free dining?! seriously?!?!?

[disney[xo]sweetie]

i keep hearing the legend of the "free dining" but is it for real?
there HAS to be a catch here!
so questions
1. how do i get free dining
2.how do they survive economically offering free dining
3. are you SURE its FREE? am i missing something?!?!

help me! sounds too insanely awesome to be true!

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

If it's offered again - Yes - the dining lan is really free. There are some catches:
1) You have to pay rack (full price) rates for your package
2) Everyone on your reservation has to be on the same package

Disney can afford it b/c they know you'll spend $ in their parks and they are getting full-price $ from you in their hotels.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'll be moving this over to the resorts & booking board ... but

1a. Wait till the promotion is announced (if at all) the first week of April
1b. Book a package including at least 1 day park tickets paying rack rate within the date ranges allowed by the promotion
1c. Enjoy free dining.

2. They survive because they fill all kinds of hotel rooms that would normally be empty and sell all kinds of souvenirs at 400% profit. Seriously.

3. Yes. It's free. I'm sure.

Last year the dates were end of August thru Sept 22.

This year.. we won't know the dates til the promotion is announced.. IF it is announced.

Knox

 

[Knavey]

Are you SURE its 400%? You didn't misplace the decimal did you?

 

[G8r4evr]

Are you SURE its 400%? You didn't misplace the decimal did you?

Sounds about right to me.

 

[buzz1fan]

So what happens if i get a discount over Labor Day weekend, and free dining comes up, they will not give it to me?

 

[Dizneydaz]

Yes-FREE. I love free dining. We did the DDP for the first time in Jan. 05 when it was just in it's infancy (paid for it). Then, Disney announced free DDP for Sept. 05. Oh, yeah-I was able to talk my DM into that one real easy! Then they did it again in 06-well of course, we had to go back. And finally, Sept. 07, free DDP again. Yep, you guessed it, we went again. So, we've had DDP 4 times, 3 of the times free, and we definitely prefer getting it free to paying for it.

Even if we do have to pay "rack rate" it's still one heck of a deal. The room runs us (at POP) about $80/night (plus fees) and if we were to purchase the DDP, for 2 A, and 1 K, it would run us about $86 (plus tax). So, it's really a no-brainer for us. Plus, having the DDP has allowed us to experience restaurants that we never would have tried otherwise, and we now have new favorites (and some we won't try again ). Even after DD turns 10 (Sept. 09) it'll still be an awesome deal. The room will be $10 more (extra adult) but the DDP value will go us too. It would run about $117 (at today's rate). An even better deal, and she'll be able to order anything she wants.

One thing I really love about using DDP, is I don't have to tell DD "No, you can't have that" as often. If it's inc. in the plan, then she gets it-I'm a really indulgent mom on the DDP. "You want dessert, sure honey, no problem. " " Oh, you want an Itzakadoozie-here you go!"

I haven't written a Dining Review of our trip last Sept (07) but I did of our trip Sept. 06 (on DDP) and here's the link if you would like to read it. There have been some changes to the plan since then (namely tipping is no longer included) .
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1239387

Oh, and if they offer it again this year, we are doing it again. Like previously mentioned, they usually announce it sometime in April. If you are a Disney Visa card member, you'll be able to book it before the general public can.

 

[Dizneydaz]

So what happens if i get a discount over Labor Day weekend, and free dining comes up, they will not give it to me?

You can only do one or the other. Not both.

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

Free Dining is normally the best value if you're staying in a Value resort - so, if your family doesn't mind one of the value resorts - free dining can be a great deal.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

what if we are AP holders? If we book the package to get free dining can we save the tickets for another trip and use our AP's?

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

what if we are AP holders? If we book the package to get free dining can we save the tickets for another trip and use our AP's?

Yes - you should be able to book a package (regardless how many days of tickets...most buy a 1-day base ticket) and then use the ticket worth towards the purchase/renewal of an AP.

 

[CEDmom]

Free dining is only worth it though if you eat all the food the plan allows. Personally I can't imagine doing that but enough people must or it wouldn't be so popular. The best thing to do is look at menus and see the price of what you would actually eat vs the difference between rack rate and a discount on your room. For us the free dining isn't worth it especially since we don't like the value resorts.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Are you SURE its 400%? You didn't misplace the decimal did you?

Sounds about right to me.

Nope.. I didn't. The mark-up on stuffed Mickeys from China is insane.

 

[BabyPiglet]

We love free dining. We use it but can never ever eat all the food that the dining plan offers. It's an awesome value!

 

[Mr. Pig]

Nope.. I didn't. The mark-up on stuffed Mickeys from China is insane.

I'm thinking that decimal place is misplaced down - more like 4000%

 

[disneycrazy2004]

we did the free DD in Sept 07, and it was great. We loved it. The food was phenomenal and all the restaurants we ate.......
before we checked out we were offered the same deal for Sept 08, and we took it so we are going back in September. "cant wait to gain more weight"

 

[Dizneydaz]

Yes, you do get alot of food. My DM and I shared some of our meals and that allowed us to eat at some of the 2TS choices. One of our new favorites Narcoossee's if not just for the Almond Crusted Cheesecake alone!

 

[eliza61]

i keep hearing the legend of the "free dining" but is it for real?
there HAS to be a catch here!
so questions
1. how do i get free dining
2.how do they survive economically offering free dining
3. are you SURE its FREE? am i missing something?!?!

help me! sounds too insanely awesome to be true!

It's free, in that you don't have to pay for your food once you get there but you must pay rack rates for your lodging. Since we usually stay deluxe, no way, no how is it worth it. I come out ahead with my ap discount on the room.

 

[chalee94]

...and don't forget to bring some cash/credit cards to pay for the tip (and appetizer, if you want one) for "free dining" this year.

 

[Pootle]

Free Dining is normally the best value if you're staying in a Value resort - so, if your family doesn't mind one of the value resorts - free dining can be a great deal.

I'm pretty sure (but not 100%) that when this was offered here in the UK for Aug/Sept, it no longer applied to value resorts. Someone will be along to correct me if I'm wrong