Offical free dining watch 2008

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

For those who asked:

You can have a AAA discount on the room portion of a package with free dining BUT you can NOT book it yourself. It has to go through a AAA travel agent.

 

[lovesdumbo]

For those who asked:

You can have a AAA discount on the room portion of a package with free dining BUT you can NOT book it yourself. It has to go through a AAA travel agent.

You can get AAA discount on room portion with PAID dining but NOT with free. You have to pay rack rate to get free dining. There was some confusion in 2006 when folks were certain that they were getting both but the free dining started during regular season and they gave value room rates the entire time which turned out to be just about equal to the AAA discount.

 

[momto2inKC]

For those who asked:

You can have a AAA discount on the room portion of a package with free dining BUT you can NOT book it yourself. It has to go through a AAA travel agent.

This is not correct...you canNOT combine the 2 discounts.

 

[Goofy'sPrincess]

Okay - my best suggestions - if this is for just you and husband...

Jiko - The Cooking Place at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Sounds like you are going here anyway - it's reputation is outstanding.

Flying Fish Cafe at the Boardwalk
Considered to be one of the best Disney seafood restaurants. If you like seafood, I would suggest going here - highly suggest!

Hoop-Dee-Doo at Fort Wilderness
You sound like foodies - the food here is hearty, but FAR from gourmet. The cost here is for the show - but unless you are REALLY into Wild West music/humour (like Hee Haw) - don't bother with this.

Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Fort Wildernes
Similar to the above - only outside. Hearty fare - not gourmet, and country music. You be the judge.

Citricos at the Grand Floridian
Mediterranean cuisine, and ranked highly in terms of quality - the better choice of the two GF signature restaurants. This is the one to pick.

Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian
This is another seafood restaurant - and one of the few Disney restaurants where fresh steamed lobster is on the menu. However, the Flying Fish generally seems to get better "quality of food" reviews.

Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at the Poly
Sounds like you are already going here - I haven't tried this, but it sounds like fun. I've seen ratings where the show is praised, but the food is considered average in terms of quality. But, even average food at Disney is pretty good.

California Grill at the Contemporary
This is a must-do. Outstanding food, and IF you can get ressies for a late dinner that corresponds with the time of the MK Fireworks, you're in for a show. Call for this one NOW.

Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge
The only Disney restaurnat with Buffalo on the menu. Food quality is good - not the pinnacle of Disney dining - but still excellent. Wilderness Lodge is also a nice setting for a good dinner. I wouldn't rank this a must-do like California Grill, but if you can find the time to work this in, I would go for it.

Yachtsman's Steakhouse at the Yacht and Beachclub Resort
Okay, setting is nice, steaks are good - but you can get really good steaks at other non-signature Disney restaurants - like Le Cellier at Canada in Epcot. What this place has that others don't is an outstanding Beer and Wine selection. If that sounds good to you, try this. If not - go to something like Le Cellier instead.

Hollywood Brown Derby at the Disney Studios Park
Excellent food. If you are going to this park, eat here. Seriously. Also see if you can arrange for the package where you get prime seating with Fantasmic even though you are on the DxDDP - I can't remember if you have to pay a surcharge, but if you are planning on seeing Fantasmic and eating here anyway, it is probably worth doing.

Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner at Cindy's Castle in the Magic Kingdom
The food is not the best Disney offers, but it is generally very good. The only drawback - if you are here without kids, you WILL be surrounded by hundreds of little girls dressed up as Disney princesses. It's a nice restaurant though, so things don't get chaotic like at other character dining places. Go for dinner though (more bang for the buck), wider menu, and not as many princesses - adult characters or children dressed up.

I hope this helps. But my "must-do" suggestions are Citricos and California Grill.

In terms of dining times - definitely before 5pm or 8pm and later. Lunches, before noon, always before noon, or else the very last lunch seating - maybe 2pm if they offer it - each restaurant's hours vary

You know your stuff!! Thanks SO Much for the information. I suppose it's time to plan which days we're going where so I can start making ressies

Thanks so much for all your help!!

