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

[livinlife25]

I think in these times.....a lot of people would downgrade...not everyone but i mean for us that would be an 800 dollar savings for 2 people!! There is a chance I wouldnt downgrade just bc its a honeymoon and once in a lifetime experience but id have to think real hard about it!!

 

[goofygirl0415]

So when the free dining comes available, everyone said that it will show up on here...but how will I know? Is there like a code I have to give when I make my ressies on the phone? If so will it be on here? I really want free dining this year! Thank you

 

[momsworld]

I booked our trip last month for Oct 28-Nov 3. Our main reason is to be there for DNSSHP. I booked with a 40% off room code at DisMovies resort. I haven't been to disney since 2000 so am very excited. It'll be my first time with hubby and kids. I have held off on our airline tickets in hope that my some miracle free dining or a better offer will be offered during our stay. We are flexable by a few days here and there. Anyone else in the same boat or am i holding onto a pike dream? We will be going none the less but would be fantastic to save more as these days money is very tight. We are traveling with another group which also has a 40% off code we are very lucky to both get codes. We figured we haven't been in so many years they new it would lure us in.

 

[KKB]

I booked our trip last month for Oct 28-Nov 3. Our main reason is to be there for DNSSHP. I booked with a 40% off room code at DisMovies resort. I haven't been to disney since 2000 so am very excited. It'll be my first time with hubby and kids. I have held off on our airline tickets in hope that my some miracle free dining or a better offer will be offered during our stay. We are flexable by a few days here and there. Anyone else in the same boat or am i holding onto a pike dream? We will be going none the less but would be fantastic to save more as these days money is very tight. We are traveling with another group which also has a 40% off code we are very lucky to both get codes. We figured we haven't been in so many years they new it would lure us in.

It is highly unlikely that there will be free dining that late. It has never gone later than the first week of Oct., and last year it only went until Sept. 20 (though if that was your arrival day, you could get free dining for your entire trip, up to 10 days, I believe).
But 40% is a good deal, comparable to free dining if you are at a moderate or deluxe resort. Free dining is a better deal at value resorts/with larger parties.
Have a great time!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Anybody know how Disney Visa card holders are notified of free dining. I know they get to book a few days before the general public but how do they let you know. Will they send a email??? do I need to keep an eye on the website? anyone remember from last year?

Don't depend on Disney Visa emailing you prior to the sale. I have only gotten a couple of notifications over the years, and they have all been after the fact.

So when the free dining comes available, everyone said that it will show up on here...but how will I know? Is there like a code I have to give when I make my ressies on the phone? If so will it be on here? I really want free dining this year! Thank you

The code is usually posted on here or on mousesavers.com. Sometimes with the Disney Visa codes, and most of the time with the general public codes, the CMs will honor the sale without the code. You tell them what you are looking for and they find the code. Occasionally one will not, but the code should be available all over the place.
The thing that is the key with the Disney Visa discounts is you have to use your Disney Visa to book it. They can tell the difference between any other cards and the DV.

Happy Planning!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I know, for a fact, that there WAS Free Dining last year and with some dates in December. There were folks who were able to extend the offer through Christmas even. If I had known such a thing was possible I would have canceled my September trip and went in December. I am hoping that lightning strikes twice!

Slightly Goofy

 

[CLR4321]

We just want the free dining...but I won't complain if the 4/3 deal would be able to be combined with it. We have AAA, I wonder if we can get the AAA room only discount with it? Or does the package have to be booked through the WDTC in order to get the free dining? I did look up last year's info....turns out Disney Visa cardholders got an extension on the free dining. I am hoping that will be the case this year because we really want to go in October. We will go earlier if needed though. I am guessing they will announce any new deals when the 4/3 deal is up on the 29th. ***Keeping fingers crossed!***

 

[goofygirl0415]

SO does anyone think that if I were to call and try and book today, tell them I have a Disney Visa, do you think I could get free dining? If I called this evening or is it still too early?

 

[KKB]

I know, for a fact, that there WAS Free Dining last year and with some dates in December. There were folks who were able to extend the offer through Christmas even. If I had known such a thing was possible I would have canceled my September trip and went in December. I am hoping that lightning strikes twice!

