Free dining in November/December 2010

[Sunshine1010]

Lately, Disney has been generous and has offered many, many discounts...including Free Dining.

Can anyone remember what the Free Dining dates were for November and mostly December?

There have been so many, it's hard to keep track.

I know they may not have the Free Dining Offer, but I was just wondering if anyone could remember those specific months.

Thanks in advance.

[Scar]

Sorry, can't help you with the past, but don't get your hopes up. From this post:

After more than a year of using deep discounts to prop up traffic in its theme parks, the Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday it is prepared to absorb a short-term attendance hit to restore pre-recession prices.

The company said it expects to cease widespread discounting beginning this fall.

“We are determined and confident that we can take our pricing back to normalized levels,” Walt Disney Co. Chief Financial Officer Jay Rasulo said during a conference call with stock analysts.

[Sunshine1010]

What kind of price drops are they talking about? I mean...tickets or hotel prices or what?

[danicafan]

I got an email yesterday for fall/winter for up to 40% off room rates. Too bad a Disney trip isn't in the budget this year. With my husband being self employed in the house painting business he hasn't been able to contribute much to our finances this year, so looks like I'll have to skip my Disney trip for this year.

[Polynesian Dweller]

What kind of price drops are they talking about? I mean...tickets or hotel prices or what?

They are talking about 4/3 hotel discounts, free dining, tickets, etc. In other words, they are talking about cutting back on all of their widespread discounts. The 4/3 was effectively a 42% discount and free dining also costs them a lot. Neither are sustainable in the long run and they also don't want to become known as a discount theme park. They had to start cutting back at some point.

[Sunshine1010]

Is this for certain?

And...do they have any winter discounts out?

[Ms. Mode]

Well, I'm ok with the discounts going away cause I've never gotten one anyway.

Let's look on the bright side of this; maybe the parks won't be so crowded.

[Daisy'sMom]

We went ahead and made our ressies for the first week of Nov, securing our hotel but hoping we could get a deal later on. Looks like we won't. Depressing.

[Polynesian Dweller]

Is this for certain?

And...do they have any winter discounts out?

Well, as certain as one can be on the basis of Disney's statements. Iger said this a few months ago and this time it's an even stronger statement. The statement leaves open the possibility of limited promotions but makes the widespread ones sound out if the question.

[sydzach]

Well, if true, just made my decision a lot easier as I have been going back and forth, stay on property or off site. Sure, people with a lot of money are still going to go stay on site etc but those on a limited budget, it just seals the deal really. I can save SOOO much money stay off site and also at the very least break even on the dining by paying out of pocket.

I understand Disney trying to cut back on giving discounts and perhaps they feel the economy has improved enough to where they can afford to stop offering discounts. I don't like it or agree with it but I am still going in November, they just want get quite as much of my money now.