Jan/Feb 2010 no free dining no trip anyone?

[HANDYMOM]

Since we want to stick to a 5 day trip the 4/3 deal isn't helping us...Anyone else choosing to wait for free dining or wait until the fall?

 

[lucyem]

We are going in Feb for 5 days. We are driving so the 4/3 would give us some wiggle room depending on weather and needed to stay an extra night. Or if we managed to drive all night and got there a day early. We would start our 7 days the day before we planned to arrive.

I would much rather the free dining. If you take one package is it possible to switch to another later? We are going one way or another in Feb.

 

[marcielm]

We are still going, I'm just hoping for a room discount or a different package discount. Of course there is always the hope for a great PIN to come in the mail as well. We just can't stay 7 nights, so the 5/2 is useless for me in the values.

 

[HANDYMOM]

I may book under the 4/3 for 5 nights...at least that's one night free. Then if something better comes out (my friend who is a travel agent has heard that free dining may be added to Jan-Feb soon), I can always change. What weeks are y'all going??

 

[n2mm]

We are waiting for the AP room only rates to be released. Staying 3 nights before moving to DVC room. The new promotion does nothing for me. Free dining would be nice, but I'll take an AP rate room too. I just can't stand waiting for it.

 

[marcielm]

I may book under the 4/3 for 5 nights...at least that's one night free. Then if something better comes out (my friend who is a travel agent has heard that free dining may be added to Jan-Feb soon), I can always change. What weeks are y'all going??

We are going March 14-19. We have to drive, so at most we could have added the 13th, with a VERY late check-in (like 10pm). However, the cost of the dining plan for that 1 night is WAY more than the $50 hotel I will do off-site so we can hit the parks EARLY on Sunday morning.

Ohh, I'd love some free dining. I wonder how your TA buddy heard that one. We don't always get a heads up on things. I get all my news here.

I still can't book the 4/3 or 5/2 online... they haven't added it to the TA booking site. I have to call in like everyone else.

 

[HANDYMOM]

She is a "certified Disney Planner" so she has a special website and booking contact at Disney. She keeps telling me to hold on....I'll pass on what I learn...

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Ok I've been dying to ask, am I missing something? Everyone is talking about holding out for free dining in the spring, etc but from what I'm looking at (mousesavers past discounts/promos) this wasn't offered last spring or the year before. Is this just a hope that Disney will buck thier current trends and offer something new or am I overlooking a previous free dining period?

 

[SarahD]

She is a "certified Disney Planner" so she has a special website and booking contact at Disney. She keeps telling me to hold on....I'll pass on what I learn...

I'll be stuck like glue to this site!!! I had a thought that maybe the early code release was to see what the reaction was to the 7/4, 7/5 offer and still leave time to offer free dining if they need to fill more rooms. We have five rooms. The 5/2 saved us a total of $1205.00. Free dining would be more like $2500.

 

[Christine9125]

I am also waiting to see if free dining comes out, but I am going either way

 

[disneyfan2]

they never offered free dinign during jan-Mar so i highly doubt that waiting for that will come.

 

[HANDYMOM]

they never offered free dinign during jan-Mar so i highly doubt that waiting for that will come.

I know free dining has never been offered for January/February before, but free dining had never been extended before either like it was for this fall. According to several travel agent friends and not surprisingly, Disney is at a historical low for 6-9 month forward bookings.

Earlier this year Disney also launched several capital projects for improvements, new rides and hotel projects....bottom line is they need a steady flow of cash throughout the year and the deals are going to keep coming to keep occupancy up.

We on these boards are gonna go, regardless, but we do not come close to making up the target occupancy Disney is shooting for. This is one of the first times in the last 25 years or so that the entire globe is in economic trouble. People are just not splurging (like us) on vacations like they have in the past.

 

[marcielm]

I know free dining has never been offered for January/February before, but free dining had never been extended before either like it was for this fall. According to several travel agent friends and not surprisingly, Disney is at a historical low for 6-9 month forward bookings.

Earlier this year Disney also launched several capital projects for improvements, new rides and hotel projects....bottom line is they need a steady flow of cash throughout the year and the deals are going to keep coming to keep occupancy up.

We on these boards are gonna go, regardless, but we do not come close to making up the target occupancy Disney is shooting for. This is one of the first times in the last 25 years or so that the entire globe is in economic trouble. People are just not splurging (like us) on vacations like they have in the past.

I really hope you are right. FD would save us about $1100 on our trip, and get me under budget for the cap my DH set for us to get to go. Not to mention the savings it will give our friends, and other clients I have going during 2010 that don't have a week to spend at WDW!

 

[X and G's mom]

Since we want to stick to a 5 day trip the 4/3 deal isn't helping us...Anyone else choosing to wait for free dining or wait until the fall?

Yep, I'm waiting. Any kind of free dining would help us out. We will always stay at the values. I originally want to go in Oct. 2010 with the hopes of FD, but if something comes out for spring break, count us IN!!!!

 

[jockey]

We have not opted for the 4/3 deal yet as we have Ap's, I would prefer a code AP rate but free dining will save us approx $1600

 

[SarahD]

Say what you want...I'm keeping my hopes up!

Who would have ever thought there would be a buy 4, get 3 with $200 gift card like they had earlier this year? But there was!

 

[SarahD]

Heard anything more from your TA friend, HANDYMOM?

 

[OceanStateKelly]

Going in Jan for 3 nights for my daughters gymnastics meet, and I really need a code - room or dining would be great...

 

[HANDYMOM]

My friend the TA talked to one of her Disney bookings contacts and it seems the 7-4 deal was really a "testing of the waters". Bookings are still significantly lower than what they usually see with this type of promotion. I'm still not booking yet....the fewer bookings, the better the deals. If a better deal doesn't come...I am going to wait....I'll update you again as soon as I hear anything.

 

[SarahD]

Thanks, HANDYMOM.