Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[g3pak]

I used to have my pic as my avatar and one in my signature, but we were approached by a lot (more than 10!) of people during last year's trip, and it kind of weirded my DH and kids out. They were all WONDERFUL people, but there is always a risk of one of them being not so wonderful, so I scaled my picture posting back a bit. As for why we like Joe, aside from his great info, he is hilarious and he cares about people. Others who brought deals to the boards would only come around and give their predictions and stick around long enough to be patted on the back, but Joe hangs out here because he enjoys the people, just as I do.

I was just being silly/ corny. I don't post often but do read on here all the time. I can tell Joe is a great guy, knowledgeable, funny sense of humor, and is a genuine friend to many others on here. It is easy to see why "the regulars" like him so much. I hope it didn't sound like I was saying anything bad about him. His different pics/ selfies a few days ago were classic.

I don't blame you about not putting your pic up. That's why I have Sheldon as mine. When I am away from home, I want to be as anonymous as possible. I used to belong to a group on Tour Guide Mike a few years ago. Just like here, I mainly read and occasionally posted. While at WDW, I was in a store when one of the women from the group walked right by me. I knew it was her but didn't say a word. I don't want to creep anyone out.

Crazy story- a couple of years ago I noticed a woman post on Dis often about how her family dressed up for MNSSHP each year. She posted pics and gave advice. I noticed the pics because she went ALL OUT for her family's outfits. Just recently I was walking into a Disney Store in Tennessee and I passed a family exiting the store. I thought "they look familiar" then I realized it was that family. So crazy. And don't worry, I didn't say a thing to them.

 

[plutospalforever]

OK- Good! I'm a DV holder so this sets my mind at ease.
Best advice for tomorrow (Thur) morning is just to call Disney Central Reservations at 7am EST and say what? "I'm calling to see if FD is being offered for DV cardholders?" I won't get laughed at if I do this, will I?

Hopefully, if there is a release tomorrow, we will know by this evening. However, yes, (I have done this many times to check) that is what you will say. Now, calling right at 7 am, it is possible you get a CM who has not read the morning news yet. If that is the case, they may not know, and you can ask politely if they happened to check their memo's this morning??? I would ask that IF we have solid confirmation of FD. It happens every year where someone calling will get that CM who is not aware. Disney call's in extra forces for FD and once I had a CM who had not worked there in 6 months!!! Good luck! You got this!

 

[Fenway1970]

If there is an early FD release for Disney Visa holders, that will have to be called in when lines open at 7 am eastern. For a general public release, it is possible there could be a midnight release for online booking of new packages.

So this brings me to a potentially touchy question:

I'm already booked for POR for Sept 13-21, those were the best dates for our family and we are going no matter what. I booked a few months ago, and at the time I honestly wasn't even considering or expecting FD. Those were the dates we had available so that was that.

With that said, if FD is out there I'll take it. In the event of a midnight online release, would it be frowned upon if I book a new package online to get FD, and then call later in the day to cancel the first reservation? Or should I just suck it up on the phone lines at 7 AM? I certainly have no desire to screw anyone out of a room.

 

[plutospalforever]

I look JUST like my profile pic!

LOL

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

When I called 2 days ago the CM told me that you can book 180 days out. She could do dates into Oct but everything was booked.

Dessert party

They had Sept. And Oct. On hold until yesterday because of MNSSHP. They only opened then up yesterday. Some CM's were saying it was sold out but it wasn't. There were several of us trying for a month or more to get that reservation and we were all able to book it yesterday.

 

[hockeymom519]

We're staying Sept 20-27 at POFQ. I sure hope we are able to get the free dining at POFQ. It's our 2nd WDW trip and my guys really want to stay here.

 

[jhaig]

Silly question - exactly what phone number should we be calling for adding on a FD package?

 

[plutospalforever]

Silly question - exactly what phone number should we be calling for adding on a FD package?

Take your pick:
407-W-Disney

407-WDW-MAGIC

AND, NO questions are silly : )

 

[wdw4rfam]

I look JUST like my profile pic!

