2018 Disney World Free Dining for UK
The 2018 Walt Disney World Free Disney Dining Plan discount offer is now available for United Kingdom residents! So, for those of you booking a 2018 Disney holiday (that’s United Kingdomish for “vacation” 😉 ) you can now take advantage of this offer. And by “you,” I mean the 5.3% of you readers living in the UK.
The rest of you will just have to look at this exceptional offer in envy, daydreaming about a future when Americans will receive better offers. Just as we daydream about a future when Americans will receive better paid vacation standards. (Here’s a fascinating read on European versus American notions of vacation time.)
Actually, in addition to the basics of the 2018 Free Dining promo, we’re going to offer some analysis on other discounts at Walt Disney World and whether this offers any clues to the future of Free Dining for U.S. residents (spoiler: it doesn’t). So, it isn’t totally useless if you live in the United States or Canada…
First, the details of the 2018 Free Disney Dining Plan discount for UK residents. If you book a full-price Walt Disney World hotel (Moderate tier or above) and ticket package for a minimum of 5 nights for travel dates January 1, 2018 through March 18, 2018 and April 6, 2018 through November 30, 2018 by July 6, 2017 you receive Free Dining. Guests at Moderate Resorts receive the Quick Service Dining Plan. Deluxes receive the standard Disney Dining Plan.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE. In addition to this Free Dining offer (which looks pretty much like the standard U.S. offer, guests also receive a $200 Disney gift card and Disney’s 14-Day Ultimate Ticket for the price of a 7-Day Ticket. (This is ticket is not sold in the U.S., which may be why it sounds unfamiliar to some of you.)
Now, I know a lot of American Disney fans are sitting on pins and needles regarding this year’s Free Dining promo given all of the comments we’ve received on our 2017 Free Disney Dining Plan Promo post and are eagerly awaiting any rumors, hints, or hope of any sort regarding that discount, but…I don’t think this UK offer provides any insight whatsoever into 2017 (or 2018, for that matter) Free Dining for the U.S.
Aside from a slight shift in the blockout period (due to the peak season shifting as a result of Easter being on a different date in 2018), this 2018 Free Dining promo for United Kingdom residents is identical to the 2017 offer. To be honest, I’m surprised Walt Disney World didn’t do more to sweeten the promo given the declining purchasing power of the pound and the current economic uncertainty in the United Kingdom.
The unfortunate thing about a promo being released so far in advance is it’s not based on as reliable of hotel occupancy projections as a promotion released ~6 months in advance. Disney knows that, historically, a promo like this works to incentivize lucrative UK guests to book a trip, but the promo is not being used to hit occupancy targets based on any current trends.
More telling is the 35% off ticket offer for Canadians, and just the simple fact that the Canadian, United Kingdom, and Brazilian currencies have been slumping as compared to the USD. Even though the majority of visitors to Walt Disney World are from the United States, these foreign visitors spend (or used to spend) disproportionate amounts.
On the other hand, consumer confidence in the United States is incredibly strong right now, and that is a driver of spending and travel decisions. If you read our 2017: Year of the Discount at Walt Disney World? post (written last fall), you know I did not see this coming. Normally, consumers are skittish in the year immediately following an election; our most recent election was an anomaly in a number of ways…and I guess it defied even the Presidential Election Cycle Theory.
We could start seeing the impacts of increased consumer confidence in bookings this fall. Then there’s the buzz that will follow the opening of Pandora – World of Avatar. If this new land wows guests, generating positive word of mouth and a flurry of favorable media coverage (mainstream, not just Disney blogs like this), it could boost bookings. Conversely, poor buzz will do little to motivate additional bookings. Likewise, a market ‘correction’ or a decrease in consumer confidence could spell a situation that requires further discounting.
In other words, if you’re wondering whether Walt Disney World will have better discounts for Fall 2017 and beyond, we have absolutely no clue at this point. How’s that for burying the lede. 😉
Planning a Walt Disney World vacation (or ‘holiday’)? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think about the 2018 Free Dining promo for United Kingdom residents? Wish we got offers like this in the United States, or do you prefer getting full Free Dining at the Moderate Resorts? Share any questions or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
I was a month ago in wdw from Türkiye I’m from the netherlands but lives here. Anyhow I also thinking to come again and stay in a wdw resort but still with the discount from the UK side is really expensive euro pound is not in the best combi and than the flights what’s also 700 dollar. Why it must be so really expensive aaahh;). You wrote about the discounts from the usa but I hear that in the USA you can safe points from different places and collect them for discount and get a disney creditcard and all I think that’s a part of your discount..;) we don’t have that… but still disney get more expensive every year in a few year it will be only available for the rich people:(
Greetings judith
We booked last year before the falling pound and the election! Big mistake methinks. Got the free dining plan but air fares were not that cheap especially if you couldn’t fly from Gatwick or Manchester and now we have to pay for ESTAs which only last 2 years. What a rip off.
