August 2007 - Free dining? Bounceback question

[Lilo'sMom]

DH, DD (7) and I were in POFQ for a fab week in early December. We did not make our bounce back reservations - were talking about August 2007 trip to Paris (to celebrate 10 year anniversary). Came home and realized Paris trip was not going to happen - the exchange rate on the euro is awful right now. On a whim during the day of New Year's Eve we called up Disney reservations, reserved 6 days at the Polynesian, MYW Park Hopper. No free dining yet (fingers crossed). We inquired about making late bounce back plans...you know, check the system, you can see we were just there. Drat! No luck. The castmember at reservations said that last year the free dining was offered in June - check regularly and call us back when/if it is offered. Our reservations could be altered.
Am nervous.
And I also feel pretty stupid for not locking in the terrific bounce back rates. AAGGGHHH!
Any tips on what to do?
Possible discounts?
Is it possible that we did not phrase our question about the bounceback reservations correctly?

 

[n2mm]

Nothing you can do except know you are not alone in the waiting game. The CM was incorrect and the free DDP was announced the beginning of April last year. The first two days was for Disney Visa holders only, then it openned to the public. There have been a few threads saying that it may be released, or it won't be released, it may be limited.....who knows. All we can do is wait now and see what happens. We will be there in early Feb. and was hoping the bounce back would be extended, but doesn't look likely. We'll be there in late April too. Watch the boards, but try not to fret too much about the negative threads. I take it all with a grain of salt.

 

[MEK]

Don't feel bad. I was there in November and did not book the bounceback either. I knew there was some promotion going on, but I did not think it was free dining. It wasn't until I got home and read the boards several days later that I realized what I really missed. So - I know how you feel. Ditto that ARRGGGGHHHH!

I would really like to go back in August with my son. I am not booking now, though. I will wait to see if there is general public free dining. If not, I'll decide whether we even want to do the dining plan at all. After three trips on the dining plan, maybe we'll do this one on the cheap without the massive amounts of food. We might just do mostly counter service and not worry about the dining plan and having to make every ADR on time.

 

[Bronte]

If it helps we will be waiting with you.
We were there early nov. too but we were staying at CBR so we did not get the free dinning offer (I would have switched to POR if I would have known ... double DRAT. )
oh well ... if they offer it to the general public we will go but if not we will go back for the holidays again (we have never gone in August but would give it a try for free dinning.)

 

[aubriee]

If it helps we will be waiting with you.
We were there early nov. too but we were staying at CBR so we did not get the free dinning offer (I would have switched to POR if I would have known ... double DRAT. )
oh well ... if they offer it to the general public we will go but if not we will go back for the holidays again (we have never gone in August but would give it a try for free dinning.)

Just FYI it didn't matter what resort you were staying at. As long as you were anywhere on property you could book the bounce back program. I did a split stay at POP and CBR Dec 9th-17th and went over to book the bounce back program, as did several other DISers. They do pull up your reservation to check though.

Take it with a grain of salt, but the CM I booked with at PORS said that Disney was 'severely cutting the number of free dining pkgs offered for '07 due to complaints from both visitors and the restaraunts' and the only way to get free dining for '07 was going to be through the UK offer or the bounce back program. He also said they were shocked at how good a turnout they were having with the bounce back program, with very little advertising. He asked how I heard about it and said he needed to enter the information in his computer.

 

[alldiz]

i'm also kicking myself...

i was there last month....thought i'd never go in summer...to hot....

now i have a friend who wants to go....

she is on a serious budget...so i was thinkin of the free dining...
the only way she can swing it is at a value w/free dining..
single mom w/3 kids...

I hope it is released
Kerri