FREE DINING UPDATE- RUMOR and SPECULATION / Update Page 80 !

[ShhhQ]

Just to let you know, we went in Sept. 2008 when Ivan was coming through. At first the path was predicted right across the World just at the time of our vaca. Let me tell ya, I was GLUED to weather.com and any other weather tracking online device But it turned south and all we had was rain for a few days. But because of the scare, I seem to recall Disney sending out info regarding options to rebook and I believe most must have taken advantage of it because not only did we have FD that year, but we also had EMPTY parks!! I can never recall the likes of Space Mtn. having 10 min waits..or at least that was what was posted. It was really walk-on. It was a marvelous week. I guess you just have to take the gamble.

2008 was a bad hurricane season... Before our trip.. Aug 31-Sept 5 we heard all sorts of rumors of hurricanes going to hit fl...just a few weeks before going, someone posted their trip report (live) and were getting torrential downpours daily... almost all day. It worried me, but we were still going to go. Driving down we hit several rain showers... but didn't start in the parks till Sept. 1 and I got to tell you... we didn't get even one drop of rain our entire stay!!! However, the day we left... sept 5 it started pouring again... and more hurricane warnings.. we had the best week possible weather wise... hoping for the best this year, but prepared for the worst!

 

[luvdisney00]

Ike was the hurricane in September 2008. I know because I too was obsessively watching weather.com! I breathed a sigh of relief when Ike turned away from FL. We flew down to WDW the morning of September 14th. That afternoon the remains of Ike blew through central Ohio. There was a lot of damage here, and many people were without power for 4 or more days. I was very glad to be at WDW where we had electricity, a/c, plenty of cold drinks, and hot food. The parks were great! Unfortunately, we will be headed down August 13th - 21st this year and I expect the parks to be significantly busier.

We arrived Sept. 17 that year and we didn't even have any rain. The weather was so beautiful and the parks were not very crowded. I guess it's really a chance you have to take in hurricaine season, you never know what it'll be like.

 

[trapad419]

So the latest speculation is that FD will come out within the next 10 days or so and will be offered for after August 14? Sorry - didn't want to go through all the pages/posts to find my answer!

We are booked for July with the 30% offer....last year we had the 4/3 offer which was GREAT, but we are happy to have anything. I would really LOVE the FD pin.

 

[itchin2go]

my "source" tells me that the next discount will not be FD, but another summer deal... they don't want to lure possible summer guests away to fall w/FD... and FD won't be released 'til MAY! (keeping in mind the original FD deal was released in JUNE!)

Hmmmm. I have friends who booked the 40% off deal for August. Wonder if the new summer promo will be better or worse..... Guess we'll find out soon enough.

 

[mickeystoontown]

got all my ADRs... got my airline tix... even bought a few new matching tee shirts... now all i need is FREE DINING!!

my "source" tells me that the next discount will not be FD, but another summer deal... they don't want to lure possible summer guests away to fall w/FD... and FD won't be released 'til MAY! (keeping in mind the original FD deal was released in JUNE!)

Did your "source" give you any idea when the next discount will be released and for what dates it would include?

 

[Princess Amy]

Happy Easter everyone! Even though today is a joyous holiday, I just cannot wait for tomorrow. Anxious to see what deals may come out!

 

[Port Orleans fan]

I doubt there will be any more summer deals. Where do people get this info from?

I'll be looking for the fall discounts to come out as early as Monday. Of course this just me taking an educated guess.

 

[CanadianGuy]

got all my ADRs... got my airline tix... even bought a few new matching tee shirts... now all i need is FREE DINING!!

my "source" tells me that the next discount will not be FD, but another summer deal... they don't want to lure possible summer guests away to fall w/FD... and FD won't be released 'til MAY! (keeping in mind the original FD deal was released in JUNE!)

I wonder if your "source" and my source talk or are the same people. Cause that's EXACTLY what I'm hearing ..

So the latest speculation is that FD will come out within the next 10 days or so and will be offered for after August 14? Sorry - didn't want to go through all the pages/posts to find my answer!

We are booked for July with the 30% offer....last year we had the 4/3 offer which was GREAT, but we are happy to have anything. I would really LOVE the FD pin.

Did your "source" give you any idea when the next discount will be released and for what dates it would include?

April 8th at the latest for the announce date on the next 'promo' .. that's all I have.

What I'm told is that its NOT for F/D and it does NOT include Sept or Oct dates.

So.. there ya go.

 

[mantysk8coach]

Does anyone think that Disney would ever crack down on applying new discounts to already existing reservations?

I am booked for the last week of September, and ADR's are made, but I would, like the rest of you, LOVE to be able to add a discount, free dining or otherwise. My fear is that they may eventually limit promos to new reservations only to attract new visitors beyond the ones that are already booked. And that you wouldn't be able to have a discount applied once you've already booked.

Am I just over thinking this now? I supposed all you'd have to do is cancel, and rebook.

 

[catne]

Does anyone think that Disney would ever crack down on applying new discounts to already existing reservations?

I am booked for the last week of September, and ADR's are made, but I would, like the rest of you, LOVE to be able to add a discount, free dining or otherwise. My fear is that they may eventually limit promos to new reservations only to attract new visitors beyond the ones that are already booked. And that you wouldn't be able to have a discount applied once you've already booked.

Am I just over thinking this now? I supposed all you'd have to do is cancel, and rebook.

