free dining rumor!

[mickey2000]

Remember that these rooms are like airline seats for a cheap airfare. Only so many are for free DDP. If your reasoning is true, then why last September, when I was at POP (first week). did I have trouble finding a bounce back for 10 nights in a row for two rooms ??? Maybe the CM was not familiar with his own system as some dates for September 2008 according to him were "sold out" . Maybe they have added more ? Or could it be what my neighbor was told last week. Moderates and above if the program is announced ?
I was able to book a second room for someone not even staying there provided I paid the deposit.
Too many CM's give mis information. The only fact I know is that last September 2007 some date were gone ......for POP..

 

[mickey2000]

Hopefully this turns out to be wrong, but I was told by CM that Free Dining will only be offered for Deluxe Resorts. We went last year during Free Dining , but DW just got a new job starting Mid-May so are Squeezing a trip in Apr 30-May 7th. Due to it being last minute and regular season I booked Pop Century. When i told CM will miss going in September(when we usually go) and that we got Free dining she said " you wouldn't be able to get it in a Value resort". i asked her to elaborate and she said the response from the bounce back and UK Free dining was so good that they are only doing it for Deluxe Resorts because they are at least capacity during September value season.Guess we'll see

What your saying makes sense as I had trouble last September for bounce back 2008 for POP. I was told several dates I picked were sold out !

 

[esdras]

What your saying makes sense as I had trouble last September for bounce back 2008 for POP. I was told several dates I picked were sold out !

This is entirely possible - POP (from what I gather) has seemed to be the most popular Value Resort for a while - and there are good reasons for this. It's the newest value, has its own bus, and is a little more centrally located.

When you wanted those rooms - you wanted BOUNCEBACK rooms. I'm sure that there were rooms at POP, some likely eligible for AAA or PIN Code discounts - but not Bounceback. Disney assigns x number of rooms for EACH code, promo, rack rate - etc.

I simply disagreed with the post saying that the values were at capacity for September. Obviously, some rooms (even the elusive Family Suites) are available, and some (including Family Suites) can even still be had with certain promos. As I mentioned, I believe that some have recently booked Family Suites in September at least on AAA rate. Of course, this doesn't mean that there will be ANY Suites available for Free Dining. For that matter, POP might not be available for Free Dining. I just can't fathom how the Values are so booked that there are no rooms available to be assigned to the Free Dining offer.

Once this gets announced, it will be the first truly public (for North Americans) discount for that time period. Yes, UK was public, but they always get offers earlier for logistical reasons. All those PIN codes from 20% to 40% are not public - and we can't begin to figure their impact on occupancy. And Bounceback cannot be considered a public discount either - you had to be on site at the time it was offered.

Sure, availability will be limited one way or another - but it shouldn't be to such an extent that you can't get a Value resort. I can see not getting a Family Suite, or perhaps not even getting your choice of Value - but if you act within the first day or so of the offer, and you want a Value, I'm pretty sure that you could pull that off.

The is speculation, of course, and I fully admit that I might be wrong. However, I can see no strong evidence to suggest that Value resorts will be excluded from the Public Free Dining in '08.

Don't Panic

 

[stoudt6]

Like I said hopefully what the CM told me turns out to be wrong. I know CM's are well known for telling "tall tales", but thinking about it makes sense. Disney always seems to be ahead of the rest when it comes to Economic predictions and indicators. With the dollar going down each day against the Euro , I can see why they are going after people from the UK to visit especially during Disney's slowest months. Also they already offered Free Dining for the Bouncebacks last year. It maybe that most of the Value and moderate rooms offered for free dining were taken by those 2 promotions , and what's really left is the Deluxe. If you look at a few of the Room discounts they did this year it was for Saratoga Springs and Old Key West -2 of the deluxe resorts they have trouble filling. Just my thoughts, and wish my fellow Disers Pixie Dust that Free Dining is for all Resorts.

 

[esdras]

Like I said hopefully what the CM told me turns out to be wrong. I know CM's are well known for telling "tall tales", but thinking about it makes sense. Disney always seems to be ahead of the rest when it comes to Economic predictions and indicators. With the dollar going down each day against the Euro , I can see why they are going after people from the UK to visit especially during Disney's slowest months. Also they already offered Free Dining for the Bouncebacks last year. It maybe that most of the Value and moderate rooms offered for free dining were taken by those 2 promotions , and what's really left is the Deluxe. If you look at a few of the Room discounts they did this year it was for Saratoga Springs and Old Key West -2 of the deluxe resorts they have trouble filling. Just my thoughts, and wish my fellow Disers Pixie Dust that Free Dining is for all Resorts.

