Free dining 2014

[black562]

Any chance Art of Animation could be included for Sept?

The suites were included last September, but the entire resort was excluded in the Oct-Dec promo. The Mermaid rooms have never been included.

 

[lillieandlilahsmommy]

My head hurts from thinking!!! I booked our vacation yesterday for 9/26-10/5. I just pulled the free dining dates for Sept 2011-2013 and see that last year free dining ended on 9/25, a Wednesday (weird) then picked back up on Sunday 9/29. Excluding Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Which if that pattern remains, the day I am checking in would be excluded!!! Any ideas as to why they would exclude that weekend? Its not a holiday as far as I know. I have a few options-roll with it and test my luck. And if the trend holds up then do a room only for a few days and a regular reservation the rest, but then I would have to pay out of pocket for some meals. OR, I could move my reservations to check in on Sunday 9/28 but that would mean more time off of school and work as we wouldn't change the number of days we are there. Any suggestions? Foreshadowing? Ideas as to why they excluded that weekend last year?

 

[twolittletinkerbells]

The suites were included last September, but the entire resort was excluded in the Oct-Dec promo. The Mermaid rooms have never been included.

Thanks. Heres hoping. We are at Cars, Sept 14-18

 

[3monkies]

Following for late September!

 

[SPOERLX3]

My head hurts from thinking!!! I booked our vacation yesterday for 9/26-10/5. I just pulled the free dining dates for Sept 2011-2013 and see that last year free dining ended on 9/25, a Wednesday (weird) then picked back up on Sunday 9/29. Excluding Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Which if that pattern remains, the day I am checking in would be excluded!!! Any ideas as to why they would exclude that weekend? Its not a holiday as far as I know. I have a few options-roll with it and test my luck. And if the trend holds up then do a room only for a few days and a regular reservation the rest, but then I would have to pay out of pocket for some meals. OR, I could move my reservations to check in on Sunday 9/28 but that would mean more time off of school and work as we wouldn't change the number of days we are there. Any suggestions? Foreshadowing? Ideas as to why they excluded that weekend last year?

Disney offers discounts to fill rooms. If Disney see's that enough rooms are booked, then there is no reason to offer a discount, especially FD. As they see the rooms booking, they can also exclude days. This is why so many posters on the boards, encourage not to book "hoping" for FD. Booking early could definitely backfire on all those that are wanting FD. Watching the crowd predictor websites (touringplans, undercover tourist, easywdw, etc) are great indicators of rooms booking. When I first started watching the crowd preditor websites at the beginning of this year all of September was 1's & 2's with a couple of 3's sprinkles around (they base it on historical data). Now September is showing 3's & 4's with just a few 2's

The 3 days excluded last year were the Thursday prior and the 1st Friday & Saturday of F&W festival which may have impacted the black out dates but the one thing that impacts discounts being offered (or not), resorts being excluded and black out dates is how many rooms are booked and for what dates just before they release the promo's/PIN's. And we all know that Disney can tweek the dates at any time.

All we can do is wait and hope

 

[Cold71]

Here's to hoping for late October! For the amount of money we've spent on the package, some free food would be nice... lol

 

[jezebel73]

My head hurts from thinking!!! I booked our vacation yesterday for 9/26-10/5. I just pulled the free dining dates for Sept 2011-2013 and see that last year free dining ended on 9/25, a Wednesday (weird) then picked back up on Sunday 9/29. Excluding Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Which if that pattern remains, the day I am checking in would be excluded!!! Any ideas as to why they would exclude that weekend? Its not a holiday as far as I know. I have a few options-roll with it and test my luck. And if the trend holds up then do a room only for a few days and a regular reservation the rest, but then I would have to pay out of pocket for some meals. OR, I could move my reservations to check in on Sunday 9/28 but that would mean more time off of school and work as we wouldn't change the number of days we are there. Any suggestions? Foreshadowing? Ideas as to why they excluded that weekend last year?

Last year the Food and Wine Festival started on 9/27, so that might have been the reason for the blackout (opening weekend). If that was the case, this year may be different as the festival starts in the middle of the month.

If you're set on your dates, you're probably best off with a split stay where the first day or two are out of pocket then "rebook" the rest of the trip for free dining if it's offered.

 

[Later_Mater2009]

just booked last night for the first week in sept. We didnt include the dining plan, can I call and add it at any time?? I have already made a few ADR's. The Hoop Dee Doo one scares me, the paying in full part etc... Do you have to have the dining plan to be included in FD? or just a hotel/ticket package?

 

[LisaTC]

just booked last night for the first week in sept. We didnt include the dining plan, can I call and add it at any time?? I have already made a few ADR's. The Hoop Dee Doo one scares me, the paying in full part etc... Do you have to have the dining plan to be included in FD? or just a hotel/ticket package?

