Offical free dining watch 2008

[TLHB70]

One more thing to remember when you are comparing discounts with free dining ... if you are the type who would normally buy the dining plan anyway it is not offered along with the room-only discounts. So, "free dining" may still be best for your family even if it costs a bit more.

Are you saying that if we do a room only discount that we are not allowed to purchase a dining plan?
I didn't realize this. We have booked free dining previous years. This is good to know, though, for future reference.
Thanks.

 

[cmurray234]

One more thing to remember when you are comparing discounts with free dining ... if you are the type who would normally buy the dining plan anyway it is not offered along with the room-only discounts. So, "free dining" may still be best for your family even if it costs a bit more.

This is an excellent point, and one I'd forgotten. The dining plan is only available on magic your way packages. The good news is that (well, last year at least) is that they released codes for room only and packages.

 

[stepdisney]

We had the akl booked with a 40% discount and the dining plan. We are a family of four. One child considered an adult, another not. We stayed for 10 days with dining and switched to free dining because the $38 is per night, per person and the difference was around $200 in savings by switching to free dining. . Actually, the more expensive the hotel and room view choice, the more likely that the code will save you more. We booked standard view and got an upgrade .

 

[TLHB70]

We have always been able to go in off season so we have never used a room only discount. We have booked packages with dining or we have had free dining. I guess I never thought about not being able to have a dining plan with a room only discount.
This is something that I need to be sure to remember for future reference.

 

[pinkerbell]

i am hoping for a little irish luck with an announcement of free dining today. I think this is right about when the news broke last year.

I know that a lot of specials for this time of year have already been offered, but I think they were also a lot offered in previous years...

oh the waiting and the overthinking...
When will it end!!!!

obviously when and if free dining is offered!

 

[robinb]

Are you saying that if we do a room only discount that we are not allowed to purchase a dining plan?

Yes, that's what I mean. The Dining Plan is only offered as part of a package. You cannot add the DDP onto your room-only reservation. The full rack rate of the room makes up $$ for Disney for the loss from the DDP. The only room-only reservation which you may add the DDP to is a DVC villa booked with points (used by a DVC member or rented by a non-member).

ETA: I see that Disney is now offering a package for AP holders so they can buy the DDP without purchasing extra park passes and sometimes the room is also discounted. I think I would still consider that a discounted package and not an add-on to a room-only discount.

 

[n2mm]

I hope we start seeing some dates soon. I'd like to know if August will or will not be included. I'm hoping some TAs out there get the word soon.

 

[robinb]

i am hoping for a little irish luck with an announcement of free dining today. I think this is right about when the news broke last year.

I think we have a couple more weeks to wait and the dates are anyone's guess!

According to Mousesaver's Historical Code Information (http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html) free dining became available in:

2005
8/21/05 - 10/4/05
6/2/05 General Public

2006
8/13/06 - 9/30/06
4/1/06 Visa
4/4/06 General Public

2007
8/5/07-9/29/07
11/8/06 Bounce-back

8/12/07-9/29/07
11/25/06 UK Residents

8/26/07-9/22/07
4/9/07 Visa
4/12/07 General Public

2008
8/10/08-9/27/08
8/23/07 UK Residents

8/30/08-9/27/08
8/31/07 Bounce-back

 

[esdras]

Yes, that's what I mean. The Dining Plan is only offered as part of a package. You cannot add the DDP onto your room-only reservation. The full rack rate of the room makes up $$ for Disney for the loss from the DDP. The only room-only reservation which you may add the DDP to is a DVC villa booked with points (used by a DVC member or rented by a non-member).

ETA: I see that Disney is now offering a package for AP holders so they can buy the DDP without purchasing extra park passes and sometimes the room is also discounted. I think I would still consider that a discounted package and not an add-on to a room-only discount.

However, if you have a room-only discount it does not hurt to call and ask the CM if it can be converted into a package discount so you can buy the dining plan.

Now, some CM's will say that this isn't possible, so call back. Really, if you have received a room-only discount, it is in Disney's best interest to let you buy tickets and dining plans at "rack-rate" - that ensures that more of your money has gone to the mouse, and at least 45 days in advance no less!

We got one of the 20% codes and called to book a Family Suite, and the CM said there was availability for that code. I then told him that we really wanted the DDP and could that be worked out. He said he would covert our room-only code into a package-code that only affected the cost of the room and left the tickets and dining plan at "rack-rates". Of course, if Free Dining does come out, we will save more by dropping the 20% and taking Free Dining instead - and we hope a Family Suite will be available for that promo.

 

[jessrose18]

I have a "room only" booked with a 40% off code, I was just going to change it to a package and pay full room rate if free dining was announced. Should I change it to a package now, will adding free dining be easier then? I don't know if they will let me add the package to the room only later, or if I will have to make an all new reservation. Thanks!!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Jesse, wait until fee dining comes out, if it does. Last year all my friends that were at the mods had 40% off, and the free dining was less than the 40% when the package was totalled up. Even with purchasing thier own meals, they paid less than they would have by giving up the 40% off the room.

