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robcoll1002
My Beautiful Babies
Member since 5/05 2073 total posts
Name:
Colleen
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When does Disney usually list their free dining?
I want to try to plan a trip to Disney this year and was looking for free dining but haven't seen it listed anywhere.
Are they not offering it this year?
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Posted 1/29/13 10:56 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Free Dining is never guaranteed. In the past it was offered several times a year and guests have gotten used to it, but Disney has been saying that they are going to pull back on the deep discounting we've seen for the past several years.
So far in 2013, Disney has offered package discounts, but not free dining. In the earlier part of the year, there was a Stay, Play Dine discount which discounted the room, the tickets, and the dining. For most people, this amounted to just a little bit less of a discount than Free Dining would have given. For the spring, the offer is a Room discount of up to 30% off, plus a discount on some tickets.
What this means is that Disney is working with different package offers. Whether the extremely popular fall free dining offer will be back is anyone's guess, but my advice is to not hold your breath for free dining. Choose the dates you want to go and work from there to get the best discount available.
Free Dining is VERY popular, but it's not always the best offer depending on where you're staying and your party size. I've actually seen people online insist on booking Free Dining, when another offer and paying for the dining plan would actually be cheaper. Not to mention that it's not a good deal if you weren't planning to eat and pay for all of that food.
Disney is still offering some great package offers with significant savings, so I would suggest choosing the dates that work for your family, and if Free Dining comes out, that's great. If not, you can still take advantage of another offer.
So short answer - we don't know if or when Free Dining will reappear, especially since it seems that Disney is pulling back on it.
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| Posted 1/29/13 11:26 AM |
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Serendipity
Summer!
Member since 4/07 7631 total posts
Name:
PrayingWishingHopingALOT
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When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Jennifer is there a change peoPlencould get person pins for free dining?
ETA: WHAT AM I SAYING???? LMAO!!
Damn Iphone
Message edited 1/29/2013 7:29:34 PM.
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| Posted 1/29/13 12:34 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Yep, I've seen some Free Dining PINs going around.
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| Posted 1/29/13 12:40 PM |
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robcoll1002
My Beautiful Babies
Member since 5/05 2073 total posts
Name:
Colleen
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Thanks for all the info, Jen!
From what you've seen, when is the cheapest time to go?
And PINs are usually mailed to a person, correct?
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| Posted 1/29/13 12:49 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
There is currently a free dining pin going around. My father got 3 and 2 friends I know got them. I never do. They got up to 35% off (35% off some deluxes, 30% off some mods etc) or free dining.
There was a thread on disboards from someone who has posted several times the exact discount coming out several days or weeks before they are released and has always been accurate. This person posted that disney is trying to phase them out. Most likely the next time it is offer they said it would be nothing for the values and only the quick service plan for mods and deluxes. Will remain to be seen if this will really happen. Disney said a while back once they were doing better discounts would be fewer and farther between. The conscensus is more room only or as Jennifer mention stay, play, dine where you get a % off and not free is probably more likely. I know people are saying that crowds even in quiet seasons a way up. I think but could be wrong that people said it has been the busiest Jan probably due to FLE.
I think there are a lot of possible changes coming up. Especially with the new fastpass+ coming soon. They are doing away with the no expiration option. I know mousesavers is saying ticket prices she thinks will be going up in maybe April and getting away with the no expiration choice. She is telling people to buy their tickets asap.
If you want a private pin I would order the free dvd, price out and save some trips. That is one way it is thought you get on the list...also helps if you never go.
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| Posted 1/29/13 2:11 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
The very cheapest time to go are Jan and Feb excluding holidays and the marathon, and August and September. There are many other inexpensive times to go as well. The fall season IMO is the best combination of great activities, moderate crowds and low prices.
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| Posted 1/29/13 2:22 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by robcoll1002
Thanks for all the info, Jen!
From what you've seen, when is the cheapest time to go?
And PINs are usually mailed to a person, correct?
PINs can be mailed OR emailed. I never get them. My husband used to get them a lot. You definitely have to be in Disney's system (have a disney account) to get one. People say ordering the DVD and pricing trips helps, but I don't really know if that's the case.
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| Posted 1/29/13 2:24 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by robcoll1002
Thanks for all the info, Jen!
From what you've seen, when is the cheapest time to go?
And PINs are usually mailed to a person, correct?
PINs can be mailed OR emailed. I never get them. My husband used to get them a lot. You definitely have to be in Disney's system (have a disney account) to get one. People say ordering the DVD and pricing trips helps, but I don't really know if that's the case.
My dad gets them mailed (post cards) and emailed offers. They never go. We never get them. Mousesavers had something about how they figured it out and narrowed it to a couple of things. I think she also mentions buying from the disneyshopping site too. I think it seemed to be people who haven't been in a long time or rarely go. I can never get one but my father gets 4-6 a year and only went once with us in 2008 and then not since 1993.
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| Posted 1/29/13 5:50 PM |
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Serendipity
Summer!
Member since 4/07 7631 total posts
Name:
PrayingWishingHopingALOT
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by Lillykat
If you want a private pin I would order the free dvd, price out and save some trips. That is one way it is thought you get on the list...also helps if you never go.
I have ordered the DVD 2 years in a row...never get PINs. Have gone 2 years in a row as well.
