Free Dining 2013

[plutospalforever]

Seems like the LM rooms are getting a lot less popular now that the discount is out!! I bet they are going to become much more avaliable Is anyone keeping their room despite the discount??
I would like to but I would like to save money more

I am assuming this can also apply to LM, but I heard Disney only wants to keep an extremely limited number of Finding Nemo rooms available for promo, in hopes that people are soooo sentimentally attached to it that they won't want to switch. Did not work for me. I would gladly switch to Lion King to save a $1000

 

[FoodLover]

Thanks. But I was hoping for free dining in August. I think I will wait and see if anything is offered over here!!

Sorry, meant to say you can book the August room rate discount that was released in the US today, not the US free dining, which is not offered in August.

You are too late for the UK free dining this August. That promotion ended about a month ago and they don't resurrect offers that are long expired. I would grab the room rate discount if I were you. There is really no down side to doing so -- in the extremely unlikely event that a UK offer for August is rolled out later, you can cancel US packages without penalty up until 45 days prior to check-in and US room-only reservations can be canceled up to 5 days prior to check-in.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[black562]

Maybe I did something wrong with the numbers?? Did 20% off regular rate for ASMo and 25% off regular rate for POR. After adding in our ticket prices it would be just over $2500 at ASMo and just over $2900 for POR. We are paying under $3300 with the free dining. So if we switched to just RO at our current resort would only save under 400 and if we switched resorts to just RO at ASMo it would save like 750. We would spend that even if we ate all counter meals with all of us.

Anyway, I think you were one of the ones letting everyone know it was coming----so Thank You!!!

Ok, I think I'm following what you're saying now.

And you're quite welcome.

 

[waynehunter]

Sorry, meant to say you can book the August room rate discount that was released in the US today, not the US free dining, which is not offered in August.

You are too late for the UK free dining this August. That promotion ended about a month ago and they don't resurrect offers that are long expired. I would grab the room rate discount if I were you. There is really no down side to doing so -- in the extremely unlikely event that a UK offer for August is rolled out later, you can cancel US packages without penalty up until 45 days prior to check-in and US room-only reservations can be canceled up to 5 days prior to check-in.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

Which US travel agent would you recommend I use for the room discount. We normally stay in Saratoga Springs.

 

[Iwanabatdisney]

I have been a long-time lurker on this site, such great information. I am a Visa card holder and based on all the great information on this board(s) called this morning, waited a short amount of time on hold to be told by a very sweet CM that the BLT 2 bedroom villa we booked for our 6 adults, 1 child was not on the free dining plan. Soooo bummed. But... bottom line, we're still going to Disney. The trip was booked months ago and the family trip will not change. Good luck to everyone who hasn't already booked their free dining plan yet, hang in there, your wish will come true!

 

[TheDisney411]

I have been a long-time lurker on this site, such great information. I am a Visa card holder and based on all the great information on this board(s) called this morning, waited a short amount of time on hold to be told by a very sweet CM that the BLT 2 bedroom villa we booked for our 6 adults, 1 child was not on the free dining plan. Soooo bummed. But... bottom line, we're still going to Disney. The trip was booked months ago and the family trip will not change. Good luck to everyone who hasn't already booked their free dining plan yet, hang in there, your wish will come true!

I would just get 2 connecting rooms at another resort that is included in the FD promo. You can still keep your dates and go to Disney and probably save over $2000 dollars.

 

[mom18]

I think having to pay to upgrade is a little crazy. I know you are at a value resort, but you are paying a deluxe price.

For us, my kids would not like the other resorts like they would like values. To me they are more "kid-friendly"...I don't mind either way!

 

[DebbieB]

I have been a long-time lurker on this site, such great information. I am a Visa card holder and based on all the great information on this board(s) called this morning, waited a short amount of time on hold to be told by a very sweet CM that the BLT 2 bedroom villa we booked for our 6 adults, 1 child was not on the free dining plan. Soooo bummed. But... bottom line, we're still going to Disney. The trip was booked months ago and the family trip will not change. Good luck to everyone who hasn't already booked their free dining plan yet, hang in there, your wish will come true!

Did you ask about the room discount? Only 5% at BLT but better than nothing. Or switch to another DVC for 30% off.

 

[Iwanabatdisney]

I would just get 2 connecting rooms at another resort that is included in the FD promo. You can still keep your dates and go to Disney and probably save over $2000 dollars.

I thought about that, but I have a problem with sleeping space. It's me, my husband, my adult son, my adult daughter and her husband (son-in-law), son-in-law's mother, and daughter & s-in-law's 3 year old son. I need 4 - 5 separate sleeping spaces. Putting people in comfortable beds has been an issue trying to figure out, resort wise. I thought about the WL treehouses, but we have mobility issues.

I'm still thinking it over. The CM priced out the CR with two rooms, but even with the free dining, it was more than the BLT 2 br.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[mom18]

So this morning my TA told us that she booked our FD with their company DV so she could get FD in right away for us. I personally do not have a DV. I have read you will need your DV at check in. Is this going to be an issue for me?

