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Will We See a Free Disney Dining Package in 2015?

Raglan Road Downtown Disney

One of the most popular promotions that Disney releases every year is the free dining package. We all know that Disney loves to charge a lot for food because we’re a captive audience, if we get hungry we have no other places to go! Food can be one of the larger expenses of any vacation, especially at Disney which has people turning to find out ways to reduce its cost. I’ve outlined ways in the past on how to save money on food such as having breakfast in your room. The big question going around right now if you’re looking to plan a trip is if the free dining package will return in 2015. As of right now there has been no indication from Disney of any plan to release a free dining package so we’ll have to rely on history to make a prediction. Let’s take a look at the months in the previous few years that Disney has released the free dining packages, the are as follows:

  • August 2010
  • May 2011
  • August 2011
  • March 2012
  • July 2012
  • May 2013
  • August 2013
  • May 2014




Again those were the months/years that Disney announced the free dining packages, most times the dates were for the following season. As you can see from the dates there is a fairly clear pattern to when they’re released. For the past three years August has been the month of choice for free dining announcements which were for travel dates in the fall. The second most popular month for an announcement is in May for dates during the spring/summer. There is one outlier – March 2012 which is the only random date in the list. There are many factors that could change when the free dining packages are announced, Disney uses them as marketing tools to help fill rooms during slow periods – such as the fall which is why we see it during the fall most years. Based on the historical release dates for free dining we can make the guess that at the earliest we probably wouldn’t see a free dining announcement until May or August of 2015 for dates about a year from now, fall 2015. Tusker House Animal Kingdom If you are planning on a trip in 2015 before the summer I would guess that you won’t be seeing a free dining package released. If you’re thinking about fall 2015 your chances are higher of scoring a free dining package but that’s not guaranteed.


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Also just because free dining isn’t released that doesn’t mean that other promotions will be announced or you could be lucky have have a magical discount pin code show up at your door. To stay up to speed on Disney promotion releases sign up for the newsletter below, I’ll be sure to inform you of any discounts that announced!

68 comments… add one
  1. HI, we went to Disney in February both 2013 & 2014 and we got the free quick service meals for free with our package.

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    1. That awesome – did you get the offer in the mail or was it a publicly available offer

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  2. Hi, I just booked our next trip March 2015 last week and got the free dining plan again.

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    1. Did you have a special Disney PIN that gave you free dining? Or how did you get it?

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    2. Did you have a special Disney PIN? Or were they offering something?

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    3. What dates in march and did you use a code?

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    4. How did you get it? We are going in February 2015 and would really benefit from this!
      Thank you

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    5. how did you get it? I am scheduled for March 2015 and would love to get the plan free…

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    6. Can you please share the code that used for the free dining?

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      1. I will definitely share all of the information if and when it’s released.

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      2. PIN codes cannot be shared.

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    7. How did you get the free dining plan? I called Disney direct and they told me that they are not offering it. They also cut the AAA discounts and the no expiration tickets too.

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      1. When you call ask if there is a PIN on your account (If you have been to WDW before).

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  3. Hi, just a note !!! We have been going to Disney for several years since they started offering the free meal plan (and changed it ), but last year we could not stay at the resort we wanted, they put us in another resort and we were very disappointed !!! So this year we will not get the meal plan unless they offer it at the time we are going. (we have already made reservations). We don’t think it is fair (still paying for the trip) so we will pay a la carte for our meal, because the meal plan is too expensive !!!

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    1. That is a risk that you run – Disney opens up so many spots at each resort for the free dining plan. That’s why when it’s first announced I recommend everyone book then because availability at your choice of resort will be come limited.

      What resort were you trying for and where did they end up putting you?

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      1. Kevin, we always stay at Port of Orleans French Market or Riverside (French Market being our favorite, but had to stay at Coronado Springs. The room was void of décor, it was all the way in the back, so we had to take a bus even to get to the food court, which we didn’t care for. Unlike the food courts at Port of Orleans, this one was sparce, you had to sit down and someone came to serve you (so you were expected to tip). Overall an unhappy experience. By the way, we booked our trip the very First day the Free Meal Plan was announced.

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  4. If you book ahead of time, and then they come out with a free dining for the time your booked for, do you get it? Or do you have to re-book?

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    1. You will have to re-book using the promotion but it shouldn’t be an issue if you call up and ask to have it switched over.

