Week after Thanksgiving

[TACK]

Has anyone found out why that week is out for free dining? I understand about the 2nd week of December which is Pop Warner, by why the week before? It has always been slow and included in the free dining for the past few years. I have been going at that time for several years, but now I'm thinking that maybe it's not the best time. So I am confused. Thanks.

 

[theduhaimes]

Bump.

 

[TACK]

What does bump mean? I'm gathering no one know the answer to my question but I don't understand the previous post.

 

[3boys4me]

What does bump mean? I'm gathering no one know the answer to my question but I don't understand the previous post.

When someone bumps your post, they are commenting so that is stays up near the top so it doesn't get lost in all of the other posts.

 

[GrammyJudy]

I think they had enough people going that week without fd. And there are less weeks between Thanksgiving and Xmas this year

 

[TACK]

Thanks for the answer on "bump". I normally don't start posts, so now I know.

Since I'll be there during the 2 weeks after Thanksgiving, I'll find out how busy it really is. I have a feeling, there will be cancellations at least for the week of December 1st. The second week is Pop Warner week, which is normally blocked. Thanks to the no free dining, what I decided to do is travel abit as opposed to spend my time at Disneyworld. 4 days at Disneyworld, 4 days travelling to South Carolina, Georgia and back to 5 days at Universal resort (lucky me I have some one who works at Universal - so excellent discount and free front of the line).

 

[Wood Nymph]

Has anyone found out why that week is out for free dining? I understand about the 2nd week of December which is Pop Warner, by why the week before? It has always been slow and included in the free dining for the past few years. I have been going at that time for several years, but now I'm thinking that maybe it's not the best time. So I am confused. Thanks.

The only people who know the answer to your question aren't going to tell us. So we'll just have to guess. My guess would be that they managed to fill a lot of rooms during that time period and felt that they didn't need to offer any additional discounts. That period had been included in both the bounce back room offer than had been available to guests staying at a WDW resort between Dec 2012 and this month. We got 35% off our room at the WL for the period Nov 30th to Dec 4th from that offer. And there had been a lot of pin codes sent out, too.

There is a thread to discuss the lack of a free dining discount for the first week of December. There are a lot of disappointed people here.

1st week of December 2013 Support Group

 

[whodatdare]

We went the week after Thanksgiving this past year. It was very crowded compared to the expectations. We've gone in June and have had less crowds in the MK than the week after TG. The only park that REALLY seemed any slower than when we've gone in June was AK. You could walk on to almost everything.
I'm wondering if that had anything to do with it.

 

[tyniknate]

The week after Thanksgiving has progressively become more and more busy. The first time we went that week 10 years ago it was almost a ghost town. The last time we went (2011) the crowds had tripled (at least) compared to what it originally was. Walk-on rides now had 30-40 minute waits and rides like Peter Pan and Splash Mountain were hour+ waits.

Couple this with everyone who books months in advance waiting for free dining so they can just apply it to their reservation....and we now have no need for Disney to offer public discounts. Its disappointing because I can guess there will be plenty of people who counted on free dining happening for that week who will now cancel and book during a time when free dining is still offered. By doing this it throws off the numbers for everyone and no one wins. Rooms will be open and vacant and free dining will not be offered.

 

[jenfur]

I have been to WDW the week after Thanksgiving every year since 2001 and the crowds have always been great. Every year there is a huge freak out about crowds and I worry but it all turns out just fine. The key is picking the right park/day. I've never waited for over 25-30 minutes for anything except Toy Story Mania when it first opened. The resorts actually seem less booked up this year as opposed to last year- I really wanted royal rooms at POR last year but they were booked, this year there are still plenty and I was able to apply a discount a few days ago that I couldn't when it was first released.

 

[TACK]

I have been doing the week after Thanksgiving for a number of years and although lately it is busier than it was 10 years ago, it is still not that bad. Last year I was there the week of Pop Warner and I have to say I did not notice any difference in the parks. I do rely on crowd calendars and if a park seems busy, I go to another one.

Since I still will be going for the 4 days after Thanksgiving, I'll see how full the resorts are. I have a feeling that it won't be that bad. I do feel for those people who were hoping for the free dining and who may be locked into their travel.

 

[DisneyJsquared]

I wonder if they might be offering pin codes for free dining during that time rather than FD for the general public. My dad, who hasn't been to Disney World in over a decade, received a free dining pin code for dates that included the first week of December.

