Free Dining 2014 Discussion ~ Part 3

[Nechville]

Although this will be my third FD trip, it is my first time booking at 180. I've booked at 160 in the past, and with checking and stalking, I've always gotten what we wanted. This year, even with 180 + 10, there are a few I didn't get exactly how I wanted (Crystal Palace before opening, a slightly earlier time at 'Ohana). With the early FD bookings, were things tighter this year? Do you think things will open as they have in the past? Or did this change everything and less people will cancel? I have my computer constantly open to the page I need and just refresh every time I walk by. My whole family knows not to close my browser windows!
Adding -- my first time booking BBB, and got MK, but wanted a little earlier (got 1:00 and wanted more like 10:00). Do those tend to get cancelled like dining too?

 

[marialexus35]

We picked the wrong week, now we are waiting for free dining for the rest of October or a room discount or something! What are the odds of this?

 

[mommyof3princess27]

We picked the wrong week, now we are waiting for free dining for the rest of October or a room discount or something! What are the odds of this?

All free dining has been released for october as far as dates unless u get a PIN which has a few more dates. It starts the 19th instead of the 26th. Room discounts havent been offered yet. What are ur dates

 

[ConnieB]

Although this will be my third FD trip, it is my first time booking at 180. I've booked at 160 in the past, and with checking and stalking, I've always gotten what we wanted. This year, even with 180 + 10, there are a few I didn't get exactly how I wanted (Crystal Palace before opening, a slightly earlier time at 'Ohana). With the early FD bookings, were things tighter this year? Do you think things will open as they have in the past? Or did this change everything and less people will cancel? I have my computer constantly open to the page I need and just refresh every time I walk by. My whole family knows not to close my browser windows!
Adding -- my first time booking BBB, and got MK, but wanted a little earlier (got 1:00 and wanted more like 10:00). Do those tend to get cancelled like dining too?

Personally, I think because the dates for the FD were "leaked" so early a lot of people went ahead and made their ADRs knowing they would have FD, so a lot of stuff booked up before the resort/FD reservations were even available.

Usually the ADRs get harder and harder in the week or two after reservations start up.

 

[momofkids]

Personally, I think because the dates for the FD were "leaked" so early a lot of people went ahead and made their ADRs knowing they would have FD, so a lot of stuff booked up before the resort/FD reservations were even available.

Usually the ADRs get harder and harder in the week or two after reservations start up.

Actually, I moved and changed a few reservations after free dining came out. My DH wanted to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern, and there were no openings for a few weeks. After FD came out, several new options opened up.

I don't think the "leak" had much to do with it. People bank on FD based on previous years anyway. A lot of people book ADRs hoping it will come out. I think a lot of them cancel and adjust dates once it does come out. We found additional dining options last year after FD was released too. In a month you might find more openings when additional people adjust or cancel reservations.

 

[denman007]

Travel past Oct is now available on southwest.

Just booked southwest using points for 3 of my 4 tickets.

I had read the redemption rate went up to 70 points for $1 but the website priced it at 60 points for $1!

 

[SPOERLX3]

Yep $99 one way non stop from Dallas Love field to Orlando!!! For all of the Dallas Disboard friends going after October 13th, those are some great fares! Next year I will get to take advantage of them!!! This year $116 one way with a stop in September but still the best price compared to the other airlines and we don't have to fight DFW!

 

[denman007]

Yep $99 one way non stop from Dallas Love field to Orlando!!! For all of the Dallas Disboard friends going after October 13th, those are some great fares! Next year I will get to take advantage of them!!! This year $116 one way with a stop in September but still the best price compared to the other airlines and we don't have to fight DFW!

Nice! Mine were $144 one way.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Nice! Mine were $144 one way.

From Dallas? on Southwest? What month?
If so, remember if they go down you can request a refund and they will put it as a credit to use later (up to a year)
Also if they have a rate on a different flight that is cheaper and works for you, you can change it at no charge

 

[GWhitten98]

Everything is falling into place.... FD for 8 nights at CBR for 7 people, 75% of the ADRs made at the times I wanted and flights booked(thank you southwest for good times/prices)...Now to wait on 60 days to book FP+....What to do for the next 120 day

SW out of austin was awsome prices/flights as well for Nov...non stop flights for $110 and return non stop for $117. Finding these great flights added an entire day(combined) to our trip.

 

[mymommom]

Saw Southwest flights out of Philly this morning at $144 (11/15 - 11/23). I wanted the first flight 6:30am - 9:05 am, but thought I had time. Now that flight is "sold out" and the other morning flight is $331. Yikes! Do you think things will open up later, or did that many people book this morning?

