Will Disney offer free dining like the past

[wingnut3443]

do you think Disney will be offering free dining like in the past for late Aug early Sept??

 

[Mrs D]

do you think Disney will be offering free dining like in the past for late Aug early Sept??

Below is my favorite response for this question. Cheshire, hope you don't mind my borrowing your signature line.

Who Knows What EVIL Lurks In The Heart Of Disney Marketing?!

When Disney feels ready to implement their next promotion they will do so. If other recent promotions have been any indication, for about the first month nobody will really understand it and the Marketing people will not have thought out all the ramifications.

 

[vicki_c]

Just so you know - they ALREADY offered free dining through August/September and the booking window closed in December. The question is whether they will have another free dining offer and will it include those dates again.

 

[mskermit]

I'm already hopig for free dining in august 2012!! fingers crossed. we want to stay at the contemporary , but it will be soooo expensive without free dining

 

[chocolateMinnie]

it was offered here in the UK for 2011 - we're now waiting for our 2012 brochures (usually out in April) to see what is offered for nexxt year.

 

[kckmom]

Just so you know - they ALREADY offered free dining through August/September and the booking window closed in December. The question is whether they will have another free dining offer and will it include those dates again.

I am planning a trip in Aug 2012, normally we stay off site, but looking forward to a few days on site before going to our timeshare. If they do offer the free dining, is it normally by pin code or is it a general public promotion before the holidays each year?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Mrs D]

I am planning a trip in Aug 2012, normally we stay off site, but looking forward to a few days on site before going to our timeshare. If they do offer the free dining, is it normally by pin code or is it a general public promotion before the holidays each year?

Thanks for the help!

In an unprecedented move, Disney released a general public free dining offer in August 2010 for dates that spanned both 2010 and 2011. There were many black out dates and the promo had to be booked by Dec20, 2010.

Because of that first time move, if and when another free dining offer would be made for 2011 is really anybody's guess. I'd say it will be based on hotel and park occupancy. I would also hazard a guess that it will be summer before we see any such offer.

My recommendation is if the Kids Stay & Play free or the Room Only offer works for your dates book it now. You can change to another promo if/when it is offered.

HTH!

 

[jennyf2]

do you think Disney will be offering free dining like in the past for late Aug early Sept??

I'm HOPING they offer it again for August! I'm kicking myself for not booking earlier!!!

 

[wingnut3443]

my kids are too old for the kids play and stay, so I too am kicking myself for passing up on the free dining, we were planning on taking a year off, but other members of extended family want to go so we are going with them...
please Disney...bring FD back

 

[KungFoomF]

In an unprecedented move, Disney released a general public free dining offer in August 2010 for dates that spanned both 2010 and 2011. There were many black out dates and the promo had to be booked by Dec20, 2010.

Because of that first time move, if and when another free dining offer would be made for 2011 is really anybody's guess. I'd say it will be based on hotel and park occupancy. I would also hazard a guess that it will be summer before we see any such offer.

My recommendation is if the Kids Stay & Play free or the Room Only offer works for your dates book it now. You can change to another promo if/when it is offered.

HTH!

EXACTLY right.

Book the Kids Stay and Play and change later because it might be the best we see from here on out. Disney has never released free dining the prior year like they just did so who knows what is coming. They are doing something different and perhaps they are actually hoping to phase it out. Probably not, but change is not always good.

 

[Mermaid2sea]

When I called the Disney UK agent just before their Free Dining Promotion was due to come to an end the CM told me that it would not be extended as they'd extended once already. Guess what....it has been offered again....so you never know fingers crossed for you.

 

[mskermit]

we are also planning august 2012 (new jersey here too!! ) we went 2010 in august and i think they offered free dining a few months before. thru all of the time spent on here waiting and checking the last time, it was said it was offered to visa card holders first then to the general public. i never got any type of pin code. of course now that we are going in 2012 i have gotten 2 mailers with pin codes for offers. We are thinking about the contemporary this time ( we are ft wilderness cabin people) but it is soooo expensive without the free dining. fingers crossed for 2012 free dining!!!!

 

[sgrabin]

They've offered the Fall free dining for a number of years now, due to the slow season, even when the economy was booming in 05 and 06. They only did all of 2011 with blackouts, with res made by 12/20/2010 due to the sour economy, but it's not like they filled all the rooms through the whole year 2011. Good or bad economy, this Fall will still be a slow season and they'll want to sell overpriced hotel rooms. I expect them to announce Fall "free" dining in the late Spring or early Summer this year.