I think I just spit coffee across the room

 

[lizlmartini]

I was just being silly/ corny. I don't post often but do read on here all the time. I can tell Joe is a great guy, knowledgeable, funny sense of humor, and is a genuine friend to many others on here. It is easy to see why "the regulars" like him so much. I hope it didn't sound like I was saying anything bad about him. His different pics/ selfies a few days ago were classic. I don't blame you about not putting your pic up. That's why I have Sheldon as mine. When I am away from home, I want to be as anonymous as possible. I used to belong to a group on Tour Guide Mike a few years ago. Just like here, I mainly read and occasionally posted. While at WDW, I was in a store when one of the women from the group walked right by me. I knew it was her but didn't say a word. I don't want to creep anyone out. Crazy story- a couple of years ago I noticed a woman post on Dis often about how her family dressed up for MNSSHP each year. She posted pics and gave advice. I noticed the pics because she went ALL OUT for her family's outfits. Just recently I was walking into a Disney Store in Tennessee and I passed a family exiting the store. I thought "they look familiar" then I realized it was that family. So crazy. And don't worry, I didn't say a thing to them.

LOL. - you have given me an idea, for years I have been telling my kids that I'm actually an undercover spy that's why I know everything they do or plan to do before they have even thought it. I also have been telling them that we are actually very famous because our surname is Martini, now think how cool it would be if everyone who is in Disney waves and says hello to the Martini's (waaaa ha ha my shares would be high ) and my kids will have to believe me - who's with me?

 

[wdw4rfam]

LOL. - you have given me an idea, for years I have been telling my kids that I'm actually an undercover spy that's why I know everything they do or plan to do before they have even thought it. I also have been telling them that we are actually very famous because our surname is Martini, now think how cool it would be if everyone who is in Disney waves and says hello to the Martini's (waaaa ha ha my shares would be high ) and my kids will have to believe me - who's with me?

You may be on to something here. Maybe I need to put my pic up after all....I have already convinced my kids that I have a crystal ball and know everything they do, I would love convincing them I am famous too

 

[lizlmartini]

You may be on to something here. Maybe I need to put my pic up after all....I have already convinced my kids that I have a crystal ball and know everything they do, I would love convincing them I am famous too

Exactly mothers unite!!

 

[crazymomof4]

Hopefully, if there is a release tomorrow, we will know by this evening. However, yes, (I have done this many times to check) that is what you will say. Now, calling right at 7 am, it is possible you get a CM who has not read the morning news yet. If that is the case, they may not know, and you can ask politely if they happened to check their memo's this morning??? I would ask that IF we have solid confirmation of FD. It happens every year where someone calling will get that CM who is not aware. Disney call's in extra forces for FD and once I had a CM who had not worked there in 6 months!!! Good luck! You got this!

All good advice. Thanks!

 

[tinklvsu]

The pictures are so tiny, I can't really see people's when it's personal pictures! lol

and....... I'm not 100% certain on how I would post a larger version!!

 

[g3pak]

Hopefully, if there is a release tomorrow, we will know by this evening. However, yes, (I have done this many times to check) that is what you will say. Now, calling right at 7 am, it is possible you get a CM who has not read the morning news yet. If that is the case, they may not know, and you can ask politely if they happened to check their memo's this morning??? I would ask that IF we have solid confirmation of FD. It happens every year where someone calling will get that CM who is not aware. Disney call's in extra forces for FD and once I had a CM who had not worked there in 6 months!!! Good luck! You got this!

If I remember right, a couple of years ago I was like I am now...needing FD and checking on here often every day. I suspected a specific date would be the starting date, but when I checked the last time the night before, no one was saying "it starts tomorrow, so be ready to call." I told my wife as we went to bed, "no need for me to be in a panic in the morning...if the news isn't out by now, it won't happen tomorrow." The years before we seemed to have a few days notice before the start date. The next morning I got up and just on a whim I looked on here probably about 6:45 a.m. The Dis was buzzing about FD beginning that day and the news had come out during the night. I was able to call and get what we wanted. So even though I suspect we will have a little notice (thank you Joe Black), there is always a chance we will only have a few hours before it begins

 

[pkelly6]

We already booked through a TA, should we go through TA for FD or can I call and add/change our resservations w/o TA?

