Getting to stay at the POP during Free Dining

[ShellyLynn3630]

I am wanting to get in on the free dining in 2008 (if it is offered of course) and I am really wanting to stay at Pop Century. What I am wondering is, just how many packages have they had available for each hotel and is this one of the first hotels to get sold out???? I have a disney visa and would be able to book with that during that period when it is offered first to cardholders before the general public. Any info and thoughts!!!!!!!!

 

[kimsuenew]

I am wanting to get in on the free dining in 2008 (if it is offered of course) and I am really wanting to stay at Pop Century. What I am wondering is, just how many packages have they had available for each hotel and is this one of the first hotels to get sold out???? I have a disney visa and would be able to book with that during that period when it is offered first to cardholders before the general public. Any info and thoughts!!!!!!!!

Hi! I don't know exactly, but I do know that 2008 free dining was offered to the UK and they could not book a value, it had to be moderate and up.

Those staying at a value for free dining in 2007 were allowed to bounceback at a value with free dining in 2008, but those from the UK had to choose above a value to simply book for 2008 with free dining.

I wonder if they do offer free dining to all if it will be moderates and up as well?

Still... even paying for a moderate is a good deal if you are getting free dining for the family!

 

[thunderbird1]

As I recall from booking with a Disney VISA last year, some of the resorts did sell out quickly or didn't have rooms available at all for certain dates because of the 40% PIN code that was out before free DDP was offered. These were mostly deluxes because the PIN code was worth so much more for them than it was for the value resorts.

There were a few people who were unable to get into their value resort of choice during the VISA-only dates, but were able to switch to that resort when the offer was made available to the general public (maybe because more packages were released?) or 2 weeks after the general public booking period opened (because that's when the deposit was due) or even many weeks later, as people's plans (and reservations) changed.

It sounded like the exclusion of the value resorts on the UK promotion was more a decision on the part of the tour operator than Disney (more expensive resorts=bigger commissions). Since the bounceback offer was available for all resorts, including values, I'd be surprised if a spring free dining promotion excluded the values. If anything, there should be more values available than last year, since none of the UK folks were able to book values.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you--free food is a beautiful thing!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I am wanting to get in on the free dining in 2008 (if it is offered of course) and I am really wanting to stay at Pop Century. What I am wondering is, just how many packages have they had available for each hotel and is this one of the first hotels to get sold out???? I have a disney visa and would be able to book with that during that period when it is offered first to cardholders before the general public. Any info and thoughts!!!!!!!!

Pop sold out first last year and then All-Star Movies. According to the monster thread that ran during free dining last year.

 

[n2mm]

My DIL had 3 rooms booked at one of the All Stars, but later was able to change it to Pop as things openned up. So even if Pop is not available at the beginning, you can certainly keep checking for opennings.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I tried to get POP during the 2005 free dining, but settled with Music which was great too, but next year I am going to try to get POP.

 

[DisneyDeeva]

We have been able to book the free dining the past two years at Pop and are already booked there through the bounce back offer for 2008. Here is what we did to improve our chances:

Once we heard word that the free dining was highly likely (inside scoop through some travel agent friends), we chose our dates based on available timeframe. Then we booked a rack rate package and paid the deposit. As soon as the codes were released (saw it on mousesavers.com first), we called up and had them apply the promo code to our already existing ressie. It was no more than a 5 minute phone call and a piece of cake. Granted, we did do it the first day it was available to the general public but had no problem with availability.

 

[beroh2253]

We have been able to book the free dining the past two years at Pop and are already booked there through the bounce back offer for 2008. Here is what we did to improve our chances:

Once we heard word that the free dining was highly likely (inside scoop through some travel agent friends), we chose our dates based on available timeframe. Then we booked a rack rate package and paid the deposit. As soon as the codes were released (saw it on mousesavers.com first), we called up and had them apply the promo code to our already existing ressie. It was no more than a 5 minute phone call and a piece of cake. Granted, we did do it the first day it was available to the general public but had no problem with availability.

We were booked ahead of time also in POP last year, and when the free dining came out they made us rebook and we lost POP, or for a while anyway. We had to rebook at All Star Music at first , we were told POP was Booked and we had the rewards card and called right away . We had read to keep calling back every day , I think new blocks of rooms open every week , and in a few weeks a room opened up at POP and we were switched back to POP. This year we are already booked at POP for the bounce back last week in Sept.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I had no trouble booking for Pop both times I booked with free dining. They were both with the bounce-back promo though.

 

[disneyjunkie]

How hard it is to book Pop will depend on which week you're planning to book.

This year many of us had an awful time booking Pop because our dates fell during Labor Day weekend.

It took a lot of calling and playing with dates to get the days we wanted.

One tip that came in handy last April was to book extra days. I couldn't get anything when I tried to book an 8 night stay. However, the rooms opened up when I added two days to the end of our trip. I was then able to call back later and drop the two extra days without losing the reservation.

 

[jennib5426]

The more flexable your dates the easier it is to get Pop.
I stayed there for free dining in 2005 and 2006 but couldn't get it for 2007 and ended up with CSR, ASMU and ASSp were also available.

Try to call ealier and keep you days flexable by a few days on each end of your reservation. It seems that standard rooms go first and sometimes only preferred rooms are left.

 

[DisneyDeeva]

We were booked ahead of time also in POP last year, and when the free dining came out they made us rebook and we lost POP, or for a while anyway. We had to rebook at All Star Music at first , we were told POP was Booked and we had the rewards card and called right away . We had read to keep calling back every day , I think new blocks of rooms open every week , and in a few weeks a room opened up at POP and we were switched back to POP. This year we are already booked at POP for the bounce back last week in Sept.

If you booked a "room only" ressie, you would have to cancel and rebook. But, if you booked a package, they can simply apply the new promo code.

 

[cdrn1]

We booked Pop very late in the promo, can't remember exactly when but had no trouble getting the dates we wanted (week after labor day).

 

[beroh2253]

If you booked a "room only" ressie, you would have to cancel and rebook. But, if you booked a package, they can simply apply the new promo code.

We did have the package and still had to rebook. I think it depends on what CM you are talking to as to if you have to rebook or they can just add the code and you can keep the ressie. Maybe thought this was thru AAA and by rebooking we lost the room discount but the free dining by far was the better deal. Did the free dining the last 2 Septs. and was great. This year already signed up for the bounce back also last week in Sept.