free dining still blacked out for most of Oct....so question for you

[tinkfan2005]

We're going Oct 9th thru the 16th this year. Free dining was still blacked out during this time when all of the New Discounts came out. I'm guessing that quite a few people switched weeks when they found out that those weeks were blackout out, so that they could take advantage of free dining. Can I "hope" that this will mean less crowds during the week I go? (I'm looking for the silver lining to the cloud, since we didn't get to save $1000 on food)!

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

I'm hoping so! We'll be there 10/18 - 10/23, no free dining. Here's to hoping for low crowds!!!!

 

[RachChamb]

That's our week, too, Oct 10-18.

I know when I go in to make a mock reservation at POFQ, there are no available rooms.

 

[Molliday]

We're due to arrive June 5th, and FD ends on the 2nd of June. I almost changed it, so that we arrived on the 2nd, to take advantage of it, but like you, I'm wondering if arriving on the 5th will mean that it will be less crowded.

Plus, I despise being in the parks on weekends, due to the crowds. If I arrive on the 2nd, that put us at the parks on weekends, free dining, or no free dining.

 

[piglet33]

I hope so. We'll be there on 10/13-10/19.

 

[DLo]

me too! we are the 9th -13th. The weekend will be busy no matter what with Food and Wine and Columbus Day - though.

 

[Mamu]

A few years ago we went to Disney in the middle of October, was hoping for some kind of discount or FD. Nothing! Maybe it the holiday but the middle of October is blacked out a lot.

I picked September this year knowing October might be blacked out. While I prefer October weather even though it still hot and humid, I like the discounts better.

 

[SpaceGirl]

We're going Oct 9th thru the 16th... Can I "hope" that this will mean less crowds during the week I go? (I'm looking for the silver lining to the cloud, since we didn't get to save $1000 on food)!

Sorry but No...The reason they had the blackout dates would be due to heavy bookings for the Food & Wine plus the Halloween Party's. During these dates regular bookings are heavy so Disney doesn't need to add incentives, like free dining.

 

[Dewy]

A few years ago we had gone during the Columbus Day week. I was surprised how busy it was. While chatting with some other guest at the hotel bus stop they had told me that some school district in the south start their school year in August so that week is their Fall Break, so Disney gets quite busy. So that is my guess as to why that week gets blacked out...not sure about the other weeks.

 

[Sue1016]

i was hoping for the same, going oct 14 thru 21 and checked to see if any rooms available at all star sports in case my brother wants to join us and nope, not one room available. i HATE not getting a discount, i feel so used.

 

[POOHLUV69]

I had a free dining pin in my email this morning, it was for 10/3-11/23 and 11/28-12/16, it says for most dates but nothing specific. You have to book by 10/9. We can't use it this year, I've already booked free dining for next year, but thought maybe everyone waiting could use some hope. I'd be checking emails and calling to see if you have a Pin attached to your name. Wishing everyone .

 

[aubriee]

We're going Oct 9th thru the 16th this year. Free dining was still blacked out during this time when all of the New Discounts came out. I'm guessing that quite a few people switched weeks when they found out that those weeks were blackout out, so that they could take advantage of free dining. Can I "hope" that this will mean less crowds during the week I go? (I'm looking for the silver lining to the cloud, since we didn't get to save $1000 on food)!

We'll be there Oct 9th-17th. I originally booked with a bounceback deal we got when we were there last Dec. Yesterday I switched it to the AP discount. My dates and even our confirmation number stayed the same. They just applied a different code to it and applied a refund to my credit card. My point is that there were other deals offered for that week, just not free dining.

I'm more concerned about my Dec 4th-12th ressie. It was also booked with a bounceback. Free dining was also blacked out that week and when I checked yesterday, I also could not get an AP discount at any moderate (except CBR, which I don't want) for the entire 8 nights.