Travel Dates: August 24 – September 20, 2008
Walt Disney World has released the long awaited Free Disney Dining program to the general public for the fourth consecutive year. This discount is identical to the Disney VISA cardholder free dining released on Monday.
With the “Free Dining” promotion, Disney resort guests who book a Magic Your Way package that includes both your Disney resort room and your Magic Your Way park passes, will receive the Disney Dining plan add-on for free for all guest age three and older in their party.
For the first time, Disney World guests will be able to book the “Free Dining”, and upgrade to the Disney Deluxe Dining for the normal price difference, which is $32 for adults and $10 for children three to nine. The Wine and Dine option is also available at full price to add onto either the Basic or Deluxe dining plans.
Availability is extremely limited, and must be booked by June 22, 2008. If you booked the Disney VISA free dining deal, there is no need to rebook, as this discount is identical to the one you have.
Guests must book a minimum of a three night stay, and must have at least a one day park pass included to receive the free dining.
To book this special “Free Dining” vacation package, please contact our great sponsor Mouseketrips, and ask for the appropriate code:
- AYG – Magic Your Way Dining Plan
- AYH – Magic Your Way Dining Plan plus Wine and Dine
- AYI – Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan
- AYJ – Magic Your Way Deluxe Dining Plan plus Wine and Dine
I just called this morning to book. I was only on hold for 10 minutes after calling right as they opened the phone lines. I already had reservations and wanted to add one day to mke my trip dates 9/19-9/27 and get the free dining. The women kept saying that it ended on the 20th and it could not be used after that point no matter when I checked it. I explained that as long as I checked in by the 20th that I could have it the entire time. I gave her the code listed above and asked her to just give it a try and humor me – it worked! (After being put on hold for an extra 10 minutes as she figured it out)
I’m so excited about our first trip to Disney World and this makes it even better!!
Amy
Congrats, so far, availability looks fantastic for everything I have looked at. Some CMs just refuse to even try to book past 9/20, glad you were able to get what you wanted.
I have been on hold since 7 this morning, still holding and it is 9 am.
Thanks Keith! I was afriad that I was going to have to speak with someone else – I’m glad that she was willing to give it a try. She was actually very surprised that it worked and said that she was sure others would be calling in with the same code and was glad to have the heads up on it.
I hope you get through soon Rhonda!
I just wanted to say a huge thank you. Every tip you gave, worked like a charm. We pre-booked our package before the free dining came out and made all our dining resevations as well. We phoned today, and you were right again, if you are persistant, they extend the dining passed the 20th for the duration of your stay. Again, thank you, we now get to do things we would not normally be able to afford. Cheers
my friend, cindy called this am and got through and was told we were given the free dining!! we were sooo excited…but we expected the cost of the dining plan to be deducted from our balance due, and it wasn’t?? any idea why?
Dana
Did you get a copy of your new confirmation? Does it say “Magic Your Way pkg + Free Dine” up at the top? Did you have the dining plan on there before?
update….cindy called back and spoke with sasha, and she was GREAT! thank you, sasha:) she deducted the cost of the dining plan from our remaining balance due!
she did say it would take a couple days to show up on our on-line account, but she is sending an e-mail confirmation today!!
Wonderful, helpful website! Thanks for the great tips! Just changed my reservation for free dining after 1 hour 20 minute hold time! With advice from here had already booked all the dining reservations!
Keep up the great work–greatly appreciated!!
Called this morning at 7:00 a.m. sharp. Acutally, I started at 6:58, received the recording that the office was not yet open, and then got through at 7:00 a.m. After punching in my pre-existing reservation number, I was on hold for 1 1/2 hours. Our cordless phone battery almost died! But alas, it was worth the wait. They adjusted our reservation to reflect the free dining and I am pumped! Thanks for the heads up. I would like to point out that your site was by far the first to report that Disney would be offering this promotion on April 7 & 10. Thanks for your diligence!
I just heard from my AAA agent. We now have free dining for 9/20-9/27 without any problems. I had already booked the trip and I made our dinner reservations a couple of weeks ago. I’m soooo excited =)
To Christie,
Your AAA agent didn’t have any problem getting the free dining for you? I booked today with AAA and they said that because we were getting a discount with AAA we don’t qualify for the free dining.
