New Free Dining Dates

[sunburnin]

Thread should really say ALTERED Free Dining Dates

Interesting....

I just saw the Disney changed the dates of the free dining offers for 2011-2012 in case anyone was on the fence with certain dates. All the start/stop dates changed and most check-in windows are 1 day shorter.

I got lucky with this since I already booked and am checking in on Dec 3 (a good date in the previous offer). Now the dates for me would be Dec 1 (a Thursday check in). Wonder what significance that has? Hmmm. Guessing more ADR availability for those there the week I am.

Old Dates:
2011: 10/2-10/8, 10/23-11/5, 11/13-11/19, 11/27-12/3, 12/11-12/17
2012: 1/8-1/14, 1/22-2/4, 2/12-2/18, 3/4-3/10 and 3/25-3/31

New Dates:
2011 - 10/1-10/6, 10/22-11/3, 11/12-11/17, 11/26-12/1, 12/10-12/15
2012 - 1/8-1/12, 1/21-2/2, 2/11-2/16, 3/3-3/8, 3/24-3/29



.

 

[sammielynn]

I'm checking in on Dec. 17, also a good date on the old offer and not the new. Glad we are confirmed.

 

[WeLoveToyStory]

Thread should really say ALTERED Free Dining Dates

Interesting....

I just saw the Disney changed the dates of the free dining offers for 2011-2012 in case anyone was on the fence with certain dates. All the start/stop dates changed and most check-in windows are 1 day shorter.

I got lucky with this since I already booked and am checking in on Dec 3 (a good date in the previous offer). Now the dates for me would be Dec 1 (a Thursday check in). Wonder what significance that has? Hmmm. Guessing more ADR availability for those there the week I am.

Old Dates:
2011: 10/2-10/8, 10/23-11/5, 11/13-11/19, 11/27-12/3, 12/11-12/17
2012: 1/8-1/14, 1/22-2/4, 2/12-2/18, 3/4-3/10 and 3/25-3/31

New Dates:
2011 - 10/1-10/6, 10/22-11/3, 11/12-11/17, 11/26-12/1, 12/10-12/15
2012 - 1/8-1/12, 1/21-2/2, 2/11-2/16, 3/3-3/8, 3/24-3/29



.

Interesting how they keep shortening the dates. When we first saw this we decided we'd check in on 3/31 so we could get free dining for our kid's spring break the first week of April. A few days later when I looked it up it said 3/30. So I plugged in both dates (30 and 31) on the calendar and both still came up with free dining. My husband even called them to confirm that we could in fact book with arrival on 3/31 and get free dining even though it currenty said 3/30 on their website. We booked online with no problems with free dining. May sill work for anyone who needs to arrive on a differen date.

 

[mom2_3girls]

I have been booked for March 10th-16th since the free dining was first announced. Now I see its changed...I do not have it payed in full yet so does that mean I no longer get free dining or do I? I'm so confused!

 

[Halbleib1]

I have been booked for March 10th-16th since the free dining was first announced. Now I see its changed...I do not have it payed in full yet so does that mean I no longer get free dining or do I? I'm so confused!

From what I have read if you are already booked you are locked in even if it is not paid in full. The new dates are for new bookings only.

 

[calliecat]

I also got lucky. We chose our dates based on the free dining dates. I had planned on waiting another week to book, but when I called to ask a question, I decided to book on the spot. Thank goodness!

I'm just now delurking on the boards, so I haven't figured out how to quote. But, to the PP who asked about her dates being honored...from what I understand, as long as you have a confirmed reservation, the deal stands.

 

[mom2_3girls]

From what I have read if you are already booked you are locked in even if it is not paid in full. The new dates are for new bookings only.

I hope so....I may call just to double check. I'm willing to change my dates if I have to. Free dining was the whole reason we decided to stay on property verses my staying at my brother time share.

 

[sunburnin]

You're good if you've already booked, even if not paid in full. I called last week to confirm mine and it's only changed for new reservations. If you booked and got the free dining code and made your deposit, you're in good shape.

 

[MissAndrea]

I am SO disappointed! I hadn't made my reservations yet and I had no idea that they change the dates after they've already announced them. I would have made the ressies weeks ago had I known. BOOOOO!!!!!

 

[2disneyboys]

I made it in BARELY.. on the 24th I read something on the DIS about FD including a checkin on 12/2 (we were checking on on 12/3) as we are driving, it's no big deal to change our date by a day or two, so I called WDW and changed my reservation for a check in on 12/2 so I could get the FD for my trip... then on the 25th (or so) WDW chged the last checkin time (for my period) to 12/1 if I had waited a few hours more, I wouldn't have gotten it! so glad I checked!!! I love the DIS

 

[Dizneydaz]

We are checking in on 10/8. I booked it the date it was announced. Funny thing was I saw a conflict on my dates even then. Some places said throught 10/6 and others through 10/8. I booked it starting 10/8 and got free dining for all my dates. I have paid in full too.

My DSis Inlaws are also going starting on the same date (10/8). The booked about 3 weeks ago and got it for their stay as well.

 

[BigTrain]

We're checking in on Oct 20, 2011 and checking out on the 23rd. I see that free dining is available for 2011 on 10/22-11/3/2011.

Can anyone help me understand if we qualify for free dining since we're checking in before that period starts but will be onsite while it starts? Are we eligible?

Thanks!
Eric

 

[jcemom]

We're checking in on Oct 20, 2011 and checking out on the 23rd. I see that free dining is available for 2011 on 10/22-11/3/2011.

Can anyone help me understand if we qualify for free dining since we're checking in before that period starts but will be onsite while it starts? Are we eligible?

Thanks!
Eric

My understanding is that you must check in on one of the available dates to get free dining. So, you would not be eligible because you are checking in before the promotion starts. You would need to check in on or after the 22nd.

 

[BigTrain]

My understanding is that you must check in on one of the available dates to get free dining. So, you would not be eligible because you are checking in before the promotion starts. You would need to check in on or after the 22nd.

Thanks Tracey. That's a real downer. I got a call from my local AAA agent and she confirmed the same thing.

 

[jcemom]

Thanks Tracey. That's a real downer. I got a call from my local AAA agent and she confirmed the same thing.

You're welcome, and I'm sorry it doesn't work out for you this time.

 

[Saylan]

If it's an option for you, you can do a split booking where you 'check out' and 'check in' on the same day at the same resort but have the second booking on the day FD starts so you have it for part of your stay.

 

[daizieduck]

Wow, we lucked out. We had already booked 10/7-10/15 before free dining was announced and were able to get our package adjusted to get the free dining at that time. Can't believe they changed the dates now! But at the time, I did tell the CM who handled my package adjustment that I noticed on the WDW website it showed different dates in different spots and right on the same web page. She didn't really have a response, just that the dates of my trip did qualify for the free dining.