Slightly Goofy

For the first time last year free dining was also offered in December.

 

[KKB]

SO does anyone think that if I were to call and try and book today, tell them I have a Disney Visa, do you think I could get free dining? If I called this evening or is it still too early?

Until Disney officically makes the announcement, not happening. Some free dining PIN codes were randomly sent out a month or 2 ago, and many of us even called just to see if we happened to have that code attached to our name, and just missed the email. Some had luck, most did not. Of course that PIN code has expired,....SOOOOOO....we are all just very impatiently waiting!!!

 

[goofygirl0415]

Ok that is what I needed to know!! Thank you very much...I guess I will have to wait then...AH! Im going crazy! I guess I will just have to keep watching on here...I plan on going the second week of sept. I sure hope they offer it then...is it only for certain lengths of stay?

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

I so hope they post it before I leave for Florida on April 4th and no I am not doing WDW...........I know but DH can only do WDW once a year I hope it doesn'gt get announced while I am gone b/c I sooooo need to book a trip to WDW for Sept.....I am having withdrawal our last trip was April 2008!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We just want the free dining...but I won't complain if the 4/3 deal would be able to be combined with it. We have AAA, I wonder if we can get the AAA room only discount with it? Or does the package have to be booked through the WDTC in order to get the free dining? I did look up last year's info....turns out Disney Visa cardholders got an extension on the free dining. I am hoping that will be the case this year because we really want to go in October. We will go earlier if needed though. I am guessing they will announce any new deals when the 4/3 deal is up on the 29th. ***Keeping fingers crossed!***

Since 2005, Disney has been offering the Free Dining promo for Magic Your way packages with a 3 night minimum and a 14 day maximum (Basic Dining Plan; 1 TS, 1 CS, 1 Snack per person per night) during the last part of August until the end of September, give or take a few days. The free dining offer is usually announced during the first week of April. The first couple of days it will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public. The booking dates for 2008 for the general public were August 24 through September 20 and you had to book by June 22 to receive the FD offer.

Last September Disney Destinations sent out some emails that offered free dining pin codes for select dates in October, November and December. The only December dates were December 14 - 20. If you checked in by the 20th you could get the free dining offer through the 31st. These emails were random, not for the general public, and the codes were non-transferrable. About two weeks after that Disney Visa sent out a free dining code for their card holders for the same select dates in October, November and December. Those pin codes were not part of the regular Fall Dining promotion and there was no general public fd code offered for any of those dates.

 

[DisneyMom5]

I know, for a fact, that there WAS Free Dining last year and with some dates in December. There were folks who were able to extend the offer through Christmas even. If I had known such a thing was possible I would have canceled my September trip and went in December. I am hoping that lightning strikes twice!

Slightly Goofy

Was that the offer through Disney Visa that you are referring to Linda?
(Hi, by the way, I have missed "seeing" you on here. )

Ok that is what I needed to know!! Thank you very much...I guess I will have to wait then...AH! Im going crazy! I guess I will just have to keep watching on here...I plan on going the second week of sept. I sure hope they offer it then...is it only for certain lengths of stay?

Traditionally it has been for 3 - 14 nights (one year it was a maximum of 10, but at least in 07 it was 14).

 

[TDC Nala]

Free dining has also, in the past, never been combinable with any other discount (such as the 4/3 deal)

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

So when the free dining comes available, everyone said that it will show up on here...but how will I know?

The entire Dining board/forum will light up like the Osborne Family Lights!!!
The Food porn thread will spring to new life, and suddenly EVERYONE is discussing ADRs and where the best Salmon is.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

The entire Dining board/forum will light up like the Osborne Family Lights!!!
The Food porn thread will spring to new life, and suddenly EVERYONE is discussing ADRs and where the best Salmon is.

LOL


SO TRUE

 

[princess&her4princes]

Waiting ever so patiently....like the rest of you!!

 

[Tomh]

I don't know about anyone else, but as for me, well I am waiting, that much is for sure, but calling it "patiently" would be a bit of a stretch

 

[postalone]

I have a friend who is a travel agent and she told me the free dining starts August 16th 2009...... that's all i know, so please don't ask.....