Free Dining Oct-Dec Is Here!!

[shellypaige]

Thanks for replying Black.

 

[smitch425]

I have been trying to read this entire thread for my answer, but it is growing so fast! We are scheduled to arrive on 10/4, so it sounds like I will miss out on the FD (unless we change dates). But to be honest, I would be thrilled with a Room Only discount. Has anyone seen info on if there will be a RO offer and/or if it will be for the same dates as we expect FD? Thanks!!

There will likely be a room offer released as well, and probably broader dates. No details available though. Good luck!

 

[plutospalforever]

Hey folks, who remembers this??? And, look who the author is.

http://www.themainstreetmouse.com/20...-by-joe-black/

 

[houstonmama]

There will likely be a room offer released as well, and probably broader dates. No details available though. Good luck!

Oh do you think? I mean I know there will probably be one but I'm concerned with the dates. 11/30-12/4 was included before in FD so I was hoping it would also be included when RO offers came out but now those dates are gone . Is that because it's already pretty booked ?

 

[Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo]

My original reservation was for 3 adults, room only, POFQ, for Sept 29-Oct 3. My son and I discovered we could fly down earlier, on Sept 25. I tried for FD, since our new arrival date fell in the FD dates, but there were no openings there, and there was no other resort that we wanted. So, I kept the RO, but got the room only discount for the 2 of us, and when hubby arrives, we'll be adding him to the room for the last 4 nights.
If free dining opens as hoped, I will be calling to see if any additional FD packages open at FQ, for our dates. If they do, will I be able to make the entire 8n package for 3 of us? If not, can I do it for just the 2 of us, then when he arrives on Sept 29, can he be added with FD to the ressie? Or will I have to book RO for the first 4 nights, then start the FD package for the 3 of us effective the date hubby arrives, Sept 29?

 

[heimlichfan]

As a previous poster said, this thread is moving fast and I'm sure my comment is late to the conversation!

The 2012 late summer and fall free dining discounts butted right up against each other. The summer one ended on 9/29 and the fall one started on 9/30.

The rounds of pin codes that have been going out have dates that overlap September free dining and speculated fall dining.

The current speculated dates leave a gap between late summer and fall free dining....


Does anyone think that the leaked dates could be wrong? We arrive on 9/27 which is during the gap.

 

[smitch425]

As a previous poster said, this thread is moving fast and I'm sure my comment is late to the conversation!

The 2012 late summer and fall free dining discounts butted right up against each other. The summer one ended on 9/29 and the fall one started on 9/30.

The rounds of pin codes that have been going out have dates that overlap September free dining and speculated fall dining.

The current speculated dates leave a gap between late summer and fall free dining....


Does anyone think that the leaked dates could be wrong? We arrive on 9/27 which is during the gap.

These types of leaks are usually pretty accurate. If these dates hold, you could do a split stay as long as you are staying at least 5 nights total.

 

[HBGdancermom]

I'm going to be the first person waiting for my TA as soon as she arrives to work on August 1. I might actually be sitting in her chair.

Baaaahaaaa!!! That would be hilarious!!

 

[HBGdancermom]

That is exactly what I did and thought too...lol. They are super cute and I love the colors.

However, not to freak anyone out, about a month after booking free dining I asked my TA to check about changing number of ticket days before the increase. She gave me a new "total" and I am no math whiz, but I knew something was wrong. I asked her and she thought the same thing and called. The CM thought he was applying the free dining, but instead did a room only and changed me from the regular dining plan to quick service. The case went to an official 24-hour review and because they tape record all TA calls, Disney was able to verify it was their mistake and put me back in a Nemo room with the free dining. That was very nice, but the Lion King rooms had grown on me.

Oh!!! I forgot about that!!!

 

[smitch425]

My original reservation was for 3 adults, room only, POFQ, for Sept 29-Oct 3. My son and I discovered we could fly down earlier, on Sept 25. I tried for FD, since our new arrival date fell in the FD dates, but there were no openings there, and there was no other resort that we wanted. So, I kept the RO, but got the room only discount for the 2 of us, and when hubby arrives, we'll be adding him to the room for the last 4 nights.
If free dining opens as hoped, I will be calling to see if any additional FD packages open at FQ, for our dates. If they do, will I be able to make the entire 8n package for 3 of us? If not, can I do it for just the 2 of us, then when he arrives on Sept 29, can he be added with FD to the ressie? Or will I have to book RO for the first 4 nights, then start the FD package for the 3 of us effective the date hubby arrives, Sept 29?

The issue you will have is that when the new deal goes public, the other FD deal will be expired for a Sept 25th check in date so checking for a FD deal for the whole stay will not work--UNLESS you get lucky after the Visa holders get the deal. The only way you can get FD with the new deal is to do a new package reservation for all of you on the 29th, but you will need two sets of tickets if you plan to hit the parks everyday of your trip. You can only get package tickets up to 3 days early, and no one really knows if that will change between now and then.

 

[kcwiak]

OK....How did you all leave me without me knowing? I am pretty sure my invitation to this new thread was lost or else there is some splanin' to do!

 

[Rivka]

Everyone else's nerves here are making me nervous.

We are making our very first trip October 19-27th. We are currently booked in a POR standard room. We'd be fine changing to something else at POR, like garden view, preferred location, etc., but we don't want to change resorts because the Murphy bed is important to my kids. (They REALLY don't want to share a bed for a week.)

