2016 Free Dining Watch

[KT0191]

If I remember right, POR Riverside was not included in the FD promo since it was booked so full in anticipation of FD, there was no need to fill it up with any kind of promo. Should we expect more of the same if FD is offered this year? Also, would the Contemporary be included with FD or has that been excluded in the past?

Last year, POR was included in the first set of FD dates (8/28-10/2) but wasn't after. The Contemporary was included, too.

 

[jhaig]

Last year, POR was included in the first set of FD dates (8/28-10/2) but wasn't after. The Contemporary was included, too.

I would guess the number of CR rooms available for FD is very limited?

 

[5ofus]

I currently have a reservation from Sept 15 - Sept 24 at CBR with MYW tickets. Can anybody tell me how it works if FD is offered? I'm mainly wondering how it would work if the rumoured ticket price increase happens before FD is offered. Would I need to rebook a whole new package with FD at the higher ticket price? Or can the FD simply be added to my reservation?

 

[sharonabe]

I currently have a reservation from Sept 15 - Sept 24 at CBR with MYW tickets. Can anybody tell me how it works if FD is offered? I'm mainly wondering how it would work if the rumoured ticket price increase happens before FD is offered. Would I need to rebook a whole new package with FD at the higher ticket price? Or can the FD simply be added to my reservation?

To get the free dining, you would cancel your existing package and book a new package with the promo, and unfortunately, that would include the tickets at the higher price. Make sure you do your math. If your current deal includes any kind of discount on the room, you'll lose that too.

 

[5ofus]

To get the free dining, you would cancel your existing package and book a new package with the promo, and unfortunately, that would include the tickets at the higher price. Make sure you do your math. If your current deal includes any kind of discount on the room, you'll lose that too.

Thanks for that, even though it's not the answer I was hoping for! The FD will save us some significant money so we'd take the hit of the ticket price increase. If it's offered (PLEASE let it be offered!).

 

[slbgnb]

To get the free dining, you would cancel your existing package and book a new package with the promo, and unfortunately, that would include the tickets at the higher price. Make sure you do your math. If your current deal includes any kind of discount on the room, you'll lose that too

I thought you only had to cancel your reservation to get the free dining if there were no rooms available at your resort for the free dining promotion. If your resort does have the rooms available for the promotion, can't they just add it on to your current reservation?

 

[sharonabe]

I thought you only had to cancel your reservation to get the free dining if there were no rooms available at your resort for the free dining promotion. If your resort does have the rooms available for the promotion, can't they just add it on to your current reservation?

You may not have to actually cancel the existing reservations, but any CHANGES made to it will result in paying the higher price for tickets.

 

[slbgnb]

You may not have to actually cancel the existing reservations, but any CHANGES made to it will result in paying the higher price for tickets

Ugh. Really?? So, even if I just add FD (IF it's offered and IF it's avail for my resort), I'll be subjected to the higher ticket prices (IF they happen before the possible FD)?

 

[KT0191]

Ugh. Really?? So, even if I just add FD (IF it's offered and IF it's avail for my resort), I'll be subjected to the higher ticket prices (IF they happen before the possible FD)?

Yep. Happened to me last year

 

[slbgnb]

Yep. Happened to me last year

That would be a MAJOR bummer....

 

[Nancyg56]

Ugh. Really?? So, even if I just add FD (IF it's offered and IF it's avail for my resort), I'll be subjected to the higher ticket prices (IF they happen before the possible FD)?

Make sure that you know the total cost of your entire package as it stands, and the cost of your package with FD, along with any increases that are included. I look at my bottom line. If the cost of my stay is decreases with any promotion, I don't care what individual aspect increased or decreased. I look at my bottom line. I know that this is more difficult if your original plan was to pay for food OOP if you do not have a FD package, but honestly, it is always a good idea to look at your dining choices before you decide to buy the plan or pay OOP so you have a really good idea of the OOP costs food will add. Use this number to compare your costs and you will have a decent apples to apples comparison.


I added my tickets onto my basic package so that in the event the price increases I am locked in, but I know that if a better promotion comes out, I have all my numbers in place so I can compare what is my best buy based on everything I have now and know I want. I don't know if under the circumstances FD will beat my RO discount if I have to pay increased ticket prices, but if my savings are still higher, I'm taking it.

 

[pigby]

We are going for 17 nights 19 September to 6th October. We really really want 10 nights Disney free dining, probably at a value resort as the quick service free dining suits us.
Just wondering whether to go to Universal's Cabana Bay at the beginning of our stay or at the end. Going to Cabana Bay is a must for a week within this.
Do you think there will be better availability for Disney free dining at the beginning or at the end of our stay ie from 19th September for 10 nights or 26th September for 10 nights.
I have seen the dates for last year run to October 2nd - I assume that meant you had to check in no later than the 2nd? In other words, if (and a big if) the dates are the same as last year, might we be out of luck if we choose from 26th September to 6th October?

 

[piglet1979]

We are going for 17 nights 19 September to 6th October. We really really want 10 nights Disney free dining, probably at a value resort as the quick service free dining suits us.
Just wondering whether to go to Universal's Cabana Bay at the beginning of our stay or at the end. Going to Cabana Bay is a must for a week within this.
Do you think there will be better availability for Disney free dining at the beginning or at the end of our stay ie from 19th September for 10 nights or 26th September for 10 nights.
I have seen the dates for last year run to October 2nd - I assume that meant you had to check in no later than the 2nd? In other words, if (and a big if) the dates are the same as last year, might we be out of luck if we choose from 26th September to 6th October?

As long as you check in a day that it is offered you will get it for you entire stay. Say you check in on October 2nd (the last day it is offered) for 10 days then you get free dining for all 10 days.

 

[pigby]

As long as you check in a day that it is offered you will get it for you entire stay. Say you check in on October 2nd (the last day it is offered) for 10 days then you get free dining for all 10 days.

That's what I hoped - thank you.

 

[Callie]

I having a feeling they are trying to get rid of free dining and go more room only discounts. The restaurants seem busier than ever.

 

[belleincanada]

Following this thread! We are honeymooning Sept. 11-15 at VGF (renting points) but are also planning to stay the week before, or the week after, at POR. We're waiting to book it, hoping Free Dining is going to pop up in the next month or so.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Ugh. Really?? So, even if I just add FD (IF it's offered and IF it's avail for my resort), I'll be subjected to the higher ticket prices (IF they happen before the possible FD)?

You'll lose any ticket discounts, as well as any resort discounts. Rack price on the rooms with free dining can sometimes be more than a room discount and paying out of pocket.

As for my family, we love to go to DW in the fall....but will not go during a free dining period ever again. Too crowded, both the parks and the restaurants. Getting reservations can be insane. If they're going to continue the free dining promo (which I wish they wouldn't), I wish they'd come up with some system where the FD folks couldn't make reservations at the 180 day mark...maybe more like the 90 day mark or something.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I having a feeling they are trying to get rid of free dining and go more room only discounts. The restaurants seem busier than ever.

Hope so, and you're correct....the restaurants are insane during FD periods.

 

[slbgnb]

As for my family, we love to go to DW in the fall....but will not go during a free dining period ever again. Too crowded, both the parks and the restaurants

I've been during FD 3 times and definitely don't feel that way. I heard 2015 was bad, but the years I went the crowds were amazing.

 

[Tiggeroo]

following. Hoping for end of Sept. early Oct.