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

[ShhhQ]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant...I'm not sure if more waiting or an actual announcement will be the thing to send me into labor...

I can just picture you in labor while on the phone to get FD.... screaming at the CM "I WANT FREE DINING" because a labor pain hit when you spoke.

 

[Marnm02]

This might be wishful thinking, but does anyone else have a feeling they might offer a choice of promos? Like either some form of free dining, or stay x nights get x nights--and you get to pick which one. That would explain the conflicting information being leaked. It would also make sense on Disney's part. The promotions would be more flexible to accomadate more party sizes and preferences. It would be a good way for Disney to test their promos and see which is more popular.

I really think they are going to do something big. The economy is just starting to swing up so this is a great opportunity for them to try to lure people who might not have been able to take a vacation for a few years. Plus they have to compete with the HP park.

I was a CM from late summer of 2006 to early winter of 2007. Even with free dining there was a glaring drop in crowds from late August to early October. It makes no sense that they would not offer free dining during that key time...there would seriously be nobody in the parks if that happened. I know it costs Disney $ to offer free dining. When I worked there they cut off all CM dining discounts during free dining period. It made lots of CMs not too happy, but the higher-ups were adamant that FD is ESSENTIAL to get people in the park.

I'm remaining optimistic that whatever happens Monday, we won't be disappointed.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

It makes no sense that they would not offer free dining during that key time...there would seriously be nobody in the parks if that happened. .

I am trying to hold onto this hope just in case no deal is offered and I have to keep the price that I have. Which by the way isn't actually rack rate. I got a whopping $132 off for our 9 nights stay at PoFQ and saved a little on the 2 nights at WL. So if no deal is offered at least we should have dead parks.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

free gift card and free dining

This got me thinking, can someone put the amount of the gift card towards the cost of the Disney dining plan?


I'm trying to be creative.

 

[mking624]

I can just picture you in labor while on the phone to get FD.... screaming at the CM "I WANT FREE DINING" because a labor pain hit when you spoke.

Maybe THAT'S what it takes to get FD!! I'm calling!

 

[zamboniman333]

Have you looked in to the AP promo? It doesn't work for us for the time frame (we're using the AAA room rate special for now). But last night after reading about AP holder discounts, I did some research. For those with AP passes, staying through 6/3, there are some really excellent promotions out there. The best part about what I read is that only one person in the room needs an AP pass to qualify for the room rate discount. That discount was up to 45% at Deluxes, 40% at Mods, etc. So nothing to sneeze at. You basically pay an increased rate on one ticket, but end up with a huge savings on your room, depending on what room level you're staying in. If a promotion like that came along for us, during our time of stay, I figured it would mean a room only savings of $1400 alone. I would have to factor the $150 price difference on the AP ticket, but still - even then... HUGE savings. Then we would also have more flexibility to reexamine if DxDDP would still be beneficial to us (since we're staying club level) or maybe we would want to buy the special 20% dining discount card available to AP holders. So - there are options to save. You just have to evaluate every angle.

My husband mentioned that there should be College courses in Disney Planning.

ETA: keep in mind you have time to make those changes in your ressie after you book. Just do it before your final payment is due to make sure nothing gets messed up, but that gives you time to see what specials will come around for your time frame. We've decided to wait and watch - the AP pass will be just one of our options to keep an eye on

What were the dates these AP rates were offered? I havn't seen any fall AP rates out yet. But maybe I missed something. Thanks in advance for the info!

 

[clanmcculloch]

This got me thinking, can someone put the amount of the gift card towards the cost of the Disney dining plan?


I'm trying to be creative.

Unfortunately no. You don't get your GC until you check in but you have to pay for your package 45 days before your trip.

 

[Looking4themouse]

OK so just a little FYI......They have apparently already released dates in 2011 for free dining overseas.....Just saw it posted here.... I think it's crazy that we in the states don't know whether or not free dining will be offered, but you can book your 2011 vacation if you live overseas..... At least it gives me hope that maybe just maybe they plan on offering it again. Oh and it proves that little birdies prediction of an announcement of free dining today was right.... too bad it was for the wrong country....

 

[honeybee8200]

If Disney does a different kind of free dining or no free dining when we go, I'll have to stay offsite to comp the expense or something. I've been planning this trip for 3 years and it would suck majorly if I have to redo so much of it. But I'll do what I must.

Let us know if the labor pains get you any info!

 

[beautifultomorrow]

OK so just a little FYI......They have apparently already released dates in 2011 for free dining overseas.....Just saw it posted here.... I think it's crazy that we in the states don't know whether or not free dining will be offered, but you can book your 2011 vacation if you live overseas..... At least it gives me hope that maybe just maybe they plan on offering it again. Oh and it proves that little birdies prediction of an announcement of free dining today was right.... too bad it was for the wrong country....

Hmm that is weird. I am also hopeful that free dining will come soon because not more than a month or two ago there was a TRIPLE STACK free dining deal for 2010 available to UK residents. Free dining (regular plan, not quick service), something like 40% off Saratoga Springs or Old Key West, AND free ticket upgrade!! That's a LOT of discounts only to turn around and offer nothing to the U.S. I am confident we will see something.

 

[Marnm02]

OK so just a little FYI......They have apparently already released dates in 2011 for free dining overseas.....Just saw it posted here.... I think it's crazy that we in the states don't know whether or not free dining will be offered, but you can book your 2011 vacation if you live overseas..... At least it gives me hope that maybe just maybe they plan on offering it again. Oh and it proves that little birdies prediction of an announcement of free dining today was right.... too bad it was for the wrong country....

