Free dining question

[lacy1101]

If someone made their reservations prior to the deadline of June 25, but was unaware of the free dining offer and actually purchased the dining instead, can they call Disney and ask that they be allowed to change their reservation to include the free dining after June 25?

 

[WDisnut]

It couldn't hurt to try! Let us know what happens when you do!

 

[Aimeedyan]

No, they probably couldn't because not everyone going during free dining necessary qualifies for it. There are certain rooms blocked for the promotion - for a couple of weeks, I have heard all rooms in certain hotels are already booked. So, it depends on the availability of the room that qualifies for the promotion. Just like the AP discounts; they have blocked a set of rooms that qualify for it and once they are gone, they're gone.

My guess is that after the deadline, those rooms spill back into the general booking area and aren't marked as free dining anymore.

Always worth a call, but that is what I understood regarding promotions. There are limits on the number of rooms held for each one.

 

[Allison]

From what I understand, since the promotion is over, the CM's don't even have the ability to use the code necessary to book it anymore.

 

[nurseypoo5]

i sure would try! Was free dining offered at the time you booked? I cant believe a CM would even charge somone for dining that booked during free dining. Thats just mean.

I'd call them and say "hey i just noticed i was charged for dining? Wasnt it supposed to be free?" and let it go from there. Chances are good they can fix it. Its the least they could do for those that paid when they didnt have too! Plus you booked during free dining, its not like a code was required. I just dont get that.

 

[Allison]

i sure would try! Was free dining offered at the time you booked? I cant believe a CM would even charge somone for dining that booked during free dining. Thats just mean.

I'd call them and say "hey i just noticed i was charged for dining? Wasnt it supposed to be free?" and let it go from there. Chances are good they can fix it. Its the least they could do for those that paid when they didnt have too! Plus you booked during free dining, its not like a code was required. I just dont get that.

It is not mean, it is business. Free dining was not offered to every guest. It was a promotion based on availability in the resorts. There were a certain number of rooms assigned for this promotion. It was not available to everyone who made a reservation.

 

[disneysailor]

Also, if you received any type of discount on your room rate or had room only reservations, you would not have qualified for the free dining. Not sure if this is relevant in the case of the OP, but just thought I'd mention it.

Good luck!

 

[anbouk]

Was free dining availabe in Swan and Dolphin Hotel? Also, I bet if room rate was discounted they would not apply free dining, too. Am i correct to assume that?

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

Was free dining availabe in Swan and Dolphin Hotel? Also, I bet if room rate was discounted they would not apply free dining, too. Am i correct to assume that?

I don't think the Swan/Dolphin qualified for the free dining.

You must pay rack rate for the room to get the free dining!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

When did you make the ressie, and for what dates/resort? I find it hard to believe the CM would knowingly charge for the dining plan when the phone is ringing off the hook with people making ressies using the promo. I have a feeling you either called at a time when the promo wasn't running or you booked at a resort that didn't qualify. Give them a call though...it never hurts to try. As a matter of fact, I just called yesterday and extended our stay by one day and the computer automatically included the free plan for the extra day.

 

[lacy1101]

Thanks for all the replies! Actually, it wasn't us who made the reservation (don't I wish it was, though!). A man my husband works with made the reservation and, from what I understand, didn't know about the free dining and the CM didn't mention it either. I don't know what resort their in, so that could be it. I find it hard to believe, though, that if they were staying in a Disney resort (not the Swan/Dolphin) and they purchased a regular package and not a discounted room-only ressie, that the free dining wasn't available and offered to them. I think he was going to call and ask about it. I'll be anxious to hear what he found out. Thanks again!

 

[taximomfor4]

Thanks for all the replies! Actually, it wasn't us who made the reservation (don't I wish it was, though!). A man my husband works with made the reservation and, from what I understand, didn't know about the free dining and the CM didn't mention it either. I don't know what resort their in, so that could be it. I find it hard to believe, though, that if they were staying in a Disney resort (not the Swan/Dolphin) and they purchased a regular package and not a discounted room-only ressie, that the free dining wasn't available and offered to them. I think he was going to call and ask about it. I'll be anxious to hear what he found out. Thanks again!

Many resorts had little or no room categories available for much of the time, so the CM would not mention it. If the man called and asked to book a package at WL, standard view, for example, there is VERY little chance the Free Dining was available. (We tried to get it for about 5 weeks and never did!)

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Your husband's friend may have made the booking before the free dining plan was offered. This happened to us last year. My package was booked when the free dining promotion was announced. I had to call my AAA TA and she rebooked it with free dining for us. If I had not discovered Disboards, I never would have known about the free dining.