For just a few years, Walt Disney World launched the favored Free Dining promotion within the first week of January. On different events, the corporate used the identify recognition of that particular provide to rebrand different promos–like “Kids Eat Free” and different reductions which were touted as Free Dining in numerous types.
It seems that the primary deal that Walt Disney World releases in 2023 would be the latter. Rumors have been swirling since late December {that a} free Disney Dining Card (just like the one pictured above) can be included with choose packages within the second half of the yr that embrace full priced motels and tickets.
This has actually firmed up within the final two days, with embargoed leaks corroborating the prior rumors. This particular provide is just about an open secret at this level, and has been for some time. Heck, Walt Disney World has been selling it on Twitter since December 20:
Unfortunately, this is not going to be the “real” Free Dining promo. Rather, this extra intently resembles the “Stay, Play, Dine and Save” deal that we’ve seen repeatedly over the past a number of years. This, too, has traded on the ‘name recognition’ of Free Dining as a way to make a much less interesting particular provide appear extra fascinating.
In truth, this isn’t all that completely different from the present Walt Disney World fiftieth Anniversary “Grand Finale” provide for most people, which touts Saving Up to $100 Off Nightly Resort Rates. With that tiered low cost, visitors can save as much as $20 per night time at Value Resorts, as much as $40 per night time at Moderate Resorts, and as much as $100 per night time at Deluxe Resorts for dates between now and March 30, 2023.
The twist right here is that moderately than getting that cash within the type of a greenback quantity financial savings per night time, visitors obtain it in rebate kind, by way of a “free” (air quotes) Disney Dining Gift Card. This has two benefits for Walt Disney World: it makes this sound sorta like Free Dining (who doesn’t love FREE FOOD?!) and it additionally permits the corporate to take care of its beloved excessive per visitor spending numbers.
For the final yr or so, Disney has been proudly touting its ~40% improve in per visitor spending over 2019. That has been completed in quite a lot of methods, together with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, greater ticket costs, restricted resort reductions, fewer Annual Passholders, and…nicely, nearly every part else.
In equity, elevated per visitor spending is just not a brand new or novel thought piloted by the dearly-departed Bob Chapek. (While gone as CEO, his spirit will undoubtedly dwell on for the yr to return.) That’s an enormous motive why Free Dining was launched within the first place–it locked visitors into buying full worth tickets and motels, thereby growing total spending although they acquired the Disney Dining Plan for “free” (air quotes, once more).
This is a brand new twist on that very same thought. Here, as a substitute of decreasing resort charges–thereby decreasing per visitor spending–Walt Disney World is shifting that financial savings to a Disney Dining Card. For most visitors, this can be a distinction with out a distinction as they’d simply spend that cash on meals.
For others, that will not essentially be the case–particularly those that dine off-site or do grocery supply to arrange meals of their rooms. Which is exactly why Walt Disney World is doing this moderately than merely decreasing costs. (Well, that and that is most likely higher from a advertising perspective!)
With that background out of the best way, let’s go over the tough contours of this free Disney Dining Card deal.
This provide is about to go dwell on January 5, 2023 and can be out there to visitors who guide a minimal 4-night keep at choose, qualifying Walt Disney World Resort motels with at the very least 4-day tickets. It can be out there for journey dates between June 25, 2023 and September 14, 2023.
As you possibly can see from the Tweet in direction of the highest of the put up, the headline touts that it’ll provide as much as a $750 Disney Dining Promo Card. However, that is probably not correct as the utmost. Walt Disney World has been actually bizarre about the way it promotes these offers, usually (shockingly) underselling them.
In truth, should you go on DisneyWorld.com and look for a similar deal that we described as as much as $100 off per night time, you’ll see that Walt Disney World’s particular provide web page lists it as “Save Up to $400 on a 4-Night, 4-Day Room-and-Ticket Package at Select Disney Resort Hotels.” However, as we identified in our evaluation of that deal, it’s NOT capped at $400. To the opposite, you possibly can save over $1,000 should you really max out that low cost, moderately than the $400 that Walt Disney World advertises. (Why they do that is past me. It’s misleading…however in a method that works to their drawback!)
What we additionally know is that the nightly Disney Dining Card visitors obtain will rely upon their resort tier. Value Resorts are set to obtain Disney Dining Cards starting from $35 to $50 per night time, Moderate Resorts will get $75 to $100 per night time, and Deluxe Resorts will obtain $125 to $150 per night time.
