Free Dining 8/26-9/22-Anyone Else Hear This?

[mirthmaiden]

I feel like next they're going to say this ones only for tall women named Shirley who live in Hoboken and owned Pinto's in 1976.

huh? What did I win?

I gotta agree with previous posters on this selectivity with regard to discounts. I understand giving perks (small perks) to VISA cardholders and other "loyal" customers. However, I don't really get what the benefit is to targeting individual households over others with a huge discount (40% off for selected people). A hotel room is a hotel room. Are people who live in New Jersey or Minnesota more deserving of that hotel room at a discount than I am because I live in Virginia? We'd be occupying the same space, buying the same tickets, eating the same food. And I don't know that giving these people a big discount will necessarily bring them back again any sooner. There are so many variables that affect where and when a family travels. Yes geography plays a part of it, but is it so important that it's OK to alienate loyal customers who aren't lucky enough to get a discount? (with the exception of people who live very close, but then, they get their own discount, right?)

With some small exceptions, I think the discounts should be across the board for everybody - first come, first serve.

 

[Pooh Friend]

Now raise your hand if you feel confident that the CM's do not know what they are talking about most of the time????

 

[kdzgon]

Now raise your hand if you feel confident that the CM's do not know what they are talking about most of the time???? ...t is actually going to happen, "if" anything pertaining to free dining.


Denise

 

[SGMCO]

Now that would suck! We, as Canadians, are not even entitled to get the Disney Visa cards! So even if I wanted to get the credit card, because I am Canadian, we don't get the chance to have the credit card.

I still pray that they will offer it like they did last year. A couple of days before to Dsney Visa card holders and after that, to the general public.

Here's to positive thinking!

Wasn't FD already offered to Canadians?
I thought that I read that somewhere?

 

[Reese]

Wasn't FD already offered to Canadians?
I thought that I read that somewhere?

I wish. We only had the option of getting it with the bounceback like everyone else. I'm still patiently waiting and hoping.

 

[kdzgon]

Great Post...

....I have felt all along that Disney should do more to reward those that go above and beyond...Visa holders...AP...multiple visits (we go at least 4 times per year).

This is coming from somebody that NEVER qualifies for free dining, because we are AP holders and you HAVE to buy tickets for the plan.

Hey WAIT ONE MINUTE...That's not fair!

A) Problem is free dining is a marketing plan, not a reward system (means we are sometimes OOL), and B) next time, do the math to be sure: you can book free dining with 1-day base pass(es), and then apply the value of those passes to your next AP renewal. Depending on the number of nights and/or the size of your family, the net savings with free dining might still be greater even if you never use/apply the base tix.

 

[Rapunzel]

We booked a package for Oct. back in early Feb. already WITH Dining. So if (and I know the key word is IF) they do free dining in early October (when we're already going) would we have to cancel our reservation and get a new one, or would they apply the free dining if I called?

 

[mom2my3kids]

What were the bounceback dates??

 

[keliblue]

What were the bounceback dates??

Beginning of August till End of Sept.

 

[craig15]

We have been Disney Visa members for a few months now. What website is everyone checking for info? Is it Disneyrewards.com ?

www.chase.com/disney

It's the credit card's web site. After you register, there is a link to view current offers.

 

[TravelinGal]

We booked a package for Oct. back in early Feb. already WITH Dining. So if (and I know the key word is IF) they do free dining in early October (when we're already going) would we have to cancel our reservation and get a new one, or would they apply the free dining if I called?

The discount only applies to NEW bookings - so your current one would have to be cancelled and the new one booked - Do NOT try this on your own! (meaning don't do it on the website - CALL your TA or Disney Travel Company) You don't want to risk losing BOTH reservations and all your money paid down so far!

If/when this comes out the Disney lines will be super busy as soon as people hear about it - you WILL have a wait, so put on a speaker phone or headset phone and find something to amuse yourself while everyone else is doing the same thing!

 

[stepdisney]

huh? What did I win?

I agree with you Shirley . It should be based on availability of rooms and the calls should be handled in the order in which they were received .

