Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 2

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We upgraded from POR to the WL Villas. The phone call to make this happen was quite the experience. I explained to the rep that I wanted to add the free dining and to do so I would have to switch resorts. Told her I had already looked online and that we wanted to stay in the villas at the Wilderness Lodge. She looked it up on her computer and asked me what room type I wanted. I told her that the one I was looking at online was a Deluxe Studio. She said, "ok, deluxe room, hmmmm, let me see, well sir your date range (Oct 1-9) isn't part of the promo so you aren't eligible."

I explained that the way I understood the offer was that if arrival date was in range, the promo was good for the entire trip. She politely told me I was wrong, and that we could not get it. I asked her if she would double check that info, just to be sure, and a few minutes later she came back on the phone and said I was right but there were no rooms available at WL, except club level and it was over $8,000.

At this point I should have figured out that she was looking at the regular WL, and not the villas, but I was so discouraged by the lack of knowledge I accepted it and asked her to check AoA. We really didn't want to stay there, because we are a family of 6 and when our youngest hits three years old AoA will pretty much be our only option and so far we have stayed at a different resort each trip and loved it. So, I told her never mind, just leave it at POR. While she was switching things back I pulled up the villas again and saw the room we wanted was still available.

I told her that the room we wanted at the villas was still showing available online, and asked her to check again. I explained that when I looked at it online there are two options for WL, that I could search the regular lodge or the villas. She exclaimed, "OH, you want a villa! Do you want Jambo or Kidani?"

Holy crap lady, that is the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I calmly explained that there are also villas at the Wilderness Lodge and sure enough, she was then able to locate the Deluxe Studio we wanted and switch us to it and free dining.

She was super nice the entire time, but so clueless. My hold time was 1:45 and time on the phone with her was another 30 minutes.

Got what we wanted though.
 
I wonder if they drug in some extra folks to handle the load today, and some of them don't normally work reservations.
 
If you have a room res on property you can book 180 +10 from check in date just make sure you are signed in I book BOG this morning for 11/3 and 11/6
You are correct however you only can book out 180 day without a hotel. 10/30 is 180 days right now disney hotel guest set to check in on 10/30 can book up until 11/8 where as regular now hotel guest are only unilt 10/30
Thanks. Must be a problem with the app then. I check into CSR 10/26 and I cannot seem to book past 10/30. Keep getting a message that there was a problem loading the requested information.
 
Thanks. Must be a problem with the app then. I check into CSR 10/26 and I cannot seem to book past 10/30. Keep getting a message that there was a problem loading the requested information.

I just logged in to check the next available date after 10/30 is 11/3 logged using chrome popped up no problem party of 4 only time was 8:05 and there was lots on 11/4 good luck
 

Okay before I get on the phone and call to see if I can get switched over to free dining from our current package. To upgrade to DDP is around 46 a person? Next stupid question the package is currently booked under a different visa can they modify that to the disney visa without cancelling the whole reservation or should I wait till the 7th?
 
Okay before I get on the phone and call to see if I can get switched over to free dining from our current package. To upgrade to DDP is around 46 a person? Next stupid question the package is currently booked under a different visa can they modify that to the disney visa without cancelling the whole reservation or should I wait till the 7th?

I think you just have to make a payment (people always say $200) on the Disney Visa - what happens if you are already paid off, I'm not sure.
 
Okay before I get on the phone and call to see if I can get switched over to free dining from our current package. To upgrade to DDP is around 46 a person? Next stupid question the package is currently booked under a different visa can they modify that to the disney visa without cancelling the whole reservation or should I wait till the 7th?

I had my deposit on a different visa and just made a payment with my disney visa.
 
We are in this boat but our kids are older (17, 15, 11, and 8). We have always done 2 rooms at the value. It is the cheapest way to get us what we want. I have calculated every other possibility and it's the cheapest. It gives us the two bathrooms and the four beds. Now, I know that you will be told that an adjoining room is merely a request and not a guarantee but I just have a sneaking suspision that if you got there and didn't have that setup and had to have that setup, that Disney would somehow make it right for you. Just my opinion.

Disney NEVER guarantees connecting rooms. However, we have never had a problem getting them and we have done this several times. Be sure to ask for connecting not adjoining. Connecting means a door that opens between the two rooms. Adjoining means close by - so they could be next to each other but no door in the middle or they could be a few doors apart.


All that being said - due to the fact that so many families are impacted by POR being excluded from free dining, my guess is that they are booking two rooms at the values and requesting connecting so in this scenario it may be impossible for Disney to give them to everyone who requests them. Worst case, you put one adult in each room and split up the kids.
 
We may try to go to parks one day before package starts (IF we get FD.) I know about the ticket sticky and that you can pick up tickets three days early, but I haven't found any reports from people who have done it since they switched to magic bands. Anyone done this?
 
I read on here somewhere that the tickets of MVMCP come out Monday - is that right and will they be releasing the park hours for December too do you think? Thanks :) Wednesday can't come soon enough! lol
 
Just want to say thankyou to Black for his help in giving out all this information, without dis boards I'd have no idea of free dining and it might help my family go to disney world this fall for the first time! (Waiting on GP release) :cool1:
 
That would be highly unusual

Edit: Straight from the terms: A 3 night minimum stay (14 night maximum) and two day minimum park ticket is required for each person in the party.

Yesterday I made WL reservations and was lead to believe I was getting the FD package without needing to purchase park tickets. Thanks to Cindaddy and aaarcher86 for red-flagging this play! After a little number crunching it became obvious that I was given the RO discount and paying for dining - which ultimately would have cost about $400 more once I purchased park tickets, than if I got the MYW package with free dining and tickets.

Very sorry to anybody I mislead with my OP. And thanks so much to those of you who called my bluff! Hope I can pay it forward sometime!
 
I am going in September 6-20...I was told POP century is no longer avail for my dates...I will keep checking back but not sure if anyone has had this issue yet....I did get a ressie at Art of Animation but I wish their food court was better...eeew on the side dishes!
 
Should I upgrade to deluxe dining now or wait till I finalize my adr plans? We already applied the FD yesterday. I hope we won't lose it if we decide later.
 
Should I upgrade to deluxe dining now or wait till I finalize my adr plans? We already applied the FD yesterday. I hope we won't lose it if we decide later.

I would upgrade it if youo are going to... upgrade code is D255F. Its diff then the reg free dining code. That one doesnt allow you to upgrade to deluxe. I always make sure what i have is what i want now. I upgraded yesterday I wanted to get it done before the GP release:goodvibes
 
I just logged in to check the next available date after 10/30 is 11/3 logged using chrome popped up no problem party of 4 only time was 8:05 and there was lots on 11/4 good luck
I just tried Chrome and Internet Explorer and no luck. Have tried three diff restaurants on 10/31 and 11/2 and it just bounces back to the page where you search for a reservation time. Somehow my package reservation must a have glitch.
 
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