free dining this year

[karentan]

just wondering if anyone knew roughly when they announced the UK free dining offer this year and what dates it was for?
just trying to get an idea on next year...

also, what is the cancellation policy for the UK WDTC?

 

[wayneg]

Just found a thread on another forum dated 8 May 09 they said "I booked a couple of weeks ago for October 2010" this was for free DDP thru Disney.co.uk
Going by that it was available end of April.

 

[wayneg]

Cancellation policy I believe is still £50pp, has been last 2 years.

 

[karentan]

any idea what the booking period for free dining was? i'm guessing its quite long as its still on offer now.
(i'm trying to price up a trip for my aunt for next august, and trying to get an idea on when free dining is typically released so i can keep an eye out for it for next year)

 

[wayneg]

I believe they offered it until end of the year then extended it and as you say still available. I expect they will be cautious to start, hoping the economy picks up and strong bookings if not then they will extend again. Thats if they do offer it again, nothing certain.
Cancellation policy here

Period before departure date that letter is received Cancellation Charges as a % of total Booking price
More than 56 days £50 per person
56-29 days 30%
28-15 days 40%
14-1 days 50%
Day of departure or later 100%

 

[karentan]

thanks for your help wayne

 

[2Tiggies]

Just to confirm what Wayne said earlier, I phoned Disney UK in the last few days of April last year (just got back and serious withdrawal ) and they gave me a quote for October this year with FD. I booked it a week or two later.

 

[Clare D]

I'll be keeping my eye out too come April/May for October next year. I want to book it and tie it in with a trip on DCL too seeing as we aren't going this year.
I remember in 2008 it came on and then went off and came back on etc...

 

[cjc]

Karentan
I read you are hoping to visit Florida in aug'11 - we are hoping to go in Jul11.
Are you booking a DIY package? Previously booked packages but considering DIY so welcome any ideas on the do/donts. I dont think flights will be bookable until Aug so would you book hotel first then flights?
thanks
CJC

 

[Clare D]

Karentan
I read you are hoping to visit Florida in aug'11 - we are hoping to go in Jul11.
Are you booking a DIY package? Previously booked packages but considering DIY so welcome any ideas on the do/donts. I dont think flights will be bookable until Aug so would you book hotel first then flights?
thanks
CJC

We'll be booking it all ourselves rather then using a package. In the past we have used Virgin holidays for the 10% frequent Virgin Discount but it is so much cheaper to do yourself.
We tend to book accommodation first as this becomes available before the flights, then we book the car hire for £25 deposit and then the flights as and when I think the best time to buy and when available.
All I would say is that you need to be organised. I tend to have a separate folder within my e-mails for all the confirmations.
You'll find lots of useful info on here and we're a very friendly bunch so any queries just shout.

 

[2Tiggies]

.
We tend to book accommodation first as this becomes available before the flights, then we book the car hire for £25 deposit and then the flights as and when I think the best time to buy and when available.

I think this has always been the best way to go, however with the current flight prices I am wondering if I should do the flights first and then be able to be flexible in accommodation. I see our October flights are triple the price today of what we paid and the accommodation/dining/tickets are actually slightly cheaper now. I hate it when this happens - just when you think you know the game, they change the rules

 

[wayneg]

We have always booked flights 1st when doing DIY trips. 2 reasons, 1st I want to be as flexible as possible when looking for flights, going a day earlier or a day later can save quite a lot sometimes so rather get flight than having to change hotel bookings. 2nd there is always accomodation available, we are not fussy where we stay, anywhere clean is good for us.
Saying that this August was 1st time we booked hotel 1st, we wanted to get the OKW deal with discount and free DDP, availabilty was going at SSR so decided to get it booked, not essential as we could have easily stayed offsite but we are looking forward to DDP again. Plus the right flights were not coming up, never bought August flights as late as this time.

 

[darthtatty]

oooh im glad you asked that question.
we plan to go Aug 2011 and we were hoping to get free dining too.
didnt realise free dining was available to book so early, think we may hold out for other offers too.

 

[2Tiggies]

Good idea Darthtatty. I was too hasty last year and could have done much better if I hadn't been consumed by Post Disney Blues immediately on my return! To be honest, better deals kept coming up for a good 8 months after I booked. Won't be so hurried this time. Was planning on booking via US next time, but unless I have the dosh to pay upfront I don't want to play any more roulette with the exchange rate either. At the moment just keeping all options open and not getting hooked into a comfy corner of familiarity.