Free Dining Oct-Dec Is Here!!

[Mum from oz]

So now it looks like FD for my dates I want to upgrade from a mod to deluxe.

I am currently booked at POFQ 16-20 Nov with regular dining. I am paid in full. How do i change this to Wilderness Lodge standard room. Do I call and cancel what I have and wait for a refund or can I transfer the amount paid to a new reservation and pay the difference? How do I add FD to my existing reservation? Do I call on the 1st August and ask them to add it?

It is my first time staying onsite and it is all a bit confusing. Thanks!!

 

[bab830205]

OMG! This just made me sooo happy! I am planning on taking my kids for the first time this December!!

 

[Angel4135]

This just made my night!!

 

[sanapunk]

Of course this excludes people running the Tower of Terror Ten Miler!

 

[Adie's Mama]

This is FANTASTIC! Actually moved our vacation up a day... coming November 11 instead of 12 since FD is starting on Veteran's Day, shockingly! Yeahhh!

 

[Kat016]

The 27th too. Can't wait to see the headless horseman!

That's funny we're going to same time! Are you dressing up? My kids are but dh and I are not, just Halloween tshirts.
I can't wait to go. Everything we've heard is that its a fantastic time.

 

[HBGdancermom]

OMG! This just made me sooo happy! I am planning on taking my kids for the first time this December!!

YEAH!!

I have a question that I know I have asked before, but can't remember the answer because this waiting has made me crazy and forgetful!!

I know there are a certain number of rooms allotted for the FD. Are there for RO as well?

Right now, I have BC CL booked with 5 day PHs but no dining. Would they modify me or rebook me?

Thanks for all the PATIENT experts here on these boards! I know you guys answer these ?s over and over again and are always so polite and helpful!!

It's funny how I read and read and read these questions and answers daily but then when it ACTUALLY applies to me, I can't remember the answers at all....

 

[Tinker12]

Yes, you'll just be asked to put $200 on the card.

Thank you fro all your help and a quick reply!

 

[mkymouse40]

I am so disappointed for myself, not others. We booked Dec 2 - 11th based on the PIN dates and now they are not going to be the same! ADRs are all made, park plans all done and now what??????

BUMMER

 

[smitch425]

So would we just use our AP's to enter parks and when we come home be sure to keep the other KTTW cards with the 2 day tickets on them? But we could still use those for dining? Thanks for all your help.

Yep! You can have the tickets removed from your KTTW card, but sometimes that messes up your dining credits. Just make sure you don't put the KTTW cards through the turnstyle. When you get home, write on them with a Sharpie that they each have two day tickets on them so they don't get thrown away by accident.

 

[black562]

YEAH!!

I have a question that I know I have asked before, but can't remember the answer because this waiting has made me crazy and forgetful!!

I know there are a certain number of rooms allotted for the FD. Are there for RO as well?

Right now, I have BC CL booked with 5 day PHs but no dining. Would they modify me or rebook me?

Thanks for all the PATIENT experts here on these boards! I know you guys answer these ?s over and over again and are always so polite and helpful!!

It's funny how I read and read and read these questions and answers daily but then when it ACTUALLY applies to me, I can't remember the answers at all....

If you call and your room isn't available for the promotion, you could book somewhere else of course. If it is available, they would just add the promo to your reservation and you'd be on your way.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I am so disappointed for myself, not others. We booked Dec 2 - 11th based on the PIN dates and now they are not going to be the same! ADRs are all made, park plans all done and now what??????

BUMMER

I'm having the same problem, I'm already booked for Dec 1st - 7th and already have all my ADR's and planned on using the Dining Plan, I've been pricing out the cost of the restaurants vs using the Dining Plan and it looks like it might be cheaper to just cancel the dining plan and pay OOP.

Frustrating day!

 

[black562]

I'm having the same problem, I'm already booked for Dec 1st - 7th and already have all my ADR's and planned on using the Dining Plan, I've been pricing out the cost of the restaurants vs using the Dining Plan and it looks like it might be cheaper to just cancel the dining plan and pay OOP.

Frustrating day!

It's been happening more and more this year. Quite a few folks were disappointed that the free dining promo didn't include any august dates at all....like it always had in the past. That's always a hard pill to swallow.

 

[xipotec]

Smitch will probably know this one....



