Free Dining 2015: The aftermath!

[22Tink]

I must have lucked out as I got the room at POP I wanted and the dates I wanted with FD. I also upgraded to the DDP with no problems. I feel so bad for all of you who had troubles. Pixie Dust that everyone finds what they're looking for!!

 

[revdisney33]

Was able to get my room with FD. Then went back into the system immediately after to register my parents who always go with me and DD. And no rooms were available. Grrrrr. I keep looking.

 

[Motherofcats8]

I think part of the issue is that you could book free dining starting around 4:00 am EST. By the time 7:00 am rolled around and people started to call in, many of the rooms were already booked.



Happens every time Disney has a special promotion or discount. Ever try to call in to reserve a special event for Epcot Food &Wine Festival? Same issue - phone lines jammed, waits of up to 2 hours, sometimes it takes 30 to 45 minutes just to get through. Same thing occurs when the Candlelight Processional Dinner packages are released. You'd think Disney would get it together and bring in extra CM's to handle to the flood of phone calls.

I don't think it has anything to do with how many castmembers are there to answer calls. The circuits get jammed and you can't get through, even if there are people there. It overloads the system, just like when a blackout happens in the summer when there is a heat wave and everyone is using their air condition. Since it's so easy to book online, we have stopped calling Central Reservations., and when we do, it's for a problem, and we call at off hours.

 

[Barnabe]

I don't think it has anything to do with how many castmembers are there to answer calls. The circuits get jammed and you can't get through, even if there are people there. It overloads the system, just like when a blackout happens in the summer when there is a heat wave and everyone is using their air condition. Since it's so easy to book online, we have stopped calling Central Reservations., and when we do, it's for a problem, and we call at off hours.

But the online system crashed too. Same as it did when lunch ADR's opened for BOG. Disney knows this happens everytime they open free dining and various other travel deals, but they've never tried fixing their overtaxed systems.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

Just some information for any of you still looking for free dining...

I know they opened more rooms or some reservations have been cancelled. I've seen lots of people going into Disney now and getting free dining. Maybe go take a look and see if you can't get it now.

 

[TheDisGuy]

I was goign to add that I have heard there have been a bunch of rooms opened up for FD, including at POR.

 

[UtahGuy1986]

Reading over these posts I feel lucky to have booked my dates (Sept 8-12) with FD at POP. I had to book a Standard Pool View, instead of just the standard.

 

[tash439]

We actually booked on May 5th online and had success with our resort and room type. We are staying 10 nights at Coronado Springs Resort in a standard room. We are excited and can't wait til September!

 

[emmamomma]

We just added an extra day on august 15th In PoR so we have 11 nights of fd!

 

[ExExPirateShopGirl]

I have been out of the WDW loop for 4 years while one child finished college and the next started, so the rollout wasn't on my radar and I wasn't poised for action the day FD became available to book. Just got the bug to visit again this past weekend for F&W in the fall so I went online and got the resort and dates I wanted for FD right off the bat. I'm sure it's true that people are cancelling or adjusting their plans or Disney is releasing more rooms for the promotion.

 

[jliucci]

When I tried to get free dining the first week it was all booked. So we took the late summer discount on a standard at pop. I happened to check yesterday and I scored a garden view at POR with free dining!! Super excited

 

[7scarpozzi]

I changed my reservations about 3 times and couldn't get free dining, but found a room at the Caribbean Beach Resort for the week we're going on Tuesday.

My wife is happy because we're saving about $250 off what we were paying and we're getting the park hopper option. With 2 young kids, it's nice to have options.

 

[Sue1016]

I guess persistance pays off. I was feeding my baby (3 months old) when I got an email - this was 7:09 EST I finished feeding him an called around 7:22am 24 calls later,,,,,, on hold for 3 hours (with no music) and I got through! I was soo worried I wasn't going to get thru cause i didn't hear music. After 1 hour of talking to cast memeber 4 reservation packages were updated - free dining - saving my family $2600! (fam of 12 staying at all starr sports for 7 nights)

 

[Randy1969]

Has anyone received a pin code for fd for mid August? We are going down August 22 to 31 but are out of the fd

 

[Chubby]

Has anyone received a pin code for fd for mid August? We are going down August 22 to 31 but are out of the fd

we just got the most recent pin and it was for room discount

 

[DisBuckMan]

we just got the most recent pin and it was for room discount

I received one about a month ago for room discount and free hoppers.

 

[Randy1969]

With no free dining changes will be made to trip

 

[emmamomma]

I got the room discount one too

 

[wooclan]

Did you have to sign up somewhere to get PINs for discounts for room and dining?

 

[emmamomma]

No they just come to my email. The more i fool around on the my disney app the more often i get the codes.