Free Dining?

[Goofy Lover 24]

Good Morning! DH and I were throwing ideas out with some friends to take a group trip down to Disney World next July or August. Does anyone know the typical time frame that Disney offers the free dining for? We would love to plan the trip around this time and deal.

Thanks!

 

[KatMark]

Good Morning! DH and I were throwing ideas out with some friends to take a group trip down to Disney World next July or August. Does anyone know the typical time frame that Disney offers the free dining for? We would love to plan the trip around this time and deal.

Thanks!

It is usually offered the latter part of August through mid-September.

 

[JoePa4Ever]

The free dining promotion typically runs the last week of August thru September.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Good Morning! DH and I were throwing ideas out with some friends to take a group trip down to Disney World next July or August. Does anyone know the typical time frame that Disney offers the free dining for? We would love to plan the trip around this time and deal.

Thanks!

Since 2005 Disney has been offering the Free Dining Package for 3 day minium/14 day maxium Magic Your Way trip packages booked around the end of August through September. In the past, the promo has come out the first week of April and is open to Disney Visa Card holders for the first 3 days and then opens to the general public for bookings. The Free Dining booking window for this year closed on June 22.

 

[Tink3Bell]

Make sure you find out the dates they offer it it is different every year.

 

[NavyMomX2]

I've been wondering how folks find out about the free dining, "codes", etc. Are these sent via e-mail or snail mail? Do you have to sign up, buy season pass, etc., to be included in the notifications????
Thanks!
Donna

 

[LegoMom3]

Codes are offered via e-mail or postcard. They typically offer a discount on a room.

Free Dining does not require a code, and is offered to anyone (as a PP said, it's open first to Disney Visa card holders, but then the general public). I have always seen the Free Dining promotion advertised here on the DIS boards, through Dreams Unlimited (link found at the top of the DIS), and on the Disney web site itself. You just have to check in around early April to see if it's being offered again!

Someone else mentioned dates - the window for Free Dining has shrunk over the last few years. I think the first year it was offered, it was mid-August right through the end of September. This year it's shorter by 2 or 3 weeks.

.

 

[fastpass11]

Mid Aug - Sept.

 

[lsutiggergirl]

also whenever free dining deals are offered you'll see message boards like these talk about quite frequently!! check allearsnet.com every day in the spring too for the fall free dining updates!

 

[vleeth]

I know I'll be checking the boards everyday in April, probably more than once a day...like I'm not doing that already

 

[Cinderaven]

Hi everybody, I just want to let you know that if you call WDW and request the free dining package when you are there during the free dining time, you can book it a year in advance and have your choice of resorts.

You will need to put a deposit down to hold your room at that time.

That's what we have been doing for the past few years. it works out great, and we don't have to wait for the rush in April.

 

[kaytieeldr]

That is not NECESSARILY accurate.

There was no Bounceback promotion in 2005 for the 2006 Free Dining period.

In 2006, Guests who stayed onsite in November and December 2006 could book the Free Dining Package BounceBack (officially, "Future Stay Program") for a predetermined period spanning much of August/September 2007.

In 2007, Guests already at Walt Disney World during the 2007 Free Dining Promotion were given the opportunity to book their 2008 Future Stay/Bounceback Free Dining packages.

So, you see - it's not always available, and the conditions are not always the same.

 

[jennykay]

Another thing to keep in mind - you may have to ask for it. I called wdw in April to get a quote for our Sept trip and she asked if I wanted to add the dining plan. I told her that I thought it was free during that time, and she said "You just said the magic words! You just have to ask for it." So, I guess if I hadn't asked they would have charged me during free dining! If you book through AAA though, they should let you know about stuff like that. Have fun with the trip!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

That is not NECESSARILY accurate.

There was no Bounceback promotion in 2005 for the 2006 Free Dining period.

In 2006, Guests who stayed onsite in November and December 2006 could book the Free Dining Package BounceBack (officially, "Future Stay Program") for a predetermined period spanning much of August/September 2007.

In 2007, Guests already at Walt Disney World during the 2007 Free Dining Promotion were given the opportunity to book their 2008 Future Stay/Bounceback Free Dining packages.

So, you see - it's not always available, and the conditions are not always the same.

This is correct. There is absolutely no way of knowing if they will offer the same bounceback that they did last year. We won't know until the first of the free diners come back and post here on the DIS.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Codes are offered via e-mail or postcard. They typically offer a discount on a room.

Free Dining does not require a code, and is offered to anyone (as a PP said, it's open first to Disney Visa card holders, but then the general public). I have always seen the Free Dining promotion advertised here on the DIS boards, through Dreams Unlimited (link found at the top of the DIS), and on the Disney web site itself. You just have to check in around early April to see if it's being offered again!

Someone else mentioned dates - the window for Free Dining has shrunk over the last few years. I think the first year it was offered, it was mid-August right through the end of September. This year it's shorter by 2 or 3 weeks.

.

If you book during the first few days that the offer is open to Disney Visa holders, you will need a code. Usually, as soon as it's emailed out, it pops up here on the DIS. When I called I had to specially ask for the FD offer and give the rep the FD code.

 

[thepwa]

The Free Dining Plan offer was advertised on the WDW officail website also. That is where I booked my trip the past two years.

But, if you ask me, this board is the best place to find out when the offer is available.

 

[otisandmaggie]

We're going during free dining this year, but I NEVER heard a word from my Disney Visa about it (and yes, I'm signed up for all of their e-mails) If not for the Dis board, we would have missed out - so even if you have a Disney Visa, don't assume that you'll get notice from them.

 

[freesone]

It's a great deal if you can get it. This will be our third year taking advantage of it, and we save fortune.

 

[Jen M]

If you sign up for their HELLO news letter it has all the monthly specials in it each month.

 

[CdnDisneyNut]

I was able to book the free dining on April 10th for our trip over Labour Day weekend. If I had a Disney Visa i would been able to book a couple of days earlier. Check the boards end of March beginning of April next year.