 

[Goofy'sPrincess]

I think you guys sound like you would really like the delux plan! I would go for it!
You must make your reservation IMEDIATELY though. That is free dining time and places are already booking up right NOW! So be flexible too. But I think you have a better chance at getting into the signature resturants. I also highly recommend Hoop Dee Doo. It is corny, but so much fun! We just loved it. If you like shows, this is fun to do. We also thought of doing the Backyard BBQ, but heard it is basically hotdogs, so I wasn't sure I wanted to use two table credits for that.(we were on just the regular plan) But we may next trip. I would really try to figure where you want to go and get them booked soon though. Do you have a link to the menus?

Here's a link that should get you to the resturants.

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

or

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-dining-plan.htm ~Make sure this is the 2008 schecule. I had both 2007 and 2008 and I think this is the right link.

Oh Thank You SO much! My husband and I will look these over tonight so I can start calling in the morning with hopes to get ressies.

Your both making me SO excited

 

[bunny]

I have one day tickets left over from last year's free dining. At the time we had annual passes so we didn't need the one day tickets. Can I apply that to my package this year? If I bought a package with a 1 day ticket, can I take my 1 day from this year and my 1 day from last year and upgrade them to a 10 day ticket?

 

[mickey2000]

You can get AAA discount on room portion with PAID dining but NOT with free. You have to pay rack rate to get free dining. There was some confusion in 2006 when folks were certain that they were getting both but the free dining started during regular season and they gave value room rates the entire time which turned out to be just about equal to the AAA discount.

In 2006 I went to AAA got a package with discounted room and dining.
When the free DDP was anounced my TA called disney and had the price of dining removed. I kept the AAA discount for both my son and I (2 rooms).
Guess I got lucky. I know the policy and can do the math. Checking my invoice reflected this. My room did not go up in price ( right to the penny).

 

[madbrad76]

For those who might have any questions about the 2008 dining plan, try out this link ...

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/08Dining.pdf

 

[thunderbird1]

I have one day tickets left over from last year's free dining. At the time we had annual passes so we didn't need the one day tickets. Can I apply that to my package this year? If I bought a package with a 1 day ticket, can I take my 1 day from this year and my 1 day from last year and upgrade them to a 10 day ticket?

No--you can only put one ticket towards the purchase of another. We bought the AP's last year to use again this year, so after this next trip we'll have 4 of those one day tickets sitting in the drawer. Of course, if free dining keeps going, we'll end up with a drawer full of those one day tickets that we'll upgrade "someday."

 

[WeemanMom]

In 2006 I went to AAA got a package with discounted room and dining.
When the free DDP was anounced my TA called disney and had the price of dining removed. I kept the AAA discount for both my son and I (2 rooms).
Guess I got lucky. I know the policy and can do the math. Checking my invoice reflected this. My room did not go up in price ( right to the penny).

Thanks for sharing this information. This will be interesting. I have always coordinated all of our trips (my parents, another family we have traveled with). This year we are utilizing AAA, so I would love to see both applied, but I am not holding my breath. If I can get free dining, it's all good. If I get the AAA on top of that, all the better but I will be happy without the AAA discount.

 

[angwill]

In 2006 I went to AAA got a package with discounted room and dining.
When the free DDP was anounced my TA called disney and had the price of dining removed. I kept the AAA discount for both my son and I (2 rooms).
Guess I got lucky. I know the policy and can do the math. Checking my invoice reflected this. My room did not go up in price ( right to the penny).

I had the same thing happen for me in 2006 but I called my AAA agent about two weeks after free dining was released and got both the AAA rate and free dining. I have read that it did not happen for everyone and I would have been happy with just free dining and no discount. I have been flat out called a liar about this and I don't know why so many people feel so strongly that it was impossible that it happened for so many people going through AAA. I did not do my math wrong and it was not a regular season vs value season rate issue either. I don't know if anyone will be lucky again this year with AAA but good luck to anyone trying.

 

[robinb]

I had the same thing happen for me in 2006 but I called my AAA agent about two weeks after free dining was released and got both the AAA rate and free dining.

