is this true, no free dining this year?

[PrincessTiffany]

When the previous fd promotion came out, they said that was it. If you wanted fd, to book it then. If they come out with another gp fd offer, that is negating that promise. Also to the ones talking about CM's not knowing anything, most of the time we do know about certain things. But play stupid to avoid discussing confidential things that we're forbidden to discuss. Even if it is already posted on disboards.

I'm sorry but that is one of the silliest things I have ever read - there are no "legalities" involved with Disney offering or not offering more free dining dates for 2011. There's no binding contract between Disney and the general public as to how, when or where Disney can offer Discounts. If the resort booking numbers are not what they want for the fall, they will offer another free dining discount. If the booking numbers are good and the resorts are full, they won't. Simple as that.

 

[Don Disney]

No one has a crystal ball especially lately with WDW's approach to special offers. They say they are cutting back then bam lots more offers. I think WDW is addicted to special offers and eventually they will offer FD for October - early December. But hey I thought the Saints would beat the Seahawks.

A man has to have dreams.

"BOO THAT"!!!! Disney is trying to hedge their bets by offering FD earlier,and trying to"pressure" us discount hounds into committing early.Their projections for 2011 must have been pretty low for them to"roll out" FD so much earlier than in the past;The only way I see them NOT offering FD for the Fall again,is if the resorts are booked to an acceptable level to the"numbers crunchers";That being said,there is a reason that Hurricane Season,and the Fall are STILL considered "value season".

 

[amw5g]

I'm sorry but that is one of the silliest things I have ever read - there are no "legalities" involved with Disney offering or not offering more free dining dates for 2011. There's no binding contract between Disney and the general public as to how, when or where Disney can offer Discounts. If the resort booking numbers are not what they want for the fall, they will offer another free dining discount. If the booking numbers are good and the resorts are full, they won't. Simple as that.

Oh PrincessTiffany, you so crazy!

Google "FTC use of word free" and "FTC limited time offer". It may sound "silly" to you, but Disney isn't free to promote whatever it wants whenever it wants however it wants. Not saying they don't have some leeway in this scenario, but it's way more complex than you think.

I think Twilight is silly, but people stupider than you and I are making obscene amounts of money on it.

Ta!
Amw 5G

 

[Colleen27]

Oh PrincessTiffany, you so crazy!

Google "FTC use of word free" and "FTC limited time offer". It may sound "silly" to you, but Disney isn't free to promote whatever it wants whenever it wants however it wants. Not saying they don't have some leeway in this scenario, but it's way more complex than you think.

Actually, Disney would be well within the scope of FTC rules if they brought back the free dining promo. "Limited time offer" rules don't dictate that the same offer can never again be made, just that at the end of the "limited time" period the seller will return to regular pricing for said item for a "reasonable" period of time (which many sources cite as 30 days - far less than the 4 or 6 months between the end of the last free dining offer and the time when the discount has historically been introduced). And nothing governing the use of the word free has anything to say about how often something may be offered for free; that is all about the conditions of the offer, the fact that regular prices can't be jacked-up nor quality cut to compensate for the freebie and things of that nature.

 

[amw5g]

Thank you for that Colleen always appreciate the opportunity to learn more. And thank you for confirming that there are indeed formal regulations around sales and how sales can be promoted. Your grasp of the specifics and practicals evinces not just book learnin', but also experience.

 

[larryz]

A CM told me the same thing. Don't expect any more free dining this year unless they do really poorly in the months to come.

They might not call it "free dining." They might offer a 20% room discount with a 80% discount on xDP, and call it the "100 percent off dining" offer...

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Oh PrincessTiffany, you so crazy!

Google "FTC use of word free" and "FTC limited time offer". It may sound "silly" to you, but Disney isn't free to promote whatever it wants whenever it wants however it wants. Not saying they don't have some leeway in this scenario, but it's way more complex than you think.

I think Twilight is silly, but people stupider than you and I are making obscene amounts of money on it.

Ta!
Amw 5G

Again, a ridiculous post. I was a paralegal for years before I quit to stay at home with my kids. I can assure you that Disney offering a second free dining offer in no way falls under the FTC guidelines that you are referencing. Disney can offer 10 more free dining offers between now and the end of the year and not be violating any laws.