Also, someone told me the pin codes offered this year were aimed at people who had been to Disney before, so maybe they just want lots of return visitors in the park to test out the magic bands. That theory doesn't make a whole lot of sense (even though I came up with it, haha!) but it did cross my mind.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I wonder if they might be offering pin codes for free dining during that time rather than FD for the general public. My dad, who hasn't been to Disney World in over a decade, received a free dining pin code for dates that included the first week of December.

Also, someone told me the pin codes offered this year were aimed at people who had been to Disney before, so maybe they just want lots of return visitors in the park to test out the magic bands. That theory doesn't make a whole lot of sense (even though I came up with it, haha!) but it did cross my mind.

I've heard that all the pin codes for 2013 have been released. Some of those pin codes were for free dining for those first few days after Thanksgiving.

They are now releasing pin codes for 2014 dates.

 

[DisneyJsquared]

I've heard that all the pin codes for 2013 have been released. Some of those pin codes were for free dining for those first few days after Thanksgiving.

They are now releasing pin codes for 2014 dates.

Oh, should've clarified. I realize that, I think that they may have offered more pin codes than usual for these dates, which is why they aren't offering FD to the public. Just a thought...

 

[Wood Nymph]

Oh, should've clarified. I realize that, I think that they may have offered more pin codes than usual for these dates, which is why they aren't offering FD to the public. Just a thought...

I have a feeling you are right about that.

 

[Chott]

Has anyone found out why that week is out for free dining? I understand about the 2nd week of December which is Pop Warner, by why the week before? It has always been slow and included in the free dining for the past few years. I have been going at that time for several years, but now I'm thinking that maybe it's not the best time. So I am confused. Thanks.

I wonder if they might be offering pin codes for free dining during that time rather than FD for the general public. My dad, who hasn't been to Disney World in over a decade, received a free dining pin code for dates that included the first week of December.

Also, someone told me the pin codes offered this year were aimed at people who had been to Disney before, so maybe they just want lots of return visitors in the park to test out the magic bands. That theory doesn't make a whole lot of sense (even though I came up with it, haha!) but it did cross my mind.

On 6/11/13, I was offered a free dining pin over the phone for Dec 1 - Dec 7 after calling repeatedly looking for one and doing the many other recommended activities to increase my chances of getting a pin. Many people on this board were doing this at the same time. I think it is safe to say that they (Disney) were successful in meeting whatever goals they had in place for that week and I haven't seen anything about pin codes being offered for that week on the boards since the public offer came out.

That being said, you can always call and ask. I called over and over again until I was finally offered the discount.

 

[Kelly528]

On 6/11/13, I was offered a free dining pin over the phone for Dec 1 - Dec 7 after calling repeatedly looking for one and doing the many other recommended activities to increase my chances of getting a pin. Many people on this board were doing this at the same time. I think it is safe to say that they (Disney) were successful in meeting whatever goals they had in place for that week and I haven't seen anything about pin codes being offered for that week on the boards since the public offer came out.

That being said, you can always call and ask. I called over and over again until I was finally offered the discount.

So when you called you just kept asking "can I have a discount?" I want to go the week after thanksgiving 2014 and I am stressing already that I won't have any leeway in the price!

 

[Chott]

So when you called you just kept asking "can I have a discount?" I want to go the week after thanksgiving 2014 and I am stressing already that I won't have any leeway in the price!

Actually I kept calling, asking if I had a pin attached to my name. I probably called about 8 times. The last time I called, I asked if I had a pin and the CM told me no. I said that was too bad and that if I had a pin, I would book it right now. She asked what dates I wanted to travel and I told her Dec 1 - 7. She said "I can do free dining for those dates". I booked a reservation at AS-Music with QS and later was able to upgrade to Coronado Springs with table service.

Keep in mind I also ordered a new planning DVD, maps, signed up for everything I could and would make dummy bookings that saved to my cart but not finish the booking. This worked for me and some others that also posted.

 

[Kelly528]

Actually I kept calling, asking if I had a pin attached to my name. I probably called about 8 times. The last time I called, I asked if I had a pin and the CM told me no. I said that was too bad and that if I had a pin, I would book it right now. She asked what dates I wanted to travel and I told her Dec 1 - 7. She said "I can do free dining for those dates". I booked a reservation at AS-Music with QS and later was able to upgrade to Coronado Springs with table service.

Keep in mind I also ordered a new planning DVD, maps, signed up for everything I could and would make dummy bookings that saved to my cart but not finish the booking. This worked for me and some others that also posted.

Thank you! I have been doing the same, signing up, making dummy bookings, etc. I am looking for November 2014 so I know I have some time but I want to begin early so maybe I could get a pin closer to then!