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

[NJRA]

Can't they miss a few days of school

I will always take dd out of school for vacations, I just did it last week and will do it again in Sept for WDW. They learn alot on vacation believe it or not and dd goes to a private school so they can't say anything since I pay their salaries

I 100% agree with you. We do the same. Why spend thousands of dollars to stand in lines for hours and fight crowds on vacation. Our kids go to private school also, and are good students so we have no problem pulling them out to actually enjoy our vacation!!!!

 

[lsutiggergirl]

Same with us! We always go in September and take my step daughter out of school. It's more enjoyable for all of us not to fight the crowds! Summer is too frustrating...

 

[DisneyMom5]

We homeschool, and school through the summer, so Sept. is a really good time for us to go. Love the flexibility of homeschooling.

I'm excited about this trip--dh just said to go ahead and add a day, and my mom agreed to come along again (after saying once was enough), and my SIL and kids are going back for a second time. We're counting down!

 

[jm-mom]

Last year Disney Visa offered free dining in December. Any chance they'll do that again this year? If so, when will that be announced?

Thanks.

 

[TLHB70]

We homeschool, and school through the summer, so Sept. is a really good time for us to go. Love the flexibility of homeschooling.

We also homeschool. We, too, love the flexibility of it! We are blessed to be able do Disney vacations (as well as any other vacations) on off peak times!

 

[lisalonglash]

We homeschool, and school through the summer, so Sept. is a really good time for us to go. Love the flexibility of homeschooling.

I'm excited about this trip--dh just said to go ahead and add a day, and my mom agreed to come along again (after saying once was enough), and my SIL and kids are going back for a second time. We're counting down!

I agree! I love that we can take a trip when it works the best for our own schedule - not when it works the best for a school schedule. Very thankful for that!

I think I'm going to be able to add a day too - woohoo for you and I for that!

Oooh, does that mean we'll get another TR with your family, your mom, bionic SIL and family???

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Last year Disney Visa offered free dining in December. Any chance they'll do that again this year? If so, when will that be announced?

Thanks.

Last September Disney Destinations sent out some emails that offered free dining pin codes for select dates in October, November and December, 9/28-10/11, 11/9-11/22 and 12/12-12/20 to be exact. These emails were random, not for the general public, and the codes were non-transferrable. About two weeks after that Disney Visa sent out a free dining code for their card holders for the same select dates in October, November and December. Those pin codes were not part of the regular Fall Dining promotion and there was no general public fd code offered for any of those dates.

 

[bdtracey]

Hey everyone! I have a question for you...

DW, DS (1) are planning on going down Sept. 24-Oct. 3 for free dining. My in-laws are also thinking about coming along. We definitely want to take advantage of free dining; are any suites offered during free dining?

We were initially thinking about staying at POFQ but if a suite is offered it may be a better deal. Sounds too good to be true in reality...

TIA

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Hey everyone! I have a question for you...

DW, DS (1) are planning on going down Sept. 24-Oct. 3 for free dining. My in-laws are also thinking about coming along. We definitely want to take advantage of free dining; are any suites offered during free dining?

We were initially thinking about staying at POFQ but if a suite is offered it may be a better deal. Sounds too good to be true in reality...

TIA

The All-Star Music Family Suites are available for the Free Dining Promotion. I think those are the only suites available with that promotion.

 

[micknpluto]

tonight Im going to a friends to help them book their first disney trip! What a way to vacation at Disney for the first time.. with free dining!!

I love it!!

They want Pop but if they cant get it, I think theyre going for AKL. Big difference, right?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

tonight Im going to a friends to help them book their first disney trip! What a way to vacation at Disney for the first time.. with free dining!!

I love it!!

They want Pop but if they cant get it, I think theyre going for AKL. Big difference, right?

Oh, just $145.00 PER night or just a mere grand for the week.

 

[enchantingodin]

Hey everyone! I have a question for you...

DW, DS (1) are planning on going down Sept. 24-Oct. 3 for free dining. My in-laws are also thinking about coming along. We definitely want to take advantage of free dining; are any suites offered during free dining?

We were initially thinking about staying at POFQ but if a suite is offered it may be a better deal. Sounds too good to be true in reality...

TIA

Yep - we're staying in them from 9/24-9/29.

But to be honest it may be too late to book a suit at music. I'm sure they're all full by now. But give it a try!

 

[micknpluto]

Tonitght my friend Jacqui was able to secure a preferred room at Pop with FD for Setpember!

I'm glad they were able to get Pop

 

[k_null81]

Good Morning! I have a question and I'm sure it has been asked but this board is so hard to navigate to find answers. Plus the threads that do come up for my search are pages long! Anyhoo! I was wondering if DVC members can get free dining? My MIL has DVC and has always went in September/October the past couple years and got free dining so I wasn't sure if this was the same kind of promotion or if this is totally different?

Thanks in advance!

 

[mbanks21]

DVC can not get free dining. It has to be rack rate plus tickets through WDTC

 

[GirlfromTN]

Good Morning! I have a question and I'm sure it has been asked but this board is so hard to navigate to find answers. Plus the threads that do come up for my search are pages long! Anyhoo! I was wondering if DVC members can get free dining? My MIL has DVC and has always went in September/October the past couple years and got free dining so I wasn't sure if this was the same kind of promotion or if this is totally different?

Thanks in advance!

DVC Members never get free dining. You have to book at least 3 nights at rack rate through regular WDW room reservations.

 

[k_null81]

Was is it always that way in the past too? I honestly didn't think DVC got free dining but my MIL has been going in Sept/Oct b/c she claimed that they got free dining if they went then.

Thanks for the replies.

DVC Members never get free dining. You have to book at least 3 nights at rack rate through regular WDW room reservations.

 

[mar524]

As a DVC member myself I have asked this very question and the answer was No...we do not get the free dining plan when staying on points. The free dining plan is only for those staying on a "cash" reservation. Luckily for us we are checking in on October 2 at Pop Century on a cash reservation and did get the free dining but when we hop over to the Beach Club Villas midway through our trip we will have to pay for the dining plan for the balance of our trip. It saves us some money which is better than nothing!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Was is it always that way in the past too? I honestly didn't think DVC got free dining but my MIL has been going in Sept/Oct b/c she claimed that they got free dining if they went then.

Thanks for the replies.

Maybe she meant she was able to purchase the dining plan, because originally DVC members could not, and now they are able to?
Or maybe she didn't use points?

Unfortunately, they don't give away free food to people that are not bringing in NEW income to them. It is a promotion to fill rooms.

 

[slappy1974]

We went last year during free dining, but I couldn't figure out a way to add free dining to our land and sea package. I tried with my TA before we left, and then tried at the hotel when we checked in. The TA couldn't do it, and the hotel said you have to change the reservation 72 hours before arrival.

I think the only way is to book cruise and land separately to get free dining. Any one else had any luck?