Free meal plan/ should I wait to make reservations until they offer this?

[johnston_amy79]

My fiance and I will be visiting Disney World in September 2008. We would like to stay at a moderate resort but because of our budget we will be staying at an All Star resort. However, if they do offer the free meal plan (we will be going there during those times) we could stay at a moderated resort. I know that you can make meal reservations 180 days ahead of time but if you wait for the free dinning you will not have 180 days it will be less. We are going to be on our honeymoon so I want our trip to be as special as possible. Please let me know what you think and what you think I should do. Thank for your time. You can also e-mail me if you want at johnston_amy79@yahoo.com
Thank you

 

[pamole]

Good morning Amy and welcome to the DIS!

I am no expert, and defer to any of my fellow DIS'ers who may post a reply, but I noticed that you had not received a reply, and I know what it's like to put up a post and then wait....

Anyway, just so you know, you do not have to have a resort reservation in order to make your ADR's (although I do not know if that is true for the 180+10 rule). And having a resort ressie in advance of the free dining promo doesn't do anything to "hold your spot", since the way the promo is coded, you would have to cancel your ressie and make a new one with the free dining (and the # of rooms w/free dining is limited)....

So, go ahead, make your ADR's based on the dates you are going to make your ressie for, and then watch very closely for the free dining promo so that you get the resort you want.... (And just so you know, from what I am seeing this year, the moderates don't book up as quickly as the values).

Happy planning!!

 

[johnston_amy79]

thank you so much for responding, I have no clue why but everytime I post something on this board no one answers. Again, thank you so much for helping me out!
Amy

 

[pamole]

thank you so much for responding, I have no clue why but everytime I post something on this board no one answers. Again, thank you so much for helping me out!
Amy

Me too, I am usually the curse of any thread!! So glad I could help out!

 

[jcemom]

By all means plan away and make your reservations!! If free dining is offered you're all set. If it's not and you opt not to purchase the dining plan then you can cancel some of your reservations later on.

 

[Ishy]

oh Never mind.. your going for Free Dining 2008 - just re-read that part.
Enjoy!

 

[thunderbird1]

thank you so much for responding, I have no clue why but everytime I post something on this board no one answers. Again, thank you so much for helping me out!
Amy

Me too, I am usually the curse of any thread!! So glad I could help out!

Fellow thread curser here!

I'd make the ADR's at 180 days anyway, too. Then if free DDP comes out, you're all set, and if it doesn't, you can cancel the ones you're not comfortable with.

As for resort reservations, I would make them at the All Star until (and if) free DDP is announced. If too many rooms are already filled, there's no incentive for Disney to offer free dining. But it sounds like you'd at least stay at the All Stars, even without free ddp, so you want to have that in place just in case.

(FYI: this is what we did this year--made all our ADR's for early August hoping for free ddp. When it was announced for later, we re-did all our ADR's to fit the new schedule. Since we were only going if there was free ddp, we didn't make any resort reservations until we could book with the free ddp.)

Whatever happens, have a great wedding and Disneymoon!

 

[wilde_oscar]

to give a different perspective, for this year, at 180 days out from the second week of sept (which is when we would be going with or with out free dinning) I started making reservation under the assumption that free DDP would be offered. Guess what, they offered it.

If we decide to go again next year, I'll do the same thing.

 

[GreatLakes5]

I agree with previous posters....make those ADRs and then cross your fingers.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I did that this year...with my fingers crossed for free dining, I had to move my dates up to get the free dining so I only had to change a few, but got everything that I wanted. But you do need to make that call on the 180 day!! So good luck, I know that they are still offering it for this year but I think that it is only a few more days. Hope it comes out again next year!!

 

[MomOfDisneyBoys]

We booked free dining last year and this year, and is was announced in April both times. Start checking here and on MouseSavers in April and book AS SOON as they announce it (IF they do it again). We waited a week this year, and could not get into a Value or a Mod. for the dates we wanted.

 

[canwegosoon]

Also this past year there were several opportunities to do free dining....but everyone had the same 180+10 window...wether or not you had ressies in hand at the moment. So I totally agree...180+10 if you have booked your room, 180 days if no room ressie yet....either way you shoud get what you want. There is a point when more tables are released-espically for FDP (its around the 60 window...I just keep my eyes open on the boards...and call frequently)

 

[johnston_amy79]

Ok so let me get this straight. Should I just make the dinner reservation 180 days in advance (cause I want to eat at Cinderella's castle)? And if I do that and make my resort reservations when they offer free dinning, will me dinner reservations (that I have already made) be applied to my free dinning plan? Or should I make my hotel reservation (at the All Stars) before they offer the free dinning plan and then try to change my reservation after they offer the free dinning plan? Also is the All Star resort nice too? I know you are not in your room all that much, but I have always stayed at a moderate resort. Thank you for all your help! Please feel free to e-mail me with any help you might have too (johnston_amy79@yahoo.com) or just post here.

 

[johnston_amy79]

How can I get that free dinning code????

 

[canwegosoon]

ADR's and reservations are 2 completely different intenties. Local residents can make ADR's without ever staying at disney...so disconnect the 2 in your mind.

DDP-you are 80% sure that you will be on the dining plan(tell the agent that you are on the DDP)free or not it does not matter.

Rooms- all hotels only have a limited # of rooms that will be given free dining(so it is important to book early...for your best choice of hotel).

Classification of hotels...
Value WDW style is a really nice Value hotel you would find in your city...like Super 8, Howard Johnson, etc...

Moderate WDW style is a really nice version of a moderate hotel you would find in your city like a Hampton Inn, Ramada etc

SO would staying in a "really nice" version of a Howard Johnson's be upsetting to you...It wouldn't bother me, because like you say- you are not in your room most of the time. I like a pool, I like lots of dining, and a clean place to sleep. But I am staying at the Poly because it's free dining, so I am upgrading to a better room(usually we are in DVC or once in a while a Moderate)

Now regaurding you CIndy's quest...In your case I think I would use Dreams Unlimited...make your ressie(even if it is at full price-you can always go for other room discounts) and have them secure your ADR's at the 180 +10 days. You can also be trying on your own...but this way you have a shot. Adr's can always be cancelled if you end up with too many. DU will then try to get you the free dining when that becomes available(or what ever discount becomes available R/O, AAA, AP-that you can qualify for), they will apply the codes to your reservations.

Remember the 2 are seperate, they may ask if you are staying on site or using the DP...but that is more for marketing information...you can always call and adjust your ADR to reflect that you are on the DP etc once you have secured your ideal reservations.

Good luck!!