Is Free Dining going to be the only promotion for next summer?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since WDW already announced the dates for Free Dining next summer does that mean we won't see any other room only discount promotions or will they eventually come out with other Annual Pass rates and etc?

 

[disneyfan55]

My guess is that room only discounts will follow like they have in the past and are now. FD is really the only offer I can think of that has been projected to such future dates (this years date range was never this long aside from bounceback) The room only bounce back might be a thing of the past since FD is all year for the most part-but who knows. Time will tell.

 

[ancestry]

I think that there will be other offers. FD seems to be the best value if you stay at a moderate or value. Not so good of a value at the deluxes -- at least in my calculation.

I believe they will be offering some type of discount or promotion that will help them fill the deluxes.

 

[fla4fun]

AP and Florida Resident rates are kind of like a clearance sale, so it will depend on how their occupancy rates are whether they will offer them. Since they are already offering a GP code for January and part of February, I doubt if the room only discounts will disappear completely - but you never know.

If I remember correctly, bouncebacks for 2010 started later in 2009 - like October or November, so we should know in a few weeks whether the rumor about discountinuing bouncebacks is valid or not.

Bottom line, they will do what they have to in order to fill their rooms. If their occupancy rates are high enough with just the free dining promotion, then they won't need to offer anything else (which would be bad for me because free dining is the worst promotion for a solo staying deluxe).

 

[kadesha]

I hope there is going to be some other offer because there really isn't a ton of free dining dates. They block out most of March, April, and May and the summer. I am looking for something for May. Hope they release something!!!

 

[tony67]

I think it will really depend on how well the free dinning does.
I would expect room only and AP and not much more.
They may add more dates to the free dinning if they need too.

If they are not filling rooms than they will have more offers, not sure what though.
Maybe free dinning and a gift card?
They will only offer what they need too.

I was really surprised there were no Disney Visa offers this year for Oct-Dec.
I’d like to see something more for the Visa card.

 

[MickeyEars]

I don't know if other offers will be offered but I was never so happy in all my days as I was when our May/June trip dates were included in the free dining promo!!
We have been going at the end of May first of June every year for the past 20 years and we have never gotten free dining. We are 4 Disney adults now so we saved $1655 with free dining!!

I can't wait to go!!
Carla

 

[Dismom55]

We were going for the first part of May, but switched to the end of May begining of June to take advantage of Free Dining, with two adults that saved us about $800 and that was with adding an extra night. The last time we went we not only got free dining, but a discount on the room, that would be nice, but not holding my breath.

 

[johnnyr]

Since WDW already announced the dates for Free Dining next summer does that mean we won't see any other room only discount promotions or will they eventually come out with other Annual Pass rates and etc?

I remeber hearing a report a couple months back where the Disney Company said this is the last year for the deals we have become accustomed to. They said they are going back to their regular pricing structure that was prior to the recession and will be not offering the deep discounts as in past years. The report also said they were prepared to take whatever losses it would cause and would staff the parks and resorts accordingly. I cannot remember if I saw this on TV or read it somewhere on the Internet, but I hope the report is false.

 

[Horse]

I hope not. I am only interested in room-only discounts. The dining plans don't interest me in the least.

 

[fla4fun]

I remeber hearing a report a couple months back where the Disney Company said this is the last year for the deals we have become accustomed to. They said they are going back to their regular pricing structure that was prior to the recession and will be not offering the deep discounts as in past years. The report also said they were prepared to take whatever losses it would cause and would staff the parks and resorts accordingly. I cannot remember if I saw this on TV or read it somewhere on the Internet, but I hope the report is false.

I remember this too, but this was also back when people thought the economy was recovering better than it really was. Disney will do what it has to in order to make money for their stockholders. I think they are doing it the right way from a business standpoint. Raise the ticket prices, so you ding every guest both on and off property, and then discount your resorts so they make a decent profit. You would be amazed at how low the actual room cost is for most hotels, including Disney. Even at 40% off on the deluxes, they're making a profit. That's one reason why you see the scaled discounts - the cost per room is more constant across the board and they don't want to discount below that. And if they can get people to pay rack rate to get free food (which they are buying in low cost bulk), even better from their point of view.

Free dining does me absolutely no good, because I typically travel solo and prefer deluxe resorts. So I'll be patient and wait for those AP clearance sales.

 

[Microcell]

Yep.. I don't think I am alone in saying that if I can't get a discount to go to Disney that I may look elsewhere for a deal on vacations! Even with free dining when we are planning to go in March, the total is a bit more than I am comfortable with, and only a few hundred less than last year when we went and stayed at a Deluxe (4/3 deal)!

If people can't get a deal I think they will see a decline.. and like others have said 40% off a room is still more of a money maker than empty!

 

[GovieMom]

Yep.. I don't think I am alone in saying that if I can't get a discount to go to Disney that I may look elsewhere for a deal on vacations!

I agree. We have a trip booked starting March 5, which is the earliest we can get there due to both our kids being in college. My family understands that, if we can't get a room discount, the trip is off. Because rack rate (especially at a deluxe resort) is just way too much to pay during peak season. And it would kill me knowing that the people who were able to arrive just two days earlier qualified for free dining (which would have saved us $1500).

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Yep.. I don't think I am alone in saying that if I can't get a discount to go to Disney that I may look elsewhere for a deal on vacations! Even with free dining when we are planning to go in March, the total is a bit more than I am comfortable with, and only a few hundred less than last year when we went and stayed at a Deluxe (4/3 deal)!

If people can't get a deal I think they will see a decline.. and like others have said 40% off a room is still more of a money maker than empty!

And even if people come they will stay and eat offsite. There are some very nice accomodations offsite with lots and lots of dining options for those who stay offsite. For those who will come to Orlando area this is a real way to save $$ and once they are offsite people are more apt to venture to other parks or attractions... I am a pretty committed on site gal but we are going in Dec and staying OFFsite because I just can't rationalize paying that much for a room on property. Then I have another trip coming in July and don't think that I haven't looked at rates at offsite accomadations and thought wow this is really a much better deal....