"Free Dining Plan 2007" Semi-Rumour

[Marker]

Ok, since DW and I just went a couple weeks ago, DD is non nudging me to go in..... as luck would have it..... August or September.

So here's my question.... If I already have my trip scheduled including the DDP, and the rumor happens to come true, with the "free" part be reflected on my total. Or does it only apply to trips schedule AFTER they announce it (if they do at all). Does it apply to all reservations made, or is it selective on some other criteria?

We haven't decided if we're actually going, but the gears are turning in my brain and the potential to save those dollars could make a difference in the ultimate decision.

[Bethanymouse]

I keep checking this forum every morning and night to see if anyone has any inside scoop. I am really looking forward to this- question to you.....if it is the same as last year with the 5 nights 6 days free dining, can you book two weeks of that? Can I book for 11 nights, 12 days? I hope we find out soon!

[Crow]

has anyone figured out the costs?
rack rate w free dining vs room costs w potential discounts?

[BMan62]

has anyone figured out the costs?
rack rate w free dining vs room costs w potential discounts?

I PM'd you a breakdown of the most recent offers - AAA 20% room discount, Disney 40% room discount & Free DDP, based on 7day/6night stay, Value Season, all 3 resort types.

[Strmchsr]

So here's my question.... If I already have my trip scheduled including the DDP, and the rumor happens to come true, with the "free" part be reflected on my total. Or does it only apply to trips schedule AFTER they announce it (if they do at all). Does it apply to all reservations made, or is it selective on some other criteria?

If you book before the announcement is made, you would have to cancel your current reservation and rebook in order for the free DDP discount to be applied to your reservation. This is where booking with Magical Journeys helps as they do that for you automatically. Whatever discount they are going to offer for the fall - free DDP or something else - it should be announced in the next couple of weeks.

[Spaceship Tigger]

has anyone figured out the costs?
rack rate w free dining vs room costs w potential discounts?

I broke this down for our family. It depends on the rack rate of the resort, the number of nights, and how much you believe that you would spend on dining by paying OOP or on the DDP. I looked at everywhere we planned on eating and estimated the amount we would spend if eating on the free DDP. I kept this amount the same if we were paying OOP. We are staying in a courtyard WL room and found that if we were on free dining, we would save about $200 more than if we had a 40% AP discount for the 8 nights. But using the DDE card with the AP would knock off about another $100 for us. So really are savings are just about $100 on free dining. And if we were staying at a more expensive deluxe resort then the 40% AP would certainly be a better savings.

[BMan62]

If you book before the announcement is made, you would have to cancel your current reservation and rebook in order for the free DDP discount to be applied to your reservation. This is where booking with Magical Journeys helps as they do that for you automatically. Whatever discount they are going to offer for the fall - free DDP or something else - it should be announced in the next couple of weeks.

That is not true. If you booked through WDW Central Reservations all you need do is call and ask them to update your reservation with the new offer. I did this two years ago and they actually refunded a few dollars due to the change in package price.

[Strmchsr]

That is not true. If you booked through WDW Central Reservations all you need do is call and ask them to update your reservation with the new offer. I did this two years ago and they actually refunded a few dollars due to the change in package price.

It's the same basic procedure. You still have to call WDW central reservation and get them to change/update/rebook, etc. I can't say personally what the current policy is having not done that myself, but I can confirm that several folks last summer talked about getting a new confirmation number when they changed to the new discount.

[mikeb1967]

Hello, good news, we just booked our trip to DW from 9-14-07 to 9-22-07 because the FREE DDP will be offered at that time. We received a AAA newsletter in the mail today and it advertises the Stay, play and Dine promotion from Aug. 5 to Oct. 3 2007. Our DW reservationist told us that if we booked today we would be eligible for the FREE dining promo, we just have to call back and have it added because it is not in their system yet. He told us it will be comming up in a few days to a week. We booked the Pop Century/ 9 days/ 8 nights/ Standard room/ All tickets with park hopper option and water park and more option for 2 adults and 2 children( age 9 and 12) and FREE DDP and free magical express for $1955.80. WOW what a deal!

