Free Dining Room Exclusion Rationale

[bumbershoot]

At least I still have DL nearby. It's not nearly as good as WDW and I thought this was the year we could make it back. Guess I'll just have to pop in all my old home movies of Kilimanjaro Safari and Epcot...all the stuff I wish DL had.

Definitely hold the opposite opinion from you on what is better!

Have you looked for other discounts that might make "free" dining not matter? Renting a dvc reservation with a kitchen? (We own dvc and love having bigger family gatherings so the menfolk can cook the families breakfast lol)

Stay offsite?

Go see DL from the perspective of someone who doesn't live close-ish? (I grew up in San Jose and felt like dl was a million miles away)

 

[GatorChris]

Definitely hold the opposite opinion from you on what is better!

Have you looked for other discounts that might make "free" dining not matter? Renting a dvc reservation with a kitchen? (We own dvc and love having bigger family gatherings so the menfolk can cook the families breakfast lol)

Stay offsite?

Go see DL from the perspective of someone who doesn't live close-ish? (I grew up in San Jose and felt like dl was a million miles away)

I'm not exactly close either, so I don't view it as just another nearby attraction. No, I lead more WDW for several reasons. Epcot being 1. Animal Kingdom being 2. #3 - Nightly fireworks all year that only get cancelled if a hurricane comes through. 4 would be the Disney bubble I feel at WDW when I stay at their resorts. Even when I stayed at the DLH, I didn't get that bubble feeling. But maybe it's because I'm just getting too old.

I've looked at other discounts and even at renting points at a DVC. But they all get us at least $1K over the budget I'm shooting for. Shoot, the budget I have is enough for a week stay at the Anaheim HoJo, 5 APs, and a two night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. That's the cost of just 8 nights at WDW (with flights $$$$). I'm a value guy, so I see the ability to go to DL over and over for a year vs. one good trip to WDW in the favor of Anaheim. But I really miss Illuminations, ExEv, Safaris, and Spaceship Earth.

 

[Srbright]

I'm guessing only one Moderate made the list for Free Dining, because only Coronado comes up when I'm selecting November dates. We're a group of 5, so we were hoping POR or CBR would make the list. And that means no WDW for us this year

Edit: After checking the website for a family of 4, looks like CBR is on the list. But NOT for a family of 5. Families of 5 matter, Disney!

All families matter

 

[HopperFan]

While we can all rejoice that "Free" Dining is alive and well for 2016 ..... Disney got the last laugh.

Yes, they are offering Free Dining so they come off that they are continuing to offer this coveted discount and for so many dates compared to years ago when it was only the Aug/Sept dates ......................... but .................... the number of rooms is extremely limited, so much so in one day folks can't get resorts they want. For the second year Disney Visa got no advanced booking. Why? Because there are so few rooms that they alone would sell the offer out. Disney could literally offer a handful of rooms in each resort and still be able to advertise the special.

Hopeless .... no ..... there are those folks who booked a room in anticipation who have no intention of traveling to Disney without Free Dining. If they were unable to "convert" their reservation from a regular room to a dining room they will likely be cancelling at some point. They too will continue to try to get the discount so it may take some patience and constant checking to nab something. And if Disney sees enough cancellations they will put more rooms into the discount category.

Like many things slowly fading, offer the minimum and still still a viable offer even if it helps so few.

 

[VillainFavs]

While we can all rejoice that "Free" Dining is alive and well for 2016 ..... Disney got the last laugh.

Yes, they are offering Free Dining so they come off that they are continuing to offer this coveted discount and for so many dates compared to years ago when it was only the Aug/Sept dates ......................... but .................... the number of rooms is extremely limited, so much so in one day folks can't get resorts they want. For the second year Disney Visa got no advanced booking. Why? Because there are so few rooms that they alone would sell the offer out. Disney could literally offer a handful of rooms in each resort and still be able to advertise the special.

