Advertising free dining when sold out?

[skater]

Does anyone know why Disney spent money to advertise free dining in sunday papers if they are mostly sold out? At least it sounds like they are according to these boards?!? I would imagine there may be some angry people who try to book a trip after reading those ads. I also saw travel agencies with that ad attached to theirs. I can't imagine not knowing how sold out they are as a travel agent. The whole thing just seems a little irresponsible.

 

[msmayor]

First off, the Sunday Travel section is usually prepared and printed days before the date its delivered. Normally, only 'hard news' sections are done up the day before.

Second...I seriously doubt the program is that close to "sold out"...the DIS represents only a portion of the market.

Third...remember...if someone is looking for a 7-day stay and any one of those days isn't available, then it would be considered "sold out" for that specific period. I'm guessing that there is still plenty of availability for those who are willing to be very flexible with both dates and resorts.

Two years ago, I didn't even find out until free dining until one week before the offer expired. I had no trouble whatsoever adding it to my existing WL reservation. I suspect there will be others who are just as lucky if only beacause they're dates and locations just happen to match what is still left.

 

[skater]

I agree with a lot of what you say msmayor, however I don't remember so many people being shut out of free dining two years ago or even last year. I'm not being critical of Disney, I just truly don't understand it!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

As of a few hours ago....ther are rooms for the promo at YC and AS Sports...for the dates 9/6 - 9/10....from what I have been reading on the boards, most values are booked...you can still book POP for instance, but no free dining! If they are marketing this promo to be booked by June....they may release more rooms for this promo??? Dont know....

 

[angeleigh]

I hope they release more rooms. I need one more at POP for my husband and dd. They changed their minds and now want to go.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Please Remember :

A lot of the frustration on these boards is concerning members who want a particular resort and aren't willing to accept another resort and for whatever reason can not accept a change in dates, just to get free dining.

Even just a cursory run thru the online booking tool tells me there are lots of options available to the casual traveller who is flexible on dates, resort or both.

All Star Sports and Music both still have free dining packages available for 5 night/6 day packages on a number of different date ranges. Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter both still have packages as do the FW Cabins. And there is LOTS of Deluxe availability (including AKL on some date ranges)

IN FACT - Pop Century is available right now 9/21 to 9/27.

Where it gets dicey is you are a DIS-diehard and must have a particular view, or room type that simply isn't available.

Availability is out there and a CHOICE is STILL available.. at a number of different levels of resort and dates... IF you can be flexible on one, the other or both.

I find things are very tight around the weekend of the 17th of September for some reason. That's where availability is the absolute tightest... with no values showing for the 13th to the 17th today.

Knox

 

[CarolA]

Please Remember :

A lot of the frustration on these boards is concerning members who want a particular resort and aren't willing to accept another resort and for whatever reason can not accept a change in dates, just to get free dining.

Even just a cursory run thru the online booking tool tells me there are lots of options available to the casual traveller who is flexible on dates, resort or both.

All Star Sports and Music both still have free dining packages available for 5 night/6 day packages on a number of different date ranges. Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter both still have packages as do the FW Cabins. And there is LOTS of Deluxe availability (including AKL on some date ranges)

IN FACT - Pop Century is available right now 9/21 to 9/27.

Where it gets dicey is you are a DIS-diehard and must have a particular view, or room type that simply isn't available.

Availability is out there and a CHOICE is STILL available.. at a number of different levels of resort and dates... IF you can be flexible on one, the other or both.

I find things are very tight around the weekend of the 17th of September for some reason. That's where availability is the absolute tightest... with no values showing for the 13th to the 17th today.

Knox

AMEN!

Once again the DIS is not reflecting reality... and while I didn't read the ad, generally Disney ads do say "subject to availability" I don't think it's deceptive or wrong. "Sold out" would be NOTHING is open at any price point on any day... That's just not true. Yes, you probably can't get ASMovies. However, in all the years I have been watching the board the HARDEST value to get for ANY promo is All Star Movies. No you might not get Poly Concerige, but you can get AK (which is a deluxe)

 

[angeleigh]

I have found too that some of the values are still available. I was able to get pop for three nights during our travel time or a couple of the allstars for 4 nights. So there are still values available.

 

[space ranger 1]

I think Knox nail it!

When it comes down to it we all want something specific, but if we can just be a little flexible we might find something that works. There will be some that can't find anything that will work for their exact circumstances, but with some perseverance, patience and a good attitude most of us will find something that does!

Best of luck to those that are still searching and congratulations to all who are happy with what they already have!

 

[n2mm]

Not sold out. I agree, I put in a few dates for a long weekend and have no problem getting 3 out of 4 of the mods for my dates. (Sept. 14-18). Of course, weekends are were the problems are. Flexibility has always been the key to getting a good rate.

