Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[acciodisney]

What time should I call? Will it be midnight or at 6:00am east coast time? I will have to wait till next Wed. When it's released to the public.

Last year the offer was available online at midnight, but I am not sure if that's the case for the Visa card holders. The phone lines open at 7 am est, though.

 

[scard192]

Last year the offer was available online at midnight, but I am not sure if that's the case for the Visa card holders. The phone lines open at 7 am est, though.

The GP Offer on August 1 was available on line at midnight. For the Disney Visa offer you have to call to prove you have the card and put a $200 deposit on it.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I feel like my TA thinks I'm nuts I told her about FD tomorrow (we have a Disney Visa) and she said she hasn't heard about it... now I wonder i fI should just book it myself at 7am and transfer it to her after the fact. We HAVE to have POR (we're a family of 5 and can't afford Deluxe) and I don't want to lose out because she doesn't jump on it at 7am exactly

 

[111mom111]

There is a separate allotment for the GP offer. In addition I have seen FD rooms still available up until the end of the offer every year. It's just that some resorts and room categories are limited is why people will call or book as soon as it is offered. If your dates/resort/room category are flexible you will be fine.

Thank you, that gives me hope!

 

[scard192]

just don't go to MK on Monday. Josh's site said not to go that day & we went anyway. BIG MISTAKE!!! (sorry Josh!) the rest of the week was good, not empty, but good.

you probably experienced the same thing we did in October. Problem was that of the 6 days we were at the parks MNSSHP was held on 4 so if you want to see Wishes and the parade you have no choice but to go on the "non recommended" day and it was horribly crowded. I assume the MVMCP causes the same issues.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

oops.

 

[Wdwvacationdad]

I feel like my TA thinks I'm nuts I told her about FD tomorrow (we have a Disney Visa) and she said she hasn't heard about it... now I wonder i fI should just book it myself at 7am and transfer it to her after the fact. We HAVE to have POR (we're a family of 5 and can't afford Deluxe) and I don't want to lose out because she doesn't jump on it at 7am exactly

I really trust our TA...but in the words of Han Solo, "I've got a bad feeling about this..." Someone has misinformation...

 

[wdwmaw]

I feel like my TA thinks I'm nuts I told her about FD tomorrow (we have a Disney Visa) and she said she hasn't heard about it... now I wonder i fI should just book it myself at 7am and transfer it to her after the fact. We HAVE to have POR (we're a family of 5 and can't afford Deluxe) and I don't want to lose out because she doesn't jump on it at 7am exactly

I agree, I would book it myself if you have to have POR. By the time she gets in the office and you get ahold of her those rooms for 5 may be gone. I would not want to chance it.

 

[jackfussell]

I made a reservation for September a few months ago through a TA for room/tickets only. If free dining goes live tomorrow for Disney Visa holders (which I am) how does this work?
Do I have to cancel the previous reservation and hope to get a new one? Or can the TA simply add the free dining plan to my existing reservation?
Hopeful and nervous!
Jack

 

[TanJDis2014]

I called the main line, 1-407-939-5277. It was quick to get thru the automated part & get a CM. Some of the more experienced members might have a better number to call??

Does anyone have a better phone number? That would be great!

 

[pooch]

you probably experienced the same thing we did in October. Problem was that of the 6 days we were at the parks MNSSHP was held on 4 so if you want to see Wishes and the parade you have no choice but to go on the "non recommended" day and it was horribly crowded. I assume the MVMCP causes the same issues.

and I selfishly wanted the longer evening EMH too!

 

[TanJDis2014]

The GP Offer on August 1 was available on line at midnight. For the Disney Visa offer you have to call to prove you have the card and put a $200 deposit on it.

Thanks for the reply!

To do it online do I click the "explore our special offers" box on the main page of disney world's website?

 

[scard192]

and I selfishly wanted the longer evening EMH too!

we would have been better off waiting for the 2nd Wishes at 10PM but with a 2 year old there was not way that was going to work even though she had a nap.

