Free Dining Oct-Dec Is Here!!

[plutospalforever]

How many people even know to call at 7:00 am on the first day of FD release to the public?

I've done internet searches and can only find two websites even discussing this right now - here and ************** which I found because of the link in the first post. I looked at some old discussion boards and it does indeed look like in past years some people who called first thing the morning it was released to the public weren't able to get their resort first choice. Is it because that resort for that particular date range was never available for FD to begin with or are enough people aware ahead of time to snatch up available rooms? I think I even saw a post from someone who called on the first day it was available to disney visa holders who said they had to switch resorts in order to get FD (I could have just made that up too since I can't seem to find the post again.) Just bored and speculating (and obsessing.)

You are on to something and it is something we like to remind people. Typically we, the crazy-lovin-Disney-Disboards peeps are the ones calling in first thing on a Disney Visa release day. It takes a little while for word to spread. So good luck!!!

So my current package that I have is booked through AAA, which I have been making payments on for the last several months (all on my Disney Visa). So if booking starts at 7am for the free dining for DV cardholders, how do I do this? My AAA office does not open until 9am. Would Disney be able to make that change, as they do see my reservations or do I have to wait until 9am, call my AAA agent, then she calls Disney to rebook?

I know, it bites! You will have to wait till your TA is in the office before you can call and have her apply it. Many were in the same situation the last go-around and were able to get their first or second choice. Pay attention to this thread that morning to see what other people are getting or what is not available, and then when you call TA, you can give her a heads up if you think you might need to modify your resort.

And just to note, if not satisfied with a change you might have had to make to get free dining, check back that evening and the days to follow, because something might open up. Especially after the GP release, folks can simply check online when the offer is up on WDW site. Pixie Dust for all of you!!!!

 

[TheRatPack]

Still waiting .....come on Monday!!! I cut a day off each end of our trip, to check in on the FDing start date as well as match up with our trimmer slimmer budget this year. I know we'll have just as much fun though, and we're blessed to be going at all when so many people have had to cut vacations out completely in this economy.

 

[smitch425]

One more quick question, Planning on booking a split stay under the DV offer. I understand I have to charge $200 on my visa for the FD part, but if there is a room only discount for my first 3 nights how much do I have to charge on my DV for that stay? Hoping to stay at CBR preferred room but I really don't want to have to charge $400 on my visa since I already have gift cards to pay the trip. Thanks.

The package requires a $200 deposit, and the room only will require one night's room rate deposit. Good luck!

 

[plutospalforever]

Still lurking. Thanks for all the wonderful answers to the many questions about free dining. I am in the "first week of Dec sad crew". I am considering a date change as the work schedule has changed for one of those traveling with us. Waiting along with everyone else for the coming week.


Melissa

Yea!!! I hope everything works out for you!!! My computer is tweaking, my first post did not show up! There would be a happy, dancing banana here!

Still waiting .....come on Monday!!! I cut a day off each end of our trip, to check in on the FDing start date as well as match up with our trimmer slimmer budget this year. I know we'll have just as much fun though, and we're blessed to be going at all when so many people have had to cut vacations out completely in this economy.

A good reminder that these vacations are truly a blessing! I know we have had to cut back on a lot of things to make ours possible, but Disney is worth it right???!!! Good Luck!!!

 

[smitch425]

Still waiting .....come on Monday!!! I cut a day off each end of our trip, to check in on the FDing start date as well as match up with our trimmer slimmer budget this year. I know we'll have just as much fun though, and we're blessed to be going at all when so many people have had to cut vacations out completely in this economy.

We have a much slimmer budget this year, too. We are losing about $1400 per month due to the sequestration. We have been eating a lot of pb&j sandwiches this summer to still take our vacation.

 

[Swissmiss]

Has anyone actually received the email from the Disney Visa regarding the start of FD booking on Monday? I want to coordinate with my TA, but I haven't received an email yet, nor is anything on the web site. I guess they are just making us bite our nails until the bitter end, right?

 

[Mommaof3]

Yea!!! I hope everything works out for you!!! My computer is tweaking, my first post did not show up! There would be a happy, dancing banana here!



A good reminder that these vacations are truly a blessing! I know we have had to cut back on a lot of things to make ours possible, but Disney is worth it right???!!! Good Luck!!!

Yes!!!!!!This vacation will be wonderful. It has been a very rough year. I am gathering up my children and ending the year with some Mickey magic! I don't post much, but I read lots. I enjoy the planning and love to hear what everyone is doing.

Melissa

 

[smitch425]

Has anyone actually received the email from the Disney Visa regarding the start of FD booking on Monday? I want to coordinate with my TA, but I haven't received an email yet, nor is anything on the web site. I guess they are just making us bite our nails until the bitter end, right?

It won't be on the site until after it goes live, and emails are sometimes sent and sometimes not, and they are even sent the following day. There will be no advance announcement. You will hear about it being live here first.

 

[LINYMOM]

So is there a code for Visa Holders or do they just know when you give your card number? Should we just call on the 29th and say we have a Disney Visa?

 

[Swissmiss]

It won't be on the site until after it goes live, and emails are sometimes sent and sometimes not, and they are even sent the following day. There will be no advance announcement. You will hear about it being live here first.

Thanks a lot! It's so helpful to know how things really work!

