Great news! We finally have news that Disney World Free Dining will be extended for select check-in dates in October, November, and December 2013!
Travel Dates
Free Dining is being offered to guests ARRIVING during the following dates. A minimum stay of 3 nights is required and may not be booked for longer than 14 nights.
September 29 – October 2, 2013
October 18 – November 2, 2013
November 11 – 23, 2013
December 12 – 22, 2013
Bookings for these dates begins today!
Disney Resorts
If you stay at a Value Resort, you’ll receive the Quick Service Dining plan for FREE. (Note that you can upgrade to the standard or deluxe dining plans by paying the difference in cost per night.)
If you reserve a Moderate, Deluxe, or Deluxe Villa Resort, you will receive the standard Dining plan for FREE. (You can upgrade to the deluxe dining plan by paying the difference in cost per night).
NOTE: Ft. Wilderness campsites and 3-bedroom villas, Villas at Grand Floridian, Art of Animation Resort, Port Orleans – French Quarter Resort, and All-Star Movies Resort are not included in this offer.
Tickets
In addition to booking a minimum stay of 3 nights at one of the above Disney resorts, you’ll also need to purchase AT LEAST a 2-day Magic Your Way Disney World ticket for everyone in your room.
Is The Free Dining Offer Right For Your Family?
Since this offer generally can’t be combined with other discounts, it’s often difficult to determine whether or not your family will save more money with Disney World hotel room discount or with the free dining offer.
We break down and compare the costs and options for several Disney World discounts, including the free dining offer, in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book to help you save the most money possible.
Along with over 400 pages of great Disney World dining advice, photos, and details, this book is a great deal. Get yours here, and speaking of saving money — use code “2013” to get $4 off today!
Tell us what you think about Free Dining and your thoughts on this specific offer in the comments below!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
I’m actually really shocked they extended it! We are going down the end of September, when the first free dining deal they offered this year is going on. We actually are going down earlier than usual, because we thought that would be our only chance for free dining. Oh, well. 🙂 This is good news for my parents, who were hoping to get ANY discount when they go in October.
If you already have an existing reservation for these days, can we cancel and rebook?
Do I qualify if we are DVC Members staying at Old Key West?
Fantastic news! Does anyone know if this offer is/will be available to Canadian visitors? I’ve been searching but haven’t come up with an answer yet. Hoping we can get this to coincide with Food and Wine festival and my boyfriend’s birthday!
Disney Parks Blog is saying that there’s a minimum 6 night/7 days booking.
You don’t get things FOR free.
You get things FREE.
If you need grammar help, and it is obvious that you do, I am available at a reasonable price.
Great for everyone EXCEPT Annual Pass Holders!
So if you check in Dec 22 you can get free dining thru your Christmas vacation. Have they had free dining over Christmas in the past? I can’t imagine how hard it will be to get ADRs during free dining this time of year.
Also, while I’m not going, I’m kinda bummed about all the exceptions to the deal (dates and resorts). We like to go early Dec but that would be ineligible for the free dining.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Im going in december 1st!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhh!!!!
This is amazing!! Our trip coincides with the right start date and the right hotel… I just need to do the math to see if it’s worth the cost of a 2-day ticket as we’ll be there with a cast member and weren’t going to have to pay for park admission. But we’ll be there during FAWF and are planning on several special events, so we weren’t going to do a meal plan at all… 9 days of mostly-free non-festival eating might very well make the 2-day pass worth it.
Thanks so much for the heads up on this!
Here’s hoping they do something for free dining in January!
We are also DVC members, staying at Old Key West in Oct., and want to know if this applies to us too!
Hooray, Dana!
Jessica,
You can modify your existing reservation to include free dining by calling WDW or your travel agent.
Maureen and Lori,
Disney Vacation Club Members staying on DVC points are not eligible for free dining.
Samantha – Canadian visitors are eligible for the offer. Don’t forget to check Disney’s Canadian site as well. Sometimes the offers are even better for international guests visiting WDW!
