Free dining...what are the odds?

[alcie27]

We're looking at going to WDW one of the following weeks. I know no one can say for sure if there will be free dining during these weeks but for those familiar with WDW promotions can you tell me which week is the most likely to have free dining?

10/12-10/19/2012
11/24-11/31/2012
12/1-12/7/2012
12/29-1/5/2013
3/23-3/30/2013

 

[MJKMom]

We always go at the end of September and have gotten free dining the last three years (maybe four.. I can't remember!) I have no idea what they will do for future, but that has just been my experience

 

[sunburnin]

Here are the dates for this year fall/winter to see: (I'd look at the days of the week and match to 2012 instead of looking at the actual dates)

Original Dates released early August?:
2011: 10/2-10/8, 10/23-11/5, 11/13-11/19, 11/27-12/3, 12/11-12/17
2012: 1/8-1/14, 1/22-2/4, 2/12-2/18, 3/4-3/10 and 3/25-3/31

Updated Dates changed last week (8/21 ish):
2011 - 10/1-10/6, 10/22-11/3, 11/12-11/17, 11/26-12/1, 12/10-12/15
2012 - 1/8-1/12, 1/21-2/2, 2/11-2/16, 3/3-3/8, 3/24-3/29

We were there the 2nd week of Dec in 2009 and again this year and will qualify for the FD. I will say that I lucked out this year. I booked to start on Dec 3 and got FD, but they changed it a few weeks later to Dec 1. Had I not booked right away I would have missed the window and had to check in on a Thurs instead of Sat. Keep an eye out for when you want to check in.

 

[purple figment]

And for further comparison here are the fall dates from last year (2010):

2010: 8/15-10/7, 10/22-28, 11/12-18, 11/27-12/2, 12/10-21

Mid October, Thanksgiving week, the first week of December (Pop Warner) and the week between Christmas and New Year were blocked out both this year and last.

 

[dvcHammer]

Also consider..dining is not "free" it's just included in the price of the room and tickets.

 

[alcie27]

Also consider..dining is not "free" it's just included in the price of the room and tickets.

Do they raise the price of lodging and tickets during free dining?

 

[debrapagliasotti]

We're looking at going to WDW one of the following weeks. I know no one can say for sure if there will be free dining during these weeks but for those familiar with WDW promotions can you tell me which week is the most likely to have free dining?

10/12-10/19/2012
11/24-11/31/2012
12/1-12/7/2012
12/29-1/5/2013
3/23-3/30/2013

I think 12/29-1/5 would be pretty unlikely for FD b/c of Christmas/New Years.
I *think* Pop Warner is the first part of Dec, so if thats the case 12/1-12/7 would probably be out.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Also consider..dining is not "free" it's just included in the price of the room and tickets.

1) Free dining comes from the hotel, not tickets.
2) It is charged to the profit of the resort.
3) That is why each resort manager determines
. . . how many rooms will be available for free dining
. . . how many each room category will be availble

 

[purple figment]

Do they raise the price of lodging and tickets during free dining?

No, but you will have to pay rack rate for the room and full price for the tickets.

 

[karrit2000]

If the dates you are looking at are weeks with Holidays in them then the "free Dining" most likely will not be offered. Looking at the dates for this year into next it appears that the week containing Columbus Day, the week with Election Day & Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and weeks like the first week of December during Pop Warner are excluded from the promotion. If you can check in a day or two before the cutoff for each blacked out period in the past you have been able to get the deal for your entire stay as long as you checked in on a date that was valid for the promotion. If you are trying for a school break time frame other than end of summer it's probably not going to happen.

 

[vicki_c]

I agree that most of your dates look like unlikely candidates for free dining.
October week that normally doesn't have free dining
Thanksgiving
First week of December - sometimes people seem to have it then, but it's becoming a more popular time of year
Christmas & New Year's - checking in on 12/29 there won't be free dining
Date in March that is spring break / close to Easter

 

[Buckimion]

Re-thinking about changing my vacation from the week after labor day to early Oct (Arriving Thursday before Cols Day) for F&W. USUALLY this time has free dining but this year it didn't even open up until a couple of weeks ago. Should I plan everything as if it will be offered and switch at the last second (ASSp standard) or cross my fingers that Sept. 12 free dining is offered soon as I expect it will and jump on that?