Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 2

[Leslieloody]

After waiting 1 hour and 47 minutes, which I didn't mind too much. Kind of fun to get ready with one hand, the other holding the phone. Anyway, got a CM that didn't know yet that POR and POFQ was excluded. She keep saying, "Yes, it is available. Go ahead and book it." I already had room and tickets at POP. Definite dates due to DD's school. I was worried about pressing my luck with her because of the horror stories of being hung up on or calls dropping. I had to do it, had her to ask a supervisor. Yes, thanks to Black and Disboards,I knew already. She came back and apologized. Would have loved to try CSR, as we've never stayed at a mod. But no rooms for our stay, oct 3rd-11th. Stayed with POP. My total before this phone call was $2,424. The CM said, "Oh, it's going to be a little higher because I have to take away your current discount code." Well, I'm here to tell you, I never had a code. I've asked each time I called. I asked how much was my total now. She said,"It increased to $2,411. Remember, previous total was $2,424. Oh, my!

 

[Mommaof3]

Thanks for all the kind words.

I don't want to be thought of as some kind of TA leaking insider secrets. I would never do that. Everything I post are things I've found on the net, understanding what they might mean, and making sense of it all.

Other leakers of the past have had insider information and that is just plain wrong. Most of you know where I've been spending most of my time online lately. I am not hard to find at all.

Disney should know by now that the leaks don't come from me, they are all over the net. The past few days I've seen so much out there it's scary.

Thanks again and I'll see you in my normal hangouts.

Joe,
I will say that I am sorry for the rudeness of others. I know that it does not change what has been said, but it does let you know that not everyone feels that way. I do not post much, but I read lots. I so appreciate the "heads up" that you give. I totally understand that you are giving me your best interpretation of the information you have spent hours finding. In short, you are saving me from making feeble attempts at doing what you do so well. I thank you. Melissa

 

[SPOERLX3]

I may be scarce for a while.

Too many complaints and drama today. It's not with this thread but a couple others.

Just to set the record straight. I have no inside sources, and I'm not a TA. I gather information I find online that anyone could find if they spent the time. I get it in little pieces and put it all together in one place.

Even doing this, there's still those that call Disney to complain because they never got official word and seeing it here wasn't good enough.

I don't know how much more helpful I can be.

NOOOOOOOO! Black please don't let people like that run you off! Stand tall and be proud for all the people that you have helped, kept informed and appreciate you, your friendship, your wisdom and your insight!

I pity those people that believe that everyone owes them something and then tears someone else down when they don't get what they want. They are selfish and self centered and all we can do is say a prayer for them and move on.

Please don't isolate yourself from people that love and appreciate you for YOU! Stick with us black! We have your back! XOXO

 

[monica213]

Thank u for the heads up on the deals! Long time lurker, first time posting on the thread. I took advantage of the room discount and saved $1400 on my September 27 to October 4 trip. We are staying at the boardwalk villas in a 1 bedroom. Since there it's my husband, toddler son and myself the free dining wasn't as good of a deal as the room discount. So excited for our trip!

 

[daizieduck]

After waiting 1 hour and 47 minutes, which I didn't mind too much. Kind of fun to get ready with one hand, the other holding the phone. Anyway, got a CM that didn't know yet that POR and POFQ was excluded. She keep saying, "Yes, it is available. Go ahead and book it." I already had room and tickets at POP. Definite dates due to DD's school. I was worried about pressing my luck with her because of the horror stories of being hung up on or calls dropping. I had to do it, had her to ask a supervisor. Yes, thanks to Black and Disboards,I knew already. She came back and apologized. Would have loved to try CSR, as we've never stayed at a mod. But no rooms for our stay, oct 3rd-11th. Stayed with POP. My total before this phone call was $2,424. The CM said, "Oh, it's going to be a little higher because I have to take away your current discount code." Well, I'm here to tell you, I never had a code. I've asked each time I called. I asked how much was my total now. She said,"It increased to $2,411. Remember, previous total was $2,424. Oh, my!

I didn't have a code but there was a code listed when i got my email confirmation. This is the email from when i initially booked. Later i called and got a diff agent who said the first agent gave me a room discount on Oct 3 and charged me for the dining plan. I don't know what code she used to discount the room but it wasn't the RO code on the Disney visa email i got. Weird?

 

[wdw4rfam]

Almost on hold an hour now. I think they forgot about me. Sniffle, lol! I know i should just hang up and call another day because even if they forgot to add magical express to my reservation, adding it anytime is not a problem.

I hear you, I am on hold now, because he CM earlier fought with adding the MM and after 20 minutes gave up. I know I should just call another day but my OCD needs everything set

 

[MickeysMinnies]

So sad to hear POR will be out for FD offer, we are a family of 5. Deluxe is not an option and even the family suites with upgraded dining is much more. We love Disney and had hoped to visit if all worked out with free dining and decent flight rates. I will cross my finger and toes and hope they add POR for general public offer To add insult to injury, it snowed here today...

 

[cassiejo2711]

We all must remember we are a group of people who love Disney and bring our experience here to help others. Sometimes we are right and sometimes we are wrong. There is a ton of info out there and several love to research and share what they have learned or believe to be true. We all need to remember that things posted on the DIS is just that, a bunch of people that in no way represent Disney officially or unofficially. Disney is a business and just like anything, everyone will have a different experience, from towel animals to availability of discounts. Over the years I have enjoyed some wonderful. experiences at Disney ( room upgrades, great discounts, DD got to ride with stitch on Dumbo, chosen for parade in AK, and many more) and I have also read or seen some magic others received (resort upgrades, private limo from MCO, and once the people in front of us on splash were chosen to stay in the castle). We have cherished what we have had and loved the things others had the chance to experience but I would never think to contact Disney to ask why I didn't get things others did????

