2010 Fall Dining for DVISA Is Out (See FIRST page)'

[CanadianGuy]

How quickly in past years have the various resorts sold out of the free dining promo? Which resorts are historically the first to fill and how fast? Do I have to call the first minutes of the first day it becomes available, or would sometime that week be okay, typically, to get the resort I want. Anyone know? I know no one can say for sure but I am just wondering about past fd promotions.

Somewhere in a thread here someplace a DIS'er posted that they tracked this and according to what they saw last year..

Pop Century is one that typically sells out of available promo inventory first.. quickly followed by WL and CR.

And according to that poster it was 14 to 21 days into the promo.

Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm as flexible as a pretzel! Bring on the discount!

 

[anorman]

Somewhere in a thread here someplace a DIS'er posted that they tracked this and according to what they saw last year..

Pop Century is one that typically sells out of available promo inventory first.. quickly followed by WL and CR.

And according to that poster it was 14 to 21 days into the promo.

Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.

Thank you for the info. Just wondering how stressed out I will have to be on the day it is offered. My airfare is booked already and now I'm just waiting for fd . I may book anyway and try to apply the promo when it becomes available; I kind of have my heart set on Port Orleans; either Riverside or FQ would be fine.

 

[Luvmepluto]

Absolutely.. as long as you're flexible with your resort/room category (and possibly dates) just about anything can get done most of the time.

But a lot of people have booked the resort and room category they want thinking that guarantees them an upcoming promotional rate at that resort when it is released. (in part fueled by MISINFORMATION from CM's on the phone - who really just wanted you to book 'today' so they can book the revenue and stay in the 'green')

It does not guarantee them anything other than a room at that resort for those dates at the price they booked... without any promos.

Pre-booking promos is generally (actually always) a giant waste of resources and time ... it makes people feel better.. But that's about all it does. (besides potentially opening up ADR booking about 10 days sooner..)

It just seems CM's are causing more work for themselves at the end.

 

[CanadianGuy]

It just seems CM's are causing more work for themselves at the end.

The way Disney has set up the 'quota' system for the CM's, the way they release the promos and they way they tell guests about how they might secure those promos... ALL cascade together to create the quamire.

It's a flawed system. And its easy to armchair quarterback a flawed system.. without knowing what other rules, limitations, laws etc might apply which force the system into its current form.

All that said ... I still think Disney can do better than what they currently have setup.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Has anybody checked yet today? I am watching to see if FD or a discount comes available for my aunts who have several rooms at BC booked at rack with tickets and dining. I'd love to share the news that there is money to be saved!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Has anybody checked yet today? I am watching to see if FD or a discount comes available for my aunts who have several rooms at BC booked at rack with tickets and dining. I'd love to share the news that there is money to be saved!

Nothing posted yet today.. Several folks with travel connections have also reported the May 3 date which was posted on the first of this thread.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I won't even bother to check before the third. I know, if by some crazy chance it does come out earlier, it will be here. So no need to keep checking Disney's thread, imo. Others may feel differently.

I wonder if Disney thinks by getting the booking before the promo, if they decide not to offer a promo, enough people including those that threaten to cancel will not do so. I mean really I know I have threatened not to go, but it was definitely an empty threat on my part. I am too excited to not go.

 

[Nicole786]

Waiting for the AP rate, hoping that comes out on the 3rd also!

 

[bahecasmart]

I'm sorry to be a pest - I'm totally new at this.

We were originally considering going to AKL August 7-14. I have a QSDP pin, and it expires on the 14th. Will this new promotion be better? Is it standard DDP? If so, we can move our trip to Aug 14-21. BUT - the promotion doesn't start til the 15th. *Which happens to be my birthday - happy birthday to me!*. If we check in on the 14th, are we not eligible for the FD? Would we have to book a split stay - 2 separate reservations, one for the 14th and one for the 15th - 21st?
Thanks for all your advice folks - I really appreciate it!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Yes it would have to be booked as a split stay. No days prior to the promotion are covered. I have a room only booked for the 13TH-15TH. Now for me it works because I have 1 day tickets which we will use for those first days. For you realize, you would need to buy two sets of tickets or not go to a park until you are checked in on the 15TH. Buying 2 sets works out to be much more expensive, because you pay for day 1, which is the most expensive, twice.

 

[DISNEYNY]

I'm sorry to be a pest - I'm totally new at this.

We were originally considering going to AKL August 7-14. I have a QSDP pin, and it expires on the 14th. Will this new promotion be better? Is it standard DDP? If so, we can move our trip to Aug 14-21. BUT - the promotion doesn't start til the 15th. *Which happens to be my birthday - happy birthday to me!*. If we check in on the 14th, are we not eligible for the FD? Would we have to book a split stay - 2 separate reservations, one for the 14th and one for the 15th - 21st?
Thanks for all your advice folks - I really appreciate it!

No one knows for sure yet what the new offer will be, but people are assuming it will free table service at Moderates & Deluxe resorts. Yes, you would have to have a split reservation...and this is no big deal. We do this every year when we go for free dining. We always go the first week of the offer and we arrive a day early so we can get settled in. We don't worry about not having a park ticket on the first day. We usually just unpack, relax by the pool and go to Downtown Disney. This year we arrive at AKL on Aug 13. We booked bounceback last year and our free dining starts on Aug 15.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I'm sorry to be a pest - I'm totally new at this.

