>> FREE DINING 2011 WATCH - Read Post # 1 BEFORE Posting

[PrincessTiffany]

I wonder if the same policy about check in date will apply as it always has in the past.

In the past as long as you check in by the last day listed as available for the promotion you get it for your length of stay.

For example, last year free dining ending Dec. 22nd. We checked in on Dec. 17 and we got it all the say through the 25th.

Hopefully, that will apply this year. We are already booked Dec. 16-25th at POR. Plane tickets are purchased so we are going. I am a teacher so our travle dates are locked with the school breaks.

That's been the policy since free dining was introduced in 2005, I can't see any reason why it would change now.

 

[nicki.momof3]

That's been the policy since free dining was introduced in 2005, I can't see any reason why it would change now.

Oh I hope so. If I could get free dining for Dec. 16-25. I could afford to book another trip at Easter. Come on free dining

 

[Mail2artist]

I wonder if the same policy about check in date will apply as it always has in the past.

In the past as long as you check in by the last day listed as available for the promotion you get it for your length of stay.

For example, last year free dining ending Dec. 22nd. We checked in on Dec. 17 and we got it all the say through the 25th.

Hopefully, that will apply this year. We are already booked Dec. 16-25th at POR. Plane tickets are purchased so we are going. I am a teacher so our travle dates are locked with the school breaks.

I hope this policy is true as well since we're booked the 3-9th. The 3rd is included but not the rest of our stay.
YES... we booked before we knew it was pop warner and YES we're at POFQ. But we're still going. And will make the best of it. We have family that will also be in town (staying off site).
Figure we can't avoid "groups" since there will always be something. One CM member said that he wasn't bothered by pop warner at all when he stayed at POFQ but there is a HUGE Cheerleading group that comes in Feb?
He said that group can get a little crazy. He also mentioned the only time he ever complained was due to a regular family of 4 with temper tantrum throwing and jumping on beds.

Sooo, we're sticking to it. THAT IS UNLESS this rumor isn't true and we can't get the "FD" savings or a nice pin code. If that's the case, then we will start all over again and look at different options. Possibly stay off site at our timeshare that's already paid for.

SO LET'S GO FD!!! And PLEASE be true of the last day booking policy!!

 

[nicki.momof3]

YES we're at POFQ.

I did not think pop warner stayed at POFQ. I knew POR was a location since it is big.

Maybe I am wrong.

 

[Mail2artist]

I did not think pop warner stayed at POFQ. I knew POR was a location since it is big.

Maybe I am wrong.

Yes, they're not suppose to be booked there. But I've heard in the past that put "overflow" at POFQ. And some have said that the food court gets really busy since they are sister properties.

I'm hoping we won't have an issue.
And maybe it will be fun for our son. I'm sure the girls would have fun teasing him. Could actually be a great time!

That's why I figured instead of stressing, just go with it and what will be will be.

It's also our first trip so we have no clue what's normal and what's not.

 

[chrisw127]

Wow - seems like very selective dates. I can see why Thanksgiving/Christmas would be blacked out (and even Jersey Week), but why the last week of September, mid-October and early-December

The mid-October black out covers Canadian Thanksgiving.

 

[Honeystar120608]

So, if our dates are sep 27-Oct 5th could we not take advantage of this? I assume not.

Last year we had a pin code (email) and the dates for free dining was stated as starting Oct 3rd, but we were able to get it for a start of Oct 1st. Do Pin codes work at all differently?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

So, if our dates are sep 27-Oct 5th could we not take advantage of this? I assume not.

Last year we had a pin code (email) and the dates for free dining was stated as starting Oct 3rd, but we were able to get it for a start of Oct 1st. Do Pin codes work at all differently?

No, you can not take advantage of this free dining offer, as your check in does not land during the FD dates for that week.

As for FD Pin Codes, yes, that's how they work also. Unless you did a separte room only reservation for the first two days of your trip, then technically, you should not have been able to take advantage of that pin code. I've never heard of anyone getting a free dining discount for their entire stay, pin code or general public, if there check in date did not fall into the offered free dining dates.

