Free Dining Watch 2009 - Dates Released!! Update post 1

[jmlipari]

The FD Plan that was offered was the same as the Basic Dining Plan.
1-Snack, 1-CS Meal (includes Drink, entree' and Dessert)and 1-TS Meal per Night of stay.
On the Basic Dining Plan-TS Meal include Drink (non-alcoholic drink, Entree' and Dessert (tip not included).
In 2007 the Basic Dining Plan included the appetizer, dessert and tip but now
it only includes the Dessert. We just have to wait and see if Disney will offer FD to Everyone this year.
Keep checking back for all of the rumors come end of March. Last Year Rumors started around 1st of March
with confermation around the 1st of April. Last year FD was from Last DAy of Aug. to end of Sept. During Peak
Hurricane Season. We've Done FD for 2 years and will be there this coming year also.

Just wondering if they will ever allow substituting an appetizer for a dessert? I'm not that much of a dessert eater and would much prefer an appetizer. Has anyone ever tried this?

 

[disneymom0104]

Just wondering if they will ever allow substituting an appetizer for a dessert? I'm not that much of a dessert eater and would much prefer an appetizer. Has anyone ever tried this?

No, you cannot substitute. They are very strict about this.

 

[AKLforever]

Just wondering if they will ever allow substituting an appetizer for a dessert? I'm not that much of a dessert eater and would much prefer an appetizer. Has anyone ever tried this?

Hehe, im the same way. I went in 07 and that one included the appetizer per person, which was a lot of food for one person to eat, lol.

 

[TULIPS1726]

Okay I have a question...We are planning a Disney trip for Sept 2010...my little cousin is playing at the World of Sports baseball tournement...if we book our trip late this year or early next year and then the FD is offered in April, will they adjust my reservations to reflect the FD? We wanted to book early to make sure we will be there...before it gets booked up from the FD when it opens up.

I know it is far away...but we would rather be safe than sorry...we were even thinking of booking this a year in advance.



Thanks!!!

 

[Tomh]

They won't automatically adjust your reservation for you. If / when the free dining is announced, you can call and add it to your reservation as long as a room is available in your hotel for the dining plan. If there are no rooms available in your hotel, then you may have to switch to a different resort in order to take advantage of the free dining.

 

[Jrabbit910]

subbing and wishing for free dining.... Disney is offering some great deals this year (4&3, giftcards...ect...) I am hoping that since Sept is thier down month they offer something really good... GOOD LUCK TO ALL WAITING AND WANTING! Lets hope we can celebrate w/ FREE DINING !!!

 

[jhryb]

subbing and wishing for free dining.... Disney is offering some great deals this year (4&3, giftcards...ect...) I am hoping that since Sept is thier down month they offer something really good... GOOD LUCK TO ALL WAITING AND WANTING! Lets hope we can celebrate w/ FREE DINING !!!

I am sure that you will get something really great in September. As long as you are flexible in terms of where you are willing to stay, I wouldn't be surprised if this year has better deals than previous years.

 

[mamhebert]

Any word on free dining for August?

 

[jparc]

We are planning to be in WDW from 8/18-8/28. If they offer free dining for just the second portion of our trip I would like to take advantage of it and maybe even switch resorts. Its my understanding ( correct me if I'm wrong) that you have to purchase a package to get free dining. If I buy a 10 day hopper on the first part of the vacation and then just a one day pass at the second hotel or the second portion of the trip will that satisfy that requirement? Also, if I don't switch hotels would I need to book as two seperate packages at all?
( Hoping that they may offer it earlier than usually this year and it won't be a problem but I want to have my info. straight just in case).

 

[Tomh]

From what I've read, you will indeed have to book as two separate stays, with the second stay starting on the first day of the free dining, and with at least a one day ticket as part of that second stay.

 

[Tammy296]

Ok We're thinking about putting off our trip in March and waiting for September when free dining might be offered.

If we do this, how is the best way to book? Do we book ahead for our resort stay with the dining plan or without (and then add it later when free dining is offered)?

What did you folks do who went before on the free dining plan?

Thanks,
Tammy

 

[NJRA]

I have a Disney Visa, and I would like to take anvantage of the free dining promo they usually have in aug.- sept. My question is how do they inform card members about this. I have had my card since 2004 and never remember getting any info on this promo

 

[mjbradeis]

I have a card and never received anything from them about free dining, where do they announce it?

Also do you have to use the card to book the package?

Anyone know if you have to book the package with your Disney Visa to get the early notification? I have had Disney Visa during last Sept and never rcvd any notification

 

[Tricia1972]

Ok We're thinking about putting off our trip in March and waiting for September when free dining might be offered.

If we do this, how is the best way to book? Do we book ahead for our resort stay with the dining plan or without (and then add it later when free dining is offered)?

What did you folks do who went before on the free dining plan?

Thanks,
Tammy

You can book room only now and turn it into a package when/if the free dining is announced.

 

[Tricia1972]

Anyone know if you have to book the package with your Disney Visa to get the early notification? I have had Disney Visa during last Sept and never rcvd any notification

Generally notifications are sent via email. Sign up for emails from Chase and you should get an email notification.

 

[AKLforever]

Hmmm, your questions make me wonder. If you book a package deal now, rooms/tickets and such, will they just add the free dining if disney does it this year later on?

 

[Lehuaann]

Ok We're thinking about putting off our trip in March and waiting for September when free dining might be offered.

If we do this, how is the best way to book? Do we book ahead for our resort stay with the dining plan or without (and then add it later when free dining is offered)?

What did you folks do who went before on the free dining plan?

Thanks,
Tammy

I waited until it was announced last year (Mar/April?) and had no problems.

You could book a package ahead of time by "guessing" the dates FD promo begins/ends in Aug/Sep. If your dates happen to fall during FD promo I am pretty sure they will just apply the code however, I'm not sure you will be guaranteed the exact same resort you originally booked.

 

[jhryb]

Ok We're thinking about putting off our trip in March and waiting for September when free dining might be offered.

If we do this, how is the best way to book? Do we book ahead for our resort stay with the dining plan or without (and then add it later when free dining is offered)?

What did you folks do who went before on the free dining plan?

Thanks,
Tammy

I believe that if you book a room only reservation and you decide to add the FD plan later (if they offer it) then they can not add it directly to your original reservation. They must cancel and refund your previous deposit and then re-issue a new reservation. If you book a package now instead (with at least one day park passes) then they can add the FD directly to your existing reservation. You do not need to include dining in your package at this time.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

I believe that if you book a room only reservation and you decide to add the FD plan later (if they offer it) then they can not add it directly to your original reservation. They must cancel and refund your previous deposit and then re-issue a new reservation. If you book a package now instead (with at least one day park passes) then they can add the FD directly to your existing reservation. You do not need to include dining in your package at this time.

I agree that this is the case. This is the reason we booked 7 nights with a 1 day ticket for all of us. This is a quote from our travel agent in an email they sent to us.

"This reservation would not need to be canceled if free dining became available and a new deposit would not need to be paid. Since you were requesting the one day pass, I quoted this as a package. No new deposit would need to be paid. If we book it now as a room only, we would not be able to add the tickets, one night’s stay would need to be paid (which is more than the $200) and if the free dining came available we would have to rebook and get new deposits on a package."

My intention is to upgrade the one day passes to AP's when we arrive.

 

[AKLforever]

Cool, good to know, thank you