Free Disney Dining in October?

[rrali33tt]

Does anyone know if the free dining plan is ever offered in October? I know the current promotion for free dining ends on 9/29. I am trying to plan a trip in October for Food and Wine festival + MNSSHP but am wondering if I should hold out for a free dining offer. My best guess is that there will not be free dining because they can make more money during Food & Wine. Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

Here is the website with the historical background on WDW discounts for the past few years:

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html


You can see there have been some dates in October for the past three years.

Will there be any this year? They're not out yet. Time will tell.

If you're going anyway, book a package and you can change to free dining if it's released.

 

[dpmfloyd]

keep an eye on the timeline, they normally open up days for october FD late into the summer... so book now and try to get it added later.

i had a trip booked 2 years ago for late october and FD was extended, called up WDW Reservations and was fortunate to have it added it to my reservation. Saved me a bundle!

 

[rrali33tt]

Thank you for the information! That list of deals is very helpful!

Right now I am trying to decide whether or not to rent DVC points for my planned vacation or book a package on my own since I am having trouble getting the dates I want through a DVC rental. If I could get free dining, it would end up being cheaper to book a package.

If I book now, do I just book room + park tickets and if free dining becomes available ask for it? I was going to add the dining plan to my DVC rental (or package) regardless because I really like the dining plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

You've got a dilemma.

If you decide to wait for the free dining you would need to book a package with tickets, not room only. Room only would have to be cancelled and rebooked as a package. If you already have a package you can call and have free dining applied to it, if the resort has availability for your dates when you call.

What you'd have to watch out for is the chance that either they don't offer free dining in October at all, or they do and your check-in date is blacked out. The Mousesavers list really doesn't say anything about the blackout dates. they're not the same from year to year but there have been a few dates blacked out around Columbus Day.

But then if you wait, you don't have as much opportunity to rent DVC points.

And if you rent DVC points you would have trouble cancelling just so you can book with free dining instead.

 

[beroh2253]

We booked last Saturday for Oct. 19-26 @ POP, took the AAA discount but if the FD comes around for those dates we will switch like we did the past few years. FD saves more the AAA discount. This could be our first year with the QSDP but will leave more time to graze at the Food and Wine Fest., just bumbed they removed on of the SC per day. We will book a few TS and pay OOP.