Free Dining Fall 2015? (and a whole lot more)

[iluvwdw_2002]

All this buzz about FD is exciting!! Hoping it comes out soon!!

 

[Just Love Disney]

I thought of doing this for September but if it means I can't stay at POR ever again because free dining won't ever happen there then I will either bank on the discount or pay rack. I think we are all so used to getting the discount we don't know how the other half lives.

We had FD at POR in October 2013. Maybe they will offer FD at POR every other year? (fingers crossed)...

 

[LouFapp]

We had FD at POR in October 2013. Maybe they will offer FD at POR every other year? (fingers crossed)...

Me too. It was the end of October and FD was offered the begining of May.

 

[Just Love Disney]

Me too. It was the end of October and FD was offered the begining of May.

Yep, that year was 'magical' for our family. FD and we were upgraded to a Royal Room with a River View. Even our teenage son was super stoked! There is hope

 

[5kidsmommy]

I thought of doing this for September but if it means I can't stay at POR ever again because free dining won't ever happen there then I will either bank on the discount or pay rack. I think we are all so used to getting the discount we don't know how the other half lives.

We have never stayed in any of the hotels, we are campers but this is a special trip. I was really looking forward to POR but my daughter isn't too upset about the switch, she said the colors in the rooms at CBR look nice and she loves that it's pretty close to EPCOT as that is her favorite park. Honestly though if it turns out our dates don't work with free dining I'll probably switch back to POR.

 

[Azjenn]

Did you re-book within the same FD dates that were being offered during the bounceback or was your new reservation outside those FD dates but they allowed you to keep FD anyway?

I did rebook within the dates. I actually added on an extra week. I wasn't sure of your dates that you are changing to, I just didn't want you to possibly miss out on the bounceback if it would have worked

 

[Kristi113]

We are planning on a late sept. trip. We went the same time last year and got free dining. It was so great. We used all of our snack credits at the food and wine festival.
Anyone else notice that Disney by Joe's Facebook page is suddenly gone?

 

[scard192]

Anyone else notice that Disney by Joe's Facebook page is suddenly gone?

he is rebranding, the page is still there.

 

[Dawn Dis]

Last year we went from POFQ full price. To POR with 30% off room rate pin. To CBR with free dining then finally back to POFQ with a Pin for FD. If you are willing to do the work anything is possible. Many people did the switch from POFQ when it was excluded. I think that's why it opened up with a pin. Good luck everyone. Its coming I can feel it

 

[vrajewski10513]

We have never stayed in any of the hotels, we are campers but this is a special trip. I was really looking forward to POR but my daughter isn't too upset about the switch, she said the colors in the rooms at CBR look nice and she loves that it's pretty close to EPCOT as that is her favorite park. Honestly though if it turns out our dates don't work with free dining I'll probably switch back to POR.

You might want to google the refurbuished rooms at CBR. IMO they are much nicer now, but they def dont have those VERY bright colors the old rooms were known for.

 

[lazer]

All this buzz about FD is exciting!! Hoping it comes out soon!!

We had it in September of 2013, with a general offer (we booked early using our Visa). It makes me giggle when people say, "POR has been excluded for years" It's been a year and a half of free dining exclusion (that I know of)...and it was included in the summer discounts.

 

[ThistleMae]

November dates for discounted rooms are out! I got the mailing yesterday! I think this means that if free dining is going to happen....the offer should be out soon (hoping). The dates are 11/1 to 11/5, 11/9 to 11/20, 11/28 to 11/30. The add includes Value Resorts (no specific resorts), moderate resorts (no specific resorts) and AK and Wilderness for the Deluxe Resorts. I just think this is a really good sign for those of waiting to hear for November deals. Anyone else have any thoughts about this?