Anyone know if this is true???
Amanda
That is true, you can only do one discount, either the AAA or free dining. In just about every case, the free dining is going to be a much better deal. Call back, have them remove the AAA discount, and add on the free dining.
we are staying at the Animal kingdom Lodge. We have the savanna view. They told use twice now we can’t get the free dinning with that room. Anyone else having this problem?
Jack
Yes, I had a horrible time today finding a savanna view room for any dates, there just weren’t many available. Have you looked at going to a different resort, maybe Wilderness Lodge or something in the Boardwalk area?
keith, They told us we could get the free dinning if we changed our room from the Savanna view to the pool view. It is just they will not give the discount for that savanna view. I did e mail them to find out why there is no discount with the savanna view. I don’t think we want to give change rooms right now for the discount. Thank you for responding.
Jack
Disney does not discount all rooms. Most likely there were discounts for the savanna view room for your dates, but they were booked by Disney VISA card holders earlier this week, or someone got through today before you did. It is a general misconception by most people that if you have a room booked before the discount is released, you are guaranteed the discount when released.
Keep checking back, someone may cancel. Let me know what your travel dates are, maybe I can come up with an option for you.
Keith, thanks for the advice. We are booked from Sept. 13th to the 20th. Thanks again.
Jack…. I had the same problem yesterday and we too decided not to give up the savanna room to get free dining. This is a, maybe not a “one in a lifetime” trip but a “once in a LONG time” trip that we felt like we just really need to stay where we want. We had planned on paying for dining when we booked in Feb so I guess nothing has changed but it does stink that they don’t offer free dining regardless of where you stay. I don’t know how it benifits Disney to not offer it until they run out of availability based on a general first come first serve basis.
Ann, Same here for us. I am looking on the bright side of this- My family and I are still going on vacation to Disney. See Ya there
I have called several times to add 9/20 to our reservation and told I could only get free dining for 9/20. Just hoping the crowds for free dining clear out the week following. Maybe they will offer ticket up grade or reduced room rate later!
Connie
Are you saying you have called Disney, and they have told you that if you make a reservation that extends past 9/20, you will not get the free dining? That is flat out wrong. It is possible that your room type may be sold out, but I would keep calling back until you get someone who can help you.
Ann, I e-mailed disney my question about free dining. This is there reply–
Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.
We are pleased to learn that you and your family are planning to visit
our Vacation Kingdom.
We suggest calling the Walt Disney Travel Company periodically
(407-828-8101) to see if additional availability for the September Free
Dine Offer becomes available. Also ask the agent to check other room categories at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge that may be available with
this promotion.
If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us. Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation
number if applicable on all correspondence.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Betsy Mayer
WDW Online Communications
Thanks Jack….
I e-mail them myself yesterday. Maybe if we bug them enough they will change their minds! ;o)
For anyone interested, Disney appears to have released additional availability this morning for savanna view rooms with free dining, as well as many other resorts and room types.
Keith thanks so much. We called this morning and we got the free dinning with the Savanna view.
Keith….. THANK YOU SO MUCH! We called right away and got the free dining. This is such a great suprise! We can’t tell you how much we apprieciate the e-mail. Your box of treats are on their way!!! ;0)
Does anyone have the prices for the Mickey Not So Scary Halloween Party?
Hey Ann, I guess sticking to our guns worked..plus some work by keith.
I know, I was so excited. Keith…. How in the world did you get tipped off on this? You have truely and really helped to make this vacation even better. The free dining is going to go a long way toward paying for the airline tickets! I seriously can’t thank you enought for the e-mail and taking your time to send it. How in the world do you know so much about how Disney runs? You’re awsome!
Hey Keith,
I finally got Zack with disney travel. I could add 9/20 to my reservation and get free dining. However, my woods view bunk bed room at wilderness lodge is not available at this time. I would have to upgrade to courtyard and the savings is minimal. I will continue to check back on room offering, maybe my room will be offered later!!
Thank you for helping.