2016 Free Dining Watch ~ Part 2

[deakam]

I have a FD question. My parents are Florida Residents and are considering joining us on our stay. Can they purchase a FD package with tickets and then upgrade the tickets to a Florida Resident Silver Annual Pass at the park? Looks like it's about $47 more than a 3 day ticket with park hopper. We are traveling on dates that aren't blacked out for the AP.

They could definately upgrade but because the dates you are traveling are black out dates they would not be able to use the pass.


sorry---just reread your post and you are traveling when it is not blacked out. This means that the tickets required for free dining will just about pay for the annual pass. Good plan. I was thinking the same thing---my annual pass is up at the end of October---I was thinking about booking free dining and then using the tickets to renew. Sadly my non-negotiable dates do not fall in the free dining.

 

[crazymomof4]

Yes, you click the change option and choose the vacation offer.

Thx so much!

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Looks like I may be out of luck at POLY this year for November.....

No availability as of now on every regular room category, for most weeks before TG...

Only club level....this is why I always book my room before any FD......right now I have the room I wanted at least. But I cannot see how they would add FD to those rooms if they are already all booked up....

Sigh, oh well.

Just because there is no availability now, doesn't mean more wont turn up. Rooms always appear later. Not sure if that is just Disney's way of trying to get people to book the more expensive rooms or what.

 

[Jordyn1123]

What deal did you get? If you don't mind me asking I've never got one so I really don't know what I'm looking for

It was a play stay and dine deal for may and June. It just gave some examples of pricing for a few resorts but said to call with the unique offer code

 

[disneymom0104]

I'm in the POR vs. CBR boat, too. We have stayed at CBR before the refurbs and it was good- we liked it, but thought the bus experience was better at other resorts. I like trying new things so am tempted to try POR but I don't want to regret not being at CBR (especially with the new rooms), which I know my kids love.

For us, FD is the best deal available- it will save us over $2500 over the course of 9 nights- I don't think there is any room discount than can beat that and get us the same total we would have at the mod. with FD. We have stayed in all levels of resorts, but now as a family of 4 adults + child + infant, FD is best for us in a mod. We have done splurge trips before, too- but last minute trips for us need to be the best value.

 

[catlady7]

If they are planning on releasing free dining soon shouldn't disney visa card holders get notice ahead of time? I remember it was like two or three days before it was released to the public. I haven't heard anything from visa.

 

[Disneylover99]

If they are planning on releasing free dining soon shouldn't disney visa card holders get notice ahead of time? I remember it was like two or three days before it was released to the public. I haven't heard anything from visa.

Last year everyone got the offer at the same time. No early bookings for DV holders.

 

[Marie2016]

So looks like we are out for Free Dining , our range of dates were 5 Nts between 10/22 to 11/12 and so that is not going to happen. That's ok we've gotten it for 5 years now and have booked a pretty good deal with the exclusive through the same unmentioned agency others have (thank you to those who shared that info!). So while I not be sharing in the madness Monday I will share a few things to expect for anybody that might have missed it if it has been in a previous posts.

- Don't wait until the phones open at 7am. With them doing the release the same as last year it is going to be insane and even if you luck out in getting an open line on that first try at 7am (many will be getting busy signals from the start and that will continue all day) you will still probably sit on hold for hours before you get an agent. It was absolutely crazy last year and nothing leads me to believe that It will be any different. The last time I had to call in to book mine on the day of release (2013) I recall waiting for well over an hour on hold and that was when they were only releasing the last half of the fall (they had already released September previously). SO, the phones will be crazy.

- If you do have to call make sure you have figured out in advance the most expedient way to get through the prompts, there was a suggestion that was posted way earlier in this thread. I've not tried it so don't know if it is better. What I've tried using is as soon as

Anyone able to share anything about this unmentioned agency I keep hearing about? Do certain agencies get exclusive deals? Thank you!

 

[SJSloan]

I never see the cabins mentioned on this thread as an option for Moderates. Has anyone stayed there before?

They've often been excluded in the past from the FD promotion.

I always thought only the campgrounds were excluded from Free Dining not the Cabins. Pretty sure the only moderate excluded is POFQ and POR for a certain timeframe.

 

[Jess_Loves_Disney]

I think I missed it reading through the other thread but what is the expected room discount for a moderate resort if I am not able to get FD?

 

[SJSloan]

I think I missed it reading through the other thread but what is the expected room discount for a moderate resort if I am not able to get FD?

It's usually 20% I believe. I calculated it last night and a room discount would only save us $150 from our current total. Praying for success with FD.

