How does the free upgrade work?

[CatNipRules]

Okay, so I'm sure that this question has been asked and answered a million times. However, I'm still a bit confused on the details.

I have my package booked for October. We signed up for the Deluxe Dining Plan. So, if they offer free dining, am I basically out of luck? I'm not sure how it works or what to do or ask the cast members when I call. So, I figured that I would ask some of my more experienced Disboard members.

I apologize if this question has already been asked.

 

[havoc315]

If they offer free dining, you basically call and re-book the package, so you will be refunded the price of the basic DDP. (If they offer free dining for your dates).

 

[smitch425]

Okay, so I'm sure that this question has been asked and answered a million times. However, I'm still a bit confused on the details.

I have my package booked for October. We signed up for the Deluxe Dining Plan. So, if they offer free dining, am I basically out of luck? I'm not sure how it works or what to do or ask the cast members when I call. So, I figured that I would ask some of my more experienced Disboard members.

I apologize if this question has already been asked.

You won't need to "re-book", but you will need to call and see if they are able to apply the free dining promotion to your current reservation. Depending on availability options at your resort, there is a chance you might have to switch resorts or even just room categories. If you call as soon as they release the promotion, your odds are better that you will get what you want. You can pay the difference in price to upgrade your FD plan to the DxDDP. So if your hotel is offered the free QS plan you will pay more to upgrade to DxDDP than if your hotel is offered the free regular DDP. Does that make sense?

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Okay, so I'm sure that this question has been asked and answered a million times. However, I'm still a bit confused on the details.

I have my package booked for October. We signed up for the Deluxe Dining Plan. So, if they offer free dining, am I basically out of luck? I'm not sure how it works or what to do or ask the cast members when I call. So, I figured that I would ask some of my more experienced Disboard members.

I apologize if this question has already been asked.

If/when free dining comes out, call ASAP and have your reservation rebooked using the free dining code. Just let the CM who answers know that you'd like the FD promo applied to your existing reservation and they'll check to see if there are available FD rooms at your resort.

There are only so many rooms per resort that are set aside for the free dining promotion so call as soon as the promo is released. If there are no more FD rooms available at the resort that you're booked into, you will need to change resorts to get FD.

You'll be paying rack rate for the room plus the difference in cost between whichever plan is offered for "free" (last year was QS for the values and DDP for the mods & deluxe) and the DxDP.

 

[CatNipRules]

Okay! I think I understand it now. So, basically I just need to keep my eyes and ears out to see if they offer it. I'm not really stressing over it, but if I can save a few $$ it might be worth it. Thanks for all the helpful info. I really appreciate it!!

 

[DisGirl1971]

If they offer free dining, you basically call and re-book the package, so you will be refunded the price of the basic DDP. (If they offer free dining for your dates).

No, you do not ever have to "re-book" or cancel to add a free dining discount, or any other discount, to your existing package reseravtion. They will add the FD discount to your reservation and if you are paid in full, they will refund you the difference. If you have not paid in full they will credit the difference to your reservation balance. If you do not book early, when the FD discount is released, and they have "sold out" of FD discounts at your resort when you call, then they can check for a availability at other resorts and even then you do not have to re-book and your reservation number does not change.

 

[DisGirl1971]

Okay! I think I understand it now. So, basically I just need to keep my eyes and ears out to see if they offer it. I'm not really stressing over it, but if I can save a few $$ it might be worth it. Thanks for all the helpful info. I really appreciate it!!

You shouldn' have any problems adding the FD discount or paying the difference to upgrade. Here is a Disboards link I have bookmarked with all of the Free Dining upgrade amounts and information and all the past free dining dates and release dates:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2771101