We’ve acquired a number of questions concerning the 2024 Free Eating deal that Walt Disney World launched for choose dates in Summer season and Fall 2024. This FAQ solutions these widespread inquiries about eligibility, worth for cash, whether or not it’s truly free meals, the way it compares to different room-only and eating reductions, and way more.
It’s comprehensible that there’s confusion, as nothing concerning the Disney Eating Plan is easy. The complexity is a characteristic, not a bug. The excellent news is that we first used ourselves Free Eating again in 2007 and have taken benefit of the promo nearly yearly that it’s been provided since. Ditto the Disney Eating Plan, which we final utilized in March 2020–the second to final week that it was accessible!
Whereas loads has modified over the a long time (our 2007-2012 experiences are of no worth…besides road cred, I suppose), there truly isn’t a lot completely different about 2024 Free Eating vs. 2019 Free Eating. Primarily based upon all of that, we’ve solutions to incessantly requested reader questions–and different ones we anticipate being widespread primarily based on previous inquiries. This can be a lengthy one, so let’s dig proper into the FAQ…
What if I’m not a Disney+ subscriber?
Subscribe to it.
The most cost effective tier of Disney+ prices ~$8 per thirty days. For those who’ve already accomplished the maths (see under) and decide that Free Eating is the appropriate particular supply for you, subscribe to the Disney+ streaming service. It’s a very low barrier to entry, and there’s no assure {that a} subsequent wave of 2024 Free Eating shall be launched to most of the people.
How lengthy do you need to maintain the subscription?
That’s the place issues get tough. In line with the phrases and situations of the low cost, “proof of Disney+ subscription required” for eligibility.
Does that imply simply when reserving? During the time from if you e book till you checkout? For less than the months of reserving and check-in? Nobody goes to have the ability to offer you a definitive reply to that. For those who ask a Solid Member, they’re in all probability going to err on the facet of “for the period.”
Anecdotally, I can let you know that we all know a “buddy” who cancelled their Disney+ subscription shortly after reserving beneath a previous WDW promo and supposed upon resubscribing earlier than check-in…however forgot to take action. It didn’t matter. There was no verification of Disney+ subscription upon arrival. Once more, that is anecdotal–no matter you do right here is at your individual danger.
What if the resort or room I would like is bought out?
Hold attempting.
One in all our largest items of recommendation relating to reserving Free Eating is to lock-in a reservation early even if you happen to’re uncertain of plans as a result of availability goes usually quick. We had been doubly involved of that with 2024 Free Eating as a consequence of pent-up demand for the promotion. (Primarily based on early spot-checking, it truly seems our considerations had been unfounded.)
One other piece of recommendation is to verify again ~48 hours later if you happen to couldn’t get what you wished as a result of that’s when courtesy holds expire. Within the chaos and crunch of getting issues booked, journey brokers and others generally make reservations that fall by way of. Two to 3 days after the particular supply goes stay, that room stock re-enters the system.
In relation to promotions or actually something Disney reserves that’s refundable or not pre-paid in full, extra availability at all times opens up later as a result of individuals hoard reservations or make aspirational bookings. This is quite common with Free Eating, however this similar recommendation will be utilized to simply about any particular provides or aggressive reservations.
What’s the chance of extra reductions between now and July 2024?
We attempt to by no means say by no means, so…extremely unlikely.
Walt Disney World has now launched a full slate of particular provides between now and July 7, 2024. There’s all kinds of reductions, with nothing that may usually be accessible “lacking” from the slate.
A sudden recession or cataclysmic financial incidence that leads to Walt Disney World needing to behave aggressively ASAP to shore up enterprise is about the one state of affairs we might see a wave of Free Eating for dates earlier than July 2024. Let’s hope that doesn’t occur, as such a state of affairs would clearly have adverse actual world implications far past Free Eating.
What’s the chance of extra reductions between September and December 2024?
We attempt to by no means say something is 100% sure, so…it’s a close to certainty.
Room-only reductions are all however a assure, and if we had been betting individuals, we’d put appreciable cash on one other distinctive dining-related low cost for the vacation season. Personally, I feel a second wave of 2024 Free Eating is extra seemingly than not. I lay out my reasoning and certain dates within the ‘Forecast & Rumors’ part (close to the highest) of our Information to 2024 Free Eating at Walt Disney World.
Is Free Eating truly free?
In fact not. Keep in mind the outdated adage: there is no such thing as a such factor as a free lunch.
Right here, that’s true each actually and figuratively. With a view to qualify for Free Eating, you’re required to e book a trip bundle with sure parameters–full priced Park Hopper tickets and a resort lodge. This implies, extra seemingly than not, you can be forfeiting another room-only low cost to qualify for this.
