Offical free dining watch 2008

[REL1203]

I called AAA today and asked the agent about free dining. She said she would call Disney and ask them about it (i think she is new). Anyway, she got confirmation that they WERE going to offer it, probably Aug 30 - Sept 27 and that it was probably going to be announced in April.

She said that Disney rep said it wasn't written in stone and they didn't have official word yet, but I sure am doin the happy dance.

I have a room reserved for Sept 22 - 29. I wonder how it will affect me if the offer ends on the 27th. What is everyones experience with this???

April seems so far away doesn't it.

Either you would have to end your vacation on the 27th, or do 2 reservations, one from the 22nd till the 27th with free dining, and then one for the 28th and 29th room only. They are not letting Free Dining go past the expiration date anymore

 

[mom2mykids]

need a answer please if anyone knows. made my ADR's yesterday. If I am able to get free dining when it comes out I don't have to remake all my ADR's right? I didn't think so but now I am doubting myself. I got the only Le Cellier ressies they had for the entire week and would not want to lose it.

No you don't need to change any ADR's just when you show up let the server know you are on the dining plan. I had all my ADR's before the free dining also. I didn't have one problem!

I want to go back so bad! But alas it is not to be (this year anyways!)

 

[mom2mykids]

Either you would have to end your vacation on the 27th, or do 2 reservations, one from the 22nd till the 27th with free dining, and then one for the 28th and 29th room only. They are not letting Free Dining go past the expiration date anymore

Oh, I hadn't heard that yet. That stinks. I think once the free dining offer comes out the CM or your travel agent will be able to help you adjust your reservations accordingly

 

[mom2mykids]

I called AAA today and asked the agent about free dining. She said she would call Disney and ask them about it (i think she is new). Anyway, she got confirmation that they WERE going to offer it, probably Aug 30 - Sept 27 and that it was probably going to be announced in April.

She said that Disney rep said it wasn't written in stone and they didn't have official word yet, but I sure am doin the happy dance.

I have a room reserved for Sept 22 - 29. I wonder how it will affect me if the offer ends on the 27th. What is everyones experience with this???

April seems so far away doesn't it.

In years before as long as you checked in before the end of the promotion it would carry over. But I just saw that someone posted that won't happen this year.......but since the offer hasn't even been released by Disney I wouldn't worry about what to do until the offer is released and you talk to yout travel agent. My AAA was great switching our ressies to free dining last year!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

If they don't allow the free dining carryover this year (the way they have been thus far about the discount codes) you shouldn't need a split stay since you are staying PAST the expiration date. They will just add the cost of the DDP to the last couple of nights of your trip. You only run into trouble when you are arriving BEFORE the promo starts...

 

[mom2mykids]

If they don't allow the free dining carryover this year (the way they have been thus far about the discount codes) you shouldn't need a split stay since you are staying PAST the expiration date. They will just add the cost of the DDP to the last couple of nights of your trip. You only run into trouble when you are arriving BEFORE the promo starts...

That does sound much better. I figured there had to be a better way. And I do remember people having to do that split stay thing since they arrived before the promo started last year.

 

[mirmartinez]

I am considering going from riverside to fort wilderness cabins.
Was the dinig offered there as well in the past.
Also, has anyone stayed there?
I am a little nervous mosquitos will eat me alive, however, riverside is full of foilage and water as well.
Any ideas

 

[jessrose18]

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

 

[Sonoma]

I am considering going from riverside to fort wilderness cabins.
Was the dinig offered there as well in the past.
Also, has anyone stayed there?
I am a little nervous mosquitos will eat me alive, however, riverside is full of foilage and water as well.
Any ideas

We stayed in the Ft Wilderness Cabins last year with free dining. We love the cabins and Ft Wilderness. Trails End is a good TS restaurant but
I don't think that there are any CS places at the Fort.

We took bug spray with us but never used it and didn't have any problems with mosquitoes. We are staying in a cabin September 13-20 and can't wait!

