2015 FREE DINING THREAD _ All Questions HERE!!

[ThistleMae]

You inspired me! I snagged a reservation at 8:15pm for La Hacienda de San Angel. From the information I read, it sounds like I might get to see the fire works from the windows. I need to research this more. I remember reading something about this. Pixie dust if we can see them while we finish up eating, but if not....no biggy. Hours say they close at 8:30 so I suspect by 9pm they will be getting the bill on the table and expecting us to move out. I'll research and cancel if it sounds like we will be tossed into dark and crowds.

I think they will let you finish eating...lol! I love San Angel. The atmosphere is one of the best!

 

[G719]

Southwest website is as bad as disney! Had to buy our 4 tickets in 4 separate transactions. Took 45 minutes. Would not process more than 1 at a time. And you can't use a gift card to pay for early bird check in. I didn't know that. Oh well, it's all booked now. Waiting for ADR day on Monday!

 

[ThistleMae]

All set with Southwest...I was so nervous trying to type fast. I had to do my daughters and it already went up $ 50.00 a ticket! Now it's up to
$ 450.00 one way on the Saturday after Thanksgiving....after only one hour of being out!

 

[rage2021]

Will Disney continue to release rooms slowly until the promo end? How was it last year? Was hoping to book later in June/July since still unsure on travel plans.

 

[alievans719]

So people had a tough time with Southwest this morning? I must've been lucky, because it went super smooth. I wasn't panicked like other early wake ups, but maybe I should've been! Our arrival flight is already sold out!

 

[wdw4rfam]

I had a horrible time with southwest this morning too. I was on when it opened and it opened up with $450 one way the Sunday after thanksgiving. So I put Saturday in my cart and ran up to ask DD if it was ok (they'd have to leave a day early than us), she said ok so I put all the info in, hit purchase and...."sorry, this flight is no longer available"!!!!it was literally 5 minutes total. So of course when I put it back in, the one nonstop was gone. So I played with it because I kept seeing things changing, and eventually got the flight I wanted but at $100 more I just looked again and now that Saturday is up to $450 too. Yikes. I had no idea it would be that bad.....

 

[wdw4rfam]

All set with Southwest...I was so nervous trying to type fast. I had to do my daughters and it already went up $ 50.00 a ticket! Now it's up to
$ 450.00 one way on the Saturday after Thanksgiving....after only one hour of being out!

Yeah, the Sunday after opened up at $450. I was refreshing the page at 6:00.

 

[ThistleMae]

Well, in such a hurry to book, I couldn't find the flight number that I had a credit on, so I went and booked....which is good....but I have a credit I wasn't able to use! Bummer!

 

[jsebsirois]

Was able to switch from All Star Music to Pop Century yesterday! So glad.

So if any of you are looking for Pop, it looks to be available now...

 

[hellerjw]

You inspired me! I snagged a reservation at 8:15pm for La Hacienda de San Angel. From the information I read, it sounds like I might get to see the fire works from the windows. I need to research this more. I remember reading something about this. Pixie dust if we can see them while we finish up eating, but if not....no biggy. Hours say they close at 8:30 so I suspect by 9pm they will be getting the bill on the table and expecting us to move out. I'll research and cancel if it sounds like we will be tossed into dark and crowds.

We did exactly this last September. We had an 8:00pm reservation. We did have a large party which was to our advantage as all the big tables are at the windows. They never pressured us to hurry up, we ate at a very relaxed pace and finished up just before the show started. It was a fantastic way to watch the fireworks. They pipe the music in so you can see and hear what everyone outside is experiencing. The best part .... Air Conditioning!!!! We would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I think Southwest plays a game. I watch their airfare daily. Last Saturday, I found the cheapest rates, $126, on flights previously listed as sold out. Even yesterday there were only two return flights available at a $280ish price tag. Today, all the return flights are options and starting at a much lower price. Once Southwest's one way airfare starts to get into $200 range, I'll start to look at other airlines. If you missed out, just keep checking. If you purchased something, keep checking to get a credit.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I think Southwest plays a game. I watch their airfare daily. Last Saturday, I found the cheapest rates, $126, on flights previously listed as sold out. Even yesterday there were only two return flights available at a $280ish price tag. Today, all the return flights are options and starting at a much lower price. Once Southwest's one way airfare starts to get into $200 range, I'll start to look at other airlines. If you missed out, just keep checking. If you purchased something, keep checking to get a credit.

Great, as I saw them jumping I settled even though I knew it wasn't a good price. Unfortunately I am sending 2 teenagers on their own so I need nonstop and there's only 1 on the day we need, and there is NO other airline out of that airport that goes nonstop. If we try the next closest airport I only have frontier or spirit, both who have horrible reviews as not staying on schedule. That's all I need are 2 teens stranded at the airport. We will already be in Florida because we are going a day and a half early to secure free dining.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

Hey, I'm still hanging in here with you guys. Got my resort....not doing free dinning! But, got a great rate at Poly. Now I'm waiting on Southwest to open up November flights! Today is the day! Yahoo!

Resort is set.....flight with Jetblue was set a few weeks ago since we knew we were going with RO and pretty sure we would by July have a discount but didn't want to give up POR for this trip. Maybe next one but not this time. But as I said I got the UOC so I'm happy.

I think they will let you finish eating...lol! I love San Angel. The atmosphere is one of the best!

