Some FREE DINING Info & Guidelines

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Looking at the type and frequency of discounts/promotions Disney has put out these past few months, it looks like they really are trying to scale back on discounts. Now they are showing commercials that are basically just advertising rack rates during value season. I don't want to come across as someone who expects a discount as I know Disney is a business first, but free dining is a great promotion to me and a no brainer for our family with four kids . For our family, promotions like free dining is what will continue to keep us staying onsite at a Disney hotel/resort, otherwise we would probably stay offsite in a condo or a DTD hotel suite. I am getting concerned that they aren't going to offer free dining for as many time frames/weeks as they have in years past. We are considering booking plane tickets very soon for a trip in either late August or mid September. I know free dining has traditionally been offered for those times, but I am getting concerned they won't this year because for our trip last year, I booked our August 2011 free dining package in October of 2010 (they offered the promo almost a year in advance!). I ended up switching our package over to the kids stay/play free promotion because that saved us more since all four of our kids were 9 years and younger at the time, but that won't be the case this year so free dining would be the promotion that saves us the most. I am also considering the week after Thanksgiving (Nov 24th-Dec 1st), but I am worried they won't offer free dining for that week anymore either. Not sure what to do, it's not easy having to wait and see

 

[DisGirl1971]

Looking at the type and frequency of discounts/promotions Disney has put out these past few months, it looks like they really are trying to scale back on discounts. Now they are showing commercials that are basically just advertising rack rates during value season. I don't want to come across as someone who expects a discount as I know Disney is a business first, but free dining is a great promotion to me and a no brainer for our family with four kids . For our family, promotions like free dining is what will continue to keep us staying onsite at a Disney hotel/resort, otherwise we would probably stay offsite in a condo or a DTD hotel suite. I am getting concerned that they aren't going to offer free dining for as many time frames/weeks as they have in years past. We are considering booking plane tickets very soon for a trip in either late August or mid September. I know free dining has traditionally been offered for those times, but I am getting concerned they won't this year because for our trip last year, I booked our August 2011 free dining package in October of 2010 (they offered the promo almost a year in advance!). I ended up switching our package over to the kids stay/play free promotion because that saved us more since all four of our kids were 9 years and younger at the time, but that won't be the case this year so free dining would be the promotion that saves us the most. I am also considering the week after Thanksgiving (Nov 24th-Dec 1st), but I am worried they won't offer free dining for that week anymore either. Not sure what to do, it's not easy having to wait and see

As far as free dining discounts, looking back at last year's January - March dates, it would seem that they have released, basically, the same amount of dates this year as they did last year, so I don't think they have cut back on free dining so far. Could they cut back or release free dining for less weeks this year? Maybe. But, really, Free Dining was first created to fill rooms during the August/September timeframe which was/is the height of hurricane season. The parks used to be a complete ghost town from late August to late September. Free dining now brings tens of thousands of people into the parks and resorts that previously would not have toured during that time. I think that's why they now offer it during other low crowd weeks. If they cut out the free dining discounts people will continue to go to the parks, but the numbers will drop off to prior FD numbers and then they will have to offer it again or come up with a discount to equal free dining to keep those numbers up. I think the weeks will vary from year to year, as to when they need to fill resort rooms, but I don't think they will phase free dining out, at least not for a long time, as it has and continue to make Disney a fortune.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

As far as free dining discounts, looking back at last year's January - March dates, it would seem that they have released, basically, the same amount of dates this year as they did last year, so I don't think they have cut back on free dining so far. Could they cut back or release free dining for less weeks this year? Maybe. But, really, Free Dining was first created to fill rooms during the August/September timeframe which was/is the height of hurricane season. The parks used to be a complete ghost town from late August to late September. Free dining now brings tens of thousands of people into the parks and resorts that previously would not have toured during that time. I think that's why they now offer it during other low crowd weeks. If they cut out the free dining discounts people will continue to go to the parks, but the numbers will drop off to prior FD numbers and then they will have to offer it again or come up with a discount to equal free dining to keep those numbers up. I think the weeks will vary from year to year, as to when they need to fill resort rooms, but I don't think they will phase free dining out, at least not for a long time, as it has and continue to make Disney a fortune.

Thank you, you have given me some much needed reassurrance
I just need to be more patient. The OP's first post is really helpful too. This is a great thread and both you and OP know a lot about the free dining promotion.

