2020 Free Dining at Disney World for UK
2020 Walt Disney World Free Dining is coming soon for UK residents! In this post, we share dates and details, what this could mean for future U.S. general public WDW deals, whether the promo makes sense to book, and more.
First, the details of the 2020 Free Disney Dining Plan discount for UK residents. You’re eligible for this promotion if you book a full-price Walt Disney World hotel and ticket package for a minimum of 5 nights for travel dates January 1 through March 29, 2020 and April 19 through October 3, 2020. Booking begins April 25, 2019 and you must book the Free Dining promo by July 2, 2019.
As part of this offer, you can also take advantage of Walt Disney World’s 14-Day Ultimate Ticket for the price of a 7-Day Ticket, which includes Memory Maker and is available exclusively to UK and Ireland residents. Guests booking the 2020 Free Dining deal will also receive a $200 Disney gift card.
One wrinkle as compared to the U.S. version of Free Dining is that for this promo, guests staying at Value Resorts will receive free breakfast, which should actually be a generic quick service credit that you could–and should–use for a different meal.
Consistent with other versions of Free Dining, Moderate Resort guests receive the Quick Service Dining Plan. Deluxe and Villa Resorts receive the standard Disney Dining Plan. Unless I missed something, the only resort or room exclusions are pool view rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Pop Century, Little Mermaid Rooms at Art of Animation, and the entirety of Disney’s Riviera Resort. However, that last one could simply be an oversight since it’s not yet open.
You can read more about the details, exclusions, and terms of the offer on DisneyHolidays.co.uk. (Don’t miss the “exciting” pdf with the large section of conditions surrounding Brexit!)
Aside from a slight shift in the blockout period, which varies every year and is based upon the weeks around Easter, this 2020 Free Dining promo for United Kingdom residents is pretty similar to offers from previous years. The biggest changes from what I can tell are that booking ends earlier (July 2019 as compared to November last year) and the end booking window ends nearly two months earlier (October 3 versus November 30).
Neither of these things should be much of a surprise. It’s been several years since Walt Disney World offered Free Dining to U.S. residents for the month of October, and November has likewise become an increasingly busy travel period. Shortening the booking window likely reflects the room inventory dedicated to this promotion and/or Disney’s projections about when that inventory will sell out.
If anything, UK residents should be happy that the deal is being offered at all. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is not suddenly going to be unpopular a year after it opens. To the contrary, Summer 2020 will be the first chance to see it for guests who can only travel during the summer. Likewise, early Fall 2020 will be the first fall that the entire land is open.
Even without Star Wars land, we’ve been getting to a point for the last several years where Walt Disney World doesn’t “need” to offer Free Dining to fill rooms. In part, this is why we’ve seen a gradual erosion to the promo the last several years, and why inventory has seemed paltry.
I wouldn’t bet one way or the other as to whether Free Dining is offered to U.S. the general public in 2020 quite yet. On the one hand, I doubt it’ll be a strict necessity, barring something happening with the economy. It just seems unlikely that Walt Disney World will need to do much extra to fill its hotel rooms.
On the other hand, those two words–FREE DINING–have enormous marketing value, and even if the promo is significantly scaled back, many people would book over the excitement of the offer alone. Given the power and recognition of those words, it’s hard to imagine Walt Disney World eliminating Free Dining entirely.
While I do not think this deal is indicative of a U.S. Free Dining offer, it’s at least promising. If there were no 2020 Free Dining deal for UK residents or no 2020 Bounceback, that’d be a strong sign of no general public offer next year in the United States.
Every year when this UK deal is released, we inevitably see Disney fans from the United States perturbed that we don’t receive as good of an offer. Basically, it boils down to something we always stress on this blog when discussing discounts: Disney never offers promotions out of corporate benevolence. Discounts exist to incentivize people to fill hotel rooms.