Everything I read sounds that way, but I did read there is some areas that you won't see anything. Pout. I hope I don't get there but I really am not going to "just see" the fire works.

We did exactly this last September. We had an 8:00pm reservation. We did have a large party which was to our advantage as all the big tables are at the windows. They never pressured us to hurry up, we ate at a very relaxed pace and finished up just before the show started. It was a fantastic way to watch the fireworks. They pipe the music in so you can see and hear what everyone outside is experiencing. The best part .... Air Conditioning!!!! We would do it again in a heartbeat.

ADR is for 8:15. There is a 7:30 and 8pm option. Advise....Will I have a better shot at window at 7:30 or 8 instead of 8:15.
Again I don't mind not being right at the window, I don't think, but I don't want to be in some back corner room with nothing. Ok well I'll have DH and food so it's not nothing but.......

I can never figure out where online when you make an ADR to note it's Our Anniversary Dinner. So I guess I have to call and tell them again.
We'll be home on the actual date of our anniversary, but I don't think we will be going out that night, so we picked the Sunday of our trip together.
Gee I wonder how many times a night they here the request to sit near the windows. Is the room with the windows a big room. Heck the whole place should be that way. I guess I'll just hope for Pixie Dust.

 

[Choozee]

I just scored free dining for our September trip! I am so estatic! I patiently waited for some magical moment to happen and walahh boom it happened. We didn't have to change anything! We are booked at POR, already had park hoppers, and had already purchased the DxDP. All I did was leave a little balance on my ressie then keep checking for promotions. I completed the change by simply modifying it on line. No long waiting periods on the phone (originally I had waited on hold for 3+ hours to be told my category was sold out) easy peasey this time! Now Disney owes me money!

 

[staceycrouton]

So happy!!! Finally able to get our first choice of CSR standard room for Nov.13-22 with free dining tonight!!! Had to book CBR pirate room initially to get free dining which DD15 and DD13 weren't overly excited about, then upgraded to standard AKL room with free dining which was about $800 more (yikes). Then, bam! Hit with some major pixie dust tonight!!Thought I was seeing things! Keep trying and don're give up!!!!

 

[hotmamac]

Do they ever open up the free dining to include the Little Mermaid rooms at AoA?

 

[wdw4rfam]

Do they ever open up the free dining to include the Little Mermaid rooms at AoA?

Nope, never. Not just free dining, no discount for those rooms

 

[ThistleMae]

I'm happy to see things opening up for folks. It was a crazy race to opening day....but we all survived. I'm kind of missing all the excitement that was in here...it's died down quite a bit now that folks feel more settled. I'm waiting for to book my ADR's. May 21st! My daughter and I are going over our picks this weekend! As Disney reveals the November hours....we have more of an idea of what times we would like. It seems like everything is done in dribs and drabs. It would be kind of nice to just know the dates for free dining for the year and the park hours 6 mos. in advance. But....even though Disney is more than Magical....some things are just not meant to be. Keep this site going...it's been so much fun!

 

[vrajewski10513]

I'm happy to see things opening up for folks. It was a crazy race to opening day....but we all survived. I'm kind of missing all the excitement that was in here...it's died down quite a bit now that folks feel more settled. I'm waiting for to book my ADR's. May 21st! My daughter and I are going over our picks this weekend! As Disney reveals the November hours....we have more of an idea of what times we would like. It seems like everything is done in dribs and drabs. It would be kind of nice to just know the dates for free dining for the year and the park hours 6 mos. in advance. But....even though Disney is more than Magical....some things are just not meant to be. Keep this site going...it's been so much fun!

Its crazy how Disney wants you to book your dining reservations 6 months in advance, but sometimes don't release their park hours early enough for you to know before you book. Or in last years case for us, they release them, you make all your plans, then they change them

 

[hellerjw]

ADR is for 8:15. There is a 7:30 and 8pm option. Advise....Will I have a better shot at window at 7:30 or 8 instead of 8:15.
Again I don't mind not being right at the window, I don't think, but I don't want to be in some back corner room with nothing. Ok well I'll have DH and food so it's not nothing but.......

I can never figure out where online when you make an ADR to note it's Our Anniversary Dinner. So I guess I have to call and tell them again.
We'll be home on the actual date of our anniversary, but I don't think we will be going out that night, so we picked the Sunday of our trip together.
Gee I wonder how many times a night they here the request to sit near the windows. Is the room with the windows a big room. Heck the whole place should be that way. I guess I'll just hope for Pixie Dust.

We debated about the reservation timing too and finally settled on 8:00pm. We were concerned about getting there too early but we figured they would view anything booked at 7:45pm or later was going to be folks staying to watch fireworks too. Since you can't really reserve a window seat we were just trying to stack the deck as best we could. If you Google "La Hacienda de San Angel building layout" there are numerous pictures of the inside of the building. As you can see most of the seating at or near the windows is for larger groups, although they could use them for multiple small parties too. We had 11 on the reservation so we had a pretty good feeling they would be seating us near the windows just because the other areas had fewer options for accommodating a large group. I remember the restaurant being busy but don't remember it being slammed or crazy lines waiting to get in. We also went the week of Labor Day, one of the slowest times of the year for Disney, so that may have contributed to our success too as there were fewer folks competing for space. I still believe the large group was our ace in the hole as it limited where they could put us.