Free dining question

[TheGoofster]

I have a question, but I'm not exactly sure if I can word it correctly, but let's give it a try, and see if someone can figure out what I'm talking about and hopefully know the answer.

OK, let me start be laying out our plan for the our next trip in Sept / Oct of 2010.
Basically we will be going for 2 weeks, which will include the first week at Pop Century, and the 2nd week at an off-site Time Share. We will be getting 10 day Tickets (the Water Park ones, not the Park Hoppers) for the time we are there. We plan to spend 6 days at the Parks the first week, and then 4 days the second week (when some family is coming down).
Now, if Disney offers Free dining next year at this time, we are hoping to take advantage of it during our 1st week at the Pop Century. If I understand it correctly, the Free dining is attached to the Hotel stay, and not the length of the tickets. So if they offer it, we could hopefully get it for the 7 days we are at the Pop.
So here's my question. How long can you get free dining for? If, for instance we decided to stay at the Pop for 10 days (instead of just 7) could we get the free dining for the whole 10 days? And if that is possible, could we start using the free dining a few days before we enter any parks. What I'm thinking is that we could actually arrive at the Pop 3 days early (like a Thursday instead of our planned Sunday). If we don't actually enter any Parks until Sunday, could we still take advantage of the free dining by eating at qualifying restaurants that are outside of the Parks for those first 3 days?
I was thinking that we could use those days to enjoy the pool, visit the different hotels, go to DTD, sleep in, etc... without having to rush to the parks.
In this example, we would still stay at the off-site time-share for the 2nd week, so we would be looking at 17 days in total (as opposed to the 14 originally planned, which is also why we wouldn't enter a Park until Sunday to keep within the 14 day ticket window).

I realize that this whole question hinges on whether or not Free dining is even offered next year at that time, but assuming it is, it would help knowing what my options are.

I hope I Was I clear enough about the question? If someone knows what I'm talking about and can provide some sort of answer that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jrc-elpaso]

From what I understand the dining plan - free or paid for - is attached to your hotel stay. 7 nights = 7 ts, 7cs, 7 snack credits - 10 nights = 10 credits. Whether it's table service, counter service, snacks depends on the dining plan - deluxe, regular, or quick service. The WDW web site has descriptions of all of them in more detail. The amount or type of park tickets you have has nothing to do with it.

For example:
We have free dining for our trip - 9 nights = 9 table service credits, 9 counter service credits and 9 snack credits for me and the same for DH. But we only have 7 day park hopper tickets.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Yup that's it exactly. You can get free dining and not buy tickets at all.

 

[neatokimmo]

In order to use your tickets for days 15, 16 and 17, you'll have to start them three days later.

That means you'll need to break up your POP part into two ressies.

So you'll have to buy everyone a 1 day pass for the first three days to get free dining. Then your 14 day ticket will start on day 4 with free dining again. You don't have to use the 1 day now.

Or if you want one POP ressie, you won't have tickets for days 15,16 & 17.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, Disney math is hard

 

[neatokimmo]

Yup that's it exactly. You can get free dining and not buy tickets at all.

You have to buy at least one day to get free dining.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Yup that's it exactly. You can get free dining and not buy tickets at all.

sorry, not true. You must buy at least a 1 day ticket for each person on the ressie receiving free dining. At least that is the rule this year and for years past. I would assume it would be the same next year, again, if they offer free dining.

In order to use your tickets for days 15, 16 and 17, you'll have to start them three days later.

That means you'll need to break up your POP part into two ressies.

So you'll have to buy everyone a 1 day pass for the first three days to get free dining. Then your 14 day ticket will start on day 4 with free dining again. You don't have to use the 1 day now.

Or if you want one POP ressie, you won't have tickets for days 15,16 & 17.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, Disney math is hard

No, I don't think that they'd need to break the ressie into 2 portions. The tickets are good for 14 days from the first day of use, not from when you checked in. Make sense? So if they don't enter a park for the first 3 days, then they would be fine. But keep in mind that you will need to make all of your ADR's for your first 3 days at restaurants outside of the parks. Otherwise you'll have to use a day's ticket to get in to the park to eat at the restaurants within the parks. Make sense?
OP, just keep in mind the number of credits is the same as the number of hotel nights (not days). Sounds like one fabulous trip you are planning for next year.

 

[winterman]

TheGoofster, I would say you have it exactly right. It is a good plan whether you go 14 or 17 days. I would say the chances of free dining being offered again are excellent, considering that it was first offered in 2005. (I think.)

 

[squirrel]

Yes, you can have free dinning for 14 nights if you want.

You do need to buy at least a one day park pass for each person staying in the room to qualify for Free Dining.

As long as you don't go into a park the first few days, you should be fine. Your credits are on your KTTW card so you can get access to them as soon as you check in at the resort and they expire at midnight on your check out date.

 

[vickiea]

Your free dining credits will expire on midnight of the day you check out of POP, so you would have to use them all by then - even if there were one or two left over you couldn't keep them to use during your time offsite.

