Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 3

[SPOERLX3]

I feel very lucky that I braved the phones the first day of the Visa offer so we could return to WDW. It is getting too expensive for us so we probably won't return again for several years.

I was one of the lucky ones that called the day ahead when I was sent the codes from my Disney Visa and was able to book without fighting the crowds, then found out that Visa missed the memo that the promo didn't start till the next day and they had sent the promo codes out a day early
I never had to fight the crowds on the phone but I sat here on the disboards with all my disboard friends in anticipation that everyone would get what they wanted I know that last year my DD was able to book a FD vacation 3 days before the offer expired in a standard room so for most of those rooms in every resort to be booked solid for FD and the crowd predictor websites not changing their predictions, makes me think that they are not offering as many FD rooms this year. Disney's way of slowly eliminating FD

 

[wdwmaw]

I definitely don't make all my plans around the crowd predictor websites like easywdw, touringplans and undercovertourist but they all show the crowds still being low (2's & 3's for my dates in September). Normally as the crowd levels change I get a notification from TP based on the resorts booking, etc. I did get one notification for the crowd levels for my dates a couple weeks after FD was out that raised some of crowd levels a little bit on some of my days but nothing since I would think if the crowd levels were going to be effected not only would the FD rooms be sold out but other room categories (at least in some resorts) would also be sold out. Not sure if it is just another way for Disney to slowly phase out FD by not offering as many FD rooms or if the crowd predictor websites are just off I guess our trips will tell

The crowd predictor levels are correct, the factor everyone misses is off property guest during FD don't have much of an impact. You can see this impact the best during F&W festival. EPCOT will have low crowds during the week and weekends will be wall to wall around world showcase yet ride capacity will still be manageable as day guest are there only for the festival. During FD the restaurants are absolutely packed and the parks will be not so much. When we go during the week of Christmas and New Years the parks are wall to wall and many restaurants will be half empty many times of the day.

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[wdwmaw]

I was one of the lucky ones that called the day ahead when I was sent the codes from my Disney Visa and was able to book without fighting the crowds, then found out that Visa missed the memo that the promo didn't start till the next day and they had sent the promo codes out a day early I never had to fight the crowds on the phone but I sat here on the disboards with all my disboard friends in anticipation that everyone would get what they wanted I know that last year my DD was able to book a FD vacation 3 days before the offer expired in a standard room so for most of those rooms in every resort to be booked solid for FD and the crowd predictor websites not changing their predictions, makes me think that they are not offering as many FD rooms this year. Disney's way of slowly eliminating FD

Me and you both girl, I also was one of those first to book FD. The CM I had said limited availability this year. I think Disney is playing with people to see how many will visit Pyongyang rack rate to get the resort they want, with just RO discount, or even another promotion they may offer later. I think that is why they released so early to give time to play the game with us.

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[SPOERLX3]

The crowd predictor levels are correct, the factor everyone misses is off property guest during FD don't have much of an impact. You can see this impact the best during F&W festival. EPCOT will have low crowds during the week and weekends will be wall to wall around world showcase yet ride capacity will still be manageable as day guest are there only for the festival. During FD the restaurants are absolutely packed and the parks will be not so much. When we go during the week of Christmas and New Years the parks are wall to wall and many restaurants will be half empty many times of the day.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

That definitely explains why all summer, you can find openings at most of the restaurants, even the most popular ones but then starting in September you can't find anything in the most popular ones.
We have Epcot day planned with the family on Thursday and then DH & I won't go back to Epcot for the F&W festival till the following Tuesday Maybe we will miss some of the F&W crowds.

 

[freckles04]

The CM I had said limited availability this year. I think Disney is playing with people to see how many will visit Pyongyang rack rate to get the resort they want, with just RO discount, or even another promotion they may offer later. I think that is why they released so early to give time to play the game with us.

that does make sense.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Silly question because I am sure you have tried, but have you tried TH for one two person and and one four person? Or three and three? I have had to separate our parties into separate ressies in the past and they always try to accommodate.

donp.....(or anyone else that may know).
Still looking for my TH early breakfast (never had to try a split ressie since I always booked on my 180+10 date) but I may get desperate if nothing comes open for 6. LOL

For y'all that have done a ressie for 2 and another one for 4 for the same time, did you have any trouble when you checked in being able to sit together? I would never want to take a table from another family but I do remember in the past sitting next to a family of 4 sitting at a table for 6 (or 8) and wondering why they would do that.