So last year we went same dates but FD was offered earlier in November. Is it odd to start a FD offer on a Monday? (Nov 11th)??? Thats Veterans day! I know that is the last weekend of FNW festival at Epcot but it that not weird? Aren't most checkin's on Sat or Sun!?

So I guess Dis VISA holder should prepare to call that Monday huh?

 

[su_A_ve]

It's been happening more and more this year. Quite a few folks were disappointed that the free dining promo didn't include any august dates at all....like it always had in the past. That's always a hard pill to swallow.

It's been said before - the speculation and reservations ahead of time actually kills the deal.

All of this is based on availability. If those who speculate book ahead of time with the hope of a public offer based on what happened before, availability goes down. If it goes down enough, boom! No public offer...

This time around the problem has been that the online system to reserve with PINs has been down for some time. So it has been harder for anyone with a PIN to check to see what's still available. If rooms would be available, chances are they would be still be available for public offers.

I was lucky to use a PIN and book arriving 12/22. A co worker (boss actually) also decided to go around the same time and told him of the chances of a public offer would keep the same dates. Since his wife is a teacher, the 12/22 was good for him. He never got a PIN and since we are staying at different resorts, I could not help him with mine. But it looks good for him as 12/22 is still the last day for the public offer and his resort seems to be available (WL).

DSis on the other hand was looking at maybe going the first week in Dec. Now it probably won't happen or she might stick to a RO discount (she has something booked with a bounce back).

 

[thelittlethings]

Guess ill be keeping my fingers crossed for expanded dates for RO discounts. I knew once the pin dates came out it was a slim chance my dates would be added. Here's hoping for a little pixie dust to come our way!

 

[smitch425]

Smitch will probably know this one....



So last year we went same dates but FD was offered earlier in November. Is it odd to start a FD offer on a Monday? (Nov 11th)??? Thats Veterans day! I know that is the last weekend of FNW festival at Epcot but it that not weird? Aren't most checkin's on Sat or Sun!?

So I guess Dis VISA holder should prepare to call that Monday huh?

My guess is that they are starting it that day because of Jersey Week being the week before and the holiday crowd coming that weekend. Most people coming for the holiday would be checking in before the 11th, so this way they don't have to offer FD to all of that crowd. The Visa offer should go live on the 29th if this deal follows the normal Monday/Thursday pattern.

 

[ThisIsTheYear]

I am not an expert at this but I think you might. Last year we booked prior to a ticket increase and then FD was released. When we modified reservation we paid a small amount for that change in price.

You will have to pay the difference in ticket price, which was about 3%...

Sorry about that. Yes, you would have to pay the difference for the price increase of the tickets. However, that would be more than offset by free dining.

Thank you all so much! That was very helpful!

 

[black562]

It's been said before - the speculation and reservations ahead of time actually kills the deal.

All of this is based on availability. If those who speculate book ahead of time with the hope of a public offer based on what happened before, availability goes down. If it goes down enough, boom! No public offer...

This time around the problem has been that the online system to reserve with PINs has been down for some time. So it has been harder for anyone with a PIN to check to see what's still available. If rooms would be available, chances are they would be still be available for public offers.

I was lucky to use a PIN and book arriving 12/22. A co worker (boss actually) also decided to go around the same time and told him of the chances of a public offer would keep the same dates. Since his wife is a teacher, the 12/22 was good for him. He never got a PIN and since we are staying at different resorts, I could not help him with mine. But it looks good for him as 12/22 is still the last day for the public offer and his resort seems to be available (WL).

DSis on the other hand was looking at maybe going the first week in Dec. Now it probably won't happen or she might stick to a RO discount (she has something booked with a bounce back).

You're onto something that's been preached and preached. If too many people just go ahead and book a package in anticipation of a promo, Disney will see good bookings and not offer a promo at all. It's quite literally a self fulfilling prophecy. The best thing is for nobody to book until promo release day...

 

[kristinew]

Yeah for this wonderful news! Question- already have reservations at POFq for 10/17-10/27. Will have to do split stay to get FD on 10/18. I did not plan to go to the parks on the 17th but wanted to hit MK on the 18th. Assuming I can stay in the same room can I check in on line before lunch so my lunch ADR would be covered? Where do you pick up your park tickets on the 17th to go on the 18th? OMG this sounds crazy but gotta live the FD!