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

[mikamah]

Everyone sing along... I repeat it enough you all know the tune...

BOOKING NOW GUARANTEES YOU ABSOLUTELY NOTHING unless you intend to go with or without F/D offers.

Does that go to the tune of It's a Small World?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Does that go to the tune of It's a Small World?

Actually it's to the tune of Grinning Ghosts from HM... I call it "GRINNING MODERATORS" ..

HAHA

 

[mikamah]

Actually it's to the tune of Grinning Ghosts from HM... I call it "GRINNING MODERATORS" ..

HAHA

glad your still laughing. You are very patient and calm. In your posts anyway.

 

[CanadianGuy]

glad your still laughing. You are very patient and calm. In your posts anyway.

Thanks. I get frustrated .. and sometimes angry .. but usually that's at work or when my significant other hasn't done the correct share of household chores.

Disney message boards? This ... this is the fun bits.

 

[n2mm]

Everyone sing along... I repeat it enough you all know the tune...

BOOKING NOW GUARANTEES YOU ABSOLUTELY NOTHING unless you intend to go with or without F/D offers.

BOOKING NOW GUARANTEES YOU ABSOLUTELY NOTHING unless you intend to go with or without F/D offers

 

[disneyfantotheend]

The best reasoning I have heard on here for them not offering fall discounts was....

Especially with free dining, many people who are booked for the summer right now could move their vacations to fall as soon as it is released. They are already struggling with low summer discounts and that will just make it worse. If they wait until much closer to time, people will be more locked into their original dates. They will have airfare booked. It is less likely for them to be able to switch time off work. Things like that.

I have heard many explanations, but in my eyes this one makes the best sense. I don't blame them for holding off when you think of it that way.

 

[emmabelle]

Will I still be checking daily? Yup. But I really don't expect it.

I agree. Why would they waste the money to make that new commercial if they didn't plan on using it for a a while. I would assume that they would have a totally different commercial to advertise free dining?

fBOOKING NOW GUARANTEES YOU ABSOLUTELY NOTHING unless you intend to go with or without F/D offers.

agree with this too!

 

[WildGrits]

You have to wonder why Disney doesn't seem worried about late summer/fall crowds planning to go somewhere else? Even if they weren't sure if they are ofering FD or are secretly planning to offer it later, you think they would have something out now to keep people interested. Like maybe extend the up to 30% through the end of Sept for now and see how booking goes and maybe add free dining later to boost bookings. it makes no sense that there is NOTHING out there after 8/14. People who want to vacation at the end of the summer (like us) may start getting nervous that there's not going to be a GP offer and book other things.

I totally agree.

We are looking at going for 2 weeks at the end of August but I refuse to pay rack rates. The closer we get with no discounts in site, the more apt we are to take a Caribbean cruise instead.

 

[CanadianGuy]

The best reasoning I have heard on here for them not offering fall discounts was....

Especially with free dining, many people who are booked for the summer right now could move their vacations to fall as soon as it is released. They are already struggling with low summer discounts and that will just make it worse. If they wait until much closer to time, people will be more locked into their original dates. They will have airfare booked. It is less likely for them to be able to switch time off work. Things like that.

I have heard many explanations, but in my eyes this one makes the best sense. I don't blame them for holding off when you think of it that way.

That sounds as plausible as anything else. As I noted in the first post =- there are two quarters they have to worry about for the remainder of this fiscal. And right now - Q3 is not looking so hot..

Given that is TYPICALLY a time frame that is considered 'bread and butter' for Disney in a lot of ways.. rarely discounted if at all .. that tells you that somebody has moved Mickey's cheese. (to mix metaphors)

I totally agree.

We are looking at going for 2 weeks at the end of August but I refuse to pay rack rates. The closer we get with no discounts in site, the more apt we are to take a Caribbean cruise instead.

Ultimately the question you have to ask yourself is could you wait as late as May 9th or 10th to book Disney's fall promo?

If not.. well there's your answer. There very likely will be a fall promo.. exactly what it is.. we won't find that out til the end of April or early May.

Cruise lines have been offering some great 'last minute' deals.. so you might be better off to wait a bit more .. no matter which you decide to go with...

Just a thought.

K

 

[Huff]

BOOKING NOW GUARANTEES YOU ABSOLUTELY NOTHING unless you intend to go with or without F/D offers

It allows people to book ADR's 180+10 so when and if FD or other deals come their ADR's are already done.

 

[Bridge203618]

So do you think there will be more summer deals or they are just hoping these TV commercials will do the trick?

 

[magpie889]

That sounds as plausible as anything else. As I noted in the first post =- there are two quarters they have to worry about for the remainder of this fiscal. And right now - Q3 is not looking so hot..

Given that is TYPICALLY a time frame that is considered 'bread and butter' for Disney in a lot of ways.. rarely discounted if at all .. that tells you that somebody has moved Mickey's cheese. (to mix metaphors)



Ultimately the question you have to ask yourself is could you wait as late as May 9th or 10th to book Disney's fall promo?

If not.. well there's your answer. There very likely will be a fall promo.. exactly what it is.. we won't find that out til the end of April or early May.

Cruise lines have been offering some great 'last minute' deals.. so you might be better off to wait a bit more .. no matter which you decide to go with...

Just a thought.

K

What do you think the chance of an offer for end of aug? Like persay the 24th to the 30th?

 

[momofmikey]

It allows people to book ADR's 180+10 so when and if FD or other deals come their ADR's are already done.

You can still book ADRs w/o resort reservation. Granted, you can't make them all in one phone call, but I did them online early every morning and got exactly what I wanted.

