Free Dining Winter 2013 Inquiry

[Turkogloop]

Alright, I've looked around a bit on the forums and in fact I spend maybe too much time on them as it is and I haven't really come to find any discussions on this one.

Does anyone have ANY idea when the Winter FD may be announced? I know the Fall one was released just recently to Visa cardholders and tomorrow it'll supposedly be released to the general public. I went to Disney last January, had scheduled January 20th-28th but then FD was announced and my dates weren't included, but January 27th-February 4th had it, and I managed to change my dates AND get all my ADRs adjusted a week forward LUCKILY! I just can't recall WHEN the FD was announced for the Winter so if anyone recalls generally when it was announced last year and can let me know so I can start preparing. I purposely booked this January's trip to the last week in January with hopes that the same general time frame will have FD once again.

Follow-up question, we are staying at AoA since we are a party of 6 and I know that if we were eligible for FD that we'd only be able to get the QSD plan since AofA is a Value resort - the question I have is, since we could upgrade to the Regular Dining plan from there does anyone know how much more it would be for a party of 6, total?
If it matters, 3 adults/3 children.

I know that was a lot of yapping, but thanks to anyone who gets through it!

Edit: I apologize also if this stuff was already answered and I missed it, which is definitely possible. Just point me in the right direction please as far as the thread and I can do my own homework on it.

 

[jenniferma]

Last year it was August 3rd. Check out www.mousesavers.com, they have all the release dates.

 

[purple figment]

The 2013 dining plan prices have been posted. If you go to the Dining Plan sub board there are several threads with the prices listed. You'll pay the difference between the QS plan and the regular DDP.

 

[TDC Nala]

There's no guarantee there will be any free dining in January, but check the previous issuances.

 

[canopynut66]

FD for 9/29/2012 started today 7/12/2012 and goes to 12/12 but has to be booked by 9/29/2012 and I was told today it is NOT available at AoA as I ask about the Little Mermaid rooms as they will be open when we go. so stayed at POP. and was $18 something per each adult per day to upgrade from QS.

 

[jennbenn]

We had free dining in Jan of 2012 - they released that information in Aug 2011. We have our fingers crossed for FD again in Jan 2013.

 

[TDC Nala]

There is a sticky thread on this board with all upgrade costs for 2012 and 2013.

 

[AMcGree]

Were you given any explanation as to why FD won't be available for guests staying at AoA in the LM rooms? My DD has her heart set on staying in the LM room at AoA, but I would love the bonus of a free dining plan (wouldn't we all?!). I'll keep my fingers crossed that something new surfaces for January of 2013, but it sounds like we might be out of luck. With a 5 night stay, it wouldn't be cost effective to upgrade to a suite to off-set the FD savings based on my late-night math calculations, though I could be wrong. Does anyone have any good solutions?

Based on the tickers, it appears that some of us will be visiting during the same week. Happy trip-planning to all.

 

[misskerri]

Were you given any explanation as to why FD won't be available for guests staying at AoA in the LM rooms? My DD has her heart set on staying in the LM room at AoA, but I would love the bonus of a free dining plan (wouldn't we all?!). I

When I talked to a CM week before last, she told me that the LM rooms are already one of the most popular room types they offer, and so promos will not apply to them.

I booked a LM room for Spring Break 2013. I am not holding my breath for any promos at all during that time, since it's peak season, but if they do have any promos, we will bail to a different resort to get the promo.

 

[TDC Nala]

The promotion is not available at the Little Mermaid rooms of AOA because they do not need a promotion to fill those rooms. You will see discounts there only if Disney thinks they need discounts to increase room capacity, and right now those rooms are popular.

 

[AMcGree]

The promotion is not available at the Little Mermaid rooms of AOA because they do not need a promotion to fill those rooms. You will see discounts there only if Disney thinks they need discounts to increase room capacity, and right now those rooms are popular.

Worth it to book at another resort for 4/5 nights to get the FD, and book a 5th night at AoA, out of package, to appease DD? Is this even a possibility? We would take quite the hit on buying theme park tickets, and dining without a plan on the 5th night, but maybe worth it? Too much to think about!

 

[TDC Nala]

That's up to you, based on how much you want to get the free dining and how much you are willing to spend to satisfy your daughter's desire to stay at AOA. There aren't any dates out yet for January free dining so you may have some time to plan. You can't even anticipate that AOA will be left off a future free dining offer for sure.

But if you do the free dining package first, then move for one night to a room only at AOA, you don't have to buy more park tickets. Buy tickets with the package that will cover the whole stay. You don't have to buy tickets that exactly match your stay at that resort. And you can dine reasonably without a dining plan if you pick the right places to eat.