Free Dining Oct-Dec Is Here!! Dates Confirmed!!! ~ Part 2

[Vickmeys]

Cabins were allowed in the past, it's the campsites that are excluded.

We moved from POP to the cabins -- it is just me and my DH. Way more expensive, but we did get FD, and we LOVE the cabins.

My suggestion would be to get a golf cart if you are going to the cabins. Look in the Camping section here on the Disboards for the best deals on renting a golf cart.

 

[MichiganKris]

I have been a lurker on this thread since the first one was published. I am taking my 12 year old daugher and my parents in October for their 50th wedding anniversary (so we had 4 adults on the dining plan). We were originally booked at POFQ since they lived in New Orleans when they were first married, but decided to switch to another resort with the FD. I ended up saving $1903.28 by switching to CBR. Now I just need to hope my request for a 1st floor room will be honored because my mom will be in a scooter and I can't imagine trying to get that up a stairway. Hopefully everyone else trying to get FD will end up with it. I think that once the 45 day mark hits, there may be rooms opening up because it is still not a cheap vacation even with the FD. While CBR was not my first choice, I decided the resort doesn't really matter because we will be at Disney regardless.

 

[wunkmom]

I just wanted to pop in here really quickly and update my situation......

I booked back in Feb for the vacation I wanted with a TA. Any discount or FD was gravy to us. As of last night, she had not been able to get us either the FD or any room discount on our current ressie, or our backup choice. She was frustrated, and frankly, a little more upset than I was. I reassured her that it was fine, and not to stress, I was fine with the vacation I had. She said that she would keep checking and let me know if anything came up after the dust settled.

Fast forward to this morning.....she posted on my FB that she needed to talk to me and let her know when I was awake and near the phone (we're in diff time zones), I did, and when she called, she was so excited to tell me that she was able to get us FD at our original resort. She checked again and found one open in a different room type and changed our ressie to it with FD, saving us.........$689!!!!!!

ETA: with that savings, we're able to add in a day at Universal with Express Passes!

WHAT I LEARNED: 1)TRUST IN YOUR TA 2)HAVE PATIENCE, they do indeed know what they are doing!

 

[martiniglassesforme]

So as we awake on this much less crazy morning, how does everyone feel about their vacation at this point?

After this week-long ordeal that seemed to last an eternity, did anyone learn anything valuable that they'll remember for the next time? Something that you should or should not have done?

I've learned to never anticipate, rely, or at this point expect the Disney Visa early booking perk. Last night, while chatting, I was looking down my blog and came upon the free dining posts from 2010. The "leak" date was May 3 and I had posted the DV should be available "on or around May 1" (I like that phrasing better looking back). While the May 3rd date was correct as leaked, the DV actually dropped on April 29...it came early. This was before there was really any kind of rhyme or reason for the DV date in relation to the GP date.

So after looking back at that, I realized that it's twice the DV has become quite unreliable, and now not always even offered at all. Of course, there were no complaints that it came early, as bookings went very smooth and calm as word slowly got out, everyone got what they wanted, and everyone was happy.

What have you learned?

I've learned a couple things:

1. I've learned that there is no harm done in having a room only reso made in advance. You can start paying off your trip, and you can take advantage of the 180+10 days for the dining reservations.

2. I've learned to not get your heart set on any particular resort. I understand that as party sizes increase, the options become more limited, and that's not what I'm referring to here. We started at a value, stayed at a value, and I think it's great that Disney has so many options for so many people.

3. I am completely 110% satisfied with my TA and she has taken great care of me. But I am too much of a control-type person and I have done a lot of research and could have probably handled everything on my own. Having a middle-man is driving me crazy, but she is the nicest middle man in the world. So next time I probably will not use a TA.

4. I struggled big time with this next thing. Value vs Price. I would spend fewer $$ per night if I stayed for 10 nights. I would spend less $$ overall if I stayed 8 nights. Most? parties have a vacation budget and strive to stay within that budget. I didn't have one. My one singular goal was to try and spend the least amount of money possible. But then the value proposition came in and I was sooo torn. Who can argue with Bang for the Buck? Ugh!! Next time, maybe I will save in advance and tell myself I'm spending $xxxx on this vacation and however it shakes out, it shakes out.

We got an extra day in our reservation, saved $300 off the original reso, and are staying at a better resort (imo). All in all, I think it shook out pretty good this time.

5. Joe Black is great, Dave from ************** is great, Smitch is great. All of you have helped me in one way or another and for that, I am extremely grateful. I will be waiting on the boards for another deal for my next trip, currently reserved for Room Only in January with ADRs already booked (because I have fallen into the black hole of Disney nerd-dom.)

Thank you all for everything!!

 

[sweetnjmom]

Still on hold to cancel... 1 hour and 15 minutes so far.

 

[chrisc88]

Weird. I booked 2 rooms at Coronado yesterday, but today I decided to try back and see if maybe we should go 1 deluxe room or a villa instead and I am getting about 0 availability at any hotel for our dates: 10/2 through 10/14.

Same here. We are booked at CSR in October and was thinking of switching to preferred room. No availability anymore. Looks like all that is left for our days is CBR, at least this morning

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[Vickmeys]

If Disney would allow modifications online, they wouldn't have a problem.

I agree!!

Disney: Let us cancel our Resort reservations online!
So much easier for everyone!

 

[plutospalforever]

I just wanted to pop in here really quickly and update my situation......

