Free Dining Fall 2015? (and a whole lot more)

[alievans719]

I would take the time to calculate it before you call. Pretend to book a room at full price (write that number down) then add tickets, then add dining. Writing the price down in between each one so you can calculate the cost of each separate component. When FD is released your cost should be the room at full price plus tickets, plus the upgrade cost (I can't remember how much it is to upgrade to regular DP but I'm sure you can google it). This way if the. CM quotes something completely different you can be alarmed. It is always a good idea to do this at a few resort options and/or room categories. hTH

Thank you! That's what I'll be doing.

One last question, if anyone knows: if you adjust your package, and change the hotel, etc, is my Memory Maker purchase affected? Because I bought it at the $150 price, and I know it's $20, but I'm cheap, haha. I guess if I'm saving money changing my package around for more than $20, I'll just deal. haha

 

[mjallemand]

I'm hopeful that the Little Mermaid rooms are included this year, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[unwritten01]

We drive 10 hours also. Last trip our DS' were 7 and 15 months. They both did great. Just have plenty of things for them to do on the drive down. Ours mostly watched movies, played on the iPad, and colored.
We're driving again in November, and they'll be 9 and 3.

Which way do you drive Amber?

 

[aaarcher86]

Thank you! That's what I'll be doing.

One last question, if anyone knows: if you adjust your package, and change the hotel, etc, is my Memory Maker purchase affected? Because I bought it at the $150 price, and I know it's $20, but I'm cheap, haha. I guess if I'm saving money changing my package around for more than $20, I'll just deal. haha

No, that's not affected.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Thank you! That's what I'll be doing.

One last question, if anyone knows: if you adjust your package, and change the hotel, etc, is my Memory Maker purchase affected? Because I bought it at the $150 price, and I know it's $20, but I'm cheap, haha. I guess if I'm saving money changing my package around for more than $20, I'll just deal. haha

It shouldn't change that price as long as the whole reservation isn't cancelled.

 

[kingd4066]

Hmm...now I'm wondering again if we should book through a travel agent since we will be trying to book 3-4 rooms depending on the resort. It seems like it may be kind of complicated to orchestrate! I would hate to mess it up, but I'm also having control issues in trusting a travel agent. We can be flexible on the resort but not on our dates. Will it really be that hard to book a GP offer ourselves? I'm thinking that calling would be the best route to go if we book it ourselves so that our reservations are linked. Reading some of the PP does make me wonder if a TA gives you an extra advantage. We are definitely waiting to see if FD is for sure coming before we do anything. Maybe we wait until the DV offer comes out and then book with a TA with the hope that they can switch us to FD when the GP offer arrives???

I think if you are well organized and have booked a ressie before with Disney you can do it! Make sure you have everyones info, names ages addresses etc. Know your resort choices and who is staying where and I bet you will do fine. Lol, I love the planning and booking, it just adds more fun to the trip! Good luck!

 

[jlundeen]

About changes to your existing reservations....for what it's worth....

On one of the forums I was watching at one time, there were posts from folks that adamantly stated that if you change "anything" on your existing reservation, that the new price would be based on "current" prices, not what you originally booked at.

However, we have changed our existing reservation (booked before the ticket increase) for this fall several times (we use a great Travel Agent!) and the new price is still lower than the ones on the Disney website.

So...that's our experience...any one else had the same or different experience?

 

[ELSA711]

About changes to your existing reservations....for what it's worth....

On one of the forums I was watching at one time, there were posts from folks that adamantly stated that if you change "anything" on your existing reservation, that the new price would be based on "current" prices, not what you originally booked at.

However, we have changed our existing reservation (booked before the ticket increase) for this fall several times (we use a great Travel Agent!) and the new price is still lower than the ones on the Disney website.

So...that's our experience...any one else had the same or different experience?

I talked with rep last week and she confirmed this exactly. We booked last year for this October and we are under last years hotel rate and ticket rate, she said if I take another promo offered or make changes they need to rebook everything at current rates. Both of which increased this year
I'm guessing that it will still come up less for my family but you never know.

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

Which way do you drive Amber?