 

[ShellyShellfish]

We were originally planning on going down in the beginning of October as a triple birthday present for myself and both kids (all of us have birthdays within a week of each other in October) but now the more I think about it, the beginning of December right after Thanksgiving looks even more appealing. We are not hot weather fans, the kids will be a bit older, etc.

What are the chances of FD going into December? When could I expect something to be announced regarding that timeframe? Granted, if something amazing comes out for October then all bets are off...but I'm intrigued about December now.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

It allows people to book ADR's 180+10 so when and if FD or other deals come their ADR's are already done.

This is the only reason that I booked when I did. Since FD was anticipated, and since I wanted an ADR at Le Cellier, and since I was booking 3 rooms and knew that would take a while (hurry up, hurry up, hurry up before all the promo rooms are filled! ), I caved and booked in early March for 8/14-8/23. But one room is booked, and will stay, with the Kids stay, play & dine free offer and the other two are currently booked with the 35% off room rate promo. There will still be some dancing around of the ressies for the 2 rooms but I'm prepared..... and waiting...... and waiting....

 

[verlee]

So I am wondering If Disney is so worried about the summer season why do they not have summer deals out already? (yeah I know they have the %off rooms but that is not much of a promo) People are planning and saving for summer trips right now. They are getting their tax money back right now. Airfare is low right now. Also, usually you can tell where disney is trying to drum up business by the shows they air on the travel channel. I am only seeing cruise shows and a smattering of wedding shows ? No "hey look at what fun you can have in our parks" or "save money with us" shows

It does make sence that they would be worried about summer so delay the fall promos. Don't undercut your own product and all that. Universal is a big threat and the economy is not doing well. People are being much more cautious with their money. But I don't see any aggressive attempt to get people into the parks? The deal out now is really nothing special. Spring break is almost over??

Unless they are stepping back a little because they were over saturating the market earlier this year. You could not turn around without seeing "What will you celebrate?". Maybe they need to give people a rest so the next add seems more tempting? "Oh look disney has a deal wow we should go"instead of " Disney deal? yadda yadda yadda"

Just wondering out loud. Not arguing. I am sure others know more then me.

 

[doccoc2002]

The best reasoning I have heard on here for them not offering fall discounts was....

Especially with free dining, many people who are booked for the summer right now could move their vacations to fall as soon as it is released. They are already struggling with low summer discounts and that will just make it worse. If they wait until much closer to time, people will be more locked into their original dates. They will have airfare booked. It is less likely for them to be able to switch time off work. Things like that.

I have heard many explanations, but in my eyes this one makes the best sense. I don't blame them for holding off when you think of it that way.

I don't think that a lot of people will change their airfare, vacation time and other things that they have in place for their already booked vacation though...I know I wouldn't once I book a vacation...you get the time off from work, book flights, etc...I don't see too many people wanting to do the hassle of that plus a lot of people go during school vacations...This would only apply to people that are thinking about going but not sure when.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

So I am wondering If Disney is so worried about the summer season why do they not have summer deals out already? (yeah I know they have the %off rooms but that is not much of a promo) People are planning and saving for summer trips right now. They are getting their tax money back right now. Airfare is low right now. Also, usually you can tell where disney is trying to drum up business by the shows they air on the travel channel. I am only seeing cruise shows and a smattering of wedding shows ? No "hey look at what fun you can have in our parks" or "save money with us" shows

It does make sence that they would be worried about summer so delay the fall promos. Don't undercut your own product and all that. Universal is a big threat and the economy is not doing well. People are being much more cautious with their money. But I don't see any aggressive attempt to get people into the parks? The deal out now is really nothing special. Spring break is almost over??

Unless they are stepping back a little because they were over saturating the market earlier this year. You could not turn around without seeing "What will you celebrate?". Maybe they need to give people a rest so the next add seems more tempting? "Oh look disney has a deal wow we should go"instead of " Disney deal? yadda yadda yadda"

Just wondering out loud. Not arguing. I am sure others know more then me.

good post.

 

[leebee]

I am optimistic that there will be free dining in the fall. If you look at the current offers, everything expires on 8/14, which is the time FD usually starts. I think they are offering room discounts, "kids dine/play for free," and free QS meal plan (just got a pin today) to fill as many rooms as possible throughout the spring and summer. I am guessing Disney will hold off on announcing free fall dining for as long as possible, but I do think they will offer it. I am just worried that it'll only be QS for values- need to book mod or higher for regular dining plan! That'd be hard to justify, as there are only 2 of us going, and the difference in room cost is about $60 per night. I know, just do the math Also, if it's going to be QS only for values in the fall, maybe we want to go as soon as school is out and avoid hurricane season! Decisions, decisions!

 

[gabriellyn]

So I am wondering If Disney is so worried about the summer season why do they not have summer deals out already? (yeah I know they have the %off rooms but that is not much of a promo) People are planning and saving for summer trips right now. They are getting their tax money back right now. Airfare is low right now. Also, usually you can tell where disney is trying to drum up business by the shows they air on the travel channel. I am only seeing cruise shows and a smattering of wedding shows ? No "hey look at what fun you can have in our parks" or "save money with us" shows

It does make sence that they would be worried about summer so delay the fall promos. Don't undercut your own product and all that. Universal is a big threat and the economy is not doing well. People are being much more cautious with their money. But I don't see any aggressive attempt to get people into the parks? The deal out now is really nothing special. Spring break is almost over??

Unless they are stepping back a little because they were over saturating the market earlier this year. You could not turn around without seeing "What will you celebrate?". Maybe they need to give people a rest so the next add seems more tempting? "Oh look disney has a deal wow we should go"instead of " Disney deal? yadda yadda yadda"

Just wondering out loud. Not arguing. I am sure others know more then me.

This is my thinking as well - in addition, w/HP opening at Universal, I am really surprised we aren't seeing much more aggressive marketing from Disney.