2016 Free Dining Watch ~ Part 2

[saskdw]

Keep in mind that the system holds a room from inventory while someone online is deciding whether to take it or not. There are probably 100's of people doing this at any given time. That's why rooms are mysteriously available 1/2 hour later. Everytime someone does a search and clicks update cart it holds the room temporarily.

 

[cshell624]

no luck... guess I'll have to keep checking back... after 2 1/2 hours on hold and nearly 2 hours trying to get through

Sorry to hear that. Try calling back in the next few weeks to see if maybe you have a pin.

 

[GatorChris]

At 4:30 this morning when I tried to modify my existing reservation to add free dining on my CBR Standard room, there were none and I had to upgrade to Water View. I took it. At 7:30 AM, on a fluke, I tried again and was able to modify back down to the CBR standard room. So even if Disney doesn't release more rooms, a cancellation could definitely make a room available, so keep checking.

This explains why there aren't any rooms for 5 at the moderates. By the time this Westcoaster checked, all that was left at CBR were rooms that fit 4 - the Pirate rooms. WDW is built for a family of 4 or less. 3 kids? Pay out the nose for a villa.

I miss the old days when getting FD was fairly easy. Shoot, getting an ADR or FP was easy, too.

 

[Kellbee]

I just got a preferred room at cbr and free dining! This has been fun, but I'm glad it's over. I'm exhausted and I haven't even left my house today I wish you all pixie dust on your free dining fall discount journey!

 

[Nezumi Fan]

If you have touring plans subscription, use their dining finder. (If not it's worth the minimal fee, around $10 for a year) It works awesome. You tell hm what you want, and they text you when it's available. It's works, found me BOG right at the time I needed. Don't give up

Leaving completely aside the ethics of using an "ADR Sniper"-type tool to secure dining reservations, all the ones of which I knew have, at the strong suggestion of Disney, long since closed up shop.

 

[>) >) mouse]

So...this morning my TA said she couldn't get the plan for our dates, then I got the code from Visa, but between the two of us I still couldn't get it. I called, waited 2 hours and got a wonderful CM who said she modified our existing reservation and that we did in fact, get FD. I was literally crying and thanking her, but...the modification is nowhere to be found. She did not give me a new reservation number or price and my TA can not find any modification. It is also not showing up in My Disney Experience. Am I basically screwed or do these changes take time to show up. I literally clarified with her three times, but my TA says there is no record of the modification.

Try calling back and asking your CM to talk to guest services. GS seems to have more ability to work the system. Helped us out with FD earlier this morning.

 

[ml sumner]

why is beginning of October so busy
My only other choice was Jersey week
Hope I picked the lesser of two evils

Fall break for our area. That is when we are going this year for the first time. I'm a little worried, we've only been in September.

 

[vicarrieous]

Free dining doesn't fall into the dates that we are traveling, but I was curious if we had been able to change our dates what the price would be... So just for fun I picked some random dates in December just to see. So Finding Nemo suites from December 14-21 with the free quick service dining plan is $4615. Right now we are booked November 3-10, Finding Nemo, with the regular dining plan and are paying $4677. Where's the free with the December dates? I'm confused

There are lots of variables like length of tickets, added park hoppers, room rack rate (value/standard/peak etc)

 

[DISbot]

Free dining doesn't fall into the dates that we are traveling, but I was curious if we had been able to change our dates what the price would be... So just for fun I picked some random dates in December just to see. So Finding Nemo suites from December 14-21 with the free quick service dining plan is $4615. Right now we are booked November 3-10, Finding Nemo, with the regular dining plan and are paying $4677. Where's the free with the December dates? I'm confused

Rack Room Rates vary with different "seasons", and December will fall into one of the most expensive seasons being such a high holiday season. It's likely that your reservation falls in a lower rate window of time. You can google to find the rack rates for various dates to see just how much the fluxuate. They also are different Fri/Sat than other weekdays, so if you quoted out something with more Fri/Sat dates, it will always be more expensive.

 

[Pkltm]

there are 3 holidays in October......ROSH HASHANAH COLUMBUS DAY AND YOM KIPPUR....the schools follow so October 3-4-10 and 12 most schools are closed...

