Fall 2016 planning (continuation of 2016 Free Dining Watch)

[BrookieM2001]

Hope this is in the right place. We have two rooms reserved at Coronada with standard view and FD for Nov. If a water view becomes available, can I change this through my MDE or do I have to make a new reservation and cancel the 1st? I see where there is an option to edit view, but didn't know if I would be able to edit and keep FD.

We switched out room view. We had a garden view in a royal guest room at POR. When FD dropped, we added it to our existing res. Then, we called back that night just to check if availability for a river view was anywhere to be found and the CM said yep! So we switched and it didn't affect our FD. Not sure if you could downgrade, from a premium view to a standard but I think switching between premium views is ok as long as there's availability in the system. I would DEFINITELY call, though. Then you an make it clear that you do NOT want the switch if you lose your FD!

 

[CandiceF]

Thank you both so much!! We're thinking of watching the water parade/fireworks after dinner at Kona's!



I've been wishing on stars for this to happen. . Rubbing lamps, in case a genie pops out. . And taking any pixie dust I can find, scattering it around. . All in hopes of free dining at POR in December!!!

I would love if they would offer FD at POR for November too! We are staying at POR without FD in November, but are paying last years prices for tickets, room and DP, so we are still saving a little. We had FD at CBR last year and don't usually go every year. We are only going again this year because instead of a party for turning 40 I wanted Disney and POR, LOL! POR still seems to have lots of availability, so I keep hoping maybe they will add it past Oct.01 for FD!

 

[damskipi13]

For those of writing about watching the party fireworks or the water parade from a resort...

Do I have to be staying at that resort to do so? For instance, I don't know where to watch these things if I went to the Poly. Is it somewhere I could access if I'm not a guest at the Poly? Are there other good places to watch from?

Thanks!

 

[ldauksch]

I would love if they would offer FD at POR for November too! We are staying at POR without FD in November, but are paying last years prices for tickets, room and DP, so we are still saving a little. We had FD at CBR last year and don't usually go every year. We are only going again this year because instead of a party for turning 40 I wanted Disney and POR, LOL! POR still seems to have lots of availability, so I keep hoping maybe they will add it past Oct.01 for FD!

We were originally booked at POR with last year's ticket prices too but when I applied our UOC RO discount it changed to this year's prices. We are still saving around $400. Now that MVMCP ticket prices have gone up so much I think I'm going to ditch my plan of also doing Club Villain which means I can drop a day of park tickets which will save another $32. It would be nice if I could get the ROL and new Star Wars fireworks nailed down so I know if I can drop our park hopper or not to save even more money I would love it if they would extend POR for FD but I would be happy with a good Play/Stay/Dine discount (I actually have no idea what those discounts entail) for my dates as well. I hate the idea of not having a dining plan but it just doesn't make sense for us to pay full price for it because we would end up spending more money than paying OOP.

Oh and I'm turning 30 and wanted a trip instead of a party too, great minds

 

[cshell624]

For those of writing about watching the party fireworks or the water parade from a resort...

Do I have to be staying at that resort to do so? For instance, I don't know where to watch these things if I went to the Poly. Is it somewhere I could access if I'm not a guest at the Poly? Are there other good places to watch from?

Thanks!

At the Poly I think you are allowed to go down to the beach and watch. At the Contemporary they have a balcony you can watch from. I want to say it's on the same floor as Chef Mickey's.

 

[cshell624]

I would love if they would offer FD at POR for November too! We are staying at POR without FD in November, but are paying last years prices for tickets, room and DP, so we are still saving a little. We had FD at CBR last year and don't usually go every year. We are only going again this year because instead of a party for turning 40 I wanted Disney and POR, LOL! POR still seems to have lots of availability, so I keep hoping maybe they will add it past Oct.01 for FD!

I celebrated my 40th birthday 2 years ago at POR. Best birthday yet!!!! When I booked, all they had available were RR, but I thought why not it's my birthday. I mean you only turn 40 once unless your my mother who has celebrated being 29 for.......well it's been a long time.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday trip! Fingers crossed for FD.

 

[cshell624]

We were originally booked at POR with last year's ticket prices too but when I applied our UOC RO discount it changed to this year's prices. We are still saving around $400. Now that MVMCP ticket prices have gone up so much I think I'm going to ditch my plan of also doing Club Villain which means I can drop a day of park tickets which will save another $32. It would be nice if I could get the ROL and new Star Wars fireworks nailed down so I know if I can drop our park hopper or not to save even more money I would love it if they would extend POR for FD but I would be happy with a good Play/Stay/Dine discount (I actually have no idea what those discounts entail) for my dates as well. I hate the idea of not having a dining plan but it just doesn't make sense for us to pay full price for it because we would end up spending more money than paying OOP.

Oh and I'm turning 30 and wanted a trip instead of a party too, great minds

Hope you have a great trip too!

 

[disneymom0104]

I would love if they would offer FD at POR for November too! We are staying at POR without FD in November, but are paying last years prices for tickets, room and DP, so we are still saving a little. We had FD at CBR last year and don't usually go every year. We are only going again this year because instead of a party for turning 40 I wanted Disney and POR, LOL! POR still seems to have lots of availability, so I keep hoping maybe they will add it past Oct.01 for FD!

