Free Dining ?

[Native NYer]

This question may have been asked before, but how often does the free dining promo happen? Is it released first to Disney Visa cardholders? I'm going in August. Any hope for free dining?

 

[gigi1313]

my guess is that there is hope... historically it has been released in april, to visa cardholders a few days before the general public... it has also been released to previous guests as a "bounceback" offer (in '07 it was offered as a bounceback during free dining, in '06 it was offered late nov/early dec), and it was offered to guests coming from europe as well... the time period for '08 free dining is shorter than the previous free dining years (mid-aug to early oct in '06, later aug-early oct '07, bounceback is late aug to late sept '08)

 

[Native NYer]

Thanks for the info! I'm a Disney cardholder so I'm hoping something will come up soon. Or maybe they'll be a terrific bounceback when I go on 1/16. I'd love to plan another trip for either MNSSHP or MVMCP, but would really like either free dining or some other offer. We're staying at a suite at the POLY in August and no discount!!! Thanks again for your help! :b

 

[n2mm]

Thanks for the info! I'm a Disney cardholder so I'm hoping something will come up soon. Or maybe they'll be a terrific bounceback when I go on 1/16. I'd love to plan another trip for either MNSSHP or MVMCP, but would really like either free dining or some other offer. We're staying at a suite at the POLY in August and no discount!!! Thanks again for your help! :b

You might be able to get the discount on your room for August, but don't count on the free dining for August. Last year there was only free dining offered for the last weekend of August and most of September---I know, I was hoping for mid-August free dining. You might luck out on the discounted room if it's offered next month when you go. I plan to go again mid-August and would love the free dining, but after being disappointed last year, I'm not counting on it.

 

[Native NYer]

Disney seems to offer the best discounts when most people can't go. I teach so I'm stuck to the same schedule as every other family even though I don't have kids! I'll keep my fingers crossed for a room discount!

 

[MickeyASMOM]

Hi Everyone!

I was curious of opinions on what I hope to be my booking date

I was looking at booking the end of Sept-early October. 9/26 though Oct 5th to be exact. The Food and Wine festival opens on 9/26.

While, of course, there are no guarentees, I was wondering what you thought of the likely hood of getting free dining during this week -- I sure would like to get to food and wine, lol.

I am reluctant to wait to book until the Free dining is announced, as it will be closer than 180 days and would be hard to get ADRs if I wait that long. I'd hoped to call and add on once it is announced (IF <smile>)

ALso, If I would book now, and FREE DINING dates did not land on my chosen dates, is it considered a cancellation to change dates? So I would loose $200.00 deposit?

Thanks for any opinions you all can offer,

Cathy

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney seems to offer the best discounts when most people can't go.

Which is exactly why they're offering discounts.

It's possible, but I doubt the free dining promo, when it's released for the general public, will start any sooner than August 30, the start date given for the bounceback bookings.

However, 8/10 was given as the start date for UK bookings.

The end date was 9/27.

 

[shmedly123]

Hi Everyone!

I was curious of opinions on what I hope to be my booking date

I was looking at booking the end of Sept-early October. 9/26 though Oct 5th to be exact. The Food and Wine festival opens on 9/26.

While, of course, there are no guarentees, I was wondering what you thought of the likely hood of getting free dining during this week -- I sure would like to get to food and wine, lol.

I am reluctant to wait to book until the Free dining is announced, as it will be closer than 180 days and would be hard to get ADRs if I wait that long. I'd hoped to call and add on once it is announced (IF <smile>)

ALso, If I would book now, and FREE DINING dates did not land on my chosen dates, is it considered a cancellation to change dates? So I would loose $200.00 deposit?

Thanks for any opinions you all can offer,

Cathy

Unfortunately free dining usually ends when the food and wine begins...

 

[mygr8kdz]

Hi Everyone!

I was curious of opinions on what I hope to be my booking date

I was looking at booking the end of Sept-early October. 9/26 though Oct 5th to be exact. The Food and Wine festival opens on 9/26.

