Great news! Walt Disney World’s Free Dining Offer will be offered for select dates in September, October, November, and December 2014!
As happens most every year, the offer is currently available only to Disney’s Visa Cardholders, BUT… the offer should be available to the general public on May 7, so get your booking details ready to go!
Travel Dates
Free Dining is being offered to guests ARRIVING during the dates listed below. A minimum stay of 3 nights is required and may not be booked for longer than 14 nights.
August 31 – October 3, 2014
October 26 – November 1, 2014
November 9 – 20, 2014
December 12 – 23, 2014
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: Fort Wilderness campsites, 3-bedroom Disney Vacation Club villas, Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation Resort, all Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, All-Star Movies rooms, and rooms at Port Orleans Resort Riverside and French Quarter 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.
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 fully updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2014 e-Book to help you save the most money possible.
Along with over 450 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 “2014” to get $4 off today!
What do you think about Free Dining? Share 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 have to agree with Keith also… Yes our all time favorite resort is Port Orleans Riverside too… But to take advantage of this we are going to try a new resort. Who knows, we may like that one just the same. It’s very generous that Disney offers this. DVC members already receive a pretty good discount 365 days out of the year… why not spread the wealth around a little. Yes, I understand that DVC members fork out X amount of dollars a year to be that privelaged. BUT you stay at a VERY nice resort and you took the choice to joing their timeshare. We are cardholders and I love advance reservation opportunities… That’s a perk of the card!
As I read all of these comments…I usually am not one to complain, but…I too am a DVC member and we are bringing friends this year for their first trip ever to Disney. SO because we are staying in a 3 bedroom villa, and are DVC members no one can take advantage of these offers. It seems like once you buy into DVC and pay dues you are not valued anymore as a guest. I know that they offer some benefits, but really none that truly effect and help families that are “average”. I was told of the benefits that DVC offers…a members only cruise that would cost “our crew” over $1000 to do…really?! I do feel it is time that Disney starts to reward people that come every year, pay dues every month and support their business!!
I agree Andrew Z. People are complaining and it’s extreme entitlement at work. Disney is a business, these promos are ONLY offered to fill rooms. They exclude rooms that they have no problems filling. Simple. Not discriminatory. Free dining is a great deal for many and hasn’t been around forever. I’m DVC and I’m never been able to take advantage. I booked a trip this year in hopes of taking advantage of free dining should it be offered and we were booking on cash and not points. We went w/ points. Oh well. They don’t need to offer deals to AP holders. they already have your business. Sounds crude, but that’s the fact. Disney doesn’t owe it to any of us to make it possible to go. We’re all lucky that the parks are still doing well financially and we are still all able to go.
@Elle – Do you think you would spend more than $300 on dining? Take a look at the menus at WCC and MM and determine about how much $$ you think you’d spend at those restaurants.
If you take a look at your meals and it seems like you would spend more than $300 on dining, then free dining probably makes sense.
Ok people need to stop complaing to poor AJ .. she doesnt control what goes on just reports it.. the reason they choose those days and exclude certain resorts and rooms is to fill places and times that have less volume.. its all a numbers game.
Totally agree. Why is everyone complaining? It’s not like they HAVE to give anything free, and dining is a BIG money saver.
This is the first time in SEVERAL years that free dining is not offered when I go in October. I usually arrive around the 20th. I plan my trip for fall break because of free dining
I hope they add my dates later 🙁
I have to agree with those who say Disney doesn’t owe it to anyone to provide free dining. I understand that DVC members have seen their benefits decline over the years, but they do disclose that benefits are subject to change when you buy. AP members receive the benefit of being able to go to the parks most days of the year; you can end up paying less than the cost of a burger meal for admission if you go often.
We usually go the week following Thanksgiving and I see that is not included. We will need to bump our trip one way or the other to catch free dining. Last year we had to stay at other than our usual resort to get it, but it wasn’t really a problem and gave us a chance to experience new theming, pools, etc. I think that we should all keep an eye on our email though, because I did once receive a free dining pin code for what was a blacked out week in the free DP public offer. As with any business, its all about filling those rooms and moving those dollars.
Thank you for posting this! My wife found it and I was able to change our reservations this morning. We now have a free meal plan for our 4 night stay at the Contemporary this November. Saved us 324 dollars. Thank you and God Bless!
New Visa cardholder here. Is all I need the card number to modify my reservation? I didn’t get an email from visa, I don’t see anything on visas site or Disneys so I can’t find any instructions to use this offer. This is the first place I’ve seen it.
