September 2016 Free Dining Deals?

by Kelly
(Pgh, PA)

When will the September 2016 FREE Dining deals be made public?

Lunch at Be Our Guest

A great Free Dining Lunch from Be Our Guest - Photo by Judd Helms

Dad's it's not a done deal answer

Kelly,

That is the question on everyone's mind. Is Free Dining coming back this year, and if so, when will it start?

UPDATE: Check out the latest update - Free Dining Update

Dad's going to give it a whirl.

First, will there be Free Dining for 2016? The answer is...

Yep, there will. My Dad, you sound awful confident, aren't you the Free Dining is dead guy?

That was the old Dad. I'm an all new man when it comes to Free Dining at WDW. Yes, a long time ago (no jokes about galaxies), I incorrectly declared, over and over, if I remember right, that Free Dining Dead. It was a sad time.

(I still think that the only reason Disney kept it around was to make me look bad.)

Join Dad's Free Dining Waitlist

For the last few years, I have been on the Free Dining bandwagon, and boy am I still on that puppy. Here's why I think that Free Dining is alive and well.

Disney is in a pinch. They need money. That's pretty incredible to say for a 10 hundred billion dollar company, but it's true. Why do you think they've had all the layoffs and they just raised prices on everything under the sun? (I think there might be a Dad's rant coming on this topic soon.)

Also, the Disney Parks are on a hot streak at setting attendance records. The Disney brass is under pressure to keep that streak going.

So how is the best way to boost attendance and revenue? Any marketing genius will tell you it's Free Dining.

Free Dining is the most successful promotion that Disney has ever invented. It's not going away any time soon. Trust me.

Join Dad's Free Dining Waitlist

So when will the September 2016 Free Dining Deals be announced? Don't you like it how I bury your question 450 words into the article?

The Free Dining Deals for 2016 will be announced on...

OK, this is BIG! Dad is actually going to put a date to the Free Dining promotion. I will almost guarantee you that even if Disney has this planned (and my bet is that they do), they will change it just so they can say I was wrong. It's happened before.

So the Free Dining Deals for 2016 will be announced on April 25. Probably to Disney Visa Card holders to avoid last year's debacle. The public version will come on Thursday the 28th.

Join Dad's Free Dining Waitlist

I have no inside knowledge. I'm just offering an educated guess. There haven't been any rumors yet about Free Dining this year. But that won't deter me. Those are my predictions and I'm sticking to them until proven wrong. Again.

And there is a small chance the Disney will finally do what Bob Iger said 5 years ago and kill off Free Dining. But I'm not betting on it. So I guess it's not a total done deal...

I do highly suggest that you get on our Free Dining Waiting List. We'll get you all set up and ready to go for the big day and our partners at Destinations to Travel will get your reservation made for you and you won't have to do a thing. How cool is that?

Just click this button...

Join Dad's Free Dining Waitlist

Dad's Bottom Line

Kelly, Free Dining is coming in 2016. Trust me! My best guess is it will come out in late April But these days you never know.

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Comments for September 2016 Free Dining Deals?

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Apr 26, 2016

Free Dining
by: Anonymous

My family plans on going to Disney 11/5/16-11/12/16. Is there a chance they will add any dates to the free dining?

Dad Answers

Sorry, but no, it's not likely at all. Your best bet is the Room Only deal.

Apr 13, 2016

Thanks
by: Dee

Thanks Dad keep up the good work and I hope they never stop free dining or I can't afford to go to Disney any more. Again thanks for all your hard work to inform us Disney lovers.

Apr 03, 2016

Free dining
by: Anonymous

I look at it this way MR. Anonymous, if you don't like what you are reading then don't read it! I myself appreciate and follow the posts by Dads Guide to WDW. Obviously you do too or you wouldn't have quoted his exact words from last year....It isn't his fault that things don't always go as planned.

You have yourself a magical day 😄☺

Apr 03, 2016

Pathetic reach for an audience
by: Anonymous

Didn't you just say this last year..."I am really ashamed that I ever mentioned this Free Dining promotion. I don't know if I'll ever do it again. In fact, I just pulled the ad that I was running for Free Dining. I will not be promoting it any more. I've said for years that Free Dining is Dead. Maybe I couldn't kill it, but you might have."

What a difference a year makes huh? Your written word is as good as your rumors I guess.

Dad Answers

This post is an answer to a question. It doesn't promote any rumors and specifically says, there aren't any rumors out there.

Last year, I started a Free Dining Waiting List in mid-March. Not so this year. This is the only mention of Free Dining I've made on the website this year so far.

I still hope Disney kills it, I think it's time to move away from it and I'm nervous about what will happen if they offer it again this year.

Apr 02, 2016

Free DIning
by: Ly

Disney only releases a certain number of rooms with the promotion. To promise to everyone that their booking can be adjusted is irresponsible.

Dad's answer

Ly, I don't think I promised everyone they would get Free Dining. You are correct. That would be irresponsible. I said, "Destinations to Travel will get your reservation made for you".

Mar 31, 2016

My guess
by: Anonymous

I am thinking the 18th of April or the 22nd.

Mar 29, 2016

Book now or have to wait?
by: Anonymous

If we plan/book a trip now with Destinations to Travel, and the free dining option does get offered in the next few weeks and applies for the time we're traveling, are they able to adjust our reservation to include that? Or cancel and rebook to take advantage?

Dad answers

Book now and Destinations to Travel will take care of everything. Reservations can be changed, dates can be changed, new discounts can be applied all of that is part of the service. It's not a problem.

Mar 22, 2016

Debacle
by: Anonymous

You do realize it's stories like this that CAUSE the debacles, right?

Dad's Answer

Not at all. My stories didn't cause Disney's computer failures. It wasn't what caused Disney Phone's to be undermanned. It didn't cause Disney to not phase in the discount by offering it to Disney Visa Card holders first. It didn't cause the problems with the Disney Travel Agent portal.

I wish I had that much traffic, but honestly, if my little bit of traffic can take down Disney then they really need some upgrades.

Mar 08, 2016

Free dining is it best
by: Lindsay

Can not wait for it to be released. Went through Halloween last year and November the year before with free dining. Looking for December this year. So excited, can hardly wait!!!! Saves our Family a bit over $1000.00. ☺

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