Walt Disney World has launched one other teaser concerning the new reductions dropping tomorrow (April 9, 2024) that embrace the second wave of Free Eating and room-only offers for summer time by means of vacation journey dates. This shares dates and particulars, plus what’s nonetheless unknown concerning the particular affords and educated guesses we are able to make to fill within the information ‘gaps’ primarily based on previous precedent.
These be part of the lengthy record of particular affords which were launched to date for 2024 Walt Disney World holidays, with reductions for Annual Passholders, Floridians, Disney+ subscribers and Disney Visa cardholders. For each different particular supply that’s presently out there, see All Present Walt Disney World Reductions for 2024.
Sadly, that record is definitely not so lengthy proper now, as many reductions have been unceremoniously and prematurely pulled from the Walt Disney World particular affords web page. We talk about what’s taking place in the direction of the start of that publish (hyperlink above), however the level of mentioning it right here is so trip planners know they should lock one thing in sooner slightly than later. Walt Disney World is attempting to incentivize longer and earlier reservations, which is what it appears like is going on once more with the upcoming reductions…
Starting April 9, Disney Visa Cardmembers can get a Free Disney Eating Plan when buying a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Journey Firm package deal that features a room at a choose Walt Disney World Resort lodge and theme park ticket with a Park Hopper possibility.
Walt Disney World teased that final week–now we additionally know the arrival dates that might be eligible:
- July 1-31, 2024
- September 1-7, 2024
- December 9-21, 2024
Full particulars might be launched on the morning of April 9, 2024.
Past that, our expectation is that this may comply with all the regular “guidelines” of Free Eating. (See our complete Information to 2024 Free Eating at Walt Disney World and scroll previous the lengthy part of predictions, since these are now not related now that Walt Disney World has advised us the deal is coming.)
Probably the most notable “rule” of Free Eating is that Worth and Average Resort friends obtain the Fast Service Disney Eating Plan (QSDDP), whereas Deluxe and Deluxe Villa friends obtain the usual Disney Eating Plan (DDP). The latter has far more worth, however Deluxe Resorts additionally value a ton more cash on common. Up to now, friends on the decrease tier resorts have been in a position to pay the distinction to improve from the QSDDP to the DDP.
Past that, count on just about the identical phrases and situations as the primary wave of 2024 Free Eating, simply swap Disney+ stuff for Disney Visa stuff. Desk service eating places might have restricted or no availability at time of package deal buy (a standard grievance with Free Eating in previous years has been the shortage of ADRs for individuals who arrived with out reserving something upfront).
Free Eating can’t be mixed with every other low cost or promotion. Disney Eating Plans exclude gratuities, which is able to must be paid out of pocket at desk service eating places. Kids ages 3 to 9 should order from a youngsters’s menu, the place out there. The variety of packages allotted for this supply is proscribed. Everybody in the identical room should be on the identical package deal.
The primary Free Eating supply excluded the next room varieties: 3-Bed room Villas, The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
Further eligibility particulars normally embrace the requirement that you simply use a sound Disney Visa Card or Disney Rewards Redemption Card to pay the deposit, and that the Disney Visa Cardmember should keep within the room.
If in case you have extra questions not answered by the above, we’d advocate studying our 2024 Free Eating at Walt Disney World FAQ. That covers every thing we all know–and count on–at this level.
In at this time’s tease, Walt Disney World additionally indicated that beginning April 9, friends can guide “summer time journey and save as much as 30% on a room at a choose Disney Resort lodge whenever you keep 5 nights or longer.” That’s all that was shared about this specific room-only low cost, however there’s so much we are able to parse from that transient quote.
The primary is the doubtless eligibility dates. Walt Disney World calls this a deal for summer time journey, which is instructive. Whereas we have been extremely assured {that a} room-only low cost would drop alongside Free Eating (as Walt Disney World is per week late on the following launch primarily based on historic launch dates), what we have been uncertain of was whether or not it’d be: 1) a traditional room-only charge; 2) a guide early and save extra deal; or, 3) a keep longer and save extra low cost (or each #2 and #3).