 

[Don Disney]

They've offered the Fall free dining for a number of years now, due to the slow season, even when the economy was booming in 05 and 06. They only did all of 2011 with blackouts, with res made by 12/20/2010 due to the sour economy, but it's not like they filled all the rooms through the whole year 2011. Good or bad economy, this Fall will still be a slow season and they'll want to sell overpriced hotel rooms. I expect them to announce Fall "free" dining in the late Spring or early Summer this year.

I concur.Hurricane Season,weather that is as "hot as fish grease",slowly recovering economy,and historically low booking rates for that time of year etc...AND,lots of people may have booked the EXTREMELY early unprecedented offer,and some will cancel for 1 reason or another.Why would they offer if for the whole year so early?Dismal booking projections for 2011 I suspect.I can't see FD not being offered again,unless Disney hits their mark with bookings,and ticket sales.If not,Universal Studios could seize the moment and "steal away"those who wanted FD,but could not book it so far in advance.Maybe they'll come out with some decent offers for the Fall as tings are pretty slow in Orlando that time of year anyway.I sure would hate to miss FD,and have to go spend my money at Universal Studios-and I'm quite sure Disney does'nt want that!!!!We have had FD for the last 4 years,and have really enjoyed not having to worry about the added expense for food;BUT,we are also veterans of staying off property;staying where there's a kitchen and free breakfast,close to Wal Mart on SR-535,cooking big pots of spaghetti,red beans and rice,tuna/hamburger helper,sandwich fixin's,snacks and the like;which is actually cheaper than staying onsite(Dining Plan at least $1200 for our family of 4),hotel room cheaper and bigger(2 queens and a full sleeper sofa),and we can fit 6 to a room instead of 4.So,we can make the trip for less money,but boy it sure is nice to go to all the restaurants and only have to pay the 15-20% tip!!

 

[crabbie1]

Have they offered the free DDP in november on the US site? We have our first cruise booked on the 13th novemeber and the UK promotion finishes on th 18th so would be finished the day after we return. Depending on flights we may do 4 nights DVC before cruise then disney hotel after but dont want to pay for DDP for the whole 15 nights.As you can imagine its expensive for 3 adults and a child who will also be then classed as an adult.Can you guys not book through the UK site like we can yours as our dining till 11/18?

 

[squirrel]

Have they offered the free DDP in november on the US site? We have our first cruise booked on the 13th novemeber and the UK promotion finishes on th 18th so would be finished the day after we return. Depending on flights we may do 4 nights DVC before cruise then disney hotel after but dont want to pay for DDP for the whole 15 nights.As you can imagine its expensive for 3 adults and a child who will also be then classed as an adult.Can you guys not book through the UK site like we can yours as our dining till 11/18?

While the regular Free Dining period has been from the middle or last two weeks of August-October (usually one of the first few days), there have been some years where it was extended into Oct, Nov, and Dec.

There is no way to know if they will offer it in November and if it will be for the General Public or if it will be PIN codes.

No it would be very difficult for a US or Canadian to book a UK Disney deal.

 

[Mermaid2sea]

While the regular Free Dining period has been from the middle or last two weeks of August-October (usually one of the first few days), there have been some years where it was extended into Oct, Nov, and Dec.

There is no way to know if they will offer it in November and if it will be for the General Public or if it will be PIN codes.

No it would be very difficult for a US or Canadian to book a UK Disney deal.

If you have someone in the UK that can book it for you. I think you can as I have family whom may be joining us. Disney UK confirmed it was okay to do so.

 

[sgrabin]

Have they offered the free DDP in november on the US site? We have our first cruise booked on the 13th novemeber and the UK promotion finishes on th 18th so would be finished the day after we return. Depending on flights we may do 4 nights DVC before cruise then disney hotel after but dont want to pay for DDP for the whole 15 nights.As you can imagine its expensive for 3 adults and a child who will also be then classed as an adult.Can you guys not book through the UK site like we can yours as our dining till 11/18?

Oh, if we only could! I guess Disney figures that with our current administration the UK pound sterling is much more desirable than the US dollar!

 

[TDC Nala]

The UK offers are so different from the US offers that you cannot base any speculation about the US offers on any aspect of the UK offers.

UK offers must be booked by residents of Great Britain.

 

[Luvmepluto]

We booked a room discount, but we truly want FD for October. I am crossing my fingers that Disney will come out with FD for the months of Oct, Nov and Dec since those dates were not included for the Dec. 20, 2010 booking deadline. Why must they torture us like that?????