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

[twinspluscade]

I kinda snoozed and just got my Disney Visa opened today. I should be okay to get in on the window before the free DDP goes public. Just don't know if I'll get the email before hand. I'm replanning my August trip to mid September for the free food. With 3 adults and a teen I should save near a grand.

Now I have NO IDEA of this is really true or not...but I read somewhere on one of the many threads about free dining that in order to book free dining early w/Visa "perk" you have to have been a Visa cardholder for a certain length of time. In other words, I couldn't go to the Visa website and quick sign up for a card when free dining was offered to card-holders. If I remember right, whoever wrote the post said you had to have used your card for a purchase at least once, and received the Visa bill in the mail at least once.

 

[perd]

Peace....Love....Free dining....

Ummmm...I think it's peace....love....crabs...



http://www.peacefrogs.com/joescrabshack/images/category/youth_std.jpg

 

[Flametamr]

Thats fine even if I don't get an early chance. I have actually been meaning to do it before long this rumor started. I just keep forgetting. I had another Chase card I had to cancel and open this one. I should still get in on free dining even if I don't get a day or two advantage. Surely they have enough to offer if they open it at all to the public. On top of that I get free financing of my vacation if I want to use it.

 

[Rustysmom]

Ok, I'm going hopefully the week the free dining starts and I have a Disney Visa. A TA did the original booking a couple of months ago. Would the same TA have to try to get me the free dining or is there any way I could do it myself?

I don't want to cancel and rebook if at all possible because I got travel insurance and it's non-refundable.

I don't have much confidence in my TA because he never even reminded me to make my ADR's and shouldn't he have? Good thing I know about the 180 day thing and was on the phone myself early that morning. For all I know, he doesn't even work there anymore. Do you think I should send him a little email telling him to be on the look for free dining and that we want it if possible?

 

[TravelinGal]

Ok, I'm going hopefully the week the free dining starts and I have a Disney Visa. A TA did the original booking a couple of months ago. Would the same TA have to try to get me the free dining or is there any way I could do it myself?

I don't want to cancel and rebook if at all possible because I got travel insurance and it's non-refundable.

I don't have much confidence in my TA because he never even reminded me to make my ADR's and shouldn't he have? Good thing I know about the 180 day thing and was on the phone myself early that morning. For all I know, he doesn't even work there anymore. Do you think I should send him a little email telling him to be on the look for free dining and that we want it if possible?

You can use a different TA in the same office. But you cannot take over the reservation yourself.

No, not all TA's are Disney specialists (and some that say they are, still aren't LOL), so he may have had no clue about 180 booking window. For example - I don't book a lot of Italy, so there might be some special 'trick' that agents who do tons of Italy would know that I don't. I can efficiently book your airfare and hotel and even tours, but I might miss out on some great 'secret' that a TA who specializes in Italy would get for you.

I'm big into research (just like most of us 'disney freaks' here are! ) and I often knew more about my pregnancy than the nurses at my OB's office. And my OB learned early on not to talk down to me about pg symptoms etc. So, even in a field that requires a lot of education, it is easy to be as knowledgeable (if not a bit more knowledgeable) than the professionals. Doesn't mean my OB or her nurses were not smart - I was just a well researched patient.

You're just a well researched traveler!

 

[Rustysmom]

Unfortunately they advertise that they are Disney specialists and that they are authorized by Disney with the "ears" and everything. This particular TA was recommended by someone on my birth board whose SIL used him all the time, and she would get little emails that said "A little Magic happened" when a discount came out and he was able to get it for her. He was really good in the beginning, but I'm kind of PO'd that he never reminded me about the ADRs.

Well then, I think I'm going to send him a little email letting him know about the big rumor and reminding him that I have a Disney Visa (he should know because I gave him the info to pay my deposit and told him it was a Disney visa), and asking if he could please try to get me the free dining. This way, if he answers, I'll know if he's still around. This is his last chance to redeem himself. LOL

Darn, I knew I should have just booked it myself, but I was hoping for the free dining all along and thought that a TA would have a better shot of getting it for me than I could myself, in case something was going on when it came out and I couldn't call. Oh well, live and learn. If it comes down to it, I'll just call up and book it with the free dining and cancel my reservations through him and lose the $ for the insurance. The free dining is worth more.

 

[Goofy4Disney!]

