Help with free dining, please!

[momof5boys]

Alright I am trying to plan a trip from 2/1/11-2/6/11. These dates are final because we are following my son's HS band down there. I would like to stay at AS Sports or Pop. I checked the dates for free dining and of course it only includes the 1-3, the rest of the days it is blacked out! What do you suggest? Help! TIA!

 

[crashbb]

The only thing that matters is the day you check-in. As long as that is not in the blackout window, you get free dining for your entire stay (up to 14 days).

 

[dizziedupbaby0127]

I believe the previous poster is correct. The day you check-in needs to be free-dining then the rest of your trip is considered free-dining. did you book already? if not go online and click the links for the free dining offer put in your dates and get your price, you should be able to see the price reflected with free-dining for the entire trip. This also counts if you upgrade to the regular dining plan.

 

[antmaril]

The only thing that matters is the day you check-in. As long as that is not in the blackout window, you get free dining for your entire stay (up to 14 days).

This is correct. I have a friend who is going to WDW to see her grandson's band and she had a room-only reservation for February 17-22, 2011. I told her to call back and ask for Free Dining (FD was being offered until 2/17). She called, got the deal and was pretty happy with me

 

[pintamino]

Not to thread-hijack OP, but is this the same with discount codes? My family is going over Thanksgiving (Nov. 21 - 26) and I have the PIN for 35% off moderates but it's only good until the 23rd -- if our reservation starts on the 21st, could we get teh discount for the whole time?

 

[squirrel]

14 nights is the maximum length unless UK.

 

[afwdwfan]

Sorry to highjack, kind of OT, but same basic subject... Free dining promotion is listed for 4 night/5 day packages. Is that just the minimum requirement to qualify? (ie: 6 night/7 day works too)

 

[worm761]

Not to thread-hijack OP, but is this the same with discount codes? My family is going over Thanksgiving (Nov. 21 - 26) and I have the PIN for 35% off moderates but it's only good until the 23rd -- if our reservation starts on the 21st, could we get teh discount for the whole time?

It should. Call your travel agent and have them apply the discount to your entire trip.

 

[worm761]

Sorry to highjack, kind of OT, but same basic subject... Free dining promotion is listed for 4 night/5 day packages. Is that just the minimum requirement to qualify? (ie: 6 night/7 day works too)

The minimum to stay is three nights with two day base tickets. You can, of course, book more nights. Disney would love for you to book more nights. You just have to check in on a non-blacked out night.

 

[crashbb]

Not to thread-hijack OP, but is this the same with discount codes? My family is going over Thanksgiving (Nov. 21 - 26) and I have the PIN for 35% off moderates but it's only good until the 23rd -- if our reservation starts on the 21st, could we get teh discount for the whole time?

I'm going to guess no. They can (and do) charge different amounts for your room each night whereas they cannot tell people how to use their meal credits (though I suppose they could reduce the number they give).

Looking at the page describing the discounts, they say this:

Save 25% to 40% at select Disney Resort hotels and treat your family to a fun-filled getaway for stays most nights ...

Buy a 4-night/5-day non-discounted Magic Your Way room and ticket package and get a FREE dining plan for arrival most nights ...

Free dining specifically says ARRIVAL whereas the room discount says STAYS.

Doing a dummy booking for 14-Feb to 20-Feb (the deal ends 16-Feb) shows a jump in room price starting on 17-Feb, indicating that the discounted rate has ended, even though check-in is on a valid day:

Date Rate per Night
Mon, Feb 14 $ 243.75
Tue, Feb 15 $ 243.75
Wed, Feb 16 $ 243.75
Thu, Feb 17 $ 465.00
Fri, Feb 18 $ 490.00
Sat, Feb 19 $ 490.00