So, who believes there will be a public offer for free dining?

[Bete]

Unless, there are a lot of hurricanes being reported for the time period I don't believe there will a public offer for free dining.

I think our economy is not affecting Disney World enough during that time. The British love Sepetember to come here.

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't feel it this year.

 

[JACKNAG]

I think they will offer it with a narrow range of days, just so the Accounteneers can fill the rooms, If it fits your schedule you will luck out, plus with the recession that we are in it can only help, If you can still afford it. Disney is going to want to get a piece of every family's rebate check.

 

[ajk912]

I agree, I think it won't be till September this year- which stinks for us because we are going in August. The August times just keep narrowing and narrowing year after year- my guess is they offer after Labor Day till the end of September.

 

[luvdisney00]

I think they will offer it with a narrow range of days, just so the Accounteneers can fill the rooms, If it fits your schedule you will luck out, plus with the recession that we are in it can only help, If you can still afford it. Disney is going to want to get a piece of every family's rebate check.

A piece? I think with their prices, they want all of it and more! But here I am more than willing to hand ours over.

 

[Karlzmom]

Don't forget the strength of the Euro (last saw 1 Euro =$1.50) which makes WDW cheaper than Disney Paris! If the Euro continues to be strong, if a European can get a decent airfare, then the have an extra .50 on the dollar in buying power and we will all hear a lot more french/german/dutch etc. at the park. Full rooms, means Disney doesn't have to give away anything.

 

[JACKNAG]

Does any one ever get frustated that its during a time when you have to take your kids out of school, it used to be aug 13, now its running around the 27th, We all bailed them out on the free dining during the huricane years , and this is the thanks we get, smaller free dining windows, Thats gratitude. And how come theUK got to book free dining for aug 10th this year.?

 

[CarolA]

Does any one ever get frustated that its during a time when you have to take your kids out of school, it used to be aug 13, now its running around the 27th, We all bailed them out on the free dining during the huricane years , and this is the thanks we get, smaller free dining windows, Thats gratitude. And how come theUK got to book free dining for aug 10th this year.?

Disney is a business.

THis is designed to drive business when it's SLOW (AKA as when the kids are in school????)


I think Disney will offer some vration of Free Dining. I also think that Disney will try to maximize thier profits. That may mean the UK version with no values or VERY limited rooms avaialble at the values. From Disney's point of view it's a LOT better to get you to pay rack at the mods/"deluxes"

(And Euro was at $1.52 yesterday. It's not the STRENGTH of the Euro that's an issue, its the WEAKNESS of the dollar. Look at the Brits. They pound is trading at somewhere close to 2 to 1. UK citizens find us a GREAT bargin this year)

 

[eliza61]

Unless, there are a lot of hurricanes being reported for the time period I don't believe there will a public offer for free dining.

I think our economy is not affecting Disney World enough during that time. The British love Sepetember to come here.

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't feel it this year.

I think they will offer some kind of free dining. It may not be as long but I think there will be some type of offer.

 

[pinkerbell]

My personal experience has been that I do not see a lot of european vactioners in the Values to begin with.. so maybe to get everyones $$$ dollar, pound or euro.. they only offered the mods and up to european guests..because they stay in them anyway due to exchange and are more likely to stay-up (a mod) rather than not go at all, and will offer free dining at values to US who may not go at all as opposed to staying "up" a level of resort.

So, I voted yes it will be offered!!! keeping my fingers crossed it will be offered again...

 

[glitzybabes]

If they are already offered it to 2 other "groups" of people, I don't see why they wouldn't offer it to Disney Visa Card holders and General Public!

They have done it for the past 3 years! It fills theirs hotel and parks, which brings on $$$. It is cheaper this year an any other year because of the changes to the dining plan.


So I don't why wouldn't they do it???

 

[pinkerbell]

ooohh.. good point tiffany... that it is cheaper.... now I am even more optomistic

 

[Haley]

I wonder how it will work logistically without being too confusing. I can imagine people booking it and then yelling at the restaurant for having to pay for an appetizer and the gratuity. "Hey, I thought my dining was free!!" "I didn't have to pay the tip last year!!" etc....

 

[kaytieeldr]

We all bailed them out on the free dining during the huricane years

Hurricane years? Free Dining was first offered in 2005 - one year after a single, three-hurricane season hit the Central Florida area.

EVERY year is hurricane year. Hurricane season is June 1 to November 30 (and yes, I'm aware that there were hurricanes after November 30 a couple of years ago).

Anyway, I think yes, Disney will offer some version of Free Dining to the general public, including Disney VISA holders, who will continue with the recent advantage only providing a few advance days to book (vs. a longer vacation window, which only happened once).

Wild guess, especially given some Future Stay Guests' experiences while booking - but I wouldn't be surprised if the GP offer had the same dates as the Future Stay offer, except that their travel has to be completed by the last date of the offer. I know some Guests who already booked were given that same cut-off by their CMs, but many others were able to book for their entire stays as long as those stays started on or before September 27. Or the GP offer will expire September 21, but will be valid for the entire stay.

 

[Karlzmom]

(And Euro was at $1.52 yesterday. It's not the STRENGTH of the Euro that's an issue, its the WEAKNESS of the dollar. Look at the Brits. They pound is trading at somewhere close to 2 to 1. UK citizens find us a GREAT bargin this year)

Touche'

In any event, I believe my point is still valid, WDW here in the states is a travel bargain for Europeans, as there money goes farther...(provided they can get decent airfare)

 

[CampbellScot]

did anybody else read the "My Dsis just booked free dining" post on this board? It seems a woman was accidentally given the free dining code when she called to inquire about its availability. She called back twice to confirm it and one of the CMs she spoke to told her it was a mistake but as the free dining code is going to go public in April, he'd let her keep it...



true or false?

hope its true...although I'm hoping for a 40% off code! But free dining is better than nothing!

 

[pinkerbell]

Just read it... sounds encouraging

 

[Mamu]

I do think it will be offered.

This was our 4th February trip and I noticed crowds were as low as I've ever seen. No waits anywhere. All rides were almost walk on. With no ADR's you could almost eat anywhere.

In the past February has always been a busy month, especially after Presidents Day. The only crowds we saw were DHS on ESPN weekend. Even then not like years past.

I do think the economy is hurting Disney and expect Disney to offer some discounts and add-on to draw in more guest.

 

[nurse.darcy]

okay, I feel they will offer it. . .end of August through End of September. . .when I was trying to book at this same time last year there were full hotels. . .that is not the case this year. I can book ANYTHING I want right now. . .

 

[kimsuenew]

I suppose, if offered, the number of available rooms will depend on the number of 2007 free DDP guests that booked "bounceback".

We did bounceback but are hoping that it is offered to all, as my sister and her family will join us there.

8/30 - 9/27 were the available bounceback dates to choose from for 2008 (narrowed from 8/26 beginning in 2007).

The UK, when booking their 2008 trips in Fall 2007, were not allowed to book Values, it had to be Moderates and up. Bouncebacks for 2008 could choose Values.

It will be interesting to see what happens this spring!

 

[mominRI]

we were going to hold off to see if the Free dining happened
but Southwest offered 89 air so I jumped on that for Mid August :
i did not want to take a chance to miss that air fair
Do you think they will let you use the pin code and free dining
I had the 40% off !!