free dining in December 2016 versus December 2017

[stiebermom]

Does anyone know which properties were excluded from that deal? We are trying where to stay this December that would possibly qualify us for free dining, if they offer it again? thanks for your help.

 

[Marionnette]

Does anyone know which properties were excluded from that deal? We are trying where to stay this December that would possibly qualify us for free dining, if they offer it again? thanks for your help.

Construction taking place at CBR and CSR will have a huge impact on *free* dining this year. IMO, you're more likely to see it offered at those two resorts (because who wants to vacation in a construction zone?), as opposed to POR and POFQ. However, with a number of moderate rooms being taken out of service with the construction (CSR demolished one building already), I would not be surprised if the number of Moderate Resorts that participate in *free* dining is severely limited.

Having said that, I want to add that booking a room or package now doesn't guarantee that you can "apply" the deal to your reservation. In fact, booking up resort rooms well in anticipation of a deal is actually counterproductive. It gives Disney no reason to offer the room at a discount if they can have t booked already at the rack rate. Since *free* dining requires that you pay for the room at rack rate and purchase tickets, my advice would be to price out the different resorts that you're interested in staying at. Then you'll at least know how much it will cost you when/if *free* dining is offered during your anticipated stay.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Construction taking place at CBR and CSR will have a huge impact on *free* dining this year. IMO, you're more likely to see it offered at those two resorts (because who wants to vacation in a construction zone?), as opposed to POR and POFQ.

I would have to disagree. CBR guests are already getting a $75 gift card for each night of their stay for their "inconvenience". I think that would give that resort less of a chance of being included in the FD plan. Not to mention, CBR is almost completely booked (for September anyway). Which gives Disney even less incentive to include them in the FD.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Does anyone know which properties were excluded from that deal?

Here's the verbiage from last year's offer.

(Please note that the offer excludes: Campsites, Bungalows at Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian Villas, Bay Lake Tower, 3-bedroom Villas, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation. Port Orleans Riverside is only available through October 1st. )

 

[Marionnette]

I would have to disagree. CBR guests are already getting a $75 gift card for each night of their stay for their "inconvenience". I think that would give that resort less of a chance of being included in the FD plan. Not to mention, CBR is almost completely booked (for September anyway). Which gives Disney even less incentive to include them in the FD.

Sorry, but I still disagree. If I was weighing a $75 nightly credit at CBR against *free* dining at POR, guess which one would win? Why would you stay in a construction zone for so little when *free* dining has a much higher value to most families? CBR might be completely booked right now (probably due to entire buildings being closed during phases of construction, not because of demand), but if a bigger incentive (*free* dining) is offered at other Moderate Resorts, people aren't going to settle for living amid the rubble.

 

[Disneylover99]

Sorry, but I still disagree. If I was weighing a $75 nightly credit at CBR against *free* dining at POR, guess which one would win? Why would you stay in a construction zone for so little when *free* dining has a much higher value to most families? CBR might be completely booked right now (probably due to entire buildings being closed during phases of construction, not because of demand), but if a bigger incentive (*free* dining) is offered at other Moderate Resorts, people aren't going to settle for living amid the rubble.

But at CBR you'd be getting free dining and the $75 credit. It's not one or the other. Lots of people are hoping to get both. It's a great deal if you can get a standard room.

 

[Rusty2rules]

You can disagree all you want. Logic says if CBR is already booked up there's no incentive to offer FD for that resort. Now, Disney has been know to offer a second round of discounts. If what Marionnette is suggesting actually happened, where people bailed on CBR because other resorts got FD and they didn't, then Disney might come back through with a second round of discounts aimed at CBR and/or other resorts that didn't fill up like they hoped. But, as things stand right now, I just don't see CBR getting a $75 gift card and FD considering the resort is already booked up.

 

[momto4obkids]

CBR definitely isn't booked up for our time frame, end of November and December.

They offered free dining dates in those months in 2016.

Maybe they will just have more limited dates?

 

[Rusty2rules]

They offered free dining dates in those months in 2016.

2016 they weren't giving a $75 gift card for each night you stayed, either. As far as being booked up, like I said earlier, September they're booked up. I was going to switch from POR when I heard about the gift card and no doing. Hey, don't get me wrong. I hope they are included in the FD dining, assuming there is a FD plan. That'd be assume for the guests of that resort! Just logically, if I were in Disney's shoes, there'd be no incentive for me to do it.

I'm curious, are they offering the gift cards for December?

