Free Dining Blackout Dates Question

[DisneyMom14]

Last December free dining was applied to our entire stay because we arrived on the last day of free dining. Is this a normal procedure? Our next stay would include some days on the free dining promotion and continue for a few more days - during blackout days. Would free dining apply to my entire stay like in December?

 

[ILuvMulan]

Yes, if you arrive during the free dining period it is applied for your entire stay. I called today and changed our reservation to apply free dining and we arrive the day before the blackout dates in January.

 

[DisneyMom14]

That is great to know! I hope they keep that policy!

 

[Nadjalu]

Yes if you start your visit during FD and then stay into blackout dates you are "grandfathered" into the FD.

(just booked this morning and this is our situation as well).

 

[HesATramp]

I'm wondering if, since we're arriving during a blackout, how it would work?? We would be there 2 blackout days before the FD starts back up in Jan (arrive on the 7th, FD starts on the 9th); our travel dates are not flexible (we're taking 2 kids out of school for a week as it is), would they apply the FD promotion to the dates that it would be offered??

I have another FD question as well. I understand that the QS dining plan is the free one offered at our resort level (which, again, is not flexible....we LOVE going to the POP! LOL!), and that an upgrade in the dining plan would cost more. My question is would the upgraded dining plan be discounted or regular price??


I tried to get helpful information in the last FD post that I posted on, but my questions weren't really answered, so hopefully you guys can help me out! Saving money is a good thing! LOL!




Until next time,
John

 

[Faldred]

The only date that matters is your arrival date. If you arrive during a blackout period, you will not get free dining, even if your stay extends into a free dining period.

Consider a "split stay", where you actually have 2 reservations, with the second one starting in the free dining period. According to our resident ticket experts, you can now, as a matter of policy, get your tickets on such a reservation early, meaning you can have the dining plan attached only to the second reservation, but pick up and use your tickets for the first reservation.

As for upgrades, you can upgrade the free dining to another plan for the difference in plan costs. For 2011, QSDP to DDP would be $11 non-peak and $13 peak per night for adults (no charge non-peak, $1/night peak for children).

 

[HesATramp]

So if we were to do a "split stay," we wouldn't get the dining plan for those two days?? Or would we have to do an entire package for those two days, and then for the rest of the days???


Why does everything have to be so difficult???


Until next time,
John

 

[purple figment]

So if we were to do a "split stay," we wouldn't get the dining plan for those two days?? Or would we have to do an entire package for those two days, and then for the rest of the days???

Until next time,
John

For your split stay you would be better off doing a room only reservation for the first 2 nights and pay OOP for food. If you want the Dining Plan for the first two nights it would be a package which would involve buying tickets and paying full price for the Dining Plan so I doubt it would save you any money and you would have an extra set of tickets.

On your second reservation you'll be getting a package that includes a minimum of 2 day tickets and free dining for everyone in your party. You can pick up your park tickets on the 7th and start using them, but dining credits won't start until you check in on the 9th.

You will have to check out, then back in on the 9th, but if you let the desk know of your two reservations you will most likely not have to change rooms.

 

[DisneyMom14]

Good information from everyone.

Last time we did FD, we stayed at Pop (love it too!) and upgraded to the regular dining plan and found it was definitely worth the money to upgrade.

 

[HesATramp]

Thanks for the info!

Unfortunately, paying OOP is NOT in the cards, and we've already made the dining plans, and don't want to cancel. I think we're going to go with the package for the two days and then the five...and see what happens there! LOL! If there's not a huge savings, we don't have to change the plans; no harm, no foul!


Going to call tonight and see what happens....wish me luck!


Until next time,
John

 

[marciemi]

According to our resident ticket experts, you can now, as a matter of policy, get your tickets on such a reservation early, meaning you can have the dining plan attached only to the second reservation, but pick up and use your tickets for the first reservation.

Could you please tell me who or where you found this information? We did as suggested for our trip in January - our trip starts the day before free dining so booked room only for the first night and the package starting after that, but were adamantly told that we could NOT get the tickets until the second day. And doing a search on these threads, that's what I'd found as well to be the policy. I'd love it if that were the case!

 

[purple figment]

Could you please tell me who or where you found this information? We did as suggested for our trip in January - our trip starts the day before free dining so booked room only for the first night and the package starting after that, but were adamantly told that we could NOT get the tickets until the second day. And doing a search on these threads, that's what I'd found as well to be the policy. I'd love it if that were the case!

I think this is a relatively recent implementation. If you go to the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board there's a sticky at the top that is all about tickets. Early pick up is addressed in #15I. Cheshire Figment is a CM who works in ticketing and has always given accurate information.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684