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

[DaParkers]

Did you get your free dining pin from Disney over the phone or via email/mail?

Email

 

[jhryb]

Probably a stupid question, but has anyone rec'd a pin and had a trip booked thorugh AAA, can you use it through them or only through Disney travel direct?

One thing to keep in mind is that you will not get an additional AAA discount (beyond the discount of the pin) if you book through AAA because you are already getting the discount via the pin.

 

[disneymom06]

I booked the bounceback last August for 2 weeks this August starting on 8/23 but I really want it to start on 8/16, do you think that Disney will give the bounceback offer an earlier start date?

 

[Goofy22]

I booked the bounceback last August for 2 weeks this August starting on 8/23 but I really want it to start on 8/16, do you think that Disney will give the bounceback offer an earlier start date?

If you got a pin code I don't see why they wouldn't but if not then i'd say no cause I got the pin code and already have FD booked with the bounceback for the 24th and a friend called aand also have bounceback and wasn't able to extend earlier . So i don't think so but you can try but if you have the pin of course you could.

 

[onemaybaby]

a package now, and waiting to see if free dining comes out, and then adding it.

Why would you only purchase one day tickets?? I understand it is because you must have a package booked vs a room only reservation, but won't you need the tickets anyway? Is there some advantage to doing it this way?

I thought maybe because tickets might be cheaper at an independent broker, but after you pay for the one day tickets at disney and then the broker for the remaining days it seems as though you wouldnt save.

can someone please explain what i am missing?
Thanks
Stephanie

 

[2manypets]

Stephanie,
We, personally, have collected tickets over the years. we have 2 10 day hoppers and a seven day hopper and several 1 day bases. We don't need the tickets, but feel it's worth it to buy the 1 day bases in order to get free dining.

A lot of people have annual passes also, so don't need tickets. In order to make it a package you'll need at least a 1 day base.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

a package now, and waiting to see if free dining comes out, and then adding it.

Why would you only purchase one day tickets?? I understand it is because you must have a package booked vs a room only reservation, but won't you need the tickets anyway? Is there some advantage to doing it this way?

I thought maybe because tickets might be cheaper at an independent broker, but after you pay for the one day tickets at disney and then the broker for the remaining days it seems as though you wouldnt save.

can someone please explain what i am missing?
Thanks
Stephanie

We will be at Disney a total of 19 days so the best option for us is an annual pass. I can't get the package without the one day ticket so I will just upgrade the one day ticket on arrival to an annual pass. Then I'm not out anything.

 

[DaParkers]

I can't get the package without the one day ticket so I will just upgrade the one day ticket on arrival to an annual pass. Then I'm not out anything.

We're doing the same thing, but for a different reason. Since we're only a 6 hour drive away, we can go back for food and wine, thanksgiving, christmas, or just a 3 day weekend every now and then.

 

[onemaybaby]

okay that totally makes sense. Thanks for the insight.

Stephanie

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

subscribing

 

[livinlife25]

subscribing!

 

[nkereina]

I've been searching around on the internet and have read some rumors that that the free dining promo will NOT be offered to the public this fall. I've also read a rumor that it will be offered but only quick service free dining as opposed to free basic dining like in years past.

Has anyone else read these things or know anything further?

An AAA agent said the free dining promo has gone on the last several years and with the economy and deals this year, she said it would be hard to believe they wouldn't offer something. Especially with the 4 for 3 deal and the recent free dining pin code offers.

I know they are all rumors but I like to hear what other people are hearing!

 

[Goofy22]

I've been searching around on the internet and have read some rumors that that the free dining promo will NOT be offered to the public this fall. I've also read a rumor that it will be offered but only quick service free dining as opposed to free basic dining like in years past.

Has anyone else read these things or know anything further?

An AAA agent said the free dining promo has gone on the last several years and with the economy and deals this year, she said it would be hard to believe they wouldn't offer something. Especially with the 4 for 3 deal and the recent free dining pin code offers.

I know they are all rumors but I like to hear what other people are hearing!

I believe they are rumors because before we booked the free dining bounceback in august 08 for august 09 the rumor was it would only be quickservice even for the ppl bouncing back and that is not the case it is the reg free dining plan 1 cs , 1 ts and 1 snack! I agree with your travel agent on
this one!

