Free Dining 2008 Watch

[Blood on the saddle]

Oh, sorry. We are staying 5 nights. Sooooo, shouldn't my savings be $669.75????

That's what I come up with. To save around $520 dollars, you'd have to only be staying 4 nights. And, even then it's really a $535.80 savings for 4 nights.

 

[disney_momma21]

I am in the same boat as you, our TA doesn't open till 9am and sometimes she is not is even then. I am getting up at 7am and making a ressie on my own to make sure I get what I want and then give her a chance to get it also. If she can at 9am then I will just cancel my ressie and give her the business. Alittle sneaky on my part but I don't want to loose my preferences.

I had to do this exact thing on monday. My TA wasn't getting into the office till 10am WEST coast time! That's 1pm Florida time! I was definitely not happy with her. I understand she doesn't start work till 10am but she should at least made an exception to wake up early and get this done for her customers. With the free dining offered that saved the people in my party a total of $2380!!! Thats alot of money!! With money savings that size she should of had her booty up earlier!!

Monday morning at 4am I was calling WDW to make a new ressie because I just wanted to have a back up plan in case my TA screwed me. My TA finally did pull thru for me when she decided to call Disney 3pm Oregon time, not even 10am when she came in!!!
I fortunately was able to just cancelled my new ressie and kept my old reservations.

In the future I will just book with Disney directly or with a TA whose on top of their game!

As for my current TA, she however has lost my business for future bookings. This was the second time I've used her and the second time where she wasn't on top of things like should have been. For me two times is enough chances to give someone.

Now I've got to find a new TA, Crabby Patties!!

 

[karensi]

No. Only the suites aren't included, I think.

I booked POP and many others have booked Values, too.

We're staying concierge at the GF. Main building, standard concierge room.
So my question is, can I try for the free dining??
Do they consider all of concierge as "suites"? I wouldn't think so, but then again this is Disney I'm going to be dealing with when I call.

Thanks,Karen

 

[angwill]

Hi all I just have a fast question. I don't know if I will be able to do free dining this year because of work but I remember when we took our first trip to DIsney in June 05, a few months later, February to be exact, DISNEY announced a free dinning deal. I was so excited and I really wanted to go again but the hubby said noway.
Anywho I was just wondering is anyone here other then I remember this and knows if it was ever offered again at that time of year. Thanks

Free dining has only been offered since 2005 and always in August/September. In 05 it was offered starting in May and every year since it has been offered starting in April. February stays if I remember correctly have been free pass upgrades from regular tickets to water parks and more and hopper. I don't think they offer any discounts for June with it being summer season but I could be wrong.

HTH

 

[Blood on the saddle]

We're staying concierge at the GF. Main building, standard concierge room.
So my question is, can I try for the free dining??
Do they consider all of concierge as "suites"? I wouldn't think so, but then again this is Disney I'm going to be dealing with when I call.

Thanks,Karen

Sorry for causing confusion. We were talking about value resorts and I meant that the new All Star suites weren't included. I wasn't referring to any other hotel.

 

[snuff]

I also got a quote from my TA for free dining and got a different price than what I thought it should be. I went on Disney's site and got a price quote for the resort I wanted and the ticket options too. Your price should be that price with no dining pricing in it. I then realized that she had added the Hopper option which we had not wanted. Other than that her price is exactly the same price as the Disney quote minus the hopper price. If that makes sense.

Thanks

 

[Poohsmom]

Just curious....what time is everyone getting up and getting on the phone tomorrow morning?

They open at 7 am eastern time, be on the phone calling 5 mins before 7 and when you hear office closed hang up and dial again, when it opens stay on line or you will loose your place in queue. Don't give up it may take an hour or more.

 

[snuff]

Snuff,
Are you figuring in taxes or tickets? How about trip insurance? Is your TA charging you a fee for booking?

You can always go to Disney's website and price with and without the dining and figure out what it would actually save.

I did this, and I now know what the problem is. I had to go back to room rack rate. Couldn't get two discounts....and I knew that already, just forgot.

thanks everyone!! Now I can finally be excited about free dining !!!

 

[angwill]

I had to do this exact thing on monday. My TA wasn't getting into the office till 10am WEST coast time! That's 1pm Florida time! I was definitely not happy with her. I understand she doesn't start work till 10am but she should at least made an exception to wake up early and get this done for her customers. With the free dining offered that saved the people in my party a total of $2380!!! Thats alot of money!! With money savings that size she should of had her booty up earlier!!

Monday morning at 4am I was calling WDW to make a new ressie because I just wanted to have a back up plan in case my TA screwed me. My TA finally did pull thru for me when she decided to call Disney 3pm Oregon time, not even 10am when she came in!!!
I fortunately was able to just cancelled my new ressie and kept my old reservations.

In the future I will just book with Disney directly or with a TA whose on top of their game!

As for my current TA, she however has lost my business for future bookings. This was the second time I've used her and the second time where she wasn't on top of things like should have been. For me two times is enough chances to give someone.

Now I've got to find a new TA, Crabby Patties!!

I think the problem you run into with a standard TA (not specializing in Disney) is that the general public are not on the DIS or cronic planners so most wouldn't even know about free dining till after it might come out in Sunday's paper so to them there is no rush. They figure why come in at 4am for one or two people who know about the free dining ahead of time so they can lose some of her commission since the amount spent is going down with the price. Makes bad sense for them to work extra hours to lose money.

