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

[Bridge203618]

I I do think now they will make public the QSDP but only until 8/14 since the room rate % off right now is not as appealing to summer visitors with kids being out of school.

I hope you are right and I hope it is effective as soon as it comes out because this is what I REALLY want for my trip at th end of May!!

 

[AJA]

Thanks for the update! Hoping for FD in Sept w/o having to purchase length of stay tickets!

-of course a 40% off room pin would also work, Disney....if you're listening

 

[bgohre]

Just came across this tread. Can someone tell me what "free dining" is?

I'm kind of torn on this one. In a way I hope they do and in a way I hope they don't. I'm a travel agent and we tend to get pretty good deals from Disney and financially it will be about the same for us if they came out with free dining. So for me, it really makes no difference. I know that since they have started offering FD it's been pretty dang hard to get good ADR's.

I just hope they release some info soon so we can all sleep.

 

[doccoc2002]

If the offer comes out later, will it still include the last 2 weeks of Aug? What's the speculation?

Maggie

I think it will...I don't see Disney leaving out 2 weeks of no promos. But again it is just my thoughts on it

 

[KTJAY]

If the offer comes out later, will it still include the last 2 weeks of Aug? What's the speculation?

Maggie

I was wondering this too-If they come out with a new "summer" offer will they make it til the end of Aug?

 

[doccoc2002]

I was wondering this too-If they come out with a new "summer" offer will they make it til the end of Aug?

I doubt a "summer" offer will include those dates...but you never know

 

[metsno1]

If the offer comes out later, will it still include the last 2 weeks of Aug? What's the speculation?

Maggie

That's a great question, and I'm guessing there are a lot of other people in the same boat as we are. I'm just so darn confused!

I have the free QSDP PIN good through August 14. We can be very flexible on our travel dates, and we're planning on going for two weeks sometime in August. Doesn't matter which two weeks. We want to stay at CSR, which has a couple gaps in availability. And we will definitely get the regular DDP, either paying for the upgrade or **hopefully** getting it for free.

So over the last ten days or so, I've almost pulled the trigger a few times on different dates/packages, but I just can't seem to figure out what the best thing to do is:

Do I book for the first two weeks of August using the free QSDP and pay to upgrade to the DDP? That way, I pay the higher rack rate for the room when compared to the end of August.

Do I just sit back and wait to find out what the Fall promo is and book after I have all the info?

Do I book the last two weeks in August now and just **hope** that the promo is significant enough to make that the right decision?

Is Disney gonna make me wait until the beginning of May on this (so that the booking window for my free QSDP closes)?

Do I dare go ahead and purchase our plane tix? They've already gone up by about $150 over the last ten days!!!

I read somewhere (can't remember which of the 38,264 threads I've been following obsessively) that some with the QSDP have called in and been upgraded to the full DDP. Can anybody confirm that this has happened to them?

At this point, I guess I feel like I should just wait. I have the money set aside. And all I'm really worried about is not being able to get our preferred resort, and airfare going up........but one thing is for sure, I'm spending way too much time on this-and Harry Potter is looking better and better.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

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.

 

[leahjade]

I realize Disney is waiting to see how many rooms are full before adding a new promo (and hopefully tons of people didn't already book anticipating a good deal or they won't offer a new one!) but people need to get their vacations planned! We have 6 people's schedules to work around, school and work deadlines, plane tickets, etc. We can't plan a last minute trip and will soon have to make a decision. My family can give it another week or two then we will have to go elsewhere. If we wait too long, then beach condos are filled and we have no where else to go!

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

I read somewhere (can't remember which of the 38,264 threads I've been following obsessively) that some with the QSDP have called in and been upgraded to the full DDP. Can anybody confirm that this has happened to them?

At this point, I guess I feel like I should just wait. I have the money set aside. And all I'm really worried about is not being able to get our preferred resort, and airfare going up........but one thing is for sure, I'm spending way too much time on this-and Harry Potter is looking better and better.

YES! It's true.. We went last December and stayed at POP. When I called I asked if I had any discounts to my name. I did! A free upgrade from QSDP to DDP!! I would call and ask!!! Good LUCK!!

Does anyone know if last Thanksgiving week was blackout for free dining?

Thanks,
Carrie

 

[JerseyJanice]

If the offer comes out later, will it still include the last 2 weeks of Aug? What's the speculation?

Maggie

I think that they have to offer something decent for late August. Between the economy, rising airfare, predictions for an active hurricane season and a traditionally slow time of year because of school starting, WDW has to offer some kind of enticement to fill rooms during that time frame.

Free Dining started in 2005, correct? For that time of year, it's been an effective way to attract business. Perhaps it didn't do as well in drawing guests for other times, but I see no reason why they should suddenly discontinue the offer after 5 years.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I want to agree with whoever said that Travel Agents don't know anymore than we do on here. I am a TA and guess where I find out about the deals at........HERE or Mousesavers! In fact, when and if Disney does send us informatino about any specials, it is always a day or two AFTER they come out. We don't get information ahead of time and I work for a HUGE company!

 

[doccoc2002]

I think that they have to offer something decent for late August. Between the economy, rising airfare, predictions for an active hurricane season and a traditionally slow time of year because of school starting, WDW has to offer some kind of enticement to fill rooms during that time frame.

Free Dining started in 2005, correct? For that time of year, it's been an effective way to attract business. Perhaps it didn't do as well in drawing guests for other times, but I see no reason why they should suddenly discontinue the offer after 5 years.