[nellyj]

we are going in december this year....do disney ever give december discounts..? as we are from the uk we can't do AAA or florida resident etc...do they give the free dining plan ? we are going dec1st til dec 15th.

[dyin tago]

we called disney reservations and aaa and neither know anything od the free dining this year. we did the free dining last year and sure hope for it to happen again this year!

[nellyj]

was that for december or october that you had the frre plan?

[mikeb1967]

From Aug. 5, 2007 til Oct. 3, 2007. We just booked our trip and the DW reservationist told us that is was going into effect in the next couple days to a week. YOu have to schedule your trip between those dates to get the FREE DDP for everyone in your group for the entire length of stay. You have to specifically ask about the promotion they will not volunteer any info. This is advertised in our AAA newsletter that we got today, but you do NOT have to be a AAA member to get this promotion. MikeB

[onjbj]

I'm hoping this is accurate info- we are going to Port Orleans Riverside from 9/11-9/16 and free dining would really make my hubby happy. It's kind of the selling point for him as I am the one pushing this trip before nd our twins turn 3 and we have to pay for them!!

Karin

[CleveSJM]

From Aug. 5, 2007 til Oct. 3, 2007. We just booked our trip and the DW reservationist told us that is was going into effect in the next couple days to a week. YOu have to schedule your trip between those dates to get the FREE DDP for everyone in your group for the entire length of stay. You have to specifically ask about the promotion they will not volunteer any info. This is advertised in our AAA newsletter that we got today, but you do NOT have to be a AAA member to get this promotion. MikeB

Cool. Can you tell us what AAA newsletter it is in? What AAA region? I expect this announcement to hit Disney Visa within 7-8 days and the public a couple days after that. Those dates make sense with the new Value season. Thanks!

[jpcns50]

Does anyone know if travel agents can set this up now as well, or do you have to go directly through Disney until it is offically annouced?


Also where are these things officially annouced, I am both a AAA member and a Disney Visa card holder and I have not heard about it anywhere.

[CleveSJM]

Does anyone know if travel agents can set this up now as well, or do you have to go directly through Disney until it is offically annouced?

Also where are these things officially annouced, I am both a AAA member and a Disney Visa card holder and I have not heard about it anywhere.

No one can set this up until it is officially annouced. Disney Visa holders typically get first shot for a couple days.

You will see it here first. Magical Journeys will be allowed to publish it first and Intercot will put it on the front page. They did it last year on April 1st.

[Strmchsr]

we are going in december this year....do disney ever give december discounts..? as we are from the uk we can't do AAA or florida resident etc...do they give the free dining plan ? we are going dec1st til dec 15th.

Yes, there will absolutely be a discount of some sort for December. Not free dining as that has traditionally been an August-September thing, though it has NOT been officially released/announced yet for this year, though the rumor mill is flying wildly as you can tell. They usually release the November/December discounts in August or September. However, you can go ahead and book your trip now and adjust your package when the discounts come out.

[Mariaºoº]

My husband and I (adult only trip) went to Disney last year during Free Dining and it was great! It was a bit eerie to have the parks basically to ourselves. We walked straight onto Splash Mountain and were the only two people on the boat, only one's on the boat for Pirates of the Caribbean and there were only two other people in front of us on Space Mountain. Dumbo didn't even have a line. The longest wait was for Everest and that was 15 minutes. AK was also the most crowded the week we were there. We're so hoping for Free Dining again this year especially since we're taking the kids this year. If we're able to use Free Dining this will save us at least $1,365.00 since the children are considered adults. Not to mention we can choose anything we want to eat and not have to nickel and dime to get the cheapest meal possible if paying out of pocket. No pb&j's this trip please!

[Bethanymouse]

Does anyone know if we can use this for a 12 day stay and double the amount of time?