WDW "Free Dining" deal has a few strings - Uncle Walt's Insider

WDW “Free Dining” deal has a few strings

Free stuff you can pay for!

Woohoo! It’s “free”!

WALT DISNEY WORLD, FL — Fans of the Walt Disney World Resort and Spa are rejoicing that so-called “Free Dining” packages are now available. For a limited time, guests can book a package deal involving a hotel stay and park admission and receive a free dining plan for each member of their party.

But what are the requirements? And is the “Free Dining” actually worth it? That’s why we’re here. Let’s take a look at the details:

The details

On the surface, the Free Dining deal can only be booked between now and February 10, and is only for travel between July 5 and September 30. But when you dig down to the fine print, you see that the deal only applies if the sum of the month and year of both your booking date and your arrival is a prime number, unless you live in a state or country whose name ends with a vowel. In that case, you are not eligible for the offer, unless you also submit a certified document from a government official (consular or higher) affirming that your home country or state is either (a) considering changing its name or (b) currently a war zone and likely to be conquered, such as Ukraine or Mississippi. If you can’t find a consular officer, written permission from the Commissioner of Baseball is also accepted.

Then, of course, the Free Dining packages require a resort hotel stay. Inside sources tell us that the only rooms being made available for this offer are next to noisy elevator lobbies and overlook parking lots or rooftops. (A limited number of non-elevator rooms may be included at the All-Star resorts, on the condition that rooms on either side and above will contain cheerleaders or Brazilians.)

“Admission plus”

Once you book your room (minimum 27-night stay for a 5-day dining plan), you are also required to purchase park admission, including Park Hoppers for each guest age 2 months and above. And while Walt Disney World recently announced admission increases for its parks, guests on the Free Dining deal will actually pay more.

“We’re calling it ‘admission plus,” Disney (the company) spokesperson Jun Disney (no relation) tells Uncle Walt’s Insider. “It’s an enhanced, more robust admission cost over and above the normal admission. We estimate maybe $35-40 more per day for those receiving the free Quick Service plan.”

Why, we asked? Disney (no relation) had a quick answer. “We’ve got to pay for this free stuff somehow!”

Worth it?

We were curious if, given the restrictions and expense, anyone would actually book the Free Dining deal, and so we asked around on a few Disney fan sites. Art Brenton, 35, of Decatur, IL, gave a typical reply: “Well of course I’ll be booking it! It says ‘free,’ so it has to be worth it!”

How much would you pay for free stuff? Let us know in the comments below!

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