Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[PIRATEGIRL007]

You CAN book a new and cancel the old. A lot of people do this if they cant get through on the phones, and just rebook online and then cancel later when the phone lines "settle" down. Its been done MANY times. The exact reason why everyone says on the board that there is no benefit in pre-booking.

WDW has done nothing to deter this but DLR did last year. It would be an interesting day if that were to come to the WDW side of things. As black ha said several times there is no reason to book now if you are going to book again for FD. This hurts the FD #'s and if Disney thinks they have enough rooms booked they wont offer any discount.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Thanks! I booked the memory maker package but I can't remember if it included a room discount or not. I think it did. I book POR. But I haven't paid it off yet.. Maybe if FD is offered I could switch the package deal.

The Aug/Sept MM package did have a RO discount packaged in, its small at most resorts but its something. And the usual suspects (campsties, GFV, AOA LM) were excluded all together from the discount part.

 

[madetoworship]

there is no reason to book now if you are going to book again for FD. This hurts the FD #'s and if Disney thinks they have enough rooms booked they wont offer any discount.

What about the ADR's that are already booked with the current hotel reservation? Are they lost if I switch up the hotel package? My desire isn't to mess up the likelihood of FD for everyone else, but it was the only way I could think of to be able to get ADR's at 180 days out...

 

[donp]

What about the ADR's that are already booked with the current hotel reservation? Are they lost if I switch up the hotel package? My desire isn't to mess up the likelihood of FD for everyone else, but it was the only way I could think of to be able to get ADR's at 180 days out...

Nope, those will stay put.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Dining really isn't attached to a resort reservation. It is connected by name and phone number. Changing or canceling a reservation has no effect on a dining reservation.

 

[BStew]

Welcome, and congrats on your first trip! One of the main mantras of the FD hopefuls is do NOT book your room before FD is released. Booking ahead does not secure FD for you, in fact it hurts everyone who is waiting for FD. The more rooms that are booked ahead, the less incentive for Disney to offer FD at all, and the fewer FD packages available. You can't really "add" FD to your room, unless it happens to be available in your resort for your dates. And switching dates later can only be done if FD packages are remaining for your new dates. Good luck!

Thanks! I am just trying to figure out how to plan ahead and get the timing for this trip down. So if it were you (an experienced DW planner) would you get the plane tickets as soon as you can (in may when released) then book dinner reservations and wait until the FD is (hopefully) offered for when we go in Nov? Shouldn't worry about booking sooner for rooms?

 

[abpuckett]

Thanks! I am just trying to figure out how to plan ahead and get the timing for this trip down. So if it were you (an experienced DW planner) would you get the plane tickets as soon as you can (in may when released) then book dinner reservations and wait until the FD is (hopefully) offered for when we go in Nov? Shouldn't worry about booking sooner for rooms?

I'm in the same boat. This is our first time trying to get free dining and the whole idea of trying to wait it out until it's announced is killing me. I'd rather have it all started and reserved, than wait until July/August. Makes me so nervous.

On top of it all we are trying for POR since we're a family of 5, so another reason to be nervous. DH just thinks we should go ahead and book it and wait and see. We were planning on the first of December but are now moving to mid November in hopes of FD like previous years. Ugh.

 

[SPOERLX3]

I spoke with a CM yesterday and he said to go ahead an book as there is something for gp next week. He didn't say more than that, but I was really hoping.....

That is the CM's way to get you to book.
Remember Disney can exclude resorts, dates and room categories up to the day before they release AND they can tweak those once they do come out. So the more they get to book, the less they have to offer.
Disney has no reason to offer a promo to a resort/date/room category if it is already booking well.
And the FD allotment or rooms is totally separate from a room already booked. So if you are already booked, they can not apply FD to your existing reservation if they have no FD rooms/dates/room categories available.
If you are not a Disney Visa holder, you can book at midnight EST on the day that it becomes available, if you already have your package booked, you have to wait till 7am EST to call and have it added, meaning everyone that is booking on line for 7 hours has the best shot at booking FD.

Dang.....I feel like a recording

 

[trixiemuffin]

Thanks! I am just trying to figure out how to plan ahead and get the timing for this trip down. So if it were you (an experienced DW planner) would you get the plane tickets as soon as you can (in may when released) then book dinner reservations and wait until the FD is (hopefully) offered for when we go in Nov? Shouldn't worry about booking sooner for rooms?

I would just keep an eye on the plane ticket prices and book the FD package as soon as the release occurs (keeping in mind the lowest priced dates for flights), then buy the plane tickets. Don't think there is a huge advantage to buying plane tickets really early. Prices will look like a roller coaster; just grab when they are at a low point. Dinner reservations can be booked any time. They are not connected to your room, and can be switched around if necessary.

 

[smidgy]

Ok- we are hoping to go to Disney for the first big family trip in early November. Flights haven't been released yet, so we were going to wait to book our package until then and are also hoping for FD, we do have and use the DV. For the experts, do we book now to secure our room prior to getting a flight? Can we adjust our dates if needed if there is a big difference in flight costs? And will booking our rooms now help us secure them where we want (either Pop or Caribbean Beach) when the FD is (hopefully) released for that time?

the amount of rooms already booked at a certain resort not only affacts IF that resort will be included in the FD promo. It also affects HOW MANY rooms will be available for FD at that resort.

let's say POR already has many bookings. but not quite enough. it may be included in the FD promo, but let's say (just picking a number here) only 30 rooms.

so even IF you have a POR room booked AND POR is included in the FD promo if 30 people call ahead of you, you will not be able to "apply" the FD promo to your already booked POR room. you would have a choice of keeping your POR room as is, or switching to a dif. resort that has more FD rooms available.

