Free Dining - check in date question

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Hello to everyone!

I should know this but apparently I'm having a moment

Can you all remind me how the free dining works (if it's offered of course)? As of now, we are checking in Sunday, November 13th. We are considering changing that to Saturday, November 12th to take advantage of the SWA fare sale for the $80.00 flight down. I know that historically free dining has covered the week we are going and it should start that Sunday. *If* we do arrive on Saturday, how would that affect our free dining? Would we be covered the entire time or worse case scenario - from that Sunday forward? If we have to pay out of pocket for that Saturday no problem, however I don't want to miss the entire free week of dining due to checking in one day earlier. I know with the room discounts they are date specific but I can't remember the situation with free dining and checking in.

Thanks so much in advance!
Heather

 

[havoc315]

Hello to everyone!

I should know this but apparently I'm having a moment

Can you all remind me how the free dining works (if it's offered of course)? As of now, we are checking in Sunday, November 13th. We are considering changing that to Saturday, November 12th to take advantage of the SWA fare sale for the $80.00 flight down. I know that historically free dining has covered the week we are going and it should start that Sunday. *If* we do arrive on Saturday, how would that affect our free dining? Would we be covered the entire time or worse case scenario - from that Sunday forward? If we have to pay out of pocket for that Saturday no problem, however I don't want to miss the entire free week of dining due to checking in one day earlier. I know with the room discounts they are date specific but I can't remember the situation with free dining and checking in.

Thanks so much in advance!
Heather

Free dining is based on arrival date. So in theory, *if* free dining is offered starting November 13th, then you wouldn't get it at all. But there is an easy work-around for this --- You book a 1 night reservation for the 12th, and book a second reservation starting on the 13th. And then you would get FD for the 13th onward.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Free dining is based on arrival date. So in theory, *if* free dining is offered starting November 13th, then you wouldn't get it at all. But there is an easy work-around for this --- You book a 1 night reservation for the 12th, and book a second reservation starting on the 13th. And then you would get FD for the 13th onward.

Thank you! I understand exactly what you're stating! I thought about this too so you've confirmed it for me.

Thanks again,
Heather

 

[su_A_ve]

I'd change the res to start on the 12th. Even if FD starts on the 13th, it would be easy to just drop the 12th and get a one night room only (you might need to change rooms). You can even get the tickets from your package res the day before.

If FD starts on or before the 12th, then you will simply make the change.

It's always easy to drop a day than to add one - you might have availability. Of course, if you do this within 45 days, then you will be hit with the $50 fee. A way around this is to book 1-day base. Then when you drop the day and increase the tickets and/or options, if the price becomes higher than the original you won't be charged a fee, just the difference...