Lindsay – Disney Parks Blog does state a 6 night minimum. Other travel agent sites are stating 3 nights. If anyone finds out more info, please let us know! Thanks!!
Rob – Thanks for the heads up. “For free” has become widely accepted in the English language. 🙂
Paul – And DVC members. Just remember that your annual pass adds up to great savings! Instead of booking a package, I’ve always found much better deals by booking my room separately with an AP or room only discount. 🙂
Adam – Good point. Guests checking in on Dec. 22 would be eligible for the free dining package up to 14 nights. Last year, the dining offer extended to check ins up to December 13th.
Herney – Yikes. Sorry the dates do not apply to your vacation.
Mardie – You are welcome. Yes; it’s always a good idea to do some math!
Rob – Fingers crossed!!
I just got off the phone with Disney to talk about reservations, and per the cast member I spoke with it is only a 3 night minimum even though it does say 6 night on their website. For annual passholders, the money that you have to pay to “buy” the base tickets, you can put that towards renewing your annual pass which I thought was pretty neat.
Trish – Awesome. It’s so nice of you to share that info with us!!
Sorry wrote that on he iPad. Anyone know why they are excluding a week in October? We are going the 4th thru the 13th.
Oh, I so wish I was going this year *sniff, sniff*.
Essie – It’s never too early to start planning your next Disney trip!! 😉
I’m sorry if this is a total newb question but does Disney offer the free dining deals every year? I can’t afford a trip on this short notice but next year is a definite possibility. But only if I can snag a free dining deal or some other significant discount. Dying for a Disney Trip!!
I have an existing booking for 29 Sept. I just gave them a call and they added it to my reservation without any issues. Should also note I was booking from Australia and that was fine, this one is worldwide apparently.
Jamie – It’s likely that the October timeframe has been excluded due to the Tower of Terror 10 Miler event (weekend of Oct. 5th) as well as the Columbus day holiday weekend.
Kat – Discounts are difficult to predict. Free Dining (for select weeks) has been offered for the last few years.
Bel – Thanks for sharing your booking experience!
So that I understand correctly, we are currently arriving on November 10 and staying throught the 16, which coincides wih the above dates. However, ARRIVING is emphasized. Would we not be eligible because we come a day earlier? Thanks for a reply.
We have already booked our room reservation through Expedia for our honeymoon October 27th through November 3rd. We have yet to purchase park tickets, and would love to be able to use this option to save. Noob question: Do I contact Disney, Expedia?
FYI, I spent 3 hours trying to get through to customer service yesterday, then 75 minutes on the line with Disney Customer service trying to add this to our trip in November (already booked). She told me that every Value and Moderate resort was sold out for our dates, then told me that even if we could book the QS dining plan, no upgrades (to DDP) were available. My BIL called today, and was able to add the free dining to all 4 of our rooms, and add the upgrade for only the price difference – essentially doing everything I was unable to do. Very un-Disney-like, but I’m glad we got the deal!
I always feel so disappointed by this announcement because we are annual pass holders, do they ever offer this for pass holders? And if not, do they offer you the plan based on your hotel stay or the number of days on your park ticket?
David – You would not be eligible for the Free Dining based on Disney’s dates. One way to get around this is to book a room only reservation for the night of the 10th. Then a package for the 11th-16th. I would call and inquire!
Jillian – I believe that you will have to book your package directly through Disney in order to qualify for the Free Dining offer. It is my understanding that third party vendors can not apply the discount to your package. If possible, you may want to book a new package through Disney, then cancel your Expedia reservation. Anyone else have experience with this scenario?
Ms. Amy – Thanks for sharing your frustrating experience. It sounds like you may have encountered a Cast Member that had not been trained appropriately. Or perhaps the computer system was not cooperating. So glad it all worked out!
Karina – Annual Passholders are excluded from this offer because all of the components of the package are non-discounted. For many guests, an AP discount on a room (especially at deluxe resorts) provides a greater savings than Free Dining with rack rate room and tickets. The Free Dining is based on the number of nights of your package.
