******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[JennJ84]

It was released last year at 4am. I snagged it at 4:08am on April 25th.

 

[d0naldduck123]

Oh wow. I'm so glad I read this thread. I never would have known! Thank you!

 

[JennJ84]

Oh wow. I'm so glad I read this thread. I never would have known! Thank you!

No problem. On the night it is released there will be a bunch of us on here talking while we wait to book it. Come and join in!

 

[d0naldduck123]

That sounds fun - I will! I'm so excited for it to be announced.
Best of luck to everyone!

 

[Azjenn]

I'm too lazy to go look , in say the last 3 years, has the release always been bright and early on a Monday?

 

[JennJ84]

I'm too lazy to go look , in say the last 3 years, has the release always been bright and early on a Monday?

Usually the last Monday of April around 4am. Or at least last year.

 

[Neeky78]

Please help with the answer to when is free dining ?

(I do not want to read 100 pages.)


Thanks.

How long is a piece of string??
No official (or reliable) announcement of dates it will drop have been made. Only speculation based on current situations coupled with history.
Everything from a few days away to end of April/early May, and everything in between. So take your pick!

 

[Disneylover99]

What is it about 4am? Is FD officially released at 4 am?!

It could be any time. Maybe earlier. Maybe later.

I *think* maybe 2 or 3 years ago, the offer went up on the website just after midnight and people were reportedly booking it til maybe 2am. Then it went down again til about 6am.

Does anyone else remember that?

 

[samsteele]

It could be any time. Maybe earlier. Maybe later.

I *think* maybe 2 or 3 years ago, the offer went up on the website just after midnight and people were reportedly booking it til maybe 2am. Then it went down again til about 6am.

Does anyone else remember that?

I think this was 3 yrs ago (or so?). I know I had FD that year but my TA booked it after 9:30am EST. I also remember that every year the website has serious computer glitches & goes down because of traffic.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think this was 3 yrs ago (or so?). I know I had FD that year but my TA booked it after 9:30am EST. I also remember that every year the website has serious computer glitches & goes down because of traffic.

Yeah, now I'm thinking 3 or maybe even 4 years ago. But it was easier to get what you wanted back then, so it didn't really matter.

 

[mn51]

Hi, I have a quick question. I saw last year that Disney Visa cardholders were able to receive free dining for earlier dates than the general public. How did this work? Did you need to go through Disney Rewards' website, or could you book on WDW's regular booking and it automatically applied if your visa is linked? Or did you need to call 407-W-Disney?

Thanks so much!

I have always called right at 7 am. Not too long ago they did not offer it earlier to Disney Visa but there were rumors that the discount would be on Disney's site at or around early morning. I checked at 4 am and it was there. Lots of great information on this board. Good luck in your planning!

 

[revdisney33]

I've read about it on many travel websites. They don't "watch" you, their website knows you've visited, like every other website does, and the prices do go up.

I can't say they do or not, but I know I check kayak and other sites daily from my IPad and have always gotten the best prices. In fact last year I got tickets from Bangor to Orlando for $250 round trip on United. I often will check prices from my work computer and they are the same. I watch the prices go down T-Th usually and rise in the other days. As much as I check my prices should always be the highest if this was happening I would think. The tickets I got were hovering around $350-380 for weeks.....dropped for a few days and then were back up. Supply and demand it would seem to still be the way. I cross reference often with the actual airline sites and they will be dead on.

 

[pigletto]

I think this was 3 yrs ago (or so?). I know I had FD that year but my TA booked it after 9:30am EST. I also remember that every year the website has serious computer glitches & goes down because of traffic.

This is concerning. If I stay up all night and the website goes down at 4am.. I'm going to be one cranky lady.

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

In 2014 I called right at 7am and got FD...it wasn't on their website until about 8/8:30 ET. I called and said I heard a rumor there was FD today! LOL the CM said yes there was so I booked it! In 2015 I booked it around 6am...I woke up that time and it was there. Last year I heard the rumors about 4am and booked at 4am. 4am does seem to be about the time they release new promos. DH woke up at 4am for work this morning so I hopped on the computer and got excited when i saw 11 special offers....the extra one is a 4 park ticket that just came out today. I know it wasn't there last night but it was a little after 4am this morning!

 

[samsteele]

This is concerning. If I stay up all night and the website goes down at 4am.. I'm going to be one cranky lady.

Generally speaking, the traffic isn't as crazy at 4am. It's eg 7am-12noon later that morning of the release when most people are checking the website & TAs are at work trying to book or modify existing reservations.

 

[DisTXMom]

Are your spouses all up at 4am also? I don't mind being up, but DH already thinks I'm a bit nutso for Disney. If I'm up at 4am and he asks what the heck I'm doing....... I guess I can just tell him I'm a crazy disboarder!!!

 

[ThistleMae]

This is my first year to try to get it. We haven't been to WDW since 2005.

Your in for the ride of your life!

 

[ThistleMae]

I don't like not being able to choose my seat. Nonstop is nice.

Yeah, I prefer jet blue for sure, because I can pick seats, so don't have to worry about our party being separated...but SW is the best for us out of NH.

 

[ThistleMae]

I don't know how this will sit with some of you but I just got word that they won't be dropping FD for another 2-3 weeks. I also asked my source what resorts and she mentioned CBR and POR Riverside will be included.
This is the first time I work with her but she seems to know her stuff. Again just rumoured but she's heard this from a very reliable source

My hopes are dashed! But then again....we just really don't know until we get much closer. Still hoping.

 

[ThistleMae]

Very true. You do have to be SURE to check in on time. Definitely don't want the dreaded C boarding pass!

I'm on the phone immediately at check in time and I've never gotten A boarding. But...usually are in B. If I wait just 10 more minutes cause the lines are busy, I end up at the end of B!