Can you change your hotel once you are there, when you have free dining?

[applechips]

Has anyone ever been able to change hotels once they were at WDW when they had the MYW Package w/ free dining (of course PAYING for the difference in price of the hotel)?

For example, if you stayed one night at a value hotel but couldn't take the small double beds and your small children kicking you all night could you then see about paying for an upgrade to another hotel that had queen beds such as the Beach Club villas?

Is Disney able to change your reservation like that once you are there? I know people have gotten Guest Services to change their free dining plan package BEFORE they went but wanted to know if you could change it once you were there and had started the reservation?

thanks!

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

I would say that you can but it would be kind of a hassle. I saw someone doing this when we were there. She was at WL and her allergies acted up so much that she couldn't breathe so they were switching to CBR. It took a really long time and she was very frustrated. I don't think she was on free dining. In your particular example though, I would be more inclined to see if you could rent a rollaway or go to walgreens and get an inflatable bed. Hopefully you don't have any issues when you are there.

Have fun!

 

[applechips]

thanks for your info!

Anyone else have more info??

 

[texasteacher35]

The problem is, depending on the season...there may NOT be any other hotels available to switch to!

 

[PlainJane]

While there is always a chance that this would be possible, it is very unlikely that they would be able to move you and that you would still be able to keep the free dining. There are only a limited amount of rooms with free dining attached. It is way more likely that they could move you if you are willing to give up the free dining.

 

[GiGi30]

I am going on 9/15 and called several times about doing this. According to what I was told, you would lose the free dining and have to pay for additional park hopper passes for the days you switch (even though I had already purchased them for the week, meaning I would have 2 passes for each day) the difference in hotel prices (if any), thus making it a whole new reservation. I do not understand this. I have been VERY frustrated. Each CM told me something different each time I called. I booked AKL for my whole family and nobody really wanted to stay there (It was kind of a surprise, so I made an executive decision and found out only after I had booked). Everyone wanted to stay at Contemporary instead. I thought that it would just be the difference in the room rates. I also found out if I wanted to upgrade to a 1 room suite from a standard Savanna view, I would lose my free dining also. They make it really hard to switch. We will be keeping the original reservation and staying at AKL.

 

[gatorellis]

We were at POR and switched over to WL without any problem last summer. It was real easy, we did it the morning we went to WCC for breakfast and decided we just had to stay there.

 

[safetymom]

It would depend if there were other resorts available with the free dining. Just because there may be rooms available there may not be any with free dining.

 

[epcotfan]

Depends entirely on hotel availability and whether they've sold out of rooms with the free dining option or not. If you think you aren't going to like your current hotel, I would try talking to someone at CRO about it now.

 

[antmaril]

Depends entirely on hotel availability and whether they've sold out of rooms with the free dining option or not. If you think you aren't going to like your current hotel, I would try talking to someone at CRO about it now.

I agree with this. If you really think you will want to change, you should try to do it now. You must go through Guest Services. The CM will most likely tell you it's impossible -- ask them to transfer you to Guest Services. IF there are rooms available with Free Dining at the resort you want, it absolutely can be done.

 

[GiGi30]

Thanks for the info about calling Guest Services. I will try that this week!

 

[pxefig]

I called yesterday to see if I could switch resorts (we'll be there in 10 days) and the reservationist said that since the free dining promo ended, any changes would be at the rack rate and I would lose the free dining.
If you are looking to go from a value to a deluxe, maybe not getting free dining wouldn't be that big a deal since you will be paying four times as much for the hotel.
As far as changing after you are there, it would depend on how generous a mood the CM is when you ask. It's not unheard of, esepcially if you make a good case and are nice.
I guess it all comes down to what is more important, the free dining or the reosrt or leaving it all up to chance.
In any case, it never hurts to ask. The worst the can say is no!

 

[GiGi30]

Just called and got switched from AKL to Poly and kept the free dining! It can be done! Thanks for the advice about calling Guest Relations! It was a very painless process compared to trying to do this earlier with the reservations department!

 

[antmaril]

Just called and got switched from AKL to Poly and kept the free dining! It can be done! Thanks for the advice about calling Guest Relations! It was a very painless process compared to trying to do this earlier with the reservations department!

 

[gigi1313]

i have a friend who was in wdw last year for free dining... he was reserved to stay at the BC and when they checked in the room did not meet their standards (view? balcony? i do not remember the complaint), so their room was changed... still did not suffice... went to the GF for dinner, loved the look of the resort, went to the front desk and told them their tale of woe (just not happy at the BC) and the CM gave them a room at the GF and moved their stuff over... their park tickets and their free dining were not effected at all...

but, i would have to say that this is done on a very case by case basis and obviously availability is a big component of it being do-able!