Question about potential "Free Dining"

[Kaky]

Is free dining limited to certain WDW hotels/resorts and not others? If we book at a 2 bedroom Villa, does that preclude us from getting free dining if it is available? Or 3 bedroom? In other words, what qualifies you to have free dining or not - if its a free dining week?

Also - do you go ahead and book - and then cross fingers and toes in case they open up free dining and THEN sign up for dining plan? Or do you reserve dining plan ahead of time and then hope it is listed as a "free dining week"?

Thanks in advance!

 

[cassie58]

There are always some hotels/room categories excluded, but it can vary. If you already have a reservation, when an offer is announced, you have to call to modify yours or make a new one under the offer dates and categories. Some people like to go ahead and make a reservation, so they have one set, and hope a free dining or room only discount pops up. Others don't book until promo because they figure the more rooms already booked, the less chance Disney needs to put out offers.

You can check Mousesavers.com, and search historical discounts, and can find a chart with what has been offered when for the last few yrs, but of course you never know what this yr will bring. If free dining is offered you have to check in by last day of any time pd. and will get it for your whole trip. If there is room only, you can only use it on those dates, but it could be a better discount than FD, depending on your party and eating habits, especially if you are at a Deluxe.

Check out this link to a thread with the offer from last year, listing dates and exclusions to give you an idea(post by mousefan). http://www.disboards.com/threads/2016-free-dining-watch-part-2.3504158/page-143#post-55627039

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It is limited to not only certain resorts, but even to certain room types, on a limited inventory, for specific dates within the offer period. Last few years have required a multi-day Park Hopper or Water Parks and More ticket. You pay Rack Rate for your room.

 

[purple figment]

Is free dining limited to certain WDW hotels/resorts and not others? If we book at a 2 bedroom Villa, does that preclude us from getting free dining if it is available? Or 3 bedroom? In other words, what qualifies you to have free dining or not - if its a free dining week?

There's no way to know for certain which resorts and room categories within the resorts will be included. wdwinfo has an overview of free dining and includes a list of what resorts and room categories have typically been excluded:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world-free-dining-plan-basics.htm

Also - do you go ahead and book - and then cross fingers and toes in case they open up free dining and THEN sign up for dining plan? Or do you reserve dining plan ahead of time and then hope it is listed as a "free dining week"?

Having a reservation in advance does not help your chances of getting free dining since the FD rooms come from a separate inventory of rooms. If you book just a room you will have to book a free dining package and cancel the room only. If you already have a package (room, tickets and paid dining plan) and free dining is announced your resort, room category and check in date will have to be included and there will have to be availability when you call to take advantage of the offer. You might have to be flexible about the date and room/resort. The most recent FD offers have required a minimum three night stay, tickets with either hopper or water parks and more and room at rack rate.

 

[Nancyg56]

Is free dining limited to certain WDW hotels/resorts and not others? If we book at a 2 bedroom Villa, does that preclude us from getting free dining if it is available? Or 3 bedroom? In other words, what qualifies you to have free dining or not - if its a free dining week?

Also - do you go ahead and book - and then cross fingers and toes in case they open up free dining and THEN sign up for dining plan? Or do you reserve dining plan ahead of time and then hope it is listed as a "free dining week"?

Thanks in advance!

The question I always ask is if you are locked into a specific timeframe and if you will only travel with a FD discount. If you have to travel within a certain window then go ahead and book your resort. If you are flexible, and if you will only travel with a discount, booking a resort speculating on the offer is counterproductive. Don't bother, all uyou do is add one more room to Disney inventory that they do not need to fill.

If and when the offers are released choose the resort that works for your family. The problem with deciding in advance is that if "your" resort or your dates are not included, what do you do? I tend to follow the sales, and will not pay rack rate unless the FD promotion saves me money over RO discount, and I will never go without some sort of discount. THe dates and resorts are very specific, so waiting is the best strategy IMO.

 

[Kaky]

Thanks everyone! Very helpful advice!