Help Me Understand...

[JustAKid]

At first there was no way we were going to be able to stay on-site. We are staying for 13 nights and have things other than Disney planned. There are 6 of us, 4 of which are girls so 2 bathrooms is a must. I didn't want to pay for 2 rooms, and honestly, we just don't have that kind of money.

Then we decided to move our trip from April/May to September. We decided that while we are going to melt, it's better to melt with fewer people watching us. This wasn't a decision that was made BECAUSE of the possibility of free dining, but once I started researching September I realized that it was more likely that we would be able to stay on-site if, in fact, we were able to take part in it. So we came up with the plan...

We'd do a split stay. Initially I had rest days and days doing other things mixed in with our Disney days so we wouldn't wear out. Now we thought what if we started our vacation go-go-going and then ended our vacation with the rest portion.

A short novel later we come to my query. I'M SO LOST!!! I don't understand how the on-site thing works AT ALL. Not the actual tickets, or travel, or pools or anything like that, but all the pre-stuff. In conjunction, I don't know what I need to purchase in order to qualify for the free dining.

Someone said I had to pay rack rates? Does this mean I will be paying what I would pay during peak/holiday season even though I will be there during a "low" season? We have enough adults to do the 2-room split if that's what needs to happen but is it possible to get connected rooms? Which resorts would I do this at? Do I book directly through Disney? How does payment work? Do I have to be paid in full before our vacation? Does free dining apply if I book a package? What about canceling our reservation? I'll be honest, the ONLY way we can stay on-site is if we get free dining. That being said, if it ends up that it will NOT be offered during our visit, I will have to cancel our reservation. I have heard that people make payments - how does that work? Any other booking tips, tricks or advice you can offer would be VERY much appreciated. Like I said, I'm LOST as to how to get this thing going!

Thank you guys SO much, in advance! You have no idea how much I appreciate the help and having a place of knowledgeable people to point me in the right direction.

 

[amomma23]

At first there was no way we were going to be able to stay on-site. We are staying for 13 nights and have things other than Disney planned. There are 6 of us, 4 of which are girls so 2 bathrooms is a must. I didn't want to pay for 2 rooms, and honestly, we just don't have that kind of money.

Then we decided to move our trip from April/May to September. We decided that while we are going to melt, it's better to melt with fewer people watching us. This wasn't a decision that was made BECAUSE of the possibility of free dining, but once I started researching September I realized that it was more likely that we would be able to stay on-site if, in fact, we were able to take part in it. So we came up with the plan...

We'd do a split stay. Initially I had rest days and days doing other things mixed in with our Disney days so we wouldn't wear out. Now we thought what if we started our vacation go-go-going and then ended our vacation with the rest portion.

A short novel later we come to my query. I'M SO LOST!!! I don't understand how the on-site thing works AT ALL. Not the actual tickets, or travel, or pools or anything like that, but all the pre-stuff. In conjunction, I don't know what I need to purchase in order to qualify for the free dining.

Someone said I had to pay rack rates? Does this mean I will be paying what I would pay during peak/holiday season even though I will be there during a "low" season? We have enough adults to do the 2-room split if that's what needs to happen but is it possible to get connected rooms? Which resorts would I do this at? Do I book directly through Disney? How does payment work? Do I have to be paid in full before our vacation? Does free dining apply if I book a package? What about canceling our reservation? I'll be honest, the ONLY way we can stay on-site is if we get free dining. That being said, if it ends up that it will NOT be offered during our visit, I will have to cancel our reservation. I have heard that people make payments - how does that work? Any other booking tips, tricks or advice you can offer would be VERY much appreciated. Like I said, I'm LOST as to how to get this thing going!

Thank you guys SO much, in advance! You have no idea how much I appreciate the help and having a place of knowledgeable people to point me in the right direction.

Wow! I'll take a stab at this...
Free dining is currently available in September 2013. To qualify you need to book a package meaning room, park tickets (I think at least 2 days?), and the (free) dining plan.

"Rack rate" meant that you will pay the regular price for your room. You cannot get a % off room discount and also free dining. You need to choose 1 discount, only.

If you choose to book "value" level rooms, you will get the Quick Service dining plan for free. If you book a "moderate" or higher level resort, you get the regular dining plan for free.

When you book a package on-site, you need to make a $200 deposit at booking. The balance must be paid in full no later than 45 days prior to your arrival. You can call and make payments of any amount at any time, as long as the balance is paid by 45 days.

You may cancel at any time up to the 45 day mark and be fully refunded. After that, you will loose your deposit or be charged any change fees.