 

[jana616]

I've been searching around on the internet and have read some rumors that that the free dining promo will NOT be offered to the public this fall. I've also read a rumor that it will be offered but only quick service free dining as opposed to free basic dining like in years past.

Has anyone else read these things or know anything further?

An AAA agent said the free dining promo has gone on the last several years and with the economy and deals this year, she said it would be hard to believe they wouldn't offer something. Especially with the 4 for 3 deal and the recent free dining pin code offers.

I know they are all rumors but I like to hear what other people are hearing!

I called Disney the other day, hoping to find a FD pin in my name. The CM I talked to was like, "Why are you so anxious for the pin anyway? Just wait a couple of months!" I said, "I'm nervous they won't offer it to the general public. Do you think they will?" And she said (in a way that suggested I was crazy to worry), "They have the last 3 years. Why wouldn't they this year?"

I know they don't know anything specific, but she sounded like she 100% believes it will be offered. And I think, judging by what the pin and bounceback offers were, that it will be the basic plan. Of course, I am still checking every hour for the pin, just in case!

 

[princess&her4princes]

I called Disney the other day, hoping to find a FD pin in my name. The CM I talked to was like, "Why are you so anxious for the pin anyway? Just wait a couple of months!" I said, "I'm nervous they won't offer it to the general public. Do you think they will?" And she said (in a way that suggested I was crazy to worry), "They have the last 3 years. Why wouldn't they this year?"

I know they don't know anything specific, but she sounded like she 100% believes it will be offered. And I think, judging by what the pin and bounceback offers were, that it will be the basic plan. Of course, I am still checking every hour for the pin, just in case!

I'm doing the SAME thing!! Hoping with you!!!!

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

I'm doing the SAME thing!! Hoping with you!!!!

I called the other day and was told by the CM not to keep calling, that I would get an email. She also made it sound as though I had nothing to worry about getting free dining for our Sept. trip.

Should I stop calling and wait for an email? She said she got my email situation worked out (they never had it right). She said I would receive it via email but I don't know. I just feel uneasy about not calling and trusting technology (and human error)....

 

[ibedancin824]

If we book at one of the deluxe resorts through RCI (vaction exchange) using banked weeks and they offer the free dining is there any way to take advangtage of that? I am confused as whether it applies to just people booking their own vacations or people booking through timeshares as well...

 

[nkereina]

I called the other day and was told by the CM not to keep calling, that I would get an email. She also made it sound as though I had nothing to worry about getting free dining for our Sept. trip.

Should I stop calling and wait for an email? She said she got my email situation worked out (they never had it right). She said I would receive it via email but I don't know. I just feel uneasy about not calling and trusting technology (and human error)....

I was told by a CM that the pins are totally random and there is no set mailing list or anything for people to receive the pins. I asked her if she knew if I'd be receiving a pin and she said there's no way for her to know. She did say that it would be emailed if I do get one.

 

[n2mm]

If we book at one of the deluxe resorts through RCI (vaction exchange) using banked weeks and they offer the free dining is there any way to take advangtage of that? I am confused as whether it applies to just people booking their own vacations or people booking through timeshares as well...

DVC members using points do not get the free dining. RCI would be the same. In order to get free dining you need to book a package and stay at a disney resort. The package has to be 3 nights minimum and everyone in the room must purchase a park ticket. Often us AP holders will participate, but still have to buy a ticket. We buy a one day ticket and use it months later to renew our AP when needed. WE are DVC members and are booked on the free dining package for August and will not be using our DVC points for that trip.

 

[TDC Nala]

The free dining quick service only rumors apparently come from the British offer. Residents of Great Britain had to book a deluxe to get the regular plan. For a booking at a moderate, the quick service plan was offered. The British offer did not include value resorts.

Historically, all US public offers have included value resorts, and have offered only the basic dining plan. The bounceback offer and all the free dining pin offers for 2009 include the basic dining plan. It's most likely that if there is a US general public offer, it will include the basic dining plan and not the quick service plan.

If we book at one of the deluxe resorts through RCI (vaction exchange) using banked weeks and they offer the free dining is there any way to take advangtage of that? I am confused as whether it applies to just people booking their own vacations or people booking through timeshares as well...

DVC members and exchangers can buy the dining plan, but they can't get it free.