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

[donp]

I've been following this thread for about a week now, but I must ask, is it really that hard to book free dining once it is available? We have reservations in December at Pop Century and it would be incredible if we were able to get FD. Can anyone explain what the process will be like once it is (or if it is) available?

I think that it is how flexible you are. If you are okay with maybe having to book a preferred room instead of standard, or tweaking your days be 1-2 days, or would be okay with going to a different resort altogether, I don't think that you would have trouble if you were relatively quick to try and book. If your plans are very SPECIFIC, that might preclude you from getting it. The Disney Visa folks usually get first crack at it, and then it opens up to everyone. The benefit of the Visa is the early booking, but the downfall is that you have to do it by phone. For the general release, you can book online, but in your case, you would either have to call and try and "add" FD to your existing ressie (which is somewhat of a misnomer as noted multiple times above in this thread), or cancel your current ressie and book online. Hope that helps.

 

[alievans719]

I feel so silly asking, but can someone direct me to what PINs are, and how you get to have one? Everyone mentions one, and I get that they're a code for certain offers(I think), but how do you get to be one of the people that it's offered to?

 

[Jojo h]

I feel so silly asking, but can someone direct me to what PINs are, and how you get to have one? Everyone mentions one, and I get that they're a code for certain offers(I think), but how do you get to be one of the people that it's offered to?

Cindyrella has a nice answer to this question on page 88 of this thread

 

[Honeybee83]

Still having problems with MDE and the webpage. It won't let me make any dining reservations. Of course the reservation office is closed. Any tips?

 

[mjallemand]

Oooh, yeah, that's a good point. They probably got flack for all the blackout dates last year, and if it's further reduced or completely changed this year they don't want all the buzz to turn negative. I'm anxious to see what happens.

I'd prefer free dining, but I'll take a discount of any kind before I put in a reservation. Why pay full price if I don't have to?

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

There were 5 of us that stayed on property back in October 2000. We didn't know about the dining plan until we were booking it at the travel agents and found out that the dining plan was FREE while we were going to be there. Talk about bonus! Last October my daughter and I stayed off property....we decided there and then that in the future its stay on property and dining!

My daughter and I are going this October and have booked All Star Movies with DDP. I was really hoping to get the plan free this time as well, but I decided to book now anyway in case price goes up AND no free plan in offered. My question is, if it turns out the free dining is offered during our dates can I rebook with the free dining offer? Once you booked are you stuck with what you already have? We did add 2 days after the initial reservation, so that should be bonus points for us right? LOL From what I've read so far (soooooo much to read!lol) I do understand that the values only offer the quick serve and you can pay to upgrade, and that it may even be beneficial to upgrade to a moderate resort for total free dining. Either way we are still going (Happy Birthday to me!!), but if we could save some moolah and possible go to a moderate, that be awsome!

Last year's free dining offer did not include All Star Movies. If you really want free dining you may want to look at other resort options.

 

[noahsketomom]

ok, experts.....
Really hoping for free dining (along w everyone here). I have four kiddos 14,12,10&8 and they eat a lot!!!

Would you recommend booking a package now and changing it when/if dates come out, or waiting? If the former, I assume my TA can change it for me if I ask her to?
We are hoping for September dates......

Thanks for any advice!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

ADR day in 3 days. Is it still true that ADRs online open at 6AM and phone reservations at 7AM? It has been two years, so I always need to be sure it didn't change, because I know Disney loves change.

 

[luvdisney87]

I've been following this thread for about a week now, but I must ask, is it really that hard to book free dining once it is available? We have reservations in December at Pop Century and it would be incredible if we were able to get FD. Can anyone explain what the process will be like once it is (or if it is) available?

Here's my experience with free dining FWIW. In 2009 when free dining was released, I received an email and pondered over it for several days before booking at POR. That was an August release. We went in October and had no problem making ADRs. In 2012 I got an email at 2pm from Visa (in July) called and was answered right away. Booked the resort and ADRs I wanted for November. Last year found out about free dining here(before it opened) and started calling right away and was on hold for almost an hour.
I was also one of those people who made a reservation earlier and I will not do that again. I will wait until a discount is released. We were going to change our reservation to POR and we all know how that turned out!