My best guess would be that when you called, the CM booked you under a general public code, as October 1 was covered under a FD offer last year.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Maybe this will help with all of the reoccurring questions and misunderstandings that keep popping up about the WDW Free Dining Promotion and Promotion Guidelines (Of course, this info will be based on Free Dining Guidelines for the past 7 years, Disney can change their policies at any time.):

FREE DINING FACTS AND INFORMATION

The Free Dining Promo/Discount was first introduced in the fall of 2005 and up until the fall of 2009, was, basically, just offered during the timeframe of mid August to the first of October (height of hurricane season) and included the Basic/Plus Dining for all levels of WDW resort. Starting in the fall of 2009, they offered a second Free Dining Promo/Discount that covered dates between October 1st and the third week of December and they also started including the Quick Service DDP for Value resorts and the Basic/Plus DDP for Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. With the popularity of the Free Dining Promo, last year, for the first time, WDW offered multiple Free Dining discounts during this year that included many value season/low crowd weeks.

To take advantage of a Free Dining (FD) discount you must be booked at a Disney-owned resort and purchase a Magic Your Way Package that includes room, tickets and dining with a 2 day base ticket purchase. The FD promos have a 3 day booking minimum and a 14 day booking maximum. You can not include Annual Passes or previously purchased tickets for Disney or any other outside ticketing agent.

The current FD promos have included the Quick Service Dining Plan for Value Resorts and the Basic/Plus Dining Plan for Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. You can not downgrade to the Quick Service Dining if you are staying at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort - there have been reports that, once in the parks, guests have been able to trade/convert Table Service (TS) credits for Counter Service (CS) credits, but this is not advertised on the WDW website and should not be considered WDW "policy." You can however pay the monetary difference and upgrade to the Basic/Plus DDP or the Deluxe DDP if you are staying at a Value Resort and can upgrade to the Deluxe Plan if you are staying at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. The Deluxe Dining Plan has never been included in any free dining promos. Here is a breakdown of FD upgrade costs for 2011:

Upgrade from Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Basic/Plus DDP $45.99/$11.99
$11.00 per adult 10+; $0.00 per child 3 - 9

Upgrade from Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Deluxe DDP $78.99/$21.99
$44.00 per adult 10+; $10.00 per child 3 - 9

Upgrade from Basic/Plus DDP $45.99/$11.99 to Deluxe DDP $78.99/$21.00
$33.00 per adult 10+; $10.00 per child 3 - 9

Your check in date must fall within the dates of the FD promo to apply the discount to your reservation. If your check in dates do not fall within the FD dates, you can not apply the discount - even if every single night of your vacation falls within the promo, except for your check in date, you can not take advantage of the FD promo.

If any of your vacation dates fall within a FD promo dates you can receive the FD discount for your entire vacation stay, up to 14 nights, even if you are checking in on the last day of a FD promo, you can still recieve the discount for up to 14 nights.

If your vacation starts a couple of days before a FD promo, it's possible to do a Split Stay - meaning, you can do a room only reservation for 1 to 3 nights at the beginning of your vacation, pay for your food out-of-pocket for those days, and be allowed to pick up your PACKAGE TICKETS up to 3 days early at guest relations at any of the four parks or at Downtown Disney (For further info on picking up tickets early, please see Diser, CheshireFigment's, Ticket Sticky on the top the Themeparks Board.)

If you already have an existing reservation that falls within the dates of a FD promo, you can call and have the FD code added to modify that reservation. You can not add the FD code on line, you will need to call WDW Reservations, 407-W-Disney. You do NOT have to rebook, your reservation number does not change and there is not a fee - if you are within your 45 day window, they can charge you a $50.00 change fee, but, most FD promos come out before the 45 day window, so this shouldn't be an issue. If you have already paid your package in full, WDW will refund you the monetary difference - this can take up to 2 billing cycles or about 2 months. Each resort is only allotted so many FD rooms, so if you call and your resort is sold out of FD promo rooms, you can change your resort and do not have to cancel or pay a fee and your reservation number stays the same. If your existing reservation is a room only reservation, then you would have toTy cancel and rebook under a Magic Your Way Package to receive the FD discount.

Typically, in the past, other than last's August FD announcement, Disney Visa holders ere given the FD Promo Code three (3) days before it opens to the general public. In the past, all you had to do to get the Disney Visa FD discount was put $200.00 down with your card, the balance did not have to be put on the Disney Visa.

