Free Dining '10 Update: Disney Visa FD Released (See pages 1 & 57+ for details)

[PrincessTiffany]

I have booked for September 16th-21st. "If" free dinning promotion happens, can I call Disney and take advantage of this promotion for my pre-existing reservation or do I need to cancel and re-book?

You just have to call Disney Reservations when the code comes out and they will apply the discount to your existing reservation.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I know anything is possible, but . . .

Disney is run by the best marketing professionals in the business. Long before we were in a recession, they created the Free Dining promo. It has been a brilliant plan on the part of Disney to fill the parks with crowds during what was previously their slowest season, and hurrican season to boot. And then having the bounceback for free food while the free diners are there in the parks, on their Disney high, well I would call that pure marketing genius. I personally don't see the Fall Free Dining Promo ending anytime in the near future.

 

[ginnygi]

this is sooooooooooooooooooo frustrating. I waited and waited and waited all month last month, and all this week, thinking it MUST come out by now, right? How long do you think we will have to wait. I think that if Disney has decided not to offer free dining this fall, they should at least make an announcement or something, to put us all out of our misery. Really! I am very surprised though. Think about it. The country is still in recession, US is opening HP world and will take costumers away from Disney. Disney should be desperate to get people in to the parks, no?

 

[TinaMedley]

I went ahead and booked pop with dining plan with my pin, so at least I have somekind of dining plan, I saved around $200, hopefully I will be able to save a little bit more if free dining comes out. Waiting and more waiting! Its starts to get old afterwhile. Lets all hope and pray we hear something good.

 

[Melanie230]

I have booked for September 16th-21st. "If" free dinning promotion happens, can I call Disney and take advantage of this promotion for my pre-existing reservation or do I need to cancel and re-book?

According to one of the moderators (CandianGuy) your existing reservation will not help you with any discount. If Free Dining comes out during your trip...you will have to rebook your vacation.

 

[Melanie230]

I think a fall promo is coming out. I think they are just waiting for the end of April to make the decision on what that promo will be.

 

[metsno1]

I have booked for September 16th-21st. "If" free dinning promotion happens, can I call Disney and take advantage of this promotion for my pre-existing reservation or do I need to cancel and re-book?

Looks like you're getting mixed responses to this.

Yes, you can *probably* call Disney and apply the promo to your previously existing reservation if you do so immediately or very soon after the promotion is released. But there is no guarantee. Disney limits the number of rooms per resort that are available for the promotion. As someone else mentioned, you'd essentially be canceling your previous reservation and making a new one with the promo, so if you've chosen a high demand resort (e.g., Poly, CR, etc.), there is a chance that they will say "no," and you will either have to change your dates or your resort.

So bottom line is that there likely isn't much (if any) advantage to pre-booking.

 

[LuccaDrake]

According to one of the moderators (CandianGuy) your existing reservation will not help you with any discount. If Free Dining comes out during your trip...you will have to rebook your vacation.

I read a post where he mentioned this as well, but it's not always the case. I added Free Dining to an existing reservation both in '07 and '08 without having to rebook.

 

[safetymom]

Having a room does not guarantee that you will get free dining. If and when free dining opens up there is a limited number of rooms with free dining. Yes you can add free dining to your room if there are rooms available with free dining.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

According to one of the moderators (CandianGuy) your existing reservation will not help you with any discount. If Free Dining comes out during your trip...you will have to rebook your vacation.

I'm sorry, but did you misread Knox's post (Canadian Guy)?

You can always call and add a promo code to an existing reservation. We have done it 3 times with free dining.

There may be an occassion that you call and a specific resort may be "sold out" of rooms for a certain discount, but you by no means have to cancel your reservation and rebook.

 

[Melanie230]

I'm sorry, but did you misread Knox's post (Canadian Guy)?

You can always call and add a promo code to an existing reservation. We have done it 3 times with free dining.

There may be an occassion that you call and a specific resort may be "sold out" of rooms for a certain discount, but you by no means have to cancel your reservation and rebook.

No I didn't misread what he wrote. Here it is: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2432710&page=50

Originally Posted by TammiDZ
If you book a reservaton and then a promotional offer comes out, you do not have to cancel your reservation. They simply add/change the offer to your existing reservation.

CanadianGuy writes:
Sorry, but thats how they make it sound on the phone. But that's not the reality.

Any promo ... has a room inventory associated with it. If you are booked now at rack rate or on another promo (and it has to be one of those because F/D is not yet available for booking) they will have to create a new reservation for you from the 'promo room inventory' vs. whatever room inventory you have now. Depending on how the Cm on the phone goes about the steps necessary for that -- your reservation # may or may not change.

