Free Dining Plan for Disney World now open to all

A few days ago the Walt Disney World resort offered their ‘free’ dining plan deal to Disney Visa holders, now it’s available to the general public. This is the third year in a row Disney has offered some version of this deal and in the past it has really packed people in. Despite the recession, I don’t think it will be any different this year.

Guests buying a five-night/six-day room and theme park ticket package for stays most nights from Aug. 16 to Oct. 3, 2009, can enjoy the Disney Dining Plan for free. The plan includes one quick-service meal, one snack and one table-service meal at up to 100 restaurants for each night of the package stay.

With this special offer, a family of four can get a five-night stay at a select Disney Resort and a 6-day Magic Your Way base ticket (with free dining) for as little as:

• $1,390 in a standard room at a Disney Value Resort
• $1,764 in a standard room at a Disney Moderate Resort
• $2,276 in a standard room at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• $2,586 in a studio at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort or Disney’s Old Key West Resort.*

The package can be booked now through June 21, 2009 at disneyworld.com or by calling 407/W-DISNEY (407/934-7639) or their local travel agent and asking for package code RYH.

The Free Dining Plan replaces the Stay for seven pay for four deal. The parks have been busy, but the numbers are mostly attributed to a rise in drive in traffic. It will be interesting to see if free food can convert some of these into week long stays.

* Prices are based on two adults, one junior (ages 10 to 17) and one child (ages 3 to 9). The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Tickets are for one theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Excludes gratuities.