Question About Free Dining Plan

[Disney8704]

When does Disney usually announce the free dining plan for that year? More then likely Disney will probably have it again in 2007 (and probably in the month of August), so heres my question. Im going from Aug 6-15th, staying at the AKL and would LOVE a free upgrade to savannah from Standard. Now being that most people will be there during free dining, it wont be as busy as during free dining, so Im thinking I have better chances of getting a free upgrade. Being it wont be as busy, which means it will be less crowded which equals out to probably getting a lot more done. We wanna go down for our anniversary, BUT, if the free dining kicks in like a week or 2 after we wanna go, I dunno if we should stick with going for our anniversary, deal with less people and have a better chance of getting an upgraded room OR go during the free dining and saving ourselves around $700. So which route do you think I should pick? Go my original dates or free dining time - IF its in August.

 

[laceemouse]

Well, I for one am also praying that they will offer free dining next year. We are not able to go this time due to having another trip scheduled. If it were me, I would move the trip to the free dining time, assuming they offer it and you do not have any other issues like work or school to think about. I am not a real sentimental person, celebrating on a different date would not bother me in the least!

 

[HaleyB]

I have been upgraded at times when there was a deeply discounted rate avaliable (at the AKL and at Pop Century).

If the hotel is full, and they over sold standard views, your chance of an upgrade goes up... so I think it may be a half dozen of one six of the other.

Same thing on crowds. Disney offers the deal because they need to bring people in. So if there is no discount for the week you book it might be because lots of the rooms have already sold.

So, I would (and did this year) change my dates in order to get the free dining plan.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

If a savannah view room is important to you, I would go when you planned, and pay for the savannah view. I would never count on getting an upgrade if the view were important to me. As for free dining...there is certainly no guarantee that it will be offered again next year.

 

[ReneeA]

Last year we booked free dining the first week of May.

This year we booked it the week it was announced, and I believe it was the third week of April.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

In 2005, the "free dining" package was announced to the general public on 6/2 for stays beginning 8/21-10/4/05.

In 2006, the same package was offered to the general public on 4/4/06 for stays beginning 8/13 - 9/30/06. The booking deadline was extended on 6/2/06 for stays begiinning 8/20 - 9/30/06.

There are no guarantees that free dining will be offered next year. It would be nice if it is but don't make your plans based on what Disney has done in the past. In general, WDW is more likely to offer a better incentive for mid-August thru September since that's a slower time due to children returning to school and the active hurricane seasons we've had the past two years. Many people in the North and Midwest are still vacationing in early August, which is why the incentives may not be as enticing for that time.

I would book the best room that could afford for this special trip and then I would upgrade to a better room or change my dates if a better offer were to become available. I would not count on any free upgrades. I visited WDW in December 2001. Not very many people were comfortable with travel at that time. Even with the sparse attendance, we were not offered any kind of upgrade, not that I was expecting one. On the contrary. Due to slow attendance, Disney cut the Extra Magic Hours at all parks. However, we still had a magical stay.

 

[princessnutty]

I believe you can always add the free dining to your existing ressie when it made available for the date that you are travel.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I forgot to add to my post...my friend lives in Tampa. She said there is a big push to have schools start after Labor Day, like we do here in NY. If this happens, I don't think you will see the big discounts and promotions until mid Sept.