Hi, Tricia!
There are a few "official" ways to hear about Free Dining and other Special Offers that are available for your magical Walt Disney World vacation. For the most current offers, you will want to click
HERE. This link will show you what you can book for your upcoming vacation. The other "official" way to keep up with what is available is through the
Disney Blog. This is always a good read not only for great deals, but to keep up with what is new at the parks and more.
"Unofficially" you can subscribe to e-newsletters at www.allears.net and www.mousesavers.com who usually have a "heads up" a bit before any specials are announced to the public. Unfortunately, the MOMS on the panel do not get any information on what is coming and when, and we only find out through the same channels as every other guest, so I cannot tell you more that what you will read online. There does seem to be a trend to do Free Dining or other offers during the slower times of the year, and rarely will you find any deals during super busy times like the week between Christmas and New Years or during Spring Break.
My best advice is to keep checking the links I gave you. Wishing upon a star never hurt either! Good luck finding the perfect vacation for your family and your budget.