History of Free DDP? and a few other questions of course

[tick221]

Good morning,

We are trying to start planning for our vacation of all vacations for next september for either 7 or 10 days. I want to increase our chance of getting free dining if its offered so I'm wondering if it would be better to wait and see if a code comes out or to book now and adjust the dates as needed?

Also if the cut off date for free dining occurs during the week that we are there, can we just purchase DDP for the remaining days?(ie if DDP expires on 9/22 and we stay until 9/24 can we just purchase those two days?)

Also, Also, I've read that usually free dining happens during this time period but how many years have they dont this. Just trying to get a good feel for the odds.

Thanks in advance

Alec

 

[bicker]

If the free dining promotion ends on a certain date, any vacation with check-in on that date qualified, up to 10 nights.

 

[cobbler]

They have done the free dining for 3 years now. It started in 2005. There is no way of knowing if they will do it again.

And you can get the free dining for your entire stay (up to 10 nights) as long as your check in is during the qualified free dining period. So if it is for check in dates 9/1 - 9/22 and you check out on 9/24, you will still have it the last 2 nights as your check in was during that qualified time.

 

[lustergirl]

I have always booked my vacation our september month well in advance and then the free dining promo usually comes out in April or May. You can call disney and have them switch your package to include the free dining plan and they will adjust the plan's money off of your total bill.

I hope this helps!!

 

[tick221]

Thanks for the great news,

Now for a more difficult one - does anyone know the dates that they offered free dining for the last three years. We are thinking of going from Sept 19-29, 2008 and want to try and maximize our chances of getting free dining(if they offer it)

Thanks again

 

[pooch]

Based on the fact that you can no longer get room rate carry-overs (ie; check in during Value season and have that rate the entire stay even the stay extends into another season) it's likely that IF Free Dining is offered next year, and we say this every year, you will not be able to check in at the end of the promotion and have it extend past the end date. You may have to actually be there during the promotional dates to get FDDP for your entire stay.

We so love to speculate here!!

 

[Laren]

I would never recommend that anyone try to plan a trip based on the hopes of getting free dining.

This year a lot of people were disappointed that August dates from the previous year weren't included this year. They had made all kinds of reservations and plans and then had to change because they couldn't afford the trip without free dining.

I have lurked on the boards here a lot longer than I've posted here (took awhile to get brave enough to wade into the water LOL) and have a LOT of disney planning experience (40+trips in my lifetime, including a wedding which was off property but included on property dining/rooms/etc for more than a dozen people) and I would say, don't stress about it. Book your trip the time that you can best afford to go, and best like the conditions (ie: usual crowd sizes, school if you have kids if that's a concern, etc) but do not try to speculate on free dining, esp. not more than a year in advance. You're setting yourself up for a lot of stress if you do!

Frankly I'd be shocked if they offer it next year. They've consistently cut back the time span of the free offer every year and now with the new changes to the DDP, it just seems highly unlikely to me. I think tourism is back up in the fall now and they just don't need to offer it to fill the rooms.

But I wish you luck if you do go for it!!!

Laren

 

[Tess'smom]

I have always booked my vacation our september month well in advance and then the free dining promo usually comes out in April or May. You can call disney and have them switch your package to include the free dining plan and they will adjust the plan's money off of your total bill.

I hope this helps!!

I tried to do this for September 2007 and was told that I could not switch my package to the Free dining promotion and keep the same resort. I had to re-book and take another resort that was available. I guess I could have switched back after the two week hold time and probably could have gotten my first choice again when more rooms opened up again.

 

[tick221]

I think it may be better to book with DDP and then if they offer it get a refund.

Anyone had this happen?

 

[TDC Nala]

I would never recommend that anyone try to plan a trip based on the hopes of getting free dining.

I agree with this...they may further restrict the promotion, they may limit availability by once again offering the bounceback promotion as well, or they may decide they don't need this promotion to fill rooms in September anymore.

I'd plan on the trip for sure if I knew I was going to go anyway during that time, and if free dining is offered that's just a bonus.