Free Dining News (See Page 9 & 10)- Post It Here

[LakeAriel]

Well I see that these dates are official, I guess I will be looking for deals at US/IOA. Very disappointed. I am going to be in Orlando 8/17 - 8/21 same as last year, really thought they would offer the deal the same time. Oh well, off to the US/IOA board.

I'll be there before WDW! Can't wait!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Quiet here today...

The calm before the storm perhaps?

Knox

 

[Sammie]

Mousesavers is not the "official" word. Usually very accurate but not official.

What it did say was: if the new package is similar to the one offered for the past two years, it will require you to purchase at least 3 consecutive hotel nights

That is not saying it will definitely only be 3 nights. Only time will tell if it is 3 days or 5 days. There has been nothing released to know at this time.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Sammie is right (I seem to be typing that alot)

Nothing is official till it comes from Disney. So far none of this is directly from Disney.

Knox

 

[caresy]

I already have a room booked with my Disney Visa Deposit down. I would suggest those who are going and have Disney visa do the same..That way they can just apply the code to your existing reservation. make sure it is a package. I say this because after what happened with the 40% code being made public, the premature release of the code here will more then likely cause chaos on Monday with people calling even if they don't have the card. It may be very, very difficult to get through. IMO>

for those who do not have the card it is unlikely you won't have a huge selection to book on the 12th!

Unless you work for Disney or you have inside information the rest of us don't have, you have absolutely no idea how many packages are available and you cannot accurately predict how many packages will or won't be available on the 12th or the selection that will be available...

 

[CanadianGuy]

Unless you work for Disney or you have inside information the rest of us don't have, you have absolutely no idea how many packages are available and you cannot accurately predict how many packages will or won't be available on the 12th or the selection that will be available...

Caresy:

We're all working on the idea that this is a similar promotion to last year with just a smaller available travel window.

Last year the free dining packages did not sell out (or come close apparently) in the first booking window and then it was extended a few more weeks... so Disney could sell MORE free dining packages.

So, even IF Disney were to reduce the number of rooms eligible for this promotion (which we have no indication of them doing I'd like to point out.. ) but even IF they did... it still seems fair to assume that it would be highly unlikely for ALL the packages to sell out in three days.. when it took an extended booking window of over 8 weeks last year before they closed the bookings.

It IS worth noting that some resorts (CSR at end of August) are showing no availability PERIOD even today, for some dates in the Free Dining period. Therefore it seems likely that getting free dining at ONE particular resort may be difficult no matter when you call ... if the resort is already significantly booked for your dates.

It is very easy to caught up in the whirlwind on these boards... But the reality is.. if you can be a little bit flexible with either your dates, or your resort, or even better, both -- the odds of you being shut out of this promotion are small. On the other hand, if you've got your heart set on free dining and a stay at POLY over Labor Day -- you may be disappointed already... even before the first free dining package is booked.

Flexibility is key.

Knox

 

[ducklite]

The Disney site is probably being updated today in anticipation of Monday, April 9th. None of the web developers probably work on weekends so they are preparing today to push the offer to the main/production website first thing Monday morning.

Let's hope!!!

The whole site is on a CMS. It's been built, tested, and is scheduled for a production push for Monday. They just need someone to be available to test once it's released. There should be no effect on the site today. My guess is that they run mirror production boxes with load balancing and can shut down one sprayer during a release until after the release is live, then do the same for the second box as they light the first box back up.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Caresy:

We're all working on the idea that this is a similar promotion to last year with just a smaller available travel window.

Last year the free dining packages did not sell out (or come close apparently) in the first booking window and then it was extended a few more weeks... so Disney could sell MORE free dining packages.

So, even IF Disney were to reduce the number of rooms eligible for this promotion (which we have no indication of them doing I'd like to point out.. ) but even IF they did... it still seems fair to assume that it would be highly unlikely for ALL the packages to sell out in three days.. when it took an extended booking window of over 8 weeks last year before they closed the bookings.

It IS worth noting that some resorts (CSR at end of August) are showing no availability PERIOD even today, for some dates in the Free Dining period. Therefore it seems likely that getting free dining at ONE particular resort may be difficult no matter when you call ... if the resort is already significantly booked for your dates.

It is very easy to caught up in the whirlwind on these boards... But the reality is.. if you can be a little bit flexible with either your dates, or your resort, or even better, both -- the odds of you being shut out of this promotion are small. On the other hand, if you've got your heart set on free dining and a stay at POLY over Labor Day -- you may be disappointed already... even before the first free dining package is booked.

Flexibility is key.

