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

[DixieDisneyDiva]

I'm subbing...who doesn't like free grub? Our dates are flexible...if the eats are on the Mouse, we're there!

 

[lsutiggergirl]

You just have to wait until Disney comes out with the offer. You'll know about it first if you keep checking disboards. They usually offer it in early April for use in September and October.

 

[ADreamer4lyfe]

we are taking our 1st trip jan 2010 i hope they have a special like this it would be AMAZING!!!!

 

[RamonaBuchanan]

I received a postcard with PIN for free dining--pretty much anytime during first half of 2009. I booked for June 21-26 and all four (all adults) got the free dining. This is the first time I've used a PIN and the first time for free dining. I'M SO EXCITED! For those of you who have had free dining before, did your park tickets include the water park and more option without paying for that? The mailed welcome letter I received mentioned that our tickets had this feature (and was encouraging us to add park hopper option) but I only asked for and paid for base tickets.

 

[SGMCO]

We have booked the BB (9/12--9/20) but I am watching for
my BIL and his family--they may join us--if they can get FD.
I told them that I would let them know ASAP as I find out.

 

[SGMCO]

I received a postcard with PIN for free dining--pretty much anytime during first half of 2009. I booked for June 21-26 and all four (all adults) got the free dining. This is the first time I've used a PIN and the first time for free dining. I'M SO EXCITED! For those of you who have had free dining before, did your park tickets include the water park and more option without paying for that? The mailed welcome letter I received mentioned that our tickets had this feature (and was encouraging us to add park hopper option) but I only asked for and paid for base tickets.

We have had FD 2 times in a row and it has never included anything other
than Free Food. The only Plus is that we go during the Value Season
whenever the rack rate Per Night is the cheapest. We always stay in
a MOD.
With FD we Save $117.00 per night because there is
3 of us 2 adults and my DS who is over 10.
FD has been well worth the trip.
We really enjoy TS meals--it's a nice break from the parks.
I like to be able to order anything on the menu without
looking at the price.
I'm hoping that they will offer the extras if FD is offered to public
again--hope that I can add it on my package.

 

[pixiemagic30]

We'll be "bunking" with friends at Old Key West,in a 2br Suite,Aug 15-22,2009. Since they are the ones paying for it,how would we go about getting our tickets with the Free Dining? What if they don't want the FD option for their family?

Everyone in the room has to be on the same package meaning if they don't take the FD package, you can't get it either....sorry. The only way for you to get the FD would be to book your own package and request (but not guaranteed) rooms side by side.

 

[jlhansen]

Hello!

Quick question for you. Do you have to have the Disney Visa to get the postcards with the special PIN offer? Thanks so much!

 

[Tricia1972]

Everyone in the room has to be on the same package meaning if they don't take the FD package, you can't get it either....sorry. The only way for you to get the FD would be to book your own package and request (but not guaranteed) rooms side by side.

It's a little different at Old Key West, because the ability to get Free Dining depends on resort availability as well as the fact that they MUST pay cash. They cannot get free dining if they are staying on points for the rooms. (So even if this family took the room next door to their friends (to get the Free Dining), they'd need to pay cash for the room that they're staying in, and I believe that DVC is priced similarly to a Deluxe when paying cash)

 

[pixiemagic30]

I missed that it was a dvc...I do remember now that that does change things. Thanks for correcting me!

 

[RamonaBuchanan]

I do not have a Disney VISA and the last time I was at Disney was in February 2006. I got the postcard PIN for free dining in November 2008 and had to use it by 12/31/08 (I believe) and it was good for virtually any dates during the first half of 2009. I was totalling surprised when I got it!

 

[foxlore]

Okay here's a question... I can't remember what the dates etc were for the free dining with Visa... I forgot about it when I booked my trip with DH for this upcoming weekend... Is it possible we could get free dining? I used the Visa to pay for the trip...

Thanks!

 

[bhalko]

We are Disney Visa cardholders and were sent a letter in Sept. with a PIN and an offer for Free Dining in November '08. We took advantage of that as a special bonus trip because we have a trip already planned for 10 days at the end of June beginning of July '09. We were able to use it with a 5 day 4 night pkg. There was no bounceback offer when we checked out either, but shortly after that they came out with the 4/3 free offer. I never received an offer in April for free dining in Sept. Interesting how the offers are different. Right now we are taking advantage of a 5x offer for Disney points on our visa in the categories of gas, dining, airline, and groceries. We had it until 12/31 and then got another offer to extend it from Jan. 1 - March 31 (I think I am remembering that correctly!) Hoping that we will get a free dining offer, but realizing that we just bought BLT as DVC members so will probably not be eligible if we are staying with points. Shucks!

 

[1hero2princesses]

We went last year in September. I booked it in January. Then got a pin in march and then the free dining went public. I did the math and for us, with where we were staying the free dining was the best deal. I also went through it with a CM and they agreed. We have bounceback for this year Sept. 26th - Oct. 4th (about a week later than we went last year). We haven't received any offers this year. No pins, no disney visa offers (even though I have one). It is just so random. Hopefully they offer it again for people although I am a little worried about the ADR 90 day window and free dining. Last year our DD3 turned out to be terrified of characters and I had a terrible, terrible time trying to get different ADR's while we were there. I was begging my way into places. Sometimes I would be checking 5 or 6 restaurants for a meal and nothing was available.

 

[redrosesix]

okay what is the bounceback???

The bounceback is a special offer given only to those who have recently stayed at Disney.

 

[accountingbabe08]

i'm subscribing to watch for free dining also . My daughter and I did the free dining in 2007. We had a blast and would love to again.

 

[Tricia1972]

Okay here's a question... I can't remember what the dates etc were for the free dining with Visa... I forgot about it when I booked my trip with DH for this upcoming weekend... Is it possible we could get free dining? I used the Visa to pay for the trip...

Thanks!

The Free Dining early this year is available with a pin code and had a limited amount of time that you could book.

I doubt that they'd be able to help you out at this time, but it never hurts to call and ask.

 

[foxlore]

I don't have the pin code - have the Visa, but not a pin... Darn... I'd stay longer if I had that!!

 

[lorelei_smiles]

Should I book the room and the tickets or book the room only, wait for the code and then add the tickets?

 

[Trinity524]

I took the bounceback dining but I may need to move my dates. Can anyone remember when they dates were?