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| Posted 1/29/13 7:31 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by Lillykat
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by robcoll1002
Thanks for all the info, Jen!
From what you've seen, when is the cheapest time to go?
And PINs are usually mailed to a person, correct?
PINs can be mailed OR emailed. I never get them. My husband used to get them a lot. You definitely have to be in Disney's system (have a disney account) to get one. People say ordering the DVD and pricing trips helps, but I don't really know if that's the case.
My dad gets them mailed (post cards) and emailed offers. They never go. We never get them. Mousesavers had something about how they figured it out and narrowed it to a couple of things. I think she also mentions buying from the disneyshopping site too. I think it seemed to be people who haven't been in a long time or rarely go. I can never get one but my father gets 4-6 a year and only went once with us in 2008 and then not since 1993.
It's possible my DH was getting them because I had booked the trips in my name more recently. BUT a lot of the PINS I've seen also had people with recent trips and they said "visit us again".
I just throw my hands up in the air.
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| Posted 1/29/13 7:53 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by JenniferEver
It's possible my DH was getting them because I had booked the trips in my name more recently. BUT a lot of the PINS I've seen also had people with recent trips and they said "visit us again".
I just throw my hands up in the air.
I hear you it drove me crazy bc a lot of the emails were sent to my father to MY email but they wouldn't let me use them bc differentblast name and their address  but Iwould get them alost every month. I was going to ask if you booked in your name. Unfortunately, DH never gets them and we book in my name. He never went before he met me.
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| Posted 1/30/13 3:55 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by Lillykat
Posted by JenniferEver
It's possible my DH was getting them because I had booked the trips in my name more recently. BUT a lot of the PINS I've seen also had people with recent trips and they said "visit us again".
I just throw my hands up in the air.
I hear you it drove me crazy bc a lot of the emails were sent to my father to MY email but they wouldn't let me use them bc differentblast name and their address but Iwould get them alost every month. I was going to ask if you booked in your name. Unfortunately, DH never gets them and we book in my name. He never went before he met me.
Make sure you call them and correct that. I have a friend/client that gets EVERY PIN out there. Seriously. Every single one. Only it's in someone else's name and someone else's address. I want to find that other person and ask her what she's doing to get all of the PINs.
I might start a new account with a new email address just in case. If they do track what you do online, which many people feel they do in order to give PIN codes, then they're tracking your activity and giving the benefit to your dad, who will never use it
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| Posted 1/30/13 10:36 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by Lillykat
Posted by JenniferEver
It's possible my DH was getting them because I had booked the trips in my name more recently. BUT a lot of the PINS I've seen also had people with recent trips and they said "visit us again".
I just throw my hands up in the air.
I hear you it drove me crazy bc a lot of the emails were sent to my father to MY email but they wouldn't let me use them bc differentblast name and their address but Iwould get them alost every month. I was going to ask if you booked in your name. Unfortunately, DH never gets them and we book in my name. He never went before he met me.
Make sure you call them and correct that. I have a friend/client that gets EVERY PIN out there. Seriously. Every single one. Only it's in someone else's name and someone else's address. I want to find that other person and ask her what she's doing to get all of the PINs.
I might start a new account with a new email address just in case. If they do track what you do online, which many people feel they do in order to give PIN codes, then they're tracking your activity and giving the benefit to your dad, who will never use it
You know it can't be bc it is an old email I never use, never order from etc. I called 2 times and they never took it off. He has a new email now and gets things to that as well as my old one. But the joke he doesn't do anything disney he just booked a trip and NOW he gets them to his email address. As far as mail they used to come to my house (old address) in his name and to his address. But once I called they just mailed it to him at his house and mothing for us. They traveled with us on ONE trip. The trip was booked in MY name for our package and his name for their package in 2008. So they had his email and his address the
whole time. Not sure why I was getting his things very frustrating to get great deals all the time you can't use. The best was once I got someone who finally agreed to give me the deal even thought it was their name bc it was my address BUT the catch we had just moved the week before and mail was forwarded to our new address. They refused to honor it bc it was a different address. Tried a manager, tried like 4 people. They were like it is not your name and no longer your address too bad.
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| Posted 1/30/13 11:01 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
They might have your IP address attached to that email address even if you never use it
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| Posted 1/30/13 11:02 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by Serendipity
Posted by Lillykat
If you want a private pin I would order the free dvd, price out and save some trips. That is one way it is thought you get on the list...also helps if you never go.
I have ordered the DVD 2 years in a row...never get PINs. Have gone 2 years in a row as well.
Me either. Not one.
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| Posted 1/30/13 11:37 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: When does Disney usually list their free dining?
Posted by Goobster
Posted by Serendipity
Posted by Lillykat
If you want a private pin I would order the free dvd, price out and save some trips. That is one way it is thought you get on the list...also helps if you never go.
I have ordered the DVD 2 years in a row...never get PINs. Have gone 2 years in a row as well.
Me either. Not one.
It seems random. Mostly sent to people who don't go. But then I know someone who orders and goes every year and got a few a year. Mousesavers says they think they get the lists from the above examples but then they randomly send them to people in those groups so you might be in those groups but still not get them. It works for many friends but never for us and we haven't been in 3 years.
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| Posted 1/31/13 6:36 AM |
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