Adjusting dates on free dining package after discount is over

[TaraBara]

We have a free dining package. We are going at the end of October. When I booked our package I wasn't sure of our flights. Now, it turns out I will have to take 2 days off the front of our vacation. I may also need to extend a day, but I'm not sure of that part. Has anyone else ever had to adjust dates after the discount was over? Will it be a problem?

 

[mlunsford]

We had to do this last year. We had to switch our dates around for the best deal on flights. You will want to call and ask to speak with guest services. Just let them know you are needing to modify a reservation that includes and expired promotion (free dining). We had luck and everything went smooth for us.

 

[mickeynut1]

We have a free dining package. We are going at the end of October. When I booked our package I wasn't sure of our flights. Now, it turns out I will have to take 2 days off the front of our vacation. I may also need to extend a day, but I'm not sure of that part. Has anyone else ever had to adjust dates after the discount was over? Will it be a problem?

Modifications can be made when a promo has expired as long as what you want is available under the promo. With that said, it was never a problem to take nights off, but Disney recently changed the policy. The shorter stay must now be available in order to take nights off without losing the discount. If the new nights are available under FD, you can modify to the shorter stay; if the new nights are not available under FD, you can't shorten the stay without losing FD. Also, the new arrival date must have been included in the dates of the promo. If you were originally checking in on the last (or second to last) day of FD but will now arrive later, the new dates wouldn't qualify for FD. As the pp said, since the promo has expired, you will need to speak to someone in guest services as CRO doesn't have the ability to check availability/modify a reservation with an expired promo.

 

[TaraBara]

Modifications can be made when a promo has expired as long as what you want is available under the promo. With that said, it was never a problem to take nights off, but Disney recently changed the policy. The shorter stay must now be available in order to take nights off without losing the discount. If the new nights are available under FD, you can modify to the shorter stay; if the new nights are not available under FD, you can't shorten the stay without losing FD. Also, the new arrival date must have been included in the dates of the promo. If you were originally checking in on the last (or second to last) day of FD but will now arrive later, the new dates wouldn't qualify for FD. As the pp said, since the promo has expired, you will need to speak to someone in guest services as CRO doesn't have the ability to check availability/modify a reservation with an expired promo.

The part that confuses me is that you said the shorter stay has to be available in order to take the nights off. My package is from Oct 26-Nov 6. If I take off the first 2 nights, why wouldn't the rest be available in the sense that I have already booked it? And the free dining dates were Oct 25-Nov 2 so I will definitely be there more than 2 nights before free dining ends.

 

[mickeynut1]

The part that confuses me is that you said the shorter stay has to be available in order to take the nights off. My package is from Oct 26-Nov 6. If I take off the first 2 nights, why wouldn't the rest be available in the sense that I have already booked it? And the free dining dates were Oct 25-Nov 2 so I will definitely be there more than 2 nights before free dining ends.

I totally understand as that's how I see it as well, but Disney sees it differently. Since they changed the policy for modifying, the new dates (even when taking nights off) have to be available, otherwise you lose the discount if you modify. I guess they see it as a new booking. If someone else tried to book those same nights, they wouldn't be able to as there's no availability, so it works the same for you trying to take nights away.

 

[TaraBara]

I saw on the website that I would not be able to modify my reservation. I called guest services. They never mentioned that it wouldn't be possible or that there was a problem. They just went right ahead and changed the reservation for me. However, it must have been a bit difficult because I was on the line for 33 minutes and most of the time I was on hold while they tried to adjust my arrival date. Anyway, I am so glad to report that I was able to make the change!

 

[WDW1979]

...Disney recently changed the policy. The shorter stay must now be available in order to take nights off without losing the discount. If the new nights are available under FD, you can modify to the shorter stay; if the new nights are not available under FD, you can't shorten the stay without losing FD.

Thanks for posting the information about that policy.

 

[mickeynut1]

I saw on the website that I would not be able to modify my reservation. I called guest services. They never mentioned that it wouldn't be possible or that there was a problem. They just went right ahead and changed the reservation for me. However, it must have been a bit difficult because I was on the line for 33 minutes and most of the time I was on hold while they tried to adjust my arrival date. Anyway, I am so glad to report that I was able to make the change!

Glad everything worked out .

Thanks for posting the information about that policy.

You're welcome .

 

[bnkina]

I just wanted to say thank you for this post and for the replies, this gave me enough nerve to call Disney and see if we could modify our free dining stay in order to have cheaper flights and they were able to do it for us, yay!! thanks again!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Nerve? Those CM's don't bite...much.

 

[penjen]

I did about a month ago. Just needed to add the cost of the tickets.