Why I think Disney has to do free dining again...

[24Jack]

I think that since they filled up all those rooms with the 40% discount they won't need to offer free dining this year.

 

[mmiller711]

I am hoping for the free dinning but am worried that it may be a thing of the past. Last year they had the "toddler" special events while we were there in Aug. I noticed that this year that is still being offered but not until Sept. It is such a bummer that we can only go during school vacation because that is when Disney has no problem filling rooms so special events, prices etc... are not offered much

On the bright side, I am going to Disney!!!!!

 

[stephgles]

Isnt the 40% for the selected ppl who had the code. So there should be something out there for the ppl who did not have the code attached to their name. I am hoping for free dining but if not I know they had a special 3 years ago with a pay for 4 and stay for 7 (i believe that is what is was). I would take that also. Any kind of deal would be a deal

 

[24Jack]

Isnt the 40% for the selected ppl who had the code. So there should be something out there for the ppl who did not have the code attached to their name. I am hoping for free dining but if not I know they had a special 3 years ago with a pay for 4 and stay for 7 (i believe that is what is was). I would take that also. Any kind of deal would be a deal

There was some kind of glitch that allowed a lot of people to get the discount without the code..some calling over and over...

 

[Microcell]

I think that since they filled up all those rooms with the 40% discount they won't need to offer free dining this year.

I don't think they filled up as many rooms as you think. That gives this board alot more power than I think it has. I don't think free dining last year filled up the hotel rooms. We sure did not see the huge crowds last year that would indicate they were full. I think that a combination of free dining and the 40% might make a dent.

When it comes down to it, I would not give up hope.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I was hoping for free dining this year, I have a trip planned in Septmeber. But from reading these boards, I saw alot of people saying something about this 40% off deal which I never heard of. Someone gave me a code and I called and the person on the line said they couldn't give it to me because I didn't have a pin attached to my name.
So by the end of the call I told her to see if any pins were attached to my OLD last name, since our honeymoon was booked under my old name and there was a pin!!!
So I got 40% off my room and we switched to AKL savannah view because we got such a deep discount. THis works out much better than free dining now!
People that don't know, just call and see if there's a pin with your name, it might work!
If anyone needs the code, PM me, I don't know if I should just blab it on the boards

 

[Motherofboys]

I am hoping for the free dinning but am worried that it may be a thing of the past. Last year they had the "toddler" special events while we were there in Aug. I noticed that this year that is still being offered but not until Sept.

When I called CRO this morning (no code by my name, btw ) I asked about the special preschool shows and she told me the Doodlebops would be there 8/20. I hope she gave me the right date?

She also said that they "expect" Disney to offer the Free Dining again this fall b/c it is so popular. She of course gave me the disclaimer that they do not find about it in advance.

Still hoping for free dining!

 

[n2mm]

When I called CRO this morning (no code by my name, btw ) I asked about the special preschool shows and she told me the Doodlebops would be there 8/20. I hope she gave me the right date?

She also said that they "expect" Disney to offer the Free Dining again this fall b/c it is so popular. She of course gave me the disclaimer that they do not find about it in advance.

Still hoping for free dining!

I hope she was correct about the doodlebops because we'll be there 8/15-24 and GD would like this. Of course free ddp is always good too!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I don't think they filled up as many rooms as you think. That gives this board alot more power than I think it has. I don't think free dining last year filled up the hotel rooms. We sure did not see the huge crowds last year that would indicate they were full. I think that a combination of free dining and the 40% might make a dent.

When it comes down to it, I would not give up hope.

we were there last august duriong free dining and it wasnt busy

 

[LakeAriel]

I don't think they filled up as many rooms as you think. That gives this board alot more power than I think it has. I don't think free dining last year filled up the hotel rooms. We sure did not see the huge crowds last year that would indicate they were full. I think that a combination of free dining and the 40% might make a dent.

When it comes down to it, I would not give up hope.

Well more then 75 people admitted getting the discount WITHOUT the code, add to that those who were supposed to get the discount and those who wouldn't advertise their "good fortune" here and that is a lot of people JUST ON THIS BOARD...

