Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 2

[lisafab]

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.

Thank you both. As usual I'm worrying about a scenario that probably won't happen anyway!

 

[Nechville]

Had the idea today to leave a day earlier in the evening. Found an even cheaper flight option and would only have to take DS out for half an hour of school that day. But of course, CSR is only showing water view as available for that extra day so guessing it won't work out. On hold now (20 min so far - makes up for no hold the day it came out!) to check and see. Flights are awesome prices now so don't want to wait for the GP offer if there is more availability then but would really like the extra day!
Do we have anyone that knows for sure if there are rooms being held for the GP offer?

 

[CalSea12]

Do you guys think the website will end up crashing due to the "midnight madness"?

 

[I<3theMouse]

Do you guys think the website will end up crashing due to the "midnight madness"?

Sure hope not!

 

[KNovacovschi]

Do you guys think the website will end up crashing due to the "midnight madness"?

It shouldn't being it's been said by a couple of people that it won't be available online until 6am.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Ok so I need some help from my fellow DISers. I'm working on my backup plan today just in case POP is not available for Sept 27-Oct 4. So what I'm hoping is if I could get some opinions on either CBR or CSR. We do not want to do any of the all stars so a mod will be it. I know I can watch videos & look at pics but those are kind of biased in my opinion. Lol. So if you had to choose one of the two which would you pick. Also my DHs main thing is busses, what are each of them like. We are 2 adults only going and it will be our 10th wedding anniversary while there. Also we have only ever stayed at POP.

TIA

 

[Weluvdizney2]

I apologize if this has been answered, but what happens if you have an AP, and buy a two day ticket. I know in the past you could save the two day ticket for a future visit. How does this work with MDE?

 

[Nechville]

Ok so I need some help from my fellow DISers. I'm working on my backup plan today just in case POP is not available for Sept 27-Oct 4. So what I'm hoping is if I could get some opinions on either CBR or CSR. We do not want to do any of the all stars so a mod will be it. I know I can watch videos & look at pics but those are kind of biased in my opinion. Lol. So if you had to choose one of the two which would you pick. Also my DHs main thing is busses, what are each of them like. We are 2 adults only going and it will be our 10th wedding anniversary while there. Also we have only ever stayed at POP.

TIA

I think my kids would prefer the theme of CBR; however, for us, the bed size situation alone is why we booked CSR. My son did like it though, even saying this morining he wanted to stay at "Coronado" next time (he's only stayed at CSR and POFQ).

 

[JLKennedy]

Ok so I need some help from my fellow DISers. I'm working on my backup plan today just in case POP is not available for Sept 27-Oct 4. So what I'm hoping is if I could get some opinions on either CBR or CSR. We do not want to do any of the all stars so a mod will be it. I know I can watch videos & look at pics but those are kind of biased in my opinion. Lol. So if you had to choose one of the two which would you pick. Also my DHs main thing is busses, what are each of them like. We are 2 adults only going and it will be our 10th wedding anniversary while there. Also we have only ever stayed at POP. TIA

If it's 2 able bodied adults, either will be fine. They both run internal buses that loop the resort, that's what my hiccup was.....going through 6 villages before getting to my stop....I'll only stay deluxe (again) going forward, no headache. My kids (who were 15 & 9) hated the bus at CBR....especially if you were a stander and there were no seats...waiting to get to your stop....ANNOYING. JMHO though.

 

[bdillahu]

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 pretty much did this last year... no particular issues (although the refund for the first reservation took a little while to show up).

 

[TennesseeGirl]

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.

Ahh.. The page already loaded... Good idea

 

[TennesseeGirl]

It shouldn't being it's been said by a couple of people that it won't be available online until 6am.

I think that was what people said last year too.

 

[scard192]

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?

staying at a Deluxe you would probably be better off with a RO anyway.

 

[HaveKidsWillTravel]

We booked our trip before FD was offered, as it was the only time our family could go this year. Now if I 'switch' our reservations (we have the memory making promo) to FD do I lose my ADRs?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered. This thread is getting so long, I'm trying to keep up!!

 

[mommyof3princess27]

We booked our trip before FD was offered, as it was the only time our family could go this year. Now if I 'switch' our reservations (we have the memory making promo) to FD do I lose my ADRs? Sorry if this has been asked and answered. This thread is getting so long, I'm trying to keep up!!

Nope u wont lose your adr's.

 

[bdillahu]

We booked our trip before FD was offered, as it was the only time our family could go this year. Now if I 'switch' our reservations (we have the memory making promo) to FD do I lose my ADRs?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered. This thread is getting so long, I'm trying to keep up!!

Should not affect your ADRs - they are linked to your name, not a resort as I understand it.

 

[Nechville]

Just spent an hour on hold/phone with a CM. We decided we wanted to add a day to our trip at the beginning. It's within the FD dates but there were no rooms left at CSR. I booked a room only (with no discount since it's for November), and had to book a water view when rest of reservation is standard. I had them put in I didn't care about view - would do standard for the room only night - if it means we don't have to change rooms. This is still not set in stone, since we haven't booked flights yet. I REALLY want to, but won't know if I get the extra day off work until tomorrow morning. And I feel like I will be checking constantly starting 5/7 to see if that day becomes available for FD. RO with an assumed 20% discount would be the cheaper route, but I'll take another day's worth of free meals and be guaranteed not to have to change rooms.

 

[andeesings]

I apologize if this has been answered, but what happens if you have an AP, and buy a two day ticket. I know in the past you could save the two day ticket for a future visit. How does this work with MDE?

I'm in this boat as well, only my ticket is a four day ticket. It's also weird because I already have a magic band which is hooked up to my AP but it's insisting I customize a new one. I don't want to get the new one and have it be linked to the new pass.

 

[tinklvsu]

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.

One thing to suggest, if you have more than one phone at your disposal, use it also! Several mentioned having very long waits on the line they called in right at 7 on, but when they used a second line to call in, that line would sometimes be answered much faster! Not sure why, .. but it wouldn't hurt to try, especially since you only have so much time that morning to hold. I dialed in starting 6:59 over and over and over, till it finally rang to their menu, and my call lasted 33 minutes including the time it took to book ...

Fingers crossed that you are able to book in the AM, so you won't have to worry through the day!

 

[mommyof3princess27]

One thing to suggest, if you have more than one phone at your disposal, use it also! Several mentioned having very long waits on the line they called in right at 7 on, but when they used a second line to call in, that line would sometimes be answered much faster! Not sure why, .. but it wouldn't hurt to try, especially since you only have so much time that morning to hold. I dialed in starting 6:59 over and over and over, till it finally rang to their menu, and my call lasted 33 minutes including the time it took to book ... Fingers crossed that you are able to book in the AM, so you won't have to worry through the day!

Also it gets answered faster if u keep saying agent too. Even through the voice prompts.