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

[vrajewski10513]

I have a question regarding booking multiple rooms. We have a big family trip for next year planned, and are hoping for free dining. We're going to have 13 people across 4 rooms. Am I able to book all 4 rooms on my Disney visa card, but make 4 separate reservations under the name of someone staying in each room? If it is possible to do that, can they then provide their own credit card at check-in for charging priviledges? I'm just trying to see if theres a way to do this that doesn't have 4 separate people caught up in the fiasco that FD release day is known to be.

 

[Dawn Dis]

I have a question regarding booking multiple rooms. We have a big family trip for next year planned, and are hoping for free dining. We're going to have 13 people across 4 rooms. Am I able to book all 4 rooms on my Disney visa card, but make 4 separate reservations under the name of someone staying in each room? If it is possible to do that, can they then provide their own credit card at check-in for charging priviledges? I'm just trying to see if theres a way to do this that doesn't have 4 separate people caught up in the fiasco that FD release day is known to be.

I know you can book all of them on your card and do all of the "switching" once free dining comes out as I did that last year. As for charging to the room. As long as you square up the night before checkout at your front desk you can use anything to pay room charges. We put a credit card down at check in but paid with gift cards at checkout. Hope that helps. Good luck

 

[vrajewski10513]

I know you can book all of them on your card and do all of the "switching" once free dining comes out as I did that last year. As for charging to the room. As long as you square up the night before checkout at your front desk you can use anything to pay room charges. We put a credit card down at check in but paid with gift cards at checkout. Hope that helps. Good luck

It does help, thanks. I think the only thing I'm worried about is my credit card being linked to everyone elses magic bands. Even if its not charged right away, with that many people were never going to be able to look at a list of charges and know who bought what to divide it up. I guess my question is, can each room have a different credit card linked to their magic bands at check in if I'm the one that booked all of the rooms?

 

[ForeverDance]

Does anyone know how Disney handles guests who aren't staying the entire time? For example, if we take our trip my oldest DD will be leaving on day 6 of our 12 day trip. Can we get tickets that are shorter for one person? How about dining, can that be shortened?

 

[smitch425]

Does anyone know how Disney handles guests who aren't staying the entire time? For example, if we take our trip my oldest DD will be leaving on day 6 of our 12 day trip. Can we get tickets that are shorter for one person? How about dining, can that be shortened?

Everyone must have the exact same components for tickets and dining. If she leaves early, you can use her extra dining credits, as they are pooled at check in and not tied to individual people. For tickets, you could all start with 6 days, but that would prevent you from booking FPs for the rest of the days until you upgrade the tickets at the park. The price of a 10 ticket for her, even though she won't be there that long, might be worth paying just for the FPs. Lol

 

[Dolphindee]

It does help, thanks. I think the only thing I'm worried about is my credit card being linked to everyone elses magic bands. Even if its not charged right away, with that many people were never going to be able to look at a list of charges and know who bought what to divide it up. I guess my question is, can each room have a different credit card linked to their magic bands at check in if I'm the one that booked all of the rooms?

I did this several years ago. I booked under my Visa and did the initial $200 deposit for each person. They gave me the money in advance. They gave me separate numbers for each of the rooms and they then called in with their reservation number and added their credit card. It was right before Magic Bands but I would imagine it would be exactly the same. I just described the situation when I booked and she added a note to our reservation. How she described it was that there was a number for the linked rooms, then separate reservation numbers for each individual room. We all checked in separately. I hope that is helpful.

 

[lazer]

It does help, thanks. I think the only thing I'm worried about is my credit card being linked to everyone elses magic bands. Even if its not charged right away, with that many people were never going to be able to look at a list of charges and know who bought what to divide it up. I guess my question is, can each room have a different credit card linked to their magic bands at check in if I'm the one that booked all of the rooms?

We've been able to split up our credit cards based on rooms (and magic bands..during mb testing). So, I don't see it being a problem

 

[newestkg06]

I have heard that you can even assign different credit cards to Magic Bands for the same room, so I don't think it should be an issue. Just make sure you talk to someone who seems to understand on the phone. And clarify again at the front desk at check-in.