Some Walt Disney World followers assume that their discovery of this not-so-secret element is good detective work, like they’ve unraveled a fantastic thriller. That since Free Eating isn’t truly free, the precise reverse have to be true: it’s a nasty deal.
Is Free Eating a nasty deal?
I’ll throw a fair higher adage at ya for this one: solely a Sith offers in absolutes.
Probably the most irritating issues for me across the Free Eating discourse was that it lacks nuance. Some Walt Disney World followers declare it’s the perfect deal ever and others deride Free Eating as being an entire rip-off or for suckers. Each are unsuitable. On the very least, they need to’ve appended “for my household” to the tip of their very-subjective assessments.
For the final 13 years, I’ve analyzed each single Walt Disney World low cost that has been launched. What I’ve found throughout that point is that each deal will be “good” or “dangerous.” All of them.
Even ones that I’ve criticized as being subpar by historic requirements have been nice for some planners who in any other case would’ve paid rack charges for his or her trip. Conversely, some objectively distinctive promos don’t make subjective sense for some individuals as a result of they don’t need or want what’s included.
That is very true with particular provides which are extra circumstantial–various primarily based on get together dimension, visitor ages, resort/room class, journey dates, appetites, and so forth. On the spectrum, room-only reductions are essentially the most simple; Free Eating is the least. That’s exactly why it’s so polarizing–as a result of too many individuals extrapolate an excessive amount of primarily based on their very own circumstances and fail to contemplate the (pretty apparent) indisputable fact that not everyone seems to be them.
In brief, you completely must do the maths on Free Eating primarily based by yourself get together and preferences, versus the room-only low cost that can also be accessible for a similar journey dates. Free Eating might be an terrible or superior deal; all of it relies upon upon your circumstances, body of reference, and accessible alternate options.
I hate math, are you able to do it for me?
I additionally hate math, so I can empathize. However due to that, I’m not doing it for you. If I did the maths for everybody, I’d be doing math all day, slowly and poorly. What I’ll do is make some sweeping generalizations which will or will not be useful. Free Eating is more likely to work greatest for the next visitor demographics:
- Nearly all households staying at Worth Resorts
- Most households in normal rooms at Reasonable Resorts
- Events of three or extra Disney Adults at Deluxe Resorts
Free Eating is more likely to work worst for the next:
- Events of three or fewer that embody children at Deluxe Resorts
- {Couples} or solo vacationers at Reasonable Resorts
- Smaller events in Household Suites at Worth Resorts
From that, it is best to have an honest sense of who advantages most and least from Free Eating. Principally, you need to have a look at get together dimension (the bigger, the higher!), visitor ages (the older, the higher!), and room price (the decrease, the higher!). That’s just about it…but it surely sounds less complicated than it truly is.
My generalizations aren’t any substitute for precise math. I can nearly assure there shall be “effectively, truly…” feedback from these in the perfect/worst demographics above with firsthand experiences that contradict the categorizations. They usually’re proper! That’s the factor about sweeping generalizations–they’re usually unsuitable.
Is Free Eating higher than the opposite eating reductions presently accessible?
For those who’ve learn the above solutions, you already know the place that is going: it relies upon.
For reference, the present food-related particular provides are the “Free” Disney Eating Card Deal for 2024 and the 50% Off Tickets & Eating Plans Low cost for Youngsters in Spring & Summer season 2024. These are for various date ranges than Free Eating, so that you’re in all probability not going to be selecting among the many three in case your journey dates are already locked-in.
However let’s simply say you’re versatile on dates and keen to comparability store all three. It nonetheless relies upon! The eating card deal is way more simple, and might work higher for smaller events. Personally, it’s not my favourite–however some individuals find it irresistible.
I feel the true sleeper right here is the 50% off for teenagers, which has been a bit ignored. In all probability as a result of 50% off is 50% lower than free (technically true). The underrated a part of that, although, is that it additionally applies to tickets. So in case your get together is kid-heavy, you might win on that. You’ve actually gotta do the maths in your family, although.
Are there another choices for comparability procuring?
For those who’re overwhelmed or need another person to do the homework for you, use a journey agent. Any journey agent! We advocate requesting a FREE no obligation quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, an Approved Disney Trip Planner and having them e book for you.
They’ll help you with the planning course of, aid you select essentially the most economical dates, greatest add-ons, and so forth. Notably, in addition they monitor reservations and might retroactively apply new reductions if a higher deal is launched to save lots of you extra money. (An enormous factor proper now, since higher offers maintain popping out and supplanting the outdated ones!)
Equally as necessary, they’ll aid you with low cost comparability procuring. There are a ton of various reductions presently accessible for Walt Disney World in 2024, and that quantity is barely going to develop! So what you see now isn’t essentially all the things that’ll be accessible in your journey dates.
