Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[SPOERLX3]

We have POR already reserved for 5 rooms 9/19-9/29. I did this before realizing that I needed to wait until FD was released. Should I cancel my existing reservation? Or should I keep the current one and make a new one if FD reservations come out online first? Can I reserve 5 rooms linked to each other online? If I cancel my existing reservation, what happens to my dining that is linked to the current resort reservation?

My own personal opinion, even though I do agree that booking early can be detrimental to FD promo's, I would not recommend that you cancel your reservations especially since you have 5 rooms and they are already attached to each other.

 

[ecross23]

Planning a surprise trip for our family of 5 and my dad 9/20-9/27. I'm a Disney VISA card holder and hoping they offer an early promotion for cardholders! This would save my family $1,500!

Anxiously waiting!

Eva

 

[SPOERLX3]

That stands to be a real possibility based on my information so far.

Black, any updated thoughts or info for September dates?

pretty pretty please 9/24

 

[black562]

Black, any updated thoughts or info for September dates?

pretty pretty please 9/24

Still looks pretty good for most of September. At this point, it's looking very close to last year (though things can change).

 

[heathjh]

My own personal opinion, even though I do agree that booking early can be detrimental to FD promo's, I would not recommend that you cancel your reservations especially since you have 5 rooms and they are already attached to each other.

Thank you!! It's been crazy trying to book dining for this huge crowd too. I did get most of what I was going for. Hoping there will still be rooms left when I go to call in.

 

[smidgy]

Ok..we already have the meal plan on our trip (regular dining)....math gets a little hairy (meaning I probably should write it down and not do it in my head)...I was playing around with the booking and it seemed to come out the same. We also don't need tickets since we have some from a previous stay.

ah! therein lies the rub..... disney has gotten smart adn added the 2 day tickets to the parameters for the "free" dining. we did the "free" dining last dec. and had to purchase 2 day tickets for the 2 of us, which we didnt' use (since we already had annual passes)

we will use those 2 day passes from last dec at the end of this month.. we will enter a park once, thereby locking in the price. then we will go to guest relations and "bridge" those tickets to our current year's annual passes.

if we do "free" dining this fall, we will have to purchase 2 day tickets we won't use for another year. the way we figure, if you plan your trips right, you can go once a year and get 2 trips out of one annual pass (and not have to buy hoppers).... if you go 2X a year, and you really plan it right, you can get 3 trips out of one annual pass.
the COMMON CORE has NOTHING over the "DISNEY MATH"! bwaahaa haa!!!

 

[MissMaryQC]

the COMMON CORE has NOTHING over the "DISNEY MATH"! bwaahaa haa!!!

This: hilarious.

 

[smidgy]

This: hilarious.

thanks

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

I am a POR (Dixie Landings) guy all the way, but CSR really impressed me after their referb. It impressed me so much, I'm going back again this year.

So you liked CSR better than POR? I've only ever stayed at POR/Dixie Landings as far as moderates, but I do love it there.
Of course, now with the family being 5, we are limited. I am hoping though that CBR's refurb includes that rumored Murphy bed and I can try something new as well.

As far as those worried about the FD POR rooms selling out, they may right away, but I eventually got a room with a bit of effort and lots of stalking the website, I think maybe a month later. Then upgraded a few weeks after that with a Garden View room with FD. So it can be done. If at first you fail....

 

[alktdknckmom]

So you liked CSR better than POR? I've only ever stayed at POR/Dixie Landings as far as moderates, but I do love it there.
Of course, now with the family being 5, we are limited. I am hoping though that CBR's refurb includes that rumored Murphy bed and I can try something new as well.

We are also a family of 5. I am hoping FD is included for POR! We booked before I began stalking the FD thread and didn't realize that it is recommended we wait to book until FD is released.

From looking at the boards, it seems like a lot of people are reporting that they are staying at POR in September, around the same time as us. I'm worried that we won't be able to add FD if they limit the number of rooms.

CaraMiaBelle, did they release more rooms a month later when you got your room at POR or did it seem like you just happened upon a cancellation?

OR does anyone know if they release a certain number of rooms per deal and then do another wave of rooms with FD later or if they release them all in the beginning and you either luck out or you don't?

If FD isn't available for POR, I'm worried we'll end up having to pay a lot more money for a deluxe or to stay at a value and upgrade to the regular DDP. Even still, the value ASMo and AofA are both quite a bit higher than POR.

Which other moderates can accommodate 5? And for those of you that have stayed at one of the other resorts that accommodate 5, which would you choose if you don't have the option of POR but you want FD?

Thanks!

 

[Azjenn]

We are also a family of 5. I am hoping FD is included for POR! We booked before I began stalking the FD thread and didn't realize that it is recommended we wait to book until FD is released.

From looking at the boards, it seems like a lot of people are reporting that they are staying at POR in September, around the same time as us. I'm worried that we won't be able to add FD if they limit the number of rooms.

CaraMiaBelle, did they release more rooms a month later when you got your room at POR or did it seem like you just happened upon a cancellation?

OR does anyone know if they release a certain number of rooms per deal and then do another wave of rooms with FD later or if they release them all in the beginning and you either luck out or you don't?

If FD isn't available for POR, I'm worried we'll end up having to pay a lot more money for a deluxe or to stay at a value and upgrade to the regular DDP. Even still, the value ASMo and AofA are both quite a bit higher than POR.

Which other moderates can accommodate 5? And for those of you that have stayed at one of the other resorts that accommodate 5, which would you choose if you don't have the option of POR but you want FD?

Thanks!

