>> FREE DINING 2011 WATCH - Read Post # 1 BEFORE Posting

[cluelyss18]

Ugh....listen to this mess. I called Disney about 5 days ago and was told I had a FD pin good for stays between 7/1-8/13.

Last night I called again and was told my PIN was for a room discount (40% off Deluxe, 35% off Mod and Budget)...NOT free dining.

Today...just for fun...I call again and the CM tells me I don't have a PIN at all!!!! Huh??? So she puts me on hold for a few minutes...comes back and tells me that after further review I DO have a PIN for (drum roll please)...free dining for the July-August timeframe.

I've been told 3 completely different things over the course of 5 days. I love Disney but this is so frustrating. I guess I'll call back next week and see what offer they have for me then.

I am pretty new to this, but after hearing many people say to call Disney. I did. I called two days ago and was told I had two pins. One for % off room, and the other was for a free upgrade on tickets to hopper/water park. The % off wasn't avail at Pop so I declined and booked online using their discount. Then I called back today to see if maybe I had a pin that wasn't to be opened until March 1 like so many others, and was told I didn't have any pins. I said "That's funny, I had one two days ago". So she said well are both your zip codes xxxxx? (she was referring to the fact that I have both a billing and shipping address listed)....what does that matter?! Why wouldn't you have all my info connected? So she checked the other zip code and put me on hold, then came back and said "oh, well I see you do have one for % off room, but of course it wasn't avail at pop, only at music and it would only save me another $70" I asked about FD and she practically laughed saying that it wasn't avail. If it didn't take 20 frustrating minutes of repeating myself over and over to get to a CS rep, I would call back 5 times in one night just to see how many different codes I can have.

 

[SPOERLX3]

WOW!!! So frustrating. It sounds like they they have a ton of PIN's out there right now.

I am booked with my PIN at POP with 35% off, making my standard room only $61 (and change) per night. We are booked for 12/15-12/23/11. I got my PIN in and email from Disney Destinations and when I clicked on "Book Now" button, the PIN was prepopulated and I had to add my last name and zip code. I do know that each hotel for certain days only have a limited amount of rooms available for each PIN but I just went back in to the email I had gotten, and did a "play-like" reservation and it still let me book POP. Not sure when you are trying to go, but I would have to try again, and again, and again since you are getting so many different answers.

Good Luck, here is some pixie dust coming your way

 

[cluelyss18]

Good Luck, here is some pixie dust coming your way

LOL I have never gotten pixie dust before!! Thanks! You just made my day!!

Oh and we are planning May 15-19, I never got an e-mail so I have no clue how to try to 'pretend book'

 

[amcdona3]

Ugh....listen to this mess. I called Disney about 5 days ago and was told I had a FD pin good for stays between 7/1-8/13.

Last night I called again and was told my PIN was for a room discount (40% off Deluxe, 35% off Mod and Budget)...NOT free dining.

Today...just for fun...I call again and the CM tells me I don't have a PIN at all!!!! Huh??? So she puts me on hold for a few minutes...comes back and tells me that after further review I DO have a PIN for (drum roll please)...free dining for the July-August timeframe.

I've been told 3 completely different things over the course of 5 days. I love Disney but this is so frustrating. I guess I'll call back next week and see what offer they have for me then.

i hear ya, i was told that i had three pins, and then someone else said i have nothing. ughh i may call back tonight. why oh why do different cm's say different things?!

 

[sandgrace]

The whole PIN thing is frustrating and confusing, and now it really does make a difference to me on whether I'm going to book my vacation or not. Maybe, I'd of been better off not knowing about these PINs at all?

 

[KAB1]

I don't know, of course none of us do. I'm holding out hope for early August discounts still, even if it isn't free dining. I'll take 25% off room only at this point!

I was looking at historical release dates on MouseSavers (which of course, are no guarantee of upcoming discounts), but it appears as though summer discounts haven't been released until April, May, or later.

In 2008, there weren't any discounts released for June/July, but early August to late September was released at the end of June. That year, free dining (which started in late August), wasn't released until the beginning of April.

In 2009, June through August discounts were released in early May, with mid to late August through October released in late June.

In 2010, there WAS a discount for 6/04 to 8/14 released in February - but that seems to be unique to last year - it certainly wasn't consistent with the previous 2 years. However, summer discounts still came later too. Early May to mid-August was released at the end of March and a different offer was released for early May to early October at the end of April.

So, I suppose until June has come and gone with no discount released for my dates, I will keep hoping for some discount pixie dust!