Disney does more to attract “holidaymakers” from the United Kingdom for a few different reasons. First, that long flight over the Atlantic means UK visitors need a greater incentive to head to Florida instead of, say, Disneyland Paris. Second, the pound is historically weak versus the dollar, which means the purchasing power of UK residents is diminished as compared to what it was only a few years ago.
Finally, UK guests are generally some of Disney’s biggest whales. (I mean that in the flattering way–it has nothing to do with how those Disney Dining Plan credits are used!) These UK guests come for two or more weeks–hence the 14-day ticket–and drop a lot of money on Walt Disney World vacations. If they’re staying that long, they are also less likely to spend all of those Dining Plan credits or spend every waking hour in the parks. In essence, they are less costly guests in terms of utilization.
The average length of stay for guests from the United Kingdom is significantly longer than the 5-day average for Americans, so Walt Disney World does what it can to entice these lucrative guests to come to Walt Disney World. It’s a pretty straightforward business practice of catering to desired demographics.
Moreover, it’s always odd to me that Disney fans are upset about promos to international visitors when these guests are a boon to the U.S. economy. In fact, if you’re a Floridian, you might consider personally thanking UK visitors for being a large contributor to the local economy…and your lack of state income taxes. 😉
If lengthy vacations were commonplace in the United States, you can bet Walt Disney World would try to attract domestic guests with comparable promotions. Before you reply in the comments that you do visit Walt Disney World for vacations of that duration–demographically, Americans do not. Plus, you’re a fan who just read all the way to the end of a blog post about a promotion that is not applicable to you. They’ve already got you.
That’s about it in terms of the 2020 Free Disney Dining Plan promo for UK guests. As always, deals for the United Kingdom are not exactly our wheelhouse, so if you’re a European who can offer any insight into how this offer stacks up to other promotions targeted at your region, we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. 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 2020 Free Dining discount for United Kingdom residents? Wish we got offers like this in the United States, or do you prefer getting the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan at the Value Resorts? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Hi. Any news on UK release dates for 21?
This may make US fans feel more wanted by WDW – the new dining plan plus is only offered to you guys, it is not on offer to international guests
Does anyone know if free dining for 2020 will be available to book this year or will it just be for 2021 now?
Don’t know if I should book an off site property now or wait for some onsite deals
can you tell me why tui is not offering the 209 spending m9ney yet all other travel agencies are
They say its because they will use the money as a discount off the price of your holiday.
I booked with attraction tickets and got 300 Disney dollars and the price was the same with tui
thank you as I have now booked with tui as they wheir cheaper than virgin and Thomas cook.
Hi Tom
I live in uk and have been reading your blogs in an attempt to make good decisions re my once in a life time holiday to Orlando
Can you help please. I have booked but can change my holiday to Orlando for 1st – 18th April 2020.
I have looked at your guide re busy periods and I am understanding it I am going to hit a busy period re USA school holidays and UK holidays .
I noticed that these are the only blackout dates for the free dining package .
So with the above in mind should I switch my holiday to August to get the benefit of the free dining and also if I move to the last 2 weeks of August do I avoid USA school vacation periods?
So if I was to move to August from Easter I am guessing weather not so good .
Basically can you suggest would I be better going in Aug or April. I don’t want to come for a short holiday so looking at 16-18 days and I cannot take my son out of school.
Your experience is so needed to try and get the best decision .
Cheers
Mark cooper
Hi. The weather in April and August will be lovely but there are likely to be thunderstorms in August. I think August will be busier as it’s still the summer.
The only time I went when things were remotely quiet was early October and late november/early December. Are you staying onsite?
Are we talking about Disney World?
August weather Is awful, it’s extremely hot, humid and rainy.
April would be so much better weather-wise… less likely to run into cooler weather than you would be in the preceding March..but shouldn’t be 100 either.
I think both months will have more quiet times and busy times. Typically end of August it slows down.
October has been very busy for years now…but weather is nice if there no hurricane.
