Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 3

[Just Love Disney]

Question about PINs? Are these snail mail or email?
If you already booked free dining, could you theoretically receive a PIN or are they going to exclude folks already booked?

Last year I didn't know we had a PIN until I called in. I didn't receive snail mail or email so it's worth a call for sure

 

[kelly3927]

Tons of availability our dates of 10/26-11/2

We are 10/26-11/3 @CBR also!!

 

[andeesings]

Someday, everyone will listen to Black! I did just notice that POR & POFQ are both available for RO discounts. That was kind of shocking to me but they are there on the website. I guess they book well enough without the FD so they only offered for RO. I wonder how many that were pre-booked and then kept POR or POFQ instead of converting to FD

This is going to sound silly, but I honestly think part of the problem is BOG restaurant. Hear me out-- I think LOADS of people are booking to make sure they can get in at 180+10 to make dining reservations for that restaurant because you can't get into it at 180. I tried at 180+5 and couldn't get into it!! (I'm one of people that made a reservation at a resort so I could get the +10 instead of waking up to make dining reservations, which is what I've done in previous years. Now I booked something I KNEW we were never going to stay in and it wasn't a moderate to just help out people waiting for that category, but really, you can't blame people. Blame that dang restaurant! LOL

 

[kaylasmom07]

This is going to sound silly, but I honestly think part of the problem is BOG restaurant. L

I kind of agree with this, but not just for BOG but any ADR that you might want. People know that they have to have a resort reservation in order to get that 180 +10, so they make resort reservations to make sure they don't get shut out of the places/times they want.

 

[ChicagoMom]

Thanks so much to Black! After reading all of the posts about the long waits to change reservations I'm so glad I followed your advice about not booking until the offer was released. I booked online as soon as it was available on the website (think it was about 6:30 CST).

Thanks for all your hard work and sharing your information here.

 

[Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo]

Someday, everyone will listen to Black!
I did just notice that POR & POFQ are both available for RO discounts. That was kind of shocking to me but they are there on the website. I guess they book well enough without the FD so they only offered for RO. I wonder how many that were pre-booked and then kept POR or POFQ instead of converting to FD

Here is one that had a room ressie for POFQ, who changed to CSR for the free dining.

 

[scard192]

Last year I didn't know we had a PIN until I called in. I didn't receive snail mail or email so it's worth a call for sure

I saw all the posts last year about PINs, no e-mail for me. Decided to call, no PIN for me but asked CM to check under my sisters name as we were traveling together and she had it! We got FD at POFQ in October and that resort was excluded from the GP FD. Would never have known to call and ask it not for the DIS.
doesn't hurt to call and ask.

 

[JewelsG]

Disney is delaying their promotions later and later and that is causing a lot of the issue - a couple years ago I was able to book early in the year, the year before I booked before Christmas the year prior to that... now the promos are like 7 months before. Makes it hard for people to get those dining bookings and a lot have to plan around vacation times - my husband has to put his requests in for January so we put in two weeks for that request back to back and will cancel one so we could get the best options. It really is frustrating... and I get they are promotions and they don't have to offer them but all part of running a business...

 

[Just Love Disney]

Are all PINs typically sent out in one mass mailing over the course of a few days/weeks or do they trickle out over the course of many months? ie. Could we possibly get a PIN but not until later in the year such as Sept.? Or if we haven't/don't receive one fairly quickly then we know we're not getting one?

 

[sam1998]

I got the pin! Woohoo! 10/3 thru 10/11 at POR, two rooms!

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

I got the pin! Woohoo! 10/3 thru 10/11 at POR, two rooms!

When just now? An email?

 

[Just Love Disney]

I got the pin! Woohoo! 10/3 thru 10/11 at POR, two rooms!

Did you call in to see if you had one or how did you find out you had one?

 

[scard192]

Are all PINs typically sent out in one mass mailing over the course of a few days/weeks or do they trickle out over the course of many months? ie. Could we possibly get a PIN but not until later in the year such as Sept.? Or if we haven't/don't receive one fairly quickly then we know we're not getting one?

last year FD for September came out about this time. Same day Fall PINs for the last couple of days of September-December came out via e-mail. There were 4-5 more "waves" of FD PINS via e-mail and snail mail into July and GP FD finally came out for Oct-Dec on August 1.

 

[scard192]

Did you call in to see if you had one or how did you find out you had one?

just call and ask the CM to check your name and everyone in our party for any PINs.

 

[Epcotgal8]

Has anyone who had a reservation already gotten theirs switched to FD? I prompted existing reservation when I finally got through on the phone and have been on hold for 6 hours. This is crazy. I understand wanting to book new rooms but they need to take care of their existing customers who make plans in advance as well!!

 

[cbrown1007]

Has anyone who had a reservation already gotten theirs switched to FD? I prompted existing reservation when I finally got through on the phone and have been on hold for 6 hours. This is crazy. I understand wanting to book new rooms but they need to take care of their existing customers who make plans in advance as well!!

I'm a TA calling for an existing reservation change, but I chose New Reservations (because I've heard you get through faster) and I've been on hold for 2.5 hours so far...

 

[TNDisneyNut]

I gotta stay off these boards! Rethinking mu wilderness lodge upgrade!!! LOL always wanted to stay there so not sure if its worth it!

Not sure what you upgraded from, but IMO totally worth it from a value and most of the mods. You will love the peaceful feeling, shorter walks, being able to sit on the beach at the lake at night and watch the electric parade, and the boat rides to MK. I loved the pool and the lobby as well. We are trying a different resort this time because of the size of our group and just trying something new, but WL is by far my favorite!

 

[Just Love Disney]

last year FD for September came out about this time. Same day Fall PINs for the last couple of days of September-December came out via e-mail. There were 4-5 more "waves" of FD PINS via e-mail and snail mail into July and GP FD finally came out for Oct-Dec on August 1.

Thanks! I'll call in a few days when the craziness of GP FD dies down. I hope I don't have to wait until July though to find out one way or the other. That's torture

 

[scard192]

Thanks! I'll call in a few days when the craziness of GP FD dies down. I hope I don't have to wait until July though to find out one way or the other. That's torture

no way to know. last year Oct-Dec FD came out August 1, it's almost 3 months earlier this year.

Good Luck, our PIN last year allowed our 2 families to stay at my dream resort, POFQ with FD; if I never get another PIN I won't care.

 

[chewysmom]

Quick question-for those who were able to book and who have kids under 10-did your email say anything about child dining plan? My *email* just says "Disney Regular Dining Plan" but *mde* breaks it down into "2014 Table service meals-Adult" and "2014 table service meals-child". My kids are listed as 10 and 14, so they should technically be "adults" by Disney standards.

Just curious why it's worded this way. (yes, I know it could be a glitch. )