 

[trixiemuffin]

I'm in the same boat. This is our first time trying to get free dining and the whole idea of trying to wait it out until it's announced is killing me. I'd rather have it all started and reserved, than wait until July/August. Makes me so nervous.

On top of it all we are trying for POR since we're a family of 5, so another reason to be nervous. DH just thinks we should go ahead and book it and wait and see. We were planning on the first of December but are now moving to mid November in hopes of FD like previous years. Ugh.

You must decide what is more important to you, staying at a certain resort OR getting the FD. Just don't count on getting FD if you have your heart set on a particular resort. If FD is more important, do not book now. Wait for the release. Remember, the less people who book ahead, the more FD packages they can offer.

 

[abpuckett]

You must decide what is more important to you, staying at a certain resort OR getting the FD. Just don't count on getting FD if you have your heart set on a particular resort. If FD is more important, do not book now. Wait for the release. Remember, the less people who book ahead, the more FD packages they can offer.

Ugh I know, decisions decisions. POR is our first choice because we have 3 kiddos and can get a room for 5. However, my little guy will still be 2 if we go mid November (we would go the week before his bday) so maybe I can get away with another room elsewhere and use a pack n play? Not sure on that. I know we were able to do that with Wilderness Lodge back in 2010. 3 adults, 1 child and a 2 year old in a pack in play.

So for those of you who are on the side of waiting it out until it's announced.....how well has that worked out for you? Were you able to get online/call immediately and get everything you wanted?

We have a Disney Visa too, so hoping for a little head start with that.


***VERY much appreciate all the insight from everyone!***

 

[lazer]

Ugh I know, decisions decisions. POR is our first choice because we have 3 kiddos and can get a room for 5. However, my little guy will still be 2 if we go mid November (we would go the week before his bday) so maybe I can get away with another room elsewhere and use a pack n play? Not sure on that. I know we were able to do that with Wilderness Lodge back in 2010. 3 adults, 1 child and a 2 year old in a pack in play. So for those of you who are on the side of waiting it out until it's announced.....how well has that worked out for you? Were you able to get online/call immediately and get everything you wanted? We have a Disney Visa too, so hoping for a little head start with that. ***VERY much appreciate all the insight from everyone!***

We got POR last year for September, the day it was announced for Visa holders. If they do a visa early release, I think you should be ok for Nov too...just have a back up just in case! Good luck!

 

[amyrella]

Wow this is intense! I have been booked at POP with the MM package for at least a month now. I didn't think they were going to offer FD and debated on buying the dining plan but had decided not to bc I think I'll come out ahead without it, we don't need dessert every meal. However I'm totally going for FD once it's offered, I'll def save more!

For those of you nervous about availability, I know in 2010 when they offered FD for May/June 2011, I didn't call immediately and I was able to get a POR preferred room with FD. And this was for booking right after Memorial Day, so it was a busy time. I would like to think that those of you looking for FD at POR with a preferred room In September would be safe, being it's a slower time. Idk maybe I'm wrong??

 

[Vernie822]

Ugh- this isn't good for my anxiety!

I shouldn't have booked our POR room so soon. This is my first time booking a trip (haven't been since 2008) so I really had no idea that you could add the free dining on later. I got anxious and booked!

That being said, we are willing to change resorts so I feel okay about it. Just nervous about calling and not getting FD! And, if we do get FD, I'm going to get rid of our RO stay at AOA and just make our POR stay 7 nights instead of 4. I already went nuts making our ADRS so we are hoping for FD!

 

[PrettyMinnie]

patiently wating for FD as well..we stay at WL and upgrade to Deluxe Dining with the FD discount..i dont believe it is one of the more popular resorts that will sell out of the promo quickly...but still nervous..my friend is a travel agent and is telling me monday it should be coming out to Disney Visa Card holders...

 

[ottawamom]

Don't know if this means anything but I was just on the Disney website and they are down to 2 special offers. They had 4 up this morning when I checked. Looks like they have room to add more!

Hoping and waiting

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

patiently wating for FD as well..we stay at WL and upgrade to Deluxe Dining with the FD discount..i dont believe it is one of the more popular resorts that will sell out of the promo quickly...but still nervous..my friend is a travel agent and is telling me monday it should be coming out to Disney Visa Card holders...

We stay at WL...in my experience it does not sell out quickly as long as you call the day it is released. We have called before after 7 am (later in the day) and we've been fine.

We tried to get POR and had a very hard time getting a preferred room for an offer last year and ended up back at WL.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

patiently wating for FD as well..we stay at WL and upgrade to Deluxe Dining with the FD discount..i dont believe it is one of the more popular resorts that will sell out of the promo quickly...but still nervous..my friend is a travel agent and is telling me monday it should be coming out to Disney Visa Card holders...

Oops I'm sorry! I misread and thought you said it does. Well now you have more confirmation that is usually doesn't (in my experience).

 

[crazymomof4]

For September, I think that things are typically much more open and less exclusions at POR. I have exclusively stayed there during FD, and have only gone in September in the past few years. We have never had any issues getting the rooms we wanted (and have always stayed in AB becuase of our group of nine). Last year, booked four rooms with FD and had no issues. It seems like the Oct-Dec timeframe is a diferent animal . . . Hope your POR dreams come true!

Well, that is very good to hear!!! I really really hope this is the case for us too!! Just trying to think ahead and, logically, picture different scenarios and be prepared. It's better that way than to deal with disappointment AND trying to come up with a Plan B after a promo is released.