2016 Free Dining Watch

[CarnesFamily]

Here's what I would do...

Once you have the reservations in hand, relax until the rush is over. You can still transfer the reservation to your travel agent and that person can fix them so they are on the same reservation. And yes, they will still get paid as normal so there is plenty of reason for them to do a great job for you.

I am not familiar with how the TA transfer works? I would like to use my original agent but don't know if she will be up that early... I already have an existing reservation so I know I can't change it without her but could I book a new reservation and have her go from there and she still get credit?

 

[scard192]

Any guesses why October is excluded?

Columbus Day week has always been excluded. I have read many places here on the DIS that a lot of school districts have gone to a more "balanced" calendar and are having a Fall break in October.

 

[1437disney]

Well the UK.free dining (2017) has just dropped a day early apparently

Will this change the rumor dates for us?

 

[Annafan]

Can someone post the link to Dads guide to WDW Rumor so I can check it out? Cant find on his FB Page.....

http://www.dadsguidetowdw.com/free-dining-update-make-your-reservations-now.html

 

[IwannaseeMickey]

Sorry to any TA working here....I have always gotten much better pricing on my own. TA has to raise money somehow. If you know how they get the discounts....then naturally your price is cheaper..."

Just felt I wanted to respond to this......as I am a TA....TA's, generally do not need to 'raise money', Disney pays me commission....a percentage of the booking....if you do not use a TA, then that same percentage gets paid by you but goes back to the Mouse himself. I, and many other TA's, book directly with Disney therefore getting the same rates/discounts that you get. The benefit to using someone like me is the knowledge I give and leg work I do for my clients. Many are not sure of what to book etc.

 

[Kellett]

Well the UK.free dining (2017) has just dropped a day early apparently

Will this effect the us drop date? I'm so ready to know if I get fd or not.

 

[X96msm]

Will this effect the us drop date? I'm so ready to know if I get fd or not.

I sooooo hope so. I barely survived this week so far. On the plus, we have another family going us! Let's hope I am lucky this year!

 

[The Dirty Steve]

I am not familiar with how the TA transfer works? I would like to use my original agent but don't know if she will be up that early... I already have an existing reservation so I know I can't change it without her but could I book a new reservation and have her go from there and she still get credit?

I would reach out to make sure she will be up or make the new reservation and $200 desposit. Your agent should be familiar with the transfer process if you should go that way.

 

[sshaw0715]

I know last year POR was only included for part of the dates. Since this is common knowledge that it has not been included in the last couple of years, and more people are booking other resorts, what's the opinion of POR being included in most of the dates this year?

 

[Just1Princess]

Columbus Day week has always been excluded. I have read many places here on the DIS that a lot of school districts have gone to a more "balanced" calendar and are having a Fall break in October.

That's exactly why we go in October . We're booked 10/12-10/17 which is school Fall Break. Halloween is just a bonus.

 

[Kellett]

@The Dirty Steve if we are NOT Visa card holders do you think we should pull an all nighter tonight or wait until Sunday night? Thank you for all your help!

 

[IwannaseeMickey]

And since I am on a roll....as a TA, I am very aware of the impending free dining drop.....I will be up early with you all checking and getting on it as fast as I can for my own clients.....hopefully yours will be too!

I was on the phone last week with a reservations agent and I asked her a few 'what ifs'....what if FD drops and the client already has a reservation? Should the client make a new one or modify it. She said it is easier to modify then make a new one and drop. She didn't say why, but that is what she said.

 

[Just Love Disney]

@The Dirty Steve if we are NOT Visa card holders do you think we should pull an all nighter tonight or wait until Sunday night? Thank you for all your help!

Not Dirty Steve but trying to help. It is my understanding that DV reservations, modifications, etc. to add FD have to be done via phone ONLY (nothing can be done online) and the phone lines open at 7:00 EDT so no need for an all-nighter, just an early rising depending on where you are located.

If I am incorrect then I am sure someone will correct me

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

And since I am on a roll....as a TA, I am very aware of the impending free dining drop.....I will be up early with you all checking and getting on it as fast as I can for my own clients.....hopefully yours will be too!

I was on the phone last week with a reservations agent and I asked her a few 'what ifs'....what if FD drops and the client already has a reservation? Should the client make a new one or modify it. She said it is easier to modify then make a new one and drop. She didn't say why, but that is what she said.

If people make reservations in advance, not only did it take up a room that *may* have been offered in the FD promo and is not now, but then say, they can't get through right away or have difficulty modifying an existing reservation. Or they booked through a TA and now don't trust that they get them the deal. Then they book another whole new trip taking up even MORE of the alotted FD rooms and there are a bunch of people double booked. It all really does become a big mess. So it may seem easier to book in advance and just modify, but really it's not. No wonder the website gets glitchy!
Everyone please just wait. It won't be long now!

 

[carlys13]

I've been following along on this thread for a while but this is my first post this year! I need some advice so I'm hoping someone will help me!

We spent our honeymoon at Disney and have been going every year and now we'll be celebrating our 5th anniversary! We've always gone in September/October for free dining and this year we're planning for mid-September.

So here's my question: it's just me and DH, we are going to splurge and get the Deluxe DP. We're planning to stay at a moderate, likely CSR this time (although I would love to try deluxe for the first time but doubt we'll ever be able to swing that!) in this case, free dining and paying the upgrade makes more sense than room only right? I should mention we're planning 10 days w/ park hopper...

Hoping someone who's good at crunching numbers can help! Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Kellett]

Not Dirty Steve but trying to help. It is my understanding that DV reservations, modifications, etc. to add FD have to be done via phone ONLY (nothing can be done online) and the phone lines open at 7:00 EDT so no need for an all-nighter, just an early rising depending on where you are located.

If I am incorrect then I am sure someone will correct me

Thank you do you think there will be any chance that free dining will be released to gp and Vc at the same time tomorrow sorta like last year where they just released to just gp and not Vc first?

 

[tinkerone]

http://www.dadsguidetowdw.com/free-dining-update-make-your-reservations-now.html

I have actually read him before and I'm not at all convinced I want to listen to much he has to say. He seems to pick up on what others are already saying and taking their thoughts as his own. Also, I see he is still pushing a travel agency, which was what turned me off him before. It was 'you need to do it and here are the people I suggest and if you don't pick them your not going to get in on this offer'. Okay, not those exact words but close enough.

 

[Just Love Disney]

Thank you do you think there will be any chance that free dining will be released to gp and Vc at the same time tomorrow sorta like last year where they just released to just gp and not Vc first?

I am not qualified to answer that and will refer that one back to the experts

 

[The Dirty Steve]

I have actually read him before and I'm not at all convinced I want to listen to much he has to say. He seems to pick up on what others are already saying and taking their thoughts as his own. Also, I see he is still pushing a travel agency, which was what turned me off him before. It was 'you need to do it and here are the people I suggest and if you don't pick them your not going to get in on this offer'. Okay, not those exact words but close enough.

This

 

[The Dirty Steve]

@The Dirty Steve if we are NOT Visa card holders do you think we should pull an all nighter tonight or wait until Sunday night? Thank you for all your help!

Not Dirty Steve but trying to help. It is my understanding that DV reservations, modifications, etc. to add FD have to be done via phone ONLY (nothing can be done online) and the phone lines open at 7:00 EDT so no need for an all-nighter, just an early rising depending on where you are located.

If I am incorrect then I am sure someone will correct me

I am not qualified to answer that and will refer that one back to the experts

Still too early to make that kind of call.