Our go to time is end of August but it is not for the weather at all 😉
This year this will change of course with SWGE opening end of August…
I just spent 4 hours in a virtual queue just to get on the UK website to book our free dining for 2020 but was so worth it. Saved a bundle and locked in for next year. When I started, I was number 18,000 in line just to get on the website. Everything was still available when I was able to log on.
We went for coronado springs but it was unavailable for our dates so we got carribean beach club. Absolutely delighted. We saved a fortune
i was working until late, then with the virtual queue (1.5hours) i got on at 10.15pm
i didn’t think there was much left – only POFQ, coronodo, Beach club and GF offering free dining (and i think maybe just all star, but not sure)
we booked POFQ, but will have to do some tweeking later.
The Caribbean didn’t even show up!
Hi, is it possible/likely that the dining plan will be extended beyond 3rd October 2020. Previous 2 visits have been end of October with the plan and would like the same again. Otherwise likely to have to look for Villa option which is a shame as like on site.
There is no difficulty in the world, as long as Kenden climbs
Tom do you think they will put out another FREE DINING 2019 for US residents for November and December?
Thanks!
Waiting and praying there might be free dining this fall- December 22-28 specifically. We can ONLY GO at the craziest busiest days I know, but it is what is is- there are 15 of us , so obviously I would love the free dining!
Free dining is almost never released during the busiest times of year. Disney doesn’t have any trouble filling rooms without it at those times.
4years I was the lucky recipient of free dining during the Christmas week. Hoping it happens again.
Yes DK, the Canadian dollar is slightly better than our Aussie dollar. It ain’t easy that’s for sure.
For Chris G
I have used the free dining plan for years. A few years ago it was offered for the same year, then it changed to the following year. I would not hold out much hope for them changing back. Sorry
“If lengthy vacations were commonplace in the United States, you can bet Walt Disney World would try to attract domestic guests with comparable promotions. Before you reply in the comments that you do visit Walt Disney World for vacations of that duration—demographically, Americans do not. Plus, you’re a fan who just read all the way to the end of a blog post about a promotion that is not applicable to you. They’ve already got you.” —-Ouch, sooooo true!!!!
We live in the US, travel to Disney and why is our money any different from anyone else? These deals should be for anyone.
Disney discriminates everyone but Floridians and UK!
Does Universal discriminate like Disney when it offers specials?
It’s so frustrating to constantly see these selected specials to the same people, when many of us spend a lot of money at Disney both at the resorts and parks and pay premiums to get plane tickets when our kids are out if school.
:/ angry to learn of this special :/
I feel exactly the same way… and I’m from Australia… what’s good for one should be good for all.
I’m not angry to learn of the promo (US resident). It makes me hopeful that there might be a bounceback coming!
I booked through USA site before even knowing about the UK site. Too bad for me. I think maybe it has to do with the fact that flights within Europe (before Brexit) are very cheap, for example from Luxembourg to Lisbonne (Portugal) or Dublin (Ireland) or Barcelona (Spain) I can pay 33$ with taxes for a round way ticket :-).
So to entice UK residents (I am not a UK resident I am French) to spend their vacation in WDW they do great deals. Since airfare is going to be a lot higher to go to the USA, UK residents stay 14 to 21 days.
I had a great deal because I am coming in September and I am paying 2500$ for our airplane tickets.
Keep in mind that school starts the first week of September around the 3rd in the UK as in France, so people coming are either taking kids out of school or without kids.
We are very lucky as our children are on summer leave from July 14th to September 17th being educated in Luxembourg, which makes our WDW vacation possible.
Is there anyrhing for” closer international visitors”??? We also stay for at least two weeks.
Hi Kym,
Really…wow! Any chance you could let us know who they are. Thank you so much. Charmaine
Tom, I love your sense of humor, never stop. “Plus, you’re a fan who just read all the way to the end of a blog post about a promotion that is not applicable to you. They’ve already got you.”
I agree, made me literally LOL!
Gutted even though I am English arriving the 1st leaving in the 18th dam.
