2013 Free Dining Watch

[black562]

I just hope too many people didn't book rooms hoping for free dining. Then Disney decides they are looking good so why bother with a discount. One of these years it's going to happen. If everyone was patient and didn't book at all, they may have already released it from lack of interest for September.

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

We are going September 8th. I booked CSR for our first time ever moderate stay just banking on Free Dining.


You know it is BAD and the pins and needles is driving one crazy when you actually DREAM about Disney releasing Free Dining dates. Yes that is right, I am such an over-planner who is biting my nails over early fall offers that I dreamt TWICE last night that the day FD was released I was on the phone all day with my TA trying to get the discount applied to my ressie. But the lines were so busy with ppl trying to cash in on the offer, that the FD rooms sold out in a day and I missed out.


Yes, I know at this point I need to back away from the FD thread and chill

I understand your pain! I actually put my reservation number and the Disney phone number prominently in my phone so I could call and upgrade if a deal happens to come out when I'm away from my home computer.

 

[iamadisneynut]

I think I have DH convinced we can do a few days at the end of August if they release free dining so now I am stalking this thread! Lol

 

[MacDalt]

I haven't even told DH yet. I'm hoping for a trip with DD to celebrate her Sweet 16.

 

[shdavis238]

Yes, you can call and add the free dining code to your existing reservation - call the day they are released and you shouldnt have any problem with availability. If you have already paid in full, they will refund the difference to your credit card. It can take up to 2 billing cycles, or 2 months to receive your refund.

Thanks so much!

 

[mommy3]

I haven't even told DH yet. I'm hoping for a trip with DD to celebrate her Sweet 16.

We booked already for end of August, hoping for FD but got 30% off the resort price if we don't, and will be there for our daughter's Sweet 16 as well! I've been looking for clever ideas to surprise her while we are there....still working on that!

 

[Chabby]

This is our first ever trip and we are super excited. Taking DD8, DS6, & DS4. If free dining comes out, what will be the process to book? Hoping to stay at POR or AoA, but thinking POR will be better since it is a mod. HoPing to go around Sept 14-21 or so, but are flexible. I am a newbie card holder and just want to be prepared once the offer comes out. Thanks in dance for any advice or suggestions.

I would suggest POR over AoA because in a moderate if you get free dining it would be Regular Dining, instead of Quick Service, which is what you would get in a value. But you can always upgrade it paying the difference in price.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I just hope too many people didn't book rooms hoping for free dining. Then Disney decides they are looking good so why bother with a discount. One of these years it's going to happen. If everyone was patient and didn't book at all, they may have already released it from lack of interest for September.

You can't expect people to risk losing their preferences because Disney might or might not release a discount. It's not being patient, but being prudent.

If you want something specific, you have to take measures to ensure you can get what you want. Some resorts have lower availability than others, especially when making special requests. For some, free dining is the #1 priority, but for others, it isn't and the difference in priorities on vacation will always differ among different families.

 

[black562]

You can't expect people to risk losing their preferences because Disney might or might not release a discount. It's not being patient, but being prudent.

If you want something specific, you have to take measures to ensure you can get what you want. Some resorts have lower availability than others, especially when making special requests. For some, free dining is the #1 priority, but for others, it isn't and the difference in priorities on vacation will always differ among different families.

But if you're booking with plans to keep it only if they offer free dining then you could shoot yourself in the foot. And just because you booked a resort doesn't mean you'll get free dining if its released. You could easily call and find no availability.

Now if your plan is to go either way, then more power to you and by all means book. I'm only speaking of those who will cancel if no free dining is offered.

 

[csnorrisms]

We are also heading out during the first week of September we have made our ADR's but we haven't booked our room yet keeping fingers crossed for free dining and a room at CBR.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

But if you're booking with plans to keep it only if they offer free dining then you could shoot yourself in the foot. And just because you booked a resort doesn't mean you'll get free dining if its released. You could easily call and find no availability.

Now if your plan is to go either way, then more power to you and by all means book. I'm only speaking of those who will cancel if no free dining is offered.

I think most people who book are going regardless. Disney is not new at this....they know their %s of those who cancel at 46 days out for whatever reasons and I'm sure they take that into account when planning promotions. The vast majority of on site guests who book never come across something like the DIS. They have no idea that they may get FD or a room discount. And even if they find out, they learn of it after they have decided to go at published prices. These threads get frenzied and people get angry when Disney doesn't do what they did in the past (which we actually don't even know at this point) and threaten to cancel. But most of them won't. So not booking in hopes of Disney releasing a discount is most likely not an effective approach.

