*Free Dining Questions

[DisneyaHolic23]

We are in the process of planning a trip to Disney World right now for the week after the free dining ends. I am trying to figure out if it is worth changing the trip to one week earlier. Here are my questions:

1. I was planning to purchase an annual pass for my husband and myself. Can we book a Magic Your Way package to take advantage of the free dining, and then upgrade to an annual pass? Is the dining package programmed into the Magic Your Way passes, so we would have to upgrade on the last day of our trip?

2. According to Mousesavers, one simply has to check-in by October 4th to take advantage of the deal. If we start our trip on October 4th, and stay for 8 nights, can we still take advantage of the deal?

3. It seems strange that they don't extend the deal through the Food & Wine festival. Although it is certainly more crowded, it seems that they would save some money on the dining package, since people will be taking advantage of the Food & Wine offerings...

Any other thoughts on this topic will be very much appreciated!

 

[unixadm]

1. I was planning to purchase an annual pass for my husband and myself. Can we book a Magic Your Way package to take advantage of the free dining, and then upgrade to an annual pass? Is the dining package programmed into the Magic Your Way passes, so we would have to upgrade on the last day of our trip?

2. According to Mousesavers, one simply has to check-in by October 4th to take advantage of the deal. If we start our trip on October 4th, and stay for 8 nights, can we still take advantage of the deal?

3. It seems strange that they don't extend the deal through the Food & Wine festival. Although it is certainly more crowded, it seems that they would save some money on the dining package, since people will be taking advantage of the Food & Wine offerings...

Any other thoughts on this topic will be very much appreciated!

1. Yes, you can upgrade to an annual pass. Your tickets will be on your room key. DO NOT use them to get into a park. Go to the ticket booth at MK or one of the other parks and you can give them your room keys and they can convert it over to annual passes. You will just pay the difference in cost.

2. I am not sure if that is the case. Best thing to do is call Disney Reservations and ask them if you can start your trip on 10/4. 407-939-7675

3. I think they are doing the free dining package to bring people in during their slowest time.......with the hurricanes last year, I am sure their tourism for September time frame is very low. They are looking to fill up their resorts by giving us free food.

 

[planning06]

Actually, you can use your tickets and then upgrade them to APs as long as you 1) do not use all the days on the MYW tickets and 2) do it withing 14 days of the first use of the ticket. You will only have to pay the difference between the original purchase price of the ticket and the price of the annual pass.

So, if you bought a 7 day MYW ticket you could use 2 days and then upgrade to an AP and only pay the difference between a 7 day MYW and an AP. That way you can upgrade your ticket at a convenient time.

Also, as long as check-in is by 10/4 your whole stay will qualify for free dining.

 

[lovemy3girls]

Yep, that is true. We are checking in on Oct 1st and staying until Oct. 7th, and we get free dining the whole time. Have fun!

 

[Bete]

The time you want is the most popular week; so, you will be competing with many others trying to do the same thing. You get two advantages at that time, an advantage of going to MNSSHP and the Food and Wine Festival.

Also, understand that Disney may have less packages for that time because school is out in some states for breaks. It's the Columbus holiday time and many are booked for that time, already.

With the package everyone in your room party will have to upgrade to an annual pass. My understanding is that this is all or nothing to upgrade on this package.

I think your best chance, here, is to do this now and don't wait to make ressies later.

Please be aware that many have set-up advance reservations already for dining; because, we are past the 90 day mark; so, the best times to eat table service are probably already filled up.

This is truly a wonderful deal and I surely would be flexible on getting the package and changing some things around to do so. We are set for Oct.1 to Oct.7 and I'm looking forward to the free dining.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

You had to book the free dining before July 3. It no longer applies.

 

[Bete]

You had to book the free dining before July 3. It no longer applies.

Until August 5, you still have a chance to get in on this deal. They reopened the offer. It's unclear how many packages are available for this deal, but it's now a available again for a short time.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

OOOPS! Sorry I didn't know that. How wonderful for folks. We got in on it for our late Aug. trip (8 nights) and are saving almost $700!!!

I wish the same Pixie Dust for others