Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[Nermel9]

Hi everyone! I've scoured the forums the past few weeks trying to find an answer to my question, but am no further ahead and with the FD deadline looming it was time to post. My DH and I are booked with MM promo at POR Sept 20-27. We are really hoping to try POFQ (better deal for our room choice) if it is included in FD, and if not we would stay at POR. We are in Canada so don't qualify for Disney Visa and must wait it out until the GP FD booking dates. I'm concerned that POFQ, if included, will be all booked up! Can/should I book a stay at POFQ for the same week, and then I just need to hope I can get FD added to that? They probably won't let me do this I realize, I just need someone to tell me that for sure
If not, we don't love the feel of the POR AB rooms, and to guarantee we don't get those we spend extra to get a Royal guest room. What are the chances that if I book a regular room I'll get to be in MB and not AB?
Sorry so convoluted- not used to keeping it short/sweet!
Lastly- thanks to everyone for all the amazing info! This has been super educational!

I'm pretty sure that even if you are booked at POFQ, and then if you try to add Free Dining and all if the rooms are booked, you won't be able to get it so it doesn't really help to book in advance. I could be wrong though! I'm hoping for POFQ also and I'm guessing I won't get it because I don't have all day to sit on hold on Thursday!

 

[Nermel9]

So I asked this a few pages ago but I don't think anyone saw it! Thursday, when everyone is calling to get their free dining, is it really going to be that bad with waiting on hold? I only have an hour that I can call so I'm hoping I get through quickly! I've never booked FD with my Disney Visa, only a GP offer and I remember when I did that, I didn't get through until about 1:00...

 

[Meldev]

September 26 or 27 is the dates I am looking to arrive on too! I had kinda bad vibes that those dates would be excluded, so happy that (hopefully) they are in! Now come on Thursday

Checking in 26th!
Now my dilemma is do I call in on May1st and just make new rezzies or try to change my promo to FD from MM??

 

[jamieluvsdisney]

I just got off the phone with Disney reservation. I was concerned about the Disney Visa my dad has not being in my name when I call Thursday. My parents have a room booked as well as me and my husband, and my sister and her husband have a room also. She said we could add free dinning for up to three rooms on my Dad's visa and the other 2 rooms did not have to be in his name - just linked on MDE. She also asked if I had heard the rumors of when free dinning was coming out. I told her and she said thank you for telling me, Disney will not let them know the exact date. She also said she would like to be prepared for that day. She also asked if it was a site called "Dad's WDW" that was announcing free dinning and I told her that was not where I got my information. After I said Thursday for Visa holders, she said I will definetely be keeping Thursday in mind and thanked me for the information. Very nice lady.

 

[Kat016]

When booking free dinning with the Disney Visa card, do you have to pay for the whole package with the card or can you just put down the deposit and pay the rest with a different card?? Thanks

Just $200

 

[DisMama5]

Anyone heard of any resorts excluded yet, I've been following this thread pretty good but saw this year it looks like we mainly only have the leak to the projected dates, any word on the resorts that are excluded. I'm hoping for AOA suites to be included.... I'm interested to see how this goes because AOA suites were included in the last summer FD offer last year but not in the fall FD offer, now with them all coming out at once together I wonder if AOA will be fully included or excluded this year.... Can't wait till this offer opens up!!

Not that I'm not jumping for joy that black and smitch got us these dates because I am

 

[Kat016]

Recommendations, now that all dates will be offered: We were planning 9/24-10/1, but how would 11/12-11/19 be? Is it still hot enough to swim? How is the Nov weather? Will the Christmas decorations all be up? Yippee for FD!!!!

We went from 10/26-11/2 last year and it was definitely pool weather

 

[Kat016]

I think (someone will correct me if I'm wrong) that it's a separate allotment of rooms. So I don't think the visa cardholders could take them all. Of course disney could get enough bookings and lower the amount of rooms allotted for the general public discount.

You are correct they have a certain allotment for Visa card holders and a separate allotment for the general public.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

If not, we don't love the feel of the POR AB rooms, and to guarantee we don't get those we spend extra to get a Royal guest room. What are the chances that if I book a regular room I'll get to be in MB and not AB?
Sorry so convoluted- not used to keeping it short/sweet!
Lastly- thanks to everyone for all the amazing info! This has been super educational!

Go to this thread http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3245277 and ask this question in bold there. Venomhatch and Andrewilley will be able to answer you there. I am pretty sure if you request a MB room you can usually get it because a lot of families of 5 stay here and need the AB rooms to fit. Those 2 guys will really be able to help you on that and Venom will be able to send you with room request fax.

 

[Kat016]

So I asked this a few pages ago but I don't think anyone saw it! Thursday, when everyone is calling to get their free dining, is it really going to be that bad with waiting on hold? I only have an hour that I can call so I'm hoping I get through quickly! I've never booked FD with my Disney Visa, only a GP offer and I remember when I did that, I didn't get through until about 1:00...

