Free Dining Update from my CM

[harleyquinn]

Ok, so tell me this, all knowing Disney Fanatics....

Is the "Possible"/"Alleged" Free Dining for every month or just sekected months? We are looking into booking a March 08 Trip once the new packages, deals and rates come out in August, so what should I know or look for leading up to that point?

These "codes" you all speak of - where do I get them and are they good for all Disney Hotels or just selected ones? We want to stay at a Deluxeon the Monorail - any helpful hints to pass along?


Thanks so much and sorry if this is a Thread-Jack... Hopefully it will be helpful info to others as well...

It has only historically been offered in August/September.

March discounts are always few and far between as its Spring Break season. Codes are typically for all the resorts, but at limited quantities.

Go to www.mousesavers.com for lots more info!

 

[2mickeys1minnie]

Ughhhh..... I just got off the phone w/ a CM. I was pricing out stays at either POR or ASM Suites. I casually asked if free dining will be offered this year and he said it definitely will NOT be offered. I said do you know this 100%? He said Yes - Disney has decided not to offer it this year. I HOPE he is wrong. It is the only way we can afford to go I have to admit - he was pretty snotty. First time I ever dealt w/ an unfriendly CM.

 

[LakeAriel]

Actually, anyone (even offsite guests) can make ADRs so you don't have to tell them where you are staying ~ except when you want to do 180+10 ADRs in which case you do have to be staying on-site.

I am going to be making our ADRs next week but I'm not booking our rooms until April in hopes of getting Free Dining or at least some type of discount...we need 4 rooms total and I want to do my part not to fill up the resorts, LOL!

They always asked me, I assumed it was required. Thanks.

 

[MickeyT]

Did you check to see if it would be cheaper to book one of the suites at ASMU, instead of 2 rooms????

It is actually about $100 more for the suites than 2 AS rooms. But dining for the six days would save us a little over $1000 so that is our trigger point for going or not going.

I may be wrong but I don't think that free dining could be added if they were in the ASMO suites. IIRC, they aren't eligible for any discounts. Someone correct me if I'm making this up

I heard that. Figured that would be something I negotiate or consider when booking. Not a deal breaker.

 

[Sxofus]

I'm afraid that people who are booking JIC there is free dining, may ruin the chance to have free dining. If Disney thinks their occupancy rates are fine, then there will be no need to offer the deal!

If those people who are booking just in case free dining is offered end up cancelling when it's not, then Disney will no doubt offer the deal once the cancellations start rolling in.

 

[ktink]

Ughhhh..... I just got off the phone w/ a CM. I was pricing out stays at either POR or ASM Suites. I casually asked if free dining will be offered this year and he said it definitely will NOT be offered. I said do you know this 100%? He said Yes - Disney has decided not to offer it this year. I HOPE he is wrong. It is the only way we can afford to go I have to admit - he was pretty snotty. First time I ever dealt w/ an unfriendly CM.

Again it's all in who you talk to. I talked to a CM and it was a man and I asked if he would see if we had a PIN attached to our name, mind you I had been mailed the value PIN w/ travel dates of Feb and March and he told me no we did not. Called back a few minutes later and magically the PIN was there.

I think that there are people everywhere who have bad days and don't enjoy their job. There are alot of people here on the boards who call and question the free dining promo. I'm guilty as charged. And some CMs are probably sick and tired of all of us.

I believe in free dining 2007

 

[mom-mom2three]

I don't know if this is where I should ask this question but I need to know if you can have two reservations in the same name for the same time period. I booked a room last December for Coronado Springs on the bounceback program with free dining, myself, three of my adult children, and a two year old. I don't know what I was thinking, while I know the room will allow that many people it is going to be CROWDED. I called this afternoon to add a room and was told I could not. So I said I would make a seperate reservation, rack rate, in my name (so I could have two rooms) I was then told I could not do that . Is this correct? What would one reservation have to do with the other?

 

[jamounger]

Can you put the reservation in your husbands name or is the problem that the names in both rooms are the same?

 

[mom-mom2three]

I tried to put it in in one of my adult childrens name but was told that if I did they would no longer be on the free dining plan. I don't understand because if I keep the reservations I have now we have 4 adults on the free dining plan . If I add a room we still have 4 adults on the free dining plan but I am paying full price for another room, which is fine with me, but the CM said I could not.

 

[brooke1]

two statements about free dining.....from your mouth to Disney's ear.

Now we know that Disney is not stupid and have been doing some type of discount for many many years, dont you think they know alot of people make ressies hoping for free dining or whatever discount for aug and sept which are slow months and then for no reason at all All Star music or whatever is almost full........