I think that's a really good sign. European guests are much less likely to bring cars and be willing/able to go offsite for meals. Disney knows that if they wanted to, they could have these guests as a "captive audience" at the parks, paying a lot to eat there because that is the only option. Instead Disney is choosing to offer them a lot of free dining options. So, offering FD couldn't be hurting Disney too bad financially.

 

[Missytara]

This got me thinking, can someone put the amount of the gift card towards the cost of the Disney dining plan?


I'm trying to be creative.

You get the gift card at check-in; your dining plan has to be paid at least 72 hours in advance.

 

[disneyfan55]

Have you looked in to the AP promo? It doesn't work for us for the time frame (we're using the AAA room rate special for now). But last night after reading about AP holder discounts, I did some research. For those with AP passes, staying through 6/3, there are some really excellent promotions out there. The best part about what I read is that only one person in the room needs an AP pass to qualify for the room rate discount. That discount was up to 45% at Deluxes, 40% at Mods, etc. So nothing to sneeze at. You basically pay an increased rate on one ticket, but end up with a huge savings on your room, depending on what room level you're staying in. If a promotion like that came along for us, during our time of stay, I figured it would mean a room only savings of $1400 alone. I would have to factor the $150 price difference on the AP ticket, but still - even then... HUGE savings. Then we would also have more flexibility to reexamine if DxDDP would still be beneficial to us (since we're staying club level) or maybe we would want to buy the special 20% dining discount card available to AP holders. So - there are options to save. You just have to evaluate every angle.

My husband mentioned that there should be College courses in Disney Planning.

ETA: keep in mind you have time to make those changes in your ressie after you book. Just do it before your final payment is due to make sure nothing gets messed up, but that gives you time to see what specials will come around for your time frame. We've decided to wait and watch - the AP pass will be just one of our options to keep an eye on

If you are getting an AP, you might want to look into the TIW card for dining as well as the dining plan. For us, it works out better than the Dining Plan.

 

[wdhinn89]

I hate to say it but I do not think that Free Dining is going to happen this year.

I do think there will be great discounts for the Fall season but not Free Dining. Too many locals and other visitors hate free dining. Locals are not able to visit for the day and have a nice sit down meal because there are no availabilites. Neither can other tourists who do not know that you need to book your meals 6 months ahead of your visit or you can't get a table. This has a negative affect on Disney and many people complain about it. I also think that Disney does not make alot of money profit wise on Free Dining and they could do better on a different discount.

So I think Yes, great deals for the Fall months but not Free Dining. JMHO

 

[DISNEY1975]

I hate to say it but I do not think that Free Dining is going to happen this year.

I do think there will be great discounts for the Fall season but not Free Dining. Too many locals and other visitors hate free dining. Locals are not able to visit for the day and have a nice sit down meal because there are no availabilites. Neither can other tourists who do not know that you need to book your meals 6 months ahead of your visit or you can't get a table. This has a negative affect on Disney and many people complain about it. I also think that Disney does not make alot of money profit wise on Free Dining and they could do better on a different discount.

So I think Yes, great deals for the Fall months but not Free Dining. JMHO

You forgot to say "APRIL FOOLS"

 

[TDC Nala]

Don't think Disney's current management really cares whether locals are able to walk up to restaurants or not, as long as the restaurants are full of guests from somewhere. Locals and day guests are not WDW's priority. Now if the restaurants are full of people who aren't paying for the food and it's working out that the free diners are not going out into the parks and spending on other stuff, then maybe Disney will rethink what it's doing.

 

[sdmom]

Just do a search for 2010 hurricane season predictions. You'll find several articles talking about predictions for an active season from several meteorologists. As far as El Niño goes, it all depends on what it wants to do. Here's what one article said:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/weathe...-predictions-scatter-all-over-the-map/1060165

They're just predictions, not promises. 2009 was predicted to be an active season as well...and it wasn't.

Very interesting articles. Thank you all for the information - I didn't find out about the fall promotion, but I did learn a lot about hurricane prediction.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Don't think Disney's current management really cares whether locals are able to walk up to restaurants or not, as long as the restaurants are full of guests from somewhere. Locals and day guests are not WDW's priority.

I would think that Disney would prefer a paying guest, who is just there for the day or weekend, rather than fill their restaurants with people on the "free dining" plan.

Thats just my guess??

 

[Dancegrl624]

Anybody watching Ellen...she is at US and is giving a sneak peak at WWOHP and her opening credits are starting to make me think US wouldn't be so bad...it looked like fun. I think the kids will like it...maybe...maybe not...we will see.

Ellen isn't on until 4pm here, so I'll have to check it out. Personally, I like US/IOA but I haven't been since 2006. My DH, DSis and me went to IOA for one day while my parents stayed with our DD at the hotel (offsite-Marriott timeshare). We had SO much fun! However, there isn't a lot for young kids to do there. The Dr. Suess land only has a handfull of rides so it's not enough to keep the kids occupied for the whole day. We payed extra for the "fastpass" ticket and it was SO worth it. It was the end of June/early July and the crowds were crazy. I haven't been to US since about 1997 and a lot has changed there. We probably won't go to US/IOA until our DD is much older.

 

[TDC Nala]

Lately, they've preferred free diners, who can be persuaded to book at a Disney resort for at least three nights, buy Disney tickets, eat at Disney, and hopefully spend a bundle on crap in the parks to empty parks in September with a few locals dropping in to eat.

Last year it appears they also used free dining to try and up attendance for the entire last quarter of the fiscal year. Not sure how successful they were, but if they're not hitting their targets for occupancy the way they expected to with free dining, they're going to look for something else to use. Might also be true if they're putting out lots of discounts for the free diners who aren't recouping that by spending in the parks. Don't know what the figures on that are, but I have seen that Disney's having trouble getting people to buy stuff the way they used to.