I am just wondering how they would handle that

 

[donp]

donp.....(or anyone else that may know). Still looking for my TH early breakfast (never had to try a split ressie since I always booked on my 180+10 date) but I may get desperate if nothing comes open for 6. LOL For y'all that have done a ressie for 2 and another one for 4 for the same time, did you have any trouble when you checked in being able to sit together? I would never want to take a table from another family but I do remember in the past sitting next to a family of 4 sitting at a table for 6 (or 8) and wondering why they would do that. I am just wondering how they would handle that

The only time I have had trouble sitting together was when it was physically impossible--like my party of 17 last year at Teppan Edo--but they did put us right next to each other. Also, with BOG, we had two tables right next to each other. They have always been very obliging when they can be. I think with six, that should be no trouble putting together!

 

[SPOERLX3]

The only time I have had trouble sitting together was when it was physically impossible--like my party of 17 last year at Teppan Edo--but they did put us right next to each other. Also, with BOG, we had two tables right next to each other. They have always been very obliging when they can be. I think with six, that should be no trouble putting together!

Thank you donp
Wellllll, it looks like we are going to try it! I was able to snag a table for 2 at 8:20 and a table for 4 at 8:20 on September 29th about 20 minutes ago.
My first choice is the 27th (that is our AK day) but 9/29 will work since that is the day my DS's family leaves (DH and I get to stay another couple of days!!! WOO HOO) so that would be a great way to end their trip and we will have already had a full day at AK on the 27th, so the 29th will just be our "one last time on our favorite ride day" and I am sure we can find a couple of things at AK to take one last ride on before we head to another park to finish out the trip
I will keep on checking for something to open on the 27th but for now I am super happy with what I have The only drawback to the 29th is that it is Morning Magic Hours so when we are getting in for our ressie, everyone else will be rushing to rope drop but the crowd calendar shows a 2 for that day at AK so I bet we will be fine!

 

[washerbarry]

OK - first time Disney Dining Plan user so a TON of questions ...

First - we're staying 4 nights (Mon Sept 29 to Fri Oct 3) with a 2 day ticket for the park so this qualifies for free dining plan, correct? I saw one ad that says "book 6 night/7day package and receive free dining" and got a little freaked out we no longer qualified.

Second - the dining plan allows me to eat ANYWHERE correct - so I can go to any resort restaurant (for days were not in a park), Downtown Disney etc.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

OK - first time Disney Dining Plan user so a TON of questions ...

First - we're staying 4 nights (Mon Sept 29 to Fri Oct 3) with a 2 day ticket for the park so this qualifies for free dining plan, correct? I saw one ad that says "book 6 night/7day package and receive free dining" and got a little freaked out we no longer qualified.

Second - the dining plan allows me to eat ANYWHERE correct - so I can go to any resort restaurant (for days were not in a park), Downtown Disney etc.

1) It only qualifies IF you book a room that is part of the discount. Not every resort is available or has availability for your dates. You can go here (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/) and search for available rooms for your dates.

2) Not ANYWHERE. Here's the 2014 Dining Plan info: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...alog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2014Dining.pdf

Good luck!

 

[CJK]

OK - first time Disney Dining Plan user so a TON of questions ...

First - we're staying 4 nights (Mon Sept 29 to Fri Oct 3) with a 2 day ticket for the park so this qualifies for free dining plan, correct? I saw one ad that says "book 6 night/7day package and receive free dining" and got a little freaked out we no longer qualified.

Second - the dining plan allows me to eat ANYWHERE correct - so I can go to any resort restaurant (for days were not in a park), Downtown Disney etc.

Yes.......you only need to have a 2 day pass to qualify for free dining! The ad that discusses 6 night/7day package is just an example of what you can book.

