Disgusted with the Fall 2012 free dining offer

[Port Orleans fan]

I think the issue is that some folks feel like Disney OWES THEM free dining, or room discounts, like it is their obligation to provide these amenities, and then complain "I booked this vacation e or ting a non announced non guaranteed discount and Disney didn't give it to me, or changed the requirement that I expected and now I have to cancel or change my plans because Disney doesn't care"

Seriously?Two Simple rules too solve most if the complaints on Disboards

1) don't book what you cannot afford
2) expect nothing other than what you paid for.

I kind of agree with what you and saskdw are saying. If someone books and cancels because they are expecting FD and don't get it, then IMO that's just very poor planing on their part. Every consumer expects a deal or two from time to time. It's human nature.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

By the same token, what business is it of yours if someone wants to spend $5,000 on a vacation? You don't know these people, don't know their lives or their finances or their families, so it seems rather presumptuous to try to tell them how to conduct their lives. I'm not saying that if that much money is a financial burden, go anyway. But people who are seriously into Disney come here to plan their trips and talk about their obsession with WDW in general (or other parks/aspects!). That's like going to a comic book convention and being surprised that people there are into comics and then telling them they're wasting their money. Sorry, but I think that's pretty rude.

You're right, it isn't any of my business how much people spend on their vacations or what they do with their lives. At the same time I really couldn't care either. I worry about myself, not others. I'm just making a point. A point you just helped demonstrate.

 

[usd2bmd]

^

Perhaps we can get this response to automatically pop up every time someone on these boards post that they just booked a room or package with WDW, and now they're waiting (or hoping) for a discount to come out.

 

[AJ1983]

I think it would be best if Disney could released the FD dates sooner so vacationers can secure cheap airfare months in advance. I don't understand why Disney feels they have to "surprise" the general public with a free dining discount, when the general public is already expecting it.

Disney opened a can of worms when they introduced FD. There is no way they can afford to take it away and go back to the way it was because a large amount of the "general public" will stop visiting WDW during those times if FD isn't offered. The "slow periods" will truly become the "slow periods" again. And I doubt Disney would ever want that to happen.

"The power that be" isn't fooling anyone, FD is here to stay and we all know it! Just let us plan our "trip to the world" a little sooner, that's all.

As most pp said, its really not a "lets surprise the public" thing, its more of a "crap, lets fill these rooms so we don't lose money" thing.

Also, I think its incorrect to say that people will stop visiting Disney during the "slow periods" if FD isn't offered. First of all, slow period to me means less crowds and lineups-thats incentive enough, don't need free dining to make it better. Second, some people don't use free dining, so the offer of FD would not be a huge factor in deciding whether to take a trip to Disney at that particular time. Therefore, the removal of this offer would not effect the decision of these people.

I think pp hit the nail on the head when they said that if the rooms are booked months in advance, then they will not have to fill empty rooms and will be less likely to offer any further incentive for people to visit. I think you either secure your hotel room early and run the risk of no FD, or you hope for FD and make do with the leftover rooms.

 

[sherirs04]

People should not book ahead, especially if they want a discount. If too many people pre-book for the same week, then they may be locked out of FD because Disney thinks that they do not need to fill rooms that week. Book the week you want and then if you get FD, bonus! Otherwise, wait for the discounts to come out and then book your room.

Disney is not being "sneaky." If they see a week as "full" then why should they offer a discount for it?

I think this is a great lesson for next year! I for one will not be booking early! I mean, look at what happened with the LM rooms. They were all booked up with people anticipating FD dining and then they were excluded. Then they all jumped ship to get free dining. Lol

 

[Don Disney]

Running a business is about profit not helping people.

Sadly,this is so very true....just ask anyone who works for a "for profit"healthcare company.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I think this is a great lesson for next year! I for one will not be booking early! I mean, look at what happened with the LM rooms. They were all booked up with people anticipating FD dining and then they were excluded. Then they all jumped ship to get free dining. Lol

I think the Little Mermaid rooms are excluded because AoA is new resort that everyone want to try and LM are the cheapest way to do that. The Little Mermaid section is the only part of the resort with regular rooms. The prices of the suites are high enough to make people pause before booking them. I don't have a family of six, so if I was going to spend that much money, I would probably stay at a deluxe. I think the Little Mermaid rooms were only included with the Aug/Sept free dining because the section is opening earlier that they planned and the needed to fill it up fast.

Last year, not only did they exclude half of October from free dining, but they didn't offer any GP room only discounts either. We originally thought about going to WDW Oct-13-21, but moved it up a couple of weeks, because we thought we would be more likely to get some kind of discount. Did we count on it? No. But we sure did hope for it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney opened a can of worms when they introduced FD. There is no way they can afford to take it away and go back to the way it was because a large amount of the "general public" will stop visiting WDW during those times if FD isn't offered. The "slow periods" will truly become the "slow periods" again. And I doubt Disney would ever want that to happen.