And Thanksgiving in Canada

 

[Vmp]

Yes! Mine is showing that for my 6 y/o. Glad to hear it wasn't something I did wrong. I will likely call at some point, but not today!

Yes mine is saying the same thing. On my confirmation sayin the proper age of 4 and 5 for the kids in our party. But on the passes it says 10 +. Do we need to adjust it

 

[sahm2two]

I'd be willing to change my family suite to 2 standard rooms. Do you have to book them separately and do $200 each on them? We don't have a spare $600 laying around at the moment and I already used $200 to do the family suite. Can I somehow modify my existing family suite into 2 rooms if they were to become available?

 

[Lehuaann]

So...this morning my TA said she couldn't get the plan for our dates, then I got the code from Visa, but between the two of us I still couldn't get it. I called, waited 2 hours and got a wonderful CM who said she modified our existing reservation and that we did in fact, get FD. I was literally crying and thanking her, but...the modification is nowhere to be found. She did not give me a new reservation number or price and my TA can not find any modification. It is also not showing up in My Disney Experience. Am I basically screwed or do these changes take time to show up. I literally clarified with her three times, but my TA says there is no record of the modification.

Sometimes it takes a little while. I would wait a few hours before you call. The system is probably overloaded and taking more time than usual to update.

 

[sweetyk83]

I've been bummed all morning that I couldn't get in on free dining cause of my military ticket technicality. Then I realized we are so lucky to be able to go to Disney at all!! My husband and I never got to go as kids and now my kids will be going on their second trip.

Really awesome!

 

[MissErikaRae]

Can someone offer some advice... I'm trying to decide to switch from a standard room at the Polynesian to a Theme Park view (outer building) at Grand Floridian. The Poly isn't available for the discount during our stay but the GF room is $200 more than what we originally booked so we won't be saving money. I'd way rather get the discount at the Poly but since it isn't available I'm wondering if getting a "better" room discounted is worth the extra money. Any advice would be appreciated- I've only stayed at CBR.

 

[jinxedronin]

I've been bummed all morning that I couldn't get in on free dining cause of my military ticket technicality. Then I realized we are so lucky to be able to go to Disney at all!! My husband and I never got to go as kids and now my kids will be going on their second trip.

Really awesome!

Thank you. Be happy to have the resources to experience a good time. If free food at a theme park is the roughest part of your life right now, then you have it pretty good. I'm personally excited to go for my third time with my wife (previous times she was the gf) and take my daughter and son. Skipped FD for the better room in December. Now bring on the overpriced churro!

 

[BonnieBea]

Hope the littles are happy with the Coronado Springs pool- go 3 rooms with free dining- thank you

 

[aaarcher86]

Can someone offer some advice... I'm trying to decide to switch from a standard room at the Polynesian to a Theme Park view (outer building) at Grand Floridian. The Poly isn't available for the discount during our stay but the GF room is $200 more than what we originally booked so we won't be saving money. I'd way rather get the discount at the Poly but since it isn't available I'm wondering if getting a "better" room discounted is worth the extra money. Any advice would be appreciated- I've only stayed at CBR.

I'm not sure I could pass up TPV for that amount of money!

 

[Kellbee]

I just got a preferred room at cbr and free dining! This has been fun, but I'm glad it's over. I'm exhausted and I haven't even left my house today I wish you all pixie dust on your free dining fall discount journey!

It's worth it to get Disney visa. I did it through disneys web site and 10 minutes later I booked the room I wanted, where I wanted after getting only a room discount all day.

 

[Nezumi Fan]

Hope the littles are happy with the Coronado Springs pool- go 3 rooms with free dining- thank you

We spent Christmas Day last year at "The Dig," the CSR pool. It was wonderful. This will be our third year at the resort enjoying the Free Dining promotion; we like to stay at a Deluxe around (the lamented) "Star Wars Weekends" dates, and then economize over Christmas. Even having stayed at the Grand Californian at Disneyland a week or so ago, CSR is definitely still acceptable in our view.