Walt Disney World makes these particular provides complicated on objective in order that comparability procuring is tougher. That is accomplished in a bunch of little methods, which I assume is for advertising functions or to enchantment to completely different shopper psychologies. I actually don’t know. Regardless, we extremely advocate utilizing a journey agent–even when it’s not Be Our Visitor Holidays. (Simply don’t use a Large Field or MLM–see Why You Ought to Use A Disney Journey Agent for extra.)
Why do some WDW followers love Free Eating a lot?
If we’re being trustworthy, I feel an enormous a part of it’s advertising. They are saying that no phrase is as lovely sounding as cellar door. Effectively, I suppose these of us by no means heard the phrases free meals. Severely, it’s so simple as that. “Free” is highly effective advertising.
There’s additionally the truth that Free Eating has a longstanding popularity, a lot of which was cast over a decade in the past when the particular supply provided superior financial savings. A few of us bear in mind the times of cramming 4 buddies into Caribbean Seashore for $100 per night time, shopping for single day tickets (and upgrading these to APs), and everybody getting the total Disney Eating Plan–which included appetizers and ideas! It was nearly like Walt Disney World was paying us to go to.
These days are lengthy gone, however even now, what so many Walt Disney World followers love concerning the Eating Plan and Free Eating is the fun of the chase and problem of hacking it. They (we) are the in-group who is aware of learn how to leverage the DDP to full benefit and might truly come out forward. We’ve got voluminous assets about ‘greatest makes use of’ of Disney Eating Plan credit, and it’s nonetheless potential to get extra bang in your buck with the DDP than its face worth.
The minority of Disney Eating Plan energy customers are outweighed by those that got here out behind–not utilizing all of their credit, not consuming steak for each meal, or in any other case the DDP for low-value redemptions. Consider the Disney Eating Plan nearly like bank cards–some individuals leverage them to their benefit and get great advantages at low or no price. However that’s sponsored by the overwhelming majority of people that pay much more in curiosity than they get in rewards. Visa isn’t dropping cash, on the entire. Identical thought with Disney, completely different circumstances.
Higher but, consider the Disney Eating Plan like FastPass or Lightning Lanes. For each single line-skipping system Walt Disney World has provided ever, there was a base of energy customers who figures out learn how to get far more mileage out of it than the typical visitor. (As a result of complexity, a lot of Walt Disney World is gameable–there are at all times winners and losers.)
Is it potential to eat cheaper than ‘Free’ Eating?
Sure. Because it’s not likely free and lots of people come out behind on the Disney Eating Plan, it ought to observe that there are extra environment friendly methods to eat at Walt Disney World than Free Eating…for some events.
For years, there was fierce debate about whether or not the Disney Eating Plan provides benefits in budgeting and comfort. For our half, we’ve strongly argued towards this, contending that nothing is extra handy than merely paying as you go; if you happen to don’t need to fear about budgeting, buy (discounted!) Disney Reward Playing cards earlier than the journey.
Why is my previously-booked trip bundle costlier with Free Eating?
Effectively for one factor, you may’ve switched from a room-only low cost to a full-priced room. We received’t rehash all the above commentary about Free Eating not truly being free.
Past that, all particular provides require paying present costs for the bundle parts and it’s potential that, if you happen to booked previously, your reservations had been made earlier than one thing elevated in value. That’s a common rule, however I don’t assume it truly applies right here as ticket costs (often the largest offender) haven’t elevated since December 2022. (With that mentioned, they in all probability will in February 2024, so lock-in no matter you need earlier than then and don’t modify after!)
One other wrinkle to that is that some followers declare that Walt Disney World raises room charges proper earlier than releasing reductions. I’ve by no means seen any firsthand proof of this; rack charges are set months upfront they usually shouldn’t change. I’m not denying it occurs, however I personally assume the much more widespread state of affairs is the above (ticket will increase) or a mismatch of room classes. It’s not unusual for traditional rooms to e book up quick with Free Eating, forcing individuals to improve to completely different premium-priced view or location classes that perhaps they didn’t need within the first place.
The place can the Disney Eating Plan be used?
The Disney Eating Plan can be utilized to buy meals, snacks, treats and drinks at “choose taking part eating areas” in line with Walt Disney World. See the Full Listing of Eating places on 2024 Disney Eating Plans, which covers the ~230 spots that settle for some type of the DDP.
The one drawback with that’s it doesn’t specify which is snack, quick-service, desk service–and what’s 1 versus 2 desk service credit. You’ll need to go restaurant-by-restaurant to determine that out. Additionally, our Information to the 2024 Disney Eating Plan covers the fundamentals, what every meal sort on the DDP consists of, varied quirks, and way more. Nothing with the DDP is “easy,” however that can assist offer you a greater understanding of the way it works–and the way to not use it.
