2011 Free Dining is Extended! New dates as of 8/3

[princssdisnygina]

Sorry, but that is incorrect. Cheshire Figment has a section in his ticket sticky answering this question.

You CAN get your "park" tickets early. Not the dining.

Our original trip was going to be in May. Arriving on May 26th room only. And then our package to start on May 27th for Free Dining. I would have been able to get our park tickets on the 26th, even though our package was not to start until the next day. You can get your tickets up to 3 days in advance.

Well I have actually been turned down to pick up our tickets early both by the POP and by Port Orleans FQ. We almost always hit it so we arrive a night before the FD starts so we book a room-only for that night and we have ALWAYS been told we have to come down the next morning to get our tickets and such on a new KTTW card.

I don't care what the sticky says... although I respect all of his posts I have experienced this firsthand. We had to have a separate ticket or wait until the next day.

 

[Colleen27]

Well I have actually been turned down to pick up our tickets early both by the POP and by Port Orleans FQ. We almost always hit it so we arrive a night before the FD starts so we book a room-only for that night and we have ALWAYS been told we have to come down the next morning to get our tickets and such on a new KTTW card.

I don't care what the sticky says... although I respect all of his posts I have experienced this firsthand. We had to have a separate ticket or wait until the next day.

His post is clear that it has to be done at a park guest services window... I wonder if front desk CMs just aren't trained in ticketing to know it can be done? That seems to be a problem with a lot of issues at WDW; if you ask 5 CMs whether or not something is possible, odds are you'll get at least 3 different answers.

 

[princssdisnygina]

His post is clear that it has to be done at a park guest services window... I wonder if front desk CMs just aren't trained in ticketing to know it can be done? That seems to be a problem with a lot of issues at WDW; if you ask 5 CMs whether or not something is possible, odds are you'll get at least 3 different answers.

That's possible but even still... I don't want to head over to a park expecting to get in and be turned away. I don't know how the park guest services would have access to my resort package though? No matter... I am just going to plan on not going my room-only day. No biggie... I like to take the first day to get settled and recover from travels anyway.

 

[LMDisneygirl]

Well I have actually been turned down to pick up our tickets early both by the POP and by Port Orleans FQ. We almost always hit it so we arrive a night before the FD starts so we book a room-only for that night and we have ALWAYS been told we have to come down the next morning to get our tickets and such on a new KTTW card.

I don't care what the sticky says... although I respect all of his posts I have experienced this firsthand. We had to have a separate ticket or wait until the next day.

I read your next post after this one and saw that you are content to relax and not worry about getting your park tix for the first night you are there, but I thought I'd answer for others who may be wondering.......

We did get our park tickets a day or two before our package started last year. On the phone they said we couldn't. At the hotel they couldn't do it. Then at Blizzard Beach and Disney Quest they couldn't do it. But Cheshire Figment said that they could do it at..... Guest Relations I believe it's called (check the sticky for the exact name). My husband just didn't realize where he needed to go to do it, and I was at a conference for the first couple days there. We went to Guest Relations at Downtown Disney, and they got us our tickets early with no problem at all. They didn't even look at us like we were from Mars or belonged at the crazy farm or anything! It was all a normal days work to them! We could have also gotten them at the Guest Relations at any of the MAJOR parks (not the water parks or Disney Quest though).

 

[LMDisneygirl]

Ok, so to confirm... I already have a trip scheduled for August 27 to September 3 (arrival 1 day before the free dining offer kicks in). Flights are already booked. So to take advantage of the free dining (if we decide that works out for us), we would have to split the reservation into 2... 1 for the first night, room only, and the second for the remaining nights. If I understand the post above correctly, I can still get the 7-day park passes we originally wanted on the second reservation (the one with free dining), and would be able to use that on August 27, before the free dining offer? But, of course, we would have to pay for our meals out-of-pocket that first day.

So hypothetically - I would check in to the hotel for 1 night, explain that I also have a separate reservation at the same hotel starting the next day which includes free dining for the remainder of our trip, and get my park passes on day 1 via the day 2 reservation? This sounds a little wacky, but if it works (and works out financially), then maybe I will pursue.

If someone can confirm that my confusing, complex thinking above is the way it could work out, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

That's EXACTLY what we did last year. Except that first we were at a conference at Coronado Springs. We transferred over to Pop the night before Free Dining started. So we had a 1 night ressie, and then a package ressie that started the next day with our free dining. We got our park tix early (as I explained in my post above). We were able to stay in the same room, and it was a quick check out and back in with free dining on the morning of our 2nd reservation.

Enjoy!!

 

[englishrose47]

Are there any FD offers for mid June ??? Still looking for my Boss !!Gotta earn those Brownie points !!!

