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

[DisneyMom5]

Okay, talk of FD being released this weekend has me in a panic. I'm definitely looking at a Labor Day trip, but haven't figured out exactly which 5 nights I think we'll do. Is is possible to book a longer trip than you actually plan to have, add FD when it becomes available, and then drop days when you get closer? Or, do I have to go ahead and decide exactly what our days may be so we can nail them down if/when FD is released?

Help please!!

In theory. Though, the resort may have rooms for only a certain range of days. It seems to be easier to book extra and drop some than to add some, in most cases.
Sometimes people have had to add a day to hit a certain range to get their resort (for example, there weren't any rooms available from Sunday to Thursday, but there were SUnday through Friday -- who knows why???), and then they drop the extra day before they would get a penalty.

So if you want a certain time period for sure, you definately could do what you are suggesting. Even at the time free dining is released. Like I said, it's easier to drop, than to add.

 

[ZeroToHero]

They changed what the special offers page has on it... so...... hopefully it's only a matter of time!!!!

 

[zuzu310]

Okay you guys are getting me excited!!!! I REALLY hope they do release it this weekend. A weight would be lifted off of my shoulders. I kind of got the same idea when I called Disney two days ago. The CM wouldn't come right out and say it but I did mention that my husband and I are hoping for free Disney VISA dining this year. She basically hinted that it is released around this time every year and then made a point to say that it won't cost me anything to call back and apply the free dining pin code to my ressies if it is released. It made me very hopeful. Also, whoever posted about Airtran is right! We got $74 one way tickets from Columbus to Orlando and my SIL/BIL who are meeting us there got a similar deal from Reagan to Orlando.

 

[Nyla]

LOL I'm one day ahead of you guys but I will be at AKL too!

Woohoo! The honeymooners are invading AKL that week!

That's pretty sweet all three of us will be there at the same time.

I'm super pumped, hoping the free dining offer comes out this weekend. I'd totally get up at 6:00am on a Saturday to grab that deal.

 

[momma23boys]

What makes everyone seem to think it will be released this weekend (2-28/3-1) when always in the past it is released in April? Shouldn't it be released to Visa holders first? Just curious? I'm hoping it is this weekend, but I don't want to get all pumped for a let down. Please someone do tell. I can't stand the waiting!!!!!!!!

 

[madisonwi]

Just booked 9/10-9/14 at the Poly. CM said free dining is coming soon!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Just booked 9/10-9/14 at the Poly. CM said free dining is coming soon!

Ahh, it's killing me, when oh when will free dining come?!!!

 

[zuzu310]

Just booked 9/10-9/14 at the Poly. CM said free dining is coming soon!

It's killing me...just release it already!!! Have they ever released it on the weekend before? Hasn't it always been a Monday for VISA card members? I thought maye it would be some time this weekend or Monday but I almost think we would have heard a leak of information already somewhere if this was true. The CM told me the same thing...it should be soon.

 

[Donnask8pro]

Just to reiterate. What dates are we thinking FD night be? I thought I read through Oct 1st but now I am talking to my GF who has already booked bouceback abd she's say no. Earlier dates

 

[neatokimmo]

I booked the Pop for Sept 13 - 27. It was one of the few weekend to weekend 2 week blocks I could find at a value with 2 double beds.

 

[candielips]

Just booked 9/10-9/14 at the Poly. CM said free dining is coming soon!

Lets hope that this is an indication that WDW will even be offering it this year. I really started to worry about that when they sent out the FD pins.

 

[ZeroToHero]

Question on how you find out: people are talking about waking up at 6am to call.. do you know a day ahead of time when free dining is (ie, the website says on Saturday that free dining reservations will start Sunday), or is it that when you wake up in the morning the website is updated and you have t-minus 1 hour to call in to get your free dining?

Also, this is probably pretty obvious, but you can schedule your entire package when you call in, right? You don't have to add free dining onto an already existing package?

If this has been asked before, I apologize.

 

[disneynuts777]

Question on how you find out: people are talking about waking up at 6am to call.. do you know a day ahead of time when free dining is (ie, the website says on Saturday that free dining reservations will start Sunday), or is it that when you wake up in the morning the website is updated and you have t-minus 1 hour to call in to get your free dining?

Also, this is probably pretty obvious, but you can schedule your entire package when you call in, right? You don't have to add free dining onto an already existing package?

If this has been asked before, I apologize.