We aren't Disney Visa cardholders, and applying for a card is not practical for us.

People in this thread are talking like you have to be one of the very first callers AND be super lucky to get in to a free dining public offer. Like even Visa cardholders might not get in. At the same time, though, we always hear that the restaurants get too crowded because "everyone" has free dining, and I noticed that Disney advertised the September FD offer for weeks and weeks.

Which is it? If our dates are right, and we call on the morning of the 1st, are we going to get FD? Or is it something we'd have to be lucky to manage?

 

[smitch425]

Everyone else's nerves here are making me nervous.

We are making our very first trip October 19-27th. We are currently booked in a POR standard room. We'd be fine changing to something else at POR, like garden view, preferred location, etc., but we don't want to change resorts because the Murphy bed is important to my kids. (They REALLY don't want to share a bed for a week.)

We aren't Disney Visa cardholders, and applying for a card is not practical for us.

People in this thread are talking like you have to be one of the very first callers AND be super lucky to get in to a free dining public offer. Like even Visa cardholders might not get in. At the same time, though, we always hear that the restaurants get too crowded because "everyone" has free dining, and I noticed that Disney advertised the September FD offer for weeks and weeks.

Which is it? If our dates are right, and we call on the morning of the 1st, are we going to get FD? Or is it something we'd have to be lucky to manage?

For the most part, there will be plenty of rooms to go around, with the exception of POFQ because it is a small resort. I'm pretty sure the only rooms at POR with the murphy beds are in the Alligator Bayou section, so make sure the CM knows that you want one of the rooms with the murphy beds. Good luck!

ETA: The AB rooms may all be "preferred" rooms. You may want to ask if your standard room will have a murphy bed or not. Maybe someone will chime in who knows for sure.

 

[whiporee]

I've got reservations at Beach Club for the week starting Nov. 18. I've been reading the thread and thought there was something available, but when I called, the CM said there was nothing. Did I miss out, or did I misread?

 

[smitch425]

I've got reservations at Beach Club for the week starting Nov. 18. I've been reading the thread and thought there was something available, but when I called, the CM said there was nothing. Did I miss out, or did I misread?

The deal is not officially out yet. It should be available for Disney Visa/debit holders on July 29 and the general public on Aug 1. Good luck!

 

[kddisney502]

Everyone else's nerves here are making me nervous.

We are making our very first trip October 19-27th. We are currently booked in a POR standard room. We'd be fine changing to something else at POR, like garden view, preferred location, etc., but we don't want to change resorts because the Murphy bed is important to my kids. (They REALLY don't want to share a bed for a week.)

We aren't Disney Visa cardholders, and applying for a card is not practical for us.

People in this thread are talking like you have to be one of the very first callers AND be super lucky to get in to a free dining public offer. Like even Visa cardholders might not get in. At the same time, though, we always hear that the restaurants get too crowded because "everyone" has free dining, and I noticed that Disney advertised the September FD offer for weeks and weeks.

Which is it? If our dates are right, and we call on the morning of the 1st, are we going to get FD? Or is it something we'd have to be lucky to manage?

We'll it's hard to say for sure what rooms will be available for the offer during your visit. (only Disney really knows)

The murphy bed at POR is ONLY available in the Alligator Bayou rooms, so this limits your choices even more. All of the preferred rooms are AB rooms, so you'll be guaranteed a AB room by booking the preferred category. Otherwise, you can only put in a request to be in a AB room (with other view categories) and this is not guaranteed.

I looked online for the week you're going (oct 19-27) and there are NO preferred rooms available. So I would assume that there won't be any available for FD.

Oh one more thing, do not book a Royal Room at POR, they are only located in the Mansions (not AB, so no murphy bed). Also, if you keep your current reservation (standard room) put a request to be in an Alligator Bayou room on your reservation.

 

[smitch425]

We'll it's hard to say for sure what rooms will be available for the offer during your visit. (only Disney really knows)

The murphy bed at POR is ONLY available in the Alligator Bayou rooms, so this limits your choices even more. All of the AB rooms are preferred rooms, so you'll be guaranteed a AB room by booking the preferred category. Otherwise, you can only put in a request to be in a AB room and this is not guaranteed.

I looked online for the week you're going (oct 19-27) and there are NO preferred rooms available. So I would assume that there won't be any available for FD.

Oh one more thing, do not book a Royal Room at POR, they are only located in the Mansions (not AB, so no murphy bed).

Thanks for confirming the murphy bed issue.

 

[kddisney502]

Thanks for confirming the murphy bed issue.

No Problem It's been great having someone to tag team answering questions

 

[tinker11]

Does anyone know what the average wait time to talk with a CM will be on July 29th? I am a teacher and it is my first day back at school? Not sure if I should try to call or just let someone else do it.

 

[kddisney502]

Does anyone know what the average wait time to talk with a CM will be on July 29th? I am a teacher and it is my first day back at school? Not sure if I should try to call or just let someone else do it.

hmmmm....I'm not sure we can give you an accurate answer on that. It depends on different factors like when you call and which call center your call gets transferred to, etc.

I've found the Disney Visa release tends to less busy than the public release. I've never waited more than 20 min to get someone on the phone, but I'm not sure if that is typical.

The phone lines open at 7am ET. Depending on where you live, will that be early enough for you call and not interfere with school?