Friends and Family Discount

[2009CAN]

Yes, we are 6, thus needing 2 rooms. I think I am going to book 2 rooms at the POP with the FD next week. If a better F & F discount comes out am I am to transfer the reservation to F & F or would I need to start new?

Still unsure if we will upgrade to DDP or stay with QSDP and just pay OOP for a couple of table service meals. We are going 12-18-26. So I am not sure what kind of F & F discounts are available over Christmas.

I had thought about doing that, but for us, I want to upgrade. We did last year and it was so nice to do a big character meal every day. But it was also our kids' first trip to Disney and they were all 4 and under so characters were a BIG deal But when they are older, I can see them wanting to ride all day and not hug Mickey or Belle, so then we'd likely not upgrade?

For us the difference b/w F&F and 2 rooms at POP is about $600 and then just under $500 for the upgrade dining plan.

 

[TACK]

Honestly it was confusing. We had to cancel the other reservation to add dining and rebook. I only have the total amount. I had 3 reservations and they all changed. I am leaving in a week, so i just wanted it booked and done.

 

[marsh0013]

Honestly it was confusing. We had to cancel the other reservation to add dining and rebook. I only have the total amount. I had 3 reservations and they all changed. I am leaving in a week, so i just wanted it booked and done.

Gotcha. No worries I'm glad you were able to get it done! Have a great trip!

 

[Sandisw]

It is only allowed in conjunction with the room discounts.

Thank you..I appreciAte your answers..this way I don't have to bug my daughter to find out

 

[aaarcher86]

Looks like adding the DDP will now turn CM and OGB reservations into a ticketless package. They'll be subject to same guidelines as normal packages now (at least through mid June).

 

[girli565]

Looks like adding the DDP will now turn CM and OGB reservations into a ticketless package. They'll be subject to same guidelines as normal packages now (at least through mid June).

Which is the $250 deposit at booking and full payment 45 days prior to check in?

 

[aaarcher86]

Which is the $250 deposit at booking and full payment 45 days prior to check in?

Yes, but the deposit is $200. But since the discounted dining plan is only bookable within 21 days the whole thing would just be do when adding it.

 

[TACK]

I thought it was a mistake. This is our 5th trip using the cast member discount and at first, there was no offer of dining, then they offered it (at a slight discount). I had to rebook all my previous reservations to add the dining and then it did turn the package into a resort reservation with all the extras (i.e. Disneyquest, etc.)

Even though the dining is not as much discounted as prior reservations, I am liking the fact that I can get the extras and you still cannot beat the room discount.

However, the 21 day window really makes your choices limited. I got almost everything I wanted, but I really had to think fast on my feet as to the categories. And because I am in the 21 day window - I had to pay in full.

I'm still happy - going to Disney in less than a week

 

[aaarcher86]

I thought it was a mistake. This is our 5th trip using the cast member discount and at first, there was no offer of dining, then they offered it (at a slight discount). I had to rebook all my previous reservations to add the dining and then it did turn the package into a resort reservation with all the extras (i.e. Disneyquest, etc.) Even though the dining is not as much discounted as prior reservations, I am liking the fact that I can get the extras and you still cannot beat the room discount. However, the 21 day window really makes your choices limited. I got almost everything I wanted, but I really had to think fast on my feet as to the categories. And because I am in the 21 day window - I had to pay in full. I'm still happy - going to Disney in less than a week

In the future I'd just add the full price dining plan from the beginning if you definitely want it. That way they can just modify if the discounted plan comes out instead of canceling and rebooking so close to the dates.

 

[2009CAN]

In the future I'd just add the full price dining plan from the beginning if you definitely want it. That way they can just modify if the discounted plan comes out instead of canceling and rebooking so close to the dates.

That seems pretty straight forward, but of course, I have another question. Last week we booked just our F&F resort stay. I know I'm going to add tickets and a dining plan if it's discounted. So, at this point, would I already have to rebook, or can I simply call tonight and have them modify the reservation w/tickets and dining? We are going late fall if that makes a difference.

