Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 3

[WDW-A-RAMA]

I strongly disagree. 1. They changed the date by one day. That's symbolic more than a practical deviation from their plans. 2. As the recent podcast discussed, this bit them on the rear in a few ways. It's bad press to 'fight the Internet". Also they didn't coordinate with Chase and that caused a mess. Plus, they jammed their phone lines for an unnecessary extra day. 3. The POR exclusion is likely because people didn't take your advice. Granted, not all prophets are heeded, but there is value in giving out the advice. In this case, your message will carry far more weight next year. "Remember what happened with POR last year!" will be a rally cry next year. 4. Most important, without your advice during the dark days of March and April, people would have given up, more would have taken the MM package, and less FD would be available now. There was and is great value in your constant refrain to be patient, it's coming. You had the voice to do that because of who you are. I couldn't disagree with you more regarding the immense value that you bring to the board and to hundreds of families planning trips.

I tend to agree with this strong disagreement. You are such an asset. Please do not change your ways!

 

[Kwiig]

I just had to come and say thank you to black again. My family will be able to go to disney for the first time this year thanks to you!!!! We wanted to go last year and couldn't afford it, I began to try and price everything out in the beginning of April and randomly came across disboards, and found the free dining post, and thanks to this thread I booked my package in the early hours of May 7th, POP (where we're staying) is already booked for my dates so if I had found out even a couple days later I would have missed out.


THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

 

[saskdw]

I strongly disagree.

I couldn't disagree with you more regarding the immense value that you bring to the board and to hundreds of families planning trips.

Is this a joke? Your 32 post have been a huge contribution to the forum!

 

[perishenner]

I scored Free Dining at Pop Century this November for our trip! I was only waiting on the phone for 20 minutes before an agent picked up. She was excellent, changing our current trip dates and adding FREE dining. Then she even checked to see if a Cars Suite was available for our dates but no dice! Can hardly wait to make my dining reservations and fast pass selections next! WOOHOO!

 

[lisafab]

I just don't get this PIN code thing. I can understand sending them out throughout the year but why send them out when there's already a GP offer on? And why not just include POR in the GP offer? Either way it's going to book up and people will switch from their original booking. The same number of people are going to book onsite with free dining either way. If they release POR/FQ with the GP offer they would presumably book out first leaving the other resorts for those who book later. Or is this about the party of five groups?
I just don't get it and am a little peeved!

 

[WDW-A-RAMA]

I just don't get this PIN code thing. I can understand sending them out throughout the year but why send them out when there's already a GP offer on? And why not just include POR in the GP offer? Either way it's going to book up and people will switch from their original booking. The same number of people are going to book onsite with free dining either way. If they release POR/FQ with the GP offer they would presumably book out first leaving the other resorts for those who book later. Or is this about the party of five groups? I just don't get it and am a little peeved!

That is a good question. I was one of the ones who switched and I am actually saving money on my trip by switching to 2 POR rooms as opposed to 3 POP rooms. What benefit is that for Disney? I certainly wish they would have just opened everything with one offer. I guess they must have their reasons though.

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

Thanks for that. I think the days of advanced notice for promos is coming to a close. With Disney possibly even going so far as to change dates to make all the internet rumors wrong, it could be doing a disservice to put them out there. The goal is to be prepared for when the release day comes. Is it really THAT necessary to figure out what that day is? People call everyday anyway around the time when a promo is usually released. As long as everyone is prepared, when it happens you would know right at 7am when someone called to check. All of these rumors on the internet may end up hurting more than helping. That's all I'm saying. I realize if I don't come here with info, someone else will....but maybe, just maybe no one should. Am I making sense?

Your making sense, I totally understand where your coming from. But I am sure that the majority of people just book their Disney vacations without even being aware of special offers. It's only us die hard Disney fans who are aware of the recurring offers and go looking for them before we book. Right? Or maybe more people are becoming aware, I don't know?
Your right, if you hadn't of posted it somebody else may have. I'm certainly not smart enough to work it out for myself. I truly appreciate it!

 

[donp]

I just don't get this PIN code thing. I can understand sending them out throughout the year but why send them out when there's already a GP offer on? And why not just include POR in the GP offer? Either way it's going to book up and people will switch from their original booking. The same number of people are going to book onsite with free dining either way. If they release POR/FQ with the GP offer they would presumably book out first leaving the other resorts for those who book later. Or is this about the party of five groups?
I just don't get it and am a little peeved!

