Current free dining offer expires May 18. What's next? (Looking for rumors!)

[smitch425]

No pin code for us, so far. I refuse to give up hope, though!

Here's a question that I hope someone here can answer: We are booked in two separate rooms: my husband and son in one room and myself, my daughter, and my sister in another. If a pin is under my husband's name or mine then what I'm gathering is that only those listed under our household can use the pin - so my sister couldn't get the free dining?
I thought that the rule was if dining is on a package everyone has to have it?
My TA told me she thinks it would also hold true that if my sister has a pin that only she would get the free dining because the rest of us are not listed under her household.
We've never been able to use a pin code, so I have no idea how that would work.
Thanks for any help on this question!

I'm sorry to say this, but your TA is not a very good TA when it comes to Disney rules. You can book up to 3 rooms with one PIN. As long as the person with the PIN is on the reservation, the rest of the people in their party can get free dining. Unfortunately, if your TA booked your trip, they are the only one that can call to have anything changed on the reservation. I hope you get a PIN or at least a GP offer. Good luck!

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

Thanks, smitch!! That makes me feel much better.

I'm sorry to say this, but your TA is not a very good TA when it comes to Disney rules.

You have no idea. I booked our trip with her to be nice and give her the commission because I used to work with her. Yes, I used to be a travel agent and no, I did not know the answer to my own question about the pin code! That's a scenario I never came across during my time in the travel biz.

However, I expect my friend to get answers to my questions quickly (she doesn't) and thoroughly (she also doesn't). She didn't even know what a pin code is. She texted me 4 full days after our 180 day dining window opened and said "I should probably be able to make your reservations now." Ummm...thanks, but already done.

There's more, but I'm done venting about her now!

My sister texted me and said (about our TA): "I swear, if she makes us miss this offer I will hurt her!". I think I will call and check on the pin myself from now on!

 

[jillmc40]

I had a TA from a Disney Specific agency and she was the worst! I had to beg this lady to call me back, make changes to the reservation, etc. Finally I cancelled with them and re-booked it myself. The only reason I used a TA was because I wanted someone to be more on top of the AP discount than me...Shoot, I couldn't even get her to add a night onto my trip. I had been asking her for a month, and she finally did it the day I called and spoke to her manager and cancelled the whole thing...No thanks!

So now I must stalk the discounts myself...Oh well, at least I know it is done right

 

[mommy4]

Oh no! I'm sorry you all had such bad experiences with travel agents! I'm a new travel agent and I hate to hear these stories! I work so hard for my clients, I would hate to hear them talk about me this way!

Well, anyway, I wasn't able to get a pin code either. Hopefully everyone will have luck in the end!

 

[DisneyGuess]

I decided to call again to recheck about a pin just a bit ago since they had the wrong email address yesterday when I called.

Still no pin, of course, but I did get the best CM, lol. She was so sweet. She checked & kept telling me she was so sorry but she didn't see any package discounts for me. I told her, that's ok, I've never gotten one, just thought I'd take a shot. She told me she would keep hoping & wishing for us & that she'd be throwing some pixie dust our way. She could hear my 3 yr old in the background & said for me to tell the little master that Mickey was excited & waiting for him to come back to visit.

It was so sweet, & though I'm sure it meant nothing really, her words made me feel better & put that Disney smile on my face.

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

Oh no! I'm sorry you all had such bad experiences with travel agents! I'm a new travel agent and I hate to hear these stories! I work so hard for my clients, I would hate to hear them talk about me this way!

Believe me, having been a travel agent for 10 years I know what a difficult and stressful job it can be. I would never bad mouth my current TA if weren't for the fact that I have good reason to.

You shouldn't ever tell a client "I'll get back with you later" and then don't. I was always honest with my clients and if I knew I was super busy and wouldn't be able to call them back the same day, I would say so.

It's no secret that when it comes to Disney I am an uber-planner. My TA knows this. When I had clients like myself who were awaiting discounts, dining reservations, etc. then I made sure to set reminders for myself and stay on top of it. She is getting the commission from my booking, so I don't think it's asking too much for her to do the same.

If a TA doesn't know what a pin code is or the rules that apply: find out! Don't tell a client "I'm guessing this is how it is....we'll find out when the time comes." Not acceptable.

I think my TA has a lackadaisical attitude about my booking because we are friends and she assumes I'm okay with the way she's handling my booking. This experience has taught me that since I'm perfectly capable of doing my bookings myself, that's how it will be in the future.

Guess I wasn't quite done venting about her....sorry!

 

[poohfriend]

Believe me, having been a travel agent for 10 years I know what a difficult and stressful job it can be. I would never bad mouth my current TA if weren't for the fact that I have good reason to.

You shouldn't ever tell a client "I'll get back with you later" and then don't. I was always honest with my clients and if I knew I was super busy and wouldn't be able to call them back the same day, I would say so.