We were originally considering going to AKL August 7-14. I have a QSDP pin, and it expires on the 14th. Will this new promotion be better? Is it standard DDP? If so, we can move our trip to Aug 14-21. BUT - the promotion doesn't start til the 15th. *Which happens to be my birthday - happy birthday to me!*. If we check in on the 14th, are we not eligible for the FD? Would we have to book a split stay - 2 separate reservations, one for the 14th and one for the 15th - 21st?
Thanks for all your advice folks - I really appreciate it!

My birthday is also on the 15th! I am checking in to POFQ that day. FD was offered as a bounceback in October when I was there, so I booked it.

The way I understand it, you will have to get a room only on 8/14 and start your package on 8/15.

 

[stepdisney]

Book the split stay at the same resort. Try to get you birthday with a room discount code and then book the next stay with the free dining at the same resort connected with the tickets so you can get the free dining.

To the pp who wanted to know how quickly to book, I know that Pop sells out quickly BUT in 2005, the first year of FD, we booked all star sports and was able to get Pop in the future. People switch resorts all of the time and Pop is often made available if you can't get it right away. Also, standard rooms at WL go quickly. Last year, POFQ, if I remember correctly, was high on many lists. Remember that WL and PO are smaller than, say, AKL and CS so they will have less rooms available anyway. Remember not to panic. I think everyone should be fine. The pin codes and bouncebacks will reduce the amount of those who will be booking on May 3. Best wishes to all

 

[Luvmepluto]

The way Disney has set up the 'quota' system for the CM's, the way they release the promos and they way they tell guests about how they might secure those promos... ALL cascade together to create the quamire.

It's a flawed system. And its easy to armchair quarterback a flawed system.. without knowing what other rules, limitations, laws etc might apply which force the system into its current form.

All that said ... I still think Disney can do better than what they currently have setup.

I agree!!!:

They run the parks and resorts pretty phenomenal, but seem a little backwards on their systems (computer) or the CM's seem incompetent (not all). Maybe it is both? Not sure......Please don't throw stones.

For instance, though I book trips every year....they STILL have not changed my phone number and I update it every time I call. and every time I book on line, it is like I have never booked before. It always has me as a first time visitor.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I agree!!!:

They run the parks and resorts pretty phenomenal, but seem a little backwards on their systems (computer) or the CM's seem incompetent (not all). Maybe it is both? Not sure......Please don't throw stones.

For instance, though I book trips every year....they STILL have not changed my phone number and I update it every time I call. and every time I book on line, it is like I have never booked before. It always has me as a first time visitor.

THAT issue.. is their 1980's 'Epcot-era' resorts management system. It desparately needs a bottom up refresh and update..

But .. that's not gonna happen in the foreseeable future from what I can tell.

 

[Jill Schwartz]

Just wondering if anyone thinks there is a chance they will skip opening up FD to Disney Visa holders first this year?? Wondering since that has not been part of the rumor/leak so far.
It doesn't really make too much sense since WDW seems to prefer to send out "targeted" offers first (ie, PINS) but ya never know.

I think WDW may have shot themselves in the foot a bit by delaying FD this year. Because of the uncertainty, over the last few weeks I've spent a good deal of time checking into what our family could get staying off-site, as well as all the great deals going on with US, SW, etc. I've presented a couple ideas/options to my family, and now we have a split vote on who wants WDW with FD, and who wants US on-site club level/SW/Aquatic, etc. I never would have even looked into it if FD had come out at the end of March like last year!

 

[sjs314]

I'm sorry to be a pest - I'm totally new at this.

We were originally considering going to AKL August 7-14. I have a QSDP pin, and it expires on the 14th. Will this new promotion be better? Is it standard DDP? If so, we can move our trip to Aug 14-21. BUT - the promotion doesn't start til the 15th. *Which happens to be my birthday - happy birthday to me!*. If we check in on the 14th, are we not eligible for the FD? Would we have to book a split stay - 2 separate reservations, one for the 14th and one for the 15th - 21st?
Thanks for all your advice folks - I really appreciate it!

From reading about FD pins on the Dis here, seems to me I saw that as long as you check in by the last day of promo which in your case would b Aug 14th that would allow you to have FD for your entire stay up till 14 days.
This being the case you could book Aug 14-21 now and not wait on the FD coming out on May 3rd.

Am I right? Anyone?

 

[tiki23]

From reading about FD pins on the Dis here, seems to me I saw that as long as you check in by the last day of promo which in your case would b Aug 14th that would allow you to have FD for your entire stay up till 14 days.
This being the case you could book Aug 14-21 now and not wait on the FD coming out on May 3rd.

Am I right? Anyone?

You are right, but...the PP has a free QSDP pin and is hoping for full DDP free dining, which probably won't start until August 15th.

 

[my3squeals]

Just wondering if anyone thinks there is a chance they will skip opening up FD to Disney Visa holders first this year?? Wondering since that has not been part of the rumor/leak so far.
It doesn't really make too much sense since WDW seems to prefer to send out "targeted" offers first (ie, PINS) but ya never know.

I think WDW may have shot themselves in the foot a bit by delaying FD this year. Because of the uncertainty, over the last few weeks I've spent a good deal of time checking into what our family could get staying off-site, as well as all the great deals going on with US, SW, etc. I've presented a couple ideas/options to my family, and now we have a split vote on who wants WDW with FD, and who wants US on-site club level/SW/Aquatic, etc. I never would have even looked into it if FD had come out at the end of March like last year!

I'm right there with ya......
Never would have considered offsite or other options, but have looked at it this time. We will be drivig so transportation this time is not an issue. Currently we are booked with a 40% code but, I've played with the #'s for other things as well.....