Free dining questions????

[DCWarrior]

Ok, I see a lot of this "free dining" term being thrown around all over and I would like to learn more about it. In general, what is it and how does it work?

Specifically, is it basically the counter service plan or more or less? Is it for past guests only or could it be for newbies? I assume it happens during the slow times of year to lure people in these times. I've seen people hoping for the fall season, but does it happen other times like January (when we plan on going)???

I'm not even sure what else to ask about the subject. Thanks for any responses.
Brian

 

[Nayan]

'Free Dining' is where you buy a package (room and tickets) and you get the Disney Dining Plan for free. Here's a link to the plan in general:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/

 

[DCWarrior]

'Free Dining' is where you buy a package (room and tickets) and you get the Disney Dining Plan for free. Here's a link to the plan in general: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/

Thanks.

Also, I just found the free dining FAQ sticky thread. I'll go read through that.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Generally, when Disney offers free dining, you get the counter-service plan at the value resorts and the regular plan at the more expensive ones. You can pay to upgrade to the regular plan though.

It is usually offered (if it is going to be) in early fall, but sometimes it has been offered at other times too. Disney watches how the rooms are filling up (or not) and decides if a deal is needed to pull people in.

Often there are two offers available: pay regular room rates and get free dining, or get a discounted room rate. You will need to assess which is the better choice for your family (depending on how you usually eat on vacation).

TP

 

[frannn]

We have been visiting in Sept (now late August) with free dining for the past several years. I've compared it with other offers available for the All Stars, including the Annual Passholder resort specials, and free dining has saved us the most. We are usually lucky enough to take advantage of a bounceback free dining offer, which is where you book the offer for the following year while you are still checked into the WDW resort. This has provided the best savings because we stay at the smaller resort, and until last year had a "disney child". Now that DD is over 10, we save considerably less, so we don't pay to upgrade to Deluxe Dining like we used to. WDW is getting less of our $ lately, cause they keep raising the prices to what we can't afford.