For all those stating Disney owes DVD members nothing, how about you pay 17,000 for nothing and see how you like it. WE DESERVE SOME PERK FOR BUYING IN. WHY SHOULD YOU BE GIVEN FREE DINING FOR JUST COMING TO DISNEY WHEN WE PAID A HIGH PREMIUM AND CONTINUE TO PAY ANNUAL DUES TO BE A DVD MEMBER I GUESS WE PAY FOR YOUR FREE DINING MS SHAME ON YOU DISNEY!
So DVC members can get a free dining plan if staying in a 2-bedroom villa during those dates?
We stayed at Port Orleans-French Quarter in November and they were not included in the Free Dining. Even if we changed the dates, this resort was not included. We had a great time anyway and it was worth every penny! Memories are priceless.
Im excited theyre going to be offering this deal again, I want to book my room through Davids DVC Rental, is anyone familiar with doing this? Does doing this affect me getting the dining plan at all? It says they still book all their reservations through Disney Central Reservations so I don’t see a problem…but I could be off.
I also got a double whammy. Arriving on Nov. 2nd and staying at Port Orleans Riverside. Was really hoping for free dining. Any idea why they don’t offer the first week of November? Of course I can’t change my trip. Do they offer another deal (such as a room discount) on the weeks we can’t get free dining?
We o to Disney every year and because we live in Canada we cannot get visa Disney so .Disney what’s up with that???????
I am a California cast member coming to the resort as a DVC member. My arrival dates and resort location are valid during the dates being offered for the free dining. Does anyone know if the are going to claim me ineligible because I am a cast member or a DVC member? I have guests coming with me who are neither and I believe we should be included in this offer.
Also Id.like to know the perks and discounts non DVC members speak of that we get??!! What we do get are annual dues and for some a monthly payment much like a car payment oh and anywhere.from $17,000 on up so please she’d some light onto what we get??? Other than. From what I see paying.for your free dining and discounted park.passes.greed you say no I think all of us are pretty generous, so many “perks” were taken away which in turn gave us payments annually and.nothing.more then a DVC TITLE SO.PLEASE know THE FACTS BEfore YOU STATE that we get perks.
Was so excited to see this posted last night. We have a trip planned for this fall and our dates fell within the offer. Called last night and had the free dining applied to our trip, saved us $1,000 for our family of 4!!
Disney is holding their wine and dine event during November and there is a run disney event weekend the 8th, 9th and 10th. They know how many people will be coming for the runs, so why offer free dining as well? Not a smart business move.
I’m not sure why people are saying that the Port Orleans and Floridian are not included. I am a visa card holder and got the invite in my email yesterday. The only exclusion was a three-bedroom villa. However, my email also says we must stay six night,seven days.
@Katie–This only available if you are paying rack rates and staying 3+ nights with 2+ days of MYW tickets…not for booking a room on DVC points.
I see that some people are very upset that they bought DVC or an AP and aren’t getting free dining. I”m sorry. Please don’t shout at me or the others who are here to talk about dining. I didn’t set the terms of your contract, I didn’t read it, and I didn’t sign it. You can sell your points or decline to renew your AP if you don’t feel you are getting good value.
The purpose of free dining is to fill rooms that otherwise might be empty. That is why it is only available at select resorts and during limited times. It is an inducement to those who would otherwise not spend to go to Disney, or who would take a shorter trip. It’s the same as having a sale at a store. Disney is a business, no matter how much pixie dust they throw around. If the free dining promotion didn’t bring in additional bodies, they wouldn’t offer it. If enough DVC members sell their stakes, or enough AP holders refuse to renew–and convey to Disney that it is because of the erosion of benefits–then you might see a change. But so long as they can sell those timeshares and passes at the current terms, they will do so.
Again, sorry to those who are so angry with Disney, but some of us are happy to see an offer that lets us save a bit.
My issue is that my family is a family of 5. The most economical Disney property for 5 is Port Orleans Riverside, which is excluded. It is another example of how WDW caters little to families that are larger than 4. I know of another family of 5 who was counting on the free dining, but due to restrictions will not be able to afford the Disney vacation. Very disappointing. Anyone have any suggestions?
I am wondering we are checking in Dec 5 and checking out Dec 13 would we be allowed to get the free dining being it falls in the Dec 12-23 time frame?
@Ashley (and anyone else who’s confused) – I called Disney the other day to add the free dining to my res and was informed that neither of the Port Orleans resorts are included. I was confused at first as well because it doesn’t say that anywhere in the email, but the info AJ posted about the excluded resorts is dead on. I was pretty bummed about it because we have no plans of changing our resort, so now I’m holding out hope for some kind of room discount! Hopefully they’ll be back on the list eventually (especially if people start switching resorts just to get the dining!)