 

[skater]

Thanks for all the replies. I really was under the impression that rooms were mostly sold out. We were able to get what we wanted, but I think we are going during a less busy time (9/6-9/15). I too was wondering if Disney would open up more rooms, but I guess they don't have to.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'm one of those DISers who isn't flexible.

We can only go August 26-September 4. My son's first day of school is September 5. As much as I love Disney, I'm not willing to pull my son out of school in order to take advantage of free dining.

 

[MagicAddict2178]

Well, from my point of view, there is considerably less availability than there has been the past 2 years. We've gone over the Labor Day weekend the past 2 years and have had no problems whatsoever getting the resort we wanted. I even waited to book until June.

This year, I booked the day free dining became available to the general public. The only value I could get was Sports, which I really didn't want but booked anyway. Everytime I try to change, there are no values available and the only mod left is CBR. So I'm seeing a big difference this year! But this is just MHO.

 

[MEK]

Magic Addict - I agree with you. I went the last week of August into LD weekend the past two years. There is definately less availability this year. I only got what I wanted because my AAA agent changed my package at 8:30am on 4/12. Last year I waited close to a month to book and then had no trouble adding my GF and kids about 10 days later. I'm not even mentioning anything about the promotion to anybody, because it is more limited. However, I expected that because of the bounceback and UK deal and I am definately not complaining. It's just the way it is and I am happy to have my trip booked.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I recall promotions in the past where ASMo did not even participate at all. That value seems to be the most popular.
And only from what I read here, it seems the last rooms to be booked are the most expensive. I think generally speaking under any promotion, the more the room costs, the more likely it is to be available.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Well, from my point of view, there is considerably less availability than there has been the past 2 years.

I absolutely agree. No question there is less availability.

The point of my previous post was to let people know - several of whom were convinced that all dates were sold out -- that is simply not the case. I got several PM's from board members distressed that free dining was 'sold out'. That's simply not the case.

Is there less to pick from than in years past? ABSOLUTELY.

But, there is definitely restricted availability. BUT.. for the unrestricted traveler, there are choices.

That's all I was tryin to say.

Knox

 

[nurse.darcy]

Does anyone know why Disney spent money to advertise free dining in sunday papers if they are mostly sold out? At least it sounds like they are according to these boards?!? I would imagine there may be some angry people who try to book a trip after reading those ads. I also saw travel agencies with that ad attached to theirs. I can't imagine not knowing how sold out they are as a travel agent. The whole thing just seems a little irresponsible.

I should say that they are not MOSTLY sold out. . .it is only value at certain dates that are sold out. I can find a room at nearly every other hotel. . .even a value if I am just a little flexible with my dates. . .

So what you say is untrue. . .

 

[skater]

I should say that they are not MOSTLY sold out. . .it is only value at certain dates that are sold out. I can find a room at nearly every other hotel. . .even a value if I am just a little flexible with my dates. . .

So what you say is untrue. . .

Okay, I get that free dining is not MOSTLY sold out. But still I wonder if people that have seen the ads on Sunday are getting aggravated trying to actually book the promotion. The ad in both the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post specifically promotes Value Resorts and says it is available most nights. I'm just not totally convinced that is true. Yes, it says the number of rooms is limited, but maybe they were a little too much limited? And again, they are promoting value resorts for MOST nights. On the other hand, I have told many many friends and family members about free dining and NOBODY is even remotely interested. Most people in my little world do not want to take their kids out of school in September and also none of my friends will drop everything to plan a Disney trip 5 months away. So... were these ads effective for Disney? I'm not sure how much interest they have generated. Maybe there are no aggravated people trying to find value resorts for their dates! Again, I'm not criticizing Disney as I'm one of their biggest fans - I'm just wondering and enjoying the discussion.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Skater:

The only dates I could not pull up for Values earlier today included the range 8/26 to 9/02 and 9/13 to 9/17. If I tried date ranges around those dates.. and elsewhere in the booking period, I could pull up values.

And then later today, ASMo came up as available in that date range 9/13 to 9/17, when yesterday, three days ago, and even earlier today it was not. Whether it was a cancellation or a block of rooms made available or just what.. I don't know. But suddenly there it was. It's gone again now.

The rooms available on this promotion are very fluid. Just because they are not available today -- doesn't mean that will be the case tomorrow, or whenever.

We all like to think of things like this in terms of black and white.. Sold out or not.. But with Disney -- there are few black and whites when it comes to promotional offers.

Knox

 

[skater]

You're right Canadian Guy about the no black and white with Disney. You're always the voice of reason!