Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[oldtink]

I am new to this board but have been watching the progress for Free Dining. Going in September hoping for free dining. Obsessed with the wait. Thanks everyone for the great info.

Okay, I guess this is as good as it gets. I called Disney today to correct our email address as we have changed it. At the end of the call, I asked point blank, "Do you know if there is a 'late summer/Sept" promotion coming out this week or for gp on Monday?
His reply was, "Yeah, go ahead and book if you haven't. You're safe to assume there is something starting Monday." When I said I already had POFQ, he replied, "then Monday just ask your TA to adjust your reservation."

OKAY? NOT openly telling us just that it's FD but it's something starting. I am also grateful to the cheerful man who was very happy and full of laughter.

 

[mssong85]

I have question about upgrading the kids tickets to adults to get them adult meals on FD. Does this upgrade show up on our magic bands? We are planning POR but there is a possibility of switching to a value when we book. Either way, we'd like to upgrade our kids to adults. I know the QSDP doesn't separate adult from kids credits, but will we get hassled at quick serve places when we order adult meals? Our oldest will be just 4 weeks shy of his 10th birthday, and our 8 year old is very tall so I'm not worried about them, but our youngest will be 7 and very much doesn't look 10. Will there be proof on our bands that we've paid adult prices for him so he is "allowed" to get the adult meals? Also, when I make our reservation, do I just put that we have 3 kids that are 10?

You would have to pay adult admission to the parks as well.

 

[DJWMom]

You are right, the Adult/childs meals are not seperated, but what it does do, is indicate how many adults are on your plan vs kids so you would only be able to order the number of adult meals as what you have on your package. Basically, upgrading all your kids to adults would show 5 adults on your magicband vs 2 adults + 3 kids.
They will not say anything at all about your 7 year looking younger than 10. I have always upgraded my grandkids without any problem at all. I will be upgrading my 6 year old grandson this year. And I have a grandaughter that I took when she was 11 , she is tee tiny and looks like she is 7, nothing was ever said (she loved that since she hates it when people ask her how old she is and talks about her size)
You can show them all as 10 if you want but you can also just tell the CM that you want your kids upgraded to adults so they can order off the adult menu. I'm not sure how they show that on your reservation but either way will work

Thank you so much! I just wanted to be sure that the magic band would show that we paid for 5 adults if there were any problems.

 

[aledunn]

Okay, I guess this is as good as it gets. I called Disney today to correct our email address as we have changed it. At the end of the call, I asked point blank, "Do you know if there is a 'late summer/Sept" promotion coming out this week or for gp on Monday?
His reply was, "Yeah, go ahead and book if you haven't. You're safe to assume there is something starting Monday." When I said I already had POFQ, he replied, "then Monday just ask your TA to adjust your reservation."

OKAY? NOT openly telling us just that it's FD but it's something starting. I am also grateful to the cheerful man who was very happy and full of laughter.

So does that mean Disney Visa cardholder's would be released on Monday and public Thursday?

 

[oldtink]

Getting sooo antsy for next Thursday for all of the DV'ers! I unfortunately have to wait until next Monday.. Serious anxiety about not getting FD!!

Okay, I guess this is as good as it gets. I called Disney today to correct our email address as we have changed it. At the end of the call, I asked point blank, "Do you know if there is a 'late summer/Sept" promotion coming out this week or for gp on Monday?
His reply was, "Yeah, go ahead and book if you haven't. You're safe to assume there is something starting Monday." When I said I already had POFQ, he replied, "then Monday just ask your TA to adjust your reservation."
OKAY? NOT openly telling us just that it's FD but it's something starting. clapping clapping

I booked this summer the whole package, but if we add FD to the package (had no other discounts) I have to pay for higher tickets? I am not actually rebooking, just applying the discount.

 

[DJWMom]

You would have to pay adult admission to the parks as well.

That's my plan. Pay for 5 adult park tickets on our package to get adult credits for dining for the kiddos. Works out to about $20 (each) extra for them to have more choice and better food. We found last year that we were very disappointed with several of the kids options and that my older two were often still hungry.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Getting sooo antsy for next Thursday for all of the DV'ers! I unfortunately have to wait until next Monday.. Serious anxiety about not getting FD!!