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

Well more then 75 people admitted getting the discount WITHOUT the code, add to that those who were supposed to get the discount and those who wouldn't advertise their "good fortune" here and that is a lot of people JUST ON THIS BOARD...

Yes but trust me......Disney has way more then 75+ rooms

 

[JL2002]

I was hoping for free dining this year, I have a trip planned in Septmeber. But from reading these boards, I saw alot of people saying something about this 40% off deal which I never heard of. Someone gave me a code and I called and the person on the line said they couldn't give it to me because I didn't have a pin attached to my name.
So by the end of the call I told her to see if any pins were attached to my OLD last name, since our honeymoon was booked under my old name and there was a pin!!!
So I got 40% off my room and we switched to AKL savannah view because we got such a deep discount. THis works out much better than free dining now!
People that don't know, just call and see if there's a pin with your name, it might work!
If anyone needs the code, PM me, I don't know if I should just blab it on the boards

how is it better than the free dining plan? ....

 

[jamounger]

I think the restaurants were full during free dining, not necessarily the rooms. The parks weren't overly crowded when we were there the end of September but if you didn't have ADR's you couldn't get into the restaurants.

 

[ruthma]

Yes but trust me......Disney has way more then 75+ rooms

Approx 40, 000 rooms

 

[goofydad621]

Yes but trust me......Disney has way more then 75+ rooms

That is what I was thinking also we have a BIG impact on each other but that is it.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

how is it better than the free dining plan? ....

Because free dining would have saved us about $500
40% off code saved us over $1000

 

[n2mm]

I think the restaurants were full during free dining, not necessarily the rooms. The parks weren't overly crowded when we were there the end of September but if you didn't have ADR's you couldn't get into the restaurants.

Actually Pop did sell out (or overbooked) because when we checked in we were moved to CSR for our stay at the same price we booked Pop. (I know that will never happen again, but it was great getting a super upgrade like that). I also read some other folks who got moved to another resort. (We were there Aug. 17-22. This year we plan to go Aug. 15-24, so will see what happens. Yes and I agree, we disers are only a drop in the bucket.

 

[jcemom]

how is it better than the free dining plan? ....

It all depends on what resort level you're staying at and how many in your party. For example, if rack rate at a Value is $82/night and you get free dining - you pay $82/night for room and DDP. With the 40% off you'll pay $49/night plus $39 for DDP per adult, more than free dining no matter how small your party.

However, if you're staying at AKL Savannah View, rack rate is $385/night. 40% off of that is a savings of $154/night. Two adults and two children would pay only $100/night for the DDP. So the 40% code would save approximately $54/night over the free dining promotion for someone in this situation.

Make sense? Not sure if I explained that very well, but I tried.

 

[everest]

Several reasons, it seems to be popular with the guests, it keeps their restaurants full and employees employed during a otherwise very slow time of year. Another reason is that it is a basically $100.00 savings for most families, but for Disney it may only cost them only $70.00 in a discount.

Let me explain;

If a family uses a AP code or a pin code and receives a $50.00 a night discount, that amount of the discount in the savings for the guest is equal to the cost to Disney for that discount.

But in the case of the Free DDP the savings for a normal family of four would be $100.00 a day. Disney’s cost for that same discount is not $100.00, it is actually equal to the cost of “food cost” which in most restaurants runs from about 50-70%. We all know the food prices at Disney are higher than most places in the area. Disney’s cost for the discount should be much lower than the actual value for the guests, my guess Disney’s discount cost is probably closer to $60.00 to $70.00 a night.

 

[PortieOwner]

My 2 cents: I probably would not go in late August or September if there wasn't some sort of "deal" from WDW. I'd rather go during cooler, quieter times like January. August/Sept. is a lousy time for vacation for my family, and we don't even have any school-age kids. And the hot, humid weather in Orlando that time of year is miserable. Add on the huge risk or hurricanes that time of the year and it's unattractive if there isn't some sort of deal.