 

[aaarcher86]

That seems pretty straight forward, but of course, I have another question. Last week we booked just our F&F resort stay. I know I'm going to add tickets and a dining plan if it's discounted. So, at this point, would I already have to rebook, or can I simply call tonight and have them modify the reservation w/tickets and dining? We are going late fall if that makes a difference.

You'd have to cancel and rebook from what I gathered. It sounds like the plan for all CM dining plans now, not just the discounted ones. The DDP would be at full price for now. I don't know if they are now allowing tickets on these or not. They weren't before, but if they don't you can still just get those separate.

 

[mks2774]

I talked to my friend today who is a CM and he told me there is friends and family discount and free dining for June. Will I have to wait Aug 5 to see if there are any friends and family discounts for September?

 

[aaarcher86]

I talked to my friend today who is a CM and he told me there is friends and family discount and free dining for June. Will I have to wait Aug 5 to see if there are any friends and family discounts for September?

There's no free dining at all for June, and cast members don't get free dining anyway.

There is a discount on dining through mid June. September will come out sometime in August most likely, but there is no specific date.

 

[girli565]

Yes, but the deposit is $200. But since the discounted dining plan is only bookable within 21 days the whole thing would just be do when adding it.

Thanks for the info. I do have one more question... I already added full priced DDP to my OGB reservation, once I hit my 21-day window and I call to change to the discounted DDP would I need to cancel and rebook or will it just be modified? We have a preferred room booked at pop because my mom is disabled and we don't want her to have to walk too far to get to the food court or busses, I wouldn't want to lose that.

 

[TACK]

Thanks for the info. I do have one more question... I already added full priced DDP to my OGB reservation, once I hit my 21-day window and I call to change to the discounted DDP would I need to cancel and rebook or will it just be modified? We have a preferred room booked at pop because my mom is disabled and we don't want her to have to walk too far to get to the food court or busses, I wouldn't want to lose that.

What happened to me was when I called, they read off the list of available resorts for my daughter's 60% discount with the dining plan which put me into a different resort than what I had with just the room only. So, not sure if you can just use your existing reservation or not. I would call and ask if you are not sure. I think it all depends on availability with the discount.

Mind you, I rebooked 3 reservations and the availability were all in the preferred sections.

 

[girli565]

What happened to me was when I called, they read off the list of available resorts for my daughter's 60% discount with the dining plan which put me into a different resort than what I had with just the room only. So, not sure if you can just use your existing reservation or not. I would call and ask if you are not sure. I think it all depends on availability with the discount.

Mind you, I rebooked 3 reservations and the availability were all in the preferred sections.

Oh, ok. Thanks for the info. Hopefully we can stay at Pop. We're traveling with a group and they also have rooms at Pop. I guess I'll see what happens when I call at 21 days out.

 

[aaarcher86]

Thanks for the info. I do have one more question... I already added full priced DDP to my OGB reservation, once I hit my 21-day window and I call to change to the discounted DDP would I need to cancel and rebook or will it just be modified? We have a preferred room booked at pop because my mom is disabled and we don't want her to have to walk too far to get to the food court or busses, I wouldn't want to lose that.

They'll let you know what is and isn't and go from there. You can always choose to stay with what you have if what you need isn't available.

Granted, since they've just changed the policies you will probably have to be cancelled and rebooked since previous bookings did not follow package policies. Since you already have the DDP on there you may be able to just modify, but I don't really know with the change over in all of this.

 

[girli565]

They'll let you know what is and isn't and go from there. You can always choose to stay with what you have if what you need isn't available.

Granted, since they've just changed the policies you will probably have to be cancelled and rebooked since previous bookings did not follow package policies. Since you already have the DDP on there you may be able to just modify, but I don't really know with the change over in all of this.

Yeah, I figured that's what we'd do if what we have isn't available. Either way I'm just glad to have a discount, whether it's on the room or on the room and the DDP

 

[dmoore718]

So, I assume that CM's can book the OGB for January until 2015 rates come out, correct? I think we are going to do AOA family suite since we are a family of 5 and 40% off is a great deal.

 

[aaarcher86]

They can't book it until their discounts are set for 2015. Right now they are only through 2014. I don't know if they completely correspond with the rate release.