My husband and I are turning 40 this summer- which is also why we are going to WDW! Nothing better! It will be our first time at POR!

 

[damskipi13]

At the Poly I think you are allowed to go down to the beach and watch. At the Contemporary they have a balcony you can watch from. I want to say it's on the same floor as Chef Mickey's.

 

[CandiceF]

We were originally booked at POR with last year's ticket prices too but when I applied our UOC RO discount it changed to this year's prices. We are still saving around $400. Now that MVMCP ticket prices have gone up so much I think I'm going to ditch my plan of also doing Club Villain which means I can drop a day of park tickets which will save another $32. It would be nice if I could get the ROL and new Star Wars fireworks nailed down so I know if I can drop our park hopper or not to save even more money I would love it if they would extend POR for FD but I would be happy with a good Play/Stay/Dine discount (I actually have no idea what those discounts entail) for my dates as well. I hate the idea of not having a dining plan but it just doesn't make sense for us to pay full price for it because we would end up spending more money than paying OOP.

Oh and I'm turning 30 and wanted a trip instead of a party too, great minds

Disney's better than a party! I know what you mean about ROL and Star Wars fireworks, it's making it very difficult to plan my ADR's! I wouldn't pay for the dining plan either if I could save money OOP, but my kids want mostly all Character meals so for us it will save us money. I could see paying OOP when the kids get older though!

 

[CandiceF]

I celebrated my 40th birthday 2 years ago at POR. Best birthday yet!!!! When I booked, all they had available were RR, but I thought why not it's my birthday. I mean you only turn 40 once unless your my mother who has celebrated being 29 for.......well it's been a long time.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday trip! Fingers crossed for FD.

I like the way your mother thinks, LOL! I just may stay 40 for the next 10 years or so!

 

[CandiceF]

My husband and I are turning 40 this summer- which is also why we are going to WDW! Nothing better! It will be our first time at POR!

No better way to spend 40 than at Disney! I just turned 40 last month but we can't go until November so I will still celebrate then! We have only stayed at POR for 1 day before because we needed to add an extra day to our CBR reservation and there was no availability. We loved it and were sad we only had 1 day there. We usually go for FD but since this is for my birthday we sprung for POR. I just may have to keep turning 40, LOL!

 

[Susan Doeberl]

We went one time to the MNSSH and we did not care for it. Too expensive and no place to eat. Why would you have an after hours program and not have restaurant open? I hope those of you going will have a great time. I am taking that money and doing something else with it at disney.

 

[G719]

For those of writing about watching the party fireworks or the water parade from a resort...

Do I have to be staying at that resort to do so? For instance, I don't know where to watch these things if I went to the Poly. Is it somewhere I could access if I'm not a guest at the Poly? Are there other good places to watch from?

Thanks!

Fort wilderness beach has a decent view with the music piped in. You can see the water pageant there too. If you're looking for a fun (free) evening, the campfire sing a long at the fort is open to all not just FW guests. It starts around 630 followed by a movie. You get to the Fort the easiest by boat from the MK, wilderness lodge, or contemporary.

 

[sullygirl14]

Would you rather stay at the GF outer building garden room with free dining for 11 nights OR do a split stay at Polynesian standard room for 8 nights w/ free dining and then last 3 nights at the GF deluxe room Club level in the main building? The difference in package price is around $150.

Kids ages are 13 and 11. Our dream was to always stay at the Polynesian because we love the theme. Hubby's dream is to stay at the GF.

Thoughts?

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Disney just emailed me with a survey about my booking experience. One of the questions asked how many times I visited the Disney website or an unofficial Disney Fan Site (listed Disboards) before booking.

I got an error - the number of times I listed for both was "too large."

[The "too large" number was already reduced from the real number by at least 5x].

What? No 500 to 1,000 times option?

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

At the Poly I think you are allowed to go down to the beach and watch. At the Contemporary they have a balcony you can watch from. I want to say it's on the same floor as Chef Mickey's.

Yup. Same floor as Chef Mickey!

 

[mfly]

What? No 500 to 1,000 times option?

No, but really - the highest they would let me say was 99... Maybe they meant in a day?

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Would you rather stay at the GF outer building garden room with free dining for 11 nights OR do a split stay at Polynesian standard room for 8 nights w/ free dining and then last 3 nights at the GF deluxe room Club level in the main building? The difference in package price is around $150.

Kids ages are 13 and 11. Our dream was to always stay at the Polynesian because we love the theme. Hubby's dream is to stay at the GF.

Thoughts?

I would do a split (and did last trip and this upcoming one). I love the idea of trying to stay at as many different resorts as possible. We end up not feeling like eating so much by the end anyway, and the dining credits on that last day don't expire until 12:00, so it is really only the last 2 days you will have to worry about food for anyway. This year we are doing Caribbean Beach and then Yacht Club (or Beach Club if we end up not finding a room for the UOC promo). Poly actually was a big contender this time. I'm sure you will love it!

 

[damskipi13]

No better way to spend 40 than at Disney! I just turned 40 last month but we can't go until November so I will still celebrate then!

I am calling this upcoming trip a birthday trip, even though my birthday is a few weeks before. When I booked the room the CM asked if I was celebrating anything and I told her that, and she just chuckled and said she'd add it to the reservation! Woohoo!