It's no secret that when it comes to Disney I am an uber-planner. My TA knows this. When I had clients like myself who were awaiting discounts, dining reservations, etc. then I made sure to set reminders for myself and stay on top of it. She is getting the commission from my booking, so I don't think it's asking too much for her to do the same.

If a TA doesn't know what a pin code is or the rules that apply: find out! Don't tell a client "I'm guessing this is how it is....we'll find out when the time comes." Not acceptable.

I think my TA has a lackadaisical attitude about my booking because we are friends and she assumes I'm okay with the way she's handling my booking. This experience has taught me that since I'm perfectly capable of doing my bookings myself, that's how it will be in the future.

Guess I wasn't quite done venting about her....sorry!

I think it may be time to have a heart-to-heart. Business is business. Does she really expect referrals from you? As a former travel agent I would think friends would trust your recommendation. You would REALLY be KIND to her to let her know that she's not meeting your expectations and give her a chance to make the extra effort.

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

I think it may be time to have a heart-to-heart. Business is business. Does she really expect referrals from you? As a former travel agent I would think friends would trust your recommendation. You would REALLY be KIND to her to let her know that she's not meeting your expectations and give her a chance to make the extra effort.

I know it would be the right thing to do, but she is my friend and I have to figure out how to phrase things as nicely as possible so as not to create any bad feelings between us.

The thing is, she was consistently one of the top sellers in our office, had a HUGE client base and clients who returned to her again and again. I really feel that the lack of good service I've received is because of our friendship. I don't know how to address these problems without offending her. I've got to think it over.....it may just be best to let it rest this time and, as I said, do it myself the next time.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I decided to call again to recheck about a pin just a bit ago since they had the wrong email address yesterday when I called.

Still no pin, of course, but I did get the best CM, lol. She was so sweet. She checked & kept telling me she was so sorry but she didn't see any package discounts for me. I told her, that's ok, I've never gotten one, just thought I'd take a shot. She told me she would keep hoping & wishing for us & that she'd be throwing some pixie dust our way. She could hear my 3 yr old in the background & said for me to tell the little master that Mickey was excited & waiting for him to come back to visit.

It was so sweet, & though I'm sure it meant nothing really, her words made me feel better & put that Disney smile on my face.

I have called numerous times in the last week, checking,HOPING for a pin. I have got some really nice CMs that have really been nice. I also got a couple not so nice ones. But I agree that even though I still have no pin, I DO have a reservation, and I definitely have a better feeling when I hang up with a nice one.

 

[candeeapril]

Hoping something comes out soon. Trying to help friends plan a trip first part of Nov.

 

[disneyfreak7]

I am so frustrated! I finally get FD pin code and it is only good thru 12/13. i wish i got the one that other dis member reeived that is good til 12/20.

 

[jenseib]

I am so frustrated! I finally get FD pin code and it is only good thru 12/13. i wish i got the one that other dis member reeived that is good til 12/20.

I don't think any of the free dining ones went to the 20th?

 

[McKelly]

I read about some that went out to 12/20 as well. I would have liked that one and moved my March trip up to December. Oh well, I didn't receive either PIN!!

 

[disneyfreak7]

It doesn't make sense to give out 2 different date for FD pin codes. I did book with my pin and will have to arrive 2 days earlier. oping if it is released to general public it will include up to 12/20 and I will be able to switch.

 

[vleeth]

I called yesterday and was told I didn't have a pin.

Today I get this email...Special Offer and "Sneak Peek Video"! Bring Disney Parks Magic Home...from Disney.

Made my heart skip a beat...only to realize it had nothing to do with vacation...its merchandise.

 

[jodilynnw0214]

Vleeth my Dh got that same email he was so excited he thought he finally got the free dining email when he opened it he was so bummed. Still waiting hopefully it will go to the gp soon.

 

[vleeth]

Is anyone booking now (in hopes of free dining) to avoid having to pay higher ticket prices if free dining comes out after the price increase?

Did that even make sense?

 

[whodatdare]

Is anyone booking now (in hopes of free dining) to avoid having to pay higher ticket prices if free dining comes out after the price increase?

Did that even make sense?

Yep. Actually, we're booking now because our ADR's are coming up on Monday

Also, I've heard people are successfully calling for free dining by saying that they got the pinless email and managers are giving it sans proof. I... just...don't...think...i...can...stoop...that...low...

 

[vleeth]

I couldn't do that...not even for free dining.

But I may book soon to lock in ticket prices and wait for the public offer.

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

Is anyone booking now (in hopes of free dining) to avoid having to pay higher ticket prices if free dining comes out after the price increase?

Did that even make sense?

Yep. I've booked October 23-30 even though I'm not sure if we'll have free dining or not. I'm afraid that our airlines prices and the WDW ticket prices would both go up if we waited too long. Based on the PIN codes people are receiving, I'm hopeful that we'll get free dining.