Free Dining?

[DaystarPrincess]

Does anyone know when free dining for 2016 is coming out?

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

Here are the dates for the last 3 years -- there's no set day for the release, but it's usually announced on theDis 1-2 days before the booking starts:

Stay Between (with blackouts) Book between
8/28/2015-12/21/2015* 4/27/2015 - 7/10/2015
8/31/2014 - 12/23/2014 5/7/2014 - 8/8/2014
9/29/2013 - 12/22/2013 8/1/2013 - 9/15/2013

 

[DaystarPrincess]

Are they usually the same dates every year?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

No one can be sure. This year there are cutbacks galore in the parks, and dining may follow. Bounceback offers excluded all of October and November.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Are they usually the same dates every year?

1) Ogre, I mean Iger, has stated how he wants to wean people off discounts at WDW.
. . . the dates of Free Dining have been reduced for each of the past three years
. . . the number and types of resorts offering such have been reduced
. . . the resorts that still offer such have a very limited number of rooms available for it
2) I tell people to not count on Free Dining, and if it happens, consider it serendipity.

 

[bryanb]

Remember that Free Dining isn't really free. It's tiered pricing (a.k.a. demand-based pricing). It's meant to increase bookings during certain times of the year when they would've otherwise had to provide discounts.

If they anticipate that the hotels will be rather full, they don't need to offer as much free dining... which is the equivalent of a price increase (depending on how you look at it).