While, of course, there are no guarentees, I was wondering what you thought of the likely hood of getting free dining during this week -- I sure would like to get to food and wine, lol.

I am reluctant to wait to book until the Free dining is announced, as it will be closer than 180 days and would be hard to get ADRs if I wait that long. I'd hoped to call and add on once it is announced (IF <smile>)

ALso, If I would book now, and FREE DINING dates did not land on my chosen dates, is it considered a cancellation to change dates? So I would loose $200.00 deposit?

Thanks for any opinions you all can offer,

Cathy

IF free dining comes out, I think you have a chance. Last year, there was almost a week between the last check in date for free dining and the first day of food and wine. This year, the bounceback free dining was through 9/27. I have free dining booked via this promo for 9/27-10/1.
If you book now and free dining comes out, you can call and have that discount applied, provided it is available at your resort of choice.

 

[kaytieeldr]

However, Free Dining availability at any given resort on any given night would likely depend on the already-reserved occupancy of that resort - so booking now might mean your resort of choice appears full enough on your days, that the package isn't available. Does that make sense?
Say Disney's goal is 85% occupancy (85% of the rooms being used every night). If All Star Sports' reservations are at only 70%, but All Star Movies has 90% of its rooms booked for the same nights, the package would available at ASSports, but not Movies... until/unless - possibly - enough Guests who reserved Movies on speculation, cancel.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh and - to answer the other part of the question: as long as you cancel more than 45 days in advance, you get back your entire deposit.

 

[misricsmith]

bump

 

[Native NYer]

My August package has deluxe dining. If there's free dining and I'm able to add that to my package, would I be able to upgrade to deluxe dining and pay the difference? I like that all three meals are covered each day, as well as two snacks and the resort refillable mug. I also like that we never have to eat at a counter service restaurant if we don't want to. I wonder if Disney will ever do free deluxe dining.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You SHOULD be able to, but somebody posted otherwise in another thread; on the other hand, 2008 is the first year of the Deluxe Dining Plan, so nobody (except Disney, which isn't talking ) knows for sure.

Anyway, Guests who booked a Future Stay - aka bounceback - trip for 2008 had the option of the basic plan free, or the deluxe plan for $32 per night. Either way, we save $37.99 per person per night.

 

[ABCD's Mom]

Does anyone know if there was a bounce back offered in December 2007 for December 2008?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Does anyone know if there was a bounce back offered in December 2007 for December 2008?

No, I didn't hear anything about a September bounceback this year. In December of 2006 they had a bounceback for September of 2007.

 

[PortieOwner]

I would bet fairly big money on a free dining offer this summer/fall. For one thing the dining plan has been downsized (no appetizer, no tip), but one would guess with a slower economy and higher gas prices next summer that WDW will have less bookings.

 

[Native NYer]

I hope you're right! I wouldn't mind paying a reduced price for the deluxe dining plan! I'm leaving for WDW on 1/16. I'm hoping there will be a bounceback with free dining!

 

[LBKMAMA]

IF free dining comes out, I think you have a chance. Last year, there was almost a week between the last check in date for free dining and the first day of food and wine. This year, the bounceback free dining was through 9/27. I have free dining booked via this promo for 9/27-10/1.
If you book now and free dining comes out, you can call and have that discount applied, provided it is available at your resort of choice.

I have similar dates booked 9/24 - 10/1 and have tried unsuccessfully to switch resorts with bounceback promo(my parents are coming and want to stay on MR resort) so I'm holding tight for another code or free dining ...can't give this up with a family of 5 LOL.
I am nervous though because last year's window was so short and I can't move these dates...kids have Rosh Hashanah off and I want to use that so they don't miss as many days. But now that your post and this thread in general have reminded me that the UK dates are longer and bounceback does go right up to F&W so maybe.......

 

[Native NYer]

When is free dining usually announced?