We go 65S, and get off to take 231 through Dothan, then we end up going through Tallahassee and Gainesville. My husband drives the whole way, so I don't pay attention to road numbers. Lol! He corrected me..our drive is about 9 hours, but our potty breaks, gas, and food stops push it to 10 hours.

 

[aaarcher86]

The only thing that would change would be the ticket pricing. Resort rates are set and the rack rates don't change throughout the year.

The ticket cost is minimal.

 

[jlundeen]

I talked with rep last week and she confirmed this exactly. We booked last year for this October and we are under last years hotel rate and ticket rate, she said if I take another promo offered or make changes they need to rebook everything at current rates. Both of which increased this year
I'm guessing that it will still come up less for my family but you never know.

OK, I guess the changes I made were not promo changes, just resort switch, PH and memory maker addition. If FD happens, I'll watch for the change in prices compared to existing ressie price.

THanks!

 

[BStew]

Does anyone know what the RO discount was last Fall? I am trying to do some math to compare FD and RO. Thanks!

 

[alievans719]

Alright, so I've priced all the values and moderate hotels with a rough free dining estimate( I know that it might be slightly different but that's okay, because with all of them, I'm saving money ). I need to make a list of the ones I want first, and then next and so on, so my question is: For non-Visa customers, if I was on the line at 7:00AM the first day FD is available, what are the odds all value and moderate hotels get booked before I get on the line? I want to be realistic lol.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

Alright, so I've priced all the values and moderate hotels with a rough free dining estimate( I know that it might be slightly different but that's okay, because with all of them, I'm saving money ). I need to make a list of the ones I want first, and then next and so on, so my question is: For non-Visa customers, if I was on the line at 7:00AM the first day FD is available, what are the odds all value and moderate hotels get booked before I get on the line? I want to be realistic lol.

The odds would be very bad that all value and moderates would be booked that quick. Just be prepared with a few options of resorts, like first choice, second choice and it is possible you would have to change room type, standard to preferred etc. But unlikely you would not get your resort of choice if you are trying the the larger resorts, especially Pop.

Your best chance to get what you want with the public offer, is be on the line when it goes live at 7am est. Be willing to be on there for hours if needed. You can go back and read last years thread and see people who were even on hold 2-3 hours got what they wanted. So do not panic Just be prepared

*Edit - Oh, and I will also be on the phone calling the second the public offer goes live, so you will have plenty of people on the boards posting and updating during the wait and craziness!!! We'll laugh and cry together

 

[alievans719]

I'm anticipating a long time! But unfortunately work will be a hindrance for me. Hopefully we have a confirmed date soon, because Friday would work best because I'll probably be able to wait out, but I'm praying it doesn't take too long! I may have to say I have a doctor's appointment and I'll be a little late. 0

 

[Honeybee83]

This is one of those times I'm glad I work 11am-9pm. At least I can get ready for work if I'm on hold.

 

[00zero00]

We are hoping to change to POR or CBR. Either way, we are still fine with the Little Mermaid rooms that we already have reserved. Luckily, I happen to be at my sister's house Monday morning, so we will both be in the same room trying to get everything scheduled with probably three different phone lines.

 

[Just Love Disney]

What are the benefits of booking over the phone if/when FD is released vs. booking it online?

 

[5kidsmommy]

What are the benefits of booking over the phone if/when FD is released vs. booking it online?

Some people I imagine will be calling in because they need to change existing reservations. I plan on going online to see if I can adjust my reservation first and if not I may just book a new trip. I do plan on being on the phone first though. I am just going to cover all my bases.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

I'm anticipating a long time! But unfortunately work will be a hindrance for me. Hopefully we have a confirmed date soon, because Friday would work best because I'll probably be able to wait out, but I'm praying it doesn't take too long! I may have to say I have a doctor's appointment and I'll be a little late. 0

I will be telling my boss ahead of time that I have some errands that I must take care of that morning and I will be in later I did that back in 2013 too. I got lucky though and it was only about an hour. I'm prepared for longer though, I'll just have to work longer that evening yuck! haha! But so worth it!

I actually am supposed to be at work at 7am est....