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

[su_A_ve]

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....

Is this for just the UK or other countries too? What's the web site? I have relatives from overseas that might be looking at a trip - typically I would plan it for them based on US offers, but if there's something better, this would help.

 

[pigletto]

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??

It boils down to what makes them more money. A day guest paying for a meal? Or someone who comes for a week spends money all over the place for that entire week. The longer they get you to stay the more you will spend typically.

 

[su_A_ve]

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??

Locals don't dine at the parks, except for specials like the wine festival... They go to the parks cause they have APs, but know better where to dine.

Unless it's a special event for kids - then they would ADR anyway...

 

[TDC Nala]

I have quite a few local friends (and very few of them have kids), and they eat in the parks on occasion. Even now, when it's generally thought they can't get into the restaurants. Of course they don't bother with Le Cellier or CRT.

 

[JCornell]

It boils down to what makes them more money. A day guest paying for a meal? Or someone who comes for a week spends money all over the place for that entire week. The longer they get you to stay the more you will spend typically.

Right. Locals dine there but they aren't filling the restaurants. If they were, they'd be using other discounts to entice people into the resorts. On the other hand, someone comes for the week and as you mention, they're staying in a hotel (at rack rate), buying souvenirs, and probably even spending money in some of the restaurants (drinks, apps) occasionally. And a fair number of us use free dining to justify staying in a nicer resort and/or splurging on some extras.

 

[Looking4themouse]

Is this for just the UK or other countries too? What's the web site? I have relatives from overseas that might be looking at a trip - typically I would plan it for them based on US offers, but if there's something better, this would help.

I believe it's through Virgin here's the link to the page where it is being discussed...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2433688&highlight=free+dining

Hope this helps

 

[CanadianGuy]

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.

Yeah except both the Euro and the British pound have been hammered pretty good recently in relation to the US dollar..

After YEARS at over $2 US to the British pound.. in late 08 it started sliding.. and now it's around $1.50 to the BP... and add a slide in value of the EURO and Disney is hurting big time for those very VERY profitable EU guests.

We're talking guests that have 5 weeks of vacation per year to burn of. That's the MINIMUM.

So.. they stay at Disney for 2 and 3 weeks.. and historically they spend GOBS of money while there. Disney wants to get that gravy train going again.

And the depths of the offer.. should tell you just how far off their UK guest count actually is.

I'm gonna say this again..

You can't compare UK offers to US offers. There is NO correlation.

 

[kittycat9]

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!

Nope, no fall rates yet. I was just looking at what was there right now to give the PP an idea of what options currently exist and to keep that idea in the back of her mind for planning purposes (to keep checking AP rates and promos for fall options when they come out). I had never checked the AP info until last night, and was really surprised. You can buy the AP pass whenever - and I read you only need to have one person in the room on the pass (I'm going to assume it's the primary, that's what we'll plan at least and verify before going this route if we do it).

There are a couple different AP levels, we just looked at the standard, which includes park hoppers, but not Quest or the Water Parks. It also includes a few bucks off some special events, subject to dates (like MNSSHP & MVMCP), as well as tours, divequest, etc. Dh is doing Divequest - so again, more savings for us. There are also some more options on dining savings. Right now we're on DxDDP, but we're CL. There is a chance, though I have to run the numbers, we could potentially save by buying the MIW vs. DxDDP, but we have plans for several shows and 2cr events. It would all hinge on what is offered for AP holders during our time of stay - and I shouldn't hope for what they are currently offering, I really have no idea of what is historically available to AP holders during the time we're going. But again, that is something we can keep in our back pocket to review as things progress this year. As it stands, we are booked, we do have a nice little savings on the room with AAA - so I'm happy. I could get a bit more pixie dust with something special, we'll see.

AP passes would go to waste for us, as we won't be back within the year, but for this trip, it could mean big savings

BTW - I found the info here on the DIS main info site: http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-ap.htm#top

 

[dizneeat]

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....

That offer has been around for at least 2 weeks yet! I checked into it myself 10 days ago!

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.

Yes, if you book with Disney.co.uk you could get up to 48% off of a villa resort (OKW and SSR), and get free DDP (regular) and UK residents even got a 14 day ticket for the price of a 7 day.
The discount on the resort and free DDP was open for most of Europe, the additional ticket offer only good for UK residents.

Is this for just the UK or other countries too? What's the web site? I have relatives from overseas that might be looking at a trip - typically I would plan it for them based on US offers, but if there's something better, this would help.