Yes, you can eat at virtually any restaurant on Disney property (hotels and Downtown Disney) on the dining plan. If you haven't yet, definitely book your restaurants ASAP. Have fun!

 

[washerbarry]

Thanks guys.

Yes, I feel the panic now for booking ressies at the restaurants. It's all fun though!

 

[denman007]

What luck! Booked at POP but have been wanting to move to CS to get free reg dining and nicer resort but of course there is no availability.

Today my niece, who is coming with us, said her mother got a PIN code in the mail good for moderates.

On phone (hold) now trying to book new ressie.

Edit: CM not too sharp, hard to understand - said no availability at any hotel for my check in date. Will try back tomorrow.

 

[ConnieB]

What luck! Booked at POP but have been wanting to move to CS to get free reg dining and nicer resort but of course there is no availability.

Today my niece, who is coming with us, said her mother got a PIN code in the mail good for moderates.

On phone (hold) now trying to book new ressie.

Edit: CM not too sharp, hard to understand - said no availability at any hotel for my check in date. Will try back tomorrow.

Is your sister (or in law) going with you? My understanding is that with a PIN code the person who is on the PIN has to show ID at check it...and that they are very strict with this rule (unlike some Disney rules, lol).

 

[denman007]

Is your sister (or in law) going with you? My understanding is that with a PIN code the person who is on the PIN has to show ID at check it...and that they are very strict with this rule (unlike some Disney rules, lol).

I have never encountered that before.

When I call they don't ask that information. I think they can see that the person with the PIN code was tied to a previous ressie I made.

I have done this several times.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Is your sister (or in law) going with you? My understanding is that with a PIN code the person who is on the PIN has to show ID at check it...and that they are very strict with this rule (unlike some Disney rules, lol).

I have never encountered that before.

When I call they don't ask that information. I think they can see that the person with the PIN code was tied to a previous ressie I made.

I have done this several times.

Our trip, this past January, was with my daughter and her family.
She is the one that got the PIN and she was the only one that could check us in and they did require her to show her Drivers license and we had to use a credit card with her name on it for all our incidentals. When I tried to check in, my daughter had gone to the rr with one of her kids, we were in the on-line check in line but the CM required that we wait for her to come back before we could check in so she could provide her drivers license and a credit card in her name. We had never traveled with a package booked with a PIN before so I can't compare it to prior trips but they were very specific to make sure the persons name that checked in matched the name on the PIN that was on the reservation.

I had heard/read that they had gotten much stricter with the usage of PIN's, ensuring the person that it was sent to/intended for was in the actual travel party since so many people were sharing PIN codes. I am here to say that they were definitely very thorough in making sure that the PIN matched my daughter and that she was definitely in our travel party.

 

[lgjjp]

Not sure if this is where I should ask my question. We have reservations for csr nov 15-22 with free dining. I'm not a fan of csr but chose it over Cbr for the queen beds. My mother got a pin for fd which means we could switch to pors where we wanted to be. My mom is not on my reservation but it's not a problem to add her. She is not a fan of Disney and always says she doesn't care to go however she wants to go with us and since the pin is in her name I know she must be with us at check in. I'm afraid to change resorts in case she changes her mind and doesn't go and we would lose our free dinning.
Her pin is good till sept 12 so if I add her to my reservation now what are the chances of switching to pors in sept before her pin expires? Are fd rooms with a pin always available or is there a chance we won't be able to get a rm? It's been a nightmare just trying to change our dining res to include 1 more person

 

[pooch]

and we had to use a credit card with her name on it for all our accidentals

spilled juice on the rug??? Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[SPOERLX3]

spilled juice on the rug??? Sorry, couldn't resist!

OK you got me!!!
Should have been incidentals!!!!
It's been a loooooooooooooooong day pooch! give me a little break
I promise, it could have been much worse!

 

[got2sammies]

I got a PIN code in the mail yesterday for Free dining.. I am already booked at the POP with prefer room plus I paid the difference in the quick vs table..Im going to call to see what moderates (if any avail) I can get with this offer and see what the difference is...
You can book more than one room with a PIN right? If you qualify for military room rates do you still get free dining? (my brother is military and I might ask him to join us)