Free Dining offer date?

[Elodie]

We booked the day after 2020 free dining was released last year (unplanned - we were only supposed to be looking at prices to get an idea for our 2021 WDW budget! )

At the time, we went with what seemed to be the best option available within our price range, but on reflection, we weren’t as happy with it as we’d thought (pirate room at CBR). There wasn’t anything we preferred within budget, so we stuck with it. A couple of weeks later, they released free dining for garden view rooms at BC - we realised that was the dream holiday we’d been waiting for, and phoned to upgrade. No harm done with the early booking, but we could have saved ourselves a bit of bother if we’d waited a couple of weeks.

It’s worth having a look when free dining is released, if the site can cope (I remember there being some kind of queue system just to see the offers last year.) But you should still be fine booking later, and possibly even better off.

[sha9]

Originally Posted by Claudette

I have booked months into the free dining offer to no ill effect. I understand that people are waiting for their ADR or FP day on the dot, but I am gobsmacked that people would be waiting for free dining offer on the dot, it never occurred to me.

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In recent years availability for standard rooms has disappeared very quickly after the offer was released. That said, we couldn’t get a standard for our date range so booked a king. A week or so later standards appeared so we changed the booking. I wouldn’t say you need to book on release day but I’d be keen to check what’s available in case my chosen resort/room type was and get it locked in.

[Princess Ariel]

I saw a post from a TA on fb yesterday stating it would be released on 21st April but details would be released the week before this.

[Bertiebear]

Originally Posted by Princess Ariel

I saw a post from a TA on fb yesterday stating it would be released on 21st April but details would be released the week before this.

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Ooo who was that?

[MargaretMouse]

Yes I saw a post that it is going to be out on the 21st April from a travel agent, too... Sorry. Cant.remember the name, if I can I will post later.

[DisneyDaffodil]

It tends to be on a Thursday so maybe 23rd is more likely, however perhaps the TA is taking advance bookings from the 21st?

I know last year the queues on release day were crazy online and many standard rooms weren’t released until a day or two later. I’m unsure whether to try on release day or wait a few days as our dates, beginning of September, aren’t a peak time. Then again, with less rooms being released each year I think I’m likely to panic and try to book as soon as possible 😀

[Joshie1]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaffodil

It tends to be on a Thursday so maybe 23rd is more likely, however perhaps the TA is taking advance bookings from the 21st?

I know last year the queues on release day were crazy online and many standard rooms weren’t released until a day or two later. I’m unsure whether to try on release day or wait a few days as our dates, beginning of September, aren’t a peak time. Then again, with less rooms being released each year I think I’m likely to panic and try to book as soon as possible 😀

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Last year someone here (can’t remember who it was) spotted that the offer was released on the Disney website the evening before it was scheduled. I got it booked within minutes. Worth checking in here in the days leading up to the official release date.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Joshie1

Last year someone here (can’t remember who it was) spotted that the offer was released on the Disney website the evening before it was scheduled. I got it booked within minutes. Worth checking in here in the days leading up to the official release date.

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Thank you, I definitely will be keeping a watch. I’m so excited, we last went in 2018 so will be so nice to return 😀

[ClaireNJ]

Originally Posted by sha9

In recent years availability for standard rooms has disappeared very quickly after the offer was released. That said, we couldn’t get a standard for our date range so booked a king. A week or so later standards appeared so we changed the booking. I wouldn’t say you need to book on release day but I’d be keen to check what’s available in case my chosen resort/room type was and get it locked in.

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Can I just ask you if I book direct with Disney on their site for a hotel for instance AOA with the dining plan does it give you the option to upgrade the plan or would I need to phone up 🤔I’ve never done the dining before just want to be prepared 🙊

[sha9]

Originally Posted by ClaireNJ

Can I just ask you if I book direct with Disney on their site for a hotel for instance AOA with the dining plan does it give you the option to upgrade the plan or would I need to phone up 🤔I’ve never done the dining before just want to be prepared 🙊

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Yes you can usually upgrade online.