If you'd like to perform your own analysis, the link is here.

Actually Mousesavers is wrong. For 2009, Buy 4/ 3 Free was released in November 2008 for bookings until JUne 30th. For 2010, I received a pin for 40% off deluxe room in December 2009. This pin included June, July and August. Based on this, I am not very optimistic about Discounts for the end of June. Fortunately when we booked our stay back in October for the last week of June at the GF, I was offered 30% off the room. CM could not tell me if it was a pin or not.

 

[ajh88]

Actually Mousesavers is wrong. For 2009, Buy 4/ 3 Free was released in November 2008 for bookings until JUne 30th. For 2010, I received a pin for 40% off deluxe room in December 2009. This pin included June, July and August. Based on this, I am not very optimistic about Discounts for the end of June. Fortunately when we booked our stay back in October for the last week of June at the GF, I was offered 30% off the room. CM could not tell me if it was a pin or not.

They may be wrong, I'm not sure, but I didn't include the exhaustive list...I left out any discounts that were released at the end of the previous year because at this point I'm only worried about discounts that *might* be released from now until my trip is planned. Their table does list the discount regarding the 4/3 promo you mentioned - I just didn't include it.

You are correct though - I did NOT include all of the possible discount scenarios (such as the free dining that had to be booked before the end of the year last year) nor did I include any PIN codes.

 

[cluelyss18]

After learning so much from these boards, I have been hoping for FD for May 15-19 since it would save more money than the 25% off room I'm getting now.....but after reading some posts, I am starting to rethink.....does it really make a difference with crowds of there is a FD offer? I never thought of it, and if it does, I guess I'd rather pay full price for dining. This whole thing is getting confusing!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Actually Mousesavers is wrong. For 2009, Buy 4/ 3 Free was released in November 2008 for bookings until JUne 30th. For 2010, I received a pin for 40% off deluxe room in December 2009. This pin included June, July and August. Based on this, I am not very optimistic about Discounts for the end of June. Fortunately when we booked our stay back in October for the last week of June at the GF, I was offered 30% off the room. CM could not tell me if it was a pin or not.

Yes, I had the 4/3 for our dates in June of 2009 and I remember booking that with my inlaws when they were here for Christmas (in 2008). Man oh man, I would love the 4/3 again or free dining. My 25% off POR is wonderful, but either of those would save me so much more.

 

[KAB1]

After learning so much from these boards, I have been hoping for FD for May 15-19 since it would save more money than the 25% off room I'm getting now.....but after reading some posts, I am starting to rethink.....does it really make a difference with crowds of there is a FD offer? I never thought of it, and if it does, I guess I'd rather pay full price for dining. This whole thing is getting confusing!

I think it makes a big difference in crowds. Usually the value and mod resorts are packed because free dining with deluxe is not a good deal (Only with value and mods). You save alot more with a 30 or 40% off room rate. I am Keeping my fingers crossed that free dining is NOT released for the last two weeks of June because last year when we went at this time disney was not that crowded at all. I would like a 40% off room rate to be released though!!!!

 

[cluelyss18]

I think it makes a big difference in crowds. Usually the value and mod resorts are packed because free dining with deluxe is not a good deal (Only with value and mods). You save alot more with a 30 or 40% off room rate. I am Keeping my fingers crossed that free dining is NOT released for the last two weeks of June because last year when we went at this time disney was not that crowded at all. I would like a 40% off room rate to be released though!!!!

If I could share my 40% off code with you, I would, since I'm not using it. Even at 40% off the deluxe resorts are above our budget since we're also planning my first vegas trip in the fall.

 

[KAB1]

If I could share my 40% off code with you, I would, since I'm not using it. Even at 40% off the deluxe resorts are above our budget since we're also planning my first vegas trip in the fall.

Thanks We have 30% off at the GF booked now for the last week of June, but that extra 10% does make a difference based on what we paid last year. I got this 30% off when I booked my June trip in October of 2010. CM could not tell me if it was a code or not.

 

[Goofy22]

Carrying over a question from another thread concerning FD pin codes and dates of travel..........

I know that with a room only code, all nights of the trip must be within the dates of the promotion to get the savings.

With free dining code, can you use the code for your whole trip if you check in during the dates of the discount but your trip extends past the timeframe? For example, if the code is good for June xx until 8/13 and our trip is 8/8 to 8/18, would we qualify for the code if we get it? I'm pretty sure we would, but wanted to double-check.

