Is there ever free dining for the Campgrounds?

[chartle]

I know I will get the disHATERS who say I am full of it but I did have free dining at the campsites in 2011. I know I know I have been through this with dozens of the "experts" who say I am mistaken and that I could have had someone pay for it without knowing it ?? Really someone magically paid over $1k for a stranger?? Anyway we got an offer in the mail and I called and asked if I could add it to my existing reservation. I had no idea how good I had it when we did and it was only my second time going to Disney as an adult with my first child (I have gone dozens of times with my parents growing up). It was an offer for free dining and we called and they added it to our reservations FOR FREE. I have since tried and failed at getting it added to later trips for the campsites but I say never give up and each time its offered call and try. It has worked before... even if it was a mistake on Disney's part.

I think this is probably the case. You somehow got a phone CM that somehow figured out (most likely by mistake or a bug in the system) how to add it to a campsite.

Or it was supernatural pixie dust.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

It has nothing to do with how much you pay for a room/site. It has to do with how much marketing money Disney is willing to pay to lure people to stay onsite.

1) Partially true.
2) Free Dining is meant to fill rooms.
3) But, the offer depends upon the room price.
. . . they now give Free Dining for QS at Values, not full DDP
. . . guests can upgrade, but don't get the full DDP for free at Values
. . . they don't give Free Dining for campsites
4) Remember, the Hotels pay for Free Dining , not the parks.
5) So, the Resort General Mgr is still held to profit goals.

NOTE: When I work The Fort, we get the question all the time. It
is easy to just explain sites can have 10-people, and the site price
would not support Free Dining. Disney does not Give Away sites.

 

[bama_ed]

I know I will get the disHATERS who say I am full of it but I did have free dining at the campsites in 2011.

brizzer, I don't doubt you.

And don't worry, the haters are long gone.

As you said at the end of post, it worked once and hasn't worked since (and I don't blame you for trying). It was probably the exception/rare mistake on Disney's part.

Although I will say (since I got back from the Fort this week) how surprised I was that the Premium and Full sites didn't fill up over the weekend. I didn't get over to 300 to check the Preferreds. But I thought these beautiful spring weekends would fill the Fort. And the Partial loops were in fact full over the weekend.

The historical price increases may be catching up to Disney and they may need to stimulate Fort occupancy outside of the Halloween, Easter, Christmas windows at some point. But they must not be there yet.

Bama Ed

 

[brizzer79]

Thanks Bama Ed for not giving me the Disney slap Since my first day on here I have had so much help from many wonderful people!! I love this site and the info I get from here. We have only stayed in the more expensive site. We had an RV pull through that was right beside the movie area in 2011 and that is what I have booked for September. Crazy thing is that even taking out the FD thing it would be cheaper for me to give up my site for a basic room in a value. I would save quite a bit on my 9 day trip. Currently for my family of 4 my bill for stay,play,& dine is $2780. We estimate an additional $925 for fuel from Indiana. I can switch to a value for just a smidge less and when/if free dining is offered with the upgrade to the nicer dining package my bill would be $2200 even including the extra day that we would have used up for travel. They should offer some type of discount for the campsites even if it isn't FD. Hopefully they realize it soon because I love the campsites. Would prefer to stay there every time but my husband hates the drive. The fact that it is cheaper to stay at a resort gives him the upper hand

 

[articfox676]

brizzer, I don't doubt you.

And don't worry, the haters are long gone.

As you said at the end of post, it worked once and hasn't worked since (and I don't blame you for trying). It was probably the exception/rare mistake on Disney's part.

Although I will say (since I got back from the Fort this week) how surprised I was that the Premium and Full sites didn't fill up over the weekend. I didn't get over to 300 to check the Preferreds. But I thought these beautiful spring weekends would fill the Fort. And the Partial loops were in fact full over the weekend.

The historical price increases may be catching up to Disney and they may need to stimulate Fort occupancy outside of the Halloween, Easter, Christmas windows at some point. But they must not be there yet.

Bama Ed

We have also been to the Fort riding our bikes and noticed the empty sites. This would be a Sat. and I would say in general the sites are about 60 to 70% occupied. Sometimes they even have one or two loops closed. I guess there is no way to get around maintenance.

 

[brizzer79]

According to the post today CAMPGROUNDS ARE INCLUDED IN 2013 FREE DINING!!

 

[chartle]

According to the post today CAMPGROUNDS ARE INCLUDED IN 2013 FREE DINING!!