You can book directly through Disney either online or by calling. You can price your options online to see what resort/options might be best for you. If you want more help in booking, you can contact an authorized Disney Travel Agent, such as those listed at the top of these boards. They can book it for you if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself.

Hope that helps!

 

[Missytara]

You definitely got it all; and yes, you must purchase at least a 2 day ticket for free dining - 1 day ticket for regular dining and packages.

I would definitely go on the website and look at the pricing for regular packages and then choose special offers and see what the difference in price comes up.

Sometimes a solo traveler like myself will do much better on the room discount and some with families will do better on FD.

You can only choose discounts as they are offered, unless you get a pin code. Not all resorts and room categories will be included in the discounts; they are done to fill resorts. If that resort or room category is already booked with regular paying guests, discounts will not be offered there.

You also have to decide whether you take the discount off the bat, or like I do and book what I can afford and then if a discount comes along - either take the savings or upgrade - like I did this year.

With a package, you can log onto the website and make payments as you wish - with a room-only you must call.

You have to be realistic - you say you cannot pay for two rooms, but you want two bathrooms. You have a party of 6, which very few resorts can do all 6 people in one room. You may be looking at having to rent points, which can also be pricey depending on the time of year you plan on going.

 

[BebopBaloo]

If you decide to go in September and stay on-site, here's what you do:

You can book directly through Disney either online, or by calling.
If you book online - go to the section (usually at the bottom of the home page) labeled Special Offers and you should find the free-dining promo in that section. ..
If you call - tell them you want to book under the free dining promo.

The starting day of your vacation must be during the promo time, or else it will not apply to your stay. For example: You can't get free dining if you book with your starting day on Monday when free dining doesn't start until Tuesday.

You need to book a package in order to get free dining. The package will include your room and your tickets and your dining plan. You will pay the September rates for the room portion of the package. Rack rate simply means the standard rates for the time of year that you are visiting.

If you book a package at a Value Resort (All Stars, Pop Century) you will get a quick service dining plan for free. You can upgrade to the regular dining plan for an extra fee - however it may still work out to be cheaper than staying at a moderate. If you book a moderate resort or a deluxe resort, then you will get the regular dining plan for free.

If you want adjoining rooms at your resort - you may request them when you make the reservation, but they cannot be guaranteed. If they are available when you check in, then you will get them. More often that not, you will receive this particular request, but it is possible that you won't. I know that the Value resorts offer adjoining rooms. I can't say for certain about Moderates.

 

[Missytara]

If you want adjoining rooms at your resort - you may request them when you make the reservation, but they cannot be guaranteed. If they are available when you check in, then you will get them. More often that not, you will receive this particular request, but it is possible that you won't. I know that the Value resorts offer adjoining rooms. I can't say for certain about Moderates.

All the resorts have "adjoining" rooms; rooms next to each other.

Not all rooms are "connecting", which means they have a door between them. The moderates do have connecting rooms.

Many people do confuse those terms.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Also, if you want CONNECTING rooms, that is, with a door inside the rooms that connect them, ask for that, and they will also note adjoining. Which is to say, they will try their best to 1) have connecting rooms, and if not 2) try to get them as close together as possible.
If you want free dining, do not be tempted by buying tickets from other sources. It will end up costing you more in the long run.
Call Disney, and they will help you figure it out.

Wanted to add, we love the value resorts, as we are a bigger family and the savings helps. The upgrade to the regular dining plan is nice, too.
Call soon, as Free Dining has been available for a few weeks. There will be rooms available, but not a lot.
Oh, and All Star Sports is having a renovation of their food court, so try and avoid there.

Happy Planning!

 

[JustAKid]

Thank you all SO much for your time!!!

Wow! I'll take a stab at this...
Free dining is currently available in September 2013. To qualify you need to book a package meaning room, park tickets (I think at least 2 days?), and the (free) dining plan.

"Rack rate" meant that you will pay the regular price for your room. You cannot get a % off room discount and also free dining. You need to choose 1 discount, only.

If you choose to book "value" level rooms, you will get the Quick Service dining plan for free. If you book a "moderate" or higher level resort, you get the regular dining plan for free.

When you book a package on-site, you need to make a $200 deposit at booking. The balance must be paid in full no later than 45 days prior to your arrival. You can call and make payments of any amount at any time, as long as the balance is paid by 45 days.

You may cancel at any time up to the 45 day mark and be fully refunded. After that, you will loose your deposit or be charged any change fees.