As a common matter, all Disney-owned venues which are targeted on meals and most third events settle for the Disney Eating Plan in some capability. Each EPCOT competition sales space, counter service restaurant, desk service restaurant, and so forth. The largest exception to that is eating places with prix fixe menus.
The place are the perfect locations to make use of the Disney Eating Plan?
Fairly easy: any eating places that provide the worst worth when paying out of pocket…however that aren’t Signature Eating places. Making a few generalizations, counter service eating places that serve ribs or different fancy entrees, character lunches & dinners (and generally breakfast), and EPCOT competition kiosks are all often good makes use of of credit. Extra particularly, try these lists:
Why can’t Disney Trip Membership Members get Free Eating?
They’ll! As long as DVC Members qualify with the parameters of the promotion, they’re eligible to e book this particular supply. Identical goes for Annual Passholders, Florida residents, members of D23, Hell’s Angels, and so forth–anybody is eligible.
Nonetheless, it looks as if these questioning this are literally asking: Why can’t I get free meals with no strings connected? The reply to that’s, as intimated above, that nobody will get Free Eating with no strings connected. Once more, no such factor as a free lunch. Free Eating requires the acquisition of full priced tickets and lodging.
Disney Trip Membership members already save 40% or extra (in some instances, 70% or extra, relying upon once they joined and the way they bought their membership curiosity) on lodging. With out query, DVC Members are getting a greater deal than Free Eating. For no matter motive, DVC homeowners appear to assume they’re entitled to double-dip on reductions regardless of having locked-in theirs up-front.
As DVC Members ourselves, we’re sympathetic to a number of complaints about this system–particularly in the previous couple of years. Availability, Member Providers, call-center wait occasions, and so forth. are all reliable gripes. This isn’t.
What about visitors from the UK or Europe?
Okay, so I’d stand corrected with the road that “anybody is eligible.”
Though I’ve by no means seen Walt Disney World straight deal with this, there have been common and repeated studies from visitors in the UK and Europe that they’re unable to e book this (or previous) Disney+ subscriber reductions. Disney doesn’t point out something within the phrases & situations about this.
I’ve a U.S. Disney+ subscription, so I can’t replicate both this drawback or potential options. What I do know is that previously, planners from the UK/EU have been in a position to e book through the use of a VPN and accessing the U.S. DisneyWorld.com website. From what I perceive, that often works. (Please depart a remark when you have firsthand expertise, success or failure, attempting this.)
As for the why of this, it’s in all probability not as a result of Walt Disney World hates worldwide visitors. Though it’d appear that method, Walt Disney World truly loves visitors from outdoors the US. They’re extra of a captive viewers, have greater per visitor spending metrics, and sometimes do longer stays. That is why we routinely seek advice from British visitors as Walt Disney World’s “whales” (non-derogatory). There are sometimes boring authorized explanations for why Disney “blocks” these kinds of bookings.
That is all complicated?
Probably not a query, however I’ll roll with it since this kind of sentiment–punctuated by a query mark–is sort of widespread.
I don’t care what any longtime Walt Disney World followers declare, the Disney Eating Plan is complicated. It simply isn’t to them as a result of they’ve realized the ins and outs over the course of years. As a common matter, in case you are confused or overwhelmed by Free Eating, it in all probability isn’t for you.
It’s fully potential you’ll spend a ton of time doing analysis between now and your journey, and find yourself wishing you’d accomplished Free Eating. Extra seemingly, although, is that you just’d be higher suited with a extra simple room-only low cost. The convoluted nature of the Disney Eating Plan is a characteristic, not a bug. (See above comparability to bank cards.)
Free Eating has higher “breakage” than different reductions as a result of the overwhelming majority of visitors won’t use it to full benefit. Not all visitors drink alcohol, eat steak, love snacking, and so forth. For many, the varied Disney Eating Plans supply method an excessive amount of meals. Only a few individuals eat in ways in which maximize the DDP’s worth. In contrast, a room-only low cost takes the total amount of cash off up entrance–it’s extra of a recognized amount. So if you happen to’ve accomplished the maths and it looks as if a detailed name on paper however you’re kinda confused by Free Eating/Disney Eating Plan, I’d advocate taking the positive factor and reserving the room-only low cost. To every their very own, although.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things it is advisable to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have any questions concerning the Free Eating particular supply for Disney+ subscribers in Summer season & Fall 2024 that this FAQ didn’t reply? Different ideas or factors to handle? Will your loved ones be reserving or sitting out this Walt Disney World low cost? How does this evaluate to room-only or different reductions for you–is it higher or worse? Do you agree or disagree with our perspective on this? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