Basically, we can't do anything about it but doesn't it feel better just to talk about it? We always say that Disney does not allow double dipping on discounts but wouldn't getting reward points and free dining be double dipping? I say two scoops for every Tom, Dick and Shirley!

 

[mickey2000]

I called Disney Dining today to make my September res for the first 10 days. The agent told me quite a few weekends in September are booking up and a few weeks in September are also getting quite full and hard to find a good time for a reservation.
Bottom line during our conversation as he has done this for the past three years. He thought that this year looked busier than others and that there would PROBABLY be no new free dining offered to others.
Who knows, I'll keep wishing

 

[TravelinGal]

I called Disney Dining today to make my September res for the first 10 days. The agent told me quite a few weekends in September are booking up and a few weeks in September are also getting quite full and hard to find a good time for a reservation.
Bottom line during our conversation as he has done this for the past three years. He thought that this year looked busier than others and that there would PROBABLY be no new free dining offered to others.
Who knows, I'll keep wishing

That's probably everyone making ADR's who don't even have ressies yet - just IN CASE free dining comes back. (or they have ressies, but plan on cancelling them if the free dining isn't offered)
And then, if/when they can't get their package low enough - if the dates are wrong or the free DDP doesn't happen - they, in juvenile fits, don't cancel their ADR's that won't be used - thereby taking space away from those who are going regardless of what happens!

 

[mickey2000]

The discount only applies to NEW bookings - so your current one would have to be cancelled and the new one booked - Do NOT try this on your own! (meaning don't do it on the website - CALL your TA or Disney Travel Company) You don't want to risk losing BOTH reservations and all your money paid down so far!

If/when this comes out the Disney lines will be super busy as soon as people hear about it - you WILL have a wait, so put on a speaker phone or headset phone and find something to amuse yourself while everyone else is doing the same thing!

Last year my AAA agent modfied my same reservation with a code ! I did not have to make a new one. This morning when I made my new res Disney told them that the code would be the way to change it to free dining like last year IF one is released.
That simple, and last year, I even kept the room discount part of my reservation

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

I guess it just depends on which CM you talked to, When I called to book my trip, I was booking either way... I booked my entire trip then asked the CM about the free dining rumor and he said he was almost positive it would be offered... and this was AFTER I already booked my trip!
I am hoping like everyone else!!!

Either way.... I am looking forward to my vacation!!!!

 

[TravelinGal]

Last year my AAA agent modfied my same reservation with a code ! I did not have to make a new one. This morning when I made my new res Disney told them that the code would be the way to change it to free dining like last year IF one is released.
That simple, and last year, I even kept the room discount part of my reservation

What your TA does 'behind the scenes' may look like just applying a new code - but it often involves making a new booking, cancelling the existing one and transfering money to the new one. But what do I know? I've just been a TA since 1994.

 

[keliblue]

That's probably everyone making ADR's who don't even have ressies yet - just IN CASE free dining comes back. (or they have ressies, but plan on cancelling them if the free dining isn't offered)
And then, if/when they can't get their package low enough - if the dates are wrong or the free DDP doesn't happen - they, in juvenile fits, don't cancel their ADR's that won't be used - thereby taking space away from those who are going regardless of what happens!

BINGO !!! Disney works on a #'s basis.. If the rooms are full and restaurants full... would you offer free dining too ??? I don't think so

 

[Pirate at Heart]

Hey all,
I am a Disney Visa cardholder. Last year the discount came out the very end of March (I got an e-mail) it gave the card holders 4 or 5 days to book before everyone else. I booked CSR on the 1st day! Next day changed to CBR, then back to CSR, after that WL! and so on and so forth. Point is by the time I finally made up my mind the promo for Disney Visa cardholders was over and there were still plenty of rooms to be had! So relax!

BTW:
I will post IF I get the e-mail to give you all the heads up. We are going in October this year (40% off promo) August was way to hot for us!

 

[Ziggy]

BTW:
I will post IF I get the e-mail to give you all the heads up. We are going in October this year (40% off promo) August was way to hot for us!

That would be lovely if you could do that