Kim – Thanks for the feedback.
I tried doing what you recommended, but the only room that was eligible for free dining holds 4 and we have 5 in our family.
I was notified Friday, and again this morning, that each resort has only a certain specified number of free dining offers. Apparently they had all been issued for the resort we are staying in. This is odd because I have seen this promotion on several websites and none mention a limit on free dining plans.
On Disneys website it says that a minimum of 6 nights is required, but you are saying only 3 nights are required. Which is correct and how can I confirm?
Melissa – It’s 3 nights. Disney’s site is incorrect. We have checked with several travel agents as well as via WDW reservations. You can confirm by calling 407-W-DISNEY. If you find out differently, please let us know!
David – Ugh. Are you staying at Port Orleans Riverside? Or in a suite at Art of Animation? I know the suites are excluded from most discounted offers. Yes, all of Disney’s offers have limited availability. I can tell you to keep trying as cancellations do happen. Did you ask about other resorts?
Kim – Thanks again!
This morning, we changed our reservation from Port Orleans Riverside to Carribean Beach Resort. The new resort only accommodates 4 per room, but my parents agreed to put one of the kids in their room to make it work. We got a room only for November 10 and free dining for Nov. 11-16. We lost a day in the park, but after a solid day of travel, it might be best to just relax at the resort and go to Downtown Disney that evening for dinner – well worth the discounted price. Best wishes to everyone trying to get in on this promotion!
David – Hooray! We always use our arrival day as a chance to unwind at our resort and/or Downtown Disney. Then we are refreshed for our first full day of park touring! Enjoy a great vacation!
We were at AAA today making our final payment when the travel agent informed us…we were refunded 772.62. It is all going back to Disney anyways…its a win-win
I see you mention something about tower of terror 10 miler, can you offer any more breaks nfor on that?
We will be in disney that week and I have researched everything I can but have not seen anything about that.
Thank you!
I’m trying to find any room at all for this deal in November (11th, 3 nights) and there are no rooms.
Nevermind, didn’t note it had to be 6 nights!
Darnell – Hooray!
Tina – Check again. Disney’s site says 6 nights but we’ve heard from travel agents, etc. that the minimum is actually 3 nights. Good luck!
Thank you Kim! The 3 night option will work out perfectly for my family!
David… Good for you! I don’t know if you have stayed at Carribbean Beach before, but my kids always loved it there…they updated the main pool two years ago…has a fun slide, and a nice little tiki type bar right by the main pool… Perfect for parents and kids to unwind in their own way. The food court has quite charm. I was also lucky enough to get free dining..what a deal! enjoy!!
Cinderdeb R – Congrats to you, too! Yes, we are excited about Carrribean Beach. Thanks for the kind remarks and for sharing your experience. We are 12.5 weeks out and the countdown has begun! My wife and I are most excited about the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. We also have tickets to Mickey’s Verry Merry Christmas Party. Additionally, we are celebrating my daughter’s 6th birthday, and I have lined up a surprise tea party at the Grand Floridian Resort for my wife, mother, daughters, and niece. For my wife and me, this will be our first visit since we were kids.
David- Wow, your first trip since kids! You will be amazed! We purposely time our visit for the food and wine festival, remember to use your dining plans snacks for the most expensive items at the food booths (there is a $7.50 lobster roll which is delicious back by America that is included!). Also, the “Eat to the Beat” concerts are awesome, and included. I use the website allearsnet.com….it actually contains more info than Disneys itself. Also, animal kingdom has a show “The Lion King”, gives you goosebumps and better than broadway! My boys are 12 and 16 and still love it. Sorry…I could go on and on! Enjoy!
So why are the oct 3 thru the 17th date excluded from this offer? We arrive on the 15th an leave on the 22nd. Will we ba able to get the free dining for the cross over days?
We already have reservations WITH dining plan for Oct. 19-26 at Port Orleans Riverside paid in full. I have received multiple pin #s for discounted rates but my AAA agent tells me that the alloted rooms are already taken, should I expect to be told the same about this deal?