FREE DINING UPDATE- RUMOR and SPECULATION / Update Page 80 !

[Maggie'sMom]

I also forgot....If you want a discount go to www.disneyparks.com and register to volunteer in your city. IF you get that ticket, you get $84.14 off multi day tickets. For my husband and I and our two kids that is a savings of over $300. That can be applied to your vacation package according to the lady at Disney parks that I spoke to.

The Give A Day, Get A Day promotion has ended. Disney pledged 1 million tickets and they've already had that many people volunteer.

 

[trynitey]

I called to see if there was a pin to my name, and there was 25% off of values and up for the moderate and deluxe. I went ahead and booked since I'm not sure what will be offered later. If anything better comes out, I will definitely end up changing my reservation.

I booked a value for now since I am due at the end of June/beginning of July money is a bit tight. We have free passes for my husband and I for 3 days, and my now youngest will still be free b/c she'll be under 3. So, I only have to pay for my 4yr olds tickets. If value is only offering quick service dining, it wont be worth it for us since we'll spend more on tickets than we would on quick service food for us. We only plan to spend 3 days at Disney and one day at SeaWorld. With 3 little ones 4 and under, 4 days out and about is alot for them. The only discount that would be worth it to change would be Full service free dining or a bigger discount on rooms (which I dont see happening).

 

[myneverland]

We're tentatively planning for late Sept and hoping for FD. I am already making ADRs, as we have large party. For those saying it is already within their 180 days, why not make the ADRs now? You don't need a hotel reservation for that..... At least you'll have them if it does work out. If not you can cancel those later. It so easy with ADRs being available on-line now. Whoo hoo!

 

[dizneeat]

Just wondering why do they release FD to the UK way before the US? I dont get why they do that FD was offered at the beginning of the year for them just curious why they get more of a deal then the US?

Not to cause a flame or whatever

I guess it is because we have to plan our trips further in advance.
I booked my flights in Oktober for next August/September and knowing that we got a good deal on the resort (42 - 48% off) AND free dining really helped with the decision of staying at Disney all the time.
Please keep in mind that my plane tickets for two cost about 3000$, and knowing that we get to stay at OKW and are fed for free made it much easier to shell out that kind of money.
And by the way - there is already a FD deal in the UK for 2011 (not on the official site though)

 

[BebopBaloo]

Question: I want to go ahead and make some ADR's...definitely past my 180 day mark.. we are holding out to make our package reservation until the fall promotion comes out. We know that we are going either way. I was just waiting because I didn't want to have to make a bunch of phone calls and worry about everything being applied that needs to be applied...

So..if I go ahead and make ADR's...and free dining does come out..how will that work when we go to our meals? Will I need to adjust the ADR info ahead of time? Will I need to make sure that my reservation number is attached? I plan on making the ADR's online..if that makes any difference.

Sorry..I've just always booked everything at once.

Thanks!

 

[myneverland]

Question: I want to go ahead and make some ADR's...definitely past my 180 day mark.. we are holding out to make our package reservation until the fall promotion comes out. We know that we are going either way. I was just waiting because I didn't want to have to make a bunch of phone calls and worry about everything being applied that needs to be applied...

So..if I go ahead and make ADR's...and free dining does come out..how will that work when we go to our meals? Will I need to adjust the ADR info ahead of time? Will I need to make sure that my reservation number is attached? I plan on making the ADR's online..if that makes any difference.

Sorry..I've just always booked everything at once.

Thanks!

Make your ADRs now.....you don't need to change anything. When you arrive to eat, you just tell them IF you are on the dining plan. If not, just pay outright. The only one that may make a difference is a Cindy's Royal Table b/c they will make you pay upfront for it, rather than just place a guarantee on your credit card. But, even if you were doing that, you could call later, and I'm sure they would refund and just place the guarantee if you planned to use the dining plan (2 credits) for that......