We’ll see how immigration goes as it’s usually awful but not as bad in Orlando as Miami & other US airports which are horrendous. What on earth is wrong with US immigration staff? Take a trip to OZ or NZ, they’re fabulous, so welcoming.
Think this may well be our last trip to the US!
We took advantage of free dining for our trip in 2015. It definitely makes it more affordable for such a big holiday.
For families traveling to WDW from the UK, it’s such a long way we tend to stay for two weeks, hence spending more and needing an incentive to book ahead.
To Tom: yes, there was a 40% off OKW/SSR + free dining offer a few years ago. I remember trying to convince my mom to go but she wouldn’t. Plus, I read several reports of people booking this getting upgraded from a studio to a 1-bedroom at checkin.
As for the political situation: I agree with Emily. I am confident that the drop in international tourism will be significant and the insanely low fares for flights from the EU to the US floating around prove that the demand is lower. After yesterday’s news that tourists on the visa waiver progam are not exempt from “extreme vetting” I, too, came to the decision that I would not return to the US until that is sorted out. In no way should wanting to see Mickey Mouse be a reason for me to give up the little bit of privacy we have left. And this is coming from someone who has visited the US as a tourist 27 times in the past 18 years, with trips lasting up to 3 weeks. So it’s not that I don’t like going there.
That said, there are more factors at play than the political situation. I read an article yesterday mentioning that airline bookings from western Europe to the US had dropped 14% in the past couple of months due to the current administration, but it failed to mention the effect of the exchange rate and general price increases. We were shocked when we visited WDW last May for the first time since 2012. Not only had we taken a 30+% hit on the exchange rate, but prices at WDW had also increased dramatically. During our time there from mid-May until May 31st we even witnessed 20% prices increases on several pieces of merchandise leading up to Memorial Day weekend. The net increase in cost of a trip to WDW for people from the EU over the past 7 years or so is about (or at least!) 60% on WDW resorts, about 100% on food, and probably at least 50-60% on merchandise. We used to go home with 1 or 2 extra suitcases filled with hundreds of $, if not over 1K worth of merchandise, shoes, and clothing, but on that 2.5 week trip in May last year I bought one $33 item at WDW, spent $23 at the Character Warehouse and that was it. It just isn’t worth it anymore. Even over the course of one year last year’s trip would now cost us 44% more for the room and 17% more for tickets when booked in the UK. On an 18-night trip that is a huge difference.
And yes, I know I’m not mentioning inflation, but these cost increases far outweigh inflation.
So to come back to the topic: it’s going to take more than “free” dining for us to spend money in the US like we used to.
Thanks for the info on the past promos. Prices have definitely increased pretty significantly since around 2011, which is when the US economy really started to turn the corner after the global financial crisis. With the dollar getting stronger relative to many currencies in the last couple of years, you’re seeing those increases amplified.
As for the current administration…I don’t know where to begin. The news seems to get worse on a daily basis, and the brand of extreme isolationism this administration seems to be taking is quite perplexing, to say the least. Personally, I hope international tourists vote with their wallets and it is a wake-up call for the administration. (The flipside to this is that it’s now embarrassing to travel abroad as an American…I just want to pretend I’m Canadian.)
Just wear a maple leaf T-shirt, that’s what the Canadians do ;).
We’ll see Mickey in Paris next week, so we’re still getting our fix without jumping through unneccessary hoops :).
Hi tom, we are travelling to Orlando from the uk twice this year we are there next month and again in December for Christmas we would love to eat somewhere special at magic kingdom on Christmas Day!! Where would you recommend and are there any must do’s and don’ts we are staying on site and will be at the contemporary resort for 10 days,. Thanks
Another UK fan here. We’ve booked for next year but it is a lot more expensive than our last visit in 2016. I’ve paid a deposit only which is nearly offset by some cashback I can get which usually pays out before the balance is due and if a better offer comes up then I will change it. The biggest problem for U.K. visitors is the flights… we save airmiles as we need school holidays but it’s still more than the Disney bit. The weak £ has made this a lot harder and wouldn’t be surprised if more offers come along to entice U.K. guests. But… I have noticed they called this “the best Disney deal for 2018″…
They call it the UK offer but everybody from Europe can book or
I am from the Netherlands and have booked it in the past.
The USA site offers the best free diningplan the UK offers the best tickets and other extra’s
We are stuck to the schoolhollidays and the USA can keep the children out of school if they want in low season
Etc…
Without this sort of promo we would never have been able to afford to stay at a Deluxe resort.
As visitors from the UK tend to stay for 2+ weeks, food for the 2 weeks adds up. For a family of four staying in one room this is a real saving.
However, as the Pound is so weak prices are very high. I would personally avoid WDW holidays until Sterling recovers.
Hi Tom,
I love that you’ve written a post mentioning the UK – thank you! And great to see other UK fans of the site in the comments
I just wondered if you had a recommendation for the best Mac n cheese at Walt Disney World?!!