 

[kritaft13]

Saw Southwest flights out of Philly this morning at $144 (11/15 - 11/23). I wanted the first flight 6:30am - 9:05 am, but thought I had time. Now that flight is "sold out" and the other morning flight is $331. Yikes! Do you think things will open up later, or did that many people book this morning?

I am going southwest in October and same thing happened to me. I waited several weeks until the flight I wanted was showing again but at an outrageous price so I continued to check daily to see if it would drop. Finally last week it dropped from $326 to $164 so I finally booked the return portion of my flight. They usually open more flights later on.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Saw Southwest flights out of Philly this morning at $144 (11/15 - 11/23). I wanted the first flight 6:30am - 9:05 am, but thought I had time. Now that flight is "sold out" and the other morning flight is $331. Yikes! Do you think things will open up later, or did that many people book this morning?

I found flights on SW in April from Dallas to Orlando for $116 one way. By the end of the day, the flights were $175. I couldn't book since my trip wasn't booked yet (waiting on FD) and I wasn't sure if our dates would fall within the FD dates. A couple weeks later they dropped to $134 going and $140 coming back and they have been there ever since (fluctuating a little) but never going back down to $116. Now that they have lifted the Wright Amendment, all the focus is on their new non-stop flights from Dallas and the flights starting October 13th started at $99 each way yesterday but today alot have sold out and others have gone way up.

I am thinking my flights won't go back down so I am shopping some other airlines for a couple weeks then decide who to fly.

 

[freckles04]

I had a similar thing happened to me. When Southwest first released October, fares were about $97 each way. I waited until my son's school released next year's calendar to book (needed Fall Break dates), and by the time I did, flights were either sold out or in the $300 range on the days I wanted. We ended up having to adjust our days & now my son will miss 3 days of school AND I paid $300 more than I originally would have. I won't wait to book again when I see good fares... especially since Southwest has a good exchange policy.

I did happen to check just now and our return flight (which is the pricier one, I ended up paying $199 each) has now dropped to $149 each way. Oh, well.

 

[mymommom]

Thanks so much everyone for your responses. Sharing our experiences helps so much! I love the Dis

 

[SPOERLX3]

I had a similar thing happened to me. When Southwest first released October, fares were about $97 each way. I waited until my son's school released next year's calendar to book (needed Fall Break dates), and by the time I did, flights were either sold out or in the $300 range on the days I wanted. We ended up having to adjust our days & now my son will miss 3 days of school AND I paid $300 more than I originally would have. I won't wait to book again when I see good fares... especially since Southwest has a good exchange policy.

I did happen to check just now and our return flight (which is the pricier one, I ended up paying $199 each) has now dropped to $149 each way. Oh, well.

You can get a refund for the difference. It will be applied to your account for a later flight (within 1 yr). Here are the instructions on how to do it
http://boardingarea.com/dealswelike/2014/02/28/if-a-southwest-flight-goes-down-in-price/

 

[freckles04]

You can get a refund for the difference. It will be applied to your account for a later flight (within 1 yr).
http://boardingarea.com/dealswelike/2014/02/28/if-a-southwest-flight-goes-down-in-price/

Thanks for the info!

 

[denman007]

Saw Southwest flights out of Philly this morning at $144 (11/15 - 11/23). I wanted the first flight 6:30am - 9:05 am, but thought I had time. Now that flight is "sold out" and the other morning flight is $331. Yikes! Do you think things will open up later, or did that many people book this morning?

I booked first thing Monday morning and got 144 for the 6am and 144 the return at 10:15 am. By afternoon the return flight was up to 182.

I got lucky to booked 3 of the four tickets using points.

I don't know if they will open up other flights, but I doubt it. Just keep checking and book as soon as you can because I think you get price protection.

EDIT same flight now is 450 vs 288.

 

[carlacmc]

Hi!
I don't know if this has been asked before but, do you think Disney will add MORE rooms for the FD promotion? A family member wants to go with us and no rooms are available. I tried calling and asking if i could add them to my reservation but the CM told me that since there are no rooms, it could not be done.

 

[jk2006]

Hi!
I don't know if this has been asked before but, do you think Disney will add MORE rooms for the FD promotion? A family member wants to go with us and no rooms are available. I tried calling and asking if i could add them to my reservation but the CM told me that since there are no rooms, it could not be done.

In five years of doing free dining, I have never known them to release more rooms. There may be a very slim chance someone would cancel but that would be hard to capture without calling them at the exact right moment. Did the CM say if any other resorts were available for your dates? good luck!