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

[mermaid&cinderella]

It is announced early April. Disney VISA holders get first dibs for a week or so, then it is open to the general public.
So keep your eyes & ears open here! Trust me--you will see it here first!

Thanks

 

[PinkPrincess4Ever]

Just wanted to let everyone in on something I just found out (since I know everyone on here is anticipating free dining as much as I am)-- sorry if it's something you'd already know--

I received a 40% off pin weeks ago that said "40% off a Disney stay.. at a select value resort" and tossed it to the side thinking I wanted more than a value resort this time as it will be our Honeymoon. Since I was soooo sick of waiting and waiting for free dining I thought I would give it a chance and call to see if the 40% would work on moderate or deluxe.. To my suprise the CM said YES!! So if anyone has this postcard pin and is waiting for free dining to come out this is a much better deal if you are traveling with 2 or 3 and thinking of staying at moderate or deluxe! But of course free dining would be a better savings at a value with even 2 ppl.
We upgraded the dining to DLX, selected an upgrade to Woods View at WL, and added WP and more to our park hoppers, and are paying less than $200 more than simply pricing it online with all the basics, and no dining for 10 days. YIPPEE!

Oh I am so happy I saw your post, I did the same thing and tossed the 40% pin code aside for this year we did NOT want to do value again after last year and that's what mine said..VALUE RESORT. I have been waiting for the FD to be announced for dvc, but booking the 40% off at the polly for 11 nights is a way better savings for my family especially if they only give the cheap QSDP for free and I would have to pay to upgrade. Now it's all booked and done the stess is over. Of course there is the matter of the 90 day ADRS that will have to be made lol. This princess is anxiously awaiting June 6th to book all the yummy food. I better start doing push ups Im gaining weight just thinking about it wooohooo!

 

[Andie272]

subscribing and hoping for free dining for 10/13-10/16.

 

[mom2two2]

I have a question about this. We have done DDP before but not Free Dining and that was before they changed it to all these different "levels" of dining plans.

Do we know what would be offered as the "free" dining plan? Is it going to be only the Quick Service Plan? I hope not...

We were not planning a trip in the Fall but I have gotten DH on board with talk of how much we would save with Free Dining. But if I have to add to that "oh yeah, we need to PAY if we want sit down" that is going to weaken my argument. LOL.

 

[Tbelle1976]

I'm hoping for the regular dining plan and not the QS. We are already booked for Deluxe, so I guess when/if it's announced we will pay to upgrade either way.

 

[welovedisney04]

Subscribing

Hubby and I were there in Feb and rebooked for Sept and got a bounceback offer - we are getting a 40% discount - not we need free dining - yeah baby c'mon

 

[pepper881]

subscribing Bring on teh Free Dining!

 

[enchantingodin]

Do we know what would be offered as the "free" dining plan? Is it going to be only the Quick Service Plan? I hope not...

Thus for it has always been (past 3 years) the basic dining plan with 1TS, 1CS, 1S. All the bounce back/pins that people have gotten have all been for the basic plan too. But don't forget it's not totally free, you still have to pay to tip your servers.

 

[Halbleib1]

Subscribing

Hubby and I were there in Feb and rebooked for Sept and got a bounceback offer - we are getting a 40% discount - not we need free dining - yeah baby c'mon

My understanding is that if free dining is available you will have to choose either to switch your package to free dining and pay rack rate for your room or keep your 40% discount and skip free dining. You can not double up on discounts they will not allow it.

 

[KKB]

subscribing and hoping for free dining for 10/13-10/16.

But I don't want you to get your hopes up. In the last 3 years it has never gone anywhere near that late;in fact, the cut off date has gotten earlier & earlier each year; last year it was 9/20, I believe.

And to reiterate...you cannot use both 40% off AND free DDP; free DDP is a better deal for value resorts/big parties; 40 off is better for smaller parties/deluxe resorts.

 

[OKCmom]

Forgive my ignorance...I've been seeing it mentioned all over this darn board and have yet to see what it is or how to get it. I don't know where to ask, I figured this was the best forum.

