free dining

[mickeysbiggestfan]

We are going Nov 6-13th. Of course, this would be during the blackout. Any ideas on why? Also do they ever lift the black outs? Do you think there is any chance we will get free dining?

 

[southcarolinagirl]

I have reports of a new pin that is being emailed out for FD during some of the blackout dates, maybe you will get lucky! Fingers crossed for you!

 

[mcd2745]

How does one get on the mailing list for such "pins".

 

[ccgirl]

I think it is because it is Veteran's Day weekend. Generally, holiday weekends are always blacked out as they are, traditionally, busier.

As long as you check in 1 day before the blackout period; the FD will continue throughout your trip.

 

[squirrel]

As long as you check in 1 day before the blackout period; the FD will continue throughout your trip.

Can you go any earlier?

Nobody knows for sure how you get picked for a PIN. Sign into the Disney website and price out some vacations. Check out the park maps that you can customize and have sent. Sometimes you don't get an e-mail or regular mail to let you know you have a PIN available. You can try to phone in and check, but some people have reported that CM's won't check for them.

 

[free2div]

We are checking in the last day of before blackout and are getting it for the entire 9 days we are there. If they offer it earlier than yes but I dont think you get it if FD starts up after you check in

 

[TDC Nala]

It's all about your check-in date. If that date is during a blackout period, you're not eligible, unless you book a second reservation with a check-in date during the active promotion period. If you check in during the promotion period, even if you check in on the last day, the promotion is good for your whole stay. It appears Disney has determined that occupancy is high enough between October 29 and November 12 that it doesn't need to offer general public free dining to fill rooms for those check-in dates.

If you get a PIN offer that might open the dates up, but you have to receive one personally to be able to use it.

 

[lor]

I was lucky enough to get a pin number and we are checking in earlier and getting free dining ..so yes it does happen!

 

[LoveBeingSAHM]

The regular Free Dining offer excluded us too - we check in on Nov 23rd but a week later we got a pin for free dining and the blackout date was moved to Nov 24th - so we are able to use it for our entire 10 day stay since we check in on the 23rd- YAY!!!!

Pixie Dust to you all!!!

 

[aubriee]

Don't feel bad, both my Oct and my Dec trips managed to fall in black out periods (Oct 9th-17th and Dec 4th-12th). We missed free dining both times by just a day or two. Now that really sucks!

 

[leebee]

I never in my life received a pin until I tried this... then got 3 pins within one week!
Go to www.disney.go.com to plan a vacation. Make sure you check "off site" when they ask about your accommodations. Then SAVE this itinerary. I guess this makes the system think you want to come to disney but are staying offsite so they send you a pin to tempt you to stay onsite. It's worth a try. I definitely never entered a credit card number, so it's not like you are reserving anything! This seemed to work for me. Good luck!!

Also, somewhere on the boards is a link to apply for a Disney VISA card through DVC (budget board maybe?). After being approved and you get the credit card, after the first charge they will send you a $100 Disney gift card. This clearly isn't as good as the free dining plan, but if DH gets a card in his name and DW gets a card in her name, that'd be TWO $100 gift cards to take the edge off not having free dining. (I am not going to use this card after the initial purchase... all my rewards points are on my regular DIS visa account!)