Free Dining 2008 Watch

[AMaloy314]

Does anyone know if they are extended it the length of your stay? Our trip is to be 09/17-09/24. Need to know before I book on Thursday. Help!

Yes! They are booking for the length of stay (at least for VISA cardholders for sure!!)

I changed our reservation this morning to add free dining. We are doing POP standard room, 4 adults, 10 day basic tickets, checking in on 9/19 and checking out on 9/28. I had no problem adding the free dining.

It took about 1&1/2 hours to get the email with the changes. I sweated it the whole time, but it did finally come!!

 

[OatsZoo]

yes they are

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I really didn't want to redo my ADR's.

 

[bertalander]

Their inability to add the free dining to your reservation didn't have anything to do with the dates, but with the fact that it is the family suites. Those are excluded from the deal. Is it cheaper possibly to book two rooms and get the free dining for you?

AURGH!!!!!!!!!! Why did the CM just tell me that I couldn't use the code for the suites?!

Sigh...

Should I try for two rooms at Pop then?

SIGH

 

[curlgirl71]

Ok now that I am booked. Has anyone been before? How is the weather in Sept? Should we worry about hurrricanes?

 

[daginch]

If I book Sept. 20th to 27th, will I get free DDP for entire trip?

 

[ruthma]

My TA emailed me back and said that they only had a Waterview Room (FQ)avaialb efor the time I was going and it would be 15 more a day....that is why she didn't change it.

 

[IggyLans]

If I book Sept. 20th to 27th, will I get free DDP for entire trip?

As long as you check in by 9/20 you should get free DDP for the entire trip

 

[disgram]

Just got off the phone with Keegan! Was able to get the free dining at POFQ!!! We will only be able to get it for 3 nights, but...that is one airline ticket!!!!

I had to make a modification to the original reservation. The first was that our reservation was broken into TWO. The first has the regular dining plan.
The second part (3 nights) is the second reservation. When the 24th comes, I just have to go to the desk and sign in again. I will be given the dining and also the one day base ticket. I did have to put down another 200 dollar deposit on the second reservation. NO PROBLEMS at all doing this.

I did a split reservation last year at the ASMu and there were no problems. I stayed in the same room. I am thinking the same will happen for this year.

Am very excited that I got through before Mother Nature called again!!!! LOL

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

If I book Sept. 20th to 27th, will I get free DDP for entire trip?

Yup, that's my understanding.
Regarding availability, we couldn't book a villa at AKL, but standard view and savannah view were available. They were really pushing the upgrade to DxDDP, which we'll try next time if we can "bounce back."
CM this morning indicated that the confirmation would be emailed to me later today since they are so swamped with all of our calls...
Weather in Sept is fine. Some folks unfamiliar with love-bug season panic and bathe in bug spray, but love-bugs are harmless and don't bite. We declined travel insurance included in packages because we'll just drive around whatever storm might happen between TX gulf coast and FL in September (hurricane season) but we're hoping that there won't be any.

 

[1hero2princesses]

Yeah! This will be our first vacation in 8 years! Just updated my existing reservation. Keeping the same reservation number... POR 19th -28th. We had a 40% off code, but Free Dining actually saved me 200 dollars more so I changed to free dining. Everything was able to stay exactly the same for those of you wondering! Very nice CM. Waited about 15 minutes to get someone and updating the reservation took about 10 minutes. Every dollar counts. Thanks everyone for all your info. Actually didn't even get asked for my code.... Just had to give them my disney visa number.

 

[truedisneyfan]

AURGH!!!!!!!!!! Why did the CM just tell me that I couldn't use the code for the suites?!

Sigh...

Should I try for two rooms at Pop then?

SIGH

I think it might be cheaper to get 2 rooms at a value like POP than it is to get the Music suites.

 

[curlgirl71]

does anyone know why the reservation on Disney site does not show dining?

 

[bdiddy]

Can anyone tell me if you get your package cheaper by booking through a travel agent?

We haven't used ours in about 6 years and I just called and the number is disconnected. I'm just wondering if it is worth it to try to find a new one before Thursday? Or just book it myself?

