Free Dining Watch 2009 - Dates Released!! Update post 1

[aestapa]

we were at wdw last year and knew it was going to be available on the certain date. I logged on that eve and got our first choice...WL. Of course there are no guarantees.

 

[mom2rtk]

And then us crazy people, myself included, will be back on the phone at 7 AM again 90 days out to make our ADR's.

Has anyone heard if it's harder to get ADR's now that you can't do 180 days out any more??????

 

[AlternateEgo]

I think just the more popular rooms sell out. I was booking value in 07 and i remember POP & Movies were sold out first. Then music... and last was sports. I have no idea about moderates or deluxes though. Hopefully someone could let us know.

Oh and I waited a week or two before booking our package. It's not like you have an hour to book or they sell out

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

I think it depends on how particular you are about room/resort and how flexible your dates are. If you KNOW you have to have a courtyard view at WL starting Sept 1, then I'd be on the phone as early as possible. The thing we must realize is that MOST people who visit Disney aren't nearly as crazy as we are so most people don't even hear about the deals until the commercials come on TV or the emails go out or you start seeing pop up ads.

Since rooms are limited and FD is really popular, things do fill up fast. Also, with the bounceback deals and a lot of rooms already booked with % off PINS, there might be even less rooms to fill. I think standard rooms go fast and probably also the Value resorts.

My best advice is to get a Disney Visa! Hopefully we'll have a few days before all the (other) crazies start to call!

If only it was available to Canadians

 

[Goofy22]

Question: Does Disney just announce this deal or do they say "Coming April 6 a deal for free dining. Check back." Or something to that effect. Basically do they give you warning or do they just have the deal up? TIA

NOPE! No warning only what youll see here on the boards!

 

[HLAuburn]

If only it was available to Canadians

Are you serious? I had NO idea! Maybe you should consider moving to the States!

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Are you serious? I had NO idea! Maybe you should consider moving to the States!

Don't say that too loud....if my dh hears you he will say "I told you so"....LOL
Oh he wants to move down there but we have alot of good up here, its hard to make the adjustment Don't worry I spend lots of money in the great ole USA.

But I should really write someone about us not being able to get the Visa....I would soooo love to have Mickey on my credit card and get all the perks too!

 

[Cupmom]

Back in 2007 we heard rumors a few weeks before. People were posting info on ads they saw and travel agents had posted info too. This year there is nothing. Making me a bit nervous

 

[Cupmom]

In 2007 Disney Visa cardholders could book the day after Easter 4/8 I think. We knew before hand because my friend took off of work so we could all be on the phone at 7am

 

[chumsmum0916]

Hi, is this the price for 2 to fly from TO? I looked into booking from Detroit and for 2 of us to fly it's $278 US. I am thinking of similar dates as yours, and staying at Pop Century hopefully (DD loves it there)

 

[meljw1960]

They tell you in advance. They'll put it up (hopefully) end of March/beginning of of April and then you know when to be ready, phone in hand, at 7 am.

back in 2007, I had heard about the free dining and knew others who had done it. I mentioned it to a friend, saying "I wish I had someone to go with", thats when she said OK and we booked it, that was in JUNE and we did it online and at POP. eventually, they upgraded us to Saratoga Springs for free, because POP was overbooked but we had no trouble getting a reservation.

Last year, I used the Magic for Less travel Agency and we booked 2 rooms at POP and when free dining came out, she emailed me and said we there weren't any preferred rooms at POP for the FD promo, but we could have stayed there in standard rooms. we chose to move to SPORTS instead because it was my mom's first time there and we wanted her to have preferred room. but we took a couple days to decide and still had no trouble getting in. I'm using the same travel agent this year and we are already booked at POP, if we have to, we'll move to another value, but I don't think that will be a problem.

 

[Disneynut5]

back in 2007, I had heard about the free dining and knew others who had done it. I mentioned it to a friend, saying "I wish I had someone to go with", thats when she said OK and we booked it, that was in JUNE and we did it online and at POP. eventually, they upgraded us to Saratoga Springs for free, because POP was overbooked but we had no trouble getting a reservation.

