The Free Dining Offer has been a staple offering from Disney World fairly regularly since it first debuted in 2005.
Magic Kingdom
With the complex situation that is the current global health crisis (including the suspension of the Disney Dining Plan), we’re wondering if there will be a Free Dining deal at ALL in 2021? Let’s break down what could happen.
What is Free Dining?
The Disney World Free Dining Offer is a special offer that Disney typically releases each year, often during times that crowds are expected to be lower. Free Dining grants guests free Disney Dining Plans when they book a Disney Resort hotel stay and Disney theme park tickets. This means free meals and snacks per guest for the length of their stay. Typically, it’s a very exciting deal that some guests even plan their vacations around. After all, going to Disney World and not paying for most of your food costs can seem quite tempting!
Riviera Resort
In the past, guests have needed to book a minimum stay in a Disney resort (in recent offers, the minimum has been three nights). Guests must also purchase at least a 2-day Magic Your Way Disney World ticket with Park Hopper. So basically, you need to plan to book a full vacation with Disney. No picking and choosing here.
Polynesian Village Resort
Normally, if you stay at a Value or Moderate Resort, you’ll receive the Quick Service Dining Plan for FREE, meaning you’ll get two fast-food type meals and two snacks per night per person. If you reserve a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you will receive the Standard Dining Plan for FREE. This grants each guest a fast food meal, two snacks, and a sit-down meal of their choice per day. All of the Dining Plans come with a complimentary refillable resort mug per guest for non-alcoholic beverages the length of their stay as well.
Refillable Mugs
Usually, we see the offer one to two times each year. In the past, Free Dining has been offered during late Summer and early Fall, as well as during mid-Winter after the holidays have wrapped up.
Dole Whip
In 2019 (We’re looking at 2019 since 2020 was so irregular.), Free Dining was offered two times, once for dates July 5 – September 30, 2019 (bookable January through February), and once for dates September 1 through September 18, 2019, November 17 through November 27, 2019, and December 8 through December 23, 2019 (bookable July through September).
Corn Dog Nuggets
We’re now midway through January and have yet to see a Free Dining offer or even the return of the Disney Dining Plan.
Click here to learn more about the suspension of the Disney Dining Plan!
What needs to happen for Free Dining to return?
Well, first of all, the functionality of the Disney Dining Plan needs to return. Can’t have FREE Dining Plans if there’s no Dining Plan to give away in the first place, right? This offering has been unavailable since the reopening of Disney World last July. We have seen tiny glimmers of the Dining Plan still around Disney World though.
Via Napoli
Since Disney World reopened, we’ve noticed the Disney Dining Plan symbol pop up on festival menus at EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, and EPCOT Festival of the Arts. So, they appear to be somewhat prepared for if/when they decide to bring back the Dining Plan. Still, there has been no word of its return.
Deconstructed Dish Menu
Disney could be waiting to confirm once availability for their restaurants has increased or waiting until restaurant closures and limited capacity are no longer heavily affecting dining. Disney will need to reopen enough locations and increase capacity that the full value of the Dining Plans is achievable. At this time, the restaurants continue to operate at a limited capacity although Disney has not released the exact numbers. If Disney offered a Free Dining Plan to guests again, they’d need to be sure they could pay out on the promise of guests having fair access to enough dining options to make the plans worthwhile for guests
Liberty Tree Tavern Spread
They also may need to adjust the way that the Dining Plan is sold to account for the lower capacities and still-closed locations across Disney World restaurants. This could come in the form of modifications to the plans themselves, fewer plans being sold, and even price changes.
The Crystal Palace Reopening
Now, we should note that the full spectrum of the Dining Plan does not NECESSARILY need to return for Free Dining to be offered again. It’s not completely implausible that Free Dining could be offered as the ONLY application of the Dining Plan (meaning you couldn’t choose to buy it for your trip — you could only book a Free Dining offer) as a draw for guests, but more on that in a sec.
Want to learn more about the limited Annual Pass sales? Click here!
What reasons does Disney have to bring back the Free Dining offer?
We’ve discussed before the far-reaching consequences of the global health crisis. As the country falls into a recession and consumers’ desire to travel is low due to health concerns, Disney World has and will continue to be affected.
Magic Kingdom
After similar situations in the past such as the 2008 recession and the low travel levels following 9/11, Disney ramped up special offers to bring in guests during the multi-year low demand periods — especially in the year immediately following the given crisis.
Spaceship Earth
At this time, demand tends to be low. With the parks at 35% capacity, Disney is rarely booking all four parks up on any given day outside of holiday periods.
Low Crowds in Animal Kingdom
Free Dining, as we mentioned, is a very popular deal and could easily act as a catalyst for bringing in guests if Disney chose to offer it. We’ve already seen some pretty aggressive offers for Florida Residents and with hotel savings. If Disney continues to see a need to draw in guests, Free Dining is a tool in Disney’s toolbox that we could see them use to encourage demand.
To learn more about how the global situation is affecting Disney, click here!
So, will there be Free Dining in 2021?
The long and short of it is that we’re not ruling it out, but it’s still too soon to say for sure. Even though things are far from back to normal in Disney World, it’s possible that offerings will start to return as soon as global conditions show significant improvement. We’ve already seen one big return this year — Park Hopping is back (albeit slightly modified)! If Disney decides that Free Dining is the appropriate move to draw guests in again or if the Disney Dining Plan returns (or both), we might have a Free Dining offer this year.