And is Tomorrow (I know, I know, not yet for sure, but...) for Disney Visa holders or would it be for all of us?

 

[tdmollyb]

So this brings me to a potentially touchy question:

I'm already booked for POR for Sept 13-21, those were the best dates for our family and we are going no matter what. I booked a few months ago, and at the time I honestly wasn't even considering or expecting FD. Those were the dates we had available so that was that.

With that said, if FD is out there I'll take it. In the event of a midnight online release, would it be frowned upon if I book a new package online to get FD, and then call later in the day to cancel the first reservation? Or should I just suck it up on the phone lines at 7 AM? I certainly have no desire to screw anyone out of a room.

I keep seeing this thought all over the threads and I feel the need to set the record straight. When you book early it does not help your chances of booking free dining at all. From what I understand there are a certain number of rooms available for free dining and that's it. Think of it this way, free dining rooms are in one bucket and all others are in another bucket. If you book before free dining comes out, your room comes out of the regular bucket. Then when you decide to "add free dining" what you are essentially doing is putting your room back in the regular bucket and pulling one out of the free dining bucket. If you call to "add free dining" to your reservation and the free dining bucket is empty, then you are out of luck. Having that reservation did not hold your place for free dining. I'm sure most of you already know this, but there always seems to be lots of people talking about booking now and then add free dining. It shouldn't bother me this much, but it does. I think I need a vacation, any suggestions?

 

[scard192]

We already booked through a TA, should we go through TA for FD or can I call and add/change our resservations w/o TA?

And is Tomorrow (I know, I know, not yet for sure, but...) for Disney Visa holders or would it be for all of us?

if you booked through a TA, then the TA owns the reservation and will have to call Disney to add FD, or make any other changes to your reservation. Disney will not change anything for you so no point in calling and waiting on hold to speak to a CM.

 

[scard192]

I keep seeing this thought all over the threads and I feel the need to set the record straight. When you book early it does not help your chances of booking free dining at all. From what I understand there are a certain number of rooms available for free dining and that's it. Think of it this way, free dining rooms are in one bucket and all others are in another bucket. If you book before free dining comes out, your room comes out of the regular bucket. Then when you decide to "add free dining" what you are essentially doing is putting your room back in the regular bucket and pulling one out of the free dining bucket. If you call to "add free dining" to your reservation and the free dining bucket is empty, then you are out of luck. Having that reservation did not hold your place for free dining. I'm sure most of you already know this, but there always seems to be lots of people talking about booking now and then add free dining. I shouldn't bother me this much, but it does. I think I need a vacation, any suggestions?

very good explanation. already having a reservation at your chosen resort/dates will not make your chances of getting FD any better;it will only hurt your chances.

 

[g3pak]

I keep seeing this thought all over the threads and I feel the need to set the record straight. When you book early it does not help your chances of booking free dining at all. From what I understand there are a certain number of rooms available for free dining and that's it. Think of it this way, free dining rooms are in one bucket and all others are in another bucket. If you book before free dining comes out, your room comes out of the regular bucket. Then when you decide to "add free dining" what you are essentially doing is putting your room back in the regular bucket and pulling one out of the free dining bucket. If you call to "add free dining" to your reservation and the free dining bucket is empty, then you are out of luck. Having that reservation did not hold your place for free dining. I'm sure most of you already know this, but there always seems to be lots of people talking about booking now and then add free dining. I shouldn't bother me this much, but it does. I think I need a vacation, any suggestions?

To take your analogy further, the fewer rooms left in the "regular" bucket before FD is released, the fewer rooms that start out in the FD bucket. In a sense, each room booked before FD is released actually comes out of the FD bucket, it just doesn't have FD. Booking a room before FD comes out reduces the number of FD made available from the beginning.