Over thinking. At worst you'd just have to cancel the hotel reservation and re-book - but it would be well before your final 45 days so there would not even be a cancellation fee. You'd still have all your ADRs in place (you can cancel hotel without cancelling ADRs.) Would not take much longer than calling to have a code applied.

I think the chance of Disney making new promotions apply only to new reservations is very small...they know people would just cancel and rebook which would be more stress on their reservation systems anyway. Easier on everyone to just apply a code to an existing reservation. I'd guess they even have a very good idea just what percentage of existing reservations will call and have new discount codes applied. They are very good at crunching all appropriate numbers to make a $$.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Over thinking. At worst you'd just have to cancel the hotel reservation and re-book - but it would be well before your final 45 days so there would not even be a cancellation fee. You'd still have all your ADRs in place (you can cancel hotel without cancelling ADRs.) Would not take much longer than calling to have a code applied.

I think the chance of Disney making new promotions apply only to new reservations is very small...they know people would just cancel and rebook which would be more stress on their reservation systems anyway. Easier on everyone to just apply a code to an existing reservation. I'd guess they even have a very good idea just what percentage of existing reservations will call and have new discount codes applied. They are very good at crunching all appropriate numbers to make a $$.

Surprise surprise... guess what happens now when you 'apply' to an existing reservation?

Those are two different room inventories in almost all cases. So what that means is this.

1. They check for availability in the room cat/resort you have booked.
2. Cancel what you have
3. Rebook under the new offer from the other room inventory.

I've been harping on this for a while now. But.. having an existing reservation guarantees you NOTHING when a new offer is concerned. Two completely different room inventories.

Nobody listens. It's a lot like having kids. LOL!

Knox

 

[gigi1313]

Hmmmm. I have friends who booked the 40% off deal for August. Wonder if the new summer promo will be better or worse..... Guess we'll find out soon enough.

Did your "source" give you any idea when the next discount will be released and for what dates it would include?

I wonder if your "source" and my source talk or are the same people. Cause that's EXACTLY what I'm hearing ..





April 8th at the latest for the announce date on the next 'promo' .. that's all I have.

What I'm told is that its NOT for F/D and it does NOT include Sept or Oct dates.

So.. there ya go.

another offer late next week for a limited travel in summer and fall travel won't become official until at least May or June...

Knox, is that what you're hearing?

 

[Jareds_mommy]

We had a reservation at CSR for this April, online it is and was saying it was sold out after we booked and also when we called in (we had friends that want to come with us.)
Then we got the free dining pin and I though for sure to apply it we would have to move to another mod that had room but the CM was able to apply it to our current reservation

 

[francie57]

I can attest to what Candian Guy just said. We had a two bedroom villa at the BWV reserved through Disney last Aug. When the free dining was announced I called to change our reservation to the free dining. We were told we would have to change resorts because there were no villas at the BW available - so they do not just change your reservation if they do not have any room available for the promo. Actually ended up for us being better with keeping our BWV with a room discount than the free dining. Also to the one that doubts there will be any more summer discounts - don't forget they are trying to draw in the people that will be going to Universal for Harry Potter opening. Disney will keep offering discounts in the hopes of getting people to also go to Disney at the same time since Universal will be overflowing with people.

 

[CanadianGuy]

another offer late next week for a limited travel in summer and fall travel won't become official until at least May or June...

Knox, is that what you're hearing?

Yes.

And this part is speculation..

I would expect the next promo to include dates around the Harry Potter opening and be targeted at that 10 and under Harry Potter kids crowd..

That's what I expect.

And given that the Visa "Kids" promo is out there.. I would not at all be surprised if it was in some ways similar to that.

 

[CanadianGuy]

We had a reservation at CSR for this April, online it is and was saying it was sold out after we booked and also when we called in (we had friends that want to come with us.)
Then we got the free dining pin and I though for sure to apply it we would have to move to another mod that had room but the CM was able to apply it to our current reservation

And I'm gonna guess that your original reserrvation was on some kind of discount? Doesn't really matter.. CSR is a convention resort and often blocks off large portions of rooms for planned conventions making it 'appear' sold out.. and those rooms often open up later on depending on the attendance at the conventions..

Either way.. having that original reservation guaranteed you NOTHING on the new promo.. as per the post that followed yours.

 

[Wendy*Darling]

Originally Posted by gigi1313
another offer late next week for a limited travel in summer and fall travel won't become official until at least May or June...

That's EXACTLY what my TA's contact at Disney told her too. She also said she thinks this next summer offer may be tempting for us. It will take a ton to tempt though since we are leaving later tonight.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I wonder if your "source" and my source talk or are the same people. Cause that's EXACTLY what I'm hearing ..





April 8th at the latest for the announce date on the next 'promo' .. that's all I have.

What I'm told is that its NOT for F/D and it does NOT include Sept or Oct dates.

So.. there ya go.

WHO is your "SOURCE"??

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

That's EXACTLY what my TA's contact at Disney told her too. She also said she thinks this next summer offer may be tempting for us. It will take a ton to tempt though since we are leaving later tonight.

Buy "summer" do you think that means end of August??

 

[Wendy*Darling]

Buy "summer" do you think that means end of August??

I'm guessing no, but I never thought to ask her where she, or rather where Disney, draws the line between summer and fall. I would guess it is 8/15 because that is when value season starts. As in everything 8/14 and earlier is summer and fall starts 8/15. Schools in the south start back early to mid August. My kids actually start back August 2nd with the new calendar the school board approved.

Just my guess though. That isn't based on any "source" info other than the start of value season!