I totally agree!
If they were to discontinue FD they would do it by weaning it out slowly not offering it every season. I think there is a good chance that they might tier it...QS for values and Reg DP for mods and deluxe.

Not to stir up more but did anyone see that in the UK for next year they were offering FD(regular) with not 1 but 2 snacks?? I don't know if it is a typo(it was on Virgin(Holiday offers)) or if this is how they are changing the DDP in the future...remember UK got the QS option before it was available in the US! I bet the price is going to raise but I saw that some people wanted 2 snacks like the QS/DxDDP have. I personally think that is way too much food...we always have snack credits left over!

 

[mom2shayleeandlogan]

I totally agree!
If they were to discontinue FD they would do it by weaning it out slowly not offering it every season. I think there is a good chance that they might tier it...QS for values and Reg DP for mods and deluxe.

Not to stir up more but did anyone see that in the UK for next year they are offering FD(regular) with not 1 but 2 snacks?? I don't know if it is a typo or if this is how they are changing the DDP in the future...remember UK got the QS option before it was available in the US! I bet the price is going to raise but I saw that some people wanted 2 snacks like the QS/DxDDP have. I personally think that is way too much food...we always have snack credits left over!

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

 

[DISNEY1975]

I totally agree!
If they were to discontinue FD they would do it by weaning it out slowly not offering it every season. I think there is a good chance that they might tier it...QS for values and Reg DP for mods and deluxe.

Not to stir up more but did anyone see that in the UK for next year they are offering FD(regular) with not 1 but 2 snacks?? I don't know if it is a typo or if this is how they are changing the DDP in the future...remember UK got the QS option before it was available in the US! I bet the price is going to raise but I saw that some people wanted 2 snacks like the QS/DxDDP have. I personally think that is way too much food...we always have snack credits left over!

We were on the deluxe plan a couple of years ago. We used 2 credits for shows/sig. dining, most days eating breakfast and dinner. I loved the 2 snack credits so in the middle of the day we could get a water bottle and an ice cream. Lots of people go through multiple water bottles per day. I dont think 2 snack credits is too much!

 

[ellie'smom]

A second snack sounds like a added bonus, but the free resort mug would probably make more financial sense or "cents" to Disney

 

[mom2rtk]

It's about putting bodies in hotel rooms. Right now.. Disney is still concerned about the summer travel window and while the fall is of concern as well.. they're still focused on that Q3 summer travel window... and getting the bookings up there.

It is in DISNEY'S best interest to delay release of a fall promo to focus on the earlier dates.

It really is that simple.

I absolutely agree! The fact that they have introduced more offers, coupled with the fact that they lifted the discount blackout for Easter, tells me they are WAY more concerned with packing the rooms and parks NOW and during the summer, than they are about packing the fall rooms. There's a lot of time for that still. The deals will come. Before long they will be JUST as concerned about fall!

 

[dizneeat]

I totally agree!
If they were to discontinue FD they would do it by weaning it out slowly not offering it every season. I think there is a good chance that they might tier it...QS for values and Reg DP for mods and deluxe.

Not to stir up more but did anyone see that in the UK for next year they are offering FD(regular) with not 1 but 2 snacks?? I don't know if it is a typo or if this is how they are changing the DDP in the future...remember UK got the QS option before it was available in the US! I bet the price is going to raise but I saw that some people wanted 2 snacks like the QS/DxDDP have. I personally think that is way too much food...we always have snack credits left over!

I just checked the website that already offers free DDP for 2011 and it is the same basic DDP (1 TS, 1 CS and 1 snack)

I copied this from the site!

Disney Dining Plan
The Disney Dining Plan includes the following, per person per day at participating locations:

•1 Table Service Meal per person per day includes one main course, one dessert (except at breakfast) and one single-serving, non-alcoholic beverage OR one full buffet and one single-serving non-alcoholic beverage
•1 Quick Service Meal per person per day includes one main course, one dessert (except at breakfast) and one single-serving non-alcoholic beverage OR one complete combo meal and one single-serving non-alcoholic beverage
•1 Snack per person per day includes a choice of ONE of the following: frozen ice cream novelty, box of popcorn, piece of fruit OR 20oz bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite or Dasani Water, at snack cart or merchandise shop locations and select Quick Service. Prices from:
Adult: £28.50 per day
Children (3-9 yrs): £8 per day

 

[luvdisney00]

I totally agree!
If they were to discontinue FD they would do it by weaning it out slowly not offering it every season. I think there is a good chance that they might tier it...QS for values and Reg DP for mods and deluxe.

Not to stir up more but did anyone see that in the UK for next year they are offering FD(regular) with not 1 but 2 snacks?? I don't know if it is a typo or if this is how they are changing the DDP in the future...remember UK got the QS option before it was available in the US! I bet the price is going to raise but I saw that some people wanted 2 snacks like the QS/DxDDP have. I personally think that is way too much food...we always have snack credits left over!

I like your thinking and I think it makes a lot of sense. I hope you are right because it does seem that it would hurt Disney a lot to just drop FD altogether. I also think that if what some are saying about Disney trying to "drive " people who are undecided into booking in Summer, they would have more luck doing that by announcing that they are NOT doing FD (if that's the case, which I hope isn't!!)

As far as the 2 snacks we think it's too much food too. We can't even fit in 1 snack most days and end up bringing home cookies and candies with our leftover credits. I for one wish they would add the mugs into the reg. DP like they do with QSDP and DxDP.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Also, I have a bounceback booked at Pop for regular Free Dining. It's hard to imagine that they'd offer it to only UK guests and bounceback guests.