How does free DDP work?

[TeresaG]

Hi all!

Brand new here, so I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, (or if it's been answered 100x and I just can't find it ) but can someone explain how the free DDP works?

We're looking to go in Sept and stay in a Value resort (maybe Music so we can book a family suite) and from reading this board I keep seeing mention of the possibility of free dining. We were going to get the DDP anyway, so if it's free that'd be a nice bonus!

Can someone help me out?

Thanks!!

 

[RMulieri]

The free dining plan is a promo that has been offered the last few years to boost attendance during hurricaine/down season. IF it becomes available to the general public this year ( it has already been offered as part of the bounceback promo and to UK visitors) It is generally made public at the begiining of April for Disney visa holders first closely followed by the general public.As others have said not every resort always participates.Most often it is the ones that are running below occupancy for a given time. The dates ususally are from mid august till about the 3rd week of Sept only( usually it ends about the time Food and wine festival begins ).If those are your dates and the rsort of your choice has avail. then you can ask for the free dining promo.They don't automatically give to you...even if you already booked the dining plan.As of 2008 there have been chgs to the dining plan and gratuities are not included...so even if the dining plan is free, you still need to tip. Hope this helps...

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Hi all!

Brand new here, so I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, (or if it's been answered 100x and I just can't find it ) but can someone explain how the free DDP works?

We're looking to go in Sept and stay in a Value resort (maybe Music so we can book a family suite) and from reading this board I keep seeing mention of the possibility of free dining. We were going to get the DDP anyway, so if it's free that'd be a nice bonus!

Can someone help me out?

Thanks!!

Since 2005, Disney has been offereing Free Dining during the last part of August until the end of September, give or take a few days. It has already been offered to UK visitors for this September and to those of us who were there at WDW during Free Dining this past September for the dates of August 30 - September 27 2008. The free dining for this year should be announced during the first week of April. The first couple of days it will only be open to Disney Visa holders and then will open up to the general public, as in previous years.

The All-Star Music suites are not offered during the Free Dining promo. Other Disers have said that they are never offered in a discount promo of any kind. I don't know about never, but they were not available when we tried to book it last year. We got two rooms at POP. We did not not book the bounceback because the heat was really bad and we specifically went for low crowds and the week we were there, Sept. 14 - 22, we did not find the crowds low.