Free Dining in August of 2012

by Vanessa H
(San Antonio, TX)

Does Disney World offer the Free Dining Plan promotion at specific times of the year or is it offered at random. I am wondering what the odds are of getting this promotion with our 8/17/12 to 8/24/12 trip.
Pinocchio Village Haus should be part of any Free Dining in August of 2012
Photo by Don Sullivan

Dad's it's patience, patience Answer

Vanessa,

Free Dining is the most popular discount that has been offered over the past few years at Walt Disney World. But it can be a little tricky. It is always offered for very specific dates, and only a limited number of packages are available whether it's an advertised offer or a special "pinned" invitation-only offer. It is very important not to miss the window of opportunity to book these offers once they are announced.

Now, Free Dining dates through fall 2012 have been revealed for Canadian guests, so we can reasonably assume that some sort of Free Dining package will continue to be offered in the States, even though at this point we've only been offered Free Dining through March 29.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that this will be the case, and even if dates are announced, they may be different than the ones offered in Canada, and they likely won't be announced until the late spring.

Free Dining is tricky, even for an expert like Dad. I feel fairly confident saying that it will stick around for the next year or so, but Dad's been wrong before.

I'd suggest you go ahead and book your trip now even though you don't know about the discounts in August. It's not a big deal, but if you use a good Travel Agent (Dad prefers Pixie and Pirate Destinations), they will monitor your reservation and let you know if any discounts become available.

Pixie and Pirate Destinations will also help you with all of your park planning. They have dedicated Disney Vacation Planners that are ready to answer any question.

Dad's Pixie and Pirate Destinations Page

It's worth noting that Dad isn't a fan of the Disney Dining Plan except when it's free. When it's free, it's a good deal, but sometimes there is an even better deal to be had. Depending on which resort you choose, you may find that Disney offers a discount on your room, which could save you even more than Free Dining would. Currently, there are no such offers for your time frame, but that doesn’t mean there won't be.

Dad’s Bottom Line

Vanessa, Free Dining is a great offer for many families visiting Walt Disney World. In your case it may require a little patience to work in to your trip plan (if it’s offered at all for your travel dates), but it’s possible!