Making ADRs on line is so easy and you can do several at once. They e-mail you all your confirmations as well. Love it, love it.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

So..if I go ahead and make ADR's...and free dining does come out..how will that work when we go to our meals? Will I need to adjust the ADR info ahead of time? Will I need to make sure that my reservation number is attached? I plan on making the ADR's online..if that makes any difference.

Sorry..I've just always booked everything at once.

Thanks!

It won't make any difference at all. The ADRs aren't tied to your resort reservation. The only reason you have to input your resort confirmation# is to open up the +10 if you are booking 180 days out.

ETA: Oh, and as myneverland mentioned, it affects any ADRs that require prepayment such as CRT, Akershus, and the dinner shows.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Yay! I know what I'm doing in .03 seconds

For Akershus.. I can just call if we end up adding the DP, or FD and change it...correct?

Thankyou!!!

 

[myneverland]

Yay! I know what I'm doing in .03 seconds

For Akershus.. I can just call if we end up adding the DP, or FD and change it...correct?

Thankyou!!!

You only need to call if they actually CHARGE your credit card. Otherwise, when you arrive, they will take the dining plan, no problem. I've made some for the Princess Storybook that only did a credit card guarantee, not a charge. So, that's OK. Just need to cancel before the 2-day deadline if I don't use it.

BUT, when I looked at Cindy's Royal, they wanted to charge my card the full amount right now. I'm sure they would refund it later, if I called and said I was now on the dining plan, but I decided to wait a bit for that to see if we will actually be on the DP or not.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Yay! I know what I'm doing in .03 seconds

For Akershus.. I can just call if we end up adding the DP, or FD and change it...correct?

Thankyou!!!

Yes, you will have to pay for it with a cc now. But you can get that refunded later.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Thanks! I got all the ADR's we were hoping for and Akershus didn't charge anything to the cc, just needed the number for a guarantee.

I'm giddy. This is a surprise trip for our daughter...hehe..I need to calm down before she asks why Mommy is bouncing off the walls.

 

[mistysue]

The ones where they charge your cark (CRT, dinner shows) they can NOT simply adjust your ADR and refund you- they have to cancel that ressie and make a new one! So if it is not still available you have to wait until you are there and they will charge your meal credits and then refund your card when you eat... so you pay months in advance and then get the money back the day of.

If you know you want the DDP you can add it now, use that to book with and then have them apply the free dining pin when the time comes.

 

[TheRatPack]

Well, I pray we're able to all book next week for FD I have my ADRs....well except for one, which is outside that +10 so I have to wait a few more days on it.

I'm curious about the UK deals....is there somewhere to read up on why things cost so much there? Does their income reflect the same? I mean....I don't see a lot of Americans being able to afford 3000.00 worth of plane tickets and staying weeks at Disney....plus why do UK residents get so much vacation? Is it a country rule or something....just curious as I've not read up on the UK and find it interesting. We homeschool so we may just have to make a mini unit study on the UK so we can understand the country better. Please, for any UK residents....please PM me if you want to share

 

[n2mm]

Well, I pray we're able to all book next week for FD I have my ADRs....well except for one, which is outside that +10 so I have to wait a few more days on it.

I'm curious about the UK deals....is there somewhere to read up on why things cost so much there? Does their income reflect the same? I mean....I don't see a lot of Americans being able to afford 3000.00 worth of plane tickets and staying weeks at Disney....plus why do UK residents get so much vacation? Is it a country rule or something....just curious as I've not read up on the UK and find it interesting. We homeschool so we may just have to make a mini unit study on the UK so we can understand the country better. Please, for any UK residents....please PM me if you want to share

OT--Wow, how much do they get? I get over 5 weeks of vacation time a year, plus 10 holidays. Plus I only work 4 days a week (10 hours a day) and am off EVERY Friday (my flex schedule), so I can stretch that 5+ weeks of vacation into a longer time frame. (I spend 6 weeks a year in WDW over 4+ trips, but my airfare out of Dulles is generally less than $150 rt per person.)

