Frustrated!

[TaraCavin]

My daughter and I go to WDW every October alone. This year my boyfriend was supposed to go with us. I'm taking a cruise that ends Oct 4, free dining ends Oct 3, bf was supposed to check us in 10/3 and we would meet up. Now that he has changed his mind about going. How do I keep free dining and all of my awesome reservations I booked 180 days out? Thanks friends for letting me vent this morning.

 

[cglaura]

My daughter and I go to WDW every October alone. This year my boyfriend was supposed to go with us. I'm taking a cruise that ends Oct 4, free dining ends Oct 3, bf was supposed to check us in 10/3 and we would meet up. Now that he has changed his mind about going. How do I keep free dining and all of my awesome reservations I booked 180 days out? Thanks friends for letting me vent this morning.

It was my understanding that everyone receiving the free dining needed to be present at time of check-in, so I don't think your plan would have worked anyway?

I could be wrong about that info though! I thought I saw it on the boards at one time or another.

Good luck though

 

[Pkltm]

We were delayed once a day due to a death in the family and they let the rest of our party check in without us. The reservation was even I my name.

 

[mm1971]

My daughter and I go to WDW every October alone. This year my boyfriend was supposed to go with us. I'm taking a cruise that ends Oct 4, free dining ends Oct 3, bf was supposed to check us in 10/3 and we would meet up. Now that he has changed his mind about going. How do I keep free dining and all of my awesome reservations I booked 180 days out? Thanks friends for letting me vent this morning.

You can keep your reservations as they are not tied to the FD promotion and are booked separately. You will most likely lose the FD though if you cannot check in on the 3rd. If you are OK paying OOP, you can do that. If not, it's time to start convincing your boyfriend to change his mind back. Sorry, they are pretty strict about the dates and check in.

 

[TaraCavin]

I wish I could just pay for the room on the 3rd and not use it

 

[LilyWDW]

I wish I could just pay for the room on the 3rd and not use it

And so would a lot of people. Disney isn't going to let rooms sit empty if they can fill them. A body in the room spends more then just an empty but paid for room.

 

[Wendybird55]

The only thing I can think of is on your currently planned check in day call Disney and tell them you had an unexpected delay in your travel plans and that you will not be able to arrive until the following day. Tell them to please hold your room and reservations until you arrive. You of course will have to pay for the missed night and tell Disney that's OK...so essentially you will be keeping your reservation as booked and will have to pay for the first unused day since you arrived late.

As from my experience, as long as you call a resort and let them know you will be checking in later than originally reserved they will hold your room for you and original reservations for you. It's when you just don't show up as planned and never call they may give your room away. The room may be empty one night. but Disney isn't losing any money as you already paid for it and you're not getting a refund. But this is a risk as I don't know if Disney will keep your FD or not...I don't see why not, but you never know.

Another thought (and I think better option) is to check to see if there's a room discount offer available that time. With FD you have to pay full room rate. Sometimes the cost of a discounted room and FD is about the same as a non-discounted room and FD. You will be paying for one less night plus you should save on your park tickets as they will be for one less day. Why not price out what it would cost if you and DD arrived on 10/4 with a room discount and paid dining and 1-less -day ticket. It may not be that big a difference to what you're currently paying...you never know.

And if you change your room reservations by one day I don't think it will affect your dining reservations. They should stay as they are.