Based mostly on the above, we now know that it’s #2. (That’s, except Walt Disney World doesn’t know when summer time ends. And in equity, the traces on “seasons” are kinda fuzzy in Florida.) That makes full sense and is totally in line with long-term previous precedent–simply no more current reductions, which have incentivized earlier bookings and have supplied for much longer lead time.
Historic reductions point out that the date vary for this room-only low cost might be roughly July 8 to October 3, 2024. That’s the conventional timeline for the late March/early April room-only launch, adjusting barely for different offers which have already been launched. There’s about an 75% likelihood these are the precise dates, with one other 20% likelihood the deal ends on September 22/28/30, and the remaining 5% that it begins a number of days later. There’s excessive confidence in roughly these dates, although.
Once more, that’s except there’s additionally a guide early and save deal, wherein case the top date may very well be December 23-25. However it certain looks as if Walt Disney World would’ve talked about that on this tease if that have been the case, and not referred to it as a reduction for “summer time journey.” December undoubtedly isn’t summer time, even by Orlando requirements. (For these anxiously awaiting vacation reductions, this might most definitely put the October by means of December launch in mid-June.)
Relating to low cost tiers for the room-only charge, we are able to look again to 2024’s first keep longer and save deal for doubtless charges:
- 30% off most Deluxe Resorts
- 25% off most Average Resorts
- 20% off most Worth Resorts
- 10-15% off fashionable resorts, for instance:
- Polynesian Village Resort
- Artwork of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms
- Port Orleans French Quarter
- Villas at…Fairly A lot All over the place
- Membership Stage Rooms
- Suites at Moderates & Deluxes
A number of this will change from low cost to low cost. For instance, I wouldn’t wager on French Quarter having a lesser low cost. Ditto that for Villas, Membership Stage, or suites. However I might count on the Polynesian and Little Mermaid rooms to not supply the utmost financial savings, as that’s usually the case.
The opposite factor we noticed with this 12 months’s first keep longer and save extra deal was that it utilized to reservations of 5 nights or longer. When you guide 1-4 nights, you’ll be able to count on to see reductions which can be 5% off much less. (That means a spread of 5% to 25% off.) Once more, all of that is what occurred with the primary deal like this of the 12 months, and it may differ this time. We expect it’s in all probability very instructive, as that was additionally a ‘guide early and save extra’ deal that encompassed July 8 to October 3, 2024 journey dates. It’s thus fairly straightforward to ascertain an virtually similar repeat of that!
This additionally brings us full circle to the purpose about Walt Disney World prematurely pulling reductions. The above ‘keep longer and save extra’ low cost is definitely nonetheless out there…simply not the July 8 to October 3, 2024 journey dates half. These dates have been quietly pulled a month or so in the past, so solely the journey dates between now and July 7, 2024 stay. (Often that occurs the opposite means–earlier journey dates get eliminated earlier than later ones.)
Up to now, Walt Disney World used to launch reductions with a “guide by” date famous up-front. Within the final 12 months, they’ve gotten away from that observe. On some events, they’ve eliminated them early (with discover); different occasions, reserving is open-ended and the reductions simply disappear.
We suspect that Walt Disney World has been toying with the way in which they’ve been doing reductions, attempting to entice planners to guide early with engaging affords whereas additionally making a false sense of urgency. In a number of instances, they’ve circled again with further reductions even after these affords have ended to be able to fill unsold rooms and hit occupancy targets. That’s precisely what we’re seeing right here, particularly if this low cost finally ends up being precisely what was launched earlier than (as much as 30% off stays of 5 nights or longer for July 8 to October 3, 2024).
In a nutshell, that is the Disney Vault technique–however utilized to reductions. It’s savvy technique with regards to incentivizing obsessive Walt Disney World trip planners…however arguably much less efficient with informal friends who would possibly solely go to DisneyWorld.com as soon as, see no reductions for his or her dates, and guide holidays elsewhere.