I'm right there with you. I keep running the numbers on other resorts also but it is quite a bit higher in price. I don't know if there are any other options that come in close to POR pricing. I am curious to hear what others ideas might be.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I'm right there with you. I keep running the numbers on other resorts also but it is quite a bit higher in price. I don't know if there are any other options that come in close to POR pricing. I am curious to hear what others ideas might be.

We are usually right there with you. We got lucky this year and my parents are going so we can stay anywhere and just put one of our kids with them. But I can tell you, I don't know how old your kids are, but when I ran the numbers, 2 standard rooms in a value and paying to upgrade the dining wasn't as bad as having to go deluxe or a family suite. It would have been my back up plan.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Subscribing to this thread as well.

Come on FREE DINING!

 

[plutospalforever]

I'm right there with you. I keep running the numbers on other resorts also but it is quite a bit higher in price. I don't know if there are any other options that come in close to POR pricing. I am curious to hear what others ideas might be.

We are usually right there with you. We got lucky this year and my parents are going so we can stay anywhere and just put one of our kids with them. But I can tell you, I don't know how old your kids are, but when I ran the numbers, 2 standard rooms in a value and paying to upgrade the dining wasn't as bad as having to go deluxe or a family suite. It would have been my back up plan.

Feel for you too! The AB rooms at POR are the most economical. The next best options are cabins at Fort Wilderness, 2 connecting rooms at a Value, AoA suites, deluxe resort, and jr. suite at CSR. We are a family of six and do 2 value rooms or on last trip, AoA. Last year we saw pics of a refurbished room in CBR that included 2 queen beds and a pull down similar to POR AB, but I do not know if they held back on construction or what??? Should would be nice to have that second option! Just some thoughts, let me know if you come up with something else.

 

[Grimlock34a]

Quick question. If the free dining offer opens for the September dates, do you need to be a Disney visa cardholder to take advantage? Also, do you have to pay the full amount at the time of booking? Or just an initial deposit? Thanks in advance,

 

[Kat016]

Quick question. If the free dining offer opens for the September dates, do you need to be a Disney visa cardholder to take advantage? Also, do you have to pay the full amount at the time of booking? Or just an initial deposit? Thanks in advance,

There might be an early release just for Visa card holders but it'll open up to the public a couple days later. You only need to put a $200 deposit down and make payments...any amt. you just need to have it paid off 45 days before you leave.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

We are also a family of 5. I am hoping FD is included for POR! We booked before I began stalking the FD thread and didn't realize that it is recommended we wait to book until FD is released.

From looking at the boards, it seems like a lot of people are reporting that they are staying at POR in September, around the same time as us. I'm worried that we won't be able to add FD if they limit the number of rooms.

CaraMiaBelle, did they release more rooms a month later when you got your room at POR or did it seem like you just happened upon a cancellation?

OR does anyone know if they release a certain number of rooms per deal and then do another wave of rooms with FD later or if they release them all in the beginning and you either luck out or you don't?

If FD isn't available for POR, I'm worried we'll end up having to pay a lot more money for a deluxe or to stay at a value and upgrade to the regular DDP. Even still, the value ASMo and AofA are both quite a bit higher than POR.

Which other moderates can accommodate 5? And for those of you that have stayed at one of the other resorts that accommodate 5, which would you choose if you don't have the option of POR but you want FD?

Thanks!

Not sure. I assume they just "restock the FD rooms continuously.
Well there are rumors of a Murphy bed being put in the rooms a CBR in the current refurb. ; ) I do not know when they will be done but I imagine there will be at least some done this fall. ; )
I LOVE POR but I am looking forward to being able to try something new. When we finally make it back, that is.
Good luck with FD!

 

[evcollins]

We are also a family of 5. I am hoping FD is included for POR! We booked before I began stalking the FD thread and didn't realize that it is recommended we wait to book until FD is released.

From looking at the boards, it seems like a lot of people are reporting that they are staying at POR in September, around the same time as us. I'm worried that we won't be able to add FD if they limit the number of rooms.

CaraMiaBelle, did they release more rooms a month later when you got your room at POR or did it seem like you just happened upon a cancellation?

OR does anyone know if they release a certain number of rooms per deal and then do another wave of rooms with FD later or if they release them all in the beginning and you either luck out or you don't?

If FD isn't available for POR, I'm worried we'll end up having to pay a lot more money for a deluxe or to stay at a value and upgrade to the regular DDP. Even still, the value ASMo and AofA are both quite a bit higher than POR.

Which other moderates can accommodate 5? And for those of you that have stayed at one of the other resorts that accommodate 5, which would you choose if you don't have the option of POR but you want FD?

Thanks!

We are in the same boat with a family of five and trying to figure out our
Plan B resort was/is not fun. We definitely want POR, first choice!! However, in case they book up, our alternative would be two connecting rooms at a value, upgrading the dining plan. I priced Allstar Music and it's $175 more than POR, but still within the budget we want to stay in. The suites we looked at were upwards of $500 or more for us. We've never stayed at either resort and figure each one offers its own pros and cons. Staying at Allstar, the kids are excited to have their "own" room, and I can say that that in itself isn't a bad alternative!!

 

[Limes96]

I hadn't heard about CBR soon being able to accomodate 5. That's terrific! I hope that materializes soon! It would give us 5 in the family people a little more flexibility to stay at a moderate on free dining.

 

[I<3theMouse]

I hadn't heard about CBR soon being able to accomodate 5. That's terrific! I hope that materializes soon! It would give us 5 in the family people a little more flexibility to stay at a moderate on free dining.

Interested in more info on this possibility at CBR. That would be great!