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

[mickeystoontown]

I just got some quotes. We are already booked with the kids free. But we are thinking of upgrading to a moderate but we pefer the QSDP. So here is our break down. Yes the photbook tacks on the extra automatically to the package. At cbr we would be getting a fridge so that is a savings there. But then there is tips and mugs to be paid with the upgrade also. Dh says just upgrade. I like to do all the math. I'm almost 90% sure we will upgrade just not sure what moderate. Leaning towards CBR the only one we haven't tried. The pool for the kids looks neat. But POFQ those queen beds look good also.

POP 9/17 to 9/26 with the qsdp free and photobook 2018.36
CBR 9/17 to 9/26 regular plan and the photobook 2762.18

Let us know what you decide to do. I don't think you could go wrong with a stay at the CBR.

 

[shystalips]

C'mon Disney, you can do better than that! Free Dining for a month. What's that about? Do something to get us excited, like maybe: Free Dining till November. Now that might do it.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Same here. Received it at 1pm EST. First time EVER I got it the same day.



I'd like to know this too. The email says:

Cardmembers, book now before this package becomes available to the general public on May 2. The New Memories Vacation Package includes:

Walt Disney World® Theme Park tickets. Enjoy admission to one Theme Park per day, each day of your ticket.

Stay in a select Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel.

A Disney's PhotoPass® Photo Book to relive your Disney vacation memories! Choose from a variety of layouts and page designs and customize with your favorite photos! This 20-page book is printed on archival paper to preserve it for years to come.¹
And, for a limited-time with this Memories Vacation Package, enjoy a FREE dining plan for stays most nights 8/28-9/24/11. See important details²:

For 5 night/6 day packages at select Disney Value Resorts, get the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan – includes 2 quick-service meals and 2 select snacks per person per night of your package stay, plus one Resort Refillable Drink Mug per person (refillable only at your Disney Resort Hotel).

For 5 night/6 day packages at select Disney Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts, get the Disney Dining Plan – includes 1 table-service meal, 1 quick-service meal and 1 select snack per person per night of your package stay.


On the Disney World website there is no mention of or option for choosing "Memories vacation package" when booking.

Are they truly going to upcharge and then give a discount?
That would be annoying.
I already had planned on going value resort, and upgrading to the full plan. With 10 people, that starts to add up. Add in THREE photo books for three rooms, and we're starting to hurt!

I don't believe the photobook is optional, although I'd love to hear if someone was able to get that taken off, because I know I don't want it for $99.95. I'd read the fine print on the email that corresponds with that little tiny number 1 to see what it says. The Mouse for less says this:

Guests will also receive a Disney Photopass Photo Book included as part of their package at the special pre-order price of $99.95.

Yes, it's an upcharge but I'm still saving money over what I was going to pay, so unless something better comes along, I'm happy! I didn't understand the part about the photo book at first and couldn't understand why the quotes the CM gave were about $100 more than I had expected and upon digging that's what I figured out.

 

[pigletto]

So if I am seeing this correctly, not only do you have to buy the photobook, you also have to book for 5 nights or more AND you have to book a ticket for each day of your stay?
Or are they just suggesting 5nights but you can book fewer?

If it is the former that is MANY more restrictions than any year previous. That would be more tickets, more nights, fewer dates and the photobook.
That would effectively end my quest to ever book it again if they are giving less and less and expecting more and more. There are simply better ways for us to save.

I suppose it's all speculation at this point, but I am sure soon we will have the details telling us if that is just a suggestion or the new minimums.

ETA.. Nevermind.. I looked it up and answered my own question. It's 3 nights and 2 days of tickets.

 

[JewelsG]

SO with the free dining coming out hopefully Monday, I am really struggling with deciding whether to go with the Quick Service or the Regular Dining... We have 2 Character Breakfasts booked for our stay (Tusker & Akershus) and right now have booked the Quick Service Dining plan... we're going with a big group so automatic tips added... just don't know which way to go... part of me likes the idea of sit down meals while the other part likes the idea of avoiding set meal times...

Thoughts???

 

[SnipsNSnails]

So if I am seeing this correctly, not only do you have to buy the photobook, you also have to book for 5 nights or more AND you have to book a ticket for each day of your stay?
Or are they just suggesting 5nights but you can book fewer?

If it is the former that is MANY more restrictions than any year previous. That would be more tickets, more nights, fewer dates and the photobook.
That would effectively end my quest to ever book it again if they are giving less and less and expecting more and more. There are simply better ways for us to save.

I suppose it's all speculation at this point, but I am sure soon we will have the details telling us if that is just a suggestion or the new minimums.

That's what they are suggesting. Minimum 3 nights and 2 days tickets are required. And yes, the photobook. You get a voucher so I'm guessing they are betting on a lot of people not even getting the photobook. Clever on their part for sure.

 

[KELLY]

SO with the free dining coming out hopefully Monday, I am really struggling with deciding whether to go with the Quick Service or the Regular Dining... We have 2 Character Breakfasts booked for our stay (Tusker & Akershus) and right now have booked the Quick Service Dining plan... we're going with a big group so automatic tips added... just don't know which way to go... part of me likes the idea of sit down meals while the other part likes the idea of avoiding set meal times...

Thoughts???

I'm with you. We have the same 2 adr's booked and have the QSDP staying at pop. Right now. So I need to make a choice. If we stay at pop we will stick with the QSDP.

 

[smitch425]

So if I am seeing this correctly, not only do you have to buy the photobook, you also have to book for 5 nights or more AND you have to book a ticket for each day of your stay?
Or are they just suggesting 5nights but you can book fewer?

