Free Dining???

[Mick00]

Is free dining plan only available if you stay in the resort for 5 nights or can you still avail of the offer of you stay for a longer period. thanks

 

[Pumbaa_]

If you are able to book a stay during the free dining promotions, it can be used for longer stays. Hope that helps,

 

[lovedoggies]

Do you know when the free dining promotion is running? And how to take advantage of it?

 

[gigi1313]

free dining was already offered to european guests and "bounceback" guests that were in wdw last year for free dining... whether it will be offered to disney visa card holders and/or the general public as well remains to be seen...

the best way to learn about it/take advantage of it is to watch these boards... there's usually a head's up before disney goes public... in prior years it was announced sometime in april...

hth

 

[beroh2253]

Keep a watch here in early April. The boards will light up when it is offered.

 

[lovedoggies]

Do you know what months / dates are usually included in the Free Dining? Early oct?

 

[jenseib]

Is there a minumum amount of nights you have to stay to get it as well?

 

[beroh2253]

We were lucky we are already booked for the free DDP on the bounce back cause we were there last year "07" on the free DDP in Sept. and were able to sign up for "08". All of Sept. and I think the last half of Aug.are included. Disney use to let it run into Oct. If of number of days you booked was late Sept, and ran into Oct. but I think they closed that loophole because now each day is booked separately.
Just keep tuned to this site early April or even before that cause last year people got word of what was going to happen and put it on this site before Disney even released the informaton.
We went the last 2 years (last week in Sept. both times) and this is the best deal ever.

 

[sjms71]

We have done the dining plan 3 years now. I'm really upset that last September when we were at Pop there was no mention or indication of booking bounce back so obviously we didn't. So, I hope they offer it again.

 

[Philadisney]

How does one jump on getting the free dining plan? I have a split stay booked for the first week of September and definitely want to take advantage of free dining if its offered. do i need to purchase a package (with tickets) to get it?

 

[gigi1313]

yes, the dining plan requires a package deal... and for a split stay, you would be required to book two separate package deals, including two sets of tickets... if free dining is offered, you may want to reconsider the split stay...

 

[Philadisney]

yes, the dining plan requires a package deal... and for a split stay, you would be required to book two separate package deals, including two sets of tickets... if free dining is offered, you may want to reconsider the split stay...

Hmmmm...thanks for the tip! I will do the math and consider. I have my heart set on the 2 resorts but I imagine the plus of having free dining would make up for the extra cost of purchasing two sets of tickets.

 

[mickey2000]

In room flyer from last year (September)

 

[sjms71]

In room flyer from last year (September)

Never had one in my room

 

[gigi1313]

it was also "advertised" on resort tv... if you're in your room long enough to watch tv!

 

[sjms71]

Nope, wasn't in the room watching resort tv either!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Do you know what months / dates are usually included in the Free Dining? Early oct?

Since 2005, Disney has been offereing Free Dining during the last part of August until the end of September, give or take a few days. It has already been offered to UK visitors for this September and to those of us who were there at WDW during Free Dining this past September for the dates of August 30 - September 27 2008. The free dining for this year should be 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. Someone on the Dining board has already posted (according to their relative who is a Disney employee) that the offer will come out about April 5. The first three days will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then open to the general public, just like last year. And I'd bet good money that the poster was correct. Free Dining has been a brilliant plan on the part of Disney to fill the crowds during what was previously their slowest season, and hurrican season to boot. And then having the bounceback for free food while the free diners are there in the parks, on their Disney high, well I would call that sure marketing genius. We were there for Free Dining last year, and yes we did have fun, but we went for low crowds and there was definetly NOT low crowds during the week of Sept. 14 - 22. I hope Disney has rewarded the marketing genius who came up with Free Dining. I personally don't see it Free Dining ending anytime in the near future.

 

[jenseib]

How busy were the parks. I heard someone else say the parks were pretty empty but the resturants were really full!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

How busy were the parks. I heard someone else say the parks were pretty empty but the resturants were really full!

This is my trip report from when we went:

We went this past Sept. from 9/14 - 9/22. Now, don't get me wrong, we did have a great time. Afterall, it is Disney World and we are Disney fanatics, but we will never (and I mean never) go in September again. It was very crowded and very hot (I don't mean a little hot. I mean sweltering. When you came out of an air-conditioned ride and walked out in the heat it would take your breath way hot). I live in Alabama, I know what hot is and it was hot, hot hot. Did I mention it was hot?

It rained at least a little bit every afternoon we were there. On one day, without any warning, no menacing clouds or noticeable wind change, the sky just opened up and poured. It poured so hard, it was like the sky opened up and dumped a bucket of water on your head. There wasn't even time to put our ponchos on. By the time we drug everyone's ponchos out and put them on the rain stopped. We then left for our Ohana ADR looking like someone had just thrown us in the hotel pool - literally socked to the bone.

We did have awesome food on our trip. We ate at Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree, Planet Hollywood, 50's Primetime Cafe, Garden Grill, Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohana (best meal we had), and Crystal Palce. We had ADRs for all and always had to wait at least 20 minutes for our table. Saw them turning away walk-ups at all restaurants. Counter service was not too crowded, but we tried to eat early around 11:30 a.m.

I am a faithful fan of the UG and if it weren't for knowing about their touring plans and knowing how to utilize the Fastpasss system the lines would not have been manageable. There was the occasion that you walked up to something in the late afternoon and there was only a 10 or 15 minute wait, but most of the headliners kept 30 minute or more waits. At MK on our last day Space Mountain had a 75 minute wait at 3:30 p.m! Now, to you Christmas week, Easter week, or July 4th people that probably doesn't sound too bad, but we specifically booked these dates for low crowds, and there were not now crowds.

When we left we had every intention of booking the Free Dining bounceback for next September that they were offering, but after the terrible heat and crowds my husband said he would happily pay the $1300 we saved on this trip and put it towards a slower, cooler time to visit.

We have previously been at the end of January into the first part of February and have also been end of November into first of December and those are the times we will be planning our future WDW vacations.

I don't want to rain on anybody's September Free Dining parade (excuse the pun), but I wanted to be honest about the heat and crowds so others will know what to expect and not be disappointed.

 

[sjms71]

This was our 3rd year on FD. We have done it since the first year 2005. It is hot, there is not getting around that. However, usually no crowds make it worth it. 2007 however, I felt was by far the busiest in all 3 years. Now we have never been during Christmas week so compaired to that maybe not so bad.