I won't call you a liar, but I will say that I think there was a mistake somewhere. It was certainly Disney's policy on every year of the free dining promotion to NOT combine discounts. Many people tried to get a discount on top of the free dining and were unsuccessful. In fact, you are the only one I have heard who was able to do it. So ... I think your situation was atypical at best and that no one should waste a whole lot of their time trying to get a AAA discount on top of free dining.

 

[angwill]

It probably was some sort of mistake but even the person who replied before me said they got the same discount and I do know of others so it obviously was not just me. I don't think everyone necessarily did and I didn't hear of anyone who got it last year but who knows it's worth a try. I do understand that technically Disney does not stack discounts and you either get one or the other so I was pleasantly surprised when it happened and even questioned the AAA agent who told me it was the best offer she had ever booked and was surprised herself.

To be honest, I just didn't understand the uproar it caused when I mentioned it in 06, on another disney list not the DIS, because I actually had a travel agent send me a private message telling me not to post such things because I was lying since it was impossible. Personally, I think that particular travel agent was afraid it would take business from them and give it to AAA but it became a pretty heated discussion despite other people saying they also got the same discount.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

You can get AAA discount on room portion with PAID dining but NOT with free. You have to pay rack rate to get free dining. There was some confusion in 2006 when folks were certain that they were getting both but the free dining started during regular season and they gave value room rates the entire time which turned out to be just about equal to the AAA discount.

This is not correct...you canNOT combine the 2 discounts.

I haven't ever gotten the 2 discounts on my personal ressies, but my AAA agent said it can be done. I wonder if the number of rooms for AAA and free dining together is very limited which is what makes it so rare? Maybe some people happen to hit on the exact resort for the exact dates and room category that makes it work? Definitely not something I would get into a heated debate over.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I thought that the free dining offer would be announced by now. I hope that it is announced soon. If the rumor is true that Disney Visa holders might be able to book on 4/7, that's not too far from now.

 

[mygr8kdz]

It probably was some sort of mistake but even the person who replied before me said they got the same discount and I do know of others so it obviously was not just me. I don't think everyone necessarily did and I didn't hear of anyone who got it last year but who knows it's worth a try. I do understand that technically Disney does not stack discounts and you either get one or the other so I was pleasantly surprised when it happened and even questioned the AAA agent who told me it was the best offer she had ever booked and was surprised herself.

To be honest, I just didn't understand the uproar it caused when I mentioned it in 06, on another disney list not the DIS, because I actually had a travel agent send me a private message telling me not to post such things because I was lying since it was impossible. Personally, I think that particular travel agent was afraid it would take business from them and give it to AAA but it became a pretty heated discussion despite other people saying they also got the same discount.

I know that in 06, my SIL and I both booked free dining trips. She has AAA and I don't. I called my TA and got quotes for both of us with free dining. She called AAA and got a quote for herself for the same dates, resort, ticket options, etc and it was lower than what my TA could get.

 

[ShhhQ]

It probably was some sort of mistake but even the person who replied before me said they got the same discount and I do know of others so it obviously was not just me. I don't think everyone necessarily did and I didn't hear of anyone who got it last year but who knows it's worth a try. I do understand that technically Disney does not stack discounts and you either get one or the other so I was pleasantly surprised when it happened and even questioned the AAA agent who told me it was the best offer she had ever booked and was surprised herself.

To be honest, I just didn't understand the uproar it caused when I mentioned it in 06, on another disney list not the DIS, because I actually had a travel agent send me a private message telling me not to post such things because I was lying since it was impossible. Personally, I think that particular travel agent was afraid it would take business from them and give it to AAA but it became a pretty heated discussion despite other people saying they also got the same discount.

Was 2006 the first year FD was offered this way? It could be that AAA made some errors due to the whole FD being new and everything!?

 

[n2mm]

Was 2006 the first year FD was offered this way? It could be that AAA made some errors due to the whole FD being new and everything!?

2005 was it's first year. We were there in September and used it.

 

[mirmartinez]

My sister told me she recieved aaa dicount (room only) and free dining in 06 and 07.
On easter I argued it was impossible (belief from reading threads)
She asked if I bet dishes. I did and lost, She showed me proof. (invoice for both years.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Sorry I'm sure this question was asked before, does anyone know the rumored dates for 2008?