Free dining

[Kurby]

Do they only offer free dining in August?

i've read a few posts that talk about getting free DP during the summer

i can't stand the heat or crowds so we'll prob never be down in July and Aug but it sucks that we'll also never get free DP

 

[hockey mom]

Last year it was Aug. 5th to Sept. 29th.

 

[Kurby]

my next questions is if you book and pay for the dp and then they decide to give it out free do they refund your money or do you have to cancell it and rebook it

 

[hockey mom]

You have to make a new reservation if it comes out then they will cancel your old reservation, apply the credit to the new one and refund any difference there might be.

Remember though if your existing reservation has a room code of any kind your new one will not and you might not get back the full amount of the dining plan. Even when you have to pay rack rate for the room it works out better to have free dining.

 

[maryliz]

And you need to do the math about whether or not free dining works for your situation. 2 yrs ago, it was going to cost myself and DSis approx $180 each to have "free dining" with rack rates, 1day base (we had AP's), change in flight to match the dates, etc. It was just the two of us and hot in Aug so didn't really care about all those TS meals. We had a character meal and a couple of TS and I still spent less than the $180 on my food/drinks/snacks for the week.

I got free dining for this upcoming Aug on a bounceback deal in Dec and I'm very excited! All of my ADR's were made at 7AM on day 180.

Oh, and when they refund your cc, it's a lower exchange rate and does not include the extra 2.5 % that you often pay in fees on international purchases.

 

[Kurby]

can you add the dp later or does it have to be added at the time you book?

would be great to book a room and then wait until a few weeks before we go to add the DP

and does having DVC make a difference?

 

[mbb]

can you add the dp later or does it have to be added at the time you book?

would be great to book a room and then wait until a few weeks before we go to add the DP

and does having DVC make a difference?

There's a difference with DVC...
With DVC, there's no free dining It's the $39/adults $11/kids - but then there's also no rack rate for rooms to pay, and no requirements for tickets either

So that's good! And, with DVC point stays, you just have to add the plan on before you check in (I'm reading 3-7 days before, maybe..), and you pay for it when you get there.

HTH!!

 

[Kurby]

no requirements for tickets either

i'm not sure what that means?

 

[mbb]

Sorry, Kurby

You don't have to purchase the minimum 1Day Base Ticket for everyone in the room to get the DDP on a DVC point stay.

With the "Free Dining" packages, you have to pay rack rate for the room, plus purchase a minimum 1 Day Base Ticket for everyone in the room.

If you're staying at DVC on a point basis (not a cash reservation through CRO), you can purchase the DDP prior to check-in ($39/$11), and have it added to your reservation....at any time of the year

If you're staying at one of the DVC Resorts, on a cash basis - meaning your DVC reservation is booked through Central Reservations, not Member Services - you would be eligible for the free dining pckg...but have to pay rack rates, and the minimum 1Day Base Ticket for all in the room...for the specific time frame of the free dining offer

HTH!!

 

[Kurby]

oh - gotchya


still sucks though since we just purchased DVC

too bad we can't get free dining too.