If it is the former that is MANY more restrictions than any year previous. That would be more tickets, more nights, fewer dates and the photobook.
That would effectively end my quest to ever book it again if they are giving less and less and expecting more and more. There are simply better ways for us to save.

I suppose it's all speculation at this point, but I am sure soon we will have the details telling us if that is just a suggestion or the new minimums.

ETA.. Nevermind.. I looked it up and answered my own question. It's 3 nights and 2 days of tickets.

The details regarding park tickets state:
Walt Disney World® Theme Park tickets. Enjoy admission to one Theme Park per day, each day of your ticket.

This doesn't imply that you must have tickets for every day of your stay. My guess is a two day minimum.

 

[KELLY]

That's what they are suggesting. Minimum 3 nights and 2 days tickets are required. And yes, the photobook. You get a voucher so I'm guessing they are betting on a lot of people not even getting the photobook. Clever on their part for sure.

Yep and on top the photopass sight is so slow. I can see it taking over a week to get my book done.

 

[KELLY]

Sorry, but I would pay out almost $800.00 more for CBR over POP. I mean CBR is nice, but, in my opinion, it's not $800.00 better than POP, and you said you really didn't want the Basic plan anyway.

I totally get that. we do have 2 adr's and would probably look into a fridge so that is bring it down to around 500.00. Still not 100% sure. We do love pop.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Last year they upped to ticket minimum to 2 day, but I believe that they also changed the fd rules for AP holders so that they don't have to purchase the minimum ticket requirement anymore. I'm sure someone will come along to correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's what they did last time they opened up the free dining promo to the general public.

Nope. I've got the 2 day tickets sitting in my jewelry box at home to show for it. AP holders have been getting more and more frustrated by moves like this. Insisting on 2 days instead of 1 day felt like a slap in the face directly aimed at AP holders.

With the 2 day ticket purchase requirement, my family of 4 Disney Adults still came out cheaper staying at a moderate with free dining than we would have with a room discount at the same resort. And we ended up with four 2 day tickets for future use. We did actually use 2 of them for guests we brought with us in February. I'm sure we'll use them eventually.

 

[eskgwin]

I am not a Disney Visa card holder and have booked my vacation August 10-19 already with a 6 day park hoppper plus water parks at the Beach Club Resort. I booked this package on January 6, 2011. I do not have any pins for free dining.

I guess my luck is really out to get free dining for my dates. Is that what you all would guess to be true?

Thanks.

Allyson

 

[1tufgt]

I am not a Disney Visa card holder and have booked my vacation August 10-19 already with a 6 day park hoppper plus water parks at the Beach Club Resort. I booked this package on January 6, 2011. I do not have any pins for free dining.

I guess my luck is really out to get free dining for my dates. Is that what you all would guess to be true?

Thanks.

Allyson

Sounds like this deal is going to be released to the public on the 2nd.

 

[Don Disney]

Just booked FD(QS) for Sept.!!! We will upgrade to Basic later-we are soooo stoked!!! General Public offer should be out in a few days!!!

 

[jpaxton1118]

It looks like the free dining is not going to save my family a whole lot of money. It looks like it is only going to save us $231 and if you add the $99 book (which is included) then we are really only saving $131?! I am not sure that is going to be worth the hassle of waiting online to change. Maybe you guys can tell me if my math is correct? We are getting 2 rooms at pop for 2 adults and 3 kids (11,8,3) with 6 day base tickets and upgrading to the plus dining plan. I wish it did not include the book!

 

[SnipsNSnails]

You can call and ask. When I called earlier today, I didn't wait at all, they picked up right when I was done with the phone menu. There may be more traffic now that the emails are out and it's making it's rounds on the boards etc. They'll give you an exact quote.

 

[NYEmomma]

Doo bee doo.... waiting for this to extend into October!

Couple questions though (this is me getting my hopes up that something similar will come out for October, lol):

- can you upgrade the MYW tix to Park Hoppers for an additional charge?

- I think I might be confused on the Photo Book thing... my understanding with the Photo Pass is that the $99 pre-sale offer is for a CD and the book would be extra. I know this deal mentioned $99.95, so is that the CD *and* book or the book instead of the CD??

 

[mom of princessx2]

?

- I think I might be confused on the Photo Book thing... my understanding with the Photo Pass is that the $99 pre-sale offer is for a CD and the book would be extra. I know this deal mentioned $99.95, so is that the CD *and* book or the book instead of the CD??

No, the offer states a 20 page book.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

It looks like the free dining is not going to save my family a whole lot of money. It looks like it is only going to save us $231 and if you add the $99 book (which is included) then we are really only saving $131?! I am not sure that is going to be worth the hassle of waiting online to change. Maybe you guys can tell me if my math is correct? We are getting 2 rooms at pop for 2 adults and 3 kids (11,8,3) with 6 day base tickets and upgrading to the plus dining plan. I wish it did not include the book!

Do you already have some other offer in place? Because the free dining offer should save you a minimum of about $900.00 of rack rate.

 

[mom of princessx2]

I am not a Disney Visa card holder and have booked my vacation August 10-19 already with a 6 day park hoppper plus water parks at the Beach Club Resort. I booked this package on January 6, 2011. I do not have any pins for free dining.

I guess my luck is really out to get free dining for my dates. Is that what you all would guess to be true?

Thanks.

Allyson

Luck has run out
FD doesn't start until 8/28-Seems pretty late starting this year.