 

[mskermit]

so i just got off the phone with my TA. she told me someone told her that only QS will be offered at the moderates for free dining this year. anyone else hear this nonsense?? LOL she is calling her disney rep and trying to get info. I am trying to figure out what to do. already booked at POR with one room, 2 adults dd (16) and GD (17months). i am thinking adding a room but if we are only getting QS i may move to AOA and just pay out of pocket for TS if this is true... i hope its not

 

[chrisw127]

so i just got off the phone with my TA. she told me someone told her that only QS will be offered at the moderates for free dining this year. anyone else hear this nonsense?? LOL she is calling her disney rep and trying to get info. I am trying to figure out what to do. already booked at POR with one room, 2 adults dd (16) and GD (17months). i am thinking adding a room but if we are only getting QS i may move to AOA and just pay out of pocket for TS if this is true... i hope its not

No one knows and honestly, if her rep gives her that info (that is, if he knows it) and she passes that onto clients, she's going to have to answer to the mouse.

 

[mskermit]

No one knows and honestly, if her rep gives her that info (that is, if he knows it) and she passes that onto clients, she's going to have to answer to the mouse.

lol

 

[DisGirl1971]

so i just got off the phone with my TA. she told me someone told her that only QS will be offered at the moderates for free dining this year. anyone else hear this nonsense?? LOL she is calling her disney rep and trying to get info. I am trying to figure out what to do. already booked at POR with one room, 2 adults dd (16) and GD (17months). i am thinking adding a room but if we are only getting QS i may move to AOA and just pay out of pocket for TS if this is true... i hope its not

Ever since they introduced the Quick Service over 3 years ago, someone always says a TA or someone else told them that Free Dining will only include the Quick Service Plan. Or every time an email pin code offer is reported to only offer free Quick Service Dining, someone says, well that's what the general pulbic offer is going to be. Well, after 3 years, they haven't got it right one time. I'm not saying that they won't do that when the next free dining offer is released, but until the offer is acutally released, which won't before another 6 to 8 weeks, it's all just speculation.

 

[mskermit]

yes it is speculation and fingers crossed its not true!! Oh well it will be what it will be, but I still have fingers crossed for free dining!!! QS or not I'll take it!!! Its all good... I'm going to Disney World!!!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

The pin code offers I've received last year and this year were all 3 free QSDP for values and mods. We're supposed to go in June, but I would consider moving the trip to another date if we could get DDP at a mod. with a public code.

 

[DisGirl1971]

The pin code offers I've received last year and this year were all 3 free QSDP for values and mods. We're supposed to go in June, but I would consider moving the trip to another date if we could get DDP at a mod. with a public code.

All past general public free dining promos have offered the Basic/Regular DDP to Moderate Resorts - Hopefully that wont' change with the new discounts that should be coming

 

[ksantilli]

So question for all of you pros out there. I'm trying, like everyone else, to save as much as I can. My kids have expressed interest in the YES program. I received a PIN for 30% our mod resort. So i'm booked with that code currently. My question is this, if FD came out while we are there in October, that would save me $400 more than doing YES and our 30% off.
In order to get FD, how many days of park admission tickets are required? I'm wondering if it's worth buying the minimum tickets and doing YES for the rest would be worth it or not. TIA!

 

[DisGirl1971]

So question for all of you pros out there. I'm trying, like everyone else, to save as much as I can. My kids have expressed interest in the YES program. I received a PIN for 30% our mod resort. So i'm booked with that code currently. My question is this, if FD came out while we are there in October, that would save me $400 more than doing YES and our 30% off.
In order to get FD, how many days of park admission tickets are required? I'm wondering if it's worth buying the minimum tickets and doing YES for the rest would be worth it or not. TIA!

To apply a Free Dining discount you have to be booked under a Magic Your Way Package that included room, resort and dining. There is a 3 night minimum and a 2 day base ticket minimum to received a free dining discount.

 

[ksantilli]

To apply a Free Dining discount you have to be booked under a Magic Your Way Package that included room, resort and dining. There is a 3 night minimum and a 2 day base ticket minimum to received a free dining discount.

Thanks so much! Now to figure out the pricing!

 

[D.DUCKMENOW]

if i were to book a vacation package for the middle of sept with room and park tickets for 10 days, but not add any dining plan. but then make dining reservations at the disney park restaraunts on line. then if they release free dining and i call and get free dining added to my package, would i have to somehow link those adr to my package somehow? or just show up to the eatery's and give them my free dining card? thank you in advance for any help on this

 

[mommyrosa2]

if i were to book a vacation package for the middle of sept with room and park tickets for 10 days, but not add any dining plan. but then make dining reservations at the disney park restaraunts on line. then if they release free dining and i call and get free dining added to my package, would i have to somehow link those adr to my package somehow? or just show up to the eatery's and give them my free dining card? thank you in advance for any help on this

There is no free dining card so no need to worry there! If you make your ressies online and have already created an online account, you can link your ADR's to your current hotel reservation # by logging on first and then booking your ADR's. If you haven't created an online account, you can still go ahead and book your ADR's and you will be prompted to enter your name, email address and phone number. You will then get a confirmation of all your dining ressies via email (I also like to write down my ADR reservation numbers as I book them, but that's just me). Of course, if you don't want to utilize the website, you can always call the dining number and make your reservations with a live agent. Hope this helps.