Yes...if you want the free dining you have to call and modify your existing ressie. So if you have a room discount you will have to decide whether you want the free dining or the room discount. You cannot have both.
Also you might have to change resorts if you want the free dining. There are only so many rooms per resort put aside for this promo. so if the ones at the resort you already have booked are gone....you might have to pick somewhere else.
Disney will not automatically change your ressie because they announce a new promo. It is up to you to call and apply it!!

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

So does anyone know, if you book a stay at the Pop now for example and then later when the Free DP comes out if Pop is booked up the week you already have a ressie for can you add the free DDP on or will you be out of luck? I hope that makes sense, I guess I'm wondering would it be a whole new reservation or can you just apply it to the existing reservation?

 

[Albertan mom]

I don't have time to go through this whole thread, so a few quick questions:

--Is there any idea when Free Dining will be announced? It is usually the first weekend of April right?

--Is it mid August to end of Sept again?

--Is it basic dining plan? Drink, entree, dessert?

Thanks so much. We just got back from Disneyland, but it made us miss Disneyworld, so I am itching to go back there!

Oh, and one last question--can anyone help me convince my DH??!

 

[2littleprincesses]

So does anyone know, if you book a stay at the Pop now for example and then later when the Free DP comes out if Pop is booked up the week you already have a ressie for can you add the free DDP on or will you be out of luck? I hope that makes sense, I guess I'm wondering would it be a whole new reservation or can you just apply it to the existing reservation?

I have this same question--anyone know?

 

[Poohbug]

So does anyone know, if you book a stay at the Pop now for example and then later when the Free DP comes out if Pop is booked up the week you already have a ressie for can you add the free DDP on or will you be out of luck? I hope that makes sense, I guess I'm wondering would it be a whole new reservation or can you just apply it to the existing reservation?

You can go ahead and book now if you want. When FD comes out-you can then call and add the dining. I would call ASAP because they only block out so many rooms for the FD promotion. When those rooms are gone-then you can't get FD. You can also book with a good Disney TA-they will get the FD for you when it comes out.

On a side note-the last time we had FD was 2007. My sister decided to come with us with her family the last weekend we could book FD. All values were sold out but I did get her into CSR for around $200 more. Free meals are worth more than $200 and the resort rooms are bigger for families-so if you can't get into the hotel of choice, look at the hotels a level up.

 

[ZeroToHero]

Yes...if you want the free dining you have to call and modify your existing ressie. So if you have a room discount you will have to decide whether you want the free dining or the room discount. You cannot have both.
Also you might have to change resorts if you want the free dining. There are only so many rooms per resort put aside for this promo. so if the ones at the resort you already have booked are gone....you might have to pick somewhere else.
Disney will not automatically change your ressie because they announce a new promo. It is up to you to call and apply it!!

I meant more of can you reserve everything at once... because I don't have a reservation yet... or do you already have to have a reservation that you must alter?

 

[Goofy22]

I don't have time to go through this whole thread, so a few quick questions:

--Is there any idea when Free Dining will be announced? It is usually the first weekend of April right?

--Is it mid August to end of Sept again?

--Is it basic dining plan? Drink, entree, dessert?

Thanks so much. We just got back from Disneyland, but it made us miss Disneyworld, so I am itching to go back there!

Oh, and one last question--can anyone help me convince my DH??!

FREE DINING IS ANNOUNCED THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL FOR DISNEY VISA CARD HOLDERS AND THEN
3 TO 4 DAYS LATER FOR GEN PUBLIC. YOU SHOULD START HEARING RUMORS SOON AND THEN TRAVEL AGENTS ON HERE USUALLY CONFIRM IT THE NIGHT PRIOR TO OPENING TO DISNEY VISA HOLDERS.

AUGUST 23RD THRU OCTOBER 1ST OR 2ND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH DAY IT'S ONE OF THE 2!THESE ARE THE BOUNCEBACK DATES SO THE FREE DINING PROMO WILL PROBABLY BE A FEW DAYS SHY OF THESE!

CORRECT IT IS 1SNACK. 1 COUNTER SERVICE, 1 TABLE SERVICE PER PERSON PER DAY.

GOOD LUCK ON THAT ONE I'M LUCKY I DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE DH hE JUSt SAYS OK IF YOU THINK WE CAN SWING IT!

And the CM's are saying it will be soon because it will be here before you know it! Tommorrow is the last day of February! So March starts Sunday and rumors will be flying around in a few weeks if not sooner!

 

[disneynuts777]

I meant more of can you reserve everything at once... because I don't have a reservation yet... or do you already have to have a reservation that you must alter?

Oh yes....if you do not have a ressie already you can book the FD promo when it comes out.
There will be a link on the WDW web site just like there is now for the 4/3 deal if you want to book it online or you can call and talk to a CM