If you already have Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) changing or modifying a reservation does not effect or cancel your ADRs. You would have to go on-line or call WDW Dining to cancel ADRs, even if you completely cancel a vacation/reservation. Remember, anyone can make ADRs, even offsite guests and don't have to be linked to your reservation in any way. If you have already booked and paid for any restaurants and/or dinner shows, and then a FD promo/discount is released, you can contact Disney Dining once you modify your reservation to include the FD code and give them your reservation number, and they will credit you the amount you pre-paid. This type of refund also takes 2 billing cycles or about 2 months.

Hopefully this info will give everyone an overview of the current Free Dining Guidelines.

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Princess Tiffany maybe your above post should just be a sticky .... it would be so helpful to everyone!!!!

 

[jcarwash]

Awesome post, PrincessTiffany, love the detail and your willingness to explain it all.

If you wanted to add to the history in the first paragraph, in fall 2008 there was a free dining promotion outside of the traditional mid Aug-Oct 1 dates, for the dates 9/28/08-12/20/08 for Disney Visa cardholders only (I used it.).

You can verify on the MouseSavers discount history page here: http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html#2008

 

[skier_pete]

Awesome post, PrincessTiffany, love the detail and your willingness to explain it all.

If you wanted to add to the history in the first paragraph, in fall 2008 there was a free dining promotion outside of the traditional mid Aug-Oct 1 dates, for the dates 9/28/08-12/20/08 for Disney Visa cardholders only (I used it.).

You can verify on the MouseSavers discount history page here: http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html#2008

That is correct as it is the ONLY time I recall that DV holders actually got something that the general public didn't. (We went in August that year, so didn't use it.)

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Awesome post, PrincessTiffany, love the detail and your willingness to explain it all.

If you wanted to add to the history in the first paragraph, in fall 2008 there was a free dining promotion outside of the traditional mid Aug-Oct 1 dates, for the dates 9/28/08-12/20/08 for Disney Visa cardholders only (I used it.).

You can verify on the MouseSavers discount history page here: http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html#2008

That is correct. That was never released as a general public offer, so I did not list it

 

[Coconuts]

Princess Tiffany maybe your above post should just be a sticky .... it would be so helpful to everyone!!!!

Agreed! You have been so helpful on all of the FD threads so thanks. I would have thought you were a moderator.

 

[Goofy22]

A friend of mine posted this RUMOR ONLYWe will find out tommorrow morning for sure

Rumor is now saying the Disney World Free Dining that is opening tomorrow will be extended into 2012 as well:
Jan 8, 2012 - Jan 14, 2012
Jan 22, 2012 - Feb 4, 2012
Feb 12, 2012 - Feb 18, 2012
March 4, 2012 - March 10, 2012
...March 25, 2012 - March 31, 2012
August 19, 2012 - September 29, 2012

I leave in 17 days for our August trip and this time last year is when all the Dec, Jan, Feb and etc... dates came out also so it could be a good RUMOR

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Agreed! You have been so helpful on all of the FD threads so thanks. I would have thought you were a moderator.

Thanks! But I could never be a Moderator on this board - the hot button issues get me CRAZY! lol!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Okay, I'm going to bed. This post is going to EXPLODE in the morning. You only thought we had answered all the same questions, over and over and over and over . . . .

It will only get worse tomorrow. When applicable, post a link to this thread that lists the Free Dining Info & Guidlines. It might help with having to explain the same info continuously tomorrow:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2771101


Good luck! I hope everyone's Free Dining Dreams come true tomorrow!

 

[indycolts619]

There have been 2 free dining offers that have covered September of 2011 already. Here is a list of 2010 and 2011 free dining dates so far (new rumor dates not included):


2010: August 15 - September 30, Oct 1 - 7 • Oct 22 - 28 • Nov 12 - 18 • Nov 27 - Dec 2 • Dec 10 - 21


2011: Jan 1 - 5 • Jan 9 - 13 • Jan 21 - Feb 3 • Feb 11 - 17 • Feb 25 - Mar 3 • May 27 - Jun 2 • Aug 19 - Sept 29

That's a lot of discounts.

Do you know of other rumored Free Dining dates other than the confirmed ones through March 2012?