2016 Free Dining Watch ~ Part 2

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Always stayed at values what do you like better about POR than CBR
YeeHaw Bob at the River Roost Lounge at POR and the boat to Disney Springs! CSR was our favorite resort for years- We were there the first year it opened. Loved the big pool. Actually we haven't stayed at POR in quite a while. Our favorite mod now is POFQ- still has the boat and you can walk to POR to see Yeehaw Bob. But I knew POFQ was excluded so was hoping for POR. But I am happy with CSR standard with FD!
 
I'm still playing around on the Disney site just to see what is still available- I don't think I've ever seen FD rooms go this quickly, although I haven't tried in a few years. Anyway- it cracks me up to see "Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney Visa Cardmember Free Delicious Offer" For the low, low price of $17,968!!! for 9 nights. Wow- not knocking anybody who chooses to book that- I just can't imagine, even if it is a 2 bedroom club level suite.

Looks like almost everything else (family of 5+ infant) is pretty slim pickings for early Sept. Glad I was able to get in on POR in the wee hours of the morning.
 
The funny thing is how many people said for weeks that booking ahead of time guarantees you nothing. I almost booked 3 weeks ago with a travel agency and she said she'd check and try adding it, but I can guarantee you she wasn't logged in at 4 am checking tons of bookings. Went with my gut and waited and I'm glad I did. For those of you who tried modifying after the first time it said no I don't know why you list didn't book a second reservation and call back and cancel the original. I had the deal booked on my phone literally within about 3 minutes.
 
Just keep trying, just keep trying, just keep trying, trying, trying... (Dory's voice)

When we went online this morning, there was NOTHING available for POR for our dates. Finally, a guest services lady figured it out and got us our dining as a modify on our existing res. But when we called an hour ago, there were several options for Royal rooms, which we wanted, and different views as well. Everything is moving so fast today that it is way to early to lose hope yet. This coming from me who was almost in tears last night as everyone kept getting their new FD at 4am while nothing was working for me. Theres a good chance you guys can still get what you need!
 
So is anyone else going Dec 10-15? We're going and don't have children and would love to share some drinks with some Disney fanatics.
 
Just keep trying, just keep trying, just keep trying, trying, trying... (Dory's voice)

When we went online this morning, there was NOTHING available for POR for our dates. Finally, a guest services lady figured it out and got us our dining as a modify on our existing res. But when we called an hour ago, there were several options for Royal rooms, which we wanted, and different views as well. Everything is moving so fast today that it is way to early to lose hope yet. This coming from me who was almost in tears last night as everyone kept getting their new FD at 4am while nothing was working for me. Theres a good chance you guys can still get what you need!
When are you going?
 
When are you going? was hoping for Standard View at CS.

Sept. 11 - Sept. 16. I cancelled the CSR room already but it doesn't look like it ever went back into the inventory because before I cancelled it CSR only showed the expensive rooms left and I never saw it changed once I cancelled. Or maybe someone just grabbed it fast.
 
The funny thing is how many people said for weeks that booking ahead of time guarantees you nothing. I almost booked 3 weeks ago with a travel agency and she said she'd check and try adding it, but I can guarantee you she wasn't logged in at 4 am checking tons of bookings. Went with my gut and waited and I'm glad I did. For those of you who tried modifying after the first time it said no I don't know why you list didn't book a second reservation and call back and cancel the original. I had the deal booked on my phone literally within about 3 minutes.
She might not have been but this exhausted travel agent was. Free Dining is not my favorite business day. Zzzzzzzz
 
Is there a way to check for a bounce back offer when you're there? Or can you only get it if they gave you the info when you check in? Sometimes we have had a flyer about bounce back with our check-in documents, but more often there is nothing.

@sarahsar

Yes, sometimes the flyers are not in the room or they do not list all available offers. Once you get in your room, call extension x8844. Tell them you are currently on resort and are looking for bounceback offers (I believe it's the Travel Trade division that handles these types of calls).

Make sure you specifically ask about both room discounts and free dining promotions. I've been there when offers were switching over, and the in-room flyers and phone agents were only advertising the room discounts. It wasn't until I directly asked about free dining that they confirmed there was a promotion that was expiring in the next couple of days.

Although bouncebacks are nice to have in your pocket, know that you may not be able to modify the reservation later (though you can always cancel it). Bounceback offers expire (not talking about your checkout date, but when they stop offering a bounceback to guests altogether), and past that point, agents may be unwilling or unable to change the dates, location, etc. So, make sure you ask how long a specific bounceback is being offered for, and make a reservation you can live with, in case you are unable to modify it later. :)
 
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Thanks to all who walked a rookie thru. I almost didn't play, but then decided I was going to eat regardless and having a dining plan took one more decision off my back and ended the menu dilemma of getting the $10.99 entrée or the $13.99 entrée. I saw the promo drop when I woke up at 4 and saw the 5 night/6 day ticket and thought SOL and went back to bed. Over coffee around 7:30, I was reading to see how the rest of ya'll did and saw Blacks post about the duration not being a fixed rule. Hmmm. Then saw the other post about the price being higher because Disney was auto-upgrading to the table service plan. Lo and behold, I moved my dates over one day, did a new reservation for 8/23 and on the first try and the first cup of coffee, booked a new reservation at Pop for my chosen dates and after free dining, spent about $100 more than no dining for a 4 day trip. I'll take that! My savings is likely only about $100 as I am traveling as a solo, but it's $100 I can spend on something else and not be cheap on myself when I go to eat. I tried all day to get thru and cancel my room only reservation with no luck. Came home from work and it took 30 seconds online. I hope one of ya'll got the room!
Thanks!
 
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