 

[black562]

I think most people who book are going regardless. Disney is not new at this....they know their %s of those who cancel at 46 days out for whatever reasons and I'm sure they take that into account when planning promotions. The vast majority of on site guests who book never come across something like the DIS. They have no idea that they may get FD or a room discount. And even if they find out, they learn of it after they have decided to go at published prices. These threads get frenzied and people get angry when Disney doesn't do what they did in the past (which we actually don't even know at this point) and threaten to cancel. But most of them won't. So not booking in hopes of Disney releasing a discount is most likely not an effective approach.

Either way you realize that these booking dates are the least traveled time of the year. One could wait until 30 days out and still get a room.

Not trying to argue, just stating my thoughts.

 

[JVig]

Hi:
This is my first time posting. I have a question about this whole Free Dining thing.

We are going to Disney World for the first time this summer. We are supposed to check in on 8/17 and stay through 8/24. Now, I'm not counting on free dining and in fact had never heard of it until after I made the reservation. Now that I'm reading about it, it looks to me like if it is offered we will most likely miss it (assuming it starts later than the bounce back offer). But if by any chance it was the same date as the bounce back, then we would miss it by just one day. In which case, I would want to just move our vacation back a day in order to take advantage of it.

Is that something Disney would let me do? Just move everything back so that we check in 8/18 rather than 8/17? Thoughts?

Thanks for your help

 

[smitch425]

Hi:
This is my first time posting. I have a question about this whole Free Dining thing.

We are going to Disney World for the first time this summer. We are supposed to check in on 8/17 and stay through 8/24. Now, I'm not counting on free dining and in fact had never heard of it until after I made the reservation. Now that I'm reading about it, it looks to my like if it is offered we will most likely miss it (assuming it starts later than the bounce back offer). But if by any chance it was the same date as the bounce back, then we would miss it by just one day. In which case, I would want to just move our vacation back a day in order to take advantage of it.

Is that something Disney would let me do? Just move everything back so that we check in 8/18 rather than 8/17? Thoughts?

Thanks for your help

Depending on availability, yes. You could easily take the first day off of the reservation, but it is possible that they would be booked if you try to add a day to the tail end. Maybe you could go ahead and add a day at the end so you know you have it if you need it, and then if a discount comes out, you can adjust the reservation when you call to see if the discount can be applied. Good luck!

 

[black562]

Hi:
This is my first time posting. I have a question about this whole Free Dining thing.

We are going to Disney World for the first time this summer. We are supposed to check in on 8/17 and stay through 8/24. Now, I'm not counting on free dining and in fact had never heard of it until after I made the reservation. Now that I'm reading about it, it looks to me like if it is offered we will most likely miss it (assuming it starts later than the bounce back offer). But if by any chance it was the same date as the bounce back, then we would miss it by just one day. In which case, I would want to just move our vacation back a day in order to take advantage of it.

Is that something Disney would let me do? Just move everything back so that we check in 8/18 rather than 8/17? Thoughts?

Thanks for your help

Yes you can make modifications to your package. Just call and tell them what you want when the promotion is announced. I wouldn't worry about it being booked up. I've know people who call weeks after its announced and have no trouble getting it. Even with free dining its still a low attendance time of year.

 

[JVig]

Thank you! Maybe I'll add a day on now just to be safe.

 

[black562]

Thank you! Maybe I'll add a day on now just to be safe.

Sorry to say though, when adding or taking away days, or even adding a promotion, they will often just cancel and rebook you. It all depends on the CM. I've had it done many ways.

 

[smitch425]

Sorry to say though, when adding or taking away days, or even adding a promotion, they will often just cancel and rebook you. It all depends on the CM. I've had it done many ways.

The only time that should ever happen is if you are going from a room only to a package or vice versa. A package booking should never have to be cancelled and rebooked as another package.

 

[black562]

The only time that should ever happen is if you are going from a room only to a package or vice versa. A package booking should never have to be cancelled and rebooked as another package.

I know and you know but lots of times the CMs don't seem to. How many folks have called to book free dining and have them say they never heard of it? I've laughed before as I gave them the code and they had no idea about it being offered.

At any rate, I've never had any trouble getting the resort and even getting the dining I wanted. So definitely good vibes to everyone. This will all work out soon and then we will all look forward to our trips to the happy place!!!

 

[JVig]

Do you all agree with my instinct that its unlikely the dates will be the same as the bouceback offer? I don't want to get my hopes of if its really unlikely.