 

[D.DUCKMENOW]

There is no free dining card so no need to worry there! If you make your ressies online and have already created an online account, you can link your ADR's to your current hotel reservation # by logging on first and then booking your ADR's. If you haven't created an online account, you can still go ahead and book your ADR's and you will be prompted to enter your name, email address and phone number. You will then get a confirmation of all your dining ressies via email (I also like to write down my ADR reservation numbers as I book them, but that's just me). Of course, if you don't want to utilize the website, you can always call the dining number and make your reservations with a live agent. Hope this helps.

if free dining comes out, how would i switch those reservations over to free dining?

 

[mommyrosa2]

if free dining comes out, how would i switch those reservations over to free dining?

You would only have to call and switch your package to the FD promo (providing the room you have already booked is available under the promo), it doesn't effect your dining reservations whatsoever because anyone can make a dining reservation, you don't have to stay in a Disney resort to eat at Disney restaurants but you do have to have a Magic Your Way package (resort, tickets) to get the dining plan, free or otherwise. Hope that makes sense.

 

[D.DUCKMENOW]

You would only have to call and switch your package to the FD promo (providing the room you have already booked is available under the promo), it doesn't effect your dining reservations whatsoever because anyone can make a dining reservation, you don't have to stay in a Disney resort to eat at Disney restaurants but you do have to have a Magic Your Way package (resort, tickets) to get the dining plan, free or otherwise. Hope that makes sense.

almost got it. if i were to make online reservations for dining today { or 180 days out } and decide to wait till may to book my room and ticket package with free dining { if availible } i could then apply those reservations i made months ago to that free dining package? or would i have to call and tell them i want to apply those reservations? does the restaraunt need to know ahead of time if i have free dining? thank you again for your time.....

 

[DisGirl1971]

almost got it. if i were to make online reservations for dining today { or 180 days out } and decide to wait till may to book my room and ticket package with free dining { if availible } i could then apply those reservations i made months ago to that free dining package? or would i have to call and tell them i want to apply those reservations? does the restaraunt need to know ahead of time if i have free dining? thank you again for your time.....

Your dining reservation have absolutely nothing to do with making or having a resort reservation. It does not matter if you are on free dining or not and you don't switch anything in regard to your dining reservations.

If you are going mid-September your 180 day ADR window will open in mid-March. The August/September free dining discounts should be released around the end of March/beginning of April. So go ahead and make your ADRs and your resort reservations (all you have to put down to book your package is $200.00). When the code is released, just call Disney reservations and have them add the FD discount code to your existing reservation - you don't switch or cancel anything. When you check in to your resort you will be given a Key to the World Card (KTTW) which will be used as your room key and will have your park tickets and dining credits on it. When you have a meal, you will simply use that card to pay for your meals - the fact that you received a free dining discount has no baring on any of that - it's the exact same protocol if you pay full price for the dining plan.

 

[mommyrosa2]

Your dining reservation have absolutely nothing to do with making or having a resort reservation. It does not matter if you are on free dining or not and you don't switch anything in regard to your dining reservations.

If you are going mid-September your 180 day ADR window will open in mid-March. The August/September free dining discounts should be released around the end of March/beginning of April. So go ahead and make your ADRs and your resort reservations (all you have to put down to book your package is $200.00). When the code is released, just call Disney reservations and have them add the FD discount code to your existing reservation - you don't switch or cancel anything. When you check in to your resort you will be given a Key to the World Card (KTTW) which will be used as your room key and will have your park tickets and dining credits on it. When you have a meal, you will simply use that card to pay for your meals - the fact that you received a free dining discount has no baring on any of that - it's the exact same protocol if you pay full price for the dining plan.

Exactly and I will add that if you've never had the dining plan before then think of it like this:
The dining plan is like having credits to eat. Each person in your party is allowed so many credits per person, per night of your stay. When you check into your resort, you will be given a "key to the world" card (something each person in your party will receive). This card identifies, your resort, your park tickets and your credits for dining if you have the dining plan. Each time you go to one of your ADR's, you will give the waiter your card and they will scan it and deduct the credits for your meals. Same holds true for counter service restaurants and any snacks you have that are available on the dining plan.