Holiday Free Dining?

[Kbourg1]

We are thinking about visiting WDW the second week of Dec. 2015. Is it possible that they will offer free dining around that time?

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

For the past several years they have offered free dining during this period. Generally speaking, the regular DDP is offered for reservations at select moderates and deluxe accommodations, while the lower level QS dining plan was offered with value resort accommodations.

Last year though saw more restrictions, both to resorts that were part of the offering (POR was excluded in the GP offering) and there were more blackout dates last year than in previous years.

I believe in 2014 that 11/21 - 12/11 were blacked out. So if you were checking in during the blackout dates, but your vacation extended beyond those dates, you'd probably have to look at booking a split-stay vacation.

Then again, who knows what 2015 holds in store for discounts. The discount last year was announced on 5/7 for the general public.

[Kbourg1]

Thank you so much for responding. I will certainly be watching closing in May. Fingers crossed that it is offered.

[Strmchsr]

to Intercot!!

Don't necessarily count on May to offer the discount for December. It does sometimes happen, but there have also been years where they have offered in April or May only for late Aug/ early Sept on the "free" dining and then based on bookings they open up additional dates in the fall. The best bet would be book with Magical Journeys and whatever the best deal for your time frame is they'll get it for you. They can also crunch the numbers to see if "free" dining is really the best deal for your situation. That isn't always the case. My family comes out better usually with a room discount and paying OOP for the food we want.

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

to Intercot!!

Don't necessarily count on May to offer the discount for December. It does sometimes happen, but there have also been years where they have offered in April or May only for late Aug/ early Sept on the "free" dining and then based on bookings they open up additional dates in the fall. The best bet would be book with Magical Journeys and whatever the best deal for your time frame is they'll get it for you. They can also crunch the numbers to see if "free" dining is really the best deal for your situation. That isn't always the case. My family comes out better usually with a room discount and paying OOP for the food we want.

Seconded to all things:

Just got back a week ago from a trip that Magical Journeys booked for us, went off without a hitch.

Research "free" dining. Whether it is a good deal or not can depend on your group size, eating habits and resort choice. What makes it a good deal for one family may make it a bad deal for another.

[azcavalier]

Yep, if you can get it, my family always gets a good deal from that. However, it seems that you'll have to wait for it to be announced. In April/May they'll announce the initial Free Dining Promo...usually for late August - late September dates. But then later in the year they'll "extend" it into the late fall. So we usually book with MJ, and then hope it gets offered. So far, every time we've tried it, we've been successful.