Free dining question

[Crystalp]

I'm helping my cousin plan her family's first trip to Disney. They're going the middle of September. I've read that they offer free dining around that time. Can someone please tell me, when they release free dining do they give you a couple days before you have to book it or once it's released do you book it then. The reason why I ask she's afraid if she doesn't book it in time she won't get free dining. Thanks in advance

 

[mzsarah10]

I had friends that tried to book the day it got released this past year and couldn't get a room. now they also have a family of 5 so that limited them.

 

[Crystalp]

Is it because they wanted a certain hotel? My cousin is wanting to stay at Caribbean Beach. She also has a family of five.

 

[sharonabe]

IF they release it, you'll see the news here pretty quickly. Last year it was late April before they announced it. The first day of booking was mobbed with phone calls. It may be easier to do it online.

Rumors are IF they do have free dining this fall, it is going to be very limited, so if it is a make it/break it for them to go, she needs to be watching every day for that announcement and jump on it. She may also need to be flexible in her resort choice. I know needing a room for five makes those choices fewer. Would two rooms in a value work for them as well? Not sure that would be a good deal, but have her price it out to see.

 

[Crystalp]

Thanks for the reply. Do they normally release the free dining promotion at midnight?

 

[aaarcher86]

Thanks for the reply. Do they normally release the free dining promotion at midnight?

No. Beginning of business for the day for the phones.

Online is whenever it loads up, and that's not consistent time wise.

 

[Crystalp]

No. Beginning of business for the day for the phones.

Online is whenever it loads up, and that's not consistent time wise.

Thank you

 

[Crystalp]

Do they offer percentage off resort and free dining at the same time? I know it would only be one or the other.

 

[supersnoop]

Do they offer percentage off resort and free dining at the same time? I know it would only be one or the other.

There is frequently some overlap of discounts.
Historical discounts: http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

 

[Alexiss207]

Ok, I am brand new and overwhelmed. I had this same question, and it only took me 25 minutes to find this thread .
Where do you hear about the free dining first? Do I need to call daily? Or keep and eye on the website?
Also , do they offer free dining at different times of the year, or do they release only limited availability of it for 1 time a year.
I am booking a family of 4, looking to book at the French Quarter, we are staying 8 nights in early December.

Sub question, and if there is a board that already addresses this please point me that way.
Can I just book it with the meal plan, and then change it when it's released? Or will I need to make a whole new reservation, and cancel the one I have already booked. Or book it without the meal plan and then go in and add it later?
TIA

 

[sharonabe]

I would say just watch these boards daily. You'll see it when comes out. But it will probably be April/May before we see anything IF we see anything.

For the past few years there has only been free dining for select dates from Sep through Dec. You have to check in on a date that is valid, so even if there is free dining offered in the middle of your trip, you're out of luck unless you want to do a split stay and get it for part of it.

Mixed reviews on whether to go ahead and book or wait. If you're going regardless of free dining, you may want to go ahead and book your package now in case prices increase. You can change it later if free dining comes out and if it's available in a resort where you want to stay. French Quarter is one of the resorts that has NOT had free dining in recent years, so if you can be flexible with that, you'll have a better chance.

 

[Crystalp]

When the free dining becomes available which forum would it be on?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

All of them, really.

 

[RJstanis]

I would say just watch these boards daily. You'll see it when comes out. But it will probably be April/May before we see anything IF we see anything.

For the past few years there has only been free dining for select dates from Sep through Dec. You have to check in on a date that is valid, so even if there is free dining offered in the middle of your trip, you're out of luck unless you want to do a split stay and get it for part of it.

Mixed reviews on whether to go ahead and book or wait. If you're going regardless of free dining, you may want to go ahead and book your package now in case prices increase. You can change it later if free dining comes out and if it's available in a resort where you want to stay. French Quarter is one of the resorts that has NOT had free dining in recent years, so if you can be flexible with that, you'll have a better chance.

Was FQ offered free dining with a PIN last year (esp in Sept)? The year before (2014) we got FQ and free dining with a PIN and my wife seems to believe a room discount as well.

As of right now comparing quotes from a TA and MDE I basically can get the dining plan and a free water park ticket for the same price as Disney rack rate at FQ without those two extras (DDP and water ticket). Do you think I should book now or wait and see if I strike gold and get a PIN? We prefer to stay at FQ but open to other moderates if we get a better price and free dining.

(Family of 4)

 

[sharonabe]

Was FQ offered free dining with a PIN last year (esp in Sept)? The year before (2014) we got FQ and free dining with a PIN and my wife seems to believe a room discount as well.

As of right now comparing quotes from a TA and MDE I basically can get the dining plan and a free water park ticket for the same price as Disney rack rate at FQ without those two extras (DDP and water ticket). Do you think I should book now or wait and see if I strike gold and get a PIN? We prefer to stay at FQ but open to other moderates if we get a better price and free dining.

(Family of 4)

If you're going to go no matter what, and the deal you spoke of will be gone later, I would go ahead and book it.

Free dining is how Disney fills rooms. If the rooms are already full, they don't need to offer it. So some say not to book until the offer comes out.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You need to be prepared to book it. In the past few years, they have been cutting down on the number of rooms and resorts where it has been offered. Especially if they want a particular resort or room type, it has to be done quickly these days.

 

[Pkltm]

Ok, I am brand new and overwhelmed. I had this same question, and it only took me 25 minutes to find this thread .
Where do you hear about the free dining first? Do I need to call daily? Or keep and eye on the website?
Also , do they offer free dining at different times of the year, or do they release only limited availability of it for 1 time a year.
I am booking a family of 4, looking to book at the French Quarter, we are staying 8 nights in early December.

Sub question, and if there is a board that already addresses this please point me that way.
Can I just book it with the meal plan, and then change it when it's released? Or will I need to make a whole new reservation, and cancel the one I have already booked. Or book it without the meal plan and then go in and add it later?
TIA

French Quarter is not usually included in any Free Dining promotions. It was not even included in the bounce back free dining this year.

 

[Misha72683]

I logged on at 9:30 last year to the news of free dining, spent an 1.5 on hold before securing a room that wasn't my first choice. We were also a part6 of 5. I was acuwlly able to change my room 3 weeks later.

 

[cawqueen]

Ok, I am brand new and overwhelmed. I had this same question, and it only took me 25 minutes to find this thread .
Where do you hear about the free dining first? Do I need to call daily? Or keep and eye on the website?
Also , do they offer free dining at different times of the year, or do they release only limited availability of it for 1 time a year.
I am booking a family of 4, looking to book at the French Quarter, we are staying 8 nights in early December.

Sub question, and if there is a board that already addresses this please point me that way.
Can I just book it with the meal plan, and then change it when it's released? Or will I need to make a whole new reservation, and cancel the one I have already booked. Or book it without the meal plan and then go in and add it later?
TIA

Also, going on the dates from the last several years, early December is usually excluded. The first check-in date has typically been around the middle of December. We went in Dec. of 2014 and we couldn't check in until the 12th to get free dining.

 

[Alexiss207]

We are pretty flexible, I'd like to do 7 nights, any week starting on a Sat, from 11/26- 12/17, but I'd rather not run into those crazy busy days over winter break. If what people are saying is true about the FD being available to fill rooms, I guess that wont be an issue. If they offer it in that time period at all.
Another question, and please forgive me if I am asking in the wrong thread.. Someone said that they may not offer it for the resort I am looking at.... how do you know which resorts will offer it, when it's available. Do you just have to go through the booking process for all the places you are willing to stay to find out?
TIA