January 2013 Discounts

[BackQuack]

Originally Posted by Disneyqueendenmark
Just have a quick question!
If I arrive at the last day of FD, will I then be able to get FD for the rest of my stay? Thought I read that

If they release free dining for January, you will have to check in on one of the free dining dates. As long as you are able to do this, traditionally you should be able to have free dining for your whole trip, up to 14 days.

My wife called last week and asked this exact question. We want to go in January since our kids have a few days off around MLK. The CSR told us that our entire stay needs to be within the dates of free dining, otherwise we'll need to make two reservations: one with the free dining dates and the another for the days outside of the offer. Perhaps she was misinformed or maybe this has changed for 2013? You may want to call yourself to verify.

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

My wife called last week and asked this exact question. We want to go in January since our kids have a few days off around MLK. The CSR told us that our entire stay needs to be within the dates of free dining, otherwise we'll need to make two reservations: one with the free dining dates and the another for the days outside of the offer. Perhaps she was misinformed or maybe this has changed for 2013? You may want to call yourself to verify.

Oh.... Okay! Thanks! I'll call and ask But I guess that IF free dining is released I will try to book it online and I'll see if it will work for my dates! But just to check - I'll give them a call.

But honestly I trust the people on the DIS more than the CM on the phone! The CM seems to be misinformed and they sometimes have no clue what they are talking about lol...

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

My wife called last week and asked this exact question. We want to go in January since our kids have a few days off around MLK. The CSR told us that our entire stay needs to be within the dates of free dining, otherwise we'll need to make two reservations: one with the free dining dates and the another for the days outside of the offer. Perhaps she was misinformed or maybe this has changed for 2013? You may want to call yourself to verify.

According to many, many posts, Disney is notorious for misinformed CSRs. I'd be willing to bet if she called again, she would get a different answer. Historically if you check in on a free dining day, you get it the whole time. Hopefully that hasn't changed.

 

[Megsie1000]

I apologize if this has already been answered, but will room-only discounts be released later than free dining?

We are a family of 5, so if we stay in a moderate free dining is usually a fairly good deal. This year we have an annual pass and we already have a TIW card, so I am not as excited about free dining. But I don't want to wait too long before making flight reservations. Argh!

 

[BackQuack]

Originally Posted by BackQuack

My wife called last week and asked this exact question. We want to go in January since our kids have a few days off around MLK. The CSR told us that our entire stay needs to be within the dates of free dining, otherwise we'll need to make two reservations: one with the free dining dates and the another for the days outside of the offer. Perhaps she was misinformed or maybe this has changed for 2013? You may want to call yourself to verify.

According to many, many posts, Disney is notorious for misinformed CSRs. I'd be willing to bet if she called again, she would get a different answer. Historically if you check in on a free dining day, you get it the whole time. Hopefully that hasn't changed.

I thought that's what we did a few years back but couldn't remember. She called to double check because there have been many changes apparently since we last visited. I'm also betting the CSR was misinformed, that's why I suggested calling yourself. I guess we won't find out until we try booking it for real, hopefully within a few days/weeks when the offer is officially announced.

 

[DisneyLifer87]

Historically we have had good luck with discounting for the week following the marathon. I can only hope this year is no different.

 

[weesignlanguage]

Historically we have had good luck with discounting for the week following the marathon. I can only hope this year is no different.

Me too!!! We will be there from Marathon weekend till MLK! We have gotten FD the last two Januarys at this time! Here's to hoping!!

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

I tried to book FD with check-in 12/20 (which is the last day of FD) and as I could see FD was applied to the entire trip... But I didn'thave more than two seconds to try it... So I may have been too fast, and i might be wrong...

 

[newbie2013]

My fd understanding is that you have to have a check in falling within the fd dates and if u do, for the next 14 days of your trip I would get the fd. From being on these boards it seems what ppl do say for example fd starts on the 9th and their vacation at wdw is for the 6-13 for arguments sake you would have to check out on the 9th and check in again - in this case u would pay for dining 6-8 then get the fd from 9 until end of stay.

 

[skelly916]

Anything could happen, but here's my logic:
Last year, the dates were Sun. 1/8 - Thur. 1/12
Sat. 1/21 - Thur. 2/2
And Sat. 2/11 - Thur.s 2/16.

Marathon pricing is 11, 12, 13. I don't believe they'll be included.
MLK falls a week later in 2013. Last year it was 1/16. Weekend before and day of, not included, nor the week after.
2013, MLK is 1/21. SOOOOO...my guess is, no fd on 1/18-1/25.