 

[1437disney]

Either way...if you have 200 for each one I make new ones cancel later....

Thank you, I think that's what we will do.

 

[CandiceF]

I always thought only the campgrounds were excluded from Free Dining not the Cabins. Pretty sure the only moderate excluded is POFQ and POR for a certain timeframe.

That's what I thought too. I wonder why people aren't considering them? I think the option of taking a boat to MK would be a nice.

 

[G719]

I never see the cabins mentioned on this thread as an option for Moderates. Has anyone stayed there before?

We got free dining at a cabin in 2015. The campsites will be excluded but the cabins will probably be included.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I hope I like the Poly, but maybe I won't. It's fun to try new resorts. If not, I'll be back at Pop next year.

We took a tour of Pop Century a year ago and I was impressed with the resort. It was laid out nicely and had a lot more foliage than I expected. We had lunch in the food court and it was a pretty good meal. We were even able to use our TiW discount there. I can see why people like this resort.

Are room only discounts as limited as FD is? We wanted FD but the dates aren't going to work so now we're looking at a room and dine package for October.

Room only discounts usually include more dates than free dining. There is a rumor that there will be a room only discount offered through Nov 5th, but I haven't seen any details on that yet. We should know all details by Monday, I hope.

I had finally caught up and read every single page on the last thread
I didn't see my question so I wanted to ask it here.
We are going regardless, taking my sweet mama on her first Disney trip and she is 82! There are 5 of us and we have been booked at CBR for several months. Our dates are 9/27-10/3 so I know we fall into the FD window BUT after reading through this thread, I decided I would go on line now to look at the availability of rooms. For my dates there is no rooms at all available at CBR or POR. I am wondering since it is showing no availability, does that automatically mean no rooms availabile for FD either??

It could be available. You just won't know until Monday. You may want to have a back up plan just in case, though.

Need advice please!! We have 3 rooms booked at POR (during the FD dates it most likely will be excluded). Should we switch to a different hotel now and modify on Monday morning or make 3 new reservations online Monday? Also we will there during pop warner, so what other resort would be better to avoid them? CBR or CSR?

Wait until Monday to make any changes. You'll know on Monday whether you will be able to modify online or not.

The Pop Warner crowd usually stays at the CBR rather than CSR, I think. CSR tends to have its own convention crowd.

I never see the cabins mentioned on this thread as an option for Moderates. Has anyone stayed there before?

I'm pretty sure that the FW cabins are usually included in free dining. It is just inconvenient to try and use your dining credits at FW, though. The only drink refill stations are at Trails End and the main pool, as far as I know. And they don't have a real counter service restaurant there. So most people prefer one of the other moderate resorts when booked with free dining.

I am having the POR CBR debate as well......we are going sept 10 thru 17, so POR should be included in FD. We have said POR is our first choice and CBR our second, but i am having to book two rooms so im wondering if that would be easier and CBR since they seem to have a little more availible at this time? Anyone have any insight on this?

Wait for the offer to be released on Monday and see what happens. Maybe you'll be able to stay at POR, if that is your first choice.

Anyone able to share anything about this unmentioned agency I keep hearing about? Do certain agencies get exclusive deals? Thank you!

They don't want you to talk about other agencies on this website, since it is owned by a travel agency. But the answer to your second question is yes.

 

[Jess_Loves_Disney]

It's usually 20% I believe. I calculated it last night and a room discount would only save us $150 from our current total. Praying for success with FD.

Thanks!

 

[G719]

That's what I thought too. I wonder why people aren't considering them? I think the option of taking a boat to MK would be a nice option.

People complain that the fort is too spread out and they don't like the internal bus system and renting a golf cart is $59 a day. We loved the campground. It is so peaceful. We just factored the golf cart into the budget and driving it around the campground is a lot of fun. Being close to the MK was awesome too.
We booked yesterday since it doesn't look like free dining is happening for our November dates. And reserved the golf cart. I'll modify if I can get a room discount later. Planning to do a big order with garden grocer and eat at the cabin.

 

[SJSloan]

That's what I thought too. I wonder why people aren't considering them? I think the option of taking a boat to MK would be a nice option.

They are still a little pricey in my opinion.

 

[Iowamomof4]

They've often been excluded in the past from the FD promotion.

I thought it was just the campsites that were usually excluded.

 

[Annam3]

Hi! I'm new! Maybe someone asked already, but what time can you start booking FD online? Is it also 7am EST? Thanks in advance!