Hopeless .... no ..... there are those folks who booked a room in anticipation who have no intention of traveling to Disney without Free Dining. If they were unable to "convert" their reservation from a regular room to a dining room they will likely be cancelling at some point. They too will continue to try to get the discount so it may take some patience and constant checking to nab something. And if Disney sees enough cancellations they will put more rooms into the discount category.

Like many things slowly fading, offer the minimum and still still a viable offer even if it helps so few.

Visa got no advance booking, but they actually got access to dates that weren't available to the general population. General offer starts August 23rd. Visa holders can book as early as August 14th. Great news for someone who's vacation starts August 17th! And this is something new, as far as I know.

 

[AngiTN]

It's a double edged sword.
The economy is better so folks can afford to go but because folks can afford to go Disney doesn't need the high discounts to get folks in the rooms

 

[Kimberly9701]

While we can all rejoice that "Free" Dining is alive and well for 2016 ..... Disney got the last laugh.

Yes, they are offering Free Dining so they come off that they are continuing to offer this coveted discount and for so many dates compared to years ago when it was only the Aug/Sept dates ......................... but .................... the number of rooms is extremely limited, so much so in one day folks can't get resorts they want. For the second year Disney Visa got no advanced booking. Why? Because there are so few rooms that they alone would sell the offer out. Disney could literally offer a handful of rooms in each resort and still be able to advertise the special.

Hopeless .... no ..... there are those folks who booked a room in anticipation who have no intention of traveling to Disney without Free Dining. If they were unable to "convert" their reservation from a regular room to a dining room they will likely be cancelling at some point. They too will continue to try to get the discount so it may take some patience and constant checking to nab something. And if Disney sees enough cancellations they will put more rooms into the discount category.

Like many things slowly fading, offer the minimum and still still a viable offer even if it helps so few.

I paid attention to the FD dates bc I was hoping they would give a clue for the RO discount dates.
What is surprising is the amount of people who booked without really know if they were going..or where they were staying..switching resorts once FD was released.
I don't know for certain, but maybe that has something to do with why Disney doesn't need to put out as many options...those rooms already had deposits.

 

[DisBuckMan]

What is surprising is the amount of people who booked without really know if they were going..or where they were staying..switching resorts once FD was released.

I would say that a fair portion weren't going UNLESS they got the FD promotion, and that's what causes such angst and desperation every time this promo rolls around.

 

[HopperFan]

Visa got no advance booking, but they actually got access to dates that weren't available to the general population. General offer starts August 23rd. Visa holders can book as early as August 14th. Great news for someone who's vacation starts August 17th! And this is something new, as far as I know.

Didn't see that and as a Disney Visa holder (charter) I have yet to get notified of this offer. No surprise.

I paid attention to the FD dates bc I was hoping they would give a clue for the RO discount dates.
What is surprising is the amount of people who booked without really know if they were going..or where they were staying..switching resorts once FD was released.
I don't know for certain, but maybe that has something to do with why Disney doesn't need to put out as many options...those rooms already had deposits.

Starting doing Free Dining a decade ago (not last few years) and folks ALWAYS book in anticipation. Posters will say over and over the more who are booked, the least number of rooms will be offered. It is absolutely not in your best interest to book to gain access since it's a different package. It is especially not advantageous if you will not go without the Free Dining. Could be they will add some rooms if need be but I honestly think they are phasing it down to the minimal so for PR purposes they have it but not not many rooms, and even less due to advance bookings hoping.

You are absolutely correct, they determine the number of rooms to offer at each resort based on existing bookings. So anyone booking in advance under the false impression that it will help them is only doing a detriment to the number of rooms that will be available.

Each resort decides how many rooms based on how many rooms they need to fill. They will be cautious on that number because it is the hotel that has to absorb the cost of the DDP (I am sure at an accounting point, not retail).

 

[Dan Murphy]

I was hoping they would give a clue for the RO discount dates.