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  5. This is so strange to me. We booked our Disney trip 2 days after the “free dining” was announced and we got Port Orleans Riverside. So it def was NOT excluded or full on the first day. Btw, we were there from nov 13-20, 2014

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    1. I went from 11/8/23-11/23/14 and we received the free dining the full trip. It was nice. Your first day of stay has to fall within the times they offer it. I am not sure if this is the reason why you did not get it. I hope this helps

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      1. We went the last week of January 2014 stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and got the free dining. We have gone end of January every year and had the free dining. Going in November this year so I will have to keep my eyes open.

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    2. The free dining plan was not offered for POR or POFQ due to the popularity of those resorts. To the person who was mad when they got to CSR because it was void of color…do your homework. Know what you are getting before you get there. For us to save $1600 for free dining we will stay at what ever moderate resort that it is available. Better then saving the $330 which would have been discount with the room discount.

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  6. For the people that announced they got a free dining plan – please let me know how you got it. Was it something you were randomly selected for or did you ask for it? Please let me know. We are going in Feb 2015 and would LOVE the free dining plan – even just the quick dining plan – we don’t need the elaborate one. Anything would be very helpful.
    Thank you!!!

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  7. I think the free dining for 2015 is via bounce back offers in the room while checking in this fall/winter and have to be booked before checkout.

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    1. Great to know – thanks!

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  8. I called WDW direct and they told me that there may be no free dining plans for 2015 and maybe no AAA discounts either. Disney raises their admission prices, but takes away the incentives.

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    1. It all depends on how busy the parks and hotels are to see if offers will be coming out. It booking are high then they have less reason to offer free dining and other discounts. We’ll see as we get into 2015 what offers they start offering up for us.

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    2. I really find that hard to believe that a Disney representative would say that there may be no free dining plans for 2015. I know people that work there and they would never say that for one thing they don’t even know yet and another thing they are trained very well of what to say and not to say. That wouldn’t be coming out this early.

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      1. Yes I don’t think that would be the case either. I’m sure they don’t know if one will be offered yet but I find it hard to believe that they would know right now that it won’t be offered.

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      2. Disney reps on the phone are always going to say that there may not be free dining or they will say they don’t know if/when it will happen for the time frame you’re asking. They aren’t allowed to, even if they do know.
        If you want free dining, the best bet is to look at the date trends and try to be flexible with changing the dates (i.e. book for 11/8-15 but if free dining starts 11/16 then be able to change your plans accordingly). As soon as you get the dates, call immediately to make your change. I’ve been told that if you have booked for dates that end up in the free dining schedule, you just need to call them and they will change your reservation to have the free dining and refund you (if you paid for dining already).

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  9. We are going to Disney on last week of this month (January) and it seems that Disney is not offering the free dining plans. Does anyone know if Disney is offering one?

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    1. No word as of now from Disney if it will be offered in 2015.

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  10. I am staying @ Shade of Green from 9/26/2015 – 10/3/2015. I have already reserved my room. How do I find out if a free dining plan will be offered?

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    1. Keep checking back here on Frugal Mouse, like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FrugalMouse and sign up for the newsletter. I’ll be sure to announce it when I hear word from Disney if it’s being offered.

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    2. Disney Dining Plan is only offered to people staying at a Disney Resort. Shades of Green is not considered a Disney Resort. Therefore you can’t purchase DDP or get it free.

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    3. I went the same dates you are going but in 2014 & we got the free dining. Hopefully you do to. It was a great time to go! It wasn’t very busy at all.

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  11. We were already booked for 2015 when I received an email from Chase with Disney promotions (I have the Disney Visa card). It had the free dining package that was expiring just after our trip began. I called up Disney and asked to have my existing reservation (which included a dining plan already) converted using the discount and they did it with no problem. Didn’t even change our reservation information or number!

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    1. Great to hear! They’ll usually always apply a new promotion to an existing booking if you call up to ask.

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    2. I also have the Disney Visa and book December 25th thru January 3rd do I need to call just need visa and let them know I put it on gift cards

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  12. We are planning a trip for Nov, considering either Board Inn or Riverside resorts. There is usually a dining plan for Nov. Am I better off calling Disney or booking online ?

    thanx

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    1. You can book your package now (online or phone) then upgrade or change later if free dining is offered later in the year.

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  13. well I have gotten the free meal plan for trips in oct and dec! but….last year when I sent my daughter and fiancé in jan of ’14…..there was no free dining plan! however! my reservation guy added it on FREE!!! I could not believe it! I thanked him profusely! so ya never know! i’m getting ready to book for just my husband and me for sept of ’15! hoping for free dining but…????? I did hear though that if you book and free dining isn’t offered at the time and that changes after you book…you can get the deal at no add’l cost! woohoo!

