If I book now and free dining is offered ...

[Dakota731]

later, can I just add it to my reservation?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Short answer: Maybe.

If your current reservation is eligible then yes otherwise you'd have to cancel and rebook a new reservation.

If free dining is going to make or break your trip then I'd wait to see if its released and book then.

 

[Dakota731]

It just seems to be released so last minute and I like having my reservations in place!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

It just seems to be released so last minute and I like having my reservations in place!

When are you looking to go?

 

[Dakota731]

NOV or DEC

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

NOV or DEC

Well free dining is usually released the last week in April so that would still give you 180+ days to plan.
Travel dates for November are extremely limited in recent years usually just a few days toward the end of the month and in December it will be around the 6th to 22nd if you base it on this years dates.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It just seems to be released so last minute and I like having my reservations in place!

You don't even need a resort reservation to make ADRs. But I agree with the above poster - even April to August isn't last minute, never mind the seven or eight month spread.

 

[Deb & Bill]

October has been eliminated most of the time, too. If you book a stay ahead of time hoping they will add the free dining, you might have eliminated your resort by already having a reservation. They base the resorts and number of rooms in the offer to what hasn't been reserved. Free dining is just a way to fill up rooms when there are more vacant rooms. Not all resort and all the rooms at that resort are eligible for the free dining plan.