I've heard people being on hold for 3-4 hrs. They bring CMs in to work OT answering phones. I was one of the lucky recipients to get a PINlast year so I wasn't included in the hold times. So be prepared....it's going to be long

 

[Kat016]

Anyone heard of any resorts excluded yet, I've been following this thread pretty good but saw this year it looks like we mainly only have the leak to the projected dates, any word on the resorts that are excluded. I'm hoping for AOA suites to be included.... I'm interested to see how this goes because AOA suites were included in the last summer FD offer last year but not in the fall FD offer, now with them all coming out at once together I wonder if AOA will be fully included or excluded this year.... Can't wait till this offer opens up!! Not that I'm not jumping for joy that black and smitch got us these dates because I am

The first page of this thread lists all the details...dates and resorts included

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

I think (someone will correct me if I'm wrong) that it's a separate allotment of rooms. So I don't think the visa cardholders could take them all. Of course disney could get enough bookings and lower the amount of rooms allotted for the general public discount.

Last year I booked at the same time as my friend. We were literally on the phone with a CM at the same minute. I got what I wanted and she had to take Riverside. The Royal rooms were still available 2 weeks later For the week we went. I did notice that the weeks before us had a lot of rooms with FD available but we had already purchased plane tickets. By the way--I did not book With the Disney Visa.

When I stayed last year on a FD promo this is how it went. I was sitting at work one night and thought.... I want to go to Disney...I went to the web site and found some dates that I liked, saw free dining was a deal they had, picked it and booked our room. This was probably in late June or early July, we went November 2nd. No problems at all getting a room. Remember this is a deal used to fill rooms, so hopefully there is enough to go around! So excited to sit on hold on Thursday..

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Oh this makes me happy!! We are going 11/15-11/23, but I think I will add a day with free dining! My Disney Visa is in my hubby's name but I have a car with my name on it. Is it ok if I call? Do you just call the regular Disney # or is there a special # for the Disney Visa?

I call all the time and pay with my hubby's card.

 

[Grumpy4196]

If these dates are indeed correct and I decide to add 2 more nights to the front end of my trip to take advantage of FD will the entire party on the resi have to check in then. I know at least some of my party could not make it then.

 

[Nermel9]

I've heard people being on hold for 3-4 hrs. They bring CMs in to work OT answering phones. I was one of the lucky recipients to get a PINlast year so I wasn't included in the hold times. So be prepared....it's going to be long

Well all I have is an hour so I'll pray that I get lucky and get through quickly! If not I'll just have to try again on my break at 12:00! Hopefully something will still be available!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Just popping in to ask a question for my friend (Hi Jodi ) who is planning her first WDW trip in the fall. Their plan is to travel Oct 24 - 11/2. If FD is offered and one of the "windows" is Oct 26 - 11/1, she will have two ressies...a RO for Oct 24-26 and FD pkg 10/26 - 11/2. Will she be able to buy tix in the pkg for 8 days AND access those tix on 10/25 before her pkg ressie starts? My thoughts are yes....given MDE loads/links your resort ressies and tix separately but I don't want to give her bad info!

TIA for your help

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Do you really think the day for Visa holders will be that bad??? I can only call between 7 and 8 and then I have to go to work!! I was hoping of get right through at 7, I didn't think THAT many people would be calling...

And when should I call, 6:55 or exactly 7?

I have tried many times to call before 7 am and the lines are never open until exactly 7.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Recommendations, now that all dates will be offered:
We were planning 9/24-10/1, but how would 11/12-11/19 be? Is it still hot enough to swim? How is the Nov weather? Will the Christmas decorations all be up? Yippee for FD!!!!

Hubby and I checked in last year on Nov 15th at WL. We loved it - but I do not like the heat ( I know that sounds funny when you're going to Florida). It actually did get hot at least one day (85-ish). There was only one day it was too cold to swim. The Christmas decorations went up at the hotel during our stay.

 

[phabric]

This promotion should be available as soon as Thursday, May 1 for Disney Visa holders and Wednesday, May 7 for the general public.

The likely dates included are:
August 31 - October 3
October 26 - November 1
November 9 - November 20
December 12 - December 23

Note: First post has been updated.

We are going Dec 20-27.

If this is the correct dates. do I have to do 2 reservations
1) Dec 20-22 We will pay for the dining plan for the two days
2) Dec 23-27? Free dining

Or- I know I have to call in for free dining, will they just start the free dining on Dec 23?

 

[mapleleafbelle]

I'm pretty sure that even if you are booked at POFQ, and then if you try to add Free Dining and all if the rooms are booked, you won't be able to get it so it doesn't really help to book in advance. I could be wrong though! I'm hoping for POFQ also and I'm guessing I won't get it because I don't have all day to sit on hold on Thursday!

Starting to wish I didn't have a reservation existing so I could book online after midnight!!