The DIS boards is a place to get info and in the years I have been here info on the DIS has been more accurate than info from Disney, Visa, Disney bus drivers, TA's, and the people next door. Just remember that it's just info from people who is giving you their experience or googled.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Apparently I am super emotional, because this about made me teary!
I love that so many have been able to make such incredible memories. I appreciate all the input; for the very short time I have been on this site it has been invaluable!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I know they can add flight info if i have ME on my reservation already but didn't know they can add the actual ME service to my ressie if it is not already on it. Will give it a try. thanks!

They can add it for you....I have done it many times before.

 

[martinmont]

Did anyone receive their second email yet? The one with the invoice? I still can't see my remaining balance on MDE!

 

[jhaig]

NOOOOOOOO! Black please don't let people like that run you off! Stand tall and be proud for all the people that you have helped, kept informed and appreciate you, your friendship, your wisdom and your insight! I pity those people that believe that everyone owes them something and then tears someone else down when they don't get what they want. They are selfish and self centered and all we can do is say a prayer for them and move on. Please don't isolate yourself from people that love and appreciate you for YOU! Stick with us black! We have your back! XOXO

This says it all

 

[jezebel73]

Is this a recent visa deal with southwest? Do tell...

I did this, too! Chase Southwest credit card - the deal has been around in various levels before, but I recently got an email to apply for the card and get 50,000 Southwest airline points. The annual fee is $99 and you have to spend $2,000 in the first three months to get the points.

Got my card today (took about a week) and plan to charge the $2000 as payment on the free dining trip I booked this morning. As soon as those points show up (one statement cycle), I can use them to book our flights. For us, the 50,000 is likely to cover all four round trip tickets for just the annual fee cost (plus the $10 per ticket gov't fee). Amazing deal and is saving us another $800+ on the trip!

 

[bdillahu]

Since the FD offer is definitely coming out to the public on Wednesday, is there any downside to me booking at CBR right now and just applying the FD to my reservation come Wednesday? I want to go ahead and book a couple of my ADRs because I'm nervous the times won't be available later...

My understanding is that having a reservation still won't guarantee your room is available for FD - they have a virtual "bucket" of FD rooms and when you go to get FD, they pull from that bucket. If it's empty, then it's not available, even if you already have a room reserved.

To add to that, if they see a bunch of rooms already booked without them having to give FD, then they just make the FD bucket smaller, thus fewer rooms available.

If you need that room, no matter what (for whatever reason) and want to make sure you have that room, then reserve. If you could deal with some other room, etc., then not reserving and waiting for the release is the better plan.

Hope I said that right (I'm trying to help and repeat what the experts have said). Thanks Joe/Smitch

 

[dskib]

My goodness. Why is it still over an hour hold time? I wanted to modify and double check something on my reservation and I've had my phone on speaker for an hour!

 

[bksomody]

I just got an email for free dining. I don't have the Visa i have the Chase Debit.

 

[JamieLM]

Did anyone receive their second email yet? The one with the invoice? I still can't see my remaining balance on MDE!

I haven't received mine either, hoping soon bc I made a payment.

 

[JamieLM]

Thank you Joe for everything! I joined this group about a few weeks ago, and have learned so much, it's incredible! Thank you again, if it wasn't for you and your data, I would have not known about this special in time to book. Thank you.

Quick question though, if POR comes back for the GP, will you be able to find out before Wed? Just curious to know If they will decide to add it back in bc so many people jumped ship.

 

[Excited4More]

Hi. First time poster here. I wasn't able to call this morning, first I couldn't get through, then I was busy for the day. Now, I call and get this CM named Keith. I swear, every single thing he quoted me was almost $1,000 higher than my base rate estimates (based on rack rate/disney website costs), and he kept pushing me to keep my MM package at POR. Did anyone else experience this? I'm so confused. Even last year, when I got POR on free dining, I did it online and I'm pretty sure I paid rack rate plus park tickets only.

Thanks.

Okay, so I called back and got a different CM, Mara. She was very nice and looked up what I wanted, asked questions, and her quotes were spot on to what I thought they would be. I switched my res, we decided to splurge a bit and went from POR to delux, and now I'm really excited for our trip!

9/7-9/14 Boardwalk Inn. Yay!!

 

[jeffgrimes23]

Glad I didn't have to spend all day on the phone waiting. Special shoutout to my TA at hihovacatons. I used to book directly through Disney, but why should I have to do all of the work.

 

[Excited4More]

After waiting 1 hour and 47 minutes, which I didn't mind too much. Kind of fun to get ready with one hand, the other holding the phone. Anyway, got a CM that didn't know yet that POR and POFQ was excluded. She keep saying, "Yes, it is available. Go ahead and book it." I already had room and tickets at POP. Definite dates due to DD's school. I was worried about pressing my luck with her because of the horror stories of being hung up on or calls dropping. I had to do it, had her to ask a supervisor. Yes, thanks to Black and Disboards,I knew already. She came back and apologized. Would have loved to try CSR, as we've never stayed at a mod. But no rooms for our stay, oct 3rd-11th. Stayed with POP. My total before this phone call was $2,424. The CM said, "Oh, it's going to be a little higher because I have to take away your current discount code." Well, I'm here to tell you, I never had a code. I've asked each time I called. I asked how much was my total now. She said,"It increased to $2,411. Remember, previous total was $2,424. Oh, my!

My first call was with someone whose quotes were not matching my math, significantly. When I asked him to break down the cost, he said he coudn't, when I told him I was online looking at prices and his were way off of what they were supposed to be, he had no answers. After getting very frustrated, I told him not to make any changes, that I'd call back. I really didn't want to get nasty with him so I ended the conversation. Some CMs must be great, some not so much. The second time, I got a great one.