 

[Toeknail]

That's EXACTLY what we did last year. Except that first we were at a conference at Coronado Springs. We transferred over to Pop the night before Free Dining started. So we had a 1 night ressie, and then a package ressie that started the next day with our free dining. We got our park tix early (as I explained in my post above). We were able to stay in the same room, and it was a quick check out and back in with free dining on the morning of our 2nd reservation.

Enjoy!!

Thanks for the info!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Are there any FD offers for mid June ??? Still looking for my Boss !!Gotta earn those Brownie points !!!

No, there are never any public free dining discounts for mid-June.

 

[MsPeggySue911]

Ok, so to confirm... I already have a trip scheduled for August 27 to September 3 (arrival 1 day before the free dining offer kicks in). Flights are already booked. So to take advantage of the free dining (if we decide that works out for us), we would have to split the reservation into 2... 1 for the first night, room only, and the second for the remaining nights. If I understand the post above correctly, I can still get the 7-day park passes we originally wanted on the second reservation (the one with free dining), and would be able to use that on August 27, before the free dining offer? But, of course, we would have to pay for our meals out-of-pocket that first day.

So hypothetically - I would check in to the hotel for 1 night, explain that I also have a separate reservation at the same hotel starting the next day which includes free dining for the remainder of our trip, and get my park passes on day 1 via the day 2 reservation? This sounds a little wacky, but if it works (and works out financially), then maybe I will pursue.

If someone can confirm that my confusing, complex thinking above is the way it could work out, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

From what I have read in this thread it sounds like you have it exactly right on what you need to do.

 

[AKLforever]

So, even the free DP for the public on may 2 will still need the purchase of this photo book thing?

 

[tonyRmoran]

So, have you actually heard it's being released to the public on Monday, or just basing this off past years?

Yes ... the e-mail does indeed state that it will be public on Monday the 2nd and if you go to the disney rewards visa web-site ... then go to cardmember offers ... on the left side of the page it says it also. The public shall be pleased on Monday!

 

[tonyRmoran]

Great - Thanks for the information. I'll be looking forward to that on Monday. Being new to this - will it be on the Disney site, or can I just call the Disney number and change my existing reservation?

Thanks for your help.

Just give the fine folks at Disney a call ... give them your reservation number, tell them you want the free dining package that is being offered and they'll switch it over. But, make sure its a better deal for you. I'm not sure what kind of deal you currently have booked but if you have no "deal" per-say then you'll certainly be getting a great deal. You'll love the free dining, its cheaper for us and tons more convenient!

 

[tonyRmoran]

I guess in the end it probably all comes out in the wash. I just don't want to pay for one thing (that I wouldn't have normally purchased) to get something else.

You're right ... it really all depends on how any days you are staying, how many people/kids/adults are in your party, etc... For us, we have two adults and one 3 year old ... the kids stay and play free deal was $249 dollars more than the free dining deal ... so, in reality (FOR US) we're getting food and a photobook for $249 cheaper than before ... but, let's say the party consisted of one more kid ... then the kids stay play free deal would've been better ... it's a game. But ... Disney World always wins LOL

 

[GreatGranny]

The public shall be pleased on Monday!

Mighty pleased!!

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

So, even the free DP for the public on may 2 will still need the purchase of this photo book thing?

Yes, the exact same deal will be offered to the public on Monday. You will have to purchase the photobook to get free dining.

 

[beroh2253]

Gee we have Disney Rewards and see the offer but are going from Oct. 14 to 21 don't want to change the dates, we have ADR's already booked and hope for the regular DDP or to upgrade to it. As for now like I said have restaurants booked and will use our AP for a room discount, if free dining would change and go into October we will switch to free dining and keep the restaurants, if not we will probably buy the QSDP and cancel a few ADR's and use the 2 snack credits to graze at the Food and Wine Fest for 1 of our daily meals. In either case we are going in Oct. and going the end of May to make use of our AP. The AP has some discounts at restaurants so we will keep those restaurants.

 

[AKLforever]

Ok, todays the day, right? In 2 more days its starwars day "May the 4th" be with you, hehe. Come on Deal!! Where are you?

 

[ColB]

August 28 to September 24, it's up on the official site!

 

[Faulkx6]

I got in right as they opened this AM. Added it to my ressie and saved $1400!! Wooohooo! Took about 15 minutes

 

[LZMarine]

For a limited time, get a FREE dining plan when you buy the New Memories Vacation Package for 5-nights/6-days at select Disney Resort hotels for arrivals most nights between August 28 and September 24, 2011. This new package includes room, theme park tickets and a 20-page Disney's PhotoPass® Photo Book to preserve and share your family memories.

Enjoy the Magic!