The holidays are over and while it may no longer be the most wonderful time of the year, it is the best time of the year for Disney deals! Starting on January 2, a number of new promotional offers will be available for summer travel to Walt Disney World.
On January 2nd, we'll see FREE DINING return to Disney with a free dining plan promotion that includes one of two meal plans with the purchase of select Walt Disney World vacation packages, for travel dates starting May 27 through Jun. 26, and Jul. 7 through Aug. 6, 2025.
Now, Disney never makes a promotion as easy as we would like it to be (is anything at Disney ever easy?) so the Free Dining promotion does have some requirements and limitations. The biggest limitation states that your package must be a standard priced room rate (no double dipping on Disney room promotions with the free dining plan) and your package must include a minimum 3-day Park Hopper ticket. Dates, resorts and room types are also limited for all promotions, so your best bet is to keep an open mind on where you are staying or have some flexibility with your travel dates.
Is Free Dining the promotion for me?
The real fine print on the Free Dining promotions will take a little more effort, know-how and price comparing to appreciate. Free dining isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and is never actually free! Disney sets up the Free Dining promotion to entice new bookings and increase their onsite resort reservations, but it’s not always the best value for guests who already have a package booked. I’m sure you're asking, how is this possible? The Free Dining promotion cannot be combined with a room discount, so you get either a percentage off your room, or the free dining plan depending on the promotion you book. Room promotions are a percentage off the nightly room rate based on the resort level you book, so a deluxe resort guest gets a higher percentage off the room cost than a value resort guest will receive. The longer your stay, the more you save on the room and a higher priced room will save you even more. Additionally, the Free Dining promotion gives the deluxe resort guests the higher priced Disney Dining Meal Plan added for free and the moderate and value resorts get the lower priced Quick Service Meal Plan. Compare the free dining package to your savings on the room discount with the standard price dining plan on your package and odds are you are paying more for the free dining promotion. (If you're still following me after that, good for you because even I get lost in the math!) The short answer to the question “is the meal plan the best offer?” is: you only know by pricing out your package with multiple offers to see what gives you the meal plan you want, the ticket type you need and the better final package price.
Ready to Book?
The best way to make sure you are getting the offer and pricing that is right for you and your family is to work with a skilled and knowledgeable travel planner. Not only do they know all the ins and outs of a Disney vacation, but they also know all of the best ways to take advantage of the promotions to their fullest. There are so many complications to booking a Disney trip, why not let a skilled, knowledgeable agent do the heavy lifting for you? Contact our friends over at Willow + Wand for a no obligation consultation and see which Disney package is the right fit for you!
Not looking for Free Dining?
If free food isn’t for you, (is that a thing? Are there people who don’t like free food?!) you're in luck! Disney is also offering room discounts for the general public, for Disney Annual Passholders and for Florida residents. The options here are far easier to navigate as the discount is calculated for you and has fewer limitations and requirements. The biggest obstacle will be finding the right resort for you with available promotional rates. Disney does not evenly apply promotions to all resorts and room types, so yes, once again you have to do the work. The percentage off for a room only discount will be a range from 30% for the higher end deluxe resorts and down to 10-15% off for value level resorts. Occasionally you will find that this puts a moderate level resort like Port Orleans in the same price point as a Little Mermaid room at the value level Art of Animation resort, so do your research to make sure you are getting the best room for your money.
Again, with so many options to weigh for your stay, it’s best to work with a professional who knows all of the Disney resorts. I always say that Disney resorts are like your children, you love them all the same, but for different reasons. The skill comes in finding the resort that is the one that you and your family will love best, not the one that your neighbor or cousin Ryan says is the best.
Not looking for a Disney vacation? They have that covered too!
Disney may not be your destination of choice in 2025, and I get that. It’s a great big, beautiful tomorrow out there with a lot to see! Working with your advisor at Willow + Wand, they can create a personalized destination itinerary for you anywhere in the world! Want to travel the rivers of Europe? They know how to sail. Explore the wilds of the African savanna? They have the expedition for you. Their personal attention to all your travel needs sets them apart from all of the other agencies who simply specialize in Disney destinations. Willow + Wand does it all for you and they do it with excellent service!