 

[petrymom]

Since this wait it driving me crazy I broke down this morning to check for a pin code attached to my name....... nothing...... ugh this waiting game is driving me crazy!!!!!

 

[totebagg]

ADR day in 3 days. Is it still true that ADRs online open at 6AM and phone reservations at 7AM? It has been two years, so I always need to be sure it didn't change, because I know Disney loves change.

It's still the same. Online at 6am with phones opening at 7am.

 

[alievans719]

Cindyrella has a nice answer to this question on page 88 of this thread

Of course, the first page that I haven't fully read, it was there. Thank you! And thank you Cindyrella!

 

[RedWolf95]

I feel so silly asking, but can someone direct me to what PINs are, and how you get to have one? Everyone mentions one, and I get that they're a code for certain offers(I think), but how do you get to be one of the people that it's offered to?

Mousemisers has a good write up on PIN codes....

http://mousemisers.hubpages.com/hub/disney-pin-codes

 

[albertperk]

This suspense though!! Anyone have any juicy rumors yet? I've been watching like a hawk as well and am ready to add any dates to my reservation if need be. Come on free dining where are youuuuu!!

I'd love to have a Disney VISA but sadly it's not offered in my area! Grrrr

 

[sukhakuli]

ok, experts.....
Really hoping for free dining (along w everyone here). I have four kiddos 14,12,10&8 and they eat a lot!!!

Would you recommend booking a package now and changing it when/if dates come out, or waiting? If the former, I assume my TA can change it for me if I ask her to?
We are hoping for September dates......

Thanks for any advice!

That depends, are you going no matter what? If you are going to go even if FD doesn't come out, I'd go ahead and book. When I was booking a few months ago, things were already selling out. We knew we wanted the Yacht Club, and they're doing a refurb, which reduces how many rooms are available, plus F&W makes the EPCOT resorts more desirable, so we booked. We were able to use the 40% military discount, so if FD doesn't show up, we will stick with that. The cost difference for my family (4 kids, too, 12, 10, 7, and 2) is pretty much the same between the room discount and the FD plan. It's like Disney planned it that way...

We're using a TA, too, and she'll call up and switch us to a package if FD comes out. I don't have to sit on the phone all day.

 

[tinklvsu]

I've been following this thread for about a week now, but I must ask, is it really that hard to book free dining once it is available? We have reservations in December at Pop Century and it would be incredible if we were able to get FD. Can anyone explain what the process will be like once it is (or if it is) available?

I guess it varies depending on what room type and resort you're trying to get. I think its evolved a lot over the past few years also... I remember two years ago, I received a PIN for free dining in the mail, had a list of dates to choose from throughout the year...I held on to that sucker for 4 months before calling and booking a reservation. Now that I've found these boards, I feel the need to call the moment the lines open up on day one. LOL ..... We have gotten PIN codes every single year...Last year, we received it by email AFTER free dining had already been released. The only perk was having additional resort options to book .... Last year I called to modify my existing reservation, I was on the phone for about 15 minutes holding.

 

[donp]

I guess it varies depending on what room type and resort you're trying to get. I think its evolved a lot over the past few years also... I remember two years ago, I received a PIN for free dining in the mail, had a list of dates to choose from throughout the year...I held on to that sucker for 4 months before calling and booking a reservation. Now that I've found these boards, I feel the need to call the moment the lines open up on day one. LOL ..... We have gotten PIN codes every single year...Last year, we received it by email AFTER free dining had already been released. The only perk was having additional resort options to book .... Last year I called to modify my existing reservation, I was on the phone for about 15 minutes holding.

Wow, give me some of that every-year-PIN pixie dust!

 

[Camaro305]

Current "RUMOR" is Visa on 4/27, GP on 5/1.

 

[vicarrieous]

REMOVED LINK


Chip & Co had an interesting article reflected the dates above. OMG I WOULD BE SO PUMPED!

 

[Camaro305]

Links allowed here?