In one other important distinction from the actual Free Dining, the Disney Dining Card quantity is not going to fluctuate primarily based on the variety of individuals per room. This is a large blow for bigger events who crammed right into a single room–the demo that sometimes liked Free Dining. It’s a win for {couples} or solo vacationers–the group that routinely referred to as Free Dining a “bad deal.”
Just as subjective assessments of Free Dining being “good” or “bad” weren’t true throughout the board, it’s untimely to evaluate the standard of this particular provide. It’s actually going to rely upon a combination of resort/room availability, occasion measurement, and the full bundle pricing that DisneyWorld.com spits out when looking for your dates.
As we’ve all most likely skilled up to now, there’s usually a distinction between the official deal particulars that Walt Disney World touts, and the precise financial savings which are noticed by visitors. The above $100/night time v. $400/journey is an effective instance of that, however we’ve seen it numerous instances even outdoors of that.
If you’re questioning why that is being provided as a substitute of Free Dining, it’s fairly easy: Disney doesn’t want to get that aggressive as a way to meet resort occupancy targets (but). As all the time, reductions are dictated by provide and demand and never by company benevolence. The easy (and unlucky) truth of the matter is that demand has been so excessive the final 2 years that Walt Disney World has not needed to provide aggressive offers as a way to incentivize journeys or fill rooms.
That similar sentiment may very well be utilized past Disney. For just about every part, costs have gone up throughout the board and reductions are much less commonplace. That’s resulting from a mixture of pent-up demand, provide chain woes, and employee shortages that exist all through society proper now, from motels to grocery shops. (If you haven’t already learn it, we’d suggest What’s Up with Sold Out Hotels at Walt Disney World?)
The excellent news is that that is virtually definitely going to be a greater low cost than was provided for a similar timeframe final yr. On high of that, this additionally follows 4 reductions that run by way of March or April 2023 that have been launched sooner than regular by historic requirements. If weak discounting and late releases have been an indication that pent-up demand had nonetheless been operating sturdy, all of this can be a signal that the other might not be true as of early 2023.
As we’ve written a number of instances in the previous couple of months, we’re optimistic that there can be higher Walt Disney World reductions in 2023. There’s an opportunity this previous vacation season was the “last hurrah” for pent-up demand. As that begins to fizzle out, family financial savings lower, inflation stings extra, and the economic system slows down, it appears more and more doubtless that Walt Disney World will expertise its personal slowdown.
The dangerous information is that this low cost will NOT be pretty much as good because it seems for a lot of of you. Specifically, anybody who already booked their 2023 Walt Disney World trip, however did so earlier than December 8, 2022. If that describes you, and also you’re planning on making use of this particular provide retroactively, you is likely to be in for an disagreeable shock.
This Disney Dining Card promo requires the acquisition of park tickets–and costs went up just about throughout the board on December 8. Meaning that should you booked earlier than then, you locked-in cheaper ticket costs. However, should you make the most of this promo, you lose that lock, and pay the present ticket costs. The finish result’s that your bundle worth will really INCREASE (!!!). While most of it’s best to nonetheless come out forward when factoring within the present card, a few of you’ll not (is dependent upon occasion measurement, ticket choices, resort, and so forth.). Confused but?!
With that mentioned, our hope is that different reductions drop concurrently with this “free” Disney Dining Card deal. If previous precedent is any indication, we’ll virtually definitely see room solely reductions for Annual Passholders and Florida residents (albeit presumably with a niche between the 2) for roughly the identical dates.
What stays to be seen is whether or not there’s a basic public room low cost encompassing the identical journey dates. My guess is that if there may be one, it solely encompasses a subset of the Disney Dining Card deal dates. (This can be par for the course and in keeping with historic reductions–it’s method too early to launch room reductions for August and September 2023.) It additionally may solely be provided to Disney+ subscribers, however it’s straightforward sufficient to qualify for that.
With the recognized particulars, unknowns, and different assorted commentary out of the best way, let’s flip to some fast suggestions for many who need to begin making ready for the drop of this “free” Disney Dining Card deal.
First, should you’re searching for the perfect dates to make the most of this, they’re most likely as follows:
- August 20 to 31, 2023
- September 4-9, 2023
- September 10-30, 2023
Although these will fall underneath the decrease stage of Disney Dining Cards, these are when resort rack charges are decrease by an quantity that sometimes greater than offsets the added present card quantity. Again, how this really performs out might differ from the official particulars–so that you’ll need to worth issues out when the deal drops. (We’ll be doing precisely that tomorrow!)
