Free Dining Questions

[tinkerlisa]

Is free dining offered only as a "bounce back"? If not, if I book just my room now, can I add it later when it is offered?

 

[janjandis]

Yes, it's only available for a BB right now for next Sept.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Is free dining offered only as a "bounce back"? If not, if I book just my room now, can I add it later when it is offered?

Yes, you can add it on when the code comes out if there is availability at your resort. If you have a package, they will just add the FD code to your current reservation. If it is a room only, you will have to re-book and get a package. They only allot so many rooms per resort that will be eligible for the FD promo. The info should be released in early April and will be available to book first by Disney Visa holders for the first 3 days, then it will open to the general public. If you add the code during the first three days then you shouldn't have a problem, but if you book after that there is always the possibility you will have to change resorts or change your dates.

 

[tinkerlisa]

I hope I can get it! I have to book at least a room now because my fiance and I are getting married next Sept. and to get married we have to have at least a 4 night hotel stay(Disney wedding regulations). If I get free dining, it will shave like 8 or 900 dollars off my budget!!!! Boy I am glad I got that Disney Visa!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I hope I can get it! I have to book at least a room now because my fiance and I are getting married next Sept. and to get married we have to have at least a 4 night hotel stay(Disney wedding regulations). If I get free dining, it will shave like 8 or 900 dollars off my budget!!!! Boy I am glad I got that Disney Visa!

You might as well go ahead and book the package now. You only have to put a $200.00 deposit down and the balance won't be due until 45 days from your check-in date, which I assume wouldn't be until next summer.

 

[tinkerlisa]

Thanks for the advice! I will do that! But do I add the dining plan now or wait til free dining comes out?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Thanks for the advice! I will do that! But do I add the dining plan now or wait til free dining comes out?

I would do it now. It would just make things easier in the end. All you will have to do when the FD code comes out in April is call with your exisiting reservation number and they will just add the code. If your dates change or you end up not wanting the Dining Plan you can have it taken off of your package.

 

[snykymom]

It doesn't matter. They'll just apply the FD code to the existing reservation.

 

[tinkerlisa]

Thank you so much for all of your help everyone!!!

 

[ChairborneRangr]

It doesn't matter. They'll just apply the FD code to the existing reservation.

They won't add the free dining discount code automatically - you will need to call and request it or have your travel agent do it for you. It is good idea to do it as soon as possible after the promotion is released because some locations / dates go really quickly.

Someone may start a thread you can subscribe to that'll let you know when it has been released or you can sign up for an email alert at http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/freedining.html

 

[PrincessTiffany]

They won't add the free dining discount code automatically - you will need to call and request it or have your travel agent do it for you. It is good idea to do it as soon as possible after the promotion is released because some locations / dates go really quickly.

Someone may start a thread you can subscribe to that'll let you know when it has been released or you can sign up for an email alert at http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/freedining.html

I very much agree with this. You MUST call and have the code applied to the existing MYW package. Disney reservations will NOT just automatically apply it. The FD promo for the general public usually comes out the first week of April. Detail usually pop up here on the DIS a few days before the actual offer is released.

 

[mickeystoontown]

PrincessTiffany:

You seem pretty up to date on how the free dining works. I had the same question as the original poster but wanted to ask one more question. I know that bounceback free dining was offered for September through, I believe, November, but, when it becomes available for the general public, what will the dates be?

We are planning a trip August 6th through 15th, 2009. I bet we are out of luck!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

PrincessTiffany:

You seem pretty up to date on how the free dining works. I had the same question as the original poster but wanted to ask one more question. I know that bounceback free dining was offered for September through, I believe, November, but, when it becomes available for the general public, what will the dates be?

We are planning a trip August 6th through 15th, 2009. I bet we are out of luck!

The bounceback dates for next year's free dining are August 24 - October 8 (October 2 - 8 have a higher rate because they fall during regular season). At this point no one knows what the general public dates will be that will be released in April. This year's general public FD dates are August 24 - September 20, 2008. It would be highly unlikely that August 6 - 15 would fall into Free Dining for next year, as the Free Dining window for the general public is usually smaller than the bounceback booking window.

Hope that made sense.