In reality, if we think outside the DIS box, there really is no rush except we here on the DIS end up with mass hysteria from reading these threads. I am included in that group so not judging. People book packages all the way into June. Last year Pop didn't even open up for my dates with free dining till 2 weeks after the offer started so being first on the phone didn't help me anyway.

What I do is plan all my vactions through Disney since going with a TA does not save me money and then they are the only ones who can make changes. I also have control issues. If I have a change I don't want to call or email someone to wait for them to take care of it then get back with me which happens with any TA Disney specialist or not since they own the reservation. I just call myself and know it is changed the way I want it changed and when. No waiting for changes or for my documents and ME info to get to me. When you book youself you own the reservation and the documents come directly to you from Disney with no middle man. The one good thing is that you do not have to pay the middle man yourself if you don't want to be bothered or have time to change things yourself.

This is just my take on it all and others opinions may vary especially those who are TA's, sorry.

 

[princssdisnygina]

What are the dates for the Free Dining? When does it end?

 

[pinktales]

Another one for Pop century here! I booked yesterday. Around 10 am there was pretty much no wait time on the phone. We're booked for 9/20 - 10/4 It's 14 nights which I think is the max length of stay... not too sure on that though. So far we have 2 adults and 1 child 3 yrs. But will probably be adding 1 more adult, which I think is $11.25 per night extra ($10 + 12.5% tax) does that sound right? So far before adding the extra 3rd adult our cost of the package is $1554.23. Not bad at all.

Since us 2 adults already have annual passes we opted for the 1 day base ticket for everyone, that we will apply to our annual passes. Does anyone know if I can apply the child's ticket to our adult annual passes renewal or can only he use it/upgrade it for himself only? Since we were thinking of getting his ticket instead at one of the online ticket brokers cheaper. Also our annual passes expire 8/16... can we wait until 9/20 to renew at the renewal rate so we can apply the tickets to that cost or is it too far past our expire date?

I also just read about some people last year getting upgraded to SSR... so wishing (not counting on it) for some pixie dust for that! We are actually in Disney at a SSR 1 bedroom right now on my DVC points. This is my first year doing the FD and I'm excited! And if they offer a bounce back while we are @ Pop I just might have to take them up on it! Question about the Bounce back offers... Does your bounce back trip have to be staying at the same resort you are booked at on that trip you are currently on?

Oh just thought of more questions. Can I have my FD trip transfered to my triple A TA? If so do I keep all the extra stuff disney gives with the package? And can I also get the extra stuff Triple A gives with thier packages... like the parking pass and whatever else?

Also if we add the 3rd adult does disney offer a roll away cart & bedding for the other adult free of charge? Just wondering if we will have to bring a blow up mattress.

We doing the happy dance and really looking forward to the FD! Well back to vacation!

 

[Tiff172]

I know this may be on here a few pages back but I have been keeping up with this thread for a while and I haven't seen this asked...what number do you call to get free dining?

 

[Blood on the saddle]

I know this may be on here a few pages back but I have been keeping up with this thread for a while and I haven't seen this asked...what number do you call to get free dining?

(407) WDISNEY

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I am sorry I know this has been repeated but I searched and could not find the exact answer.
Does the Tip get charged back to you room as you use free dining. Does it go agianst everything or just sit down meals?

 

[karensi]

We're staying concierge at the GF. Main building, standard concierge room.
So my question is, can I try for the free dining??
Do they consider all of concierge as "suites"? I wouldn't think so, but then again this is Disney I'm going to be dealing with when I call.

Thanks,Karen

Can anyone please give me an answer . If I can get free dining, while staying concierge, I will have to get up before 7AM to call tomorow. Sure don't want to do that if, with concierge, I can't get the free dining.

TIA, Karen

 

[Tiff172]

If I am staying from Aug 28 until Sept 1 but only getting 4 day park hopper passes do I only get dining for four days or do I get it for five?

 

[tinkerbelle77]

I'm sorry if this has already been answered in this thread, but will I have to rebook my ADR's if we get free dining tomorrow?

Plus, has anyone had any luck just adding the free dining to their existing reservation? We're staying at Pop the 18-21 of September and those dates are not flexable. My TA first said we could just add it, and now she's saying the free dining is only for those staying 5+ nights (it's a AAA TA). That's not the case right?

This craziness better be worth it...


Thanks for any help for this newbie

I didnt have an exhisting reservation...But I am booked at POP for the 18-21 of September with the free dining, only 3 nights and we were able to get it!

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

If I am staying from Aug 28 until Sept 1 but only getting 4 day park hopper passes do I only get dining for four days or do I get it for five?

Looks like you are booked for FOUR nights ... you will get FOUR TS, FOUR CS and FOUR snacks. If you are booked for FIVE nights you will get everything times FIVE.

 

[Blood on the saddle]

I am sorry I know this has been repeated but I searched and could not find the exact answer.
Does the Tip get charged back to you room as you use free dining. Does it go agianst everything or just sit down meals?

Since the gratuity is no longer included in the dining plan, what and where you tip is totally up to you. The exception is that an 18% tip is automatically added to groups of 6 or more at table service restaurants.

You can leave cash, charge it to your room, use another credit card, or do whatever else you'd normally do at a table service restaurant anywhere else.

 

[Tiff172]

Looks like you are booked for FOUR nights ... you will get FOUR TS, FOUR CS and FOUR snacks. If you are booked for FIVE nights you will get everything times FIVE.

That's what I thought! Thank you! Hopefully I will be able to get it tomorrow!!!