Category — e. What to Budget for Walt Disney World

Update July 9: for rumors of a Fall 2012 free dining deal, see this.

FREE DISNEY WORLD DINING

Walt Disney World has opened its free dining promotion for late August to late September 2012 to the general public.

Eligible arrival dates are August 25th to September 29th 2012.

The deal must be booked by May 18, 2012.

DETAILS ON WALT DISNEY WORLD FREE DINING

As in the past few years, those booking Value Resorts will get the “quick service” plan for free, and those booking Moderate Resorts, Deluxe Resorts, or Disney Vacation Club Resorts will get the regular dining plan for free.

As is also common, grand villas, suites and The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are excluded. (The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort are eligible.)  Disney’s new Art of Animation Resort is also excluded.  Update: crack commenter Joanne notes that Art of Animation is in the deal.

For some reason, All-Star Music Family Suites are also not eligible.

For Disney’s page in this deal, click here.

For other current Walt Disney World special offers, deals and discounts, see this.

Update July 9: for rumors of a Fall 2012 free dining deal, see this.

The Mouse For Less is reporting here that Disney will be releasing free dining for 8/25 through 9/29/2012 on Monday March 5.

DEAL AT WALT DISNEY WORLD HAS BOOKING DATES EXTENDED

A Disney World promotion offering discounts of 15-30% off of room rates for most arrival dates from April 13-June 14 2012 has had its booking window extended.

This deal’s booking window was to be closed on February 28, but Disney World’s website now shows booking available through March 31, 2012.

See this for more.

Meanwhile, one of my readers has heard rumors that late summer free dining at Walt Disney World will be offered by 3/5…see this for an apparent confirmation.

A couple of quick points:

• Disney’s current major Disney World discount available to the general public needs to be booked by February 28th.
• Multiple sources, including Mark Goldhaber at MousePlanet.com, are noting that Disney World will be upgrading its reservation systems beginning early in the morning Thursday 2/23. 

In the past, this upgrade has led to a bit of a mess, including trouble “with dining reservations records, dining plan credit records, and other resort systems.”   So bring paper copies and don’t expect to be able to use the systems the 23rd and perhaps even the 24th…

• Finally, I’ve been ill most of this week, so have gotten behind on new posts and on responding to comments…I promise to do better!

My friends at Destinations in Florida Travel have a deal where if you buy your Universal tickets from them, you can use, for free, their shuttle service from Disney World hotels to Universal and Harry Potter.

For more, and to get your Universal tickets that provide this free deal, see this.

For more on getting to Harry Potter from Walt Disney World, see this.

WALT DISNEY WORLD DEAL NEEDS TO BE BOOKED SOON

One of Walt Disney World’s current deals is expiring soon.

The deal offers discounted rooms for many arrival dates from February 21 through March 31 2012, but needs to be booked by January 22 2012.

For more on this deal, see this.