2016 Free Dining Watch

[wdw4rfam]

I don't get it at all. I feel like those two sentences are a contradiction. An early offer? But crowd levels have been up. Haven't they? Why offer anything with this trend?

I am pretty sure bookings for September are low as of now. If I go on and look, there are rooms available in almost all categories at most resorts. Also, when I booked dining, it was the easiest I have booked in years. I am still adjusting times and rebooking with pretty wide open availability. I think what he's saying is if everyone starts booking now in hopes of free dining, it will be less likely Disney will release early, because rooms are filling. I don't think people quite get that booking a certain room does not mean that room will be available for free dining, so there really is no benefit. Especially this year since dining seems to be easy at 180 to do day by day. I am anxiously awaiting this with all of you, and I'm not even booking free dining this year. I got so caught up in it the past few years, I'd feel like I was missing out.

 

[Disneylover99]

I am pretty sure bookings for September are low as of now. If I go on and look, there are rooms available in almost all categories at most resorts. Also, when I booked dining, it was the easiest I have booked in years. I am still adjusting times and rebooking with pretty wide open availability. I think what he's saying is if everyone starts booking now in hopes of free dining, it will be less likely Disney will release early, because rooms are filling. I don't think people quite get that booking a certain room does not mean that room will be available for free dining, so there really is no benefit. Especially this year since dining seems to be easy at 180 to do day by day. I am anxiously awaiting this with all of you, and I'm not even booking free dining this year. I got so caught up in it the past few years, I'd feel like I was missing out.

Now that makes sense. Thanks!

I've already booked my FD bb for this August, so I'm good to go. But if FD comes out for the December date I want, I'm gonna book it.

 

[The Dirty Steve]

I feel like you're speaking in code. I'd love to know more about what you're saying here!

Sorry! Don't mean to be speaking code! wdw4rfam is correct in her explanation.

I don't get it at all. I feel like those two sentences are a contradiction. An early offer? But crowd levels have been up. Haven't they? Why offer anything with this trend?

We are AP holders and go five to six times per year. When at WDW, we split time staying on and off property. We have tons of ADRs for up coming trips. It has been very unusual the past few visits where we could get virtually any reservation by just being a little patient. While you hear attendance is up, there are other signs that suggest differently.

Not that these signs are indicative of any offers to come, I think there is one coming. A lot of us feel that way this year. Still probably a little early for an offer from what I have seen.

 

[Disneylover99]

We are AP holders and go five to six times per year. When at WDW, we split time staying on and off property. We have tons of ADRs for up coming trips. It has been very unusual the past few visits where we could get virtually any reservation by just being a little patient. While you hear attendance is up, there are other signs that suggest differently.

Not that these signs are indicative of any offers to come, I think there is one coming. A lot of us feel that way this year. Still probably a little early for an offer from what I have seen.

I understand what you mean now and agree. It's been really easy for me to make my late August early September ADR's and I've been looking at room availability in September now that the MNSSHP dates have been released. You're right. Availability seems plentiful at the resorts too.

 

[1sttimedisneymama]

I read on a group I'm in that April 25th could be the release date for FD as well. Fingers crossed our week and CBR is included! We really want to upgrade from Pop and FD would allow that!

 

[RedWolf95]

2015 - released 4/27 for both DV and GP
2014 - released 5/2 for Disney Visa, 5/7 for general public
2013 - released 5/6 for Disney Visa, 5/9 for general public
2012 - released 3/1 for Disney Visa, 3/5 for general public (Sept only); 7/9 for DV, 7/12 for GP for rest of year

So it appears we have at least another month of waiting. Another long, long month....

2013 actually had two separate releases ... May release was for 9/2-9/25 and then they did an 8/1 general public release (No early Disney Visa) for 9/29-12/22, of course that was back when you could get Free Dining during the whole month of October.

 

[mandis77]

We're planning on staying at POP again this year, but with the upgrade to the regular dining plan. I looked up last year's numbers and it was adult $18.65/night + child $3.20/night. This price has raised, correct? I think I remember seeing it somewhere for the offer earlier this year but am too tired to go look it up....

 

[rsbh00]

We are going Sept 3-11th and hoping for FD as well! I have already booked all my ADR's just in case.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

We are going Sept 3-11th and hoping for FD as well! I have already booked all my ADR's just in case.