 

[mmkenn]

Hi,

I have been lurking on this post for weeks now just taking in all of this fabulous information! Sending a big THANK YOU to Joe and all the others for the information to help plan for next week! I love reading everyone's posts and it is good to know that I am not the only one stressing out about this!

We have worked our numbers and believe a RO might be better for us (half of our party is 2 little kids that aren't big eaters). We have a Disney Visa so we are ready to go for Monday.

My question is about logistics. We have an existing RO reservation with a AAA discount. Do we just start our Monday call from the beginning trying our same resort as a "new reservation" and asking for DV RO discount or should we have them pull up our existing reservation and try to make changes to it? Just trying to make this as quick as possible. I am also wondering if it is quicker to get an agent by "booking a new reservation" instead of "changing an existing reservation." The system can be so annoying when you are stressed.

I had planned to work from home on Monday to be all organized, but now I have to go into the office and I am stressing big time. I will probably be sitting on my cell phone in the parking garage right at 7:00am!

Thanks,
mmkenn

 

[mmkenn]

Hi,

I have been lurking on this post for weeks now just taking in all of this fabulous information! Sending a big THANK YOU to Joe and all the others for the information to help plan for next week! I love reading everyone's posts and it is good to know that I am not the only one stressing out about this!

We have worked our numbers and believe a RO might be better for us (half of our party is 2 little kids that aren't big eaters). We have a Disney Visa so we are ready to go for Monday.

My question is about logistics. We have an existing RO reservation with a AAA discount. Do we just start our Monday call from the beginning trying our same resort as a "new reservation" and asking for DV RO discount or should we have them pull up our existing reservation and try to make changes to it? Just trying to make this as quick as possible. I am also wondering if it is quicker to get an agent by "booking a new reservation" instead of "changing an existing reservation." The system can be so annoying when you are stressed.

I had planned to work from home on Monday to be all organized, but now I have to go into the office and I am stressing big time. I will probably be sitting on my cell phone in the parking garage right at 7:00am!

Thanks,
mmkenn

Just to add, we have a AAA discount, NOT booked through AAA. I just asked for it when I originally booked with WDW directly, so I can edit my own reservations. I am way too much of a control freak to let go of my reservations...

 

[Traceylee]

I have another question about RO discount. I currently have a AAA discount for my 11/8--11/17 stay at the Poly. Already bought 10 day PH passes before the price increase.
How does the RO discount work if it only covers part of my dates? Would I need 2 separate reservations like with free dining?
I really hope there is RO discount for my entire stay as I find the dining plan way too much food as we are not dessert people. I've had FD for the past 3 years. I would much rather have PB&J off the kids menu than chicken nuggets and hamburgers every day for lunch.

 

[Terk-1]

Thank you for the responses. I called my AAA TA this morning and gave her the heads up. I have been making all my payments with my Disney Visa, so she has that information. I asked her to please call as soon as she gets in that morning, as the resort I'm booked in (POFQ) tends to sell out fast with this promo. She's been really great.

 

[black562]

Hey guys, Dave has put together a little primer that may be helpful to some of you regarding free dining. He discusses what we have talked about many times here, about the pitfalls of booking a room early in anticipation of free dining.

http://**************.net/2013/07/24/three-things-you-need-to-know-about-free-dining/

 

[aaarcher86]

Just to add, we have a AAA discount, NOT booked through AAA. I just asked for it when I originally booked with WDW directly, so I can edit my own reservations. I am way too much of a control freak to let go of my reservations...

If you're just changing from the AAA room discount to the DV room discount you can just have them modify it. It won't take long at all.

 

[aaarcher86]

I have another question about RO discount. I currently have a AAA discount for my 11/8--11/17 stay at the Poly. Already bought 10 day PH passes before the price increase.
How does the RO discount work if it only covers part of my dates? Would I need 2 separate reservations like with free dining?
I really hope there is RO discount for my entire stay as I find the dining plan way too much food as we are not dessert people. I've had FD for the past 3 years. I would much rather have PB&J off the kids menu than chicken nuggets and hamburgers every day for lunch.

The discount will just apply to the dates covered and you'll be at rack rate the dates that aren't. No need for 2 reservations.

 

[Sylkie31]

So is there a code for Visa Holders or do they just know when you give your card number? Should we just call on the 29th and say we have a Disney Visa?

There isn't a code. You would just call in and ask to have the FD discount applied to your reservation. If you haven't paid at least a $200 deposit on your DV card, you would have to do it then so you do actually have to have a DV card or wait until the GP offer goes live.
Some CMs might tell you that there is no such offer, but ask them to check again and/or ask their superivisor rather than just call back and have to wait in the telephone queue again.

 

[jcarwash]

So is there a code for Visa Holders or do they just know when you give your card number? Should we just call on the 29th and say we have a Disney Visa?

In the past there has been a three-character package code (sometimes one for values and one for all other resorts) associated with the Disney Visa package releases. Knowing the code can help if the CM on the phone isn't up to speed. But even without knowing the code, on the 29th you should be able to call and say I'm interested in the free dining offer available to Disney Visa cardholders.

Whatever the codes are will be on this board in plenty of time on the 29th.

 

[Traceylee]

The discount will just apply to the dates covered and you'll be at rack rate the dates that aren't. No need for 2 reservations.

Can AAA discount be applied to the dates not covered by a RO discount?