Free Fall Dining?

[mshanson3121]

Why is the value eroded? Seriously? The value of the DP has eroded significantly throughout the years. ie: The plan used to include an appetizer, now it does not. The plan used to include gratuities, now it does not. The plan did not used to require the purchase of additional items (such as water parks & hoppers) but now it does. Let's not forget how inflated the actual menu prices are now - this adds up to quite a bit of money in gratuities. If a person is purchasing the plan, the cost has risen tremendously while the value of what a person gets on the plan has lessoned. Even if going during a "free" DP window, it's still costing more by requiring the extra purchases and the fact that the inflated menu prices create a larger out of pocket gratuity. Has the dining plan been eroded? Yes, yes it has.

Forgive my ignorance, I'm not all that familiar with DDP/free dining etc... you have to purchase the Water Parks/Hoppers option, in order to get free dining?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Forgive my ignorance, I'm not all that familiar with DDP/free dining etc... you have to purchase the Water Parks/Hoppers option, in order to get free dining?

Yes, last year the promotion required the purchase of Park Hopper OR water park fun and more tickets

 

[montugirl]

Some sites are saying 4/25 is when the information will be released.

 

[1sttimedisneymama]

Some sites are saying 4/25 is when the information will be released.

This is what I've read as well

 

[mshanson3121]

Yes, last year the promotion required the purchase of Park Hopper OR water park fun and more tickets

That's a joke! That kind of defeats the purpose of "free" dining, when you have to spend more money to get it. "Discounted dining" maybe, but not free.

 

[Disneylover99]

That's a joke! That kind of defeats the purpose of "free" dining, when you have to spend more money to get it. "Discounted dining" maybe, but not free.

It's not a joke if you always add hopper or water parks to your ticket anyways. Besides, you are paying rack rate for your room to get the free dining, so unless there is no other discount available during your time frame, you're paying more for your room then someone who opts to take a room discount. Only you can determine if this is a good deal for your family.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Was it this thread that was talking about the luggage tags that match the magic bands?

If so , just want to report that we received our magic bands today, and their were NO luggage tags. We have reservations through that certain magical agency, which includes 2 rooms, park hopper passes for three of the four (I have an annual pass, they don't )., plus the dining plan for all four.

Look under your magic bands.
I got my magic bands for our November trip last year and didn't think I got my luggage tags either, but I took the boxlike holder for the magic bands completely out of the Incredible's box and voila! there they were!

 

[jlundeen]

Look under your magic bands.
I got my magic bands for our November trip last year and didn't think I got my luggage tags either, but I took the boxlike holder for the magic bands completely out of the Incredible's box and voila! there they were!

Thanks for your reply...I have since found out that unless the reservation is booked as a "MYW" package, there are no luggage tags. Apparently the group/convention rates (which are worth a WHOLE lot more than the plastic luggage tags) don't qualify as a "MYW" package, But I saved a bundle (over $1500 on two rooms), so I'm a happy camper.

 

[AngiTN]

Thanks for your reply...I have since found out that unless the reservation is booked as a "MYW" package, there are no luggage tags. Apparently the group/convention rates (which are worth a WHOLE lot more than the plastic luggage tags) don't qualify as a "MYW" package, But I saved a bundle (over $1500 on two rooms), so I'm a happy camper.

Yep, we can't/won't ever get luggage tags. As AP holders we won't ever book a MYW package. Sucks that we give Disney lots of money for an AP and we can't get the tags.

 

[jlundeen]

Yep, we can't/won't ever get luggage tags. As AP holders we won't ever book a MYW package. Sucks that we give Disney lots of money for an AP and we can't get the tags.

Our resv for Nov/Dec is a MYW package, but since my AP expires in Oct, I will decide later if A) I want to upgrade again to AP when we get there - depends on if I can talk my sister into a April 2017 trip - B) or renew in Oct when AP discounts come out for our dates, if our resort is included in discount, C) or let the AP expire and keep the rack rate room.

Too many options/decisions.... HA HA HA

 

[PolyRob]

A ticketless package includes the room OR the room and a dining plan. When you plan to add components at a later date, it is recommended to book what's called a basic package, which can only have a room on it or a room with a dining plan.

A true room only starts with a number 4 components cannot be added to it.

Any PACKAGE (whether it be basic, ticketless, with tickets, with dining or without) begins with a 3 or a 6. These are the only PACKAGES that components (such as tickets or dining) can be added to.

A vacation package has a combination of 8 letters and numbers. It will begin with a 1, 3, 6 or 8 depending on how it was booked.
A dining promotion will require tickets. For the last couple of years it was a minimum of a two day park hopper.

I tried reading through all the pages, so please forgive me if I am being repetitive in my question.

I will be taking my first trip to Disney World this May with my family. I am on a MYW plan, with park hopper tickets. As soon as I arrive, I plan on upgrading my ticket to an AP to receive free Memory Maker in the form of PhotoPass+, a discount on all my Club Villain tickets, and TIW (which I realized will save me more money than the dining plan I had originally booked in my package after some number crunching in Excel).