I booked back in Feb for the vacation I wanted with a TA. Any discount or FD was gravy to us. As of last night, she had not been able to get us either the FD or any room discount on our current ressie, or our backup choice. She was frustrated, and frankly, a little more upset than I was. I reassured her that it was fine, and not to stress, I was fine with the vacation I had. She said that she would keep checking and let me know if anything came up after the dust settled.

Fast forward to this morning.....she posted on my FB that she needed to talk to me and let her know when I was awake and near the phone (we're in diff time zones), I did, and when she called, she was so excited to tell me that she was able to get us FD at our original resort. She checked again and found one open in a different room type and changed our ressie to it with FD, saving us.........$689!!!!!!

ETA: with that savings, we're able to add in a day at Universal with Express Passes!

WHAT I LEARNED: 1)TRUST IN YOUR TA 2)HAVE PATIENCE, they do indeed know what they are doing!

Yea! Congrats!!! So glad everything worked out! And what a nice to thing to say about your TA, so true!

 

[sweetnjmom]

Still on hold to cancel... 1 hour and 15 minutes so far.

Got through the minute after I posted. I have now cancelled the double booking, so if anyone needs a room at Wilderness Lodge the week of Veteran's Day... call now or book online.

 

[Vickmeys]

Hmm...just saw that. This is new, right? I wonder why the change?? Maybe complaints that families of 5 and greater have such limited options??

No, not new. I booked the cabins just after midnight ET yesterday when the discounts went live. WARNING: you need a golf cart if you are going to the cabins. IMO

 

[BelleLulu]

Hey guys, lets let cool heads prevail here alright? We don't want to start any attacks on anyone.

Folks were just doing whatever they thought they needed to in order to get the trip they wanted. I'm sure most will cancel extra bookings today and all will be well.

What's done is done...lets keep trying to get the resort you want!!!

I am one of those that double booked. I could not get through on the phone and so I booked on line. Good thing as the resort I wanted is now booked full for my dates. I cancelled today just now a Garden View at POFQ. I would have cancelled it yesterday, but again I couldn't get through on the phones and wanted the payments I made on the first reservation transferred to the new one.

 

[JLKennedy]

My biggest concern with all this is that obviously this is a mess for Disney. They have rooms switching going on every which way and now clearly need to invest time back into reviewing what they have and don't have occupancy wise when the dust settles. I am worried that this mess will prove to be not worth it for them in the future and that they will change the rules next year on the FD promo. Either not do it at all, or make it a new ressie only deal...which would really hurt those who want to go regardless and are just trying to get a deal.

I understand...but anyone can make a "new" reservation...it is unavoidable.

Here's why I think it was crazy.....

1. Release for South America (likely HUGE tour groups) booking

2. US people booking new reservations who didn't have a DV (since previously DV) had a few day ahead.....they had BOTH sets trying to book

3. Existing reservations trying to modify

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[JLKennedy]

Hey guys, lets let cool heads prevail here alright? We don't want to start any attacks on anyone.

Folks were just doing whatever they thought they needed to in order to get the trip they wanted. I'm sure most will cancel extra bookings today and all will be well.

What's done is done...lets keep trying to get the resort you want!!!

Hey what's worst case scenario? They FORGET to cancel and they're out $...

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[LouFapp]

I agree!!

Disney: Let us cancel our Resort reservations online!
So much easier for everyone!

I second that!

 

[BelleLulu]

Hey what's worst case scenario? They FORGET to cancel and they're out $...

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Brings a new definition of Resort hoppingQ

 

[JLKennedy]

Brings a new definition of Resort hoppingQ

Used to get flamed for pool hopping....now you get flamed for holding more than 1 reservation. I understand both sides...the aggrevation of an "unneeded" room being booked.....but it's my money....if I want to make ten reservations...it's my $2,000 to do so....

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[Camaro305]

My TA and I both tried to apply free dining and change resorts since 6am yesterday, but no luck. So upset ;(

Best of luck to you! Mine was able to get some done (mine included thankfully!) before things started going down. I'm sure she's working hard again today at the rest she has to modify. I think things will calm and am hopeful that everyone gets what they need in order to save $$$ !

 

[crz4mm2]

I had previously booked All Star Movies (with basic dining). Imagine my surprise when Movies was not part of free dining....
So, no availability at All Stars... Had to switch to Pop to get FD.
The CM was SOOOO nice and helpful. I waited about 45 min but was able to get it yesterday am

 

[crz4mm2]

Used to get flamed for pool hopping....now you get flamed for holding more than 1 reservation. I understand both sides...the aggrevation of an "unneeded" room being booked.....but it's my money....if I want to make ten reservations...it's my $2,000 to do so....

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I was told yest that you are not supposed to be able to book two different resorts for the same time period (even though I had done it)....
I understand both sides too...

 

[LouFapp]

Maybe this is incorrect, but no matter whether the room was booked with a discount or not, don't you think the # of discounted rooms depend on availability @ such resort?
Even so, trying to call on the first day to cancel additional reservations just ties up the phone lines more. They do go back into rack rate, as far as I've ever heard, they don't go back into the discount pool?
I'm just saying, I think for the people that had multiple reservations, it bogged the phone lines down even more. Even today people were saying how they got thru rather quickly to a C.M., so would it have made a difference if the people with multiple reservations would have called today?

I don't know how it all works and I understand they only set aside so many rooms for the offer but I seems to me that if a resort end's up empty because everyone cancels their rack rate rooms, it would make sense to put some of those rooms into the FD pool in order to get the resort filled. Not sure if that makes sense but from a business point of view I would rather have rooms filled with a FD offer then empty and not making any money on them.