Just because Free Dining was offered during these months won't mean it's coming back

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When people keep saying it's only a matter of time until WDW add's more Free Dining dates for October, November and December 2011 because it was available for those months in 2010 that doesn't mean it will actually happen. I have always thought if WDW wanted to they would have announced Free Dining during those months when they released it for 2011, so there must be a reason why they didn't and would you not agree with that? Now if they need to fill their rooms because the occupancy is low then I can see it coming back.

 

[bitohoney]

That's right, because the Stay 4 Get 3 Free hasn't been around since 2 years ago.

 

[Sandisw]

I agree with you. Given that Disney released the 2011 Fall Free dining in 2010, when it typically had never come out to the general public until the end of March/beginning of April, I think they would have done the same thing for the Oct/Nov/Dec time frame as well.

I do think that if bookings are down, then it may come back as well.

If you notice, though, even the new pin codes are not as generous as in year's past so it appears that Disney is beginning to reduce some of those discounts as they said. I think what they are doing is a gradual change so that people don't notice.

 

[StrwLady]

That's right, because the Stay 4 Get 3 Free hasn't been around since 2 years ago.

Oh how I loved that discount

 

[StrwLady]

I agree with you. Given that Disney released the 2011 Fall Free dining in 2010, when it typically had never come out to the general public until the end of March/beginning of April, I think they would have done the same thing for the Oct/Nov/Dec time frame as well.

I do think that if bookings are down, then it may come back as well.

If you notice, though, even the new pin codes are not as generous as in year's past so it appears that Disney is beginning to reduce some of those discounts as they said. I think what they are doing is a gradual change so that people don't notice.

It almost seems to me that Disney is testing what brings in more bookings. Direct discounts (my word for pin codes ) or general discounts.

In the past I would tell myself not to worry X discount will be out as it always has. But seeing how/what discounts have come out in the past 6 months or so nothing will surprise me.

 

[Tyme4wdw]

It almost seems to me that Disney is testing what brings in more bookings. Direct discounts (my word for pin codes ) or general discount.

I agree! Disney is definitely testing to see what brings in more bookings. I also feel they're trying to see which type of discounts people will jump on without losing money by offering certain discounts. If they can fill the rooms by sending out Pin codes to a select group then they won't have to offer it to the General Public.

 

[PEANUT1]

I am hoping for NO free dining in October. It will make it much easier for me to make reservations

 

[Tyme4wdw]

I feel the same Peanut! I sooooooo want ADR's for Le Cellier!!! LOL

 

[clanmcculloch]

While I agree that Oct-Dec are wait and see for free dining, I firmly believe that there will be a GP free dining offer of some kind for mid-August through beginning of October. That's still the lowest season where Disney has the most trouble filling rooms because of hurricane season and back to school. Free dining was first thought up as a way to fill rooms during that time and it worked very well. It's been offered consistently for 5 or 6 years now. I really don't see it not being offered this year. Of course it might be QSDP at both values and moderates but I do still see it being offered in some form for this period.

 

[kelma]

I think there's a good chance it will come back based on the fact it's been offered annually for the past 6 years (unlike the Stay 4 deal). Unfortunately, if I remember correctly, FD is traditionally announced late March/early April, so we'll just have to wait a bit (no matter what outcome you're personally hoping for )

Kelma - mom to 2 little princes and 2 little princesses

 

[pigletto]

It almost seems to me that Disney is testing what brings in more bookings. Direct discounts (my word for pin codes ) or general discounts.

In the past I would tell myself not to worry X discount will be out as it always has. But seeing how/what discounts have come out in the past 6 months or so nothing will surprise me.

I agree. Last year I was asked to participate in a survey regarding which discount would be most likely to get me to book. It mentioned free dining etc. It also asked how far ahead I would book if it was released etc.

Not two weeks later free dining release came to the General Public for dates that covered the rest of the year. I can only assume that they determined that free dining would most likely be booked ahead of time for the year. It doesn't mean it won't come again.. but what we can assume for sure is that they were researching in an effort to change the way they released discounts as we have seen the evidence this year.

 

[Lehuaann]

I think there's a good chance it will come back based on the fact it's been offered annually for the past 6 years (unlike the Stay 4 deal). Unfortunately, if I remember correctly, FD is traditionally announced late March/early April, so we'll just have to wait a bit (no matter what outcome you're personally hoping for )

Kelma - mom to 2 little princes and 2 little princesses

Traditionally March/April. However, it was May last year (5/3/10 to be exact) which had several of us wondering whether it was even going to be offered.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Disney is raking in a fortune by offering free dining discounts during traditionally lower crowd weeks. Of course nothing in life is guaranteed (except death and taxes), but it's a pretty safe bet there will be more free dining discounts coming soon. I would say August 13 - October 1 fd discounts will be released in the next 6 to 8 weeks and I would say October - December free dining discounts will be released this summer - maybe sooner.

