Free Dining announced and we missed it again BUT with your help we got it!!!

I know! I just saw it online! I wish we could go!!!!

I always leave my day fluid until they announce the days then I plan the rest.
That is the time frame I usually go because of the weather and the free plan. I can't go this year because I just got back. but they excluded POFQ this year so that would have really screwed up all my plans.
Oh well. Glad I went when I did.

I just left a message with my AAA agent. Hopefully she'll be able to get a discount for me.

DFB just posted the Free Dining Information as well.
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/08/01/news-disney-world-free-dining-now-available-for-october-november-december-2013-dates/

For those who hope to book - be sure to act fast because the reservations are only open until September 15th!

Does anyone know if they usually offer any dates in January?

Your dates coincide with "Jersey Week". I have never seen free dining offered during this time period. Also, no free dining in early October due to Columbus Day(before and after) crowds.

"Jersey Week" haha. Being originally from Jersey I remember those weeks very well!

Totally sucks that they excluded POFQ. Seems wrong!

We check in the 8th on November
Does anyone know if it's possible to get the free dining if we were to say, check in at All Star Movies the 8th as planned, check out on the 11th and then check in at Pop century?

You can't move to the 2nd Troy?

Troy free dining would apply for your entire trip so if you could move your trip one day you would qualify.

Has everyone evaluated if free dining is actually worth it? Last couple of trips, we've taken the resort discount instead and it works out better for us. Mind you, this is just for the two of us.

Edit... Sorry, double post.

So frustrating! We are going from Nov. 8-13. Of course.

We arrive on the 8th as well

Yay!

The room discount also saves us more then the free dinning to Ken.

Yes, we used to get the dining plan because we thought we just had to. But when we sat down an looked at everything, it turned out to be not worth it in our case. In order for free dining to be worth it, you need to actually eat all items included in every meal whether you want to or not. If you don't eat dessert (like me), then you're already not getting the value from it.

Plus, I always ended up with snack credits towards the end of the week trying to figure out how to use them. If you don't use them all, the value is not there.

And the best part of not doing dining is that you can skip the "free dining speech" from the server at each restaurant. This is included, but that is not etc. "Well, it comes with dessert so you might as well get it" - then its still on the plate as we leave.

This way, I just order exactly what I want from the menu as I would in the "real world". Two appetizers and no dessert? No problem.

I can't even imagine doing the deluxe dining package with 3 full sit down meals a day. WAY too much food! And again, you have to eat it ALL for it to be worthwhile.

Now, as soon as you introduce kids into the equation, it may be different of course.

We have done the deluxe meal plan, but we did 2 meals a day, 1 regular sit down for breakfast or lunch and then a signature diner some where that cost 2 credits each. Since we have TIW now it's nicer to just order what you want and be done with it.

Wow, I didn't know what TIW was and just looked it up. It looks VERY interesting. So many participating restaurants and alcohol is included in the discount (I enjoy a drink with my meals).

We're thinking of buying DVC (been to WDW 5 times in 3 years now) so the TIW might be also worth looking into!

Frustrating indeed! In October I check in on 3 Oct. Considered doing what Troy is doing but I booked through the irundisney number, so I don't think I'm eligible anyway....

I have been told that if you book your next trip while you are doing your current free dining trip, that you automatically get free dining the next trip whether its offered or not. I'm not sure how true this is.

That's so cool, Troy, that you were able to move it a day earlier!!

So, you're not even going to check in on the 2nd, just pay for the room that night in order to get the free dining plan?

Never heard that one before Mandy.

Pretty sure that previous free dining "bounce back" offers, have called out specific dates.

My agent called me on Thursday after I posted this and told me she was on hold for 3 1/2 hours and when she finally got through the computer systems were down. I just got home from PA tonight and had a message from her late Thursday afternoon. She was able to get it for me. It was a good savings.

If they are two separate reservations, that should work. Last year I went down on Thursday and had a room only reservation for that night. My package started on Friday and I was able to get free dining.