 

[Halbleib1]

We were at Disney World last Sept for free dining and we did get offered a bounceback but that only went into the first week of Oct. I have never seen free dining being offered to the general public later than this. Last year they did send out pin codes for select dates later that fall into December. Of which we took them up on. But it was not open to the general public just those that received an email or postcard and those with a disney visa card.

Good luck to all of you waiting for free dining this year. I was right here with you all last year so I know what you all are going through.

 

[tazdev3225]

I have never gone to WDW with free dining but it is a promotion that is offered. Typically it is offered around the end of August until around the end of September.

 

[TLHB70]

subscribing and hoping for free dining for 10/13-10/16.

We were there the week of October 15 last year (the week of Columbus Day), and free dining did not apply to our stay.

 

[spider0215]

I was thinking of going through Dreams unlimited, they say if discounts come up after you book they will get them for you.. Does anyone know if this includes free dining? I'm getting impatient and want to get booked but don't want to have to rebook if I do it myself and then free dining comes up. HELP

 

[Andie272]

We were there the week of October 15 last year (the week of Columbus Day), and free dining did not apply to our stay.

Thanks I am going anyway...saving money would be better though I am almost positive my last trip in 03, was free dining and it was the sames dates.

 

[TLHB70]

Thanks I am going anyway...saving money would be better though I am almost positive my last trip in 03, was free dining and it was the sames dates.

Yes, we went anyway also. We went with friends, and that was the only dates they could go. Free dining would have been a great thing!

 

[Tomh]

I have a question about the free dining. I WAS going to call WDW to ask, but time and time again I've read posts here about CM's giving out the wrong information, so I figured I'd just get the right answer here to begin with

We're booked for room and tickets for Aug 23rd through Sept 5th. Right now, it is DW, DD14, DS5, and me. DD's best friend may be coming along for the trip, but we aren't certain yet, and don't know exactly when we will be certain (Not knowing make the compulsive planner in me just sick ).

So then, my question is: If April 1 comes around, Free Dining is offered, and we get it, would it be a problem later on (say perhaps May, or early June) to add another person to our package?

How about the other way around, if we were to add her now, get the free dining in April, then find out later on that she can't go would we be able to remove her without problems?

Which way do you all think is the best to go? Wow, it would be so much easier if we knew NOW whether she was going to be able to go or not. If only everyone could see how important it is to plan out trips more than three days in advance.

 

[KKB]

I have a question about the free dining. I WAS going to call WDW to ask, but time and time again I've read posts here about CM's giving out the wrong information, so I figured I'd just get the right answer here to begin with

We're booked for room and tickets for Aug 23rd through Sept 5th. Right now, it is DW, DD14, DS5, and me. DD's best friend may be coming along for the trip, but we aren't certain yet, and don't know exactly when we will be certain (Not knowing make the compulsive planner in me just sick ).

So then, my question is: If April 1 comes around, Free Dining is offered, and we get it, would it be a problem later on (say perhaps May, or early June) to add another person to our package?

How about the other way around, if we were to add her now, get the free dining in April, then find out later on that she can't go would we be able to remove her without problems?

Which way do you all think is the best to go? Wow, it would be so much easier if we knew NOW whether she was going to be able to go or not. If only everyone could see how important it is to plan out trips more than three days in advance.

While it isn't any problem to add/delete people, since you are at 4 now and it would put you to 5, it really depends where you book. If you are booking a room that holds at least 5 people, the change will be no issue.

But if you are booking a room for 4, WDW will NOT let you add a fifth without adding an extra room. IF there are rooms available, you can go ahead and add it; it can also be removed later, while still keeping the other room.

So...it really isn't a problem.

 

[Trinity524]

Tell me if this makes sense to you...or if I am crazy.

Last year, my family went during the free dining period in September. When we got there, there was the bounceback offer of free dining this year. YAY for us! I will have my mother, husband and then 22 month old with us. I decided to go with CBR pirate room, 6 day non park hopper, no waterpark, 7 night trip. Total 2210. I thought I was getting a deal. 9/19-9/26.

Turns out that when I got my membership to AAA, they offer Disney packages. The same package is $1937 without the free dining. The AAA tells me that if free dining becomes available to call her back and she will book it for me for the $1937. How is AAA getting it cheaper than DISNEY? I call WDW and they tell me it's because they get it in bulk...someone help me... is this all correct?