Unless something has changed you get free dining your entire trip as long as it is booked for arrival by the date it states then you would get it for your entire trip (say it ends on Aug 13th but as long as you check in on Aug 13th you would get it your entire trip is how it has worked Also if your trip overlaps like you stated you would get the promo for your entire trip

 

[jcarwash]

After learning so much from these boards, I have been hoping for FD for May 15-19 since it would save more money than the 25% off room I'm getting now.....but after reading some posts, I am starting to rethink.....does it really make a difference with crowds of there is a FD offer? I never thought of it, and if it does, I guess I'd rather pay full price for dining. This whole thing is getting confusing!

I wouldn't be concerned specifically about free dining and May 15-19. Historically the free dining promotion was for dates mid August through September, and then extended for dates Oct-Dec (or perhaps Nov-Dec).

But when the free dining dates for 2011 were released last year (and expired on 12/20/10) there were more dates included such as for arrivals in late May, like May 27th, through very early June. But it was a small window.

I guess anything can happen, but I think it would be very surprising to see a new free dining promotion come out with dates for May 2011.

 

[Luvmepluto]

I would be surprised if they would come out with FD for May or even June. But my question is why are they doing a pin for FD in July and August? Will there next promo be FD in July and August?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I would be surprised if they would come out with FD for May or even June. But my question is why are they doing a pin for FD in July and August? Will there next promo be FD in July and August?

Pin codes are not necessarily indicative of general public discounts - in fact it is rare. I would guess that the next public fd code will be for mid August (most likely August 14) to early October, possibly some November and December dates (Nov. and Dec. less likely).

Of course, we are all just speculating at this point . . . .

 

[danetter]

Pin codes are not necessarily indicative of general public discounts - in fact it is rare. I would guess that the next public fd code will be for mid August (most likely August 14) to early October, possibly some November and December dates (Nov. and Dec. less likely).

Of course, we are all just speculating at this point . . . .

OH! I hope for the FD for Sept. Like I said in an earlier post I have 2 pin code emails: 1 for FD but ends Aug 13th. (which I don't want to go that early) and 1 for 35 to 40% off room rate(which I have to book by the 28th of this month) that is good thru Sept.
I called today just for the heck of it to see if I had a pin code attached to my name and the CM asked me when I would like to go and told her either Sept./the 1st week of Oct. and she told me I had 1 that ends Oct. 8th for room rate for 20% off Value. Heck I have an email pin code better than that and that is the only 1 they have for me. I just said thank you and I would think about it..

 

[KellyWasHere]

OH! I hope for the FD for Sept. Like I said in an earlier post I have 2 pin code emails: 1 for FD but ends Aug 13th. (which I don't want to go that early) and 1 for 35 to 40% off room rate(which I have to book by the 28th of this month) that is good thru Sept.
I called today just for the heck of it to see if I had a pin code attached to my name and the CM asked me when I would like to go and told her either Sept./the 1st week of Oct. and she told me I had 1 that ends Oct. 8th for room rate for 20% off Value. Heck I have an email pin code better than that and that is the only 1 they have for me. I just said thank you and I would think about it..

I called today too just for kicks. I also have the FD pins that ends on Aug 13 and a room pin for 20% off a value. I didn't get it, the general promo on Disney's website is for 25% off a value during my dates.

 

[Luvmepluto]

I called today too just for kicks. I also have the FD pins that ends on Aug 13 and a room pin for 20% off a value. I didn't get it, the general promo on Disney's website is for 25% off a value during my dates.

So the pin is less? Hmm....That is just crazy. I don't know if I should book with my percent off pin or hold out for FD. At least the pin is for 35% off the value and moderate resorts.

 

[Goofy22]

Ok, Just thought I would post the dates that were offered to us on Bounceback from last summer for this YR and these dates were also the same dates offered to the public some time in August for Free Dining which normally is released til March/April I'm posting in case the new offer does run hand in hand with the past offer it will give you al an idea of the dates that were offered for Free Dining.

October 2010 1st thru7th then 22nd thru 28th

November 2010 - 12th thru 18th then 27th thru December 2nd

December 2010- 10th thru 21st

2011

January 2011- 1st thru 5th then 9th thru13th then 21st thru 31st

February 2011- 1st thru 3rd then 11th thru 17th then 25th thru 28th

March 2011- 1st thru 3rd

April 2011 - NOTHING

May 2011 - 27th thru 31st

June 2011 - 1st, 2nd

July 2011- NOTHING

August 2011 - 19th thru 31st

September 2011- 1st thru 29th

And that my friends is the exact dates that were offered this past summer for Free Dining just to give you an idea