Is it better to reserve a room now and hope for free dining?

[mama_scraps]

I've convinced my dh we need to take a trip to Disney (in the hopes that we'll get free dining) in September. I haven't booked a room yet but I'm wondering - is it better to book a room now and keep my fingers crossed for free dining or wait until they offer free dining and then call? Hoping to stay at Pop Century, if that matters.

 

[mickeynut1]

If you are going regardless of whether or not free dining is offered......then I'd say book now. Otherwise, it won't make a difference if you book now or wait until free dining comes out (IF it is even offered) because it is not guaranteed that your dates/resort/room type will be available for free dining. If you book a package now (room/tickets) and your resort is available for free dining, your ressie can just be modified.....but if you book room only now....when/if free dining is offered......your room only will have to be cancelled/refunded and a free dining package will have to be booked with a new $200 deposit.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

Just be prepared that you may not get your first resort choice. You may have to go with an All-Star. (If you want to stay at a value.) But the values are the very best way to maximize the savings with free dining.

 

[n2mm]

It won't make a difference as this will not guarantee you a room at Pop for free dining. The only way you can get it is if you're holding a reservation iand there is availability there for the same type of room you're holding. Then they will apply it. Last year, many folks had to switch from Pop to one of the All Stars in order to get the free dining. My DIL and family had ressies at Pop hoping to get free dining, but ended up having to switch to one of the A/S. However, if Pop is not available when the promotion begins, keep trying because availablily does change as people upgrade and move things around. Often during any promotions, not all room categories and resorts have availability. Now if you want to stay at Pop even if it means NOT getting the free dining, then yes, book now.

 

[mama_scraps]

Thanks for the help everyone. In talking things over with dh we decided to wait on our trip until January (and take dd for her birthday). But thanks for the responses - I'm learning so much reading these boards! (Now to wait and see what kind of special we can get for January!)