Some FREE DINING Info & Guidelines

[dana278]

I'm sorry if this was already answered, but I did a quick search and couldn't find anything specific.

I see that each resort only has a certain number of rooms available for free dining, but does room category have anything to do with this? For example, say I choose a Deluxe Club Room at the Beach Club resort. Well there are only 6 (I think?) of these rooms at the entire resort. Will I be in trouble if only 1 room in this category will be eligible for free dining, or do they just go by a flat number of overall rooms?

And does it help to already have a dining plan on your reservation when you initially book?

Sorry if these are stupid questions! I haven't been to WDW in 15 years so this is all new to me.

 

[aaarcher86]

I'm sorry if this was already answered, but I did a quick search and couldn't find anything specific.

I see that each resort only has a certain number of rooms available for free dining, but does room category have anything to do with this? For example, say I choose a Deluxe Club Room at the Beach Club resort. Well there are only 6 (I think?) of these rooms at the entire resort. Will I be in trouble if only 1 room in this category will be eligible for free dining, or do they just go by a flat number of overall rooms?

And does it help to already have a dining plan on your reservation when you initially book?

Sorry if these are stupid questions! I haven't been to WDW in 15 years so this is all new to me.

Yes, room types are factored in. No, having DP on there originally will not help at all. The available rooms are tied to the discount, not what you have on your reservation.

For example, my February res was at POR in a standard room with DXDP. When I added the Stay/Play/Dine discount I had to switch to a garden view room because the standard was not available, even though that is what I was already booked into.

That's not to say you'll have any issue. They may simply exclude the lowest category at a particular resort and not worry about the rest - but there is a possibility that you will need to change rooms to get the discount wherever you stay.

 

[dana278]

Yes, room types are factored in. No, having DP on there originally will not help at all. The available rooms are tied to the discount, not what you have on your reservation.

For example, my February res was at POR in a standard room with DXDP. When I added the Stay/Play/Dine discount I had to switch to a garden view room because the standard was not available, even though that is what I was already booked into.

That's not to say you'll have any issue. They may simply exclude the lowest category at a particular resort and not worry about the rest - but there is a possibility that you will need to change rooms to get the discount wherever you stay.

Good to know. Thank you!

 

[atcNick]

I cant seem to find answers to my questions.

1. How far in advance are the free dining offers released?

2. Should I still book the package (including dining) and then just call to have the discount applied when/if it is released for my dates? Or does the discount get applied automatically?

 

[AuroraRora]

I'm sure there's a link somewhere on here but it's hard for me to find as I'm on my phone, but if you google "historical disney promo dates" several results should come up showing you when free dining has been offered over the last 5-6 years, and when the deals were released. I believe Mousesavers has a great chart that you can look at to get a pretty good idea of when to expect it.

Unless you go through a travel agent that pro actively looks for deals for you, discounts won't be applied automatically. You'll have to call WDW Reservations and have the CM modify your reservation to include the discount. Remember that you can generally only use one discount code. If you happen to get a room discount code, you can't also add a free dining code - you have to crunch the numbers (or have a CM do it) and see which deal would be best.

 

[jerseygirl18]

Hi all, I am set to arrive in 3 weeks from today! So excited!! I was reviewing our ADR's and looked at the costs and realized it would pay for me to upgrade my free dining to the DXDP. Does anyone know if I'm still able to do this or what the cut-off date would be? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[aaarcher86]

Hi all, I am set to arrive in 3 weeks from today! So excited!! I was reviewing our ADR's and looked at the costs and realized it would pay for me to upgrade my free dining to the DXDP. Does anyone know if I'm still able to do this or what the cut-off date would be? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You can upgrade up to 72 hours before arrival. Payment in full will be due at the time of upgrade

 

[Princess-ish]

IF free dinning is offered... does anyone know if I can upgrade to the PREMIUM MYW package? Can't seem to find any info on this!

I'm aware you can't book a discounted room rate and "use" the Premium Plan, but anyone know if Free Dinning is "loop hole" around that?

 

[2ofUs]

IF free dinning is offered... does anyone know if I can upgrade to the PREMIUM MYW package? Can't seem to find any info on this!

I'm aware you can't book a discounted room rate and "use" the Premium Plan, but anyone know if Free Dinning is "loop hole" around that?