On that note, if anyone is staying in PO and thinking about changing to another resort for dining, you have my full blessing! (Cus, you know, I’m not hoping they’ll change this rule if the resort suddenly empties out >_> purest intentions over here)
As an annual pass holder who lives outside FL but visits WDW four times a year, I can say with certainty that the savings in ticket costs with an annual pass *far* outweigh the savings with “free” dining on certain dates. The perk associated with having an annual pass is…having an annual pass!
Is this just for US guest bookings or including UK bookings too? As I rang last week to book with the intention of going in September and as they said they’re not releasing dining again for 2014 we’ve had to book for March 2015. If it is open to us we are not going to be happy!!
hey guys! quick question…how do i book this? i don’t even have a hotel reservation yet, but was planning my trip around this dates. And also, do you know if i book a hotel reservation and then decide not to travel does the cancellation have any cost? i’ve never stayed at a disney hotel! thanks a lot
@Natalie Fox – interested to know this too, as we have our booking dates all ready and flights booked and were just about to book this when saw free dining on the date we will be there released on 7th May. However, the 2 UK travel agents we used knew nothing about this. When you go to the disney site, it re-routes you to the UK travel site all the time.
I have contacted a US agent to see if they can book us with the offer and to give us a quote first thing tomorrow in the hope of obtaining it – all 2015 free dining dates released in UK and been told will be no more in UK this year.
@ Party of 5
We have 5 also, rent two value resort rooms and request the door in between! Our older boys love having the room to themselves. Also it’s the same per night as port Orleans for two value resort rooms. A big plus is having the two rooms means two bathrooms!! Hope this helps.
🙂
Very disappointed that Fort Wilderness is not included in the free Disney Dining Plan. Do the resort restrictions apply to the Visa cardholders, too?
Mandy – I’m having the same trouble – uk agents don’t seem to know anything and I keep getting redirected to the uk version of the website with no free dining! Argghhh has this been delayed or is uk not being offered this deal? Also does anyone think por will be offered shortly with a reduced room rate? – I want to go in november…
Marnia310…
Its not being offered to UK bookings, 2014 dining plan has finished. Only 2015 free quick service dining plan bookings available now.
BEWARE: Disney promo’s are numbers game, so be careful like going to a used car salesman. If your a party of 4 or more, then the food plan will work for you. On the other hand if your a party of 2 or a party of 4 with two rooms, not a greatly deal.
Basically, if you select the food plan than you lose your room discount and pay full price. You must compare the two prices and which works the best for your case. I have to say I’ve done it both ways. The food plan only works if you use it (all of it). It pays to do your homework first!
Well, its definite you can’t get it through UK agents as its not offered to us, as we have the free dining already for 2014. It didnt cover our dates though.
However, We can book through a Disney Agent in the US – BE AWARE though to do the Math, as they dont get the same deal on tickets that you do here in the UK, so if you are going for 14 days it may not work out any cheaper.
We have compared quotes. To buy the disney dining plan would cost a party of 5 £2,200. To go through US agent and get free dining, we only save £1,100, because the ticket prices are more expensive. We can buy a 10 day ticket as only going for 11 days, but if going for 14, you may find that cost of tickets through US agent outweighs the free dining.
Where can you book the 3 nights deal? Everything I am finding (including email from Disney visa) is saying 6 nights / 7 days. We’re doing a short trip and would like to consider free dining if it is available.
@Partyof5 – I too was disappointed to see POR as excluded since we are also a family of 5. Instead, I have booked two connecting rooms at one of the all star resorts and now we have quick service dining instead. My husband has a big birthday this year and I had hoped we were going to spend it at the California Grill. Nope. I am surprised though because we calculated the tips we won’t pay and the flexibility we’ll now have and I think Disney is going to make less from us this time. Here’s to hoping they’ll include POR next time!
@Susan- Not saying this a choice you’d want, but…
You can pay the difference between the regular dining plan and the quick service plan. You’d then be on the regular dining plan. You still get the $ amount of the quick service plan for free.
Is this something that happens every year?
We are planning a vacation for october 2015 and might think of holding my reservation till this offer comes up.
I just want to confirm this is something that regularly happens.
Is this something that happens every year?
We are planning a vacation for october 2015 and might think of holding my reservation till this offer comes up.
I just want to confirm this is something that regularly happens.
Forgot to ask if this is regularly only for Disney Visa cardholders, or if it opens to everybody like this year’s offer?