But that doesn't change this fact:

IF there is no room inventory on the promo at your resort of choice ... then you either gotta change your dates, or your resort, or possibly both. Regardless of what reservation you currently hold.

Everyone sing along... I repeat it enough you all know the tune...

BOOKING NOW GUARANTEES YOU ABSOLUTELY NOTHING unless you intend to go with or without F/D offers.

 

[DISNEY1975]

That is correct.

A couple of years ago I had been reserved (deposit) at the Poly for 8 months. I got a pincode in the mail and called to apply it to my ressie. I was told that Poly rooms for the pincode were already booked. I had to switch the the Contemporary to be able to use the code (there were also rooms at AKL and YC I could have changed to ). They do cancel your ressie and rebook you even if you get to keep the same resort. Each room has a code, like airlines, Class J, K, M. Certain rooms are set aside for each promo. When they are gone, they're gone!

 

[LuccaDrake]

That is correct.

A couple of years ago I had been reserved (deposit) at the Poly for 8 months. I got a pincode in the mail and called to apply it to my ressie. I was told that Poly rooms for the pincode were already booked. I had to switch the the Contemporary to be able to use the code (there were also rooms at AKL and YC I could have changed to ). They do cancel your ressie and rebook you even if you get to keep the same resort. Each room has a code, like airlines, Class J, K, M. Certain rooms are set aside for each promo. When they are gone, they're gone!

Are you saying you received an entirely new reservation # as well? I've never had that issue before when adding a promo to an existing ressie.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

That is correct.

A couple of years ago I had been reserved (deposit) at the Poly for 8 months. I got a pincode in the mail and called to apply it to my ressie. I was told that Poly rooms for the pincode were already booked. I had to switch the the Contemporary to be able to use the code (there were also rooms at AKL and YC I could have changed to ). They do cancel your ressie and rebook you even if you get to keep the same resort. Each room has a code, like airlines, Class J, K, M. Certain rooms are set aside for each promo. When they are gone, they're gone!

We have been to WDW six times in the last five years. I have always booked our trip 9 to 12 months in advance and have, every single time, called back later and added a promo/discount code. We have NEVER had to cancel or rebook or ever been given a different reservation number. Ever. In 2007 I added the free dining code and changed resorts and still kept the same reservation number. In fact, I've never heard of anyone, since free dining was announced, that had to cancel and rebook their reservation to have the discount applied to their room.

And it's true that booking before the promo comes out doesn't guarantee you a discount on your room, it does simplify things when you call back to add the code.

 

[doccoc2002]

Are you saying you received an entirely new reservation # as well? I've never had that issue before when adding a promo to an existing ressie.

Me neither...I just changed from POFQ to CBR-pirates 'cause DD wanted to do the pirate thing and the trip is a surprise for the kids so I figuered why not go all the way...they know we are going to Disney but they don't know when. We kept our ressie conf# and it was no problem...I even have changed it a couple of times(added DP, changed resorts, added pin code and added 2 people to the ressie) and never had a problem or canceled ressie to do it. I also had to do this to 2 rooms(my family and my parents). I also have added promos and changed my resssie every year we go after I book and never had to cancel the ressie. People call all the time to see if they have pin codes and if they do they add them.
I do however believe that if you book a room only without a package and then want to add a pin code that requires you to book a package you may have to cancel. It also changes when you need to pay in full(package 45days before and room only is due at checkin). I am guessing it is because if you book a room you only have to make a deposit for one night...not the $200 required for a package. I guess they would have to refund your one night deposit and charge you the deposit for a package($200). I wonder if that is what he meant. I have never booked a room only ressie so I don't know.

 

[mousebit]

You'll keep the same reservation # regardless of the changes in the reservation - dates, add-ons, etc... Unless you are cancelling completely and requesting a refund of your initial deposit. (Trust me on this one. Unfortunately, I've had to change too many reservations too many times. )

But having that reservation does not guarantee you a room at that resort with a free dining (or other) promo. It just guarantees you have a room at the rate you booked.

As PPs have noted, there are a limited number of rooms at each resort that CMs can apply the promo to.

It's kind of like a sale at Sears. They have ## clothes washers advertised for $299 each. When those are gone, that's it. You might get there early and snag one. (Call soon enough for a CM to "cancel" your current ressie and re-book one with the promo.) Or there may be no more sale washers left at your local store (promos left at your resort). Another store may still have some left, but you have to go there to get it. (Promo may still be available at another resort, but not at the one you booked.)