I think you can add it up to 5 days prior to your pkg stay. If free dining comes out, you can change to that offering and it will be added to your pkg, your room rate will go up to rack rate - those are the parameters. You don't currently have to have the DP to change to the Free dining special.

Yes, Hoop de doo is prepay, we do it every time, we love it, but if you need to cancel, you can at least 24-48 hrs ahead, I think, and they will credit it back. We had to pick those tickets up at the resort ahead of our dinner, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Later_Mater2009]

I think you can add it up to 5 days prior to your pkg stay. If free dining comes out, you can change to that offering and it will be added to your pkg, your room rate will go up to rack rate - those are the parameters. You don't currently have to have the DP to change to the Free dining special.

Yes, Hoop de doo is prepay, we do it every time, we love it, but if you need to cancel, you can at least 24-48 hrs ahead, I think, and they will credit it back. We had to pick those tickets up at the resort ahead of our dinner, if I'm not mistaken.

thanks, I know the kids will LOVE it... I was late adding ADR's, and we were hoping for BOG but we could always do quick service lunch I guess... Hoop Dee Doo is a must for us though, my son loves that silly comedy!! is it included in the dining plan?

 

[LisaTC]

thanks, I know the kids will LOVE it... I was late adding ADR's, and we were hoping for BOG but we could always do quick service lunch I guess... Hoop Dee Doo is a must for us though, my son loves that silly comedy!! is it included in the dining plan?

It is...for tier 2 or 3 seating. If you want tier 1 seating it is at the late seating only. I do believe it is 2 dining credits. Which works out for most people because there are days you don't always want to eat a large TS meal at the end of the day and just get a pizza or something. It works out because would you rather pay OOP for a pizza or burgers or OOP for HDDR? It's pricey. However, we like tier 1 seating and choose to pay OOP for it because DD likes CRT, as well and it is 2TS. I can't win! LOL

 

[Later_Mater2009]

It is...for tier 2 or 3 seating. If you want tier 1 seating it is at the late seating only. I do believe it is 2 dining credits. Which works out for most people because there are days you don't always want to eat a large TS meal at the end of the day and just get a pizza or something. It works out because would you rather pay OOP for a pizza or burgers or OOP for HDDR? It's pricey. However, we like tier 1 seating and choose to pay OOP for it because DD likes CRT, as well and it is 2TS. I can't win! LOL

Yes, we have a Ohana reservation too, one of them we will pay OOP for, I have a 6 year old, can you see the stage and all good from the section 1 or should we got for section 2?

 

[LisaTC]

Yes, we have a Ohana reservation too, one of them we will pay OOP for, I have a 6 year old, can you see the stage and all good from the section 1 or should we got for section 2?

Since you are close to your 180 day reservation period I will allege you would be an awesome tier 1 spot. We always have. One time we were 1 table back from the stage, the next time 3 tables back. I love tier 1, that's why I pay OOP for it. I think if I didn't do tier 1, I'd do upstairs near the rail, if I could. Here's the chart:

 

[Later_Mater2009]

Awesome!! Tier one was available this morning, I may look again and just book it... Thanks for the help. I so excited about it!! Never been to Ft Wilderness either..

 

[Dreams0308]

WHOOPS wrong thread!

 

[granath]

It looks like the consensus is that the Fall free dining plan (if they have this year) doesn't start until early October. Is that right? We arrive on September 27, so that's a bummer!

 

[jsgrand0]

I am on the fence about where to vacation this year...as planning universal, but coming out mor expensive than I'd hoped (would only stay at one of the 3 deluxe that offer the express pass, and they are expensive!) ..A good deal from Disney may tip the scales.

 

[LisaTC]

I am on the fence about where to vacation this year...as planning universal, but coming out mor expensive than I'd hoped (would only stay at one of the 3 deluxe that offer the express pass, and they are expensive!) ..A good deal from Disney may tip the scales.

I've found this as well...in pricing WDW, Univ or Disneyland, WDW doesn't price out too badly for us in the end. DL was suprisingly expensive and staying on prop for Univ was pretty pricey, though, the hotels are awesome!

 

[jsgrand0]

I've found this as well...in pricing WDW, Univ or Disneyland, WDW doesn't price out too badly for us in the end. DL was suprisingly expensive and staying on prop for Univ was pretty pricey, though, the hotels are awesome!

Yes, the hotels are a big part of why I'd rather go there!! The pools and all look awesome and my then 13-year-old daughter would LOVE the teen spa! Of course, I'd love to do both, but that is the most expensive option!

 

[BelleTink]

I'm also hoping for an October deal at Disney! (I'm splitting my stay b/w Disney & Universal this year, so every extra dollar helps).

jsgrand- for the teen spa, do you mean the Mandara Spa at the Portofino Bay? Last time I was there I asked about other Mandara locations and I'm *almost* positive they listed the Disney Swan/Dolphin. They probably offer the same services if it's something she'd really like.