You can book directly through Disney either online or by calling. You can price your options online to see what resort/options might be best for you. If you want more help in booking, you can contact an authorized Disney Travel Agent, such as those listed at the top of these boards. They can book it for you if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself.

Hope that helps!

A ridiculous amount of help, thank you!!

You definitely got it all; and yes, you must purchase at least a 2 day ticket for free dining - 1 day ticket for regular dining and packages.

I would definitely go on the website and look at the pricing for regular packages and then choose special offers and see what the difference in price comes up.

Sometimes a solo traveler like myself will do much better on the room discount and some with families will do better on FD.

You can only choose discounts as they are offered, unless you get a pin code. Not all resorts and room categories will be included in the discounts; they are done to fill resorts. If that resort or room category is already booked with regular paying guests, discounts will not be offered there.

You also have to decide whether you take the discount off the bat, or like I do and book what I can afford and then if a discount comes along - either take the savings or upgrade - like I did this year.

With a package, you can log onto the website and make payments as you wish - with a room-only you must call.

You have to be realistic - you say you cannot pay for two rooms, but you want two bathrooms. You have a party of 6, which very few resorts can do all 6 people in one room. You may be looking at having to rent points, which can also be pricey depending on the time of year you plan on going.

I'm sorry, to clarify, I don't mind paying for the 2 rooms if I will be able to participate in the free dining promo. I just cannot pay for 2 rooms on-site AND pay OOP for food (dining plan would cost us more). That's way more than our budget allows.

Okay, so is it generally recommended that people wait until the free-dining dates are announced (when does that usually happen?) in order to book their room? Or should I book a year out, and have them shuffle it around so that I am at the right resort/room category?

If you decide to go in September and stay on-site, here's what you do:

You can book directly through Disney either online, or by calling.
If you book online - go to the section (usually at the bottom of the home page) labeled Special Offers and you should find the free-dining promo in that section. ..
If you call - tell them you want to book under the free dining promo.

The starting day of your vacation must be during the promo time, or else it will not apply to your stay. For example: You can't get free dining if you book with your starting day on Monday when free dining doesn't start until Tuesday.

You need to book a package in order to get free dining. The package will include your room and your tickets and your dining plan. You will pay the September rates for the room portion of the package. Rack rate simply means the standard rates for the time of year that you are visiting.

If you book a package at a Value Resort (All Stars, Pop Century) you will get a quick service dining plan for free. You can upgrade to the regular dining plan for an extra fee - however it may still work out to be cheaper than staying at a moderate. If you book a moderate resort or a deluxe resort, then you will get the regular dining plan for free.

If you want adjoining rooms at your resort - you may request them when you make the reservation, but they cannot be guaranteed. If they are available when you check in, then you will get them. More often that not, you will receive this particular request, but it is possible that you won't. I know that the Value resorts offer adjoining rooms. I can't say for certain about Moderates.

THANK YOU for this info!!! I didn't think to look at special offers and I couldn't figure out how to price it out. *face palm* Silly me!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Thank you all SO much for your time!!!



A ridiculous amount of help, thank you!!



I'm sorry, to clarify, I don't mind paying for the 2 rooms if I will be able to participate in the free dining promo. I just cannot pay for 2 rooms on-site AND pay OOP for food (dining plan would cost us more). That's way more than our budget allows.

Okay, so is it generally recommended that people wait until the free-dining dates are announced (when does that usually happen?) in order to book their room? Or should I book a year out, and have them shuffle it around so that I am at the right resort/room category?



THANK YOU for this info!!! I didn't think to look at special offers and I couldn't figure out how to price it out. *face palm* Silly me!

Are you talking about September 2014???
Sept 2013 already has Free Dining available.

Booking in advance has no advantage for Free Dining. Also, dates vary on when it is offer (IF it is offered.) So no need to book early. Wait for the sale to break (if you are talking about next year.)

The Sept. discounts have been released some time between March and May, most years.

 

[Sue M]

Just wanted to add, I would book by phone, since you have room requests of adjoining or connecting rooms. Have that noted on your reservation. The only way to do this is to phone, so may as well do your reservations by phone too. It's good to have a person to ask questions too.

I would book ASAP, if its this Sept you are talking about! When wdw puts out any discounts, ESP the free dining, they go fast. And since its been out awhile, you may have to be flexible about which resort to stay at.
There are only a limited # of rooms released for any discount, and when they're filled, that's it.

Go online first under specials and plug in your dates to get an idea of what availability is.

 

[JustAKid]

Are you talking about September 2014???
Sept 2013 already has Free Dining available.