Mickey Mouse
We’ll be keeping a close eye to see if signs point to this happening. Indicators could include increases in restaurant capacity, more restaurants reopening, the return of more character dining, or the appearance of other MAJOR discounts and incentives that show that Disney is ready to turn on the works when it comes to bringing in guests.
Chefs de France dining room tables
As for WHEN Free Dining could return is largely dependant on the crowds. If conditions improve by summer, guests may return in larger numbers, meaning Free Dining isn’t needed to boost interest until fall or winter, when we’ve often seen it in the past. BUT, if summer rolls around and people just aren’t visiting in the numbers Disney expects, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. We’ll keep you updated on all of these indicators and more! Stay tuned to DFB to keep up with all the news about Free Dining and the DDP.
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I am a pass holder so I’ve never don free dining as room discounts are better especially since I don’t need the 2 day ticket. However, if in my rom we have 4 guests two pass holders and 2 non pass holders, can I book a 4 night stay, for example, and transfer the two 2 day tickets from the pass holders to the other 2 guests so they each have two 2 day tickets for 4 entries each?
I am going to WDW on June ,all being well,I have had cancellations twice before.
I’d like to know if you think the Disney Dining plan, will return,not free, but payable.
I just want a dining plan. Never had free because it’s never the times I want to go. But better safe than sorry! There is always food. Bring back shows and I’ll be happier.
I try and book my vacations around the Free Dining Plan, I am willing to pay the dining plan as well. But without either. The cost of a week long WDW vacation and a stay at a WDW Hotel is just too expensive.
For just my wife and I staying at Animal Kingdom Kadani Village (sp) the week long trip woth air fare from Seattle is about 9K. THats alot of money for a weeks vacation to WDW.
Add the fact that Disney has cut several other benifits to staying on property and We may never return. Just the Magical Express alone will add another 200 to 300 dollars to the trip.
IF disney wants to bring guest back to teh parks they are going about it the wrong way. Cutting services and programs is going to drive people away not bring them in.
Few people knew about the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdon game. Yet there are at least 6 Facebook pages dedicated to the game and card trading on ebay is huge. But alas once again Disney cut the program bringing it to an end forever.
Someone need to explain to whomever is making these choices that they are not taking positive steps.
One last point on this post. All of the new construction is behind. WHY ?, with reduced hours and smaller crowds, one would thing that they could kick construction into high gear and get all those 50th attractions completed. the 50th is one of the reasons we choose to return again this year around Chrictmas. Again, that is only a possibility Our group planned to traved in mid December the group would have been almost 20 people of which only 4 had even been to WDW before. As we tell them about all the programs that have been cancelled we are down to 8 and that is not set in stone.
Answer needed was one of two words: yes or no
No reason for 4000 372 million paragraphs to say yes or no
No moderation forthcoming. What the hell are you people so afraid of? Words?
Marlene, once again I just hadn’t gotten to your comment yet. It’s been approved.
Dear Disney, Why start off with FREE DISNEY DINING ? Why not just put the offer up that the DINING PLAN is available to anyone who wishes it. THEN see what kind of crowds you bring in with just this offer! I know the FREE DINING is a fabulous offer and not one to ignore but it is not one to open up with either. You want to tease your customers as you lure them back! If you can’t do a FREE DISNEY DINING then maybe a large percentage off the higher you go in the plans. I personally am just looking forwarded to the DISNEY DINING PLANS coming back so I don’t have to worry about my meals. I like the ideas of having my meals paid for upfront and just need to worry about the tips. So hoping this makes sense to everyone. If not to you Disney, you know how to get in touch with me. See you in late September 2021!!! 242 days till we come home!!
To be honest I wouldn’t be sorry if it never came back. I think the quality went down when they introduced this. I never eat that much as is provided on the plan and being DVC it’s never been free. Actually it’s never free! For me it’s better to just pay as I go, with discounted gift cards. But to each his own
My husband and I would like to see it come back period. We would be willing to pay for it. We’ve had a few times when we have been able to get the free dining and it was a wonderful perk but I don’t mind paying for it either. For us, having a dining plan gives us more options than if we try to go without one. I like having it all paid for prior to arriving and just being able to eat what and when we want.
I’m making my 24th trip to Disney World in May/June. I would love to see the Dining Plan return. We have utilized this plan almost 1/2 of the times we have been there. We love the convenience — it puts a little more magic in the vacation (even if you have to pay for it!) Note: I know Walt smiles when I’m there because I can feel it — talk about magic !!!!!
Free Dining is a large reason why we go in the fall during Food & Wine Festival as well as love seeing all the shows. Bring these back and we will book a date for our vacation this fall. I hate the thought of going somewhere else but its not out of the question. Ball is in their court.
I loved the convince of the dining plan, and would happily pay for the deluxe plan again. I’ve never gotten the free plan.
I believe your info is incorrect (per previous years):
Guests who stay at a Value Resort or Moderate would get the Quick-Service Dining Plan for free
Guests who stay at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa resort would get the regular Disney Dining Plan for free.
Brian, thank you. Of course, you are correct. Shared this with the editors, and they’ll correct it.
Hi there, wondering where if anywhere I can find dates on the DFB articles. I know probably some of the issue is that you all are keeping up to date with changes by possibly editing articles, but it would be really helpful to know when each article was originally published and also if/when it’s edited. Am I just totally missing where it’s listed? Thanks!
Hi, Andrea. The dates are in the URLs.