 

[gigi1313]

got all my ADRs... got my airline tix... even bought a few new matching tee shirts... now all i need is FREE DINING!!

my "source" tells me that the next discount will not be FD, but another summer deal... they don't want to lure possible summer guests away to fall w/FD... and FD won't be released 'til MAY! (keeping in mind the original FD deal was released in JUNE!)

 

[tiger4me2]

The ones where they charge your cark (CRT, dinner shows) they can NOT simply adjust your ADR and refund you- they have to cancel that ressie and make a new one! So if it is not still available you have to wait until you are there and they will charge your meal credits and then refund your card when you eat... so you pay months in advance and then get the money back the day of.

If you know you want the DDP you can add it now, use that to book with and then have them apply the free dining pin when the time comes.

When I made my CRT my credit was charged but was told when I get down there as long as I give them 48+ hrs ahead time & tell them I will be using my dining points they will credit your card back & no changing the ADR. I did this this past December & used my dining points & got my money back on my credit card. maybe I misread your post if so sorry

 

[Luvmepluto]

This is just silly. If Disney is going focus to on the summer crowd, then why are they wasting time releasing the new summer deal? I don't think their current offer is doing them any justice. Summer is getting closer and people need time to save for vacation. If you ask me, I believe Disney is done with the summer crowd and will now focus on the fall attendence.......at least I hope.

I agree....I think there new summer promotion is not very tempting.

 

[domesticking]

I would love another snack, I have a very hungry 2yo that isn't on the dining plan, so that would help!

Ummmmmm, you could buy something for your 2 yo to eat ...... Sometimes people act like they can't eat anything other than what's on th plan.

Wow Wendy, thanks for sharing the very detailed and very sad news. I am so amazed that they are making us wait that long.

Why R U amazed? They don't release promos to make people happy. They release them to fill rooms. They're not "making you wait". They're releasing promos in a way that will benefit them.

 

[sunny45]

I don't recall all the details of FD prior to our first experience with it in 2007 (like if was happening prior to then or not). We booked our trip early in the year knowing we were going no matter what since it was our 25th anniversary. Somehow FD came about and and I made my ADR's at the 180 day mark for that trip and that was our last trip there. It was wonderful having FD, trying a bunch of new places to eat and not worrying about paying for the meals and tips and appetizers were included then.

Now were are anxiously waiting for our family trip for Christmas this year and we will probably go no matter what happens again as far as FD. We want to see the Christmas decorations. We really hope FD happens again this year, even if it is the QSDP. At least it would help in some way. We can always stay offsite and we have thought about it and had other places booked and car rentals booked too but we lose the EMH and the relaxation of just going to the bus stop and catching a bus to a park. Having garden grocer deliver your supplies instead of going to the store yourself. We also lose the Magical Express Service from the airport. These are things that make a vacation enjoyable. Disney knows that too so hopefully they will pull thru with some great discounts even though they seem to be taking their time right now.

I can see that for our time of year nothing will probably come about until mid summer since Disney has to concentrate on summer and fall first.

It's going to be interesting to see how it all turns out and it's going to be a long summer waiting for something to come out for our time of year but this is what we want to do. If FD doesn't happen then we will just tighten the budget and make do. We have done it before.

Now for the waiting game

 

[CathrynRose]

This is Killing me............ My trip is already booked for Sept 1-12 and I just want to know what kinda of promotion they will have I really want free dinning. What is everybodys GUT feeling??????? My husband says they will announce it soon


I HOPE WE NEED PIXIE DUST and alot of it

My gut is telling me they're going to release it. FD *will* be released. That's just what I think.

Currently I am booked WITH Free Dining in September. I booked bounce back, last year.

If they offered Bounce Back, and if I'm not mistaken, they offered FD to the UK, why wouldn't they offer it? It's done pretty well the past few years.

I think they will - but that is NOT insider information. It's what you asked for....gut.