I'm right there with you. This is a surprise 16th and 21st birthday present for my daughters and I really need FD and they really want to stay in the POR royal room. I can do it without FD but I would have to cut out a lot of dining options

 

[andeesings]

' Please don't feel that way I hope this helps (makes sense) To determine the rates for your trip with FD, when you go into the Disney website, enter the resort you are wanting, adult/child info and price out your vacation using the "package" price (that is the non discounted/rack rate). Add all your options (park hoper, etc), Do not add the dining plan. This will give you the price you would pay for a FD package. Now, to get the price for a RO, you would go back to the main page and use "room only". Get the price for the room seperately. Take that price of the room only and subtract 30% (this is normally the discount for deluxe but sometimes it is 25% and sometimes it is 35%). So if your room is $300 x 5 days = $1500 x 30% = $450. Subtract that amount from your total package price that you got from package price in the rack rate price you got in the FD scenerio. Now you would need to determine, based on the number of persons in your party, could eat for that amount ($450 in this example). If you are staying deluxe and there are only 2 of you, the RO discount is normally the better deal. If you are a family, then the FD normally works out better. I will say that last year during Sept-Dec time frame, the discount on deluxe resorts was 35% which would have given you a discount off deluxe of $525 in my example above. I sure hope this makes sense Here is a more detailed breakdown using the Polynesian with 2 adults, 5 nights/6 days with PH, standard view: Total for a FD package would be $3,453.40 Total for a RO discounted package at 35% off would be $2621.10 That is a total discount of $832.30. So if the 2 adults in this example can eat for less than $832.30 then the RO discount would be the best deal for them. Breaking it down a little more, if each person eats 3 full meals per day x 2 persons you would need aprx 16 meals per person for this trip (give or take a couple meals on your travel days). That is $26 per meal you each would have to spend to make up that $832.30. That's the best I can do

No, no, this is TOTALLY helpful!!! Now the only thing I need to know is if AP discount RO rates are typically better than regular RO discounts in the fall. Is there a place anyone has tracked previous discounts?

But this gives me a great way to calculate the savings and see what comes up more. I need to do one additional calculation (that insane deluxe dining upgrade my dad insists on) but that shouldn't be too difficult someone posted it on here earlier, about $46 per person, per day.

 

[Kat016]

Getting sooo antsy for next Thursday for all of the DV'ers! I unfortunately have to wait until next Monday.. Serious anxiety about not getting FD!!

We stayed at POP the last week of October last year and had it

 

[Kat016]

Question for the experts - we have already booked our package w/dining and have paid $1000 of the total with our Disney Visa. Is that enough proof that we are a Disney Visa holder, or will we need to pay more with the card when we adjust our reservation with the free dining?

You only have to use your Disney visa for $200, so $1000 is plenty lol

 

[SPOERLX3]

Okay, I guess this is as good as it gets. I called Disney today to correct our email address as we have changed it. At the end of the call, I asked point blank, "Do you know if there is a 'late summer/Sept" promotion coming out this week or for gp on Monday?
His reply was, "Yeah, go ahead and book if you haven't. You're safe to assume there is something starting Monday." When I said I already had POFQ, he replied, "then Monday just ask your TA to adjust your reservation."
OKAY? NOT openly telling us just that it's FD but it's something starting. clapping clapping

I booked this summer the whole package, but if we add FD to the package (had no other discounts) I have to pay for higher tickets? I am not actually rebooking, just applying the discount.

Good info
Hopefully this CM knows what he is talking about.
Be prepared with a 2nd and 3rd choice on resorts, dates and room categories. POR and POFQ are both really popular resorts and normally one or the other are excluded from FD and if the resort is not excluded, certain dates and room categories can be. It is all based on how well the resorts, dates and room categories book without a promo.
I know that the CM stated that you can just call and have the promo added but if the resort, dates or room category that you are already booked with is excluded then they can not add the FD promo. All 3 have to be available for them to add the promo.
All I am trying to say is have a backup plan (or 2)

 

[oldtink]

