How to Get the Free Dining Plan at Disney World for 2009
Emma Martin
June 23, 2009
For the past few years, Walt Disney World has been running a very special free dining promotion during late August and the first half of September. By booking a five night Magic Your Way package that includes your resort stay and Disney theme park tickets, you get the Disney Dining Plan for free.
Traditionally late August and September are a slow period at Walt Disney World. Most of the kids in the southeastern United States go back to school before Labor Day weekend so family travel for those within driving distance to Orlando tends to tail off after the second week in August. And September is pretty much the hurricane season in Florida so lots of folks prefer not to take the risk of having their travel plans rearranged by mother nature.
If you have the time however, and don't mind the chance of some brisk weather, this is a great time to go to Disney World. It's not really a slow period anymore due to the great success of the Disney free dining promotion, but if you've ever been to Walt Disney World at the height of the summer, you will really enjoy these weeks in the parks. The crowds are a lot lighter. Just make sure you make reservations for any table service meals you are planning, particularly Disney character dining. Because of the free dining promotion, the restaurants themselves can be hectic.
The Disney Dining Plan includes one counter service meal, one snack and one table service meal for each person in your party for each night of your stay. So if you stay five nights, you will have 5 snacks, five quick service meals and five table service meals. They don't expire until midnight of the day you check out of your resort, so you might want to schedule your flight home for later in the day so you can enjoy a celebratory meal with your family before you head home.
The plan does not include tips for your waiter or waitress so you will need to factor that into your costs for your table service meals. Since free dining is such a popular promotion, you will want to start trying to get reservations for your table service meals as soon as you book your trip. You can call 407-WDW-DINE to make restaurant reservations.
In 2009, the Free Disney dining plan promotion will be available for stays between August 21st and September 27th. But you will have to act fast if you haven't booked your trip yet, as the promotion ends on July 26th, 2009. You must book your Magic Your Way package by July 26 if you want free dining.
Traditionally late August and September are a slow period at Walt Disney World. Most of the kids in the southeastern United States go back to school before Labor Day weekend so family travel for those within driving distance to Orlando tends to tail off after the second week in August. And September is pretty much the hurricane season in Florida so lots of folks prefer not to take the risk of having their travel plans rearranged by mother nature.
If you have the time however, and don't mind the chance of some brisk weather, this is a great time to go to Disney World. It's not really a slow period anymore due to the great success of the Disney free dining promotion, but if you've ever been to Walt Disney World at the height of the summer, you will really enjoy these weeks in the parks. The crowds are a lot lighter. Just make sure you make reservations for any table service meals you are planning, particularly Disney character dining. Because of the free dining promotion, the restaurants themselves can be hectic.
The Disney Dining Plan includes one counter service meal, one snack and one table service meal for each person in your party for each night of your stay. So if you stay five nights, you will have 5 snacks, five quick service meals and five table service meals. They don't expire until midnight of the day you check out of your resort, so you might want to schedule your flight home for later in the day so you can enjoy a celebratory meal with your family before you head home.
The plan does not include tips for your waiter or waitress so you will need to factor that into your costs for your table service meals. Since free dining is such a popular promotion, you will want to start trying to get reservations for your table service meals as soon as you book your trip. You can call 407-WDW-DINE to make restaurant reservations.
In 2009, the Free Disney dining plan promotion will be available for stays between August 21st and September 27th. But you will have to act fast if you haven't booked your trip yet, as the promotion ends on July 26th, 2009. You must book your Magic Your Way package by July 26 if you want free dining.
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