 

[abteer]

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

can you give us a hint as to what this website is??

 

[jessrose18]

touring plans from unoffical guide...states it's still a rumor though

 

[jenseib]

If it mirrors those dates then all my prayers would be answered!
Here's to hoping!

They usually do NOT mirror the same dates. But it still may be offered during some of that time, or all of the time plus more, or start earlier, or go later.

 

[mirmartinez]

We stayed in the Ft Wilderness Cabins last year with free dining. We love the cabins and Ft Wilderness. Trails End is a good TS restaurant but
I don't think that there are any CS places at the Fort.

We took bug spray with us but never used it and didn't have any problems with mosquitoes. We are staying in a cabin September 13-20 and can't wait!

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

 

[esdras]

They usually do NOT mirror the same dates. But it still may be offered during some of that time, or all of the time plus more, or start earlier, or go later.

That's what a lot of us are hoping for - although it likely won't go into October (it hasn't for the last couple of offers), but we can hope that it will start earlier in August than the Bounceback.

There IS some logic to that thought - the Bounceback Free Dining, since it started on August 30, is for all intents and purposes a September ONLY Free Dining offer. Remember, this Bounceback was offered for people onsite IN September to book FOR NEXT September (although it's true that the deal was extended to some staying in October, but still only for September '08 dates).

If the Public Free Dining is ONLY for September, that would (barring some other offer) mean that Disney is declining to provide a discount for late August - which is still classified as a "slow" period in terms of occupancy levels.

My guess (and hope, since we are tentatively booked to arrive on August 25) is that Free Dining will start on the weekend of August 23-24 - that being the most similar in terms of the week in August it started in '07. 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.

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).

I just can't imagine Free Dining for the Public not including the last full week of August (if not BOTH!)

 

[scgustin]

We're booked for Aug 28 - Sept 1, so I would hate to miss the cutoff by 2 days... but such is life. We'll just have to wait and see over the next few weeks.

Seems it's all speculation right now anyways...

 

[Goofy22]

That's what a lot of us are hoping for - although it likely won't go into October (it hasn't for the last couple of offers), but we can hope that it will start earlier in August than the Bounceback.

There IS some logic to that thought - the Bounceback Free Dining, since it started on August 30, is for all intents and purposes a September ONLY Free Dining offer. Remember, this Bounceback was offered for people onsite IN September to book FOR NEXT September (although it's true that the deal was extended to some staying in October, but still only for September '08 dates).

If the Public Free Dining is ONLY for September, that would (barring some other offer) mean that Disney is declining to provide a discount for late August - which is still classified as a "slow" period in terms of occupancy levels.

My guess (and hope, since we are tentatively booked to arrive on August 25) is that Free Dining will start on the weekend of August 23-24 - that being the most similar in terms of the week in August it started in '07. 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.

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).

I just can't imagine Free Dining for the Public not including the last full week of August (if not BOTH!)

Im really hoping you are correct! That would work perfectly for me! I don't believe it mirrored dates either it seems to have always started a few days earlier The weekend of the 23 and 24th would work for me! We go the 26th thru 31st! here's some pixie dust for us!!!

 

[mickey2000]

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

 

[Goofy22]

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

Excuse my blondeness today I'm half awake I had a long day yesterday in NYC at the St Patrick's day parade. So you are saying that you too think it maybe the 23rd? or you don't think so because of the parade ending? Seriously I am so out of it today i need to goto bed early it was a long day yesterday! Thanks in advance for excusing my lack of sleep!

 

[nanadean]

Our fingers are crossed also for free dining.

 

[mickey2000]

Excuse my blondeness today I'm half awake I had a long day yesterday in NYC at the St Patrick's day parade. So you are saying that you too think it maybe the 23rd? or you don't think so because of the parade ending? Seriously I am so out of it today i need to goto bed early it was a long day yesterday! Thanks in advance for excusing my lack of sleep!

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