This current offer is open to UK residents only and it is NOT offered through Disney directly, but I guess Disney co uk will follow and most of Europe can book with them with no problems. Have done that myself several times and we live in Austria.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I've been following this thread since it started and I don't think I've seen an answer to my question. But, it's moved so fast that I could have missed it.

If Disney is still concerned about April, May and June, do you think there may still be more offers coming out for that time period? I know there's a % off special offer out right now but do you guy think there may be additional offers?

 

[doccoc2002]

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 can't get ressies most of the time for TS...so I doubt it is because of locals.

UK deal has been up for a while and they get QS for Mods and regDP for Deluxes...Nothing for Values

 

[doccoc2002]

I've been following this thread since it started and I don't think I've seen an answer to my question. But, it's moved so fast that I could have missed it.

If Disney is still concerned about April, May and June, do you think there may still be more offers coming out for that time period? I know there's a % off special offer out right now but do you guy think there may be additional offers?

No, I think that was the last one it is good upto Aug14...I don't see anymore coming out. The next one will be for Aug/Sept time frame. Disney has done this in the past offered a discount up to the end of the promo...in hopes that it will entice people for a spur of the moment trip.

 

[mickeystoontown]

No, I think that was the last one it is good upto Aug14...I don't see anymore coming out. The next one will be for Aug/Sept time frame. Disney has done this in the past offered a discount up to the end of the promo...in hopes that it will entice people for a spur of the moment trip.

Those were my thoughts too. Just wondered though since Candian Guy's first post said they were still worried about April, May & June. I am just happy that I took advantage of the earlier % off special offer before this latest one came out. Save much more money with it than I would have with the latest one.

 

[BebopBaloo]

I just want to say that I love that this thread is almost 29 pages!

 

[disneyfan55]

No, I think that was the last one it is good upto Aug14...I don't see anymore coming out. The next one will be for Aug/Sept time frame. Disney has done this in the past offered a discount up to the end of the promo...in hopes that it will entice people for a spur of the moment trip.

The AP discounts usually run through the last date always. I don't see why the GP doesn't as well and maybe this is the start of it.

 

[Corjack]

Do they normally announce days ahead that something will be released? Would it be normal for them to say Thursday that a Monday deal was coming out or would you just hear about it Monday??

Jackie

 

[Elise79]

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.

Actually most UK vistiors do hire a car so we are not capitive to Disney. As we visit for longer period we tend to do all the Orlando parks not just WDW. Free Dining helps keep us on site!

We have always had free dining earlier than the US too.

The issues that Disney have with UK visitors is the cost of flights has soared and the dollar has strengthened against the pound making it more expensive once we get there too. We had £1=$1.7/$1.8 for a few years then a year of £1=$2 then it crashed in early 08 we had a low of £1=$1.35 but we are now around £1=$1.50 which still hurts.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Right. Locals dine there but they aren't filling the restaurants. If they were, they'd be using other discounts to entice people into the resorts. On the other hand, someone comes for the week and as you mention, they're staying in a hotel (at rack rate), buying souvenirs, and probably even spending money in some of the restaurants (drinks, apps) occasionally. And a fair number of us use free dining to justify staying in a nicer resort and/or splurging on some extras.

You've just hit the nail on the head in this discussion. I don't think that Free Dining was getting the job done for Disney and in my opinion, if it's offered, it won't be offered in the same way or for the same duration as previous years.

Just my guess at this point but it's starting to look increasingly likely that change is coming to the fall promotions.

---

As for the poster who asked if something else will be coming for earlier dates in June - I wouldn't rule ANYTHING out at this point.. and originally my gut was leaning towards later, but I heard today that earlier is the word..

SO yea.. I think something else is coming for the May/June timeframe.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I really just hope something comes out at this point. Good or bad, it will be nice to know.

 

[TammiDZ]

Do they normally announce days ahead that something will be released? Would it be normal for them to say Thursday that a Monday deal was coming out or would you just hear about it Monday??

Jackie

I actually asked a rep that question this morning. He said no. He said - HYPATHETICALLY- "if" a plan were to come out tomorrow, SOMETIMES it would show up on the Disney Visa page after 9:00 pm the night before. But he said that has only happened a handful of times.

I am already booked at POP and have all my ADRs. I asked the guy "IF" dining comes out, does he know what my chances would be of getting it. He said POP is the first value to fill up and I better jump on it quick. Does anyone know just how quick I would need to jump on it? I am a Visa cardholder, but god-forbid I'm in a meeting at work or something.