I think that it is just simple business. They did not need to include POR/POFQ in the FD promo because they had forecasts that said that they would not need to discount to get those room adequately filled--had they opened it in the GP release, there may have been such limited availability that it would make folks really upset, they would sell out fast, would have to spend more time on the phone explaining . . . . The PINS can then be used to fill in the gaps. I bet the lion's share of those PINS if used will be for those that will change to POR/POFQ from what they have already booked. This will then open up some availability (for the GP release) for others to book at dates that are now showing no availability--so, a family will may be able to call in a month and get October POP, say, even though it is closed now. They then reassess in a few weeks and see if they need to send out some more PINS. I imagine that there is a frequent reassessing on their part. The biggest casualty in this is the family with 5 people, but as has been stated before, this was likely due to many people pre-booking in anticipation. I am disappointed as well, in that our desired resort was PO, but I never get PINS. Still, I am excited for those that get the PINS!!! I am excited about FD!! I am getting excited about CSR . . .

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

I think that it is just simple business. They did not need to include POR/POFQ in the FD promo because they had forecasts that said that they would not need to discount to get those room adequately filled--had they opened it in the GP release, there may have been such limited availability that it would make folks really upset, they would sell out fast, would have to spend more time on the phone explaining . . . . The PINS can then be used to fill in the gaps. I bet the lion's share of those PINS if used will be for those that will change to POR/POFQ from what they have already booked. This will then open up some availability (for the GP release) for others to book at dates that are now showing no availability--so, a family will may be able to call in a month and get October POP, say, even though it is closed now. They then reassess in a few weeks and see if they need to send out some more PINS. I imagine that there is a frequent reassessing on their part. The biggest casualty in this is the family with 5 people, but as has been stated before, this was likely due to many people pre-booking in anticipation. I am disappointed as well, in that our desired resort was PO, but I never get PINS. Still, I am excited for those that get the PINS!!! I am excited about FD!! I am getting excited about CSR . . .

I hear you about the family of 5.
Gosh it is hard to book hotels at reasonable prices for families of 5!!

 

[bdillahu]

Is this a joke? Your 32 post have been a huge contribution to the forum!

I took this a different way... he's really encouraging Black to keep making predictions. Black's previous comment kind of implied he was considering that making the predictions was causing more harm than good, and people were disagreeing with him.

 

[jimjenkids]

UGH -I received the PIN Code = really want POR, but it's under my parent's name who traveled with us ten years ago. Obviously, that's my maiden name, but it's MY current address. I forwarded it to my TA, hoping we can use it!

we too received a PIN(years ago-'08 or '10) and it came to my son(age @10 at the time) but at my parents house. kinda odd...we did call and because some of the information matched. they were able to get it to work. we have onlt received 1 pin since that trip on a year we were not going to Disney. this trip we booked the first of theyear at POFQ, hoping for any discounts, we had to change our resort but were able to get FD...guess the 1 1/2 hr hold was worth it for our family and all in all the kids are ok with the switch in resorts.

 

[BabiesDaddy]

I took this a different way... he's really encouraging Black to keep making predictions. Black's previous comment kind of implied he was considering that making the predictions was causing more harm than good, and people were disagreeing with him.

I agree. He was meaning it as a compliment.

 

[alomba11]

Idk if this has been asked before so sorry if it has been but can you use online chat with a cast-member to check for a pin or is calling in the only way to find out?

 

[mommyof3princess27]

So I looked in my email yesterday and had a PIN that came out on the 9th.... so I was booked at the WL after switching from POR. Called back switched to POR in a garden view RGR, added 2 nights and upgraded our tickets! Now we have 10 days of free dining at POR!!!!! Cant wait!!!!!

 

[saskdw]

I took this a different way... he's really encouraging Black to keep making predictions. Black's previous comment kind of implied he was considering that making the predictions was causing more harm than good, and people were disagreeing with him.

If that's the case than I will take a step back.

 

[WDW-A-RAMA]

I took this a different way... he's really encouraging Black to keep making predictions. Black's previous comment kind of implied he was considering that making the predictions was causing more harm than good, and people were disagreeing with him.

I took it that way too! I also reread his post and still took it that way.

 

[donp]

Idk if this has been asked before so sorry if it has been but can you use online chat with a cast-member to check for a pin or is calling in the only way to find out?

I don't believe they can access that.

 

[donp]

I took it that way too! I also reread his post and still took it that way.

Yes, that was a Pro-Black post.

 

[donp]

So I looked in my email yesterday and had a PIN that came out on the 9th.... so I was booked at the WL after switching from POR. Called back switched to POR in a garden view RGR, added 2 nights and upgraded our tickets! Now we have 10 days of free dining at POR!!!!! Cant wait!!!!!

That is awesome!! Congrats! Now, throw some of that pixie dust this way! Oooh, I am looking down at my ticker--I am at 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days until my trip that requires 3 rooms and this would be our third stay at PO if we can snag that PIN!! Bring it!!

 

[WDW-A-RAMA]

So I looked in my email yesterday and had a PIN that came out on the 9th.... so I was booked at the WL after switching from POR. Called back switched to POR in a garden view RGR, added 2 nights and upgraded our tickets! Now we have 10 days of free dining at POR!!!!! Cant wait!!!!!

Yay! "We are talking magic, we're talking pixie dust... ". Anyway we both got it and congrats!