Did I Mess Up? MYW Pkg w/Free Dining

[Nezumi Fan]

Hi all,

I've done my due diligence and read around but am not finding the info I'm hoping for. Apologies if I'm being a bonehead and have missed it.

I booked a MYW Package for my family back in May when the Free Dining promotion was first announced. I didn't really understand how it worked but got caught up in the excitement.

We are booked at Coronado Springs Resort. Our original plans had us there 12/13 through 12/21; flight plans changed and we added another night at the same hotel. I called and spoke with a Cast Member earlier today so that the "extra" night would be listed as a "continuing" reservation (that's how it was explained to me).

The question: Did I mess up? The MYW Package included seven days' worth of park tickets. Did I need to buy that many? I read somewhere about a "minimum" for the free dining. Is the dining tied to the tickets? For example, since I have seven days' worth of tickets, does that mean I have seven days' worth of free dining only? What are my options, if any?

Thanks as always for all the wonderful people who know so much and are generous enough to share,

NF

 

[purple figment]

Hi all,

I've done my due diligence and read around but am not finding the info I'm hoping for. Apologies if I'm being a bonehead and have missed it.

I booked a MYW Package for my family back in May when the Free Dining promotion was first announced. I didn't really understand how it worked but got caught up in the excitement.

We are booked at Coronado Springs Resort. Our original plans had us there 12/13 through 12/21; The dining plan is based on the number of nights you booked for the package. Arriving 12/13 and departing 12/21 is a total of 8 nights so you will have 8 Table Service, 8 Counter Service and 8 Snack credits per person and a refillable mug per person.

flight plans changed and we added another night at the same hotel. I called and spoke with a Cast Member earlier today so that the "extra" night would be listed as a "continuing" reservation (that's how it was explained to me). Did you book a room only for this additional night, meaning there's no dining plan for this additional night. Continuing usually means you have 2 separate reservations (2 different reservation numbers), but if you booked the exact same resort and room category the reservations can be linked. If you let the CMs know when you check in at the front desk you can request to remain in the same room so you won't have to pack up and change rooms. It is only a request and not guaranteed. Even if you don't have to change rooms, you will have to go to the front desk and check in at the start of the second reservation. With a room only reservation you will not get an additional night of dining plan credits.

Or, did you book an additional night on your package? The phone CM would not be able to do this without putting you on hold and having a supervisor/Guest Services CM check for availability since the FD booking period has ended.

The question: Did I mess up? The MYW Package included seven days' worth of park tickets. Did I need to buy that many? I read somewhere about a "minimum" for the free dining. For free dining you must include a minimum of 2 day park tickets for everyone in the room 3 years and older.

Is the dining tied to the tickets? For example, since I have seven days' worth of tickets, does that mean I have seven days' worth of free dining only? As noted above, the dining plan is based on the number of nights you are staying on the package reservation and not on the number of park days on your tickets.

What are my options, if any? Not sure what you are asking about. Additional days on your park tickets? Early ticket pick up? Dining on the additional day? Something else?

Thanks as always for all the wonderful people who know so much and are generous enough to share,

NF

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[Nezumi Fan]

Hi Kim,

Thank you for the thoughtful and articulate reply.

The dining plan is based on the number of nights you booked for the package. Arriving 12/13 and departing 12/21 is a total of 8 nights so you will have 8 Table Service, 8 Counter Service and 8 Snack credits per person and a refillable mug per person.

Ah, so the park entrance tickets have nothing to do with it, once the two-night minimum requirement has been satisfied. Got it.

Did you book a room only for this additional night, meaning there's no dining plan for this additional night. Continuing usually means you have 2 separate reservations (2 different reservation numbers), but if you booked the exact same resort and room category the reservations can be linked.... With a room only reservation you will not get an additional night of dining plan credits.

I had wanted to book a "MYW Package" when I booked the additional night at CSR online, but the option was not available to me, only a "room only" reservation.

Or, did you book an additional night on your package? The phone CM would not be able to do this without putting you on hold and having a supervisor/Guest Services CM check for availability since the FD booking period has ended.

Could I take this to mean that I might be able to get another day of free dining based on the reservation?

What are my options, if any? Not sure what you are asking about. Additional days on your park tickets? Early ticket pick up? Dining on the additional day? Something else?

I think you have answered it: Call them and ask if an additional day of dining can be added to my reservation. I also have a question about purchasing additional park tickets so that I can make FP+ reservations for the extra day I have added, but will save that for another thread. Thank you again, Kim.

NF

 

[purple figment]

Could I take this to mean that I might be able to get another day of free dining based on the reservation?

You will have to call, but the CM answering the phone will not be able to modify your Free Dining package because the booking period has expired. S/he will have to speak with a supervisor or Guest Services to see if there is still availability for the resort and same room category. Usually the CM will put you on hold rather than let you speak with GS directly. If it is still possible, you can modify your current package reservation and then cancel the room only.

Since this is for the vacation you have coming up next week, there are some deadlines to be aware of. Room only reservations have to be cancelled no later than 5 days in advance of arrival or you will forfeit the deposit (1 night's room rate.) If this is at the end of your trip you have a little more time.

One other deadline is a dining plan must be added no later than 3 days before arrival so that date is coming up quickly if you are trying to modify the FD package res.

I think you have answered it: Call them and ask if an additional day of dining can be added to my reservation. I also have a question about purchasing additional park tickets so that I can make FP+ reservations for the extra day I have added, but will save that for another thread. Thank you again, Kim.

Since your tickets are part of a Free Dining package I think you can add another day even if you can't add another FD night to the package. However, if you booked the package prior to the last ticket price increase some have said they were charged the increased price if they modified the tickets.

If you cannot add a night to the package and end up with a room only reservation for the one night don't add tickets to that reservation. It's better to wait until you are at DW to add an 8th day to your tickets because that 8th, 9th, 10th day will only cost $10.00 plus tax per day per ticket. Use the tickets to enter a park at least once to bring them up to the current gate price and you should not be charged more than $10.65 per ticket for each additional day. The downside is you will not be able to make FP+ choices for the extra day.

You can pick up your park tickets up to 3 days before the start of your package so even if you have a room only res at the beginning of your vacation you'll be able to utilize your park tickets. The procedure is outlined in post 15-I in this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

NF

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[Nezumi Fan]

Hi Kim!

Quick status update.

I spoke with Disney last week. I was able to confirm that my reservations were marked as "continuing," meaning, we will not have to pack up and move to another room in the same resort (Coronado Springs) for the final night.

No rooms were available for the free dining promotion but, as the CM said (his name was Gavin), "at least you tried."

Gavin was able to set us up with the additional tickets, so, we went from seven days' worth to nine, and it ended up costing us no more than twenty bucks or so a person for the two extra days -- the $10 per day you had mentioned, Kim.

So, all things considered, things seem to have worked out well, and although I still have not been able to make even one day's reservation for lunch at Be Our Guest using the beourguestlunch.disney.go.com website, I was able to book some FP+'s for our last few days (I'd had only seven days' worth, previously, remember).

Thank you again for your authoritative knowledge and clear communication, Kim!

Trish
Seattle