Any suggestions for what to do wa t 5 days Disney , 5 days seaworld 5 days universal.
Was going to ditch the car I was going to hire and stay at a Disney hotel .
Help save me some money !!
Do you see any possibility of free dining being offered for wdw for november and december, 2019? Or does the fact that they have already announced a plan for 2020 mean that that possibility is significantly diminished? I am new to all this so excuse my ignorance in how info is released.
Hi Tom
Do you know if the uk has a second release of free dining like you do in the US. Wanting to go in November so we can experience a Disney Christmas. Was very disappointed when I saw the dates were only to October. Wondering if I should wait for Us discounts now. Will be there for two weeks so free dining would have been great for our huge eating teenagers
No, we don’t.
When will free dining dates be released for 2021 stays? U.K.
Are we sure this isn’t open to anyone booking through the UK website? Or maybe at least other Europeans? I lived in Germany two years ago and we looked at booking this deal. Seemed like we qualified at the time despite not being British or in the UK.
Ultimately, we booked through the US website because the rates were SO MUCH cheaper and the moderate food plan didn’t match with what we wanted to eat. The money saved by booking the US rates, we spent in the expensive restaurants.
So the deal isn’t all that great! At least when we booked it wasn’t. Depends on who you’re traveling with though and how you like to dine, I suppose.
Regardless, if I were in a country outside of the US and interested in this deal, I’d look into the rules on the UK Disney website! You never know.
The European Union has strict competition laws requiring, among other things, deals that are available in one market to be available in others. That explains why (at least until Brexit occurs) other Europeans can book Walt Disney World deals targeted to just the UK.
As for those outside of the EU, I’d say it’s very much YMMV. I’ve never tried to book any of these deals, so I’m hardly an authority on it, but others in the comments have discussed ‘hacks’ for getting it to work.
What about other countries. Like Canada? I would love to take advantage of free Disney Dinning, who wouldn’t?
Can you not still book it. We live in Ireland and booked through the UK website. Once they realised we were Irish they just converted prices to euro. It wasnt an issue. You should try. Go to attractionticketsdirect.co.uk
We Canadians have had a free meal plan for couple years now so I expect that there will be one for next year too. The one for this summer just ended like a month or so ago. I am interested to see if the release another one for Fall. I doubt it but you never know.
Canadians pay almost $1.50 for every US dollars and free dining or any other deal would be a great incentive for us Canadians that live Disney. Have t been able to go back for 2 years cause it’s so darn expensive
Meant to say we pay almost $1.40 Canadian to the US dollar.
Totally read to the end of this blog post and laughed aloud when I read “they are ready got you”!! So true. Has Pop Century been excluded for free dining in the past for UK?
Hi Tom
What about deals for those of us who live in Australia? The flight is very long for us and our dollar is also very weak against the USD. We love Disney and Florida. Visiting in December and hanging on for free dining.
We are also returning in December this year (from Australia) Jayne. It’s a shame Disney doesn’t do anything special for us. We’ve tried! We’ve made plenty of calls over the years to Disney. It falls on deaf ears sadly. Would be wonderful if they’d offer us the same deals as the UK. We have twice the distance to travel and a truly dreadful currency exchange.
Some travel agents in the Uk will give us Aussies the discounted Uk deals
Not just Australia, New Zealand too! I can regularly find Disneyland promotions via local travel agents, but I’ve yet to see a WDW promo. Sure, it’s not Disney offering these deals, but imagine if they did! Foreign visitors have to pony up significant money to visit the US Disneys – why only recognise those from the UK and Ireland? Our money is just as good, and we’re spending more of it just to get there.
Us too! I hopeful there will be something for aussies
Try Small World travels….we have used them several times when heading to WDW from Australia and everytime they have managed to get us free dining. Granted we usually travel during September but they have never let us down yet. Marion has been our saviour more than once.
I did get a quote from them but it was exactly the same as you can get from the Disney site.