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

[THEVACATIONFAMILY]

Don't know just yet, Disney will probably wait until August to announce any new details for the end of the year. We were going to go around Thanksgiving buy decided to do the free dining plan before it ended. Hope you get some kind of discount for that time that you are going.

 

[Bete]

Does anyone know if there are any free dining deals for November?

targeted to certain people so far for free dining in Nov. and Dec. 2009. I received one. I will tell you that they have changed the deal that's offered on the pincode for Nov. and Dec. compared to the free dining offer in the fall.

If you stay at a value resort you are eligible for free QS dining. You can upgrade by paying $10 more per day per person to get basic dining plan plus (includes one table service). Only moderates and deluxe resort guests will get free basic dining plan plus. Everyone involved with a pincode for the Goofy promo for this offer did not get the same offer, either. There were about 6 different deals and free dining was probably the best offer, but there were other deals like adults pay kid prices, etc. If you read through the posts you will see what's involved with this Goofy promo which only some targetted people received.

Last year, free dining deals for the last quarter came in September. I would think this year, if it happens it might be a little earlier. Also, last year was the first and only year so far to offer free dining for the last quarter. There were a lot of blockout times for the offer last year like no Thanksgiving time.

 

[mom2rtk]

I got free dining in December with a Disney Visa card. I think that was announced in September.

 

[hardingk]

I got free dining in December with a Disney Visa card. I think that was announced in September.

Was it for everyone or only if you got an email? I never get emails for the visa card for some reason!

 

[mom2rtk]

Was it for everyone or only if you got an email? I never get emails for the visa card for some reason!

I don't get emails from them either. A friend told me about the promotion, then I called and had it applied to the reservation I already had during that one specific week they were offering it.

It was open to anyone with a Disney Visa. It wasn't like the deals where they send out Pin codes. Those are ONLY for the person who gets the Pin. This was for anyone with a Disney Visa.

 

[Bama_C]

We just did this with the buy 4 get 3 deal. Have to upgrade at one of the parks not at the resort. We upgraded on the first day as they told us it starts with the date of first use of ticket. For 3 adults and 1 child the premium pass wound up being around $388 each. Not really sure, dd was paying for the upgrade, lol.

Thanks so much for the info! I am wondering with a 10 day PH pass how much we would owe on the AP. I am assuming that your passes were 4 day passes? Were they park hoppers?

 

[willowsnn3]

Thanks so much for the info! I am wondering with a 10 day PH pass how much we would owe on the AP. I am assuming that your passes were 4 day passes? Were they park hoppers?

Ours were 7 day tickets with park hopper/waterparks & more. Even tho we did the buy 4 get 3 deal they counted all 7 days for the pass.

 

[Bama_C]

Ours were 7 day tickets with park hopper/waterparks & more. Even tho we did the buy 4 get 3 deal they counted all 7 days for the pass.

Ahhh.... yes, that makes sense. That was an awesome deal for your family.

Though, our 10-day tickets really are mostly paid for by the fourth day... there's only appx. $20 difference per person between the 10-day PHP and the 4-day PHP. I am glad to know that someone has actually done this (exchanging MYW tix for APs), though. And thanks for letting me know you can only do the upgrade at the parks!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

quick question, please!

Is it a LOT busier during free dining? We were there last year at the tail end of it and did not notice too many crowds, but this year we are going to be there in the midst of it. We are unable to take advatage of the free dining, or the dining plan at all, but now I am worried about the crowds!

 

[wvdislover]

The parks really aren't that busy...we have had minimal waiting times the past 2 years during free dining. However, make sure you make ADR's b/c the restaurants ARE busy, and walk-ups are very rarely taken.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

The parks really aren't that busy...we have had minimal waiting times the past 2 years during free dining. However, make sure you make ADR's b/c the restaurants ARE busy, and walk-ups are very rarely taken.

Thank you! I am always good about making ADRs for each day of our trip, so i guess I'll be ok.

Thanks again!

 

[THEVACATIONFAMILY]

We are going in late September into October and I think there shouldn't be any crowds, due to kids being back in school or just starting school. We are looking so forward to going, especially my 3DD.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

We are going in late September into October and I think there shouldn't be any crowds, due to kids being back in school or just starting school. We are looking so forward to going, especially my 3DD.

I hope you are right...for both our sakes!!!

 

[THEVACATIONFAMILY]

Our dates will be from Sept. 22nd to October 2nd. Staying at All Star Sports with the in-laws in an adjacent room. We are definitely doing the countdown until we can drive down, it's only about a 7-8 hr drive from here.

 

[gr8tdame]

We have only been to WDW twice during free dining. Sept 8-18 2007, Sept 20-Oct 4 2008.
Earlier in September we had daily rain showers and several nights the Spectromagic ,Fantasmic and MNSSHP were cancelled due to the weather. Last year we only had one rainy day during our stay. The only downfall with going later in the Month and October are the increased crowds at the WS in Epcot due to the F&W festival.
ADRs are definitely necessary and bring printed copies of your ADR's with you as many a time the hostess was unable to find our reservation without them.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We are going in late September into October and I think there shouldn't be any crowds, due to kids being back in school or just starting school. We are looking so forward to going, especially my 3DD.

Half of the people there will have school age children. We, along with thousands of other families, will be taking the children out of school for free dining. It is a lower crowd time to go, but there will still be some crowds.

 

[willowsnn3]

Ahhh.... yes, that makes sense. That was an awesome deal for your family.

Though, our 10-day tickets really are mostly paid for by the fourth day... there's only appx. $20 difference per person between the 10-day PHP and the 4-day PHP. I am glad to know that someone has actually done this (exchanging MYW tix for APs), though. And thanks for letting me know you can only do the upgrade at the parks!

We had no problem. DD who was paying for the upgrade part made sure she got a printout of the transaction in detail. We upgraded at the guest relations window outside the Epcot entrance as we had ADR at San Angel Inn that evening.

 

[willowsnn3]

Our dates will be from Sept. 22nd to October 2nd. Staying at All Star Sports with the in-laws in an adjacent room. We are definitely doing the countdown until we can drive down, it's only about a 7-8 hr drive from here.

Hey neighbor to the south of me!!!! We just returned late Saturday. Mapquest says about 6 hours from me but both trips it has been around 8 cause we always get lost somewhere along the line.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Half of the people there will have school age children. We, along with thousands of other families, will be taking the children out of school for free dining. It is a lower crowd time to go, but there will still be some crowds.

We are one of those families. My kids will miss 4 days, not too bad. It is far more economical for us to go in the fall, rather than the holidays. (we with grandparents and aunts while we are there)

 

[THEVACATIONFAMILY]

Hey neighbor to the south of me!!!! We just returned late Saturday. Mapquest says about 6 hours from me but both trips it has been around 8 cause we always get lost somewhere along the line.

It takes us that long due to restroom breaks for the DD's as well as eating breaks, sometimes. Even when I drove a truck, it sometimes took that long, even at night. I just love to drive anyway, so it really doesn't bother me, as for my DW and DD's, I can't say the same thing.