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

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Is it true that to get the AAA discount you have to book room only? That's what a CM told me? So right now for my end of August trip I can't really get any discount applied since I booked a package? THanks!

 

[dd50]

Is it true that to get the AAA discount you have to book room only? That's what a CM told me? So right now for my end of August trip I can't really get any discount applied since I booked a package? THanks!

I don't think so but what they probably meant was that the discount was for room only. You can still add other things to it but won't get a discount on those.

 

[Marnm02]

Is it true that to get the AAA discount you have to book room only? That's what a CM told me? So right now for my end of August trip I can't really get any discount applied since I booked a package? THanks!

No. We booked a package for our honeymoon and got the AAA discount.

 

[skier_pete]

Excuse me for chiming in, since I couldn't care less this year about FD, though we've used it the last 3 years in a row.

Every year (for 4 years in a row now) there are massive threads decrying how - "There will be no free dining this year...woe is us!"

And then...they announce it...and everyone is ecstatic.

I wholly and 100% expect the same thing this year. There is no way they don't have a deep deep discount at that time of year. They did it in 2006 and 2007 and the economy was rocking. Nobody wants to go in September, for lots of good reasons (the kids are back to school, the wheather ranges between awful and terrible).

Calm down everyone! It'll come.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Is it true that to get the AAA discount you have to book room only? That's what a CM told me? So right now for my end of August trip I can't really get any discount applied since I booked a package? THanks!

You can only book a AAA package with an AAA travel office.

AAA room only discounts can be booked with Disney directly.

That's the difference.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Excuse me for chiming in, since I couldn't care less this year about FD, though we've used it the last 3 years in a row.

Every year (for 4 years in a row now) there are massive threads decrying how - "There will be no free dining this year...woe is us!"

And then...they announce it...and everyone is ecstatic.

I wholly and 100% expect the same thing this year. There is no way they don't have a deep deep discount at that time of year. They did it in 2006 and 2007 and the economy was rocking. Nobody wants to go in September, for lots of good reasons (the kids are back to school, the wheather ranges between awful and terrible).

Calm down everyone! It'll come.

As per post # 1 in this thread.. I don't think it's coming til much later than usual.. Whatever the fall promo happens to be.

 

[su_A_ve]

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.

The opposite - we are seeing more marketing from Disney. Typically, on summer there are no promos and no marketing cause it's not needed. In fact, they'll start offering fall promos cause their summers are already booked.

We are seeing more summer promos cause they are not fully booked yet. Once that happens, they'll switch to fall.

 

[su_A_ve]

So Canadian Guy, any updated news from your sources? Inquiring minds wanna know.


I just spoke with Disney Reservations to see if I had a pin code attached to my name. Of course, given my luck, there wasn't. While she was searching, I casually asked if she expected any better discount for my travel dates (5/27 to 6/5) than what I already have. She looked at my reservation and said "Probably not but you never know with Disney. Keep watching online." I know! I know! Take what the Disney castmembers say with a grain of salt.

5/27 ?? Nothing new should come out for those days. Maybe another summer offer, but not better that what already came out.

We are talking about Fall, starting in mid August (that's fall season for Disney).

 

[su_A_ve]

Well with all those rooms booked at rack rates in anticipation for fall dining.. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 'less exciting.. '

I don't think so. The number that are doing the bookings with speculations are DIS members (and a couple of other boards) but we are an insignificant number to affect anything like that...

If Disney is struggling now to fill summer, they'll have an even harder time in the Fall. Hence, much better offers...

 

[lostmyslipper]

I just booked our 2nd family vacation to WDW. We were going to stay off site. The condo was through a family member and it was cheap and beautiful. But we would have to rent a car to get food and I would have gotten stuck cooking and cleaning up (I do that enough, I want a vacation!!) and not to mention the Disney tickets alone would have been $1000. So I called and booked through AAA because the deal with the Disney Visa was the best deal. I was trying to wait for the free dining for all 4 of us (2 adults and 2 kids) but I noticed it was off a non-discounted room and base tickets. It turned out to be less with the Visa deal (kids play and eat for free). I'm happy I booked. This waiting was driving me nuts .

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I don't think so. The number that are doing the bookings with speculations are DIS members (and a couple of other boards) but we are an insignificant number to affect anything like that...

If Disney is struggling now to fill summer, they'll have an even harder time in the Fall. Hence, much better offers...

This is a super unlikely scenario.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is about to bring thousands of people to Orlando who have never been before. Many of them are going to come to Walt Disney World this fall, as long as they are already in town.

 

[mickeystoontown]

5/27 ?? Nothing new should come out for those days. Maybe another summer offer, but not better that what already came out.

We are talking about Fall, starting in mid August (that's fall season for Disney).

I understand that this thread started out as a free dining thread but somewhere in the mix talk was started about Summer promotions. If I am remembering correctly, rumor is there may just be another Summer promotion and that it may just be better than the one currently out there. Heck I don't know.....this thread has my head spinning sometimes.

 

[cinderella73]

This is a super unlikely scenario.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is about to bring thousands of people to Orlando who have never been before. Many of them are going to come to Walt Disney World this fall, as long as they are already in town.

