Ok.. I need some advice!

[Melissa<3Disney]

I keep going back and fourth. Here is the back story...we are planning to visit the world from Sept. 3rd-11th or 12th. I am thinking I want to go ahead and book. The catch is that we are only staying onsite if free dining is offered. The reason being is that we are booking two rooms for eight people and 1 infant, and if free dining isn't offered it would just be cheaper for us to book a vacation home or rent DVC points and pay for a few meals out of pocket and cook the rest in a kitchen. We are planning on staying at POP. I guess my hesitation is.. if I go ahead and book now and when free dining comes out add it to our ressie, how hard is it to secure a new reservation with free dining? Has anyone ever had a problem adding free dining once it was announced?! Or should I just wait it out and book once Free Dining is announced? We are still going to be doing a few TS meals regardless of where we stay...and I would like to book them all at the 180+10 days if possible. But I'm just so confused on what I should do!! Also if we do book and free dining isn't offered, how long does it take to get the money back once you have can celled a reservation. If it were up to me we would stay onsite anyways, but since my boyfriend and I are paying for almost the entire trip he wants to be frugal! haha Any help or advice from you guys would be much appreciated !! Thanks!

 

[Vaughn4380]

We booked our reservations last week and asked the CM what we could do if a better rate came out between now and our trip. She said it would be no problem for us to call and change to the lower rate should one be announced.

We were concerned with room rates and not free dining, but I would imagine the same rules apply to free dining.

 

[DreamnDisney]

Why don't you just secure a room ressie, I think it is only one night deposit. If free dining doesn't come out you can cancel that ressie and receive your one night deposit back. If free dining does come out, you will already have your room booked ahead of time!!

Just an idea!

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

I think that's what I'll do!! Just have backup ready in case we cancel!! Thanks guys!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I keep going back and fourth. Here is the back story...we are planning to visit the world from Sept. 3rd-11th or 12th. I am thinking I want to go ahead and book. The catch is that we are only staying onsite if free dining is offered. The reason being is that we are booking two rooms for eight people and 1 infant, and if free dining isn't offered it would just be cheaper for us to book a vacation home or rent DVC points and pay for a few meals out of pocket and cook the rest in a kitchen. We are planning on staying at POP. I guess my hesitation is.. if I go ahead and book now and when free dining comes out add it to our ressie, how hard is it to secure a new reservation with free dining? Has anyone ever had a problem adding free dining once it was announced?! Or should I just wait it out and book once Free Dining is announced? We are still going to be doing a few TS meals regardless of where we stay...and I would like to book them all at the 180+10 days if possible. But I'm just so confused on what I should do!! Also if we do book and free dining isn't offered, how long does it take to get the money back once you have can celled a reservation. If it were up to me we would stay onsite anyways, but since my boyfriend and I are paying for almost the entire trip he wants to be frugal! haha Any help or advice from you guys would be much appreciated !! Thanks!

All you have to put down when you call is $400.00, $200.00 for each room, and the balance would not be due until 45 days before arrival, so not until the end of July. You can go ahead and book your package now and when the Free Dining Code comes out at the end of March/first of April, all you have to do is call back and have them apply the code to your existing package reservation. I've done exactly that for the past three years and it's no promlem at all.

Also, it's a waste of time to book a room only reservation if you are waiting for the FD promo to be announced. You can't just convert your room only reservation into into a FD package. You would have to completely cancel that reservation number and start over anyway.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Booking a res now does not guarantee you will get that same room type if you decide to switch.
Sometimes switching over is seamless. Sometimes not. Just wanted to point out in case you run into that snag if FD comes later and for your travel dates. It all depends on room availability.
When you want to switch it will depend on room availability.
Even though you have the room type you want booked, if the allotment is gone, then you will most likely be given options such as switching room types or resorts. Or you will just have to keep checking back.
And to make it easier if you decide to book now, book a package and not room only. Doing that only throws more possible issues into the plan.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Booking a res now does not guarantee you will get that same room type if you decide to switch.
Sometimes switching over is seamless. Sometimes not. Just wanted to point out in case you run into that snag if FD comes later and for your travel dates. It all depends on room availability.
When you want to switch it will depend on room availability.
Even though you have the room type you want booked, if the allotment is gone, then you will most likely be given options such as switching room types or resorts. Or you will just have to keep checking back.
And to make it easier if you decide to book now, book a package and not room only. Doing that only throws more possible issues into the plan.

If the OP calls when the code comes out there should be no problem just adding the FD code to their existing reservation - we've done just that for the last three years. I've never seen anybody here on the DIS have trouble adding the code if they called early in the promotion. And even if you waited a long time to call and had to switch resorts, it's not really a big deal either and you still keep the same reservation number.

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

If the OP calls when the code comes out there should be no problem just adding the FD code to their existing reservation - we've done just that for the last three years. I've never seen anybody here on the DIS have trouble adding the code if they called early in the promotion. And even if you waited a long time to call and had to switch resorts, it's not really a big deal either and you still keep the same reservation number.

Okay...that's good to know... I was just going to book rack room rate package anyways...so that way once free dining is announced the transition will hopefully be seamless!! I don't mind having to change rooms type we are probably going to stay standard anyways as we don't really spend a whole lot of time at the resort! Thanks for all the input guys!! I think I might book today!! I can't believe it!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I agree it should not be a problem -- if they call early on. But I have ready many posts where people had to switch room types, resorts, dates, etc. Just wanted to give a heads up in case they experience that also. It all depends on the popularity of the room type too. Many variables. And good to have a plan B just in case.

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

I agree it should not be a problem -- if they call early on. But I have ready many posts where people had to switch room types, resorts, dates, etc. Just wanted to give a heads up in case they experience that also. It all depends on the popularity of the room type too. Many variables. And good to have a plan B just in case.

Thanks that is also good to know.... I have priced out two of the values and one of the mods as a back up as well!! I've also priced out a rental house and an average rate we would pay on food too!! haha.. I'm a little bit of a planner!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Oh, you will have fun with your ADRs then.

 

[Melissa<3Disney]

Oh, you will have fun with your ADRs then.

You know what's really sad is that I have had my ADR's planned since December of last year!! Keep in mind my trip isn't until Sept. I literally researched all the hours of operation for Sept. of 09', read reviews, and checked out menus!! Haha.. it's horrible...my boyfriend says I have an obsession! And he's probably right! Now i'm just impatiently waiting for them to release Sept. hours in a week or so.. so I can plan them in stone.. and then book on my 180 days!! I'll feel much better once everything is booked..then the fun of actually paying for the trip begins!!