What you say about the UK makes some sense, and even somewhat a few of the Canadian offers - not different, but coming out on the same day as Disney VISA holders - could be related to the USD.

The only problem I see with your reasoning is by mentioning the OKW/SS discounts. They were never public discounts.

Looking at mousesavers for all those "limited resort" discounts, they were:

1/6/08-2/2/08 "Bounceback" room-only offer only for guests staying at WDW Resorts and willing to prebook their next vacation for selected dates in 2008 (at selected resorts only, and dates available vary by resort)


1/6/08-2/2/08 package discount for Disney Rewards® Visa® Cardholders for OKW and SSR only

1/6/08-2/2/08 room-only discount for Disney Rewards® Visa® Cardholders for OKW and SSR only

2/24/08-3/1/08 "Bounceback" room-only offer only for guests staying at WDW Resorts and willing to prebook their next vacation for selected dates in 2008 (at selected resorts only, and dates available vary by resort)

3/30/08-4/12/08 room-only discount for Disney Rewards® Visa® Cardholders for Moderate resorts, OKW and SSR only

3/30/08-4/21/08 "Bounceback" room-only offer only for guests staying at WDW Resorts and willing to prebook their next vacation for selected dates in 2008 (at selected resorts only, and dates available vary by resort)

8/10/08-9/27/08 "Bounceback" room-only offer only for guests staying at WDW Resorts and willing to prebook their next vacation for selected dates in 2008 (at selected resorts only, and dates available vary by resort)

Every one of those limited to "selected resorts" or OKW/SS only were either to Bouncebackers (which is not public, you actually had to be onsite to get the offer), or Disney VISA holders (which is also not public).

Those two groups are a much smaller group (of course) than the entire populace of North America. When making an offer to a limited group, you will logically release a smaller number of rooms to be available under that promotion. It leaves a larger number of rooms available for future PUBLIC promotions.

Also, there is an advantage to public promotions that aren't available to the VISA or Bounceback promos. Public promotions often become well advertised - such as in Sunday newspaper travel sections - not so for bounceback, and (usually) not so for VISA offers either.

Marketing savvy would suggest keeping a good number of rooms open for any promo open to the public which will be advertised. These marketing promos will attract repeat business (like DISers), but it is also designed to get people to Disney for the first time - and hopefully that will be enough to make them want to come again.

Further, in all of 2008, there have only been two discounts available to the general public in North America (this means NO restrictions by residency, VISA membership, or luck of the draw on a code). They have been the two ticket upgrade packages - Jan. 1 to Mar. 15 and Mar. 30 to May 21. The Public is due for a good offer in the next Value Season.

That's my take on the situation.

 

[Wendy5055]

To be on the safe side for those of us who are waiting to make our ressies, would it be recommended to select from more than just the value resort catagories. To have a backup selection ready???

I have my dh convinced that if free dining occurs, we will be going to Disney!!! I am on the edge of my seat waiting...

 

[esdras]

To be on the safe side for those of us who are waiting to make our ressies, would it be recommended to select from more than just the value resort catagories. To have a backup selection ready???

I have my dh convinced that if free dining occurs, we will be going to Disney!!! I am on the edge of my seat waiting...

If you aren't booked already, I wouldn't bother making a ressie that you will probably have to adjust (to add the dining) anyway. Wait until the offer is announced, and then call - asking for your first choice, but be prepared to alter your plans somewhat. Have two or three choices in mind before you call.

I still think you can stay in a Value if you want - but you might not get your absolute first pick of which one - but I kind of expect rooms to be open at all four of them - remember, they account for almost half of all non-DVC rooms at Disney!

 

[utkscvol1]

I didn't know the pop had its on busses. Interesting. We are staying at Movies maybe we should switch. Hummm.

 

[mickey2000]

 

[The Brain]

Still betting on mods or is this everything now?

 

[mickey2000]

Still betting on mods or is this everything now?

Not sure? Just going by what a few others said and what my neighbor was told !
CM's are known to be wrong at times .................

 

[pinkerbell]

I know that when I called at the end of the bounceback, I could not get the exact room I requested.. However, they did extend the promotion just a few days later. There are a lot of things to consider.. people booked just to get the bounceback, but then may have had to cancel as well as they probably only offered X number of rooms to "test the water" so to speak... as the months go on.. and they get a better picture of availability.. resorts that may have been full/booked for free dining, can now have availability.. a discounted room is usually better than an empty one.. I think most of the money is made in the parks.. Free dining gets you there an keeps you there.. $$$$$

 

[CanadianGuy]

Free dining theories are like bellybuttons ... everybody's got one but.. they're pretty much useless.