That has me curious. I am not sure either way but one thing I am sure of is it will either affect WDW by increasing OR decreasing . I am sure it will have some affect but not sure myself that I agree it will increase it. It could go either way though.

When you consider the majority people booking the HP packages are flying in and without a car and might be prone to stay onsite rather than rent a taxi. That and the fact that some people that normally do WDW are either doing Universal instead this trip or only doing 1 or 2 days at WDW .I am of the opinion so far it may decrease attendance overall. It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[doccoc2002]

This is a super unlikely scenario.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is about to bring thousands of people to Orlando who have never been before. Many of them are going to come to Walt Disney World this fall, as long as they are already in town.

I don't think that a lot of people will do days at Disney too. With the economy the way it is...If they do add a few days at Disney it will be most likely 1 and they will stay off site to save money. There are a lot of things that are available at US for HP that you can't get anywhere else...So, I suspect they will spend more money at US/HP. People don't like to get up and switch hotels during a trip IMHO unless they are going to the beach or something for a few days. If they are already in Orlando visiting US then the would be staying at hotel nearby and would just drive to WDW rather than packing up and moving to an onsite hotel. Disney is going to have to make it worth while and what they are offering right now...Is not cutting it. They will have to do more for the late Aug/Sept time.

 

[gabriellyn]

The opposite - we are seeing more marketing from Disney. Typically, on summer there are no promos and no marketing cause it's not needed. In fact, they'll start offering fall promos cause their summers are already booked.

We are seeing more summer promos cause they are not fully booked yet. Once that happens, they'll switch to fall.

Hmmm... I guess I am just spoiled, like CanadianGuy and other PP's have said! I just remember that last year we went on the 4/3 deal - really really nice. We thoroughly enjoyed that. But we did book it early in the year... And Disney did have those nice GC deals earlier this year as well as the other promo (can't remember what) but we weren't looking to go during those time frames. Then, the FD pin offer arrived and I convinced DH to jump on it, as we are saving so much w/that deal as opposed to any %off or even any GC deal out there. Still, with HP opening in May, I would have thought to see even more - especially right now. It's the perfect time to book summer travel. Maybe Disney is riding on HP's coattails, or should I say robes??? I don't know that very many families could do a whole week at US/IoA - so maybe they will throw some Disney in with their HP vacation... Of course, I have never been, so maybe you can spend a whole week there? Regardless, I am just surprised because the economy still hasn't rebounded, plus with the heavy HP competition, I expected more discounts. I also thought that the announcement that discounts would be waning was a ruse, but apparently Disney might have really meant it!

Anyway, so glad I booked the FD deal - now, if only the hurricanes will stay away! I just hope that FD returns for all of those that want it.

 

[beachgrl001]

HI I dont know if this was just a ploy for them to get my email but I saw this on themouseforless.com


Never Miss Out on Disney Free Dining Again!
The Magic For Less Travel has a great way to alert you. Just add your email address to the form below and submit. You will receive an email alert the same morning Disney releases any Free Dining Plan Package.

It gives me a glimmer of hope

 

[gabriellyn]

I don't think that a lot of people will do days at Disney too. With the economy the way it is...If they do add a few days at Disney it will be most likely 1 and they will stay off site to save money. There are a lot of things that are available at US for HP that you can't get anywhere else...So, I suspect they will spend more money at US/HP. People don't like to get up and switch hotels during a trip IMHO unless they are going to the beach or something for a few days. If they are already in Orlando visiting US then the would be staying at hotel nearby and would just drive to WDW rather than packing up and moving to an onsite hotel. Disney is going to have to make it worth while and what they are offering right now...Is not cutting it. They will have to do more for the late Aug/Sept time.

This was my thinking as well, hence my surprise that more isn't being offered at this time. I suppose Disney is in "wait and see mode."

I agree w/CanadianGuy though - all the bookings in anticipation of FD are not doing anyone any good. Unless of course those people are going regardless.

 

[metsno1]

I agree w/CanadianGuy though - all the bookings in anticipation of FD are not doing anyone any good. Unless of course those people are going regardless.

I agree with this completely. So I say we do an experiment that will test the power of the Dis, and also perhaps facilitate an earlier offering of FD:

Everybody who has made a reservation in hopes of FD being offered, but who will likely cancel it if FD is not offered, please call Disney at precisely 8 o'clock ET tomorrow morning and cancel! They'll wake Bob Iger on the Red Phone, and he'll immediately issue a decree declaring Free Dining for all, starting tomorrow, and ending...well......NEVER!!!

 

[Marnm02]

I feel like Clark Griswald finding out he isn't getting a Christmas bonus.

"If you don't want to offer free dining, FINE! But when people start to expect it as part of their vacation..."

I wish I had a redneck cousin to go kidnap the head Disney guy.

 

[Sugar Jones]

I feel like Clark Griswald finding out he isn't getting a Christmas bonus.

"If you don't want to offer free dining, FINE! But when people start to expect it as part of their vacation..."

I wish I had a redneck cousin to go kidnap the head Disney guy.

BEST POST EVER!!!