OFFICIAL 2020 Free Dining WATCH Thread - FREE DINING No Longer Available. First Post Updated with Details

[aimeekaye26]

It's 5 night 6 days. Screenshot from the Disney website (unless they are allowing 4 nights but not advertising it):

View attachment 461964

I booked 4 nights and 5 days at pop. They always 'say' a higher number in the bold print, then in the fine print it usually is one day less.

 

[G719]

I priced out a free dining trip for June 27 for 6 nights at CBR. You can only get a pirate room with the deal. I already have 6 nights booked at CBR, 6 nights, standard view, 5 day basic ticket booked starting July 27. The free dining trip with 5 day hopper and pirate room was almost $900 more.

 

[treemi01]

it was "Gift of Magic" which the booking window was supposed to end today and is not extended to 3/7; wonder what that might mean?

This was my question, too. FD has to be booked by 1/16. Did they extend this offer just to have something, or will they release some other discount on 1/17. Our dates don’t work for FD, but I’d love to get something. A 1week trip is up to over 9K in a value for our family (without discounts). That’s a lot for a week! A room discount only saves us about $200 (at 10% in a value), while FD saves us about $2000, but something is better than nothing! I would have never imagined late August will be more expensive than 4th of July, but I’m not one for guessing what Disney will do these days either. We shall see what happens.

 

[siren0119]

I priced out a free dining trip for June 27 for 6 nights at CBR. You can only get a pirate room with the deal. I already have 6 nights booked at CBR, 6 nights, standard view, 5 day basic ticket booked starting July 27. The free dining trip with 5 day hopper and pirate room was almost $900 more.

Yup - part of why the Free Dining promotions never really work for us is that we DON'T get park hopper tickets, and they are required as part of the FD package. Nothing is ever truly "Free", you pay full rack rate for the room and have to have the more expensive ticket option to get the "free" dining.

 

[scard192]

This was my question, too. FD has to be booked by 1/16. Did they extend this offer just to have something, or will they release some other discount on 1/17. Our dates don’t work for FD, but I’d love to get something. A 1week trip is up to over 9K in a value for our family (without discounts). That’s a lot for a week! A room discount only saves us about $200 (at 10% in a value), while FD saves us about $2000, but something is better than nothing! I would have never imagined late August will be more expensive than 4th of July, but I’m not one for guessing what Disney will do these days either. We shall see what happens.

my error, that was a typo. "now" extended to 3/7/20.

 

[vinotinto]

There are a lot of questions about whether there will be other deals coming out. The available dates for this offer mimics what we have been seeing regarding other offers (AP and room-only) since the Fall: *very* specific discounted dates, resorts and room types. Disney is only discounting the dates/resorts/room types that are not selling well. Everything else is not included. We've been seeing a lot of weekends at rack rates.

If you can make the check-in dates work for you under this promo, grab it! There will be room only discount promos coming out (general public, AP and FL resident), but there are no guarantees that it will include your dates, so if you can make these dates work, grab it.

 

[bjcaed]

Is there a Disney Visa promotion thread anywhere in the Disboards? I always seem to miss the promotions.

Great question! I always miss them too

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Yup - part of why the Free Dining promotions never really work for us is that we DON'T get park hopper tickets, and they are required as part of the FD package. Nothing is ever truly "Free", you pay full rack rate for the room and have to have the more expensive ticket option to get the "free" dining.

My brother hated this too, but then once we finally moved to the park hopper tickets, he never looked back and would never go back to a single day park ticket.

 

[Bjkandma]

Originally our dates qualified (although not enough park days) but we moved our trip back and now 2 of our days work. When I plug in the dates, it looks like we cannot get FD on only some days, right?

In order to qualify for free dining promo, your stay must start on dates included in offer. You must stay 5 nights in resort and purchase a 4 day park hopper ticket.

 

[scard192]

Great question! I always miss them too

only Disney Visa promo for the January-April discounts that came out in October was for the Riviera resort.

 

[mdsouth]

Wish I was brave enough to watch from inside the MK. But I’m not!! Lol.

View attachment 461614

I’ve booked for two weeks starting June 28th so I want to make a few dining reservations.

But I’ve not been able to make dining past day 180 yet. I’ve tried logging in/out, different browsers, etc... but a I guess it’s not recognizing my stay yet.

