FD frustrations.....

[sherirs04]

what terrible thing was going to happen if you didn't?

No need to come on here and be rude. If we didn't pay it, we couldn't stay there!

 

[sherirs04]

we tried for movies, too, on wed. (disney visa holders). no luck. only preferred.
we went with music

rats. didn't thinkf of that! oh well.

the think is Movies has very few standard rooms anymore. only love bug and mighty ducks are standard. all of fantasia, toy story and dalmations are preferred..

ya know, I don't even know if movies went with a pool view (like pop did). in which case, a whole bunch of mighty ducks rooms would no longer be standard either.

the cool thing is who close these esorts are to each other. back in 2002, we had a room at movies in the mighty ducks section. it was a closer walk for us (albeit through a parking lot) to the music bus stop and food court and main pool. ) i think music is in the middle.
when we stayed at music in 2007 (I think) we often grabbed a sports bus if it came first.

I did not know that! Thanks for letting me know about the lack of standard rooms. Now I understand why I couldn't get one. And thanks for not being rude like the PP.

 

[roryc]

I have had our early November trip booked for a couple months, hoping for some sort of discount; particularly wanting the military discount to be renewed after 9/30/2012 (still hopeful).

So I called today and our 2 Grand Floridian Royal Palm Concierge rooms aren't available to get free dining. Boo. We're staying with my parents strictly because they want to be in the main building, so no free dining or Military discount for us yet .

 

[Phatoomch]

No need to come on here and be rude. If we didn't pay it, we couldn't stay there!

no offence intended its just your post made me laugh. No-one is forced to book anything. When going to Disney you budget within your means (inc. food) and if you get FD then it is a bonus, not a necessity. I was hoping for FD but I check in 3 days before Dec 10th - no-one has forced me to either do a split stay or change my dates. I just miss out.

 

[TACK]

I remember last year with Fall Free Dining, most of the rooms available were upgraded ones at the Moderate resorts, and mostly All-Star for values.

Once the dust settled, more rooms opened up, and most people who got stuck with rooms they did not want, were able to switch.

It's true what everyone says, keep checking every day and most likely you will get what you want.

 

[Deanie1]

I had the opposite problem. I wanted POR preferred room as I have mobility issues but instead had to book the garden view to get the Free dining. I hope we aren't way out in the boonies!

 

[DJFan88]

I'm just wondering why anyone with FD would need CL too. Doesn't seem like much of a benefit if you're being upgraded to CL with FD, but paying like you normally would. Maybe there is a room for a better rate/category at a different deluxe that wasn't CL that may make the benefit a little more like a benefit you can use.

 

[jcondrad]

I'm just wondering why anyone with FD would need CL too. Doesn't seem like much of a benefit if you're being upgraded to CL with FD, but paying like you normally would. Maybe there is a room for a better rate/category at a different deluxe that wasn't CL that may make the benefit a little more like a benefit you can use.

I don't see why someone staying CL shouldn't receive a discount like any other room on property. We enjoy staying CL with deluxe dining on our trips, that is what we had booked prior to FD and that is what we have with FD. I'll gladly take an almost $1000 discount off my trip if it is offered just like any other person would.

CL may be something someone has wanted to try out and with the FD savings could now afford to give it a shot.

 

[Phatoomch]

I don't see why someone staying CL shouldn't receive a discount like any other room on property. We enjoy staying CL with deluxe dining on our trips, that is what we had booked prior to FD and that is what we have with FD. I'll gladly take an almost $1000 discount off my trip if it is offered just like any other person would.

CL may be something someone has wanted to try out and with the FD savings could now afford to give it a shot.

I don't think the PP meant you shouldn't, more that its not worth it considering all the food you have access to on CL, therefore not really much of a saving. Well, that was my interpretation

 

[phyllis1966]

I understand the how and why, but it still drives me crazy. The only rooms available at the GF for FD are deluxe concierge TPV! That would cost over $2000 more for a 7-night stay...no thanks!

Apparently, occupancy at the GF is always high - last year we couldn't get FD or a room discount, but we were upgraded to TPV club level in the main building, which was an unbelievable surprise! The year before, we were only able to get the $500 gift card, which was nice, but not even a 10% discount off the room rate.

It gets harder to score a discount at the GF (and apparently other deluxes) every year - this is our only annual vacation, and yes we splurge on the resort, but it would still help us quite a bit to save a few hundred bucks!

 

[saskdw]

I understand the how and why, but it still drives me crazy. The only rooms available at the GF for FD are deluxe concierge TPV! That would cost over $2000 more for a 7-night stay...no thanks!

Apparently, occupancy at the GF is always high - last year we couldn't get FD or a room discount, but we were upgraded to TPV club level in the main building, which was an unbelievable surprise! The year before, we were only able to get the $500 gift card, which was nice, but not even a 10% discount off the room rate.

It gets harder to score a discount at the GF (and apparently other deluxes) every year - this is our only annual vacation, and yes we splurge on the resort, but it would still help us quite a bit to save a few hundred bucks!

I guess the thing is that Disney doesn't care about you saving a few bucks. They obviously don't have problems filling the standard rooms at GF. They offer a discount on the ones they have trouble filling. Makes perfect business sense.

 

[DJFan88]

I don't see why someone staying CL shouldn't receive a discount like any other room on property. We enjoy staying CL with deluxe dining on our trips, that is what we had booked prior to FD and that is what we have with FD. I'll gladly take an almost $1000 discount off my trip if it is offered just like any other person would.

CL may be something someone has wanted to try out and with the FD savings could now afford to give it a shot.