Are these what you are looking for?

http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-dis...isney-world-resort-hotel-discounts-codes/#bts

 

[Kimberly9701]

I would say that a fair portion weren't going UNLESS they got the FD promotion, and that's what causes such angst and desperation every time this promo rolls around.

My dates are not included in FD.. I am still hoping for a room discount.. But either way- could this possibly mean that my week is less crowded?lol. One can hope right...

 

[DisBuckMan]

Didn't see that and as a Disney Visa holder (charter) I have yet to get notified of this offer. No surprise.

Yeah...me either.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Are these what you are looking for?

http://www.mousesavers.com/walt-dis...isney-world-resort-hotel-discounts-codes/#bts

Thanks! But no, unfortunately. I am booked for 12/3-12/7 which I found out, on these boards, is pop warner week. We are staying at CR, so hopefully won't have too much impact on us.
My original dates I had planned on 11/22 or 11-21- 11/26 (we will be on the Fantasy 11/26-12/3, but after seeing crowd calenders for that week I decided on a post cruise stay.
I know a lot of people say that's a bad idea to do cruise then WDW...but 9/10 crowd levels frighten me.lol

 

[snowpeasugarleaf]

Starting doing Free Dining a decade ago (not last few years) and folks ALWAYS book in anticipation. Posters will say over and over the more who are booked, the least number of rooms will be offered. It is absolutely not in your best interest to book to gain access since it's a different package. It is especially not advantageous if you will not go without the Free Dining. Could be they will add some rooms if need be but I honestly think they are phasing it down to the minimal so for PR purposes they have it but not not many rooms, and even less due to advance bookings hoping.

You are absolutely correct, they determine the number of rooms to offer at each resort based on existing bookings. So anyone booking in advance under the false impression that it will help them is only doing a detriment to the number of rooms that will be available.

Each resort decides how many rooms based on how many rooms they need to fill. They will be cautious on that number because it is the hotel that has to absorb the cost of the DDP (I am sure at an accounting point, not retail).

I just wanted to bump this. A small set of people continue to try to get others to understand this concept but they just won't listen.

 

[DisBuckMan]

My dates are not included in FD.. I am still hoping for a room discount.. But either way- could this possibly mean that my week is less crowded?lol. One can hope right...

For your sake, I hope so. I refuse to go during FD anymore. We love, I mean LOVE to go during the fall, but it's not the pleasant experience it used to be anymore. Way more crowded due to the FD, and it's not worth having to stalk the website to be able to get reservations for where we want to eat.

I wish, if they continue with FD, they'd make it in January/February.

 

[AngiTN]

We've gone the first week in December 2 out of the last 3 years and Pop Warner had zero impact on us. Unless I had read about it on here I wouldn't have known they were in the parks. That and HS will close early 1 night for their private after party.

 

[AngiTN]

Didn't see that and as a Disney Visa holder (charter) I have yet to get notified of this offer. No surprise.

Same here. I've had a Disney Visa for 5 years now and have yet to get an email on a single promotion

 

[AngiTN]

For your sake, I hope so. I refuse to go during FD anymore. We love, I mean LOVE to go during the fall, but it's not the pleasant experience it used to be anymore. Way more crowded due to the FD, and it's not worth having to stalk the website to be able to get reservations for where we want to eat.

I wish, if they continue with FD, they'd make it in January/February.

The good thing is now Oct is excluded from free dining, and even the first 2 weeks in Nov this year. Gives a nice window in the fall for those that avoid free dining.

 

[Kimberly9701]

We've gone the first week in December 2 out of the last 3 years and Pop Warner had zero impact on us. Unless I had read about it on here I wouldn't have known they were in the parks. That and HS will close early 1 night for their private after party.

That makes me feel better! Thanks!

 

[Dashzap]

FD is a way to fill available room inventory. If FD isn't offered for your dates, it means Disney is projecting inventory already full.