This doesn't make much sense, as free dining is offered to fill a certain percentage of empty rooms. If they did indeed have a lot more empty rooms during free dining blackout periods, because there was no free dining, then they'd probably expand free dining.

Disney's figuring out when it can fill a greater percentage of empty rooms WITHOUT free dining. A couple of years ago Bob Iger did say they were going to start cutting back on discounts.

The negativity comes from the fact that the OP booked the trip some time ago and bought plane tickets. Now is angry that Disney didn't give him the discounts he is entitled to.

Which is not entirely the case - the OP got the free dining, but appears to be outraged on behalf of those who previously booked and are checking in on what turned out to be the blackout dates.

 

[twinmom1107]

We've been lucky enough to get FD on our last 4 trips. This year we are going during Jersey week and chose to tweak our reservation to take advantage of the offer. 11/9 - 11/15. Room only to start (visiting Universal) and then taking advantage of the package. If FD wasn't offered - no biggy - but it sure is nice to save the extra $. WE plan our trip for what's convenient for our family. I consider FD to be a bit of pixie dust if it happens to fall during our stay. Less than 4 months left on our count down calender....yay!!

 

[danceintherain]

The only way out of this loop is for WDW to drop their prices by 40% which would put them where they should be and people would book at rack rate. They won't do this. It's probably better for them the way it is. People get FD and think they got some great deal when all it really does is make it a fair value.

There's some psychological value related to getting a discount. Just look at people who buy things they don't need just because they "got a good deal." If Disney lowered rack rate, it might not end up with higher occupancy, and they wouldn't have the possibility of anyone paying the inflated rate. Christmas week in the most popular week at Disney. It's also the most expensive. Obviously, people ARE willing to pay exorbitant amounts to stay in Disney hotels, so there's no incentive for them to cater much to the people who won't, except when there's no enticement for people to otherwise plan their vacations for a specific time.

I don't understand these kinds of threads. Disney offers discounts to fill unfilled rooms. That's it. They don't WANT people who already have reservations to switch to a lower rate. They WANT everyone to pay rack rate ALL the time. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen, so they release discounts for select dates in order to even out the occupancy. Yes, some people do switch to a lower room rate, but it's balanced by the people who don't have a lower rate available to them.
I'm sure the timing has specific value for them because they know that airlines have unforgiving cancellation policies. If they released all their discounts before airfare sales, then a larger number of people would switch their dates, and they would end up with lower occupancy during other times. Then they may end up with a much fewer number of people paying rack rate.

Bottom line, if the only way you can afford to go to Disney, in your preferred manner, is with a discount, then don't book anything until AFTER Disney releases a discount that is suitable for your needs. This will leave you flexible to go whenever you can get the best deal. Most discounts have a fairly large span of time, so there's always the possibility of going towards the end of the promotion when you may have enough time to secure better airfare.

 

[zandorian]

I am frustrated at the Free Dining offers.. I check in on the 8th FD starts on the 9th.. so no FD for us. If you want to stay longer at the end.. no problem but not at the beginning.

Guess that's the way the ball bounces.

 

[vicki_c]

I am frustrated at the Free Dining offers.. I check in on the 8th FD starts on the 9th.. so no FD for us. If you want to stay longer at the end.. no problem but not at the beginning.

Guess that's the way the ball bounces.

Why not book one night room only, pick up your park tickets early if that makes sense, and check in for your free dining then next day? Or push Back your arrival day by one day? There are alternatives if you want free dining.

 

[loricdietzel]

I am frustrated at the Free Dining offers.. I check in on the 8th FD starts on the 9th.. so no FD for us. If you want to stay longer at the end.. no problem but not at the beginning.

Guess that's the way the ball bounces.

Last year we were in this position and we booked one night hotel only and then the package starting the next day (same hotel.) We didn't have to change rooms or anything. We did get new KTTW cards on the second day, but they even offered to deliver those to our room. You may want to look into that. If Disney is offering FD, might as well take advantage of it! If you wanted to go to the park on the first day, you can pick up your tickets early (there is a sticky about that.)

 

[lawnmd]

I have a question.
Me, wife,and 5 year old son,check into WDW on around midnight Oct. 6 and check out on Oct 13, 2012. This is our first trip to WDW. We have flights already booked. Staying at the Carribbean with pirate water view room. Trick or Treat night, and park hopper.

Free dinning isn't offer while we are there. I was wondering, I think they maybe call it a split stay, and book a cheaper room Oct 4 & 5 and not check in. Book it in either the same resort or a cheaper resort so I can get free dinning. But I won't be able to actually check in until the midnight on Oct 6, 2012.

