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

[aestapa]

I have a quick question.... should I see the free dining when I check my reservation online??

I asked that of the Disney CM this morning and he said probably not, but to be assured that I do have dining added. We were adding dining to an existing reservation.

Last year, we booked online and we did see the dining package, but we were simply not charged for it. Hope this helps!

 

[madisonwi]

We're at the Poly Sept. 10-14 with free dining! Woo-Hoo!

 

[disneynuts777]

It only took 88 minutes to change my Grand Gatherings resort and get everyone on the FD. Upgraded to deluxe. I am just glad that it is done!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Just got my email confirmation with FD! I got FD at 7:15 this a.m....just in case anyone is waiting and wondering.....

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

If I book it myself online, will I be losing money? I know FD trumps all other discounts, but since AAA booking isnt truly a "discount", its just a lesser rate for them buying the packages wholesale... will I get a better price through AAA?

OR what if I book it and pay my deposit? Can the TA switch my ressie over to AAA afterwards?

 

[SINYMom]

Called a little too soon and got the "office closed" message, called back about 2 minutes later and was told the wait was 30 minutes. So, hit the speaker button, turned off the radio and asked my boys to keep the volume on low as they got ready for school. (Low volume is relative with 3 boys )

Waited on hold about 25 minutes but I GOT IT!!!!!
Contemporary Garden Wing from Aug. 26th - Sep. 3rd.

I did not have to give the code, I had it but the CM didn't ask.

Now I'm just waiting for the e-mail confirmation.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO GOT THEIR WISH FUFILLED, AND

GOOD LUCK TO ALL STILL WAITING.

 

[milmore104]

It only took 88 minutes to change my Grand Gatherings resort and get everyone on the FD. Upgraded to deluxe. I am just glad that it is done!!

I hear you this was my first time doing a GG. I'm happy I got it done for everyone but man was it stressful. Specially seeing 2 of the parties have never been.

 

[tommygirl79]

If I book it myself online, will I be losing money? I know FD trumps all other discounts, but since AAA booking isnt truly a "discount", its just a lesser rate for them buying the packages wholesale... will I get a better price through AAA?

OR what if I book it and pay my deposit? Can the TA switch my ressie over to AAA afterwards?

Probably not - you can try - but I've found after two trips booking with AAA that I would just as soon book myself and be my own TA...If you book through AAA you cannot call WDW yourself to request anything beforehand - you have to go through your TA for anything room related. You can still make ADRs yourself though...it's up to you. the plus side is that you do get the little extra perks like the diamond pass parking and a few discounts here and there so it's kind of a toss up.

 

[LorilieMarie]

Just got my email confirmation with FD! I got FD at 7:15 this a.m....just in case anyone is waiting and wondering.....

How many people are getting an email confirmation? I booked Thursday, have confirmations #'s, checked them online, but have never received an email confirmation. Maybe it's because I booked 5 seperate ressies?

 

[Christopher Robin]

We're in!

Called at 7, on hold for 5-10 min, booked by 7:25am.
9 days/8 nights
POP
MYW w/ WP (no hopper)
FREE DINING
Confimation number received.

WOOHOO!
JUST RECEIVED (9:30) my confirmation e-mail and now waiting on the 90-day mark for Park schedules and Dining ADRs.

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

How many people are getting an email confirmation? I booked Thursday, have confirmations #'s, checked them online, but have never received an email confirmation. Maybe it's because I booked 5 seperate ressies?

^^^^^^

I was told when we went to wdw last month that you had to request the email, so I called back twice and still never got one. Everything was fine, and I was able to check my itinerary online... so I wouldn't be too worried

 

[csmom]

I booked on line this morning for September, and got an email confirmation immediately.

 

[aanderson5]

I got my e mail confirmation and the spelled DS's name wrong. Do I have to call and change it? It's his name with a different spelling (only one letter off).

 

[milmore104]

How many people are getting an email confirmation? I booked Thursday, have confirmations #'s, checked them online, but have never received an email confirmation. Maybe it's because I booked 5 seperate ressies?

I just booked 4 ressies this morning and I just got my email conf. Did you make sure they had your correct email address? They asked me for each ressie if I wanted it emailed or mailed. 2 we're emailed and 2 were mailed.

 

[maroo]

Just got my email confirmation with FD! I got FD at 7:15 this a.m....just in case anyone is waiting and wondering.....

I got my confirmation, too!!!

BUT...IT WAS WRONG!! It didn't show the Free Dining...

So, I called back and they said that they HAD added it...but it didn't show up on the confirmation. She is resending the confirmation.

Talk about stress...

 

[amykay9377]

I have been waiting patiently all weekend for it to be my turn to call and finally, this morning, I called.

I started calling around 6:55, thinking that I could get a jump on everyone (sorry...) and after hanging up and redialing a few times, I got the Voice Tree at 6:58. I answered all the questions and was put on hold until 7:05!
The process went very smoothly and at 7:11 my CM Bezeeta came back to tell me that I was good to go! I kept the same reservation number and by the time I got to work at 8:30 and checked my reservation online, it had been updated to show a new Balance Due. At the time I checked it, it DOES NOT show that I have the dining plan, but yesterday I owed $1k for my trip and now I owe $280, so I know it's there.



So thanks to all the DISsers for keeping all of us up to date on this super awesome deal!

We will be heading to POP for 6 nights (possibly adding another night or 2 if we can swing it!) September 8 - 14.

 

[maroo]

I got my e mail confirmation and the spelled DS's name wrong. Do I have to call and change it? It's his name with a different spelling (only one letter off).

I would call...but not today!

Otherwise you might hold a while...

 

[maroo]

I have a quick question.... should I see the free dining when I check my reservation online??

How do you check a ressie online?

 

[Miniefan]

I hope everyone gets the resort they wanted!!

I decided to leave it up to chance, not really, I just woke up a little later than planned but I called at 7:33, the recording said, we expect your wait time to be no less than 3 minutes and it was!! Everything went perfectly, and we were able to snag ASMo for 10 nights 9/24-10/4/09, grand total of $1,237.94, about $60 less than I had calculated. That's only $123 a day!!

So excited, now I have to wait til 6/26/09 to make ADRs.

Kim

 

[PuNkEe1299]

Called right at 7am and got straight through. Had my existing reservation with a 40% off code changed to the FD code. Pop preffered Sept 19-26! Was worried I wouldn't be able to keep my preferred view room, but I was! My two friends who also have the same package booked were also able to add FD onto their ressie without having to change anything!

Hope everyone else also gets what they want.

PS. I think when I am there in September I will book a FD bounceback if it is offered. This was waaay to stressful!

Thanks to DIS for all the heads up and getting me through it!