Call me Stupid but...

[southjerseymom]

So I am guessing the rules have changed from what I am picking up on these threads. Can anyone confirm or deny (lol) that promotions ie Free Dining are now based on your check in date rather than your stay? We got Free Dining one November because we arrived during the black out period but were checking out after the promo kicked in again. We got it for our whole stay. We have always gotten room only discounts for our whole stays before even when we checked in before the promo kicked in. We were always able to piggy back as long as one day met the promo criteria. So it has changed? When? Kind of making me angry. Might consider off site. YIKES! But the days of being able to feed DS and DD a shared kids meal are gone.

 

[Roxyfire]

So I am guessing the rules have changed from what I am picking up on these threads. Can anyone confirm or deny (lol) that promotions ie Free Dining are now based on your check in date rather than your stay? We got Free Dining one November because we arrived during the black out period but were checking out after the promo kicked in again. We got it for our whole stay. We have always gotten room only discounts for our whole stays before even when we checked in before the promo kicked in. We were always able to piggy back as long as one day met the promo criteria. So it has changed? When? Kind of making me angry. Might consider off site. YIKES! But the days of being able to feed DS and DD a shared kids meal are gone.

I don't think your question is stupid. Unless things change from last year, the "free dining" will apply for duration of the stay as long as you check in during the promotion period. Even if you check in on the final day. If you check in one day early before the promotion kicks in, you are not eligible. You will also need to fulfill any other requirements such as park hopper tickets for any minimum required duration.

If you book a room only discount, it will cover the days in which you are eligible. You may find some days are eligible, such as a Sunday through Thursday, and other days not, for example a weekend or holiday. It takes less finagling to use a room only, plus you might get a better location.

They can make the rules how they want, regardless of whether we think it's fair or not. Just as any other discount, coupon, or offer from any other company. If your room, resort, and dates are eligible AND they have the room available, then you can book it. If you find the price is still too high, do go offsite. It's best to vote with your wallet on this one.

 

[southjerseymom]

Ahh. There in lies the rub. Previous years as long as a portion of my stay was included in the promotion we got the promotion for the whole stay regardless of checkin date. ie. checked in the 16th. promotion started the 18th. We got the promotion (free dining 2013) for the duration of the stay. Same thing last vistit. 35% off room only (November 2015) checked in before promotion started but still got it for our whole stay becasue we were there when it was applicable for a portion of our stay. Everyone is saying the rules have changed and I'm guessing they have. I'll talk to some cast members tomorrow. I've always booked my stays with the Disney Cast Members and they have always given me the right info. When they haven't Disney has always honored their promises. Plus I like being on hold listening to the music. This will be trip 11 with my guys. DS will be graduating in 2 years. My Disney babies. They are more excited than I am.

 

[smidgy]

"free" dining is based on you check in date. and, yes , if you are there after the promotion, you will still get the discount for your entire stay. but you will not get the discount if you check in BEFORE the discount dates. waht we ahve done in the past is book a "room only" for the 1 or 2 days before . and have them book it as a "continuing reservation" in other words, you will most likely be able to keep the same room.. but you will have to go to the front desk in the morning to check in again.
if you are only 1 day ahead of time, it's relaly no big deal, as you can check in first thing in the morning and get your mugs and dining credits. you'll only have to pay out of pocket for the first night at the food court. share a pizza and drink free water. 2 nights ahead? yeah you'll have to pay out of pocket for more. not sure irf it's worth it then.. this is why not all discounts work out for everyone.
for us, 2 adults, we don't eat that much and we save more with the room discounts than paying rack rate for the rooms during "free" dining.

 

[stinkpickle]

Every time we got free dining (by regular promo or by PIN code), it's been based on arrival date. We've never been able to get free dining before the window.

 

[Roxyfire]

Ahh. There in lies the rub. Previous years as long as a portion of my stay was included in the promotion we got the promotion for the whole stay regardless of checkin date. ie. checked in the 16th. promotion started the 18th. We got the promotion (free dining 2013) for the duration of the stay. Same thing last vistit. 35% off room only (November 2015) checked in before promotion started but still got it for our whole stay becasue we were there when it was applicable for a portion of our stay. Everyone is saying the rules have changed and I'm guessing they have. I'll talk to some cast members tomorrow. I've always booked my stays with the Disney Cast Members and they have always given me the right info. When they haven't Disney has always honored their promises. Plus I like being on hold listening to the music. This will be trip 11 with my guys. DS will be graduating in 2 years. My Disney babies. They are more excited than I am.

I understand you want a discount, who doesn't. But they put those out to fill rooms that are unbooked. Room only discounts are a lot more flexible, they apply to the nights that are eligible. Disney decides which nights those are and no front level cast member will be able to override that for you. I do wish you good luck in finding what you're looking for.