 

[TheDisney411]

So this morning my TA told us that she booked our FD with their company DV so she could get FD in right away for us. I personally do not have a DV. I have read you will need your DV at check in. Is this going to be an issue for me?

You do not show your Disney Visa at check in.

 

[mom18]

You do not show your Disney Visa at check in.

Thanks!

 

[jrasmom]

We saved $635!! Actually, without free dining we can not afford to go, this is the only way we've ever gone.

5 nights/5 days two adults, two kids (13 & 9) at ASMo (kids preference so we only do quick service, but we're happy with it!!).

 

[FoodLover]

So this morning my TA told us that she booked our FD with their company DV so she could get FD in right away for us. I personally do not have a DV. I have read you will need your DV at check in. Is this going to be an issue for me?

This all seems very "off" to me. You don't have to show your Disney Visa at check-in, but the deposit has to stay on the Disney Visa for you to qualify for this offer, and you don't have one, so how is the agent going to get repaid for the deposit she charged? Is she going to bill you $200 as a direct payment to the agency to repay the advance on the agency's credit card?

If that's the case, think twice. I don't recommend booking with agencies where you pay the agency instead of paying Disney directly. When an agency has you making payment to THEM, they have your money, but you don't know if they actually turned around and paid Disney. Really the only reason for an agency to do this is to get the "float" on your payment: they deposit your money into their own account and earn interest on it until they get around to paying Disney -- if they ever do. If the agency doesn't pay Disney, you are SOL.

Reputable Disney specialist agencies have Disney charge your credit card or process your check directly, so you know Disney got your money.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[3SugarBugs]

Just wanted to say THANKS again to Joe and others that gave us the heads up! Truly appreciated!

Also, for those questioning, do the math on FD versus RO discounts. I have a family of 5 and we're going BIG, staying BC, Club Level - Deluxe Room...FD was still better for us by almost $300 than the 30% off. Both our DD's are (or will be) Disney Adults when we travel. We saved just shy of $1700...which paid our airfare plus some towards MNSSHP.

I'm so glad that stress is over! Now I'll have about 1 bazilliion questions in touring strategy.

Good luck to everyone on Thursday!

 

[Sylkie31]

I've befriended you.

Awesome - thank you muchly!

 

[Kat016]

I have POFQ Garden Room booked for October. Were they included this time around with FD?

 

[plutospalforever]

This all seems very "off" to me. You don't have to show your Disney Visa at check-in, but the deposit has to stay on the Disney Visa for you to qualify for this offer, and you don't have one, so how is the agent going to get repaid for the deposit she charged? Is she going to bill you $200 as a direct payment to the agency to repay the advance on the agency's credit card?

If that's the case, think twice. I don't recommend booking with agencies where you pay the agency instead of paying Disney directly. When an agency has you making payment to THEM, they have your money, but you don't know if they actually turned around and paid Disney. Really the only reason for an agency to do this is to get the "float" on your payment: they deposit your money into their own account and earn interest on it until they get around to paying Disney -- if they ever do. If the agency doesn't pay Disney, you are SOL.

Reputable Disney specialist agencies have Disney charge your credit card or process your check directly, so you know Disney got your money.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

Wow!! Thanks for the advice. I had no idea there were agencies that would do this. A real eye opener! I guess I have always had good luck.

 

[dig311dug]

why book through a travel agent and not directly through disney?
I never understood that since it's so easy online nowdays

 

[mom18]

This all seems very "off" to me. You don't have to show your Disney Visa at check-in, but the deposit has to stay on the Disney Visa for you to qualify for this offer, and you don't have one, so how is the agent going to get repaid for the deposit she charged? Is she going to bill you $200 as a direct payment to the agency to repay the advance on the agency's credit card?

If that's the case, think twice. I don't recommend booking with agencies where you pay the agency instead of paying Disney directly. When an agency has you making payment to THEM, they have your money, but you don't know if they actually turned around and paid Disney. Really the only reason for an agency to do this is to get the "float" on your payment: they deposit your money into their own account and earn interest on it until they get around to paying Disney -- if they ever do. If the agency doesn't pay Disney, you are SOL.

Reputable Disney specialist agencies have Disney charge your credit card or process your check directly, so you know Disney got your money.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

She is actually kind of a "friend" of my SIL. She did it as a favor, to get us the FD as soon as she could. She puts in on her card, and I pay her back. I have all my backups..receipts from her as well as original ones from Disney to shows she paid..so I think I am good!! She has done this for my SIL a few times and theres never been a problem.
On everything else she has had Disney charge the my card, except this to get us in today. Im looking at it more as a favor to my SIL. We have alot of us going..3 families on my DH side and 2 on my side, and she only did it for one side of the family, and we have all been to her.
On the other hand, I cannot believe people do that! Hoping I dont have that kind of issue, thanks for hte eye opener though!!