 

[momto4obkids]

2016 they weren't giving a $75 gift card for each night you stayed, either. As far as being booked up, like I said earlier, September they're booked up. I was going to switch from POR when I heard about the gift card and no doing. Hey, don't get me wrong. I hope they are included in the FD dining, assuming there is a FD plan. That'd be assume for the guests of that resort! Just logically, if I were in Disney's shoes, there'd be no incentive for me to do it.

I'm curious, are they offering the gift cards for December?

I see what our saying. We are going with or without free dining, but it sure would be nice!

Yes, they are offering the gift cards all year. I actually booked our trip after the construction notice went up on the CBR page with the $75 incentive. Our dates are 11/25 to 12/02. A few days after I booked I got the email stating I would be getting the $75 per night. Just to cover my bases I also sent an email to guest services and they verified that I would be getting the gift card for our two rooms.

 

[Disneylover99]

Just logically, if I were in Disney's shoes, there'd be no incentive for me to do it.

I can see them offering fd for the Pirate/water view rooms. Those rooms are at least $75 more then a standard room. Even if they have to offer the gift card as well, Disney still wins by filling the most expensive/least desirable rooms at rack rate.

 

[Rusty2rules]

That's mainly why I tried to switch to CBR. I figured, if nothing else, I was guaranteed of getting a $75/night discount, regardless if they offered FD or not. FD would be just icing on the cake. At least you're guaranteed that gift card discount.

 

[Rusty2rules]

I can see them offering fd for the Pirate/water view rooms. Those rooms are at least $75 more then a standard room. Even if they have to offer the gift card as well, Disney still wins by filling the most expensive/least desirable rooms at rack rate.

I could see that. They could do with CBR like they did with Art of Animation last year, block specific room types. If they do offer it for CBR I'd be pretty surprised if it was a blanket offer for the whole resort.

 

[Disneylover99]

I could see that. They could do with CBR like they did with Art of Animation last year, block specific room types. If they do offer it for CBR I'd be pretty surprised if it was a blanket offer for the whole resort.

I don't think FD is ever offered as a blanket offer at any resort anyways. It's mostly just offered on the more expensive rooms they want to fill. Last year I don't believe any POR standard rooms were offered.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Last year I don't believe any POR standard rooms were offered.

See post #4. There's no mention of blocked out rooms other than rooms at Art of Animation and bungalows at the Polynesian. Last year ALL of POR was open to the offer until October 1st.

 

[Disneylover99]

See post #4. There's no mention of blocked out rooms other than rooms at Art of Animation and bungalows at the Polynesian. Last year ALL of POR was open to the offer until October 1st.

While they don't list room exclusions, I don't believe they always offer every type of room. They will not tell you that. They will simply say they don't see any rooms available with that promotion for your dates at this time. Or if you book online, you will see it is not available. Of course, if you look online without the promotion, you may see availability.

 

[Deanie1]

Two days ago, i was told there was no availability at either CBR or CSR for my dates Nov 27 to Dec 6. POR did not have any standard, garden or preferred rooms left either so I had to book the next cheapest, pool view. I could really care less about a pool view. POFQ had availability. Now this is over 8 months away. Why do you think all the mods are so booked up already? I was hoping to book CBR with the $75 credit/night to offset the poor Canadian dollar but it did not work out. Makes me wonder if there will be many fall discounts this year.

 

[Disneylover99]

Two days ago, i was told there was no availability at either CBR or CSR for my dates Nov 27 to Dec 6. POR did not have any standard, garden or preferred rooms left either so I had to book the next cheapest, pool view. I could really care less about a pool view. POFQ had availability. Now this is over 8 months away. Why do you think all the mods are so booked up already? I was hoping to book CBR with the $75 credit/night to offset the poor Canadian dollar but it did not work out. Makes me wonder if there will be many fall discounts this year.

Buildings at both CBR and CSR are being knocked down. Plus CSR is undergoing room refurbishments. Each resort will lose a significant amount of available rooms for the time being. If you play with your dates a bit, adding a day at the beginning of your stay/taking off a day at the end, you might see availability open up a bit.

 

[focusondisney]

Disney may also be holding back some rooms at the other moderate resorts from available inventory right now. They have been allowing people who want to move from CBR to move to another resort for the same price. I'm sure Disney would rather rebook them at another moderate rather than to a deluxe. So Disney may be holding some rooms until they get the majority of guests rebooked. I'm willing to bet in a few weeks, we may see more rooms open back up after all the moving around is over.