I’m asked several times weekly when Disney World’s “Free Dining” offer will be released and what dates could be included.  According to several internet sources here’s the information:
Reservation nights:
- August 23 – October 1
- November 15-21
- November 26-28
- December 10-21
I have been told to look at a possible launch date of Monday, April 25th.
Hi Kenny up early waiting to see if free dining will come out today ! I was wondering I currently have a reservation from Nov 26 to Dec 1 at the Caribbean Beach Resort is this hotel usually included ? And would it be possible to have the dining the whole length of stay or only those 3 days?
It came out
It’s Dec10-21
we will be there Sept 13-16. it’s out first trip. Anything for those dates?
Yes all of September is listed here
It’s outDec 10-21!
I didn’t realise this free dining was for 2017, I’ll know for the next trip we plan :(
It’s 2016. I released details this morning.
It is for 2016
Hi Kenny, I currently have a reservation booked from 9/30-10/14- will most likely modify departure for 10/11. I was under the impression that if we arrived before the predicted 10/1 cut off date, that my entire stay would be eligible for free dining. I just got off the phone with a cast member that said only 9/30 and 10/1 would be eligible, and that the rest of our stay would not fall under the free dining and we’d have to pay. Have the rules changed??
If your check in date is in range, it should be for length of stay
Hi Kenny, are the old Key West 2 bedroom Villas & the Treehouse Villas included in the free dining promotions usually
Villas aren’t usually included
What is the best number to call if you want to convert an existing reservation to free dining?
Once the free dining offer goes live, what number do you call? (407) 939-1936 or (407) 934-7639?
I have already booked a stay that falls within the predicted dates and already purchased the dining. Will Disney discount me or give money back for what I have paid for if I can get the free dining.
You’ll have to contact Disney to switch when it goes live.
And keep in mind, only so many rooms at a qualifying resort are in the block — in other words, even if you have an existing reservation, if you don’t act quickly, the “block” can get booked out from under you.
Has anyone ever see free dining the week OF Christmas? We’re going Dec 22-27th…?
No, only if you check in before and carry it over.
I know the art of animation mermaid rooms are not included in the free dining plan, but I just heard from somewhere else that All Star Movies is not included either, is that true? Those were my first and second choice hotels, lol. Thanks.
Usually they are included. We should know soon.
Oh everywhere I saw today said not all star movies. I hope it’s wrong
Movies was excluded some dates in Sept and Dec last year. Looked at my old post on it.
I have already booked for 8 nights in November, what happens if these dates happen to fall the same time as free dining, can I ring and ask for it to be added to our package?
You can always try.
I saw on another website where free dining may be nov 11-21, it was a Disney tourist website, u think there is any truth to that?
We will know pretty soon
Hi Kiera,
As I understand it, if there are FD-eligible rooms available when you call to ask about the promotion, you may switch to Free Dining. In other words, even if you have already booked your November reservation, if there are no rooms within the FD “block,” you will not be able to switch. Does that make sense?
NF
Does free dining tend to increase attendance? I am considering dates that are in green on your calendar. Just wondering if the free dining will change them to yellow or red??
It won’t change my predictions
Do you think they’ll offer free dining for the United States? Was thinking about taking a trip down in September 2017 to hit up food and wine
this is for the United States
Is it only available to US residents I’m from the UK
UK residents are supposed to be getting free dining offer too.
We have never used the dining plan, as DVC members are not eligible. In my opinion, these dining plans only make the parks more crowded. We always go the week before Thanksgiving, which was always one of the best weeks to be there. Now, with the added free dining and now the extension of the Food and Wine festival, it really makes it impossible to get a “no crowds” kind of week.
Haven’t been there in the longest and booking around the November 15 donning time. We may get there on Saturday 12th. How does the free sinning work and what happens if it offered on after I get there? Do I make two reservations/ I am so confused and need help please!!!
Sorry for the typos I am
On my phone!
That has happened to me before. I booked before the offer was released. In order to get the offer, I had to call and they gave me 2 reservations. We arrived on Saturday and the offer started on Sunday. We had to “check out” Sunday morning and check back in. We ended up having to switch rooms, they told us that was a possibility. But since we were only there for 1 night, we didn’t unpack, we just rolled our luggage to the room down the hall.
Were you able to add an extra day of free dining for the Saturday that you arrived? Or could you only do it for Sunday through the remainder of the trip?
I just read that the value hotels only get the Quick Service Meal plan for free. We are staying at the Art of Animation. Is that true?