Is anyone else who booked for the June dates having trouble making dining reservations?

I was able to book dining reservations for June 28-July 3rd today. I got everything I wanted, Ohana, Chef Mickey, and Ogas for eight people.

Yup - part of why the Free Dining promotions never really work for us is that we DON'T get park hopper tickets, and they are required as part of the FD package. Nothing is ever truly "Free", you pay full rack rate for the room and have to have the more expensive ticket option to get the "free" dining.

Yes, there is always a catch for "free" items. Right now, I booked the FD promo but I am watching for room only discount. I might switch if if works out better for us. Usually I just book regular tickets but this time we will be vacationing with my brother and his family and we may use the hopping to get to do the Star Wars rides as they are big Star Wars fans and then head to other parks.

 

[G719]

Yup - part of why the Free Dining promotions never really work for us is that we DON'T get park hopper tickets, and they are required as part of the FD package. Nothing is ever truly "Free", you pay full rack rate for the room and have to have the more expensive ticket option to get the "free" dining.

The "free" dining dates line up with the more expensive holiday weeks.

 

[petunia]

We had planned on some sort of discount for a mid August check in (bringing newbies this year). I was near certain this time frame would have free dining, as we have used for several years. At this point waiting until a possible April release really messes with booking flights. My question is if we book the package now, even if another round of FD is not is not released, is there a good chance a good discount will come up for mid August?

 

[siren0119]

We had planned on some sort of discount for a mid August check in (bringing newbies this year). I was near certain this time frame would have free dining, as we have used for several years. At this point waiting until a possible April release really messes with booking flights. My question is if we book the package now, even if another round of FD is not is not released, is there a good chance a good discount will come up for mid August?

It's hard to tell, this FD offering is not nearly as good as those that have been offered in the past. Looking at historical data there have been % off discounts offered on rooms in August but those were released in January of that year (and there is currently a % off room offer now, so if history repeats that will be the only discount for the general public for August) If you are a Disney Visa cardholder, FL resident or AP holder, there were additional discounts released for August in April-ish in past years. At this point I would not bank on it, but keep your eye out in case you get a pleasant surprise.

 

[DisKaren]

In order to qualify for free dining promo, your stay must start on dates included in offer. You must stay 5 nights in resort and purchase a 4 day park hopper ticket.

It’s a 4 night minimum, not 5.

 

[siren0119]

It’s a 4 night minimum, not 5.

There is confusion because the advertising on the Disney website states 5 nights/6 days stays.

 

[scard192]

We had planned on some sort of discount for a mid August check in (bringing newbies this year). I was near certain this time frame would have free dining, as we have used for several years. At this point waiting until a possible April release really messes with booking flights. My question is if we book the package now, even if another round of FD is not is not released, is there a good chance a good discount will come up for mid August?

this is such an odd discount drop it's hard to know. discounts that were supposed to end today have now been extended to 3/7/20 and are for dates up to April 25th. April 26th to the dates when FD starts were completely skipped for any discount

 

[DisKaren]

There is confusion because the advertising on the Disney website states 5 nights/6 days stays.

Yep. It happens every year. I always wonder if it works out the way Disney intends it to — they must want you to spend more nights/$$ by thinking you have to, or it discourages a lot of people from going at all by trying to book a 4 night package. Must be working for them if they keep doing it.

 

[petunia]

It's hard to tell, this FD offering is not nearly as good as those that have been offered in the past. Looking at historical data there have been % off discounts offered on rooms in August but those were released in January of that year (and there is currently a % off room offer now, so if history repeats that will be the only discount for the general public for August) If you are a Disney Visa cardholder, FL resident or AP holder, there were additional discounts released for August in April-ish in past years. At this point I would not bank on it, but keep your eye out in case you get a pleasant surprise.

There is a room only right now for August?

 

[Frozen2014]

It’s a 4 night minimum, not 5.

But if I put in Sat Aug 29th, the offer only pops up if I enter end date of Wed Sept 2 or later...which is 5 nights.

One thing I don't get is why is it called "free" dining.
If I put in Aug 29 - Sept 2 at Pop, the regular cost is $2553 where as "free" dining is $2953. Isn't that saying that food costs $400? If it was FD, then the value meals included would also cost $2553
Maybe because FD requires park hopper???