Otherwise, it all sounds like it would work well and would be a lot of fun.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

StitchlovesTink said it all well, and correctly.

Incidentally, you could spread your ticket usage over more than 14 days, but then you'd have to buy the no-expire option, wich you probably don't want to get.

On the flip - I don't know if using one of your "plus" addmissions constitutes a first usage - it probably does.

Some of disney's finest dining is at the resorts, however, not many of the places at DTD are included in the DDP (at least as far as the most recent list I've seen). If you get this package though , you usually get a $15 coupon good at planet Hollywood, which is in DTD. (not positive if it will be in 2010 packages) A coupon for boat rentals is included in packages for next year.

If you are going for that long, it might also make sense to consider buying Annual passes. You could use them in 2011 as well, (I think the newest AP's are good for 15months istead of 366days) and they give you a few small extra perks.

 

[RMulieri]

Dining plan credits are not attached to the number of days on your ticket.They go by the NUMBER OF NIGHTS resort stay.They are good from the moment you check in till midnight of your checkout day.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

I just wanted to add, this year the "free" dining for values this year was the quick service plan, you had to pay exta for the reg. DDP to get 1 TS/day.

 

[mbanks21]

I just wanted to add, this year the "free" dining for values this year was the quick service plan, you had to pay exta for the reg. DDP to get 1 TS/day.

Ummm I dont think thats true. That was only the case for a special pin promo

 

[catne]

I just wanted to add, this year the "free" dining for values this year was the quick service plan, you had to pay exta for the reg. DDP to get 1 TS/day.

Not so...that version is for the extended free dining offer available to book now for stays in November & December. It's not the regular Free Dining promo that people are going on now. Values are getting the regular dining plan now...and bounceback offer in the rooms now gives the regular DP at Value resorts for 2010 so there's a chance if it's offered to general public in the Spring, that Free Dining will again be for the regular dining plan for stays at Values.

 

[TifffanyD]

Now, if Disney offers Free dining next year at this time, we are hoping to take advantage of it during our 1st week at the Pop Century. If I understand it correctly, the Free dining is attached to the Hotel stay, and not the length of the tickets. So if they offer it, we could hopefully get it for the 7 days we are at the Pop.

This is correct.

So here's my question. How long can you get free dining for?

I believe packages can be booked for up to 10 days. It might be 14, but 10 is sticking in my head.

If, for instance we decided to stay at the Pop for 10 days (instead of just 7) could we get the free dining for the whole 10 days?

Yes you would get 10 nights of free dining.

And if that is possible, could we start using the free dining a few days before we enter any parks.

You can start using your dining as soon as you check in. The park ticket will be activated upon first use. For example, we are getting free dining with a 1 day ticket and will use the dining but save the 1-day ticket since we have AP's.

What I'm thinking is that we could actually arrive at the Pop 3 days early (like a Thursday instead of our planned Sunday). If we don't actually enter any Parks until Sunday, could we still take advantage of the free dining by eating at qualifying restaurants that are outside of the Parks for those first 3 days?

Yup - check out resorts and downtown. You can't get into a park for a meal without using a day of your tickets tho.

I was thinking that we could use those days to enjoy the pool, visit the different hotels, go to DTD, sleep in, etc... without having to rush to the parks.
In this example, we would still stay at the off-site time-share for the 2nd week, so we would be looking at 17 days in total (as opposed to the 14 originally planned, which is also why we wouldn't enter a Park until Sunday to keep within the 14 day ticket window).

Sounds like a great plan!

I realize that this whole question hinges on whether or not Free dining is even offered next year at that time, but assuming it is, it would help knowing what my options are.

I hope I Was I clear enough about the question? If someone knows what I'm talking about and can provide some sort of answer that would be greatly appreciated.

You seem to have the scenario down perfectly. Have a great trip and I hope free dining will be offered for you next year. Right now it is being offered in bounceback so that helps with the chances

 

[TheGoofster]

Wow, thanks for all the great responses! But of course that's what you can expect here on the DIS.

So it looks like we'll just have to wait and see if they are going to offer free dining or not next year. The nice thing is that the extra three days won't really affect our other plans, so it's not like everything is hinging on it or not. If they do - Great, but if they don't then Oh well.

Although I do hope they let us know at least 6 months ahead of time so I can go ahead and book the necessary ADR's.

Again, thanks everyone.

 

[Pacha]

I believe packages can be booked for up to 10 days. It might be 14, but 10 is sticking in my head.

We have an 11 night package booked this Oct/Nov (used a PIN code before they offered the extended free dining) and had no problem with the amount of nights being over 10. I just went and double checked at Disney's web site and you can book longer than 10 days, but the MYW ticket options only go up to 10 days.

 

[TifffanyD]

We have an 11 night package booked this Oct/Nov (used a PIN code before they offered the extended free dining) and had no problem with the amount of nights being over 10. I just went and double checked at Disney's web site and you can book longer than 10 days, but the MYW ticket options only go up to 10 days.

Thanks - wish I'd have an opportunity to find this out for myself. I don't have enough vacation time to stay that long