Thanks!
We are from Australia and have a trip booked latter this year and it is so frustrating that there are no special offers for us. With the exchange rate at the moment it costs us 30% more! But I guess Disney just don’t see us as a viable market as we have a small population compared to the UK
Have you tried Tokyo Disney Resort? Much closer to you and better parks, IMO.
Aussie family who loves disney we have booked for september 2017.this will be our sixth time..but think how much is cost us..we never get deals that the english get..and it cost us more ..because of the dollar..
Hi Tom!! I’m a fan from the UK!!! Feels nice to be mentioned thank you. We’ve just booked for next year and I am sooooo excited. Usually I read your blog and dream but for once I can actually start planning. Still feels a bit surreal.
Staying on property for the first time since I was a little kid to celebrate getting my masters. Soooo here’s to hoping I get it 😉
Looking forward to the next post!
Another UK fan of your site here Tom – excellent work and a must read for any Disney traveller worldwide.
Anticipated this offer and SOOOO disappointed..: stayed in Saratoga 8 times.. had a disney wedding in 2014..
This years prices so inflated up to £1000 more expensive than last year and what’s with the £400 each tickets???
Exchange rate making a big difference so for the first time in years looking to stay off site!
Hi tom.
First time poster from Scotland.
My family and I have visited wdw for the last 4 years in January including our wedding at the Floridian in 2015.
We have taken advantage of this offer every year with this year having the addition of free memory maker.
The $200 is usually available for the first few months of offer then reducing to $100 then to zero the nearer you get to your holiday.
We usually stay at Saratoga springs with this giving the dining plan.
This allows character dining at no cost.
Our meal this January for 4 adults and 4 kids for Cinderellas R T was near $500.
It’s great to have this already paid.
Love your work and read your site everyday.
Thx Bob.
You seem like a good person to ask since you’ve been going for a while: at any time did Walt Disney World offer UK visitors BOTH Free Dining and 40% off Saratoga and/or Old Key West? I could swear that was one of the promos a few years back (perhaps longer?), but I can’t find anything to back me up on that. Obviously, we never took advantage of this promo since we live in the states.
We have been going for 6 years from the uk, and yes, there is usually a percentage off ssr and okw. Last year i got free dining, 30% off okw (it has been as high as 40% in previous years) $200 gift card, free memory maker, and tons of what they call ‘holiday extras’ (money off at disney store, discount on characters in flight, DS restaurant vouchers etc)
Yes, OKW as well, had up to.46% off RR a few years ago and it’s just gone down and down to nothing. Our 2018 trip will be 23% more expensive than our 2016 one, comparing 2 weeks OKW for 6people. Current offer also includes 12 months sub to DisneyLife, if that’s of interest to anyone!
Hi tom.
Agree with others posts.
Saratoga discount of 40% usually not available until mid July.
Think this is to allow vacation club owners first refusal.
Prices are sky high this year.
Yep Heather free memory maker, I’m from Ireland and offer applies here too. 14 nights booked in animal kingdom lodge for April 2018 eekkk! Second trip to the Lodge we love it!
Thanks, Tom. Now trying to decide how to get our UK friends to book a trip and let us tag along. 😉
Thanks for a UK focussed article! Would love more of these but realise a) we are just 5% and b) you don’t have personal experience.
The holiday/vacation thing is weird. I keep reading “WDW is busy in the holidays” (meaning Christmas) and thinking which holidays? Even weirder: in the uk entree means appetiser. It took me the longest time to work out why everyone was comparing restaurant entrees!
You guys need to go ahead and learn English already. 😉
There is also a lesser free dining offer for most value resorts. These bookings get a free “breakfast” which in reality is 1 quick service credit per day. No gift card though.
Prices as a whole seem to be up around 20% on the 2017 free dining offers. Most of this can be attributed to the £ being worth 25c less
Pardon me for bringing this up, but many of my Canadian compatriots have decided not to travel to the US for the time being. Some see this as a boycott of Trump, others are merely nervous of stories of changing restrictions at the border. Is this a smaller issue for Disney than it looks from up here?
I think it’s an issue, but there’s probably the hope that it’ll be offset by higher consumer confidence in the United States. While I’ve seen a couple of articles about the travel boycott (and other countries issuing travel advisories), it’s not much of a story here–but probably because we have a new slew of nauseating news on a daily basis.
My personal take is that this is a house of cards that will crash sooner or later. High consumer confidence in the U.S. is not a result of any policy changes, just optimism. Without policy to back that up, it’s unsustainable. I have my own opinions about the Trump administration that I will spare you all from here, but I don’t see our current trajectory being sustainable in the long term. Beyond the admin, there are a few warning signs right now (auto loan bubble, precipitously rising home prices) and I think we are due for more than just a “correction” in the near future.
If/when this occurs, I think we’ll see significantly more aggressive discounting.
It looks like you also get Memory Maker and a 12 month subscription to DisneyLife with the UK 2018 deals.