Who knows. There's a big gap there, so maybe the 22-26 will be included.
I believe they don't include the 1st. week of Feb. because of cheerleading competitions. That's just my guess.

Many DIS Veterans (of whom I highly regard their opinions) are predicting that the Friday before MLK will be blacked out.

A blog I follow: ****************************************/2011/08/free-dining-is-out-for-fall-2011-and.html says that the Friday before MLK (1/13/12) was included. It says "updated," so I was thinking that those dates were added on later after the initial FD offer?

I care because my dates are 1/18-1/26/13.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Do I just have bad info?

 

[DisneyMom5]

My wife called last week and asked this exact question. We want to go in January since our kids have a few days off around MLK. The CSR told us that our entire stay needs to be within the dates of free dining, otherwise we'll need to make two reservations: one with the free dining dates and the another for the days outside of the offer. Perhaps she was misinformed or maybe this has changed for 2013? You may want to call yourself to verify.

I tried to book FD with check-in 12/20 (which is the last day of FD) and as I could see FD was applied to the entire trip... But I didn'thave more than two seconds to try it... So I may have been too fast, and i might be wrong...

My fd understanding is that you have to have a check in falling within the fd dates and if u do, for the next 14 days of your trip I would get the fd. From being on these boards it seems what ppl do say for example fd starts on the 9th and their vacation at wdw is for the 6-13 for arguments sake you would have to check out on the 9th and check in again - in this case u would pay for dining 6-8 then get the fd from 9 until end of stay.

As long as your CHECK-IN falls withing free dining, your rest of your trip will be free dining. If your check-in falls before free dining, you have to either do a room only for the nights in question or change your check in dates.

Many DIS Veterans (of whom I highly regard their opinions) are predicting that the Friday before MLK will be blacked out.

A blog I follow: ****************************************/2011/08/free-dining-is-out-for-fall-2011-and.html says that the Friday before MLK (1/13/12) was included. It says "updated," so I was thinking that those dates were added on later after the initial FD offer?

I care because my dates are 1/18-1/26/13.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Do I just have bad info?

Hard to say. Dates have definitely changed over the last two years. We can hope, right?

 

[ChrisRuns]

subbing to this thread to keep an eye on what kind of discounts we can get! My fiance, our friend and I are booked in a Junior Suite at CSR for marathon weekend - we needed the extra room, or else we'd be at BC/YC. Oh well, maybe next year!

 

[Kristallc]

fingers crossed! our dates our 1-26 through 2-1

 

[kyliem]

waite is killing me need some january dates! called disney today they told me end of september

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

waite is killing me need some january dates! called disney today they told me end of september

Whaat? so according to them discounts will first be released in the end of September??
I'm glad that the CM on the phone often are misinformed and very often gives incorrect answers.... I'm too curios to wait! Even though I have given up on planning acvording to possible discounts..
But don't you DISers think it is very unlikely that promotions will come out that late? Historically January discount have been released in the first half of August, right?

 

[BanditsMommy]

Whaat? so according to them discounts will first be released in the end of September??
I'm glad that the CM on the phone often are misinformed and very often gives incorrect answers.... I'm too curios to wait! Even though I have given up on planning acvording to possible discounts..
But don't you DISers think it is very unlikely that promotions will come out that late? Historically January discount have been released in the first half of August, right?

From what I can gather last year the first January discounts came out on 9/30 so we could have a while to go. :-(

 

[kyliem]

thats what i was afraid of. It stinks im sure they know what it will be. wish they would just do it and save us from driving ourselves crazy! iv called a few times and spoke with different people and most say end of september. i was hoping one day i would get one with an inside source and get some better info. ill keep trying and let you know as soon as i find something out. im relentless so ill keep trying once a week

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

From what I can gather last year the first January discounts came out on 9/30 so we could have a while to go. :-(

Oh no... But! I think that FD was released 8/3 last year and 8/16 in 2011 - according to mousesavers, but I could be reading it wrong?
But you are right about 9/30, because that was the room-only for Disney Visa cardholders! Maybe discounts for Disney Visa and AP holders are released later than room-only and FD for 'generel public'? Or FD comes out before room-only discounts? anyways... I'm hoping the promotions will be released soon

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I expect FD will be announced sometime in the next two weeks (i.e this week or the next). I would be very surprised if it was delayed to September.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

.... think that FD was released 8/3 last year and 8/16 in 2011 - according to mousesavers,

That is correct!