will free dining extend to match Magical Beginings dates.

[wdwmaw]

We will be traveling in Oct., just like we did last year, so I have been planning. Last year free dining was Aug.-Sep. for basically Magical Beginnings. Well this year those dates have been released for Sept.6 - Oct. 28, according to Debs all-ears. Will this also change free dining through Oct?

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

At this point the only free dining that has been offered is with the bounce back program and for UK travelers.

Many people have been told by CRO that free dining will not be offered to the general public this year

 

[BillyFeat]

At this point the only free dining that has been offered is with the bounce back program and for UK travelers.

Many people have been told by CRO that free dining will not be offered to the general public this year

Crazy4Disney06,
I have been told by CRO that they have no idea if free dining would be offered this year. Perhaps some reps are tired of getting that question and answer accordingly. Anyway, I'm betting that free dining will appear in April, like last year, for August-September Packages.

 

[n2mm]

AND, while planning my grand gathering for mid-August, the CM told me to keep an ear out early April because they DO plan to annouce the free dining and to call back and modify my existing reservations. So you see, no one really knows for sure.

As for the OP wanting to know if it will be extended. I personally would guess no. Most are just waiting to see if it comes out for the dates that we received it for the past two years. Extending it into October from value season to regular season is highly unlikely. October is not even considered Disney "quiet weeks", which is the time of year that alot of promotions are released for.

I am disappointed that the magical events for the pre-schooler has been moved from Aug-Sep to Sep-Oct because we planned our August trip with that in mind since my granddaughter will be 2 1/2.

Only time will tell what happens in the next couple of months. We are still going regardless if the free dining comes out, but will modify my existing reservations from a package to room only with an AP discount (especially since 5 of us are AP holders and really don't need that 1 day ticket).

 

[skier_pete]

Well, I have been told by CRO that though there is no official word, they think Free Dining is very likely again this year for two reasons:

1) The "bounce-back" pilot program that was run in Nov/Dec he described as being "poorly organized and ineffective".

2) The CMs normally get a discount for the DDP, except the past two years they had dates blocked out in late-August and September that co-incided with the free dining. They have blocked out these dates again in 2007, which incidate they plan on offering free dining.

To answer your original question, they will most likely not extend free dining past the value season, if they do offer them again. Free dining is just another version of a discount. Free dining actually works great for WDW. Most people use the free dining and upgrade their hotel, therefore they fill the hotels with people paying full rack rate that otherwords wouldn't have stayed at those hotels.

SkierPete

SkierPete

 

[wdwmaw]

Thank-you SkierPete that has answered alot of my questions. October is really getting to be a busy month with so much going on.

 

[lovinpoohbear]

I stayed at POFQ thanksgiving week and was never offered the bounce back offer. No one mentioned it at check in.
I am hoping for free dining as well....does anyone remember what dates the free dining was offered for the bounceback offer????

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I do hope they offer free dining it will save us about $600! Does anyone know if I am paid in FULL and free dining comes out will I get a credit for the difference??

 

[jamounger]

You will get a credit for the package change if they offer free dining. When I booked the beginning of the month all the CM's I talked to felt free dining would be back. The cost of my package at the Poly is equal to recieving free dining so I won't have to change. My original plan was to book POFQ and change when the dining was offered but I got bit by the upgrade bug.