I'm not saying they don't deserve it. Of course you deserve it just like anyone else, in fact, You're actually putting out more money. I guess it just doesn't seem like you would be able to eat all of that food (thus using much of the benefit). I'd much prefer a room discount if I was booking CL. It sounded to me like they were talking about paying the same amount at full rack rate, but instead getting CL. I just thought maybe another deluxe may have a better deal going for them where they could get either a better category rate (not CL) with the FD (since it didn't sound like the OP was at first planning to book CL), or maybe room discount at a deluxe if CL was the important item.

 

[jcondrad]

I'm not saying they don't deserve it. Of course you deserve it just like anyone else, in fact, You're actually putting out more money. I guess it just doesn't seem like you would be able to eat all of that food (thus using much of the benefit). I'd much prefer a room discount if I was booking CL. It sounded to me like they were talking about paying the same amount at full rack rate, but instead getting CL. I just thought maybe another deluxe may have a better deal going for them where they could get either a better category rate (not CL) with the FD (since it didn't sound like the OP was at first planning to book CL), or maybe room discount at a deluxe if CL was the important item.

Sorry I misunderstood what you were saying! I thought you meant why offer CL rooms as part of the discount. CL really isn't enough food to replace meals (other than breakfast) so FD still offers a chance to cover those extra restaurant meals we would've purchased anyways.. We booked FD but are hoping for a room discount to come out eventually before our trip because it would be a larger savings, but Disney has been funny with those discounts (like only 5% off at Poly or WL at times) and in that case FD is the bigger savings, especially if you have a favorite resort

We figure if the room or AP discount isn't as good, we'll keep the FD offer...otherwise we'll switch to whatever discount is better.

 

[phyllis1966]

I guess the thing is that Disney doesn't care about you saving a few bucks. They obviously don't have problems filling the standard rooms at GF. They offer a discount on the ones they have trouble filling. Makes perfect business sense.

I just find it hard to believe that at the most expensive on-site resort, most Garden View, Lagoon View, Theme Park View, Sugarloaf Club Level, and standard main building Club Level rooms are booked - only deluxe concierge rooms are available with the FD promo.

And as I said, I understand why, I just don't like it!

 

[saskdw]

I just find it hard to believe that at the most expensive on-site resort, most Garden View, Lagoon View, Theme Park View, Sugarloaf Club Level, and standard main building Club Level rooms are booked - only deluxe concierge rooms are available with the FD promo.

And as I said, I understand why, I just don't like it!

My guess would be that you get alot of upper middle class people booking standard rooms at GF. People whose income level can afford them this luxury, but they don't have the limitless disposable cash to burn required to afford the more expensive rooms at GF. Far fewer "rich" people converging on WDW at the same time I guess. With a little bit of a deal they can probably coax a few of those upper middle class earners into a more expensive room which opens up rooms to fill with more upper middle class people.

 

[cwt580]

Poly may be limited on rooms next yr because of new construction of Villas getting ready to happen. Ceremonial house is getting a refurb/repair. Some buildings are talked about being "torn down" for new construction.

I say if you want to stay there no matter what ...book it now.

Never know if construction hurts bookings they may offer a discount to Poly....

 

[lizzytizzy]

OK, was all booked for months now in a garden room at POLY. We were hoping for FD, but I KNOW there was a chance those would not be available for FD. As I watched everyone get their pins, and then Visa members.....yup, got on the phone this morning and after an hour of holding, NO GARDEN ROOMS. Only club level, which took me almost to my pre-discount amount. Which is great to get club level for the same price as garden room I had booked with dining, but really wanted to save money. It seems I am seeing a lot of people also having to upgrade rooms to add FD. So my question is, Are the cheaper rooms very limited or do they even release them at all (I know they SAY they do)? Not just at POLY, but ANY resort. And do they ever add more later?

Just wanted to let you know that I just got off the phone with Disney and got the dates that I originally wanted. Before FD was released to public, I had booked a room at POFQ starting 11/30. On the day FD got announced, I called Disney to see if there's any availability 11/29, but was told that there weren't any standard rooms just garden views. So, I managed to find something for 11/25. I wasn't too happy with that date because of airline prices. I got an email from Disney Destinations and decided to call again to see if there were any standard rooms for 11/29. They got it but for POR! I switched my reservations and am very happy!!!! So, in answer to your question, yes! They do add more later!

 

[livie1205]

we have never done FD until this year and I have to say I know why! lol I will be looking for a AP discount and giving up the FD....we have POP booked in Dec for 7 nights and upgraded to reg dining and save a WHOPPING .............1.00! so I will be giving up a fd room at POP hopefully soon.I would like POR or AKL anyway.

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

A question for any that had to change the room category in order to use the FD code:

I had my room package reserved BEFORE the ticket price increase. I called to add the free dining code and no standard rooms were available. I will now have to upgrade to a water view room for $25 extra a day for the 14 nights. OK...but, it was making my package total go up $500 due to the ticket price increase and changing the reservation room type. Did anyone else have this issue? Is there anyway to avoid this? I understand the upgrade price increase (I don't like it but what can you do?!?) but I intentionally reserved the room with tickets and paid the down payment a while ago to avoid the ticket price increase!! Frustrating!

 

[EpcotBill]

A question for any that had to change the room category in order to use the FD code:

I had my room package reserved BEFORE the ticket price increase. I called to add the free dining code and no standard rooms were available. I will now have to upgrade to a water view room for $25 extra a day for the 14 nights. OK...but, it was making my package total go up $500 due to the ticket price increase and changing the reservation room type. Did anyone else have this issue? Is there anyway to avoid this? I understand the upgrade price increase (I don't like it but what can you do?!?) but I intentionally reserved the room with tickets and paid the down payment a while ago to avoid the ticket price increase!! Frustrating!

The policy is if you modify a reservation you pay the current ticket price. I don't think there is any way to avoid it.