2018 Disney World Free Dining Rumor

27 comments

1 Wendy { 04.11.18 at 10:32 pm }

Hello! I hope this finds you well – thank you for posting this about free dining…are you surprised about the absent Nov dates of other years? I know it is just a rumor at this point – but still seems odd to me. Maybe with more info, it seems more “as expected?”

Not sure I am asking a question…? Just hoping you will say that this is just a rumor and you think my date of Nov 16th will be in the actual offer. Hey, you seems magical to me!

Loved free dining on our first trip and was hoping to get it again the week before Thanksgiving.

Take care,

Wendy

2 Dave { 04.13.18 at 7:38 am }

Hi Wendy, I am surprised, and hope things are different when the actual offer comes out!

3 Margie { 04.12.18 at 5:32 am }

We are going to Disney for the very first time the week of June 4 th.

4 Christy { 04.12.18 at 11:19 am }

I also really hope there are more dates than showing in this rumor 🙁 Our arrival date of Nov 15/16 has traditionally been included in free dining for years… fingers crossed 🙁

5 Dave { 04.13.18 at 7:43 am }

Mine too, Christy! “Traditionally” does not mean a lot–October had 9 eligible arrival dates in 2015, 1 in 2016, and none since then…so Disney does change stuff all the time

6 Christy { 04.14.18 at 6:21 pm }

Very true, things gotta change sometime! I was just so used to those dates being included, guess I got spoiled! 🙁 it’s tough finding times to go with any deals when you work in schools, unless wanna go highest heat & rain times.

7 Momof3 { 04.13.18 at 8:58 am }

I’m surprised not to see Art of Animation as a free dining eligible resort!! Do you think that is an oversight?

8 Dave { 04.14.18 at 11:06 am }

Hey, Momof3, the Little Mermaid rooms have been excluded forever. AofA Family Suites have always been in the deal, so that’s possible

9 Cat { 04.13.18 at 2:05 pm }

I know often other countries (the UK, for example) have different dates for the dining plan promotion than US residents. Any reason in particular that you think this South American offer would match the US offer?

10 Dave { 04.14.18 at 11:13 am }

Cat, only the UK and Canada have materially distinct deals. The South American rumors have over the years tracked well, but not remotely exactly, with the final deal. The biggest differences have been in the resorts included. Recall that nothing is real until the actual promotion comes out!!

11 Carole { 04.22.18 at 9:06 am }

Hi I am from Canada so what do you think our deal will be? Thanks

12 Dave { 04.23.18 at 8:02 am }

Hi Carole, no rumors!

13 Tammy { 04.13.18 at 4:48 pm }

Is the Polynesian usually excluded from free dining? We are booked for September, trying to decide if I should have a back up resort planned. Traveling with my kids and their kids. Free dining is a nice bonus

14 Dave { 04.14.18 at 11:15 am }

Nope, Tammy, much in this rumor is different. Here’s the recent history of exclusions

2015: Excluded resorts include Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation, All-Star Movies, Port Orleans French Quarter, Bay Lake Tower, The Villas at the Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.
Moreover, Port Orleans Riverside is in the deal only for arrival dates August 28 – October 2.

2016: Excluded resorts include Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation, All Star Movies, Port Orleans French Quarter, Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian Bungalows, Grand Floridian Villas, and after 10/31, Port Orleans Riverside.

2017: Excluded resorts include Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation, All Star Movies, Port Orleans French Quarter, Copper Creek at the Wilderness Lodge, Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, Grand Floridian Villas, and after 9/30, Port Orleans Riverside.

15 Mark { 04.14.18 at 8:49 pm }

What are the odds Beach Club Villa studio with an arrival of August 16th is eligible?

16 Dave { 04.15.18 at 10:01 am }

Mark, we won’t know the real deal until the real deal comes out! Based on recent patterns, I would have expected a start date of around 8/20 rather than the 8/2 of the rumor.

17 Lydia Thrift { 04.14.18 at 11:14 pm }

Hi! I noticed that deluxe resort Wilderness Lodge is not listed. It has been included in free dining before, is it not included in this rumor?

18 Dave { 04.15.18 at 10:02 am }

Yes, and yes, Lydia.

19 Kelly B -Destinations In Florida { 04.15.18 at 8:59 am }

Tammy (and others)

It’s always great to have a back up (resort, room category, dates). Just because a resort is listed as being included does NOT mean there will be availability for your set of dates or room category.

If the resort includes one single room or set of dates at any point during the offer.If you would like to learn more about the whole Disney Discount Process please read the Article “Free Dining and Other Disney World Deals” https://yourfirstvisit.net/2017/04/06/free-dining-and-other-disney-world-deals/

And remember, if you book your Disney vacation with me (KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com) one of the services included is Future Discount Search. I’ve already contacted all my current clients. Plans are in place for any changes to make, once a discount is released. You can go about your day, enjoy a few hours more sleep, while I keep watch over your reservation and wait on hold with Disney. Disney only allows one discount per reservation, so I’ll apply the best one (And often Free Dining is NOT the best offer).

20 Tammy { 04.15.18 at 11:05 am }

I have Polynesian standard rooms booked for September. Rumors are studios will included in Dining plan. Should I switch to Studios now, with the hopes the rumor is accurate? Will that make it easier when discounts are released? Thanks for responding to my earlier post!

21 Dave { 04.16.18 at 10:53 am }

Tammy, to book a free dining room there has to be one available at the time you ask, so it makes no difference whether you have a booking already.

22 Loli { 04.19.18 at 2:28 pm }

Hi, what is the minimum of nights and minimum of day tickets to get the offer?
If you are not from US neither from South America, can you apply for the same dates as south American people?

23 Dave { 04.20.18 at 6:46 am }

Loli, the rumors say 4 ticket days (which implies three nights) but there’s some skepticism. The deal, when it comes out, will be available worldwide.

24 Mouseketeer { 04.23.18 at 10:53 am }

Hi is there any word on room-only discounts for fall? Will they be available at the same time as the fall free dining discount?

25 Dave { 04.24.18 at 7:56 am }

Hi Mouseketeer, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2018/04/24/disney-world-room-rate-deal-for-august-2-through-october-7-2018-released/

26 Niamh Stafford { 05.01.18 at 4:58 pm }

Does anyone know if this is actually real?

I can’t find anything on the Disney website to back it up. I’ve also just spoken to Thomas Cook (UK) who said the offer expired Nov 2016.
However, I’ve also been given a quote through ‘SmallWorldVacations’ which supposedly includes the free dining for Sept 2018, and just don’t know who to believe.

27 Dave { 05.02.18 at 10:23 am }

Niamh, the UK has very different deals. Check out https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/

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