Question About Free Dining

[bubba]

I hope someone can answer my question! We are planning on going down to WDW in August. We last went in 2012 and got free dining. We travel down on the autotrain and the dates we're looking at are filling up fast. My question is this ... if I book our package with Disney for, say Aug 15-23, then later on free dining comes out starting on Aug 17th, will we be able to change our package to include free dining starting on the 17th? I hope this makes sense!! Any help is appreciated!!

 

[Marionnette]

I hope someone can answer my question! We are planning on going down to WDW in August. We last went in 2012 and got free dining. We travel down on the autotrain and the dates we're looking at are filling up fast. My question is this ... if I book our package with Disney for, say Aug 15-23, then later on free dining comes out starting on Aug 17th, will we be able to change our package to include free dining starting on the 17th? I hope this makes sense!! Any help is appreciated!!

Your package would have to begin on the 17th if that is when "free" dining begins. If your package begins on the 15th and "free" dining begins on the 17th, you will not qualify for it during your stay.

However, you could rebook by doing a split stay. You could do room-only for the days preceding the start of "free" dining and then book a package for the rest of your stay. That may mean trying to pick up your tickets from the package early, which can get complicated.

 

[MomToOne]

Last year free dining didn't start until September, so I would be surprised if they offered it for August this year. More people are vacationing again, and August crowds are strong enough to not need free dining.

They did have various room discounts throughout August though, so I would hope there would be some kind of discount again this year - I just don't think it will be free dining.

 

[KristenCarll]

What months do they usually do free dining in? This could make a huge difference in when we decide to take our trip.

 

[MomToOne]

What months do they usually do free dining in? This could make a huge difference in when we decide to take our trip.

Here is a chart that gives the history of various discounts, when they came out and the date range they were effective: http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

 

[KristenCarll]

Here is a chart that gives the history of various discounts, when they came out and the date range they were effective: http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

Thank you!

 

[HM]

I would not count on Free Dining in August this year, at least not that early. Make sure you reserve a room at a price you can live with if no discount is available.