Free Dining?

[DaystarPrincess]

Does Disney offer the same free dining every year around the same time? Looking into another trip but hoping to hit the free dining again. In October it was just luck we got the free dining because it came up the week we already had booked. I would definitely like to go again when they offer the free dining so convenient.

 

[englishrose47]

I believe they frequently have it mid August thru early September . Then often again in the Fall but I think it is a waiting game !!!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Check out this link CLICK HERE .

It includes a history of which type of discount was offered and when (and also when that discount became available to the public). As you can see, October is included in free dining. Sometimes not the entire month of october, but usually part of it. Free dining typically runs from mid/end August until end of Sept....part of Oct....well, just click the link and see. Free dining is a great deal indeed. I dont like to pay for it but when its offered free, I cant resist. Its a better deal for us than the room discount.

 

[lubob]

Just be cautious it is only select dates during the free dinning period it's not four full months that the promo makes it seem to be .

 

[MakiraMarlena]

it is usually all of September but at times doesn't start until after Labor Day - most likely it is all of September. Then select dates are released for October-December. With more blackout periods and fewer rooms available each year, or at least it seems that way.

At this time it would be highly unusual for general public free dining for US guests to be offered at any time other than September-December. not that it definitely won't happen, but they have pretty much phased it out at other times in favor of different offers. January-March often gets Stay Play and Dine, which is a package discount but not free dining.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Free Dining is still held to fill SELECTED resorts.
2) However, Ogre (I mean Iger) said three years ago he wanted to wean WDW from discounts.
3) The number of resort and the number of Free Dining rooms at those resorts are dwindling.
4) And, people still keep coming.
5) Look for the same diminishing volume of resorts and rooms to continue.

NOTE: It is the "guess' of some of us (ONLY A RUMOR AND UNSUBSTANTIATED BY FACT), that Free Dining could be gone in 1-2 years. We keep seeing more and more discounts and even employee perks being cut, so it makes sense. Besides, the resorts pay for Free Dining, not Dining nor WDW Corporate, and those individual General Managers want to make a greater profit margin for their annual bonuses. Since it is the Resort General Manager who decides whether to grant Free Dining and how many rooms to devote, the offer can change radically each year.

 

[goofyintoronto]

1) Free Dining is still held to fill SELECTED resorts.
2) However, Ogre (I mean Iger) said three years ago he wanted to wean WDW from discounts.
3) The number of resort and the number of Free Dining rooms at those resorts are dwindling.
4) And, people still keep coming.
5) Look for the same diminishing volume of resorts and rooms to continue.

NOTE: It is the "guess' of some of us (ONLY A RUMOR AND UNSUBSTANTIATED BY FACT), that Free Dining could be gone in 1-2 years. We keep seeing more and more discounts and even employee perks being cut, so it makes sense. Besides, the resorts pay for Free Dining, not Dining nor WDW Corporate, and those individual General Managers want to make a greater profit margin for their annual bonuses. Since it is the Resort General Manager who decides whether to grant Free Dining and how many rooms to devote, the offer can change radically each year.

But I like free dining.

 

[Pmlocke]

This will be the first year I have not had free dining for my trip in February. I have heard that due to the parks attendance increasing every year, the need to entice the public to visit the parks with free dining is no longer necessary. Only a rumor but I have to accept what I see as true.

 

[AngiTN]

Worth noting that the 2016 free dining bounceback offer excluded ALL of Oct. There is always a chance the general public offer will do the same. I'm not certain but I think this was a further reduction from past years too

 

[SGMCO]

We're hoping for FD also!! Please, Please, Please!!!
We will be going Sept. 10-18 and I picked that week because of the chance of getting FD and lower Crowds.
If there is a busy Hurricane Season that also may scare away vacationers.
We were there in 2008 for Free Dining and the Hurricanes were lined up in the Atlantic, like rush hour traffic.
It was the best week we had ever gone, empty parks and resort, free food, weather was not bad at all, we wedged in between two hurricanes.
It was just lucky trip timing!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I have heard that due to the parks attendance increasing every year, the need to entice the public to visit the parks with free dining is no longer necessary.

1) This might be the public excuse.
2) However, Ogre (I mean Iger) made the statement about weaning people from discounts three years ago.
3) And, has repeated the intent since (see below quote).
4) Remember,
. . . greater discount levels mean greater revenue
. . . greater revenue means greater profit
. . . greater profit means great stock prices
. . . greater stock price mean greater bonuses and greater salary increases
.

.
Discussing 2nd Quarter Results: Bob Iger and Jay Rasulo were discussing the report in a press conference when Rasulo said that Disney was still in the process of "weaning" guests off of expecting discounts. That the process was continuing but not fully accomplished . . . The consumer, Rasulo said, is willing to pay higher prices for good product but are still booking late expecting discounts. Disney still wants to send a message to consumers that discounting is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, it appears to be working . . .