We are going sept 2nd thru the 10th all our adrs are booked as well except for BOG dinner i am still chasing that one lol. What resort are you staying at?

 

[minijeanie]

Can you buy the dining plan if you are renting from DVC owner?

Doing 3 nights at ASM and 3 nights at WLV. Can I still purchase dining plan. We are going In October?
I just looked at prices at restaurants and wow did they go up. I am thinking dining plan is way to go
I don't want only counter service, Not sure if I can be at value resort and have standard dining plan

 

[vrajewski10513]

Can you buy the dining plan if you are renting from DVC owner?

Doing 3 nights at ASM and 3 nights at WLV. Can I still purchase dining plan. We are going In October?
I just looked at prices at restaurants and wow did they go up. I am thinking dining plan is way to go
I don't want only counter service, Not sure if I can be at value resort and have standard dining plan

Yes you can purchase the dining plan, you just won't be eligible for free dining.

I believe the owner has to add the dining to the reservation for you ahead of time.

 

[vrajewski10513]

Also, you can PURCHASE any dining plan you want. The only time your limited to certain dining plans is with free dining... And even those you can pay the difference to upgrade

 

[KearneyFam02]

Hello all! First time poster here!

The last time we went to Disney was in December 2013. We got the FD but didn't book our reservations until August 30th. I did it online and never had to call or jump through any hoops for ADR's or anything. We stayed at POR. I see now that there are a lot of changes and it won't be near as easy as the last time. Was I just lucky last time? lol

We are new Disney Visa holders so hopefully they open it up early. I'm nervous that we won't get a shot at FD or won't get the resort we want.

 

[Tink loves Olaf 64]

Like many of you, we are planning a trip for late August, early September and are praying for FD. We are 6 adults by Disney standards so you can imagine what we would spend on food without FD! Last year, FD was offered for Canadians on April 24 and then for the general public a few days later. I guess this is Disney's way of making our sad dollar feel better Hopefully, they will continue to take pity on us. We booked all of our table service credits on line, a couple of days at a time and were able to get every one we wanted, including BOG for lunch (counter service credit) and all at "normal" meal times. We can cancel with no penalty and haven't reserved our rooms yet. Once we book, we were told we could link the reservations on the Disney App.

 

[sharonabe]

We're planning on staying at POP again this year, but with the upgrade to the regular dining plan. I looked up last year's numbers and it was adult $18.65/night + child $3.20/night. This price has raised, correct? I think I remember seeing it somewhere for the offer earlier this year but am too tired to go look it up....

QS plan is $44.13/A and $19.04/C
DDP is $63.70/A and $22.85/C
DxDDP is $115.08/A and $35.49/C

You just need to do the math.

 

[jhaig]

So glad to be missing the FD drama this year. This will be our first trip paying OOP. If we get a room discount at the Contemporary, we will make out better with that. The number don't lie, but Disney always seems to get their money somehow...

 

[vrajewski10513]

So glad to be missing the FD drama this year. This will be our first trip paying OOP. If we get a room discount at the Contemporary, we will make out better with that. The number don't lie, but Disney always seems to get their money somehow...

When staying at a deluxe the room discount is almost always better. But in situations like ours, free dining for 4 adults at a mod is a MUCH larger savings.

 

[jhaig]

When staying at a deluxe the room discount is almost always better. But in situations like ours, free dining for 4 adults at a mod is a MUCH larger savings.

Exactly. We saved a ton on our last trip staying at POR for 13 nights. Plus we are doing this trip as kind of a family challenge to stay below our food budget, but yet not go hungry in the process. I would hate to have to live off of my stored body fat for the length of our trip.

 

[vrajewski10513]

One day I'd like to join the deluxe hotel party and not have to worry about the free dining craziness! Lol

 

[flav]

So glad to be missing the FD drama this year. This will be our first trip paying OOP. If we get a room discount at the Contemporary, we will make out better with that. The number don't lie, but Disney always seems to get their money somehow...

Part of me wishes for no FD, going to the Beach Club and paying OOP (our current state of reservation) and part of me wishes for FD, trying a moderate, going to one character meal that we would not do OOP and saving $.

Good news is that I will be happy either ways