Booking in advance has no advantage for Free Dining. Also, dates vary on when it is offer (IF it is offered.) So no need to book early. Wait for the sale to break (if you are talking about next year.)

The Sept. discounts have been released some time between March and May, most years.

Just wanted to add, I would book by phone, since you have room requests of adjoining or connecting rooms. Have that noted on your reservation. The only way to do this is to phone, so may as well do your reservations by phone too. It's good to have a person to ask questions too.

I would book ASAP, if its this Sept you are talking about! When wdw puts out any discounts, ESP the free dining, they go fast. And since its been out awhile, you may have to be flexible about which resort to stay at.
There are only a limited # of rooms released for any discount, and when they're filled, that's it.

Go online first under specials and plug in your dates to get an idea of what availability is.

Oh goodness, no, not this year. You are giving me a heart attack. If we are going to Disney in 3 months and we have no idea what we're doing by now, we're in for a world of trouble! I'm talking about 2014. I know free dining is not guaranteed and that with the FP+ changes and everything we don't know WHAT will happen in the future. This is all hypothetical, about how I will have to approach it come time, etc. etc.

I'm just gathering research, getting all my ducks in a row, and trying to have plans ABCDEFG and be EDUCATED about all those plans BEFORE I make a decision and implement one!

With that all cleared up...

I think calling is probably the best idea for me. That, and playing on the website more! I am still at a loss as to how booking in advance doesn't help us?

 

[msjprincess]

Oh goodness, no, not this year. You are giving me a heart attack. If we are going to Disney in 3 months and we have no idea what we're doing by now, we're in for a world of trouble! I'm talking about 2014. I know free dining is not guaranteed and that with the FP+ changes and everything we don't know WHAT will happen in the future. This is all hypothetical, about how I will have to approach it come time, etc. etc.

I'm just gathering research, getting all my ducks in a row, and trying to have plans ABCDEFG and be EDUCATED about all those plans BEFORE I make a decision and implement one!

With that all cleared up...

I think calling is probably the best idea for me. That, and playing on the website more! I am still at a loss as to how booking in advance doesn't help us?

Because if and when FD is released you will have to change your reservation to FD. There is no advantage for people that already have rooms booked.

The only reason to book early is if you were going either way and wanted a specific resort. I book early because we're a family of 5 and usually stay at POR. I don't want to risk there not being any rooms available.

 

[BebopBaloo]

JustAKid- You are most welcome!!

Sue M - it is definitely good to talk to someone on the phone if you have multiple questions. I do think that you can request the adjoining/connecting rooms via online as I remember doing that last year. I made a reservation for both my immediate family in one room and for grandparents that were traveling with us. I was able to note on each reservation that we wanted connecting rooms with each other. The system may not have that option anymore, not sure since I haven't tried that this year. Just stating in case the OP would really rather book online. If I remember correctly, it didn't give me that option until after I had selected 'book now.'

 

[Sue M]

Are you talking about September 2014???
Sept 2013 already has Free Dining available.

Booking in advance has no advantage for Free Dining. Also, dates vary on when it is offer (IF it is offered.) So no need to book early. Wait for the sale to break (if you are talking about next year.)

The Sept. discounts have been released some time between March and May, most years.

I guess we were all assuming you were talking about sept 2013, as you didn't give a date!

If your talking about 2014, I agree to wait till the Promo us released. Having a reservation already doesn't guarantee you free dining at the resort or room category you are booked at. It's not an across the board promo, with all resorts or all room categories.
And booking ahead without a discount can work against you. Disney is selective on which resorts and which room categories are discounted. For example POFQ is usually excluded on room discounts, and AoA Little Mermaid rooms.
Disney only gives promos on room categories they need booked. If they are booked enough in one category, no discount or a much lower discount will be released.
You can play around with this Sept dates to give you an idea of what is available.

 

[Sue M]

JustAKid- You are most welcome!!

Sue M - it is definitely good to talk to someone on the phone if you have multiple questions. I do think that you can request the adjoining/connecting rooms via online as I remember doing that last year. I made a reservation for both my immediate family in one room and for grandparents that were traveling with us. I was able to note on each reservation that we wanted connecting rooms with each other. The system may not have that option anymore, not sure since I haven't tried that this year. Just stating in case the OP would really rather book online. If I remember correctly, it didn't give me that option until after I had selected 'book now.'

Didn't know that, I always phone. We had requests for 3 adjoining rooms last January, but also building and floor requests, so for me it's just easiest to phone.