 

[mommyrosa2]

My niece just told me that she booked, and paid for, her first family trip to the world in November (wish she had come to me first). If the dates on the first page hold true, she could get FD and save some $$. She's currently booked at POP but said she'd like to upgrade to CSR, business class, if available. Problem? Well, she doesn't have a Disney Visa and would have to wait until next week BUT I do. Could she make a whole new reservation and place the deposit using my Visa? Am I able to do it for her?

 

[SPOERLX3]

My niece just told me that she booked, and paid for, her first family trip to the world in November (wish she had come to me first). If the dates on the first page hold true, she could get FD and save some $$. She's currently booked at POP but said she'd like to upgrade to CSR, business class, if available. Problem? Well, she doesn't have a Disney Visa and would have to wait until next week BUT I do. Could she make a whole new reservation and place the deposit using my Visa? Am I able to do it for her?

Only if you are associated with the reservation. I wanted to pay for my daughters deposit in January but since I was not on the reservation or linked through MyDisneyExperience as a travel party, I couldn't use my DV to book early for her.

 

[martinmont]

My niece just told me that she booked, and paid for, her first family trip to the world in November (wish she had come to me first). If the dates on the first page hold true, she could get FD and save some $$. She's currently booked at POP but said she'd like to upgrade to CSR, business class, if available. Problem? Well, she doesn't have a Disney Visa and would have to wait until next week BUT I do. Could she make a whole new reservation and place the deposit using my Visa? Am I able to do it for her?

She can cancel up to 45 days prior to her check in date regardless of how much she paid. They will just refund her the money. So u can book for her (only if you are going as well) and have her cancel her reservation or she could just wait and apply the discount to her reservation next week herself. They would refund her the difference that she paid.

 

[Yellowshoes23]

I have the boards for awhile but just now registered. I have a question/thought about pincodes. We always get pincodes both through snail mail and email. Usually 4 or more per year and always free dining. I looked at last years offer and the dates for it began August 25th while it seems the general public and visa card offers started September 2. I am just wondering if that will be the case this year? I applied and got a Disney Visa but from what I have read since I do not have the card in hand it will not do me any good tomorrow? We are already booked just want to apply free dining. Our trip start date is a couple of days before the likely Aug. 31 start date so I am in panic mode right now. Don't want to have to lose those days!

 

[deakam]

What a helpful thread! Here's my question: We're going Dec. 13-17, and were planning to spend Dec 18-19 at a Universal hotel to get early admission to Harry Potter. But now we may be in FL in August for family obligations and could go to Harry Potter then instead rather than in December; won't know for sure for a while. If I booked free dining Dec 13-19 and later decided that we only wanted to stay through the 17th to go to a Universal hotel for two days, can I drop those two days without losing my whole reservation? Alternatively, has anyone done Harry Potter in December while staying at a Disney hotel (without early admission and express pass), and if so, was it manageable? Thanks for any help anyone can provide!

Whether it was manageable or not does not matter. With the new section opening some time this summer no one can even predict what December or August for that matter, will be like. I am also planning a 2 day trip to Universal in September and trying to decide if we should stay at Universal or travel between the two. The cost difference is minimal but if we stay at Disney we do get free dining. I was planning on purchasing the 2 day park to park with Express pass and traveling from Disney. Chances are the new Harry Potter stuff will not be available for Express pass--like the old rides---but we thought if we had to wait in line for those at least we would not have to wait for the others. I am also waiting for the park hours so I can make reservations for dinner somewhere at Disney. I really hate waiting. LOL

 

[ARAITHEL]

Only if you are associated with the reservation. I wanted to pay for my daughters deposit in January but since I was not on the reservation or linked through MyDisneyExperience as a travel party, I couldn't use my DV to book early for her.

I read on another board that you can book up to three rooms with your dV for FD?

 

[LovesBelle]

If you are going to Universal, definitely stay at one of their hotels. It is worth it for the Front of the Line pass alone. We really enjoyed our Universal hotel and would certainly go back and stay there again.

Thanks--that's what I thought might be true.

Whether it was manageable or not does not matter. With the new section opening some time this summer no one can even predict what December or August for that matter, will be like.

You're right about that! I guess when I call tomorrow I'll ask what happens if I decide to back out of the last two days of the reservation, since I just don't know yet if we're doing Harry Potter in December. If we do decide to go, though, then I guess we'd better stay on site at Universal for those days.