I will be making another trip in the Fall which appears to be during free dining time. I understand since I will have an AP, and so will all of my friends, that we will NOT be entitled to free dining.

My question is what form of room/package should I book to enter the system 180 days in advance for dining? I considered just logging onto the WDW website, and booking a room for the period I plan on going so I can map out all my meals well in advance. I plan on using whatever room discount is highest based on what is released to the general public, annual pass holders, Disney Visa Studio/Villa, or a pin from a prior trip. Will selecting a "basic package" booked over the phone rather than a "room only" booked online allow me to apply a discount easier?

 

[Shmily1]

I tried reading through all the pages, so please forgive me if I am being repetitive in my question.

I will be taking my first trip to Disney World this May with my family. I am on a MYW plan, with park hopper tickets. As soon as I arrive, I plan on upgrading my ticket to an AP to receive free Memory Maker in the form of PhotoPass+, a discount on all my Club Villain tickets, and TIW (which I realized will save me more money than the dining plan I had originally booked in my package after some number crunching in Excel).

I will be making another trip in the Fall which appears to be during free dining time. I understand since I will have an AP, and so will all of my friends, that we will NOT be entitled to free dining.

My question is what form of room/package should I book to enter the system 180 days in advance for dining? I considered just logging onto the WDW website, and booking a room for the period I plan on going so I can map out all my meals well in advance. I plan on using whatever room discount is highest based on what is released to the general public, annual pass holders, Disney Visa Studio/Villa, or a pin from a prior trip. Will selecting a "basic package" booked over the phone rather than a "room only" booked online allow me to apply a discount easier?

As to your second paragraph, you do have options. If you book at an AP rate, you won't get free dining. You can book with the free dining rate and get it but you would be required to have tickets with the package. You could then use the tickets that come with the package later or you could use them to renew your AP when it is time.

Third paragraph, you can book anything to get the 180 + days as long as all the dining you wants falls into the time frame you have booked. The discounts would come out at the same time unless you use a Disney Visa deal to book it. In that case, it comes out a couple days early. One snag to your plan is that if you book it as room only then change it later to a package, the CM would cancel the reservation for your room only to book you under a package. If you book it now as a package and later use a discount code on it, a cancel/rebook would not be required as they would simply add the discount to the package you have.

 

[babydoll65]

It's not a joke if you always add hopper or water parks to your ticket anyways. Besides, you are paying rack rate for your room to get the free dining, so unless there is no other discount available during your time frame, you're paying more for your room then someone who opts to take a room discount. Only you can determine if this is a good deal for your family.

And actually, if you go in September, the rack rates are lower than most times of the year. I'm going September 10th-18th at Pop century. The rack rate I paid is 114$ per night. That same room at the beginning of August is 150$ per night, even with a 20% discount, I'm still paying less on my full priced room.

 

[PolyRob]

As to your second paragraph, you do have options. If you book at an AP rate, you won't get free dining. You can book with the free dining rate and get it but you would be required to have tickets with the package. You could then use the tickets that come with the package later or you could use them to renew your AP when it is time.

Third paragraph, you can book anything to get the 180 + days as long as all the dining you wants falls into the time frame you have booked. The discounts would come out at the same time unless you use a Disney Visa deal to book it. In that case, it comes out a couple days early. One snag to your plan is that if you book it as room only then change it later to a package, the CM would cancel the reservation for your room only to book you under a package. If you book it now as a package and later use a discount code on it, a cancel/rebook would not be required as they would simply add the discount to the package you have.

Thank you for your input! It looks like a "basic package" will be our best option for now so we can book dining reservations, and apply the promotion that works best when it appears. I also appreciate the information about applying package tickets as a future renewal payment. I had no idea this was an option, but it makes sense considering I can use my current package ticket and upgrade it for the initial annual pass

 

[hope59]

We were able to book a bounce back for October 1-12th with free dining. Park hopper was required. October 1st was the last day you were allowed to check in for the promotion.

We did too but not during the date we wanted. Kids will just have to miss school. They are SO disappointed!

 

[Kshell40]

Look under your magic bands.
I got my magic bands for our November trip last year and didn't think I got my luggage tags either, but I took the boxlike holder for the magic bands completely out of the Incredible's box and voila! there they were!

Same thing to us.

 

[csparky61]

Any news yet on when the end of summer/fall offers are coming out?

I believe that is Jersey week, and free dining has never been offered during Jersey week to my knowledge.

 

[1sttimedisneymama]

I believe that is Jersey week, and free dining has never been offered during Jersey week to my knowledge.

Which week is Jersey week?

 

[jannalynn_11]

Which week is Jersey week?

11/7-11/11 is Jersey week this year; it's later than usual, so lots of confusion about how the blackout will go. The last few years, FD has been blocked Sunday before to the Saturday after, so if this continues, it would be blocked Sun 11/6-Sat 11/12 this year. I also read that people usually just take the whole week off, but this year, the schools are actually out the whole week.

 

[1sttimedisneymama]

Okay thanks! We are planning on going Oct 30-Nov 6