Please, Disney knows whats going on.........

Brooke

 

[Grendalynn]

two statements about free dining.....from your mouth to Disney's ear.

Now we know that Disney is not stupid and have been doing some type of discount for many many years, dont you think they know alot of people make ressies hoping for free dining or whatever discount for aug and sept which are slow months and then for no reason at all All Star music or whatever is almost full........


Please, Disney knows whats going on.........

Brooke

Well, I don't - so clue me in.....

 

[aubriee]

If those people who are booking just in case free dining is offered end up cancelling when it's not, then Disney will no doubt offer the deal once the cancellations start rolling in.

After I booked free dining via the Bounce Back Program in Dec I told the CM that I had a friend who might be interested in the free dining, but couldn't make it down before Dec 31st. He said he would not be getting free dining then as the WDW was severely limiting the number of free dining pkgs available for 2007 due to both guest and restaurant complaints. He said the only way to get free dining was going to be through the UK program or the Bounce Back Program. He also mentioned that they were all shocked at how many people knew about the Bounce Back Program, because they had intentionally not promoted it that much and it may have bitten Disney in the foot because they were already over their quota and it wasn't even Dec 31st yet. They were surprised at how many people came down for just a one night stay in order to be able to book the Bounce Back Program. I asked him again about free dining in Sept and he again said no. I then told him 'you know alot of people are going to be booking resorts and making ADRs hoping that free dining is going to be offered'. He said Disney was aware of that too. I said 'and you know alot of people will cancel those same resorts and ADRs if free dining is not offered'. He then laughed, wriggled his eyebrows, and said "Yes, but alot more will keep them anyway, after planning all that time to come. They just may eat more CS, but they will come and Disney knows that too".

It looks like he was right. If you look over on the thread 'Where are you staying if free dining is offered', almost everyone on that thread says they are going even if free dining is not offered and most have already booked their resorts.

 

[jdd]

I know the anticipation is going to kill us all. I went on the chase/disney website this morning and recently when I check disney offers, nothing shows up except a message telling there are no offers. Today the picture categories are all back and it looks like maybe they are getting ready to start adding some offers. OK, I'm overly optimistic here, but I'm grasping for signs. The last CM I talked to also told me to keep a look out during the beginning of April for a promotion (and she mentioned the free dining).

That's so funny - I thought the exact same thing. My husband thinks I'm nuts...we're already going in April, but I'm always on the lookout for a good deal

 

[kribit]

We took advantage of the free dining promotion last year in September, but does anyone know when it started? Was it the end of August???? I can't remember.

 

[HM]

We took advantage of the free dining promotion last year in September, but does anyone know when it started? Was it the end of August???? I can't remember.

August 13

 

[disneyfreak2]

Sooooo, what month are we talking about?? Will it go into October??? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!

 

[jenr812]

I believe last time it lasted thru check in dates of Sept 30

 

[Fionasmommy]

We took advantage of the free dining promotion last year in September, but does anyone know when it started? Was it the end of August???? I can't remember.

IIRC, it was 8/16 - 9/30, booked by 6/2.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The free dining promotion was offered to the entire US to book for nearly 3 months last year. In fact, when the promotion was due to end on June 4, they extended it by 3 more weeks.

So far this year they have marketed it to 2 very select groups; uk folks willing to book a long stay with tickets, and those already vacationing at WDW.

While they may very well have had a quota to meet for packages booked, it's a mere fraction of the number they booked in 2005 and 2006. The fact remains that the uk residents and the bouncebackers will not get them to their goal of filling up WDW during hurrican season.

They will undoubtedly have some sort of incentive to book for the general population. I wouldn't place a great deal of stock in the fact a phone CM who probably doesn't even work near WDW tells you it won't be offered. They aren't generally informed of promotions too far in adance.

 

[Longsx3]

Just a few notes:

**The Allstar Suites were not eligible for free dinning on the bounceback program


**If the bounce back program met or exceeded Disney's expectations I would be surprised if they offer free dinning to the General Public this year because I do not see the the 2 promotions working together. While we are at WDW in August on the Bouncback program, I would not be inclined to rebook the bounce back (if offered) program again if the general public is given free dinning. I think that if Disney does not offer free dinning to the general public this year but offers the bouncback to guest late fall it would be very successful. I think even more people would take a trip in order to take advantage of the bounce back program.

**If as others have said the occupancy for Aug/Sept is inflated with people hoping for free dinning, I think Disney realizes this but is also counting on ultimately many guests will keep their reservations because they have gone through the work of planning the trip. As we all know Disney vacations (unlike most) carry a strong emotional attachment.