"Free" Dining Plan Price Increase 2021

[The waltons]

I don’t think it will if a sufficient vaccine and treatment is available the world will turn as before

[bronny]

Originally Posted by jjmccrae

Ok that's really really interesting.
When I booked a few years back the prices increased approx £150 - based on the same search criteria (expect one include the free dining plan - which cause the increased).

What about booking now, before the Dining Plan is announced, is there an option to them call them after announcement and ask them to add it on.

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No you can’t ask them to add it on after booking

[Guest]

Originally Posted by disney332

I agree with some regret.

Post virus the world will change for a long long time. Forget what it was, it will take years to get back and in some sectors.,never

Disney332

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I agree. Disney is losing money like mad. Wouldn’t be surprised if freebies go away for a while.

[Ritz]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

All bets are off.
If the virus clears up, vaccine, people are confident enough etc demand could be through the roof and there will be no free dining.
Can also envisage a scenario where it’s still about but open- you have to be on site to go, restaurant capacities 50%. If demand is there for that in the domestic market there will be no free dining.
If it’s back to normal but massive recession and unemployment and people don’t want to travel, bit like post 9/11- then the deals will be very good indeed.
Suspect Disney has no idea yet.

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I think the final scenario is most likely, I can't see them planning for 50% capacity, they will want a full booking schedule and it is easier cut people than suddenly try and get late bookings

[Adultdisneyfan]

Zero here too. All that happens is the current discount when booking hotel and tickets together is removed and the free dining offer applied.

So yes the price increases but only because the existing discount is removed.

So, if you go all the way through with a pretend booking true price will be higher with free dining. It is however simply the removal of the existing offer - so in answer to the Op however much the discount currently is for booking together will be the difference in price.

I once had to provide screenshots to someone on Tripadvisor to prove this as they were adamant I was wrong.

[Adultdisneyfan]

Originally Posted by bronny

No you can’t ask them to add it on after booking

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Very true. It’s like any offer for any holiday or product. You get the offer of the day you booked - no one would apply a better offer further down the line. If you could we would all be booked now.

In saying that though in the US however it is different. You can add free dining if it is released for you dates after you book. My understanding is a quick phone call sorts it out if free dining is announced for the dates you have booked. Their offer is however announced a lot nearer departure than ours and the dates generally more restrictive.

I will also say I am also in the camp of “there might not be an offer”. I don’t think pre-COVID capacity will be allowed for years so Disney may mothball hotels/hotel blocks. I also worry (as I have posted before) about the availability of flights - it’ll be years before flight capacity gets back to pre-COVID if it ever does. This will drive up prices.

So the decision is - get a package to lock in the flight price or to book direct with Disney and only risk the £100 deposit 🤔🤔🤔

[Tigger71]

I think some years back I remember their annual price increase for rooms coincided with the release of free dining plan.

[sha9]

Originally Posted by Tigger71

I think some years back I remember their annual price increase for rooms coincided with the release of free dining plan.

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Yes that happened a couple of years ago. You can imagine the threads on here! It does also happen that some hotels change slightly in price. It’s not true to say that there’s no change at all for all hotels. I’ve been booking with free dining for many years and have been lucky that some hotels have dropped in price as well as free dining but conversely some have increased slightly. This is on base price, not including any discount for buying tickets offered before free dining.

[Disney Jo]

When I was looking pre free DDP I noted the price direct with Disney, when it was released the price was exactly the same. I booked on release day - that was last April for this August. We are waiting for August to start being cancelled or free to move and then we will do it for next year. Hoping though a new offer is released.

[MrsSevSpaghetti]

I’ve moved a booking from this week to next year, same time. It’s £500 cheaper next year. If they add dining I am fully expecting the price to go up!