AoA is usually only included for suites
Yes, it has been that way for several years now. You can upgrade to the regular or deluxe dining plans, you just have to pay the price difference (the cost of the plan you want minus the value of the quick service plan)
Yes, that is true. You can upgrade but you have to pay to do so. Quick service meal plans aren’t so bad, though! They free up time for rides :)
I need your experienced opinion now… We are just about to book a vacation for November 30- December 4 and were planning on buying the quick service dining plan. Now that this information is out, do you think it would be better to wait until we can get the free dining plan? We are wanting lowest crowds possible and are going to stay at the Contemporary. What are your thoughts? Taking a 9 month old so the less stress, the better lol
I would contact Mickey travels and have them book the dates. Tell them you want free dining, if it becomes available. Tell them KtP sent you. It’s free.
How does the free dining work?
You book a Disney trip during the offer dates, room price is full rack rate. Usually there is a minimum number of nights you have to stay as well as tickets you must purchase. Then, the dining plan is free for each member of your travel party.
Do I need to have a Disney Visa card to get the free dining?
They usually release to Disney visa, then regular guests a couple days later
I have the disney visa but already booked my room. How does that work? Do I just have to prove I have one or do I have to pay for the trip with it?
I am about to book the end of August. I would love free dining. If I book before will I be able to change to free dining after? Or should I wait? I’m afraid to wait long because the rooms might sell out. Thanks
Use a Disney agent and they do the work for you
Why would they give free dining thanksgiving and Christmas weekend? They really changed the dates drastically.
Most guests won’t travel to wdw for Christmas until after Christmas this year. We used to arrive the final day of free dining and stay a week
This may sound a little contrary to everyone else, but I hope Disney does away with “free” dining all together. Every year the rooms that are offered are lowered in quantity, leaving less and less for the masses to squabble over. Disney obviously does not need to give anything away for a sale price these days and I feel like the sales are slightly false advertising because of the limited availability.
It will shrink and shrink until it goes away, but people still get excited when they see “free” and will start dreaming of going. I am sure it still fills rooms, which is the goal.
Figures we arrive on aug. 21st and it looks line free dining will begin on August. 23rd. Do you know if they will let me use free dining for the remaining 6 days of my trip?
Last August, Free dining started on the 2nd night of our trip. I was able to call Disney and break our trip into 2 separate reservations. First reservation (2 nights) we paid dining out of pocket and the 2nd reservation (4 nights) were included in the free dining promo. We were sent 2 sets of Magic bands, 2 sets of luggage tags, etc. It was certainly worth it.
No they won’t but you can make a reservation from the 211st to the 23rd and then from the 23rd to the day you leave. Then you can get the free Dining Plan. The most important thing is that your check-in date Falls within the time period of the Dining Plan. If you did two reservations your second reservation would fall during that time. And every day after that would be on the free Dining Plan
If the free dining is released to the Disney Visa card holders first do you have to pay for the whole trip with Disney visa or just the deposit?
Deposit
Is the estimated April 25th date for the public or for Visa holders? I’m a Visa holder, but rarely get notification from Visa ahead of time.
Any thoughts on room discounts for those days or only free dining?
They often provide some discount, except the holidays
I know they usu exclude some of the resorts, do you know if Port Orleans Riverside is one that typically offers the free dining pkg?
only in the first wave of free dining – the Aug/sept dates
So if we check in on Nov. 26th and check out Dec. 2nd we will get free dining for our whole trip right?
If your check in date is within the range, you are good
2nd question! We are new Disney Visa holders how do we find out about the discount? Email, mail, or do I need to keep checking. We’re already booked but would love free dining.
I’ll post all details when they are released
Bummer!! Halloween has been included the last few years and this looks like it’s not this year. Hopefully that will change when the rumor becomes reality. :(
How accurate have these sites that are saying it is coming for those dates been in the past? We are booked from Dec 10-17 and would love to get free dining.
We were able to take advantage of Free Dining during that same Christmas period last year, 12/10-21 (-ish), and the year before that as well. If Disney is offering FD at all this year, I’d say chances are pretty good this same date range will be offered.
I guess since October is now “Regular” season, I’m out of luck with my mid-end October trip… no incentive for Disney to offer Free Dining at that time :( Oh well, fingers crossed for the Room discount offer! :D
Figures my trip is Oct 26th – Nov 1st and I do not see these dates : ( Dag Nabbit
Really? When has Disney Ever given free dining at Christmas?
Around these dates, every year.
We were there Dec 13 – 17 last year with Free Dining.
I’ve gotten free dining for Christmas trips twice. Once in 2010 then again in 2012.
Yup, had Free Dining the past two Christmases.