Offical free dining watch 2008

[utkscvol1]

Fingers and toes crossed!!!

 

[Goofy22]

It just might be the 23rd !!
Was trying to say that the parade is gone because of the special event...

Gotcha! That's what I thought but I wanted to make sure being exhausted ! I wasnt misinterrupting you.

Thanks!

 

[MickeyT]

UG site just posted free dining available april 10 (but not set in stone)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah Man! The one day I'm gonna be on a bus taking a church group on day outing. Last year I called on Day 1 and got WL after a two hour hold!

I'll think of something. (Last year it came available on 4/09). Hoping for the same!

 

[esdras]

QUOTE=Even more telling, August 23rd is the last Spectro Parade where it had taken place at LEAST once a night EVERY night. From the 24th on, Spectro is only three times per week (or so).


IMO will have no impact with DDP dates. Here my your reason why:

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2008 will be offered on September 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28, 30 and October 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 from 7:00 pm to midnight.


MK will close at 7 PM

I'm not so sure that the September 5, 9 and 12 will be MNSSHP - I can't think of any time where it has started that early. The first date last year was (I think) September 14.

There has been some rumour of PnP Party showing up for dates in late August and September of '08 - so that could work well for the nights of the 5th 9th and 12th. It would mean, however, that park hours in August would have to change, as there are (so far) no 7pm closings scheduled.

Currently, in September, you have (tentatively) neither a "Party" nor Spectro Parade on the nights of the 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, and 24. That's 9 "no parade/party" nights for the whole month - and one of the slowest times at Disney. MNSSHP is one of Disney's methods of getting people INTO the parks during a slow time.

In August, from the 24th to 31st (8 days) there are currently 4 nights that are "no parade/party". That's almost half the number of no event nights found in September - all in the space of only ONE WEEK!

All of this is making me think that Free Dining will start on August 24th at the very latest. A large chunk of kids in the U.S. have been back in school for a week, Disney has reduced the park hours, there are no added special events confirmed yet (like a PnP Party), and (until we hear officially concerning Free Dining), absolutely NO publicly available discount for the later part of August.

I cannot imagine Disney ever thinking "meh, that week is a write-off, don't worry about doing anything to fill the parks and/or resorts". At this moment, the week of August 24-30 looks like a write-off - no public discounts, shorter hours, fewer spectro parades, no party nights, etc.

That HAS to change. Hopefully, Public Free Dining will be (a part of) that change.

 

[Joan1]

QUOTE=Even more telling, August 23rd is the last Spectro Parade where it had taken place at LEAST once a night EVERY night. From the 24th on, Spectro is only three times per week (or so).


IMO will have no impact with DDP dates. Here my your reason why:

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2008 will be offered on September 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28, 30 and October 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 from 7:00 pm to midnight.


MK will close at 7 PM

May I ask where you saw these dates? This is the first I am seeing them
Thanks

 

[crystalcml]

Link to projected MNSSHP dates:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/holidays/halloween.htm

It sounded kind of early to me too but you never know.

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

All of this is making me think that Free Dining will start on September 24th at the very latest. A large chunk of kids in the U.S. have been back in school for a week, Disney has reduced the park hours, there are no added special events confirmed yet (like a PnP Party), and (until we hear officially concerning Free Dining), absolutely NO publicly available discount for the later part of August.

I think you meant Aug 24th in the above paragraph.

It kind of scared me a little when I first read it.

 

[mickey2000]

May I ask where you saw these dates? This is the first I am seeing them
Thanks

Mousesavers

 

[esdras]

I think you meant Aug 24th in the above paragraph.

It kind of scared me a little when I first read it.

CRAP!

Wow, yes - I definitely meant August.

I'll go back and edit.

Thanks for the catch.

 

[coasterbob]

subscribing................

 

[Tir na nOg]

I'm liking what I'm hearing.

 

[Sonoma]

did you need to use a golf cart, is it that large. and if so what is the weekly rate.
thank you so much

We did rent a golf cart, it was a lot of fun to have and we loved driving all over Ft Wilderness but you don't need one. The cost is about $50 a day. There is a camping board here on the DIS with a lot of great information about Ft Wilderness and the cabins.

 

[ajk912]

I am really hoping for August 24th! That was when we were planning on going anyway..this will make it sweeter!

 

[PrincessBelle23]

It also might start as early as the weekend of August 16-17, since it seems that a lot of schools in the U.S. start up again on August 18, meaning that will be the start of things slowing down for bookings. Remember, August 18th is the day that the MK stops closing as 11pm or midnight and begins to consistently close at 10pm for the rest of August.

If this were the case I would be SOOO happy!! We cannot go any later into August because school starts Sept 2nd. I've had such a terrible year & need this trip - and if I weren't paying the $600+ for the dining plan it would make this trip so much more easy to justify to my parents

 

[mickey2000]

Neighbor called today for September stay and was told that if they took a moderate or higher it could be converted to free dining if available.
Anyone else hear this?

 

[mom2mykids]

Neighbor called today for September stay and was told that if they took a moderate or higher it could be converted to free dining if available.
Anyone else hear this?

Hummmm, Last year I know the value resorts had the free dining also. To me, sounds like the CM wanted them to book a more expensive room. We did stay at a mod since there are 5 of us and a room there was cheaper than 2 at a value or the family suite at ASMu (I think thats where it is, LOL)

 

[robinb]

Neighbor called today for September stay and was told that if they took a moderate or higher it could be converted to free dining if available.
Anyone else hear this?

I think the CM is talking out of his/her ... um ... hat. I think that the CMs have even less of a lead time on the code than we do.

 

[goofy4tink]

Watching and waiting with you all. One thing though. I booked my Sept stay with DU...I just hate the thought of being on hold or worrying about missing free dining, so I'm letting them do the work. So, when I check my itinerary that they have, it shows Sept 5, MK closing at 7:00, and PnPP at the bottom. I wonder if that's what they will do, rather than MNSSHP. I hope it's MNSSHP but I'll go with whichever they put out there.

 

[goinback]

Neighbor called today for September stay and was told that if they took a moderate or higher it could be converted to free dining if available.
Anyone else hear this?

The UK Free Dining was Mod or Deluxe, but I have heard from other DISers that they booked values when they booked thru the bounceback.

 

[Goofy22]

Maybe they got enough values booked thru the bouncebacks that when they offer free dining it will have to be a moderate like UK! I wouldn't mind POR or CSR! The dining still free you would see the impact but not as much as at the values!