Free dining: I'm beginning to despair

[KMcCP]

As long as your start date falls within the dates available, and you have booked an onsite package (or a room only you can convert to a package), AND your package fits the minimum requirement for nights and tickets (whatever that turns out to be.) There may also be issues with room availability in your chosen resort. If they can't find a room in your chosen resort in the sale, you'll have to have a second choice.

Thanks! We're staying in AoA in the LM rooms the first week of December. I'm not sure if that will even be an offered week from the looks of it. And the LM rooms seem extremely popular. I can always hope!

 

[mousefan]

the pin code information i got for free dining a few weeks ago said

For arrivals most nights 9/30–10/4/12; 10/19–11/1/12; 11/9–11/15/12; 11/23–11/29/12; 12/10–12/13/12.
Book now through 7/28/12.

so wondering if the FD will not be released for general publc till the end of this offer ?

 

[smitch425]

the pin code information i got for free dining a few weeks ago said

For arrivals most nights 9/30–10/4/12; 10/19–11/1/12; 11/9–11/15/12; 11/23–11/29/12; 12/10–12/13/12.
Book now through 7/28/12.

so wondering if the FD will not be released for general publc till the end of this offer ?

Entirely possible. Last year the GP offer was released on Aug. 3. The deals for this year have been coming out ahead of previous year's schedules, so my guess it could be anytime between mid July and early August. If we get to mid-August without a GP FD deal, it may not ever come, but I do believe it will be released soon.

 

[DisneyLover75]

I sure hope so. I'm anxious!

 

[dbennett3899]

I was able to piggy back off my sisters Pin for free dining this year, but I'm sure they'll release something around August time frame for the GP. Dates maybe a tad different depending on what rooms fill up with the pins but I wouldn’t fret too much.

 

[CraigInPA]

It's regular dining at mods and deluxe when FD is offered.

Actually, that's not how it's worked historically. The moderate resorts typically get quick service dining, while deluxe resorts get regular dining. One can, of course, upgrade for the difference in retail price between any two plans. I did so with free regular dining, upgrading it to deluxe.

Craig

 

[DisneyGuess]

Actually, that's not how it's worked historically. The moderate resorts typically get quick service dining, while deluxe resorts get regular dining. One can, of course, upgrade for the difference in retail price between any two plans. I did so with free regular dining, upgrading it to deluxe.

Craig

We've always gotten the regular DDP when staying at a moderate resort, without upgrading. Any general public offer of FD I've seen in the last year or so, has been free QSDP for values, while the mods & deluxes get the regular DDP for free.
PINs are the only things I've seen for FD where values & mods get free QSDP while only the deluxes get the regular DDP for free.

 

[Enter User Name]

If I stay at a value with QSDP and am unhappy with it can I upgrade to DDP mid trip?

 

[TDC Nala]

I was hoping that "if" a FD general public code was coming out for the late Nov/December dates that it would be offered before the CP packages came out next week.

Probably not. Maybe the thing to do is book one now, and then cancel it if you need to.

If I stay at a value with QSDP and am unhappy with it can I upgrade to DDP mid trip?

No. Any upgrading has to be done at least 3 days prior to arrival.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmoore718

It's regular dining at mods and deluxe when FD is offered.

Actually, that's not how it's worked historically. The moderate resorts typically get quick service dining, while deluxe resorts get regular dining. One can, of course, upgrade for the difference in retail price between any two plans. I did so with free regular dining, upgrading it to deluxe.

Craig

Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[Amy&Dan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmoore718

It's regular dining at mods and deluxe when FD is offered.

Actually, that's not how it's worked historically. The moderate resorts typically get quick service dining, while deluxe resorts get regular dining. One can, of course, upgrade for the difference in retail price between any two plans. I did so with free regular dining, upgrading it to deluxe.

Craig

Actually there was a free dining offer in 2011, that was QSDP for the mods. However, all previous years were the regular DDP for mods. And our free dining for our March 2012 trip was the regular ddp for mods. I do believe some of the current pins are back to QSDP for mods, while other current pins are for the regular ddp for mods. Who knows what a general public offer (if there is one) will be for the mods.

Heck I remember the days when the values got the regular ddp during free dining. I think that all stopped when they introduced the QSDP.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[crz4mm2]

So if you are at a Value and have QSDP can you pay the extra to upgrade?

I am hoping FD is released to public and I can score...

 

[smitch425]

So if you are at a Value and have QSDP can you pay the extra to upgrade?

I am hoping FD is released to public and I can score...

Yep

 

[crz4mm2]

Yep

awesome. thanks.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Heck I remember the days when the values got the regular ddp during free dining. I think that all stopped when they introduced the QSDP.

Heck, I remember when the free dining for values was regular ddp, AND the regular ddp included tips and APPETIZERS. And you could get dessert with breakfast.
We will never again eat as cheaply as we did that trip.

That said...bring on free dining, I'll upgrade because I have to, and WDW knows it because I'm a sucker for WDW. LOL

 

[Violet Parr]

Should we book our room and then call when FD does come out? Or do we have to wait?

VP

 

[Port Orleans fan]

Should we book our room and then call when FD does come out? Or do we have to wait?

VP

This isn't directed towards you Violet Parr, but you brought up a good point.


I don't understand why people book a room (or package) with Disney, and then wait for FD to come out? What incentive does Disney have that will encourage them to release any type of discount(s) if their quota is being filled?

I'm going to laugh (and cry) if one year too many people book rooms and/or packages and Disney doesn't release FD. I'm sure people will be wondering what happen to all the discounts Disney use to offer?

 

[Mariep26]

This isn't directed towards you Violet Parr, but you brought up a good point.

I don't understand why people book a room (or package) with Disney, and then wait for FD to come out? What incentive does Disney have that will encourage them to release any type of discount(s) if their quota is being filled?

I'm going to laugh (and cry) if one year too many people book rooms and/or packages and Disney doesn't release FD. I'm sure people will be wondering what happen to all the discounts Disney use to offer?

For me, I am going whether FD is released or not so having a room booked is more important than getting FD. I agree it seems silly to book if you truly can't or don't want to take the trip unless you can get FD.

 

[DisneyLover75]

Heck, I remember when the free dining for values was regular ddp, AND the regular ddp included tips and APPETIZERS. And you could get dessert with breakfast.
We will never again eat as cheaply as we did that trip.

That said...bring on free dining, I'll upgrade because I have to, and WDW knows it because I'm a sucker for WDW. LOL

Yes, I remember this too. That was absolutely great. I'd give up the appetizers if only they'd go back to including the tips! I hate having to estimate how much I'll need to allow in the budget for tips!

 

[DisneyLover75]

For me, I am going whether FD is released or not so having a room booked is more important than getting FD. I agree it seems silly to book if you truly can't or don't want to take the trip unless you can get FD.

Yes, me too. I'm going regardless.

However, the reason I book ahead is because I'm really bad at saving money, and if I keep it in my account it'll be spent and I'll never have the money for Disney. So I book a good year in advance and make payments along the way and when a promotion hits, I call hoping to apply it.