 

[doccoc2002]

You'll keep the same reservation # regardless of the changes in the reservation - dates, add-ons, etc... Unless you are cancelling completely and requesting a refund of your initial deposit. (Trust me on this one. Unfortunately, I've had to change too many reservations too many times. )

But having that reservation does not guarantee you a room at that resort with a free dining (or other) promo. It just guarantees you have a room at the rate you booked.

As PPs have noted, there are a limited number of rooms at each resort that CMs can apply the promo to.

It's kind of like a sale at Sears. They have ## clothes washers advertised for $299 each. When those are gone, that's it. You might get there early and snag one. (Call soon enough for a CM to "cancel" your current ressie and re-book one with the promo.) Or there may be no more sale washers left at your local store (promos left at your resort). Another store may still have some left, but you have to go there to get it. (Promo may still be available at another resort, but not at the one you booked.)

Nicely put!
I think a lot of people think that if they are already booked they have the advantage of getting what they want...so NOT true.
It is first come first served!
Once it is gone it is gone!no rain checks

 

[disneyfan55]

We have been to WDW six times in the last five years. I have always booked our trip 9 to 12 months in advance and have, every single time, called back later and added a promo/discount code. We have NEVER had to cancel or rebook or ever been given a different reservation number. Ever. In 2007 I added the free dining code and changed resorts and still kept the same reservation number. In fact, I've never heard of anyone, since free dining was announced, that had to cancel and rebook their reservation to have the discount applied to their room.

And it's true that booking before the promo comes out doesn't guarantee you a discount on your room, it does simplify things when you call back to add the code.

If you have a room only and change it to a package, usually you do have to at least receive the deposit back and rebook the package and pay the $200 dep. Also, if you end up having 2 different codes, same thing 2 deposits. We had a week the end of Sept booked with a PIN for 3 nights and the next 5 with an AP discount. I was 2 reservations. When Disney Free dining came out we changed the AP room discount to the Disney Visa FD (started Sept 28, 2008 ) Had to keep the 3 nights PIN and pay in full the FD but the res. number changed and we got back the 1 night dep for room only AP rate. If you have a package and rebook a package no change in res. number. Same with room only unless you have to pay more. Not sure if you have to pay the difference or they just refund and recharge. We changed our room only res. for Nov that we had with the 30% pin to the 35% off bounceback. They just kept the amout we had already pd even though it's more than 1 night now. No change in res. number.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Kids Stay and Play FREE Package
http://www.mousesavers.com/packages.html

Anyone can take advantage of an exclusive offer for stays most nights May 2 - June 3, 2010. When you purchase a 4-night/5-day Magic Your Way vacation package that includes room and theme park tickets, a child (ages 3-9) can stay in the same room and get 5-day theme park tickets for FREE!

Note that children ages 3-9 normally stay for free in the same room with their parents, so that is no savings. However, the savings on theme park tickets can be substantial, particularly if you have two adults and two children in the correct age range.

You must book by 5/8/10. The number of packages available at this rate is limited. Child must stay in room with adult. Tickets are for one theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. Maximum of four guests per room.

No group rates or other discounts apply. Offers cannot be combined and are nontransferable. Children ages 3-9 must order from the children's menu where available. Advance reservations required.

Offer code BF4.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'm sorry, but did you misread Knox's post (Canadian Guy)?

You can always call and add a promo code to an existing reservation. We have done it 3 times with free dining.

There may be an occassion that you call and a specific resort may be "sold out" of rooms for a certain discount, but you by no means have to cancel your reservation and rebook.

The long story short is, what I wrote, I stand by: with both feet...

If you were able to successfully 'switch' what you have for the promo.. you would have exactly the same success creating a new booking in the same call.

And conversely.. if you could not have made a new booking - you would not have been able to switch what you had.

The pre-booking guarantees you nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero.

[EDIT: It does guarantee you a room for the dates you booked at the rate you booked. But if you have no plans to stay with that room, rate and dates.. it's pointless]

It doesn't help you get what you want later at all.. in fact, it hurts you because rooms are allotted on promos based on how 'full' the resort already is.

The more 'full' a resort is when the promo inventory is allotted, the LESS promo inventory will be designated at that resort.

SO .. for everyone who books their must have dates and their must have resort.. they are actually DECREASING - however slightly - their chances of getting that on the promo.

I keep saying it. Nobody believes me.

Wait .. this must be what being a parent feels like.

Knox