Last year, I used the Magic for Less travel Agency and we booked 2 rooms at POP and when free dining came out, she emailed me and said we there weren't any preferred rooms at POP for the FD promo, but we could have stayed there in standard rooms. we chose to move to SPORTS instead because it was my mom's first time there and we wanted her to have preferred room. but we took a couple days to decide and still had no trouble getting in. I'm using the same travel agent this year and we are already booked at POP, if we have to, we'll move to another value, but I don't think that will be a problem.

I am using this agency. Can I ask if you let them do your dining reservations or not? SHe said she would do them but it makes me nervous to trust someone else with them. What did you do?

 

[ZeroToHero]

back in 2007, I had heard about the free dining and knew others who had done it. I mentioned it to a friend, saying "I wish I had someone to go with", thats when she said OK and we booked it, that was in JUNE and we did it online and at POP. eventually, they upgraded us to Saratoga Springs for free, because POP was overbooked but we had no trouble getting a reservation.

Last year, I used the Magic for Less travel Agency and we booked 2 rooms at POP and when free dining came out, she emailed me and said we there weren't any preferred rooms at POP for the FD promo, but we could have stayed there in standard rooms. we chose to move to SPORTS instead because it was my mom's first time there and we wanted her to have preferred room. but we took a couple days to decide and still had no trouble getting in. I'm using the same travel agent this year and we are already booked at POP, if we have to, we'll move to another value, but I don't think that will be a problem.

Yeah, it really depends on how flexible you are, I think. If you're willing to change room types, resorts, dates, etc, you should be okay, but if you want a specific thing, you might have to call earlier. And this year might be weird, because a lot of people might be depending on free dining to be able to go. It's a huge savings for a lot of people who might normally have been able to afford a dining plan or a deluxe resort who are now having to move to a cheaper way of going to visit the Mouse.

 

[cricketgirl]

I actually ahve 2 questions.

1st: If I already have a room booked at All Star Movies if I get FD can I keep the Reservations I have already?

2nd: If I get FD, when can I make the ADR? I thought it was 90 days out, but now I am kinda confused.

Thanks in advance.
Lori

 

[meljw1960]

I am using this agency. Can I ask if you let them do your dining reservations or not? SHe said she would do them but it makes me nervous to trust someone else with them. What did you do?

Yes, I gave her a list of days and restaurants I wanted and she took care of everything. Not only that, but she emailed me a spreadsheet with all our dates, park hours, ADR's everything.. thats why I'm using her again. I was extremely pleased with our last trip. I don't know if it will be harder now that everything is 90 days out. but if I don't have to wait on the phone, I'm a happy camper.

 

[ZeroToHero]

I actually ahve 2 questions.

1st: If I already have a room booked at All Star Movies if I get FD can I keep the Reservations I have already?

2nd: If I get FD, when can I make the ADR? I thought it was 90 days out, but now I am kinda confused.

Thanks in advance.
Lori

You have to call them and they will "rebook" you. Meaning they cancel your reservation and book a new one, using one of the allotted "free dining" rooms at ASMo.

You can make the ADRs 90 days out from your day of arrival, and since you're staying on-site, you also get the +10 option, so you get to book up to 10 days of ADRs from the day you arrive. If you're staying for more than 10 days, you have to call back.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

If only it was available to Canadians

I know!!!!! I get so frustrated when I see things available to the Disney Visa members (i.e. first crack over free dining). I wonder why it's not available for canadians. Maybe we could start a petition......

 

[aestapa]

You have to call them and they will "rebook" you. Meaning they cancel your reservation and book a new one, using one of the allotted "free dining" rooms at ASMo.

You can make the ADRs 90 days out from your day of arrival, and since you're staying on-site, you also get the +10 option, so you get to book up to 10 days of ADRs from the day you arrive. If you're staying for more than 10 days, you have to call back.

OK...can you clarify something for me?? We are booked for AKL in Sept. Based on your post, it looks like I can call 90 days in advance of our arrival date and book ADRs for all 10 nights of our stay?

I was thinking the +10 meant that we could call in 10 days earlier than those staying off property...so in effect, we could call in at 100 days for each night we wanted a ressie. I like your way so much better!!!

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

I know!!!!! I get so frustrated when I see things available to the Disney Visa members (i.e. first crack over free dining). I wonder why it's not available for canadians. Maybe we could start a petition......

We should definately start a petition

 

[twooley2]

Thats ok I see on the UK website that their packages are about 1000.00 cheaper than the U.S. How can that be ? Is that right?