What post? And FW has I think always been included in free dining but just the cabins not the campsites.

 

[brizzer79]

The post DisBoards just put on their facebook takes you to a link about the FD promotion being released on 5/9 talking about FD for 9/2 to 9/25 this year. Campsites are listed as an included and on a different line than the cabins! I JUST changed my reservations last night from campground to a value and got airfare because I was told there is no chance of getting FD

 

[chartle]

The post DisBoards just put on their facebook takes you to a link about the FD promotion being released on 5/9 talking about FD for 9/2 to 9/25 this year. Campsites are listed as an included and on a different line than the cabins! I JUST changed my reservations last night from campground to a value and got airfare because I was told there is no chance of getting FD

Can you post that link since I'm not on facebook on my computer at work?

ETA: Ok here is the link

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3101228

and just like later in that thread it needs to be confirmed. But I'm 99.999999999% sure its a formatting error. Its posted like this

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

Bay Lake Tower at Disneys Contemporary Resort
Disneys Animal Kingdom Villas
Disneys Beach Club Villas
Disneys BoardWalk Villas
Disneys Old Key West Resort
Disneys Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disneys Wilderness Lodge
Disney Campground and Cabins
Disneys Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

But should look like this

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts

Bay Lake Tower at Disneys Contemporary Resort
Disneys Animal Kingdom Villas
Disneys Beach Club Villas
Disneys BoardWalk Villas
Disneys Old Key West Resort
Disneys Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disneys Wilderness Lodge​

Disney Campground and Cabins

Disneys Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground​

FW is in its own category so you are reading it as two lines when its really the category heading Disney Campground and Cabins and then the property Disney Campground and Cabins just like they did above for the value, mods and deluxe properties. It looks weird because FW is the odd duck.

Also if it wasn't formatted that way they just made FW a deluxe.

 

[bama_ed]

I'm a little suspicious of the campgrounds being included too for the following reason.

The most expensive campsite rack rate in September is still cheaper than the cheapest Value resort rack rate. The Values get Quick Service (naturally) and Moderate/Deluxe get regular dining plan. The cabins at the Fort fit this category because they cost alot per night. But if anything the campsites should only qualify for Quick Service. But the way danny's post reads is regular dining plan for the campsites.

brizzer, I think you made a wise move changing to a resort but we'll know for sure on May 9. Whenever Disney does decide to offer Free Dining to the campsites for the first time to the general public, I think it would open a tidal wave. Scupper has told us about some of the shenanigans people pull already. I think it would be more of the same if it happened here.

Of course, you can always have a ressie in both places (the resort and the Fort) and after Free Dining opens up, jump on the one and cancel the other. It only requires one night's deposit and you can cancel in time and get that refunded.

Bama Ed

PS - and Chartle, you called the Fort the "odd duck". We've always been the red-headed stepchild haven't we?

 

[chartle]

1. I'm a little suspicious of the campgrounds being included too for the following reason. .....

2. PS - and Chartle, you called the Fort the "odd duck". We've always been the red-headed stepchild haven't we?

1. Also I'm pretty sure this is the exact same announcement that they have always done and listed FW because of the cabins.

2. I'm thinking its both depending on the context. Its an odd duck when they have to list it with all the other resort categories because there is only one of them, but a red headed step child because it seems to be ignored by WDW management. I also think a lot of campers would like to keep it that way.

PS brizzer79 I hope you don't think I'm one of the haters with my post here and on the FD announcement thread. I'm just keeping it real.

 

[bama_ed]

This is a fast moving topic on multiple boards/threads.

Now danny25 (the OP of the original thread) is saying the campsites are NOT included which is what we thought. See post #335.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=48203063#post48203063

Bama Ed

PS - the poster TheDisney411 has been doing alot of answering questions on this topic on the other boards. My hat's off to you, my friend.

 

[2goofycampers]

It's official. Free dining for Disney Visa card holders. Cabins only at FW.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/disneypackages.htm#visa

 

[tiggerdad]

Got my email today. Uuugggghhh...one more year of grad school until I can finally return...

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

 

[sophieowen]

I booked my campground reservation today and was told that free dining was offered to campground guests last January and it may be offered again in Jan 2014 (our next visit). He said they won't know for sure until October.

 

[serenitygr]

I booked my campground reservation today and was told that free dining was offered to campground guests last January and it may be offered again in Jan 2014 (our next visit). He said they won't know for sure until October.

I'm pretty sure he means the