Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[smitch425]

In the PP's scenario of FD starting on Aug. 28, they wouldn't be able to do a split stay when cheking out on the 30th because FD is a 3 night minimum.

 

[MissMaryQC]

I'm new to the phenomenon that is free dining; I'm following along this year to prepare for my own battle next September. I'm seeing that a good way to better insure a seat at the FD table is to hold off on reserving a room at the resort of your choice, but will doing so stop me from being able to make ADRs at the 180 day mark? What I'm asking is this: is a resort reservation necessary to allow me the 180 day window to book my ADRs? Thanks in advance!

 

[smitch425]

I'm new to the phenomenon that is free dining; I'm following along this year to prepare for my own battle next September. I'm seeing that a good way to better insure a seat at the FD table is to hold off on reserving a room at the resort of your choice, but will doing so stop me from being able to make ADRs at the 180 day mark? What I'm asking is this: is a resort reservation necessary to allow me the 180 day window to book my ADRs? Thanks in advance!

You can still make ADRs 180 days in advance, however you will not have the advantage of being able to make reservations at 180+ the next 10 days unless you are booked. You have to call 180 days from each date that you would like to have an ADR without a resort reservation.

 

[myminnieme]

Do FD rooms all sell out quickly? I know some rooms do, so it's wise to have a 2nd and 3rd resort in mind, but does the promo last for a few weeks? Or do the rooms all fill up within a few days? Curious me, I've never participated in FD Watch before. Thanks guys!

 

[smitch425]

Do FD rooms all sell out quickly? I know some rooms do, so it's wise to have a 2nd and 3rd resort in mind, but does the promo last for a few weeks? Or do the rooms all fill up within a few days? Curious me, I've never participated in FD Watch before. Thanks guys!

Highly limited room types do sell out initially, but sometimes they will add more into the inventory or people will change their reservations. So if you don't get what you want initially, keep checking often because things can change at any time. Sometimes you can get what you want several weeks after the offer is released.

 

[black562]

Do FD rooms all sell out quickly? I know some rooms do, so it's wise to have a 2nd and 3rd resort in mind, but does the promo last for a few weeks? Or do the rooms all fill up within a few days? Curious me, I've never participated in FD Watch before. Thanks guys!

A popular resort such as Art of Animation may, but in general, no. People have called weeks after release and got something. If there's a very particular room type you're looking for though, it's always a good idea to get it as early as possible.

 

[mmaavvii]

Hello everybody! Just a quick question on pin codes. Do you know whether they are also sent to people livng abroad? Or they are just for US residents? I am from Argentina and would also LOVE to get a FD one for next October!

 

[evcollins]

While I sit here and wait for news of the FD release, I'm constantly going over our ADRs that we have and changing them. But the only one I wasn't able to get, and I keep checking back for availability, is the Fantasmic Package for Mama Mel's. Is it really booked, or do you think they are holding some tables? I do have the Fantasmic Package for Hollywood & Vine reserved, but we'd prefer MM. We're looking at Tuesday, 9/16.

 

[scard192]

While I sit here and wait for news of the FD release, I'm constantly going over our ADRs that we have and changing them. But the only one I wasn't able to get, and I keep checking back for availability, is the Fantasmic Package for Mama Mel's. Is it really booked, or do you think they are holding some tables? I do have the Fantasmic Package for Hollywood & Vine reserved, but we'd prefer MM. We're looking at Tuesday, 9/16.

always worth a call to Disney Dining; I have seen posts about people not being able to book on line and getting it when they called.
We did MM F! lunch last October and really enjoyed the meal.

Are you checking for earlier times too?

 

[SPOERLX3]

In the PP's scenario of FD starting on Aug. 28, they wouldn't be able to do a split stay when cheking out on the 30th because FD is a 3 night minimum.

GREAT catch smitch!!!

 

[Misjanuary1]

While I sit here and wait for news of the FD release, I'm constantly going over our ADRs that we have and changing them.

I am doing the same thing....every time I head over to the computer DH asks if I am back to my "Disney crack" addiction....haha! If FD would just come out I could release a bunch of ADRs that I have based on different possible check in dates that we can have! Ya hear that Disney, you aren't doing anyone any favors by holding out on us!!!!

 

[scard192]

I'm new to the phenomenon that is free dining; I'm following along this year to prepare for my own battle next September. I'm seeing that a good way to better insure a seat at the FD table is to hold off on reserving a room at the resort of your choice, but will doing so stop me from being able to make ADRs at the 180 day mark? What I'm asking is this: is a resort reservation necessary to allow me the 180 day window to book my ADRs? Thanks in advance!