 

[nooneshome]

My crystal Mickey snowglobe says: that if bookings are down, free dining will come.

My feelings exactly. Disney is addicted to special offers and I would think that FD is one of their best ones. We haven't been to WDW in a year and we started getting PINs galore.

 

[LisaTC]

I was on chat with a CM last night and asked about dining being offered again...she eluded to 'no' but encouraged me to book w/dining because I could save 40% in the fall if I booked dining with my room/ticket pkg, so that may be their "game plan." No free dining offer, but save up to 40% on your pkg rate if you add DDP. For what it's worth.

 

[wgwtgb]

Apologies, you are of course correct I've just double checked the website (had incorrectly assumed), I'm really quite astounded that value resorts do not qualify for any free dining - I have upgraded to the DXDP from the DDP for my November stay, I'd just thought all resorts got the free dining.

Wow! Is this true?? So I'm waiting for free dining for nothing if I choose to stay at a value?

 

[wgwtgb]

I was on chat with a CM last night and asked about dining being offered again...she eluded to 'no' but encouraged me to book w/dining because I could save 40% in the fall if I booked dining with my room/ticket pkg, so that may be their "game plan." No free dining offer, but save up to 40% on your pkg rate if you add DDP. For what it's worth.

May I ask your dates?

 

[LisaTC]

We are thinking October 22 for 7d/6n

 

[sjs314]

I was on chat with a CM last night and asked about dining being offered again...she eluded to 'no' but encouraged me to book w/dining because I could save 40% in the fall if I booked dining with my room/ticket pkg, so that may be their "game plan." No free dining offer, but save up to 40% on your pkg rate if you add DDP. For what it's worth.

That is very interesting and would work for use since we really want to go in late October instead of late Sept like we have now to take advantage of the current discounts out there.
Guess I will need to keep my eyes and ear open and see what they announce when the current promo ends on3/27
Thanks for the info

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Wow! Is this true?? So I'm waiting for free dining for nothing if I choose to stay at a value?

They are talking about free dining offers for travelers from the UK. The value resorts have always been included for US offers.

 

[keishashadow]

actually if you look at the historical data on mousesavers they didn't announce free dining for the fall until July last year. I don't think I'd worry about it until the summer.

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html#2010

thanx for saving me the search, im here today looking for the date it came out last yeartrying to decide if a 2nd trip in Dec might be doable for us this year.

No one has a crystal ball especially lately with WDW's approach to special offers. They say they are cutting back then bam lots more offers. I think WDW is addicted to special offers and eventually they will offer FD for October - early December. But hey I thought the Saints would beat the Seahawks.

A man has to have dreams.

your turn will come

as usual, the room occupancy forecast that WDW uses, a highly guarded secret im sure) will be the tipping point as any potential offers.

 

[wgwtgb]

They are talking about free dining offers for travelers from the UK. The value resorts have always been included for US offers.

Phew!!! Thanks so much!!! Now I have to figure out what's better 40% off of the package or free dining...I'm betting on the 40%

 

[sjs314]

I was on chat with a CM last night and asked about dining being offered again...she eluded to 'no' but encouraged me to book w/dining because I could save 40% in the fall if I booked dining with my room/ticket pkg, so that may be their "game plan." No free dining offer, but save up to 40% on your pkg rate if you add DDP. For what it's worth.

Since first reading your post and responding to it, I decided to work out the cost if they were to offer a 40% package discount and while that would be so awesome since I kinda think it would be 40% off the room portion of the package , not the entire package.
Example same package with 40% off $2817.68 vs 40% off room only portion $ 3519.24.
All along I have thought they would come out with a promo starting Oct 1 and I have my fingers crossed, since I want to change my dates so bad but can't without a good discount.
Makes sense they would offer 40% across the board doing a tie-in with the 40 Anniversary Celebration.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Phew!!! Thanks so much!!! Now I have to figure out what's better 40% off of the package or free dining...I'm betting on the 40%

Usually if you are staying at a Deluxe Resort the 40% discount is better. If you are staying at a value or a moderate resort then the free dining is usually the better discount.