For extra on timing your journey to coincide with the bottom costs, see When’s Cheapest to Visit Walt Disney World in 2023? That covers worth will increase and different variables that impression the price of a trip past simply room charges.
Another sizzling matter of dialog will undoubtedly revolve round what this implies for the Disney Dining Plan. As of January 2023, that’s nonetheless “temporarily” suspended at Walt Disney World regardless of assurances that it could return quickly again in mid-2021. In When Will the Disney Dining Plan Return? we forecast timing for its comeback, in addition to our rationale. It’s a superb learn that explains why the Dining Plan is integral to Walt Disney World and provides our prediction as to when it’ll return.
In our view, this low cost has completely no bearing on the return of the Disney Dining Plan. These playing cards are nothing new, and definitely are usually not a alternative for the Disney Dining Plan. At the tip of the day, each the DDP and these playing cards serve the very same function: to lock individuals into spending $X on their trip, thus buoying per visitor spending numbers. (They additionally hold individuals on-site, one other key function.)
Right now, it’s extra advantageous for Walt Disney World to supply one thing easy like this Disney Dining Card. However, this may virtually definitely not supplant the Disney Dining Plan long-term for one easy motive: it’s too easy and simple. The convoluted nature of the Disney Dining Plan is a characteristic, not a bug.
The Disney Dining Plan has higher “breakage” than present playing cards by advantage of the easy indisputable fact that the overwhelming majority of visitors is not going to use it to full benefit. Not ever visitor drinks alcohol, eats steak, loves snacking, and so forth. Very few individuals eat in ways in which comport with maximizing the Disney Dining Plan’s worth if left to their very own units. While breakage definitely exists with present playing cards, the Disney Dining Card is much extra versatile and malleable to pure consuming habits. It gained’t be as wasteful for visitors and doesn’t have the identical all-inclusive really feel.
All of this has been mentioned to demise in different posts concerning the Disney Dining Plan, so we’ll spare you additional evaluation. This is definitely one of many large causes why the Disney Dining Plan has confirmed so polarizing. Some can not or is not going to use it to full benefit, and “see through” the Disney Dining Plan because of this. Then there are diehard followers–a lot of whom additionally see by way of it–have discovered methods to “hack” it and are available out forward. Finally, some merely need comfort and have the ability to price range forward of time, and don’t actually care whether or not they “win” or “lose.”
Regardless, the purpose nonetheless stands that this isn’t a alternative for the Disney Dining Plan. That very nicely may change when it returns, however this particular provide has virtually no bearing on that or its timing. What it does impression is Free Dining. It was already fairly secure to say that there can be no Free Dining in 2023–this all however ensures that.
Ultimately, that is all a long-winded method of claiming {that a} “free” Disney Dining deal for 2023 goes to be launched, however it’s best to actually mood your expectations. This is just not the actual Free Dining, and is basically extra like a dollar-off low cost, however within the type of a rebate that may solely be used on eating at Disney-owned eating places. It might find yourself being a strong deal for some, however gained’t work nicely for others.
That’s just about the character of the beast with Walt Disney World reductions within the present atmosphere of traditionally sturdy demand and lodge occupancy. As all the time, plan on being versatile together with your lodge alternative, room class, and even journey dates if this Disney Dining Card is a must have for you. Even although it’s going to be inferior to (actual) Free Dining for many, that is going to garner quite a lot of consideration and can doubtless be an extremely widespread deal because of the best way it’s marketed. For many individuals, the primary WDW deal drop day of 2023 goes to be like Christmas morning. Unlike Christmas, although, this can be a day on which a lot of you’ll simply get lumps of coal. We’ll be again vibrant and early tomorrow morning with particulars about all the promotions, pattern bookings as an instance precise financial savings, and extra commentary.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS…
What do you consider this “free” Disney Dining Card for Summer and early Fall 2023? Disappointed that it’s a flat price present card as a substitute of {dollars} off or a proportion financial savings like regular, or simply blissful that one thing, something is being provided? If you’re attempting for this Disney Dining Card deal, what journey dates are you aiming for? Are you ‘sitting out’ Walt Disney World this yr, not desirous to take care of the headache and stress? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas or questions under within the feedback!