We were there this past Nov.08 we booked a package deal that they started running on the WDW website around august. It included our hotel and park tickets. We stayed 11 nights at a value resort added park hoppers, and the regular dining plan. Our total came to 2300.00 for our family of four. This price includes tax and insurence. So if you break that down it's about 200.00 a day for our family including hotel, tickets, and food. Not a bad deal if you ask me. And to make things even better the weather was BEAUTIFUL, and crowds were low!
They had the free dining last year but it was not during the first week or T Day week. Other than that 40% seems to happen in that time frame pretty regularly.