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

[archersgirl1]

I was just curious how fast the hotels fill up during FD ? I am a Canadian resident and not eligible for the DV so I guess I have to wait til March 30th to book. Do you think there will be any chance to be able to book Sept 23-29th or in the past have dates been all snatched up by the DV holders before the sale to the general public ?

Also, is it best to actually call in and book with an agent or are you able to book online ? Either way it seems that it will be very busy to do so - will I seriously be waiting on the hold for 2 hours ? And they don't have a toll free number ?

Wow ! I'm excited though if the offer does come out

 

[livinlife25]

so do they think that they will announce to VISA before march 30th or is that for everyone

 

[Disneyfalcon]

so do they think that they will announce to VISA before march 30th or is that for everyone

Touringplans is speculating that Disney Visa cardholders can book this Thursday the 26th.

 

[livinlife25]

hmmm my fiance is off work that day so maybe i can go back to my original plan of him just booking himself a new trip and then I cancel my trip when i get home from work that day?? i know that seems to eager but i really want his name to be on the payment so they can stop refering to our family with my maiden name and bc im crossing my fingers that CL rooms will be available....have we heard anything on that?

 

[lisaross]

I'm sure you'll get those dates in Sept. as that has to be a very slow time as schools just started...

I was just curious how fast the hotels fill up during FD ? I am a Canadian resident and not eligible for the DV so I guess I have to wait til March 30th to book. Do you think there will be any chance to be able to book Sept 23-29th or in the past have dates been all snatched up by the DV holders before the sale to the general public ?

Also, is it best to actually call in and book with an agent or are you able to book online ? Either way it seems that it will be very busy to do so - will I seriously be waiting on the hold for 2 hours ? And they don't have a toll free number ?

Wow ! I'm excited though if the offer does come out

 

[sharpes84]

I have a room on hold for ALL STAR SPORTS August 16th-August 25th.

I still have to pay for the reservation but locked in a price on Disney .com.'

What is the best way to handle getting this free dining ?I wanted to be sure I had a room so they didn't run out.
Do I pay for my room then call and make it a package or just call them and get the dining as a package deal?
I am afraid that by phone they will say that the value room is not at the rate I have....
Hopefully this makes sense and someone has a suggestion?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I'm sure you'll get those dates in Sept. as that has to be a very slow time as schools just started...

We go back to school August 10. Most schools in the Southeast go back by mid-August. We have taken our kids out of school for free dining in the past and we will probably do it again this year. There will literally be thousands of school age children there during the free dining promo mid through late September.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I have a room on hold for ALL STAR SPORTS August 16th-August 25th.

I still have to pay for the reservation but locked in a price on Disney .com.'

What is the best way to handle getting this free dining ?I wanted to be sure I had a room so they didn't run out.
Do I pay for my room then call and make it a package or just call them and get the dining as a package deal?
I am afraid that by phone they will say that the value room is not at the rate I have....
Hopefully this makes sense and someone has a suggestion?

Reserving a room only doesn't really do you any good. You have to have a Magic Your Way Package with room and tickets to qualify for the Free Dining Promo. Also, you can't get a discounted room rate and get the Free Dining. You have to pay full price/rack rate to qualify for the FD promo. If you do have a package booked before the code is released, then you would call when the code does come out and add it to your existing reservation.

 

[noahdove]

I arrive on 8/25....so it's a good possibilty that I could get free dining....I already contacted my AAA lady and she said that as soon as she knew she would let me know.And for the first time ever, I received a pin code, but...free dining is a better deal..so here's to more prayers

 

[Goofy22]

I arrive on 8/25....so it's a good possibilty that I could get free dining....I already contacted my AAA lady and she said that as soon as she knew she would let me know.And for the first time ever, I received a pin code, but...free dining is a better deal..so here's to more prayers

Well if they offer like rumore has it you definitely will have good dates! for Free Dining! We did bounceback our dates are August 24th through September 3rd!!!!!

 

[sharpes84]

I meant that the room is the 82.00 rate.....
the price on Disney.com.

What do you suggest to not miss the free dining?
I also only need 1 day ticket for the deal since I am an AP holder.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

So I emailed my TA and she isn't in until late afternoon on March 30th, do you think CBR prefferred room will be sold out in the first day?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I meant that the room is the 82.00 rate.....
the price on Disney.com.

What do you suggest to not miss the free dining?
I also only need 1 day ticket for the deal since I am an AP holder.

If you want to be sure "not to miss it." Then you can make a reservation for a Magic Your Way Package now and add the FD code the day it comes out (remember to have a back-up resort in case there is limited availability at the resort you want) or call Disney Reservations the day that the FD code is released and book your package then with the code.

 

[sharpes84]

do I pay for the whole package now or just the deposit of one night?
I assume I can book this 1 day 1 park tickets online?[I am an AP holder]

thanks for all the help!!

 

[lisalonglash]

I was just curious how fast the hotels fill up during FD ? I am a Canadian resident and not eligible for the DV so I guess I have to wait til March 30th to book. Do you think there will be any chance to be able to book Sept 23-29th or in the past have dates been all snatched up by the DV holders before the sale to the general public ?

Also, is it best to actually call in and book with an agent or are you able to book online ? Either way it seems that it will be very busy to do so - will I seriously be waiting on the hold for 2 hours ? And they don't have a toll free number ?

Wow ! I'm excited though if the offer does come out

Yep, we Canadians will have to wait until it's released for general public We use an awesome Canadian Disney-specialist TA and she will be the one on the phone hopefully getting FD for us and all her other clients that want it No toll-free number for the general public I'm excited too!

 

[lisalonglash]

do I pay for the whole package now or just the deposit of one night?
I assume I can book this 1 day 1 park tickets online?[I am an AP holder]

thanks for all the help!!

You'll just need to put a US$200 deposit down on a package (the balance must be paid off by 45 days before your first booked night). HTH

 

[PrincessTiffany]

do I pay for the whole package now or just the deposit of one night?
I assume I can book this 1 day 1 park tickets online?[I am an AP holder]

thanks for all the help!!

You have to put down a minimum $200.00 deposit to book a Magic Your Way Package.

 

[sharpes84]

thank you!!!!locking now!!!!!!!
your all so great!

 

[brockash]

Talk to your TA. Mine doesn't start work till 1:30 but assured me she would be up and calling the day the offer starts. Remember they don't have to go to an office to do this so she may already be prepared for that.

Okay, so I'm going to talk to my TA (but 7 est. is 5 am here, and I'm guessing she doesn't see it as important as I do to be up and calling at that time), but I'm really a control freak, and we really need Pop, because I've already arranged 3 fridges through fridge swaps, so my question is, can I add the FD onto my AAA package? If not, I guess I could always make a whole new package up with FD, just in case my TA can't get it by the time she gets around to calling??? How much of a pain is it to do that and then cancel one of them? TIA. and yes I'm a huge control freak, especially with Disney

 

[spider0215]

Okay, so I'm going to talk to my TA (but 7 est. is 5 am here, and I'm guessing she doesn't see it as important as I do to be up and calling at that time), but I'm really a control freak, and we really need Pop, because I've already arranged 3 fridges through fridge swaps, so my question is, can I add the FD onto my AAA package? If not, I guess I could always make a whole new package up with FD, just in case my TA can't get it by the time she gets around to calling??? How much of a pain is it to do that and then cancel one of them? TIA. and yes I'm a huge control freak, especially with Disney

My TA is in Fl so that does make a difference. Staying at POP myself, what are your dates?