I was REALLY hoping for 'Free Dining' its not offered to the Animation Resort...

[mrseace711]

I have the option of switching resorts but I really wanted to stay in the new Nemo Suite grrrrr...... Why would Disney exclude their brand new resort?!

 

[chimilady]

Because people will pay the extra money to be one of the first to stay there.

 

[Zim]

The suites don't offer free dining anyway. And standard rooms aren't going to be available in AoA until December 31st.

 

[momto2inKC]

It's brand new so a lot of people want to stay there. Disney knows it'll book up without having to offer a discount. On top of that, I don't think family suites are ever included in free dining are they?

 

[Marionnette]

I have the option of switching resorts but I really wanted to stay in the new Nemo Suite grrrrr...... Why would Disney exclude their brand new resort?!

You're just going to have to decide how much that Nemo suite is worth to you. Are you willing to pay the rack rate for the privilege of staying in a brand new resort? Or is paying rack rate at one of the other resorts worth the free dining?

AoA's opening has been anticipated for a long time and some fans are willing to pay the rack rate to be among the first to stay there. Personally, I would be just as happy to save the money and to stay there at a discount when the hype dies down.

 

[Step]

I had free dining in All Stars Music family suite in 2008, so they have been included before.

 

[I<3theMouse]

Not surprised they didn't offer free dining at Art of Animation, since they'll have no trouble booking all those rooms. I know if I'd booked there, I'd be hoping for free dining too though

I'm really hoping we can get free dining at Thanksgiving like we did last year (checked in the Friday before Thanksgiving- during the free dining offer. so, we had free dining during the whole week of Thanksgiving).

But, we really want to book a family suite to have more room. I wonder if there's any hope... Anyone know how often Disney has included family suites in their free dining promo? It will probably be the deciding factor of whether we go this year or wait til next year... Fingers are crossed though.

 

[lucigo]

If you want free dining and its worth the trade-off, stay at Pop and you can take a walk across the bridge to go see the Art of Animation resort.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

They already included AOA for 2012 FD. When I booked BB last August it was an option (I booked POR instead), but two family's that I know are booked at AOA for BB FD starting 8/17/12.

I would imagine that the allotted number of suites at AOA for FD were used up by BB people.

 

[momof3ds]

All family suites were excluded from the current free dining offer

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

We stayed in the All Star Music Family Suite last October for 10 days and had the free QSDP. I didn't try to book it this year as we hope to be staying at OKW instead of the ASMu. But last fall's free dining DID INCLUDE the family suites.

I wouldn't expect them to include the new resort because they don't have to lure ppl in to the new place. Ppl want to stay there. From everything I have read on these boards for the past few years, when the ASMu family suites first opened they ALSO did not get included in the free dining promos.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I booked free dining at AoA last August using the bounceback. During our most recent trip I tried to add a few nights to the beginning of our trip using the room only discount and when the CM asked around it seems it was excluded completely from the room discount bounceback. So, it was included in promotions until Disney no longer thought they'd have trouble filling up enough rooms in the resort. If they find that not enough rooms do actually get filled then they'll release some of the inventory to discounts but most likely they've already got the numbers they need at least for the free dining period to not have to discount any more suites.

 

[scrapquitler]

I have the option of switching resorts but I really wanted to stay in the new Nemo Suite grrrrr...... Why would Disney exclude their brand new resort?!

Presumably, there is enough demand for rooms in at the new resort that Disney does not need to run a promotion to fill the rooms.

Promotions like Free Dining, Kids stay free, etc. are used to give people incentive to book rooms that would otherwise not be sold during particular dates. A new resort that is already booked up for a long time has enough demand that there is no reason for Disney to offer a discount.

 

[java]

It was also excluded from my 30% off pin code. too bad because that was the only way we were going this year.

 

[Marionnette]

It was also excluded from my 30% off pin code. too bad because that was the only way we were going this year.

I got that pin code last night and it seems pretty limited. There are some excluded resorts and the discount for the values is only 20%.

*Savings per Resort Category for stays most nights May 24 through August 14, 2012:

• Save 20% at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort and Disney's All-Star Music Resort
• Save 25% at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, and Disney's Port Orlean's Resort–Riverside
• Save 30% at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard view only), Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, and Disney's Old Key West Resort

I was surprised to see that the Fort and the new Royal Rooms at POR were included but not ASMo, POFQ and BWI.

 

[mrseace711]

OKAY I REALLY wanted free dining so I guess Ill just visit the Animation Resort for a snack =) Currently the All Star Family Suites have no openings for free dining, so we switched to 2 connecting rooms and I upgraded to the Basic Dining plan for under $300

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The family suites are designed for six people to a room. Since Resort Operations has to transfer money to Food & Beverage for each person on the dining plan it does not make economic sense.

 

[YellowJackets]

The suites don't offer free dining anyway. And standard rooms aren't going to be available in AoA until December 31st.

This must have changed, because when I booked yesterday for two rooms at POP starting Sept 22 with free dining, I was offered a suite at AOA with the free dining plan.

 

[clori]

does this mean a family of 4 can't stay in a suite

 

[smitch425]

does this mean a family of 4 can't stay in a suite

A party of 1 could stay in a suite as long as they are willing to pay for it.

AoA IS being offered free dining, and has been for several weeks.