Ok, so here's my question. (I'm driving myself nuts) We are going in August anyway, I already booked two rooms at CBR for the 18th -26th. IF I HAVE to, I can go the week after instead....the 26th to maybe Sept 2nd. Am I better off just changing my reservation now...with the hope that the dates of the free dining (rumors so far) are true. Because I can imagine that once its announced about the free dining (if it is) that its going to be really difficult to get anything booked for that next week.

Danged if I do, Danged if I don't type thing? Because the 18th to 26th really works out better for us AND I've already made all our ADR's. Any chance the Free DDP would be earlier than the 26th? (nah...no such luck)

 

[macraven]

if you make the ressie the first day it is opened to the public, you will get the resort you want. they don't sell out that fast.

only the adrs fill up quickly.

you can make a second ressie for the later date, then cancel it when we all find out when the promo will be effective.

you will have to pay a deposit within 14 days of booking that second ressie but you can get it back if you cancel by 45 days out of arrival on that second date.

 

[Goofy4Disney!]

if you make the ressie the first day it is opened to the public, you will get the resort you want. they don't sell out that fast.

only the adrs fill up quickly.

you can make a second ressie for the later date, then cancel it when we all find out when the promo will be effective.

you will have to pay a deposit within 14 days of booking that second ressie but you can get it back if you cancel by 45 days out of arrival on that second date.

thats an awesome idea

 

[macraven]

all the resort rooms are included in the free dpp when it comes out, that is if it comes out.

 

[Goofy4Disney!]

Ok, last question. What if I want to arrive on the 25th? Will I need two different reservations. One for the 25th and then one for the 26th thru the 2nd? I'm thinking yes. In that case we can stay at a value one night and then switch?

 

[mking624]

Ok, last question. What if I want to arrive on the 25th? Will I need two different reservations. One for the 25th and then one for the 26th thru the 2nd? I'm thinking yes. In that case we can stay at a value one night and then switch?

Assuming this rumor is true, yes you would need two separate reservations. They will not honor the promotion prior to the promotion's start date, even if it's by one day. You would need to check in during the time frame given.

 

[silmarg]

I GOT A LETTER FROM THE DISNEY CARD TODAY!

I ripped open the envelope hoping for some news about free dining....

It was a letter saying my credit limit was increased!

What a let down!

 

[mking624]

I GOT A LETTER FROM THE DISNEY CARD TODAY!

I ripped open the envelope hoping for some news about free dining....

It was a letter saying my credit limit was increased!

What a let down!

UGH! Don't you hate when things like that happen!! It was like that for us when everyone was getting the 40% postcards...we got a postcard in the mail and we were so excited, only to realize it was for DVC.

 

[DisneyBound2007]

I wasnt on the boards much today...what is the current story on news regarding the free dining. I am already set for Sept. 15 - 25 and just wanted to see if I would fall withing the assumed range of days it will be offered. I am also a Disney Visa holder, and would like to know how they would notify us, or if we should contact disney each day starting in April and ask if it is being offered....

 

[mirthmaiden]

I GOT A LETTER FROM THE DISNEY CARD TODAY!

I ripped open the envelope hoping for some news about free dining....

It was a letter saying my credit limit was increased!

What a let down!

Yeah I can see why that would be upsetting
I don't have a VISA card, so that sounds nice to me.

 

[Ziggy]

Yeah I can see why that would be upsetting
I don't have a VISA card, so that sounds nice to me.

What sounds nice getting the credit limit increased or hopes dashed?

 

[mirthmaiden]

What sounds nice getting the credit limit increased or hopes dashed?

Getting a credit limit increase. Some of us are not as fortunate in that department due to financial circumstances. It's like complaining about your good luck??

As far as the hopes dashed, that may be a bit premature. Just because PP got a piece of mail about something else doesn't mean it isn't going to happen. S/he could get another letter today. And no doubt if there is a Disney VISA promotion, it will be all over these boards in about 3.4 seconds flat. S/he won't miss out on it.

Look, it was a joke. That's what I do. Sorry to have offended anybody.

 

[Ziggy]

Getting a credit limit increase. Some of us are not as fortunate in that department due to financial circumstances. It's like complaining about your good luck??

As far as the hopes dashed, that may be a bit premature. Just because PP got a piece of mail about something else doesn't mean it isn't going to happen. S/he could get another letter today. And no doubt if there is a Disney VISA promotion, it will be all over these boards in about 3.4 seconds flat. S/he won't miss out on it.

Look, it was a joke. That's what I do. Sorry to have offended anybody.

It didn't offend I was just unclear on what you meant

 

[PrincessCM]

Keeping my fingers crossed for Free Dining!!!!!