Is this possible. According to math, I think I can save approx around $500

If not can somebody help me out with this.

 

[Masonmj84]

Disney offers discounts to fill unfilled rooms. That's it. They don't WANT people who already have reservations to switch to a lower rate. They WANT everyone to pay rack rate ALL the time. . . I'm sure the timing has specific value for them because they know that airlines have unforgiving cancellation policies. If they released all their discounts before airfare sales, then a larger number of people would switch their dates, and they would end up with lower occupancy during other times. Then they may end up with a much fewer number of people paying rack rate.

Bottom line, if the only way you can afford to go to Disney, in your preferred manner, is with a discount, then don't book anything until AFTER Disney releases a discount that is suitable for your needs.

The above post is spot on.

I can tell you from first hand experience that Disney does not like it when someone with an existing reservation changes it to get free dining. However, as long as you haven't booked flights, they don't have much of a lever to pull because you could always simply cancel your existing reservation and then rebook a completely new reservation with free dining (I suppose they could change their policy and make your $200 deposit non-refundable right off the bat, however, I believe that would cost them a lot more in overall bookings than they'd lose by people switching to get FD).

But if you've already booked your flights and particularly if you've booked through WDW Travel, they have a perceived lever because, in that situation, you're at their mercy to get your flights changed (if booked through WDW Travel, you can't rebook directly through the airlines). In that situation, they can allege that the cost to change your flight(s) is approximately at least the same (if not greater) than your savings from getting FD. You can, of course, counter this by calling the airline and getting information about how much it SHOULD cost to switch flights (had you booked them yourself) but you're ultimately at the mercy of WDW Travel to change them and, believe me, it can be a major hassle.

Take home message: NEVER book flights (especially through WDW Travel) if there is even the slighthest hint of a possibility that you may want or need to change them.

 

[photo_chick]

I booked my Disney trip last month for this fall. This month, the Free dining offer came out, and I successfully added free dining to my trip.

So what am I complaining about? Just this: I notice that they allow free dining for arriving dates only on certain weeks, often skipping a week or two here and there:

"Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, Oct. 19 - Nov. 1, Nov. 9 - 15, Nov. 23 - 29, Dec. 10 - 13"


I just happened to book during the week when the free dining is on. What if I had booked on the week when free dining is off? The on and off is totally random, not because of holidays or anything, so one can't anticipate it.

My opinion is that Disney does this to make some people not able to add the free dining later. If anybody books flights with the vacation, chances are that they cannot adjust the flights to accommodate the free dining dates and then they will be refused the free dining option even though in name, you can always add the discount later.

I am lucky that I got the free dining this time, but I am writing this as a warning to myself and others. Next time, don't book ahead expecting to be able to get free dining if it's offered! If you think there might be free dining, wait for it to come out first!

I think it's sneaky and annoying of Disney to pull this trick.

Wow... feel a little bit of entitlement there? They could just stop offering discounts completely.

 

[crashbb]

I have a question.
Me, wife,and 5 year old son,check into WDW on around midnight Oct. 6 and check out on Oct 13, 2012. This is our first trip to WDW. We have flights already booked. Staying at the Carribbean with pirate water view room. Trick or Treat night, and park hopper.

Free dinning isn't offer while we are there. I was wondering, I think they maybe call it a split stay, and book a cheaper room Oct 4 & 5 and not check in. Book it in either the same resort or a cheaper resort so I can get free dinning. But I won't be able to actually check in until the midnight on Oct 6, 2012.

Is this possible. According to math, I think I can save approx around $500

If not can somebody help me out with this.

Not possible. If you don't show up to check in, they will cancel your reservation.

 

[EpcotBill]

I have a question.
Me, wife,and 5 year old son,check into WDW on around midnight Oct. 6 and check out on Oct 13, 2012. This is our first trip to WDW. We have flights already booked. Staying at the Carribbean with pirate water view room. Trick or Treat night, and park hopper.

Free dinning isn't offer while we are there. I was wondering, I think they maybe call it a split stay, and book a cheaper room Oct 4 & 5 and not check in. Book it in either the same resort or a cheaper resort so I can get free dinning. But I won't be able to actually check in until the midnight on Oct 6, 2012.

Is this possible. According to math, I think I can save approx around $500

If not can somebody help me out with this.

No this won't work. If you don't show up to check in they will cancel your reservation.

 

[Santa]

.... They could just stop offering discounts completely.

It would never happen but I would like to see them stop offering all discounts.

 

[saskdw]

It would never happen but I would like to see them stop offering all discounts.

They could, as long as they dropped their prices by 40%. At the current prices they would be 75% empty and losing money.