Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 2

[nicdanh]

And, for the 10,000th time, if you checkin on an included date, you get free dining for the whole trip.

We have a trip planned for Aug 23-Sept 1. at the Yacht Club If the free dining start date is Aug 31st we qualify for dining for our entire trip??? Do I have to call and have it added?

 

[summerlady]

We have a trip planned for Aug 23-Sept 1. at the Yacht Club If the free dining start date is Aug 31st we qualify for dining for our entire trip??? Do I have to call and have it added?

No. You are not checking in on a FD date.

 

[andrewilley]

So we had two rooms at POFQ but it is a PACKAGE (Disney My Way) and so after transferring to CS, my TA said we are only "adjusting the price on the package", not cancelling and making a new reservation. So if someone is now "adding FD" it only cancels and rebooks if they had a RO reservation to begin with.

It may seem like just an alteration from the outside, but it's really still a rebooking internally on Disney's systems.

For example, if you have a Preferred Location room booked at a resort and then you want to change to a Free Dining booking, you would ONLY be able to keep that Preferred Location if there is any new availability within the offer for that room category. If not, you would have to change category to one that is listed within the promo. You are not "adding" free dining to what you've already for, you are seeing if the same resort/category happens to be available within the offer and then rebooking a new reservation (losing any other discounts that you might have had with the old room while you are at it). As I said, it's a technicality, but that is what is happening.

Andre

 

[TennesseeGirl]

I also am in the group of people waiting on a disney visa. At this point, I'm just assuming it won't get here before GP free dining is released. Having witnessed your phone experiences this week, I really don't want to have to call in to change my existing reservation and hold for hours. My question is this: what are the pros/cons to going online to book a new reservation with free dining when it's released online? I understand that I'll need to call disney to cancel my existing reservation to be refunded my deposit and that I'll need to manually link my ADR's to the new reservation. Anything else to consider? I have not seen anything that indicates I can't book a duplicate reservation. I wanted a TPV room at CR but if that room class is not available after waiting hours on hold, then I'd be switching resorts. Thanks in advance for any info!

I had a room booked ahead of time at a value and then booked a moderate online the morning FD came out. I called that afternoon to cancel my other reservation and it took forever. Wondering if you should go ahead and cancel now while it's relatively quiet? If you know you'll switch resorts if you don't get what you want then I don't see any pro to keeping it since you can't add free dining to an existing reservation online. Online is pretty darn easy ... I can't think of a con... and you'll get a head start if you do it early enough. I'm setting my alarm for midnight Wednesday morning. I know people are saying 6:00 am but last year it was up on the website a little after 12:00 am. I booked mine last year at around 4:00 am the morning it came out.

 

[freckles04]

Any prediction how long the wait will be on the phone promptly at 7AM Wednesday morning? That will be 6AM for me (central time) and I have to be at work by 7:00 so just wondering if I'll even have time, or if it'll have to wait til after work.

 

[srxman2001]

Is the minimum nights stay for this offer 6? Thanks

 

[Tifley]

Is the online chat still down? I can't get on it this morning??

 

[Tifley]

Since I can't get onto the online chat this morning, maybe one of the disney veterans here could help with a question. I am booking two rooms when / if FD comes out to GP. I would prefer to do it online so I don't risk waiting for hours on hold. My question is, if I book two separate reservations, can I call when the phone lines lighten up a little, and link them together and request connecting rooms?

 

[TennesseeGirl]

Any prediction how long the wait will be on the phone promptly at 7AM Wednesday morning? That will be 6AM for me (central time) and I have to be at work by 7:00 so just wondering if I'll even have time, or if it'll have to wait til after work.

Could be two hours or more.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

I can't get the disney website to load this morning can anyone tell me if they are still showing crystal palace and planet hollywood as no dining plan accepted?
I booked them on the 2nd when they still said accepting curious if i need to change the adrs

 

[Grumpy4196]

I know! Last year it was actually Saturday because we took advantage of it. I just moved our arrival back to Thursday, but my wife's and my work schedules allow it. I realize that everyone is not that fortunate in that regard. I hope you are able to work it out.

I just had to do the same thing with our reservation. We are a large group with 5 rooms and unfortunately not everyone in our party has the flexibility to move their reservation up 2 days. Still do not understand why Disney insists on someone from each room to check-in if the reservations are linked. The packages are paid for at that point.

 

[Houston86]

Is the online chat still down? I can't get on it this morning??

I just chatted online with Disney 15 minutes ago.

 

[aaarcher86]

I can't get the disney website to load this morning can anyone tell me if they are still showing crystal palace and planet hollywood as no dining plan accepted? I booked them on the 2nd when they still said accepting curious if i need to change the adrs

It's a glitch. Nothing has changed as to what is accepted. Use the brochure on the DDP page for restaurants, not the website.

 

[Belle5]

Is it at 12 a.m. May 7th or do we have to wait until 6 or 7 am?

 

[andeesings]

I just had to do the same thing with our reservation. We are a large group with 5 rooms and unfortunately not everyone in our party has the flexibility to move their reservation up 2 days. Still do not understand why Disney insists on someone from each room to check-in if the reservations are linked. The packages are paid for at that point.

That's a worldwide hotel policy, isn't it?? If you're not there, you're not checking in. I've had my hotel rooms given away worldwide when I haven't made it to check in-- prepaid ones. That's not Disney, that's how the hospitality industry works.

 

[KNovacovschi]

It's a glitch. Nothing has changed as to what is accepted. Use the brochure on the DDP page for restaurants, not the website.

Definitely. I just checked the app & Crystal Palace still shows as DDP accepted.

 

[Broncobilly83]

I have never encountered a change fee, anyone else?

I thought Change Fees only occurred when you were less than 60 days out, then there was a $100 fee, and less than 30 days out, there is a $200 fee.

My prices changed a little when we booked, as I think I got the new ticket prices (originally booked October 2013), and when they adjusted it for the free dining, my math was off around $20, which might be explained by the new ticket prices. They do advise however, in the small print, that things like that could happen when you alter packages before they are paid in full, so it was not something I was really worried about.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I'm getting a little nervous/anxious over the possibility of Pop being full for free dining rooms. THe kids and I looked at pics of the other value resorts to check them out. Since AofA mermaid rooms and Movies are already excluded, we're thinking Sports and then Music would be our choices. Since we really spend little time in the rooms (and the value rooms are all basically the same), any opinions on the food courts or busses of the two?

And a question for those in the know-I apologize if this is a silly question: My mom is a TA-if the online is open before 7am, will it be accessible on the TA sites that early, too? She's willing to set the alarm for after midnight to book for me.

I am so obsessed with planning right now! Excited to try to CS plan, but already booked 'Ohana and California Grill. My boys have never been too in to the character meals, but I may be a little sad to miss a breakfast buffet!

 

[TennesseeGirl]

Is it at 12 a.m. May 7th or do we have to wait until 6 or 7 am?

Most of what I've seen says 6 am but i'm checking at midnight just in case. Nothing to lose but sleep...

 

[JLKennedy]

Most of what I've seen says 6 am but i'm checking at midnight just in case. Nothing to lose but sleep...

Last year it was up at midnight. It all depends on what Disney wants to do. If it helps, set an alarm for midnight and check, have the page already loaded so you just need to refresh. Is it's not there, go back to bed for a couple hours.