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

[avamadison]

Joining this thread. Going in April 2009 and September 2009. But...we are part of DVC so we can't use the FD plan as far as I know. I would be so happy if this changed!!!!

Anyone out there part of DVC who actually didn't use their points and paid cash just to get the FD???

 

[TDC Nala]

It has not changed. Free dining is available only with full price room/tickets packages booked through CRO.

There are many instances of DVC members foregoing using points and booking package reservations so they can get free dining. Even I did it once (back in 2007). Personally I won't be doing it again.

We had free dining in fall, 2006 (family reunion, Disney-style); and at that time, APholders in our group had to buy one-day tickets in order to qualify for the DDP. Is that still the case?

Yes. So far, free dining has been available only with room/tickets packages - and no other discounts apply (you must pay full rack rate for the room).

 

[tiggerx3]

Has FD ever been offered to those staying at the campground?

Any rumors on it being offered to the new premium sites?

 

[disneyquilter]

Subscribing--we are traveling late August. We are hoping for Free Dining.

 

[SGMCO]

Has FD ever been offered to those staying at the campground?

Any rumors on it being offered to the new premium sites?

From what I've read, camping sites don't qualify for FD,
you would have to book a resort with 1 day park tickets.

 

[tiggerx3]

Thx.

 

[ColeyB]

Not sure if I'll be able to combine free dining with the Military Appreciation but if it pops up, I sure can try!

 

[toy]

Does anyone know what the previous dates have been for free dining? I'm trying to schedule a girls' trip and we are looking at second week in October.

 

[atrain1024]

I've heard that at certain times of the year disney has free dining programs. has anyone ever heard of this and how do you qualify for such a thing? any insights would be much appreciated. Thx.

 

[squirrel]

It is usually offered the last week of August-the end of September.

Disney will release the dates for this year in April to the general public.

I have the bounceback from last year.

You need to book a package with Disney-room at rack rate and park pass (they can be one day). I think there is a min of 3 nights. If I'm wrong someone will correct me!

 

[RMulieri]

There is a HUGE thread somewhere about it...Free Dining is a special promotion disney offers to increase resort attendance during the Peak Hurricaine season time.It is for select date stays in Late August-Mid Sept.It is the Disney BAsic Dining plan for free when you purchase a FULL PRICED/NON discounted disney MYW Pkg with resort stay and a minimum of a 1 day park ticket per person of your party.It is for stays of at least 3 and no greater than 14 nights.Everyone in your group must be on the same pkg and no other discounts can be applied.It is generally announced for bookings in early April.SO around the end of March this year we should start hearing more about it.

 

[LegoMom3]

Does anyone know what the previous dates have been for free dining? I'm trying to schedule a girls' trip and we are looking at second week in October.

I know some people who booked "bounceback" into early October, but in previous years when FD was offered to the general public, it didn't go that late. The "window" has actually been shrinking, too - the first year it ran mid-August (like the 13th or so) until the very end of September. Last year it was only the last week of Aug. to about the 3rd week of September. It was originally conceived as a way to get people to come during the "worst" of the hurricane season. By October, people are usually booking trips anyway for Food & Wine and also MNSSHP.

Maybe someone can refresh my memory on this, but didn't Disney end up extending FD this past fall, right up to the holidays?? I thought they did and I'm sure it was due to the ailing economy so not sure if they would do that again.


.

 

[TDC Nala]

Maybe someone can refresh my memory on this, but didn't Disney end up extending FD this past fall, right up to the holidays?? I thought they did and I'm sure it was due to the ailing economy so not sure if they would do that again.


.

There was no extension of the general public free dining offer past the end of September 2008. There were targeted free dining offers for Disney Visa cardholders and persons receiving a PIN code offer for certain dates in October, November and December but these offers were not available to the general public. Whether WDW does this again will likely depend on how effective the offers were at selling rooms, and whether or not they need to offer incentives to sell rooms.

 

[RysMomma]

Subscribing to this thread! We're going the last week in August! Hoping for free dining (although it doesn't seem hopeful for us since we're staying in Pop Century, right?)

 

[TDC Nala]

Subscribing to this thread! We're going the last week in August! Hoping for free dining (although it doesn't seem hopeful for us since we're staying in Pop Century, right?)

Free dining was not available in the values for the offer made to residents of Great Britain. The same was true in 2008.

The U.S. offer has always included the value resorts. The one time I used free dining in August 2007 was at Pop Century.

 

[RysMomma]

Great, thanks for the information!

 

[EMom]

There was no extension of the general public free dining offer past the end of September 2008. There were targeted free dining offers for Disney Visa cardholders and persons receiving a PIN code offer for certain dates in October, November and December but these offers were not available to the general public. Whether WDW does this again will likely depend on how effective the offers were at selling rooms, and whether or not they need to offer incentives to sell rooms.

I don't have a Disney Visa, and I sometimes wonder if it's worth my while. FD is a BIG incentive. Does anyone know the dates of the Disney Visa FD offer in Oct., Nov., and Dec.?

 

[Tomh]

No one will know for sure what this years dates are until the program is announced (if it is announced). Judging by the bounceback offer that was available to guests during last years FD, and previous years offerings, most people are generally guessing that it will be sometime around the last week of August, through either the end of September, or the first week of October. That is really about the best information you are going to get for now.

The offer will likely be made available to Disney Visa holders first, either at the very end of March, or the very beginning of April, and then will likely be made available to the general public perhaps a few days later.

 

[DWFan4Life]

Hope i can get in on this offer. Is there a free dining on December 2009? We are planning to have a trip for that month.

 

[lsutiggergirl]

Free dining is usually just for Aug-Sept. That's why we do in September every single year. December is so busy, it's not a month they really need to do a free dining promotion with...but you never know!