Free Dining 2016

[slbgnb]

If I book my hotel for Sept 2016 and then they come out with free dining, I can just call and add the dining, right? I don't have to already have chosen to have the dining package when I booked my hotel to begin with...is that correct? Thanks!

 

[Lee & Kerry]

As long as your stay time falls on the free dinning time lines, yes just add it, and at the resort that is offering the free dinning.

 

[BugsDaddy]

The resort typically only holds a certain amount of rooms for the free dining promotion. It is not a given that you can just have the discount applied to your reservation. There has to be availability at the resort and room category that you have reserved.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

The resort typically only holds a certain amount of rooms for the free dining promotion

1) And, as is well known, the number of rooms available at a resort fro Free Dining is decreasing every year.
2) Plus, the resorts offering ANY Free Dining are being reduced.
4) Your selected resort may not be participating next year.

 

[slbgnb]

1) And, as is well known, the number of rooms available at a resort fro Free Dining is decreasing every year.
2) Plus, the resorts offering ANY Free Dining are being reduced.
4) Your selected resort may not be participating next year.

So, if the resort we choose isn't offering it, an option would then be when calling to add free dining - we could ask to switch to a resort that is offering it? Any thoughts on the best way to know RIGHT when it's released (IF it's released), so we can call and try and get it? Thanks.

 

[aaarcher86]

So, if the resort we choose isn't offering it, an option would then be when calling to add free dining - we could ask to switch to a resort that is offering it? Any thoughts on the best way to know RIGHT when it's released (IF it's released), so we can call and try and get it? Thanks.

Yep. You'll just need to ask to switch at the same time and they can tell you what's available.

Usually this site is the first to know. Sometimes Disney Visa holders get first dibs so we know ahead of time when it goes to the public.

 

[slbgnb]

Sometimes Disney Visa holders get first dibs so we know ahead of time when it goes to the public.

I do have the Disney Visa - do you check their web site regularly? I never get emails from them with new offers or anything....

 

[Jadyreen1282]

If your room qualifies just hit the "modify" button. If you are there now book a bounce back and you don't have to wait for the promo if it does get offered.

 

[aaarcher86]

I do have the Disney Visa - do you check their web site regularly? I never get emails from them with new offers or anything....

I don't get emails either. Usually one person here will and they'll post the info. Their site gets updated with deals later in the day.m

 

[slbgnb]

Thanks!!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I don't get emails either.

1) Ditto.
2) The only emails I get are from a guy in Nigeria saying I inherited $14,000,000.

 

[HopperFan]

I do have the Disney Visa - do you check their web site regularly? I never get emails from them with new offers or anything....

Disney Visa did not get advance booking this year. Seeing how quickly the general public had problems getting the rooms they wanted even without Disney Visa advance booking, it seemed obvious there were a lot less rooms offered. Don't depend on Disney Visa on telling you, I've had it since the beginning and always learned about it here first. My Disney email usually came way after general public booking opened.

 

[stitchfan75]

Honestly booking ahead of time did nothing for us but cause a headache. We ended up switching resorts because it's not as easy as "just call and add dining". Our original resort had nothing and I don't think one family we know going in November ever got the promotion. We had to be very flexible with our resort and dates to actually get it.
I will be bookmarking any threads for FD 2016 and not booking until it drops.

 

[Vernie822]

I believe you may have to cancel and rebook. When we originally booked in 2014, we planned to stay at POR. Free dining was not offered there so they had to cancel our existing reservation and rebook at CSR where the promo was available.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You need to have a package booked to add the free dining. Doesn't have to be with dining, but it needs to be a package. A room only reservation will not act as a placeholder for a package, it will have to be cancelled and rebooked as a package.

This would mean that you would have your deposit and anything you paid toward the stay refunded, and you would have to put down a new deposit on the new reservation. Your payment on a room only reservation cannot be transferred to a package reservation.

The free dining package will have to include at least 2 day park tickets. In 2015 it was required that those tickets be park hoppers.

If the resort, stay dates and/or room category you booked ahead of time are not available on free dining, you'll need to change the resort, category and/or dates to get the promotion. So you may need to be flexible.

 

[slbgnb]

The free dining package will have to include at least 2 day park tickets. In 2015 it was required that those tickets be park hoppers.

UGH. This piece I did not know. We never park hop, as I feel it just takes too much time to exit the park..travel to the new park....and enter said new park. The package isn't a problem, as I would be booking a package...but hoppers?

I'm starting to wonder if we'll be able to get the free dining. We are somewhat flexible, but will probably already have flights booked, so dates will be set. We are a family of 5, so resorts are somewhat limited. I can't believe all the restrictions now...between not all the resorts participating, having to add hoppers, not all the rooms in the resorts that are participating. It's very disappointing, as that would be such a HUGE savings.

 

[sharonabe]

UGH. This piece I did not know. We never park hop, as I feel it just takes too much time to exit the park..travel to the new park....and enter said new park. The package isn't a problem, as I would be booking a package...but hoppers?

I'm starting to wonder if we'll be able to get the free dining. We are somewhat flexible, but will probably already have flights booked, so dates will be set. We are a family of 5, so resorts are somewhat limited. I can't believe all the restrictions now...between not all the resorts participating, having to add hoppers, not all the rooms in the resorts that are participating. It's very disappointing, as that would be such a HUGE savings.

This year there was also the option of adding Water Park & More instead of the park hoppers, so if that is something your family would be interested in, you could do that, but you did have to add one or the other.

 

[Vernie822]

For a family of 5, the $300-ish to add park hoppers could still be a pretty big savings compared to a room only discount!

 

[slbgnb]

No...we never do the water parks, so we would have to add the hoppers. I do realize that adding the park hoppers is certainly better than not having free dining, just would prefer to not have to spend the extra $300.

I just hope it works out some way. I can't decide between booking AofA or CR. I know AofA seems riskier IF free dining is an option. But, if I can't get free dining for some other reason, and I've already booked CR, then chances are I might not be able to get a suite at AofA. SO.....I'm not sure what to book.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Remember that AoA is a value resort, and you'll get the quick service plan free if you stay there... if you want the regular plan you'd have to upgrade to it, which is an additional cost.