Knox

Knox,

What I've been told is that there will be less packages this year than last year for two reasons. One is that they already ahve more rooms booked during that period this year than they did last year, so there's simply not as much of an incentive to fill rooms. The other is due to the overcrowding of a lot of the restaurants, which caused many people not on the dining plan to not be able to get reservations even months in advance. It was a huge sore spot for a lot of guests, and caused a huge number of complaints.

Anne

 

[CanadianGuy]

And less packages cause there will be two weeks less time when Free Dining is offered.

Thanks for the info, tho, I still standby my original point -- That I'd be shocked and surprised if everything is sold out in three days.

I'd bet the farm that does not happen.

Knox

 

[CathrynRose]

Knox,

What I've been told is that there will be less packages this year than last year for two reasons. One is that they already ahve more rooms booked during that period this year than they did last year, so there's simply not as much of an incentive to fill rooms. The other is due to the overcrowding of a lot of the restaurants, which caused many people not on the dining plan to not be able to get reservations even months in advance. It was a huge sore spot for a lot of guests, and caused a huge number of complaints.

Anne

Makes sense. Im hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst. If I get it...YAHOOOOOO!!! If not, ARGH!

But I unfortunately purchased my airline tickets.... sooo, Im locked in.

 

[ducklite]

And less packages cause there will be two weeks less time when Free Dining is offered.

Thanks for the info, tho, I still standby my original point -- That I'd be shocked and surprised if everything is sold out in three days.

I'd bet the farm that does not happen.

Knox

Oh, I agree with you on that, as long as people are flexible with their resort choice and/or travel dates they should be able to get in on the deal once it opens to the public. LIke I said in an earlier post on this thread, it's my understanding that one of the deluxes has less than 100 packages available in total, and another resort might not be participating at all.

I get my information from a very reliable, highly placed inside source at WDW--and no, I'm not tellling all I know.

Anne

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'll go one further.. I understand that it might be TWO resorts not participating at all...

Regardless.. it's a vacation.. relax.. You'll book something.



Knox

 

[Disney Fans]

Oh, I agree with you on that, as long as people are flexible with their resort choice and/or travel dates they should be able to get in on the deal once it opens to the public. LIke I said in an earlier post on this thread, it's my understanding that one of the deluxes has less than 100 packages available in total, and another resort might not be participating at all.

I get my information from a very reliable, highly placed inside source at WDW--and no, I'm not tellling all I know.

Anne

Which resorts are you talking about??

 

[CanadianGuy]

I've heard that FW may not be participating.. I'll be curious to see if that's what DL heard.



KNox

 

[twinspluscade]

I've heard that FW may not be participating.. I'll be curious to see if that's what DL heard.



KNox

Well, I guess that shoots down my idea of possibly upgrading to one of the cabins . I was seriously considering it this morning.

Any word on whether or not POR will be participating?

Kelly

 

[Jill Schwartz]

If I had to bet.....
I would guess Fort Wilderness (just because of the kind of resort), and I think I've heard people have had a hard time booking in August for CSR (maybe a convention or large group there??) and a hard time booking CR (demolished wing).

 

[ducklite]

I've heard that FW may not be participating.. I'll be curious to see if that's what DL heard.



KNox

I've heard that the campsites will not be eligible, and they were still talking about whether to include the cabins or not as of a couple weeks ago--which was the last time I spoke to the person who gave me the info. There is yet another resort that I've heard is not participating. So 1 1/2, maybe two. Fair enough?

Sounds like we've got the same info.

Anne

 

[CanadianGuy]

Well, I guess that shoots down my idea of possibly upgrading to one of the cabins . I was seriously considering it this morning.

Any word on whether or not POR will be participating?

Kelly

Kelly:

Just because I've heard that about FW doesn't mean it's true. There are a TON of rumors about this promotion floating around right now and the only people who know anything for sure (Disney) haven't officially said anything yet.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the dates we've all seen and heard turn out to be not exactly right. Nothing would surprise me.

And for what it is worth, I haven't heard anything about POR not being included..

Knox

 

[CanadianGuy]

Sounds like we've got the same info.

Anne

Yup sure does.

Knox

 

[noseybuddy]

Oh, I agree with you on that, as long as people are flexible with their resort choice and/or travel dates they should be able to get in on the deal once it opens to the public. LIke I said in an earlier post on this thread, it's my understanding that one of the deluxes has less than 100 packages available in total, and another resort might not be participating at all.

I get my information from a very reliable, highly placed inside source at WDW--and no, I'm not tellling all I know.

Anne

So Anne, is it safe to say that the starting date for free dining is 8/26 and there is no way that it will be starting earlier than that?