 

[jessrose18]

We are at a value resort, 40% saved us 300 dollars, free dining would save 750 dollars. I guess I was just wondering if adding the package now would make it easier for me to keep my reservation as is and add free dining. I have heard of some people who had to make a whole new reservation. But, I have the Disney Visa so hopefully getting the same dates won't be a problem.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Wow, that is a huge free dining savings! If I get it, I will save all of just over 60.00. Since it's for one person (just me), I suppose that is the difference.

 

[cinderkelli]

Man, I can't wait to find something out! Seems like about this time last year rumors started leaking out and people would see random things pop up and then go away on the website. Surely someone knows SOMEthing! I can't take the waiting!!!

 

[dlpcarden]

If free dining is offered it will save me 1400.00 (2 adults + 1 kid as an adult + 1 child for 11 nights.)

I sure do hope it is offered....

 

[Shenandoah Minnie]

Jesse, wait until fee dining comes out, if it does. Last year all my friends that were at the mods had 40% off, and the free dining was less than the 40% when the package was totalled up. Even with purchasing thier own meals, they paid less than they would have by giving up the 40% off the room.

That is exactly what I was wondering...hmmmm I have the Disney Visa...We are trying to go with another family of 4..I wonder how that would work...We also have AP's from last year that we are going to use. I don't think I could do the AP 40-45% off and free dining...So, I would have to see...I can change our Oct plan to Sept to get free dining... I would imagine even with free dining you still have to pay tax and tip right?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

That is exactly what I was wondering...hmmmm I have the Disney Visa...We are trying to go with another family of 4..I wonder how that would work...We also have AP's from last year that we are going to use. I don't think I could do the AP 40-45% off and free dining...So, I would have to see...I can change our Oct plan to Sept to get free dining... I would imagine even with free dining you still have to pay tax and tip right?

On a "free dining" package you have to buy at least a one day ticket for everyone in your room and you have to pay rack rate. We had "free" dining last year but we would have saved more money having an AP discount on the room and using the DDE card for meals. Also, "free" dining no longer includes the tip. Tax is covered, tip is not. So add 18% to the full cost of every TS meal in addition to paying full price for the room plus one day passes and THEN decide if "free" dining is such a great deal. For us I don't think it would be worth it.

We do have 3 nights booked at rack rate right now, so I guess we could add "free" dining for the cost of the park passes and use the passes another time. But our rack rate dates are Aug. 1-4 and I don't think "free" dining will start until later in the month.

 

[*disgal*]

On a "free dining" package you have to buy at least a one day ticket for everyone in your room and you have to pay rack rate. We had "free" dining last year but we would have saved more money having an AP discount on the room and using the DDE card for meals. Also, "free" dining no longer includes the tip. Tax is covered, tip is not. So add 18% to the full cost of every TS meal in addition to paying full price for the room plus one day passes and THEN decide if "free" dining is such a great deal. For us I don't think it would be worth it.

We do have 3 nights booked at rack rate right now, so I guess we could add "free" dining for the cost of the park passes and use the passes another time. But our rack rate dates are Aug. 1-4 and I don't think "free" dining will start until later in the month.

Two years ago we did the free dining deal and we had AP's. I didn't even consider the cost of the one day passes into that vacation since they never expire and were used the next year toward 10 day passes. So I don't count those when I am comparing.

Also, sometimes, half our meals are the character buffets and I don't tip 18% for those.

Bottom line is, you just have to work the numbers for your particular family. We are a family of 5, all aged 10 and up, so free dining is going to mean a lot of chunk change saved. It's hard to get the Poly for $190 off! (but boy, do I wish)

 

[pinkerbell]

Two years ago we did the free dining deal and we had AP's. I didn't even consider the cost of the one day passes into that vacation since they never expire and were used the next year toward 10 day passes. So I don't count those when I am comparing.

Also, sometimes, half our meals are the character buffets and I don't tip 18% for those.

Bottom line is, you just have to work the numbers for your particular family. We are a family of 5, all aged 10 and up, so free dining is going to mean a lot of chunk change saved. It's hard to get the Poly for $190 off! (but boy, do I wish)

I thought the passes expired 14 days after you check in, unless you pay extra for no expiration...

 

[*disgal*]

I thought the passes expired 14 days after you check in, unless you pay extra for no expiration...

One day passes don't expire until you use them. It states, "expires 14 days from first use". And we "first" used them the next year.

We cashed them in the next year on 10 day, base tickets plus waterpark option. The 5 of us did Disney for 14 days for about $1300 if you add in what we paid for the one day tickets. That was a deal! That's $18 and change per person, per day for a Disney park!