Seriously - for those wanting to book Free Dining .. the best of all possible worlds is that you can be flexible on resort OR on your dates... OR ideally -- BOTH!

The more flexibility you can figure into your plans, the more likely you'll be able to book something that you are excited to experience.

Just a little tip I learned from watching this all unfold last year... and the year before...

Hope it helps someone.



Knox

 

[CastleChick]

I called this morning to do my ADR's and the CM said he had never heard of free dining promotions LMAO! so, he switched me to someone at the resorts and that CM also said he'd never heard of the free dining promo...ever. lol.

I just said "Oh, ok. I'll check back later cause I know it was offered as a bounceback offer last year and that the UK was able to book it" lol.

He did tell me though to call back in a few days for the MNSSHP tickets

 

[sandybobandy]

I called this morning to do my ADR's and the CM said he had never heard of free dining promotions LMAO! so, he switched me to someone at the resorts and that CM also said he'd never heard of the free dining promo...ever. lol.

I just said "Oh, ok. I'll check back later cause I know it was offered as a bounceback offer last year and that the UK was able to book it" lol.

He did tell me though to call back in a few days for the MNSSHP tickets

Haha! That cracks me up

 

[mousiemom]

you get on these boards and you get so excited and now i want to go during free dining!! we had ressies at the end of aug. last yr. at pop and then the free dining came out so we called back and applied that to our ressie. then the 1st of june, we received an email from disney offering us a free upgrade to saratoga or old key west cause they overbooked pop century. well, i said, of course i would like a 1br villa condo at saratoga for no extra chg!!!!! we had a ball and the free dining was so nice!! we were able to make all of our adr and get the dinners we wanted. the only thing we had to pay for on this trip was the gas, and souvenirs. so, i look to see about pop for the same time this yr and nothing is available there. to get the free dining we will stay at any of the value resorts!!!!
mousiemom

 

[sammi6]

you get on these boards and you get so excited and now i want to go during free dining!! we had ressies at the end of aug. last yr. at pop and then the free dining came out so we called back and applied that to our ressie. then the 1st of june, we received an email from disney offering us a free upgrade to saratoga or old key west cause they overbooked pop century. well, i said, of course i would like a 1br villa condo at saratoga for no extra chg!!!!! we had a ball and the free dining was so nice!! we were able to make all of our adr and get the dinners we wanted. the only thing we had to pay for on this trip was the gas, and souvenirs. so, i look to see about pop for the same time this yr and nothing is available there. to get the free dining we will stay at any of the value resorts!!!!
mousiemom

I know what you mean, we were at Disney in October of last year, it was near the middle and we didn't think that they would be offering the bounceback offer that late in the month, so we had decided that we were probably not going to vacation in 2008 to save money for our cruise in 09 and our vowel renewal at disney in 2010; well as soon as we saw the flyer in our room, we were on phone making reservations.

 

[couldbeme]

I know what you mean, we were at Disney in October of last year, it was near the middle and we didn't think that they would be offering the bounceback offer that late in the month, so we had decided that we were probably not going to vacation in 2008 to save money for our cruise in 09 and our vowel renewal at disney in 2010; well as soon as we saw the flyer in our room, we were on phone making reservations.

I'll take an E please!!!


Sorry I just had visions of Vanna White when I read this!!!

 

[mousiemom]

you were smart to go ahead and do the bounceback! they offered it to us when we were there at the end of aug. and in sept. but we didn't plan on coming back the same time next yr. if it comes out, i think i've convinced my dh to go and we would only have to take our dd out of school for 2 days. we went during labor day last yr and it wasn't bad. it was hot but we were indoors eating our free food!!!!
mousiemom

 

[disgram]

Just got off the phone with DH, after telling him that Free Dining MIGHT be annouced the 8th for Disney Visa Card Holders. We already have our reservations at POFQ for the 19th thru the 27th of August. IF, free dining is offered to start on the 23rd, do you think that there will be space available for us to move our vacation ahead a few days to take advantage of it?

Last year, we stayed at the ASMu and was able to get free dining for 5 out of the 9 days because there were no space for us to move the dates. Our DS and his family were in the Family Suites and were not able to get the free dining. Will this happen again this year, do you think?