Free Dining Question

[goofyboyzmom]

We have never been able to take advantage of the free dining, but were hoping to this year. I called and asked if we made a reservation now and free dining became available, would we be eligible for it. She replied that the general public was no longer entitled to it, that they only did resort bounceback offers. Is this true?

 

[DLBDS]

Geez, I hope not. I was hoping to be able to take advantage of it in the future myself. Did you get that straight from a Disney CM? Well, even if you did, it may still be misinformation. They're known for it.

 

[chalee94]

it hasn't been made available yet to the general public - but it might be offered again at some point.

also, make sure you understand the changes to the dining plan. tips and appetizers are not included this year.

 

[moepanz]

Funny I just got off the with WDW travel co to change dates for a bounce back trip I booked this past Dec. I asked about the free dining and I was told by the CM that as of right now there are no codes for free dining but being that "they have offered it the past 2 years I am sure they will be inclined to offer it again this year you should check back in the spring about free dining for end of Aug. and Sept but you have to keep you eyes open and look for it yourself Disney just won't advertise it" kind of got the impression there was a wink at the end there so I think it is just a waiting game and being that they are having such a problem with the DDP this year it is a given it is going to happen.

 

[chalee94]

...being that they are having such a problem with the DDP this year it is a given it is going to happen.

isn't a lot of the problem that people were used to tips being included?

wouldn't offering "free" dining make those problems exponentially worse?

i won't be shocked if they offer free dining (while making promises to their wait staff to keep them from all leaving), but i don't see the logical connection between your premise and your conclusion.

 

[webshark3]

We went on free dining and started on the last day of the promotion last year (Sept 22). The code was active (I think) end of Janurary, or early Feburary.

That doesn't mean to stop looking after that. Disney can thorw out a discount anytime they feel bookings will be low....

 

[hypnotic]

sorry to sound like a tard, but what is this free dining?

 

[chalee94]

sorry to sound like a tard, but what is this free dining?

some details may not be correct, but in short, it was a promotion disney offered to entice people to come around late aug/sept.

if you bought a package including staying at a disney hotel at full rack rate and at least a one day base ticket for everyone in the room, disney would throw in the dining plan for free.

the dining plan (DDP) in 2007 included a table service meal each day, including appetizer, entree, dessert, non-alcoholic drink and tip.

the DDP in 2008 will not include an appetizer and a tip for table service meals...which has been a problem, since 2007 participants didn't expect to have to pay for them...

if you got free dining in 2007, you could have committed to returning in 2008 and disney would promise you the free DDP then (called the "bounceback" program). at that time, though, disney didn't consistently explain that the "free" DDP would be different in 2008.

it remains to be seen whether disney wants the hassle of a world full of people stiffing their waiters because last year tips were included and they still want their "free" dining...

 

[kacaju]

if you got free dining in 2007, you could have committed to returning in 2008 and disney would promise you the free DDP then (called the "bounceback" program). at that time, though, disney didn't explain that the "free" DDP would be different in 2008..

That is not true in my case. I booked a vacation for us for next Sept while we were there and I WAS told about the changes when I made the ressie.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

some details may not be correct, but in short, it was a promotion disney offered to entice people to come around late aug/sept.

if you bought a package including staying at a disney hotel at full rack rate and at least a one day base ticket for everyone in the room, disney would throw in the dining plan for free.

the dining plan (DDP) in 2007 included a table service meal each day, including appetizer, entree, dessert, non-alcoholic drink and tip.

the DDP in 2008 will not include an appetizer and a tip for table service meals...which has been a problem, since 2007 participants didn't expect to have to pay for them...

if you got free dining in 2007, you could have committed to returning in 2008 and disney would promise you the free DDP then (called the "bounceback" program). at that time, though, disney didn't explain that the "free" DDP would be different in 2008.

it remains to be seen whether disney wants the hassle of a world full of people stiffing their waiters because last year tips were included and they still want their "free" dining...

The CMs say the same thing every year about Free Dining . . . and then come April, what do you know, Free Dining is announced.

Since 2005, Disney has been offereing Free Dining during the last part of August until the end of September, give or take a few days. It has already been offered to UK visitors for this September and to those of us who were there at WDW during Free Dining this past September for the dates of August 30 - September 27 2008. Someone on the Dining board has already posted (according to their relative who is a Disney employee) that the offer will come out about April 5. The first three days will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then open to the general public, just like last year. And I'd bet good money that the poster was correct. Free Dining has been a brilliant plan on the part of Disney to fill the crowds during what was previously their slowest season, and hurrican season to boot. And then having the bounceback for free food while the free diners are there in the parks, on their Disney high, well I would call that sure marketing genius. We were there for Free Dining last year, and yes we did have fun, but we went for low crowds and there was definetly NOT low crowds during the week of Sept. 14 - 22. I hope Disney has rewarded the marketing genius who came up with Free Dining. I personally don't see it Free Dining ending anytime in the near future.

As far as it not being a good value. It's FREE DINING. Even if you have pay for your tips and there isn't an appetizer. A family can still save a great deal of money. We saved almost $1300.00 last year. People may not have liked the heat or the crowds at free dining, but you will be hard pressed to find anyone to say they didn't get an unbelievable, outstanding deal and that's the bottom line. We have been on the dining plan three time (paid twice and free once) and we will always continue to use it.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Also, our neighbors booked that bounceback while they were there at the end of September and they were also told about the 2008 changes to the plan.

 

[chalee94]

That is not true in my case. I booked a vacation for us for next Sept while we were there and I WAS told about the changes when I made the ressie.

edited my above comments to reflect that some/many were told about the changes.

As far as it not being a good value. It's FREE DINING. Even if you have pay for your tips and there isn't an appetizer.

who said it's not a "good value?"

it is absolutely true that the paid DDP is $1 cheaper in 2008 while cutting much more than $1 in benefits. it definitely offers LESS value than it did last year. since you will need additional cash or credit with you to pay for a tip or appetizer if you want one, it is also definitely much less convenient than it was before as a prepaid plan.

in economic terms, it's not exactly "free," either. you can almost always get a discount on disney hotel rooms during late aug/sept (some on the resort board are reporting getting 40% off their rooms during that period.) also, many people already have APs or days left on non-expire MYW tickets and wouldn't have to buy base tickets, except to qualify for "free" dining.

but with that said, there are still many for whom the new DDP can still be a good value, depending on individual circumstances. the value of the free DDP - assuming it is offered - will still offset the loss of an appetizer and loss of a discounted hotel room for many who would eat at the TS restaurants anyway...but it's probably worth it to do a little math and make sure...

(edited to add: i agree that it was a great marketing idea also. i just worry that free dining this year will make an already difficult situation worse if not handled exactly right.)