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  14. I have the Disney Chase Card and I don’t ever get emails from them? 🙁

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    1. Did you check your spam folders for emails from them? Also log into your account to make sure you have opted into communications from Chase.

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  15. I went in February 2014 and booked a Villa with free Dining

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  16. Lost my mom last year. Life is short. We celebrated my dad’s 60th birthday 21 years ago in Disney and called the travel agent this morning. My husband and I want to celebrate my dad’s 81 birthday in Disney. Please let me know if you are offering any free meal deals in March 2015. TY so much. 🙂

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    1. So sorry to hear that Peggy! I will definitely let you know as soon as I do if and when there will be free dining.

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  17. Has anyone stayed out the carribean resort before? We were thinking of staying there. We are a family of 5.

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  18. I am planning a trip for September 2015. When do you suppose the free dining will become available for then?

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    1. Not sure at the moment – stay tuned for any updates as I get them!

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  19. For those hoping for FREE Disney Dining Plans and have already made your reservation, think about what you are doing. If you plan to pay in full, then go forth. If you really are relying on free dining, do NOT book until the offer comes out. If rooms are filled, they will not need to make any special offers. If you book with the intention of getting free dining, you are doing everyone (including yourself) wrong. Simple math folks, hold out if you need this to fit your budgets. Food for thought.

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    1. You are able to switch reservations to another package after you’ve already booked. I would recommend booking now then switching to the free dining if/when it’s released.

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  20. Recently I had the opportunity to talk with a cast member regarding my upcoming Disney trip, I am an avid Disney goer, I had asked her if she could tell me if there would be a free dining plan in 2015, She stated and I quote ” Disney does not tell us the release dates, however, there will be free dining in 2015″. This is great news for those of us who love to take advantage of the promotion. As this article reads, the best dates that Disney will release will be either May or August. But nothing is certain.

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  21. What is best hotel outside of Disney resort that is close and with shuttle to parks? #cheap2015

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    1. Love the hashtag! I would checkout Priceline.com for some cheap offsite options

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  22. We booked September 14 on a bounce back and were offered free dinning. We bounced back while staying in AKL and to Coronado Springs.
    Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
    MYW Pkg + FREE Dining
    Check In: Saturday, September 5, 2015
    Check Out: Sunday, September 13, 2015
    Room Type: Water View
    Guests: 2 Adults

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    1. Great to hear! Congrats on getting the free dining bounce back offer!

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  23. I agree with the person that said you should wait to book until the offer comes out. Disney offers the free dining to get ADDITIONAL ROOMS BOOKED. If everyone books ahead looking to “change” promotions, Disney may not offer the free dining!!!!! I think we all agree the free dining is well worth the wait.

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    1. Unfortunately you cant really wait to book til the dates for free dining come out because a lot of the restaurants people would like to eat at have to have reservations 180 days out. So that doesn’t really work then. I am going in September and booked already and got my reserved dining that is impossible to get in. So far no free dining has been released. If I get it great if not well we are going anyway.

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      1. I booked for the last week of Sept into the first week of October and low and behold I got the free dining. 🙂

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  24. Unfortunately you cant really wait to book til the dates for free dining come out because a lot of the restaurants people would like to eat at have to have reservations 180 days out. So that doesn’t really work then. I am going in September and booked already and got my reserved dining that is impossible to get in. So far no free dining has been released. If I get it great if not well we are going anyway.

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  25. We are planning on a Feb 2016 trip to Disney. We’ve never been lucky enough to get a free dining plan. Please let me know if you hear about one ! thank you

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  26. Someone said to call disney and ask if there was a pin on your reservation. Wouldn’t they send you and e-mail or let you know if you had a pin?

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    1. You would get an email or an actual piece of mail in your mailbox with a pin on it

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  27. Anyone can book reservations to the Disney restraunts 180 days out. You don’t need a Disney hotel reservation to do it. So I say book your restraunts and wait for the Free Dining promotion before you book a resort!

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  28. Do you think there will be another opportunity in 2015 to get free dining? I looks like some years they offer it twice, but they only offered once in 2014. I missed it when it came out last month and now I am kicking myself!! Thanks for any info

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    1. At this point I would probably lean towards no but you never know. I’ll be sure to post anything that’s announced!

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