I made my ADRs last April for our October trip and got every one I wanted at perfect times except for BOG and decided after trying for months that several of the picky eaters in our group would not like the food and we ended up getting FP+ for lunch and liked it.

I was at the computer and logged in at 6AM every day for 6 days and got the following very easily:

CM, CRT, F! package, Akershus, CP (prepark opening) and 1900PF.

 

[evcollins]

always worth a call to Disney Dining; I have seen posts about people not being able to book on line and getting it when they called.
We did MM F! lunch last October and really enjoyed the meal.

Are you checking for earlier times too?

I did check all the time slots given. I never thought about calling!
So used to doing everything without having to talk to people, I forget there's a phone. Calling now. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[jamnich314]

Yeah but the glaring obvious omission from the good ole mom's panel is they will have to buy tickets to get free dining. So on the second part of the trip dropping another $200 min per person for tickets (usually 2 day minimum) would eat up any savings they were getting. If they don't plan on the parks the first few days or can arrange it to do early ticket pick up (which confuses anyone that is not a Disney vet) it could be worked out but still probably not worth it.

Didn't even consider that. We'd have to buy two separate ticket packages. And the cost of one three and one four day tickets would be much more than one seven day ticket. And we wouldn't meet the 3-day minimum for FD.

At this point, we still haven't purchased our tickets since our current deal is room-only. We are waiting to see what happens in the coming weeks with the next deal and (most likely) keeping our current deal and buying tickets whenever we get around to it.

I know that the room discount would actually save us more money than FD but the family I'm traveling with really wants it. I'm not optimistic about it containing any dates in August but if it does contain the last few it wouldn't save us any more to do a split stay; it would be just as advantageous to eat at the same places we would have with FD and pay OOP. It seems the only way our reservation will be changing is if Disney miraculously includes August 22 and on in their FD promotion.

 

[SPOERLX3]

I did check all the time slots given. I never thought about calling!
So used to doing everything without having to talk to people, I forget there's a phone. Calling now. Thanks for reminding me!

Let us know how it goes

 

[LoveSplashMountain]

While I sit here and wait for news of the FD release, I'm constantly going over our ADRs that we have and changing them. But the only one I wasn't able to get, and I keep checking back for availability, is the Fantasmic Package for Mama Mel's. Is it really booked, or do you think they are holding some tables? I do have the Fantasmic Package for Hollywood & Vine reserved, but we'd prefer MM. We're looking at Tuesday, 9/16.

I have never been able to get Fantasmic package for Mama Mel for dinner but have been able to get lunch - and the last time I went I was booking 4 or 5 months out. Don't know how many are in your party but looks like they still have lunch Fantasmic packages available for that date.

Disregard if your question has already been answered

 

[Glennie5]

In the PP's scenario of FD starting on Aug. 28, they wouldn't be able to do a split stay when cheking out on the 30th because FD is a 3 night minimum.

GREAT catch smitch!!!

That was a great catch!

 

[Jazzerfan]

Deals overlap all of the time, but I do not expect any other discounts to come out that will cover your dates. It is possible that the upcoming FD offer will include the last two or three dates in August, but deals covering your timeframe have been out for awhile now. Your only hope for FD at this point is a PIN code, and they haven't gone out yet.

I always see all sorts of threads about pin code, but don't know how you get them. Need a quick lesson - do I apply somewhere???? I've been to Disney about 15 times, 7 in the last 5 years. Just curious how you get these. HELP!

 

[smitch425]

I always see all sorts of threads about pin code, but don't know how you get them. Need a quick lesson - do I apply somewhere???? I've been to Disney about 15 times, 7 in the last 5 years. Just curious how you get these. HELP!

Pin codes are random, and the only thing required to be eligible to receive one is to have an account with any of Disney's websites. Make sure your Disney account info is up to date as far as email address and home address because they can come to either one, and make you you check any appropriate communication boxes to receive emails from them. The offers come from Disney Destinations.

 

[scard192]

I always see all sorts of threads about pin code, but don't know how you get them. Need a quick lesson - do I apply somewhere???? I've been to Disney about 15 times, 7 in the last 5 years. Just curious how you get these. HELP!

that is the big mystery, no one knows how PINs are issued. Some think if you price trips on the webite. order the planning DVD that will help. I had been getting PINS for years and they stopped about a year ago. One of last years PINS was "because you have been here before". My sister got it twice, once via snail mail and she does not even have an MDE account but does shop at Disneystore.com and went to WDW in 2009 with me. Even stranger my brother in law got one in the US Mail last year and he has no Disney account at all but does have one set up with ESPN.