 

[nooneshome]

While I agree that Oct-Dec are wait and see for free dining, I firmly believe that there will be a GP free dining offer of some kind for mid-August through beginning of October. That's still the lowest season where Disney has the most trouble filling rooms because of hurricane season and back to school. Free dining was first thought up as a way to fill rooms during that time and it worked very well. It's been offered consistently for 5 or 6 years now. I really don't see it not being offered this year. Of course it might be QSDP at both values and moderates but I do still see it being offered in some form for this period.

I totally agree. FD has become almost a given for this time of the year.

 

[StrwLady]

Disney is raking in a fortune by offering free dining discounts during traditionally lower crowd weeks. Of course nothing in life is guaranteed (except death and taxes), but it's a pretty safe bet there will be more free dining discounts coming soon. I would say August 13 - October 1 fd discounts will be released in the next 6 to 8 weeks and I would say October - December free dining discounts will be released this summer - maybe sooner.

I believe it will hinge on how many received the current free dining pin and how many bookings the get off it. I am assuming they sent out many many pins based on a post here before the pin was released. The poster said that she was told something big was coming and that the CM would be working lots of over time.

Yes, Disney offers free dining to get people booked during slower times, but I am sure they only want that to be a certain % if their bookings. Plus they have to consider the ability of the restaurants to accomadate the increased traffic. I remember one free dining about 3 or 4 years back. So many people were not able to get into a restaurant, Disney sent fliers to the resort room offering dining plan customers the ability to use a TS credit for a counter service plus a special poster.

So IMHO, it is all going to be based on the numbers. They have tallied up what the initial Free Dining promotion has brought in and once they tally up what this pin brings in, then they will decide whether to release another Free Dining offer and in what capacity (dates, resorts and resort catagory).

 

[StrwLady]

I totally agree. FD has become almost a given for this time of the year.

And it still is a given for this year. A promotion was offered last year allowing the traditional bookings for the fall and there is a current pin out there now. The question is will there be additional promotions.

I am not saying there won't be. I just agee with CRfan that this year I don't think we can rely on the past history of discount promotions.

I hope for all waiting that more Free Dining will be offered and soon

 

[Becky2005]

I believe it will hinge on how many received the current free dining pin and how many bookings the get off it. I am assuming they sent out many many pins based on a post here before the pin was released. The poster said that she was told something big was coming and that the CM would be working lots of over time.

I definitely think this comes into play. I had gotten an e-mail PIN code for free dining and my e-mail one was for QSDP at the Values but regular dining at moderate & deluxe.

Yesterday in the snail mail I got a card with a pin but it was QSDP at the values & mods which I had been seeing here and regular dining at the deluxes and deluxe villas.

I'm thinking they are testing the waters to see which PIN code generates the most response....if they can get people to book the moderates for the Quick Service and upgrade to regular instead of outright offering free regular -- that's a bonus for them.

I don't know -- I never count on discounts because I'm the insane person who had to pay full price last time we went. They had offered the really good deal of 3 for 4 deal the previous year and absolutely nothing the year we went (of course, that was the year the unbundled the tickets & dining plan was introduced, so I guess they figured that WAS a discount).

I'm just lucky I got a PIN code and it was good for the middle of July! I don't expect to see any better deal.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I do agree, past history has nothing to do with it. And it never has before. Its all about what is happening now and how that affects the future.

Gas prices, the tsunami disaster (that affects Tokyo Disneyland and also just makes people nervous and rattled about spending money on luxury purchases and trips), the political scene, the jobless rates, housing prices, those are the things that should determine the discounts Disney releases. Because in the end discounts are about filling rooms that won't otherwise be filled. If things like the economy or natural disasters (say a hurricane hits Florida this summer) make people have less money and security, Disney will have to offer discounts to fill their rooms. If they are smart. But they'll obviously wait unitl the last minute to do it just in case they don't need to offer them to fill rooms.

I just hope that for all the fall and holiday travlers, you guys get general offers not these idiot pin codes that are hit or miss and just frustrate everyone. Waiting out the pin code drama for my June dates was beyond aggravating.

 

[StrwLady]

I just hope that for all the fall and holiday travlers, you guys get general offers not these idiot pin codes that are hit or miss and just frustrate everyone. Waiting out the pin code drama for my June dates was beyond aggravating.

I agree. The pin code discount's are for the birds! Lets go back to the way it use to be. Good discounts for all!

 

[jgraney106]

Traditionally March/April. However, it was May last year (5/3/10 to be exact) which had several of us wondering whether it was even going to be offered.

Lehuaann is right about the code coming out later than expected. I was one of those people waiting for it to hit. The Disboards were buzzing about it for a while. We booked the free food discount that expired on Dec 20,2010. Swore I wasn't going to be sitting around waiting like I did last year! We will be going to Pop Century on August 20th thru August 27th!