Free Dining Questions

[xchristinax]

I will be making my ADRs soon and this would be my first time for free dining. I've read that they need a credit card, but they don't charge anything at all to it right, since it's FREE dining? Just need to be 100% sure. I don't want anything to go wrong. Also, does anyone not make a reservation for every day of their trip? There aren't many restaurants that interest me and I have about half our trip for ADRs. I don't wanna sound stupid when I call and not want a reservation for every day lol. Just curious what others do. Thanks in advance.

 

[TDC Nala]

You need a credit card only if you are booking a dinner show or a restaurant that requires a credit card hold. The card will not be charged unless you don't cancel within the required time, and don't show up for the reservation.

Besides the dinner shows, credit card holds will be required if you intend to book Cinderella's Royal Table, Akershus, California Grill or a Fantasmic dinner package.

 

[williamson_ja]

I would book as many reservations as you can. I know a lot of people just don't want to be tied down to reservations because you don't know what you want to do until you get there, or don't want to be tied to a certain place at a certain time. BUT- you have the other part of that which is during free dining, every place is completely booked up. Which means, if it comes meal time and you don't have a reservation, you might end up going hungry or paying OOP to eat somewhere counter service. It is very likely that they will turn you away completely during free dining. So, I really recommend that you book SOMETHING. This is just my opinion on the matter. I just want you to be prepared for it. We'll be there with you during the free dining. It really is a great deal and I enjoy going during it.

 

[xchristinax]

is there a penalty for cancelling any reservations ahead of time during the trip?

 

[cassandrap83]

I just wanted to add that your card is charged $1.00 for verification.

 

[TDC Nala]

I booked California Grill online last week. The system asked for a credit card number. The confirmation says there is a total charge of $0. If they charge $1, they don't tell you about it online.

 

[catne]

my understanding was that they run your credit card for authorization of using $1 amount (to verify that it is a valid credit card number) but it's just an authorization, not an actual charge on your bill.

We've had the credit card hold numerous times (Fantasmic package 3 times, Cali Grill, and CRT.) We never had a $1 charge show up on our credit card bill.

 

[MarkinNM]

I booked California Grill online last week. The system asked for a credit card number. The confirmation says there is a total charge of $0. If they charge $1, they don't tell you about it online.

I just wanted to add that your card is charged $1.00 for verification.

When I booked our MM "F" package I was told that its ONLY to insure we do show up and NOTHING would be charged unless we are a no-show then it would be $10 a person, I did call my CC company and no such $1 charge was there.........

 

[M-J's Mommy]

I just wanted to add that your card is charged $1.00 for verification.

Yeah, this happened to me every time I booked the places that require a credit card. There would always be a $1.00 charge on my card, but it was refunded within a day. I think that they do this just to make sure that the number you give is to an actual card and not some bogus number. But I digress: Yes, there might be a dollar charge that will be refunded. Maybe it depends on the bank, but there's the possibility.

 

[zddPaul]

I don't wanna sound stupid when I call and not want a reservation for every day lol. Just curious what others do. Thanks in advance.

You won't sound stupid at all. People reserve just one or two restaurants all of the time regardless of how long they are staying.

However I would consider making reservations unless you really don't want to use all of the table service credits (you can use them for counter service if you really want to). The problem is that table service restaurants are often difficult to get in to without reservations. You might not really care that much about which restaurants you eat in but you'll be happy to have a reservation if you are tired and hungry and just want a cool place to relax and have a meal even if you aren't particular about what place it is. Seeing tired, grumpy, and hungry people turned away from restaurant podiums because they won't even put anybody on the waiting list is one of the saddest sights in WDW.

 

[RMulieri]

I caution you about not making adrs for your whole trip...during free dining the TS places are PACKED , and MOST if not all will not be accepting walk-ups or stand-by guests.I have seen so many guests turned away from places the past few free dining periods.Not a pleasant way to have a vacation.That leaves you with credits that you may not be able to use. Disney does not refund unused credits.So if you are comfortable with wasting and losing credits don't make the adrs.If you want to use your credits, book adrs. You can cancel any of them that do not require a credit card guarantee at will.

 

[winterman]

However I would consider making reservations unless you really don't want to use all of the table service credits (you can use them for counter service if you really want to).

Trading TS for CS has been allowed in the past during free dining but there is no guarantee that it will be allowed. Unless you are willing to let some TS credits go unused, you really need to make ADRs. Walk ups will be a rare thing.

 

[MarkinNM]

Yeah, this happened to me every time I booked the places that require a credit card. There would always be a $1.00 charge on my card, but it was refunded within a day. I think that they do this just to make sure that the number you give is to an actual card and not some bogus number. But I digress: Yes, there might be a dollar charge that will be refunded. Maybe it depends on the bank, but there's the possibility.

I called again today and still no mystery $1 charge.........

 

[xchristinax]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Also, if I make ADRs and take what I can get, what if I find a better time online? Would I have to call to cancel the reservation BEFORE I book it online? I found better times online, but I don't want to chance losing the res I got, which would be double booking right?

 

[Mickey country]

After you make the new better timed reservation on line, then bring up the reservation that you want to cancel online, and delete it. It is really simple.

 

[singnring]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Also, if I make ADRs and take what I can get, what if I find a better time online? Would I have to call to cancel the reservation BEFORE I book it online? I found better times online, but I don't want to chance losing the res I got, which would be double booking right?

You will be dbl bkd that way.

I suggest that you look online. If you find a time you prefer, call Disney right away and have them pull it up.

With the new system, they can now modify your existing ADR. They no longer have to cancel the old one and make a new one.

That way, you don't dbl bk and you don't chance losing your existing ADR.

 

[M-J's Mommy]

I called again today and still no mystery $1 charge.........

Maybe it just depends on which bank you have? They all do things a little differently.

 

[catne]

After you make the new better timed reservation on line, then bring up the reservation that you want to cancel online, and delete it. It is really simple.

Exactly...I've done this with 2 different reservations. I actually had to book all of our Free Dining on the phone system (online became available a couple of weeks after my 90 day mark.) We decided to change a couple of the reservations, and I was able to get what we wanted online...then bringing up the original reservations & cancelling those was very easy.

One thing I have noticed about the online system is that sometimes I'll have to enter the confirm & phone number 2-3 times to get my reservation retrieved. I was panicking the other day because my Fantasmic dinner package wouldn't come up...but it finally did.

 

[aviva5675]

When you enter your phone number is it all the digits together (5555555555) or apart (555 555 5555)?

 

[xchristinax]

When you enter your phone number is it all the digits together (5555555555) or apart (555 555 5555)?

I've done it this way 5555555555 and with dashes, 555-555-5555.. both worked.

Anyways, they changed the online booking back to exactly 90 days? Two days ago, I was able to book online for my whole trip by retrieving my reservation. I'm upset