Free Disney Dining

[aussiejen]

Hi Everyone

Im really hoping someone can help me outhere. Sorry if it sounds like a silly question.
Im from Australia and been to DL & WDW but have never really got the whole free Dining thing.
The way i see it if you book a WDW package as we already have for Sept this year, and free dining comes up does this mean we get some meals for free daily during our stay? or is there a catch?

Also if a discount comes up for the same time on our room rate can we claim both Dining & the discount or is it one or the other?

thank you all in advance

 

[wilkeliza]

Hi Everyone

Im really hoping someone can help me outhere. Sorry if it sounds like a silly question.
Im from Australia and been to DL & WDW but have never really got the whole free Dining thing.
The way i see it if you book a WDW package as we already have for Sept this year, and free dining comes up does this mean we get some meals for free daily during our stay? or is there a catch?

Also if a discount comes up for the same time on our room rate can we claim both Dining & the discount or is it one or the other?

thank you all in advance

You have to actually apply the discount and being in Australlia you may not be eligible for the US discounts. It does not automatically happen.

Yes there is a catch. There are ticket and night minimums for the packages. Also there aren't many rooms under the discount itself so it may already be fully booked for your dates.

 

[aussiejen]

ok, thank you for that. i will give my resort a call to see if im eligible.

 

[lanejudy]

You'll pay rack rate (which is the highest rate) for the room if you do a free dining offer. And as PP mentions, you would need to purchase the minimum requirements with your package, which I believe is a park hopper or park hopper plus ticket and memory maker (and coming from Australia I'm sure the minimum nights stay isn't an issue for you). If you have a package specifically offered in Australia, not a standard U.S. package, the free dining likely could not be applied without canceling what you already have booked. I know guests in the U.K. have access to packages and tickets not offered in the U.S., I'm not sure about Australia.

There are often room-only discounts offered for the same or similar dates as free dining and other promotions. You'd have to crunch the numbers to know which is the best offer for you. For my family, and the way we eat, the room-only discount is often a better deal unless we are staying at a value resort.

Discounts and special offers are limited -- only a certain number are available, and also only for certain resorts and/or room categories. You may need to change resorts and/or room location if you wish to have a discount or special package offer applied to your reservation. Weigh the pros and cons and decide what is most important to your family.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[chalee94]

Hi Everyone
The way i see it if you book a WDW package as we already have for Sept this year, and free dining comes up does this mean we get some meals for free daily during our stay? or is there a catch?

Also if a discount comes up for the same time on our room rate can we claim both Dining & the discount or is it one or the other?

thank you all in advance

The "free dining" promotion means that you get the Disney Dining Plan for "free" for each night of your package.

The catch is that you pay full price ("rack rate") for your room for each night of the package.

Still a good deal for some but you do give up other possible discounts and lose some flexibility in your dining options.