 

[vrajewski10513]

I did this several years ago. I booked under my Visa and did the initial $200 deposit for each person. They gave me the money in advance. They gave me separate numbers for each of the rooms and they then called in with their reservation number and added their credit card. It was right before Magic Bands but I would imagine it would be exactly the same. I just described the situation when I booked and she added a note to our reservation. How she described it was that there was a number for the linked rooms, then separate reservation numbers for each individual room. We all checked in separately. I hope that is helpful.

We've been able to split up our credit cards based on rooms (and magic bands..during mb testing). So, I don't see it being a problem

I have heard that you can even assign different credit cards to Magic Bands for the same room, so I don't think it should be an issue. Just make sure you talk to someone who seems to understand on the phone. And clarify again at the front desk at check-in.

Thank you everyone, thats exactly what I needed to know!

 

[piglet1979]

Haven't booked the trip yet because I am waiting for free dining. I did already make ADR though. I can't believe how limited the reservations are this far out. Even calling 180 days ahead I could not get into be our guest for breakfast,lunch, or dinner. I don't even care about eating there. My daughter just wants to see inside the castle. Any tips for this one?

Keep trying. I didn't get a reservation either at first and I was on at 6am on the 180 day mark. A few days later one opened up. I know for us we have changed our dining plans a few times. I am sure others do the same. I would try a least once a day.

 

[donp]

Everyone must have the exact same components for tickets and dining. If she leaves early, you can use her extra dining credits, as they are pooled at check in and not tied to individual people. For tickets, you could all start with 6 days, but that would prevent you from booking FPs for the rest of the days until you upgrade the tickets at the park. The price of a 10 ticket for her, even though she won't be there that long, might be worth paying just for the FPs. Lol

As a clarification, I think that this is actually against the rules with the dining plan. You are supposed to only use the dining credits for the people that they belong to. That does not mean that no one would find out, but I think this is frowned upon.

 

[smitch425]

As a clarification, I think that this is actually against the rules with the dining plan. You are supposed to only use the dining credits for the people that they belong to. That does not mean that no one would find out, but I think this is frowned upon.

Not in this case. This is advice straight from Disney. When a member of your party cannot stay as long as the others in the same room, you are free to use their credits. In theory, the person leaving early could use all of their credits before they leave if they choose. If they do not, the remaining meals can be used by others in the room.

 

[Donald - my hero]

It does help, thanks. I think the only thing I'm worried about is my credit card being linked to everyone elses magic bands. Even if its not charged right away, with that many people were never going to be able to look at a list of charges and know who bought what to divide it up. I guess my question is, can each room have a different credit card linked to their magic bands at check in if I'm the one that booked all of the rooms?

Since you need to enter a PIN when you use your Magic Band to pay for anything (including using dining credits) it would be extremely difficult for anyone who doesn't know the PIN to put a charge against yours. Just don't share it!

 

[SouthJersey]

What's free dining?

 

[aaarcher86]

I have a question regarding booking multiple rooms. We have a big family trip for next year planned, and are hoping for free dining. We're going to have 13 people across 4 rooms. Am I able to book all 4 rooms on my Disney visa card, but make 4 separate reservations under the name of someone staying in each room? If it is possible to do that, can they then provide their own credit card at check-in for charging priviledges? I'm just trying to see if theres a way to do this that doesn't have 4 separate people caught up in the fiasco that FD release day is known to be.

Just adding in there is a limit of booking 3 rooms with a promotion, so they may not let you do four at one time.

 

[khurley23]

April feels a hundred days long.......this waiting is making me crazy!!

 

[TDC Nala]

If you use a credit card to make a deposit for the room, that does NOT have to be the credit card you use if you want to charge back to the room. You can set up multiple rooms to charge to different cards. You can even ask them to set it so guests staying in the same room chan charge to different cards.

 

[Rivermonster]

What's free dining?

Just in case you are being serious and not sarcastic (which I'm kinda assuming to mean lol), here's a helpful link to explain. Otherwise, forgive me for being a dork and allowing it to fly right on above my head

http://**************.net/2015/03/31/the-best-ever-free-dining-faq-in-the-history-of-the-world-2/

 

[Grumpyhaus]

We may want to be prepared not to hear anything until August

Let’s take a look at the months in the previous few years that Disney has announced the free dining packages, the are as follows:

• August 2010
• May 2011
• August 2011
• March 2012
• July 2012
• May 2013
• August 2013
• May 2014

 

[petrymom]

April feels a hundred days long.......this waiting is making me crazy!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!! I totally agree!!!!!!!!