IMPORTANT UPDATE: Though Walt Disney World suspended the Disney Dining Plan program upon reopening in 2020 following the temporary closure of the Resort, the Disney Dining Plan is NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING for Disney World vacation stays starting JANUARY 9, 2024!
PLEASE NOTE: This page specifically covers the FREE DINING promotion, which is not currently available. Please visit THIS PAGE for all current Disney Dining Plan information.
Disney World ran a promotion at various times throughout the year — for several years in a row up through 2020 — offering guests a free Disney Dining Plan with paid Walt Disney World Vacation Packages. As noted above, the Disney Dining Plan is currently suspended, and “Free Dining” is therefore suspended as well. But since the Disney Dining Plan will be returning for stays starting in January 9, 2024, we are keeping information on this page about the Free Dining promotion for your future planning reference.
Let’s chat about FREE Dining!
Nicknamed “Free Dining” by Disney fans, the promotions typically fall during less busy times of the year.
What is the Walt Disney World Free Dining Offer?
During times of the year when attendance is forecasted to be lower, Disney has, since 2005 (and up through 2020 when the Disney Dining Plan was suspended), offered guests free Disney Dining Plans when they book a Disney Resort hotel stay with Disney theme park tickets. (When both a Resort hotel stay and theme park tickets are booked together, that’s known as a Walt Disney World Vacation Package.)
Offers for Free Dining are normally announced via email. Disney routinely makes the offer first to Disney Visa Cardholders, and then it’s opened up to the general public a few days later.
If a Free Dining promotion is not offered during your vacation dates, you may get lucky and receive a “free dining PIN code” in the mail or email from Disney. To receive the offer, you must opt in to receive special offers and discounts through Disney’s website.
Another potential offer is what’s known as a Bounceback Offer. When (and if) offered, these are available to anyone staying onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel – all you do to get it is dial x8844 from your hotel room phone and inquire about any bounceback offers!
As noted above, the Disney Dining Plan is currently suspended, and “Free Dining” is therefore suspended as well. But since the Disney Dining Plan will be returning for stays starting January 9, 2024, we are keeping information on this page about the Free Dining promotion from the last time if was offered (early 2020) for your future planning reference.
2020 Disney World Free Dining
On January 2, 202o, Walt Disney World announced the 2020 Walt Disney World Free Dining offer. Booking was available through January 16 for the following dates: June 27 – June 28; July 5 – July 7; August 29 – September 8, 2020. Read more about 2020 Disney World Free Dining Here.
2020 Disney World Free Dining for Kids
On January 6, 2020, Walt Disney World announced the 2020 Walt Disney World Free Dining Offer for Kids. Booking was available through February 26 for most nights from May 25 – August 28, 2020. Read more about 2020 Disney World Free Dining for Kids promotion Here.
2020 Disney World Free Dining for UK Residents
In mid-April in 2019, Walt Disney World announced the 2020 Walt Disney World Free Dining Offer for residents of the United Kingdom. This deal had to be booked by July 2, 2019, for arrivals between January 1 – March 29, 2020 and April 19 – October 3, 2020. You can find all of the information for the 2020 Free Dining Offer for United Kingdom residents here.
Disney World Free Dining Bounceback Offer
FREE DINING was also offered as the bounceback offer for guests at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels in 2020. Available dates were June 27 – June 28; July 5 – July 7; August 29 –September 8, 2020. Guests were required to book a minimum 4-day stay and purchase a minimum 4-day Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus ticket. Excluded resorts were: All Star Movies, Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms, Port Orleans French Quarter, Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village, Cabins at Copper Creek, the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian, and Bay Lake Tower.
When (and if) offered, Bounceback Offers are available to anyone staying onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel – all you do to get it is dial x8844 from your hotel room phone and inquire about the bounceback offer!
How Does the Free Dining Plan Work?
To take advantage of a Free Dining offer, guests must book their travel dates during specified windows of time. In the past, the general timeframe during which Free Dining has been offered has been late Summer and early Fall, and during mid-Winter after the holidays have wrapped up.
Generally, guests must book a minimum hotel stay in a Disney resort. During more recent offers, the minimum stay has been 3 nights. In addition, guests must typically also purchase AT LEAST a 2-day Disney World theme park ticket with Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus. Room and ticket purchases are required for each person in your party.
Normally, if you stay at a participating Value or Moderate Resort, you’ll receive the Quick Service Dining Plan for FREE. (Note that you can upgrade to the Standard or Deluxe Dining Plans by paying the difference in cost per night.)
Normally, if you reserve a participating Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you will receive the Standard Dining Plan for FREE. (You can upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan by paying the difference in cost per night.)
The Free Dining offer normally cannot be combined with other discount offers such as discounts on room rates.
To learn more about the 2020 Free Dining Offer visit this page.
How Do I Book Free Dining?
You can book a Walt Disney World Vacation Package on the Walt Disney World website, over the phone at 407-WDW-MAGIC, or through an authorized travel agent or vacation planner.
What Do I Do If I’ve Already Booked My Trip and I’d Like to Take Advantage of the Free Dining Offer?
Check with Walt Disney World directly by calling 407-WDW-MAGIC, or by contacting your authorized travel agent or vacation planner. They may be able to update your vacation package.
Is Free Dining the Best Deal for My Family?
Because of the restrictions on the Free Dining offer, the answer to this question is…probably.
DFB Guide to Dining
To help you compare and determine if Free Dining will save you money, we break down and compare the costs and options for several Disney World discounts, including the Free Dining offer, in our fully updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2022 e-Book to help you save the most money possible. Our convenient e-Book offers a full chapter on your Disney budget and ways to save on Disney Dining. We include in-depth analysis of various offers to help you determine which will save you the most money. You can order the 2022 Edition now!
Along with over 900 pages of great Disney World dining advice, full color photos, and details, this book is a great deal — with a 100% money-back guarantee.
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Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!)
So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you 🙂
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