Good info
Hopefully this CM knows what he is talking about.
Be prepared with a 2nd and 3rd choice on resorts, dates and room categories. POR and POFQ are both really popular resorts and normally one or the other are excluded from FD and if the resort is not excluded, certain dates and room categories can be. It is all based on how well the resorts, dates and room categories book without a promo.
I know that the CM stated that you can just call and have the promo added but if the resort, dates or room category that you are already booked with is excluded then they can not add the FD promo. All 3 have to be available for them to add the promo.
All I am trying to say is have a backup plan (or 2)

Our dates are fixed due to the couple we are traveling with and so our flights are booked. Our TA knows our two back up resorts and is ready to move us if necessary, but due to my fight with MS in remission, the small resort is my real target. It was included last year for Sept FD, so I am always the optimist.
I find the older I get the more grateful I am, so I will be happy...period.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Our dates are fixed due to the couple we are traveling with and so our flights are booked. Our TA knows our two back up resorts and is ready to move us if necessary, but due to my fight with MS in remission, the small resort is my real target. It was included last year for Sept FD, so I am always the optimist.
I find the older I get the more grateful I am, so I will be happy...period.

some extra pixie dust for you!
I always worry about my disboard friends that are booked at POR or POFQ.
and just want them to get exactly what they want! When they confirm your FD, let us know so we can celebrate together
I am just hoping for 2 rooms at POP for my family of 6

 

[SGMCO]

Once the promo goes out to the general public, you can book it thru the Disney website online or call in. The email you are referring to is a PIN code and yes there is a link you can click on to book your trip

Thanks, I know everyone will be calling right away which will make the phone line very busy, I hate to wait on the phone, but I will do whatever it takes.

 

[LGTD]

some extra pixie dust for you! I always worry about my disboard friends that are booked at POR or POFQ. and just want them to get exactly what they want! When they confirm your FD, let us know so we can celebrate together I am just hoping for 2 rooms at POP for my family of 6

. How do you get two rooms for one family? We have five of us and there are no options for two rooms to book if we wanted to book a pop. Would you have to schedule one room under one adult and one child and another room under the second adult and two children. Or is there a simpler way to do it

 

[Misjanuary1]

Anyone calling at 7am EST tomorrow to check for Visa? It will 4am my time in AZ so I don't want to call unless I have to...

 

[black562]

Okay, I guess this is as good as it gets. I called Disney today to correct our email address as we have changed it. At the end of the call, I asked point blank, "Do you know if there is a 'late summer/Sept" promotion coming out this week or for gp on Monday? His reply was, "Yeah, go ahead and book if you haven't. You're safe to assume there is something starting Monday." When I said I already had POFQ, he replied, "then Monday just ask your TA to adjust your reservation." OKAY? NOT openly telling us just that it's FD but it's something starting. I am also grateful to the cheerful man who was very happy and full of laughter.

Never know when it comes to a CM, which is why I always said it's a good idea to call tomorrow and Monday, on the off chance that May 1 is public day rather than visa day.

 

[CK1734]

Never know when it comes to a CM, which is why I always said it's a good idea to call tomorrow and Monday, on the off chance that May 1 is public day rather than visa day.

Hoping that it is soon. I trust Black but I NEED to get to the relief stage of this so I can move on to planning the rest of the trip.

 

[CK1734]

Okay, I guess this is as good as it gets. I called Disney today to correct our email address as we have changed it. At the end of the call, I asked point blank, "Do you know if there is a 'late summer/Sept" promotion coming out this week or for gp on Monday?
His reply was, "Yeah, go ahead and book if you haven't. You're safe to assume there is something starting Monday." When I said I already had POFQ, he replied, "then Monday just ask your TA to adjust your reservation."

OKAY? NOT openly telling us just that it's FD but it's something starting. I am also grateful to the cheerful man who was very happy and full of laughter.

Based on that above statement, from what I have learned reading this, is it seems like he might have been hinting that it goes live to everyone on Monday, as it does not appear you referenced an offer for just DV owners. That said since tomorrow is Thursday and Black's original idea is a Thursday DV release and a Monday GP release, it could be happening tomorrow.

Is anyone planning on calling at 7AM EST to see if it is on?

 

[JulieWaite118]

I'm glad that POP will have no problem. Do you think it will be around November 17th