Given what we’ve seen this 12 months with WDW’s low cost technique, it additionally wouldn’t be utterly shocking if there’s a 3rd wave of Free Eating. When this deal was first teased final week, we have been skeptical of this risk. At that time, we wrote that the supply together with journey dates in December–the twelfth month of the 12 months–meant it was already on the finish of the calendar. Usually, particular affords happen on a timeline.
Nonetheless, we famous that it doesn’t imply a 3rd wave of Free Eating is inconceivable. When you look again to the 2019 playbook, there have been three waves of the low cost launched–to completely different teams (normal public vs. Disney Visa) and completely different date ranges. The one cause I may see a 3rd wave this 12 months is that if Walt Disney World occupancy targets find yourself falling effectively wanting expectations for August by means of November, and they should scramble to supply one thing final minute.
Now that we’ve got the precise dates–and see what Walt Disney World is doing reviving the ‘keep longer and save extra’ deal, I’m far more optimistic about the opportunity of a 3rd wave of Free Eating. It doesn’t meant that it undoubtedly will occur, however I’d say it’s nearer to 50/50 now. One of the best month of eligibility being the closest one (July 2024), skipping August totally and having restricted dates in September–the 2 slowest months of the 12 months–after which having availability once more in December is suggestive of that.
It doesn’t appear just like the dates have been chosen on the idea of precise occupancy projections. It appears extra like there’s near-term urgency to fill rooms in July, which is fast-approaching, adopted by a need to entice in December. One other wave of Free Eating for August by means of September (and perhaps bits of October and November) doesn’t appear in the slightest degree far-fetched. However it’s equally attainable they’ll keep on with room-only offers for these timeframes, or roll with one other novel low cost.
Lastly, Walt Disney World teased that there can be “a brand new room supply for Florida Residents and extra!” I can’t recall the final time there was a brand new supply for Floridians however not Annual Passholders–normally, when a deal is launched for one or the opposite, it involves APs first after which FL residents.
In different phrases, I’d say there’s a 99% likelihood of each Florida Resident and Annual Passholder room-only offers. My guess is that it’ll max out at 35% off for Annual Passholders and 30% off for Floridians, with journey dates of July 8 to October 3, 2024. That will be in line with previous precedent and the present Florida resident ticket deal.
Past all of that, there’s additionally an opportunity of one other Disney+ subscriber low cost and perhaps a Disney Visa cardmember room-only charge. Actually, I’d wager in opposition to each. It’s pretty uncommon to see multiples of the focused affiliation low cost–and this batch already has the Disney Visa Free Eating deal. Including one other to the combo would imply a grand whole of 5 new reductions, and it’s uncommon to see that many.
We’ll be carefully monitoring the 2024 Walt Disney World low cost state of affairs, preserving our ears open for extra information about different particular affords. Ought to something be launched or rumored for future journey dates, we’ll ship you an alert when you join our FREE Walt Disney World publication.
When you’re already overwhelmed, you would possibly simply need another person to do the be just right for you. Free Eating is Walt Disney World’s most intricate promotion, and is usually a big headache to guide. Between restricted availability and navigating a sea of guidelines and restrictions, it’s straightforward to get pissed off, have issues, or be unsuccessful in scoring a reservation.
To that finish, we at all times advocate that Walt Disney World first-timers or regulars who simply don’t need to take care of the trouble use a journey agent. (Click on right here to request a free quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, an Licensed Disney Journey Planner that we advocate.) Most legit journey brokers don’t cost for reserving Walt Disney World holidays (and also you don’t pay a premium to make use of them–Disney pays them fee, in order that they’re free to you), in order that’s actually the best approach to go. However when you’re going to go that route for Free Eating, you want to take action ASAP. Don’t count on to request a quote on the morning of April 9 and obtain a direct response–it’s good to get your geese in a row now.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney World Motels Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize 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 singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited that room-only reductions might be launched to most of the people, Florida residents, and Annual Passholders? Planning on reserving these or the second wave of Free Eating for Disney Visa cardmembers on April 9, 2024? Assume this leaves the door open for a attainable third wave of Free Eating in 2024? Ideas concerning the 2024 Free Eating dates, package deal necessities & guidelines, or the rest? Agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions? Listening to 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!
