sept free dining offer guests are at the resorts then there's a good chance that there will be a bounceback for the following year for free dining over that same time frame. Even if there's no bounceback flier in your room or there's a different one in your room, it's worth calling 8844 from your room and asking if there's another bounceback available. We were staying at YC in August using a room discount but I knew that other guests were there using free dining at that time so I called and asked. It was so I booked. The first day of the promotion for next August BB is 8/17 so I can't imagine the general public discount beginning any sooner than that and if 2011 is any indication it may not start until a week after that depending on how high the bookings are for the first week. Remember that promotions are intended to fill rooms so if rooms are sufficiently booked then they will not offer promotions.