 

[lazer]

November dates for discounted rooms are out! I got the mailing yesterday! I think this means that if free dining is going to happen....the offer should be out soon (hoping). The dates are 11/1 to 11/5, 11/9 to 11/20, 11/28 to 11/30. The add includes Value Resorts (no specific resorts), moderate resorts (no specific resorts) and AK and Wilderness for the Deluxe Resorts. I just think this is a really good sign for those of waiting to hear for November deals. Anyone else have any thoughts about this?

What were the percentages listed? Any booking requirements (length of stay, type of ticket). Was there a PIN? Or, was it just an offer? I'm assuming it was mail from Disney itself.

 

[ThistleMae]

What were the percentages listed? Any booking requirements (length of stay, type of ticket). Was there a PIN? Or, was it just an offer? I'm assuming it was mail from Disney itself.

Yeah, it was a mailing from Disney, no pin code and it listed the room prices not a particular percent discount. I was encouraged because this is the first mailing I have received with November dates. I'm hoping this is a sign of more to come SOON!

 

[Kristi113]

Yeah, it was a mailing from Disney, no pin code and it listed the room prices not a particular percent discount. I was encouraged because this is the first mailing I have received with November dates. I'm hoping this is a sign of more to come SOON!

I got one yesterday for Sept. Same type of ad. No pin code, just saying to come in September with regular room rates. Looked exactly like the emails with the game board an mickey. I hope this means fall promotions coming soon.

 

[Caseystigger]

Does anyone know what the current bounceback offer is?

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

Last year we went from POFQ full price. To POR with 30% off room rate pin. To CBR with free dining then finally back to POFQ with a Pin for FD. If you are willing to do the work anything is possible. Many people did the switch from POFQ when it was excluded. I think that's why it opened up with a pin. Good luck everyone. Its coming I can feel it

This would be a dream come true for us!!! We love POFQ and a pin for FD at POFQ would be just awesome!!! My friend got one last year which was great cuz they loved POFQ and the FD was a special treat for their first trip! Hoping it's my turn this year ;-) Pixie dust to everyone!

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

I have a question about doing a split stay - I've heard about folks doing this to get FD. How does it work? You book resort and park passes for one set of days and then another ressie for resort and another park pass? How does that affect FP+? You have two 60 day windows? Thank you!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If one wishes to book a split stay and have free dining on both reservations:

1) Each reservation must be at least a 3 night package.
2) You must purchase at least 2 day park tickets with each reservation package.

This is an issue because purchasing two sets of tickets is expensive. However, some book tickets on the first package to cover their whole stay and the minimum 2 day tickets on the second package, then just keep the 2 day tickets. They will not expire as long as they are unused.

There are some who want to arrive before the free dining promotion, so they book two reservations, one of which is a free dining package. The issue there is that you must buy tickets with the free dining reservation. You can do the same thing as above with the 2 day tickets on the package (this will get you fastpass reservations at 60 days for your full stay, but you will have those unused 2 day tickets left over); you can book the first reservation as a room only and purchase tickets only with the second package (this works for those who will be arriving late the night before their free dining package starts or those who are OK with not going to any parks during the first reservation); or you can pick up package tickets up to 3 days early at a guest relations desk (issues for this are: If you call Disney they will tell you that you can't do it, but you can; you have to go to a Guest Relations to pick up the tickets; and you will not be able to make any fastpass reservations for the pre-package days until after you have picked up the tickets.)

 

[Honeybee83]

I have a question about doing a split stay - I've heard about folks doing this to get FD. How does it work? You book resort and park passes for one set of days and then another ressie for resort and another park pass? How does that affect FP+? You have two 60 day windows? Thank you!!

I believe you can put all of your park tickets under the reservation with free dining. After all, the more ticket days you book together, the less they cost per day. Let's say you were staying for 8 days and free dining was offered for the third night of your trip on. You would book a room only for the first two nights, then make a second booking for the remaining nights (5-6 depending on what time of day you're checking out). You would add 8 day park tickets to your second booking. You would still only get 5-6 days worth of credits because it's based on your room stay not the number of days your tickets are for.