If that is a valid loop-hole it would be news to me. Best suggestion would be to call and find out. They tend to be VERY strict about the Premium & Platinum plans, though, so don't expect a positive response. That being said - PLEASE POST and let us know what they say. This would be WONDERFUL

 

[aaarcher86]

If that is a valid loop-hole it would be news to me. Best suggestion would be to call and find out. They tend to be VERY strict about the Premium & Platinum plans, though, so don't expect a positive response. That being said - PLEASE POST and let us know what they say. This would be WONDERFUL

I'd agree with this. My gut says no, but in honesty, I've never seen the question asked!

I think if it was a valid upgrade though, the cost would be posted in the DDP info on the dining board like the rest of the plans.

 

[1308Miles]

Forgive me if this has been answered already...Can you add a day to the dining plan out of pocket?

For example, last year, we stayed at the CR with free dining for 6 days/5 nights. The dining plan is based on number of nights stayed. Our flight wasn't until 7 pm on our last day so we had to pay for 2 meals in the parks out of pocket. I am wondering if adding a day to the DDP is a better option than paying out of pocket....

 

[mom2rtk]

Forgive me if this has been answered already...Can you add a day to the dining plan out of pocket?

For example, last year, we stayed at the CR with free dining for 6 days/5 nights. The dining plan is based on number of nights stayed. Our flight wasn't until 7 pm on our last day so we had to pay for 2 meals in the parks out of pocket. I am wondering if adding a day to the DDP is a better option than paying out of pocket....

No, you cannot. Your days on the dining plan have to match the nights on your package.

 

[tjmj9801]

Forgive me if this has been answered already...Can you add a day to the dining plan out of pocket?

For example, last year, we stayed at the CR with free dining for 6 days/5 nights. The dining plan is based on number of nights stayed. Our flight wasn't until 7 pm on our last day so we had to pay for 2 meals in the parks out of pocket. I am wondering if adding a day to the DDP is a better option than paying out of pocket....

No, you cannot. Your days on the dining plan have to match the nights on your package.

Someone correct/validate this, please. Aren't dining credits given for check-in and check-out days, as well? So shouldn't 1308miles have been able to use credits on check-out day until midnight, assuming credits were leftover?

 

[DebbieB]

Someone correct/validate this, please. Aren't dining credits given for check-in and check-out days, as well? So shouldn't 1308miles have been able to use credits on check-out day until midnight, assuming credits were leftover?

You can use them on check-in and check-out days but the number is based on the number of nights. If you arrive Saturday and leave the following Saturday, that's 7 nights, 8 days. You get 7 days worth of credits. I think they assume you don't arrive until after lunch on the first day and leave before dinner the last day. Otherwise people will complain they could not use them all.

 

[mom2cookies]

agreeing with previous poster. I assume along the lines you were saying about checking in after lunch etc. Do they say the check in time is 3:00 and check out 11:00 or some such? In that case, you would ( as you said ) not be there for breakfast and lunch the first day and not there for lunch and dinner the last day.

 

[1308Miles]

agreeing with previous poster. I assume along the lines you were saying about checking in after lunch etc. Do they say the check in time is 3:00 and check out 11:00 or some such? In that case, you would ( as you said ) not be there for breakfast and lunch the first day and not there for lunch and dinner the last day.

That makes sense. We always try to maximize the time spent at WDW and get the earliest flight on our arrival day (arrives at 9 am) and the latest flight on our departure day (departs at 7) so I guess we just have to pay out of pocket. Oh well!

Thanks for the replies!

 

[TheDisney411]

I'm sure there's a link somewhere on here but it's hard for me to find as I'm on my phone, but if you google "historical disney promo dates" several results should come up showing you when free dining has been offered over the last 5-6 years, and when the deals were released. I believe Mousesavers has a great chart that you can look at to get a pretty good idea of when to expect it.

Unless you go through a travel agent that pro actively looks for deals for you, discounts won't be applied automatically. You'll have to call WDW Reservations and have the CM modify your reservation to include the discount. Remember that you can generally only use one discount code. If you happen to get a room discount code, you can't also add a free dining code - you have to crunch the numbers (or have a CM do it) and see which deal would be best.

There's no reason to Google the dates, they are on the first page of this thread.

 

[TheDisney411]

I think the August - September free dining dates will come out around April 25. There's and outside chance it could be May 16, but probably late April.

 

[HBGdancermom]

I think the August - September free dining dates will come out around April 25. There's and outside chance it could be May 16, but probably late April.

Well that is very good news!!! We are going regardless but would love FD....

 

[2ofUs]

That may be optomistic as there are rumors about there being either NO free dining offered, or being offered only to Moderate & Deluxe, and even then a possibility that it will be QS only. Just sayin' ...