 

[stavidt]

Hi-

Just booked Pop for 9/10-9/17. I called first thing this morning and asked for dates 9/16-9/23 and she said sure...then I said will free dining be through the 23rd with those dates and CM said no just until the 20th so I changed the dates to reflect....but looks like I if I didn't open my mouth I could have kept it....or maybe she was just going to have the dates until the 20th with free dining and then add dining to the rest??? I'll never know and I'll drive myself crazy worrying about it....I'm just so happy to have a ressie booked. I didn't do the bounceback last year and in hindsight...maybe should have.

I got all my dinner ressie's except for Canda. For those that are interested in Canada or another hot ticket....we are a large party and they can accomidate us better than a table for 2. They had Canada at 4ish (way too early for us) for a table of 7 but nothing all week for a table for 2 for hubby and I. But...

I got :

Cindy's castle
Teppan Edo
Sci-Fi
Boma
Chef Mickey
Akeshus Breakfast

I am in such a chipper mood today...the kids have no idea and think mom's gone crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to all....don't worry...as long as you are flexible...all will work out!!! I'm not going the week I want...and am missing MNSSHP...but...look at the savings....no dinner in Canada....but we will all be together...and it will be a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now back to life as usual

 

[otisandmaggie]

Can anyone tell me if you get your package cheaper by booking through a travel agent?

We haven't used ours in about 6 years and I just called and the number is disconnected. I'm just wondering if it is worth it to try to find a new one before Thursday? Or just book it myself?

We used an agent last trip and cost was exactly the same as website - I just did it through the agent to throw her a little business.

 

[daginch]

Yup, that's my understanding.
Regarding availability, we couldn't book a villa at AKL, but standard view and savannah view were available. They were really pushing the upgrade to DxDDP, which we'll try next time if we can "bounce back."
CM this morning indicated that the confirmation would be emailed to me later today since they are so swamped with all of our calls...
Weather in Sept is fine. Some folks unfamiliar with love-bug season panic and bathe in bug spray, but love-bugs are harmless and don't bite. We declined travel insurance included in packages because we'll just drive around whatever storm might happen between TX gulf coast and FL in September (hurricane season) but we're hoping that there won't be any.

Have to wait until Thursday!!

 

[curlgirl71]

Travel Agents cost no more. I would try Dreams Unlimited.
Go to first page of wdwinfo.com and click on link for free dining

 

[Bama_C]

I am booked -- 2 rooms at POP for 9/15 through 9/26 with free dining entire trip!

I was on hold for about 70 minutes and then got the greatest CM Ann , who was not only cheerful, but very helpful in all our requests. We had wanted ASM, but she said it would be safer for us to do Pop to guarantee adjoining rooms. Since there are 8 of us we'll have a GG, and she even came up with a cute name for our group. She was really laying on the pixiedust! We got values, extended dining, and adjoining rooms... everything we had been wondering if, if, if about!

I am so excited ...this will be the first time at WDW for my mom!! Good luck to the rest of you. Now heading for the coffee pot...

 

[Disneypros]

Just got off the phone with Keegan! Was able to get the free dining at POFQ!!! We will only be able to get it for 3 nights, but...that is one airline ticket!!!!

I had to make a modification to the original reservation. The first was that our reservation was broken into TWO. The first has the regular dining plan.
The second part (3 nights) is the second reservation. When the 24th comes, I just have to go to the desk and sign in again. I will be given the dining and also the one day base ticket. I did have to put down another 200 dollar deposit on the second reservation. NO PROBLEMS at all doing this.

I did a split reservation last year at the ASMu and there were no problems. I stayed in the same room. I am thinking the same will happen for this year.

Am very excited that I got through before Mother Nature called again!!!! LOL

I have a reservation for CSR from Aug 22nd thru Aug 30th. So I should be able to breakup my current reservation so I can receive the free dining for 6 of the 8 nights?

 

[wifey1220]

Ok now that I am booked. Has anyone been before? How is the weather in Sept? Should we worry about hurrricanes?

We have gone 4 times in Sept. It is HOT! But rain was not a problem. WE usually fly , this year we might be driving, but we have never had any flight delays because of weather.