 

[Missytara]

I would definitely wait until the packages come out and see where you stand. You can book a package and not lose your deposit until 45 days before check-in.

I have always gone the week after Thanksgiving, and always booked the week after I get home for the following year. So I pretty much know when I am going. If I get a discount, for me it is just icing on the cake. Like I said earlier, sometimes I take the discount because it means more people can travel with me (like a few years ago with FD) or upgrade with the room discount (I am taking a friend and her two children, and I paid for the room entirely, so the summer room discount worked for me and I upgraded us a category).

There is something nice in knowing that you have something booked you can change at any time, when offers do come available, but there is no advantage over booking now or booking later when the discount comes out.

I would also head over to the discount codes and rates board. They offer suggestions as to how to try to snag pid codes; there is no rhyme or reason to how they choose to send codes, but they are out there and it is one more way to increase your chances of FD. Right now, people are reporting over there they have been receiving pin codes for FD that go to the end of the year. That is also a good indication that it will eventually go public.

And you can book up to three rooms on one discount, so you will be good there - since you clarified for me about the two rooms.

Good luck - I got my fingers crossed for ya!

 

[JustAKid]

Because if and when FD is released you will have to change your reservation to FD. There is no advantage for people that already have rooms booked.

The only reason to book early is if you were going either way and wanted a specific resort. I book early because we're a family of 5 and usually stay at POR. I don't want to risk there not being any rooms available.

In my mind I thought booking in advance would reserve our "space" at a resort so that when switching we would be "priority" instead of a person who is just booking. First come, first served kind of thing.

However, I understand now that whichever resort I book might not be included in the promo so it would be silly to do this.

 

[msjprincess]

In my mind I thought booking in advance would reserve our "space" at a resort so that when switching we would be "priority" instead of a person who is just booking. First come, first served kind of thing.

However, I understand now that whichever resort I book might not be included in the promo so it would be silly to do this.

No, it doesn't work that way.

 

[JustAKid]

I would definitely wait until the packages come out and see where you stand. You can book a package and not lose your deposit until 45 days before check-in.

I have always gone the week after Thanksgiving, and always booked the week after I get home for the following year. So I pretty much know when I am going. If I get a discount, for me it is just icing on the cake. Like I said earlier, sometimes I take the discount because it means more people can travel with me (like a few years ago with FD) or upgrade with the room discount (I am taking a friend and her two children, and I paid for the room entirely, so the summer room discount worked for me and I upgraded us a category).

There is something nice in knowing that you have something booked you can change at any time, when offers do come available, but there is no advantage over booking now or booking later when the discount comes out.

I would also head over to the discount codes and rates board. They offer suggestions as to how to try to snag pid codes; there is no rhyme or reason to how they choose to send codes, but they are out there and it is one more way to increase your chances of FD. Right now, people are reporting over there they have been receiving pin codes for FD that go to the end of the year. That is also a good indication that it will eventually go public.

And you can book up to three rooms on one discount, so you will be good there - since you clarified for me about the two rooms.

Good luck - I got my fingers crossed for ya!

Wait, what do you mean by "go public"?!

Thank you so much for your time, advice, and PATIENCE! I really appreciate it. I'm so glad for the DIS and for people like you all who are willing to answer the same questions OVER and OVER and OVER again just to come back and do it all over again. I don't know what I'd do without ya!

No, it doesn't work that way.

Yes, as stated, I see that now.

 

[Sammie]

Going public means there is not a special PIN associated with the offer and anyone can book, based on availability.

Disney does offer some special that are code/pin specific.

If the offer is a Code/PIN you would have to receive that offer to you personally by email or postcard by Disney. Most are email now.

Also know that connecting rooms are never a sure fire 100% guarantee. When you book you can request and the booking agent will tell you that is guaranteed but they don't assign rooms. If you have more than one adult you could be split up.

If you request connecting, I would make that my only request.

 

[Missytara]

There are pin codes, which are random discounts that are sent to you via e-mail or snail mail. They are non-transferable, so it is not like someone could give you a pin code they received; there are restrictions.

There are public discounts which go out to everyone; some with early restrictions such as AP holders, Chase Visa card holders, etc. A few days later, it will go out to the general public.

People who report on the discount code and rates board will post their pin codes online and they miraculously look very similar to the public discounts released later on. The latest FD offer going to the end of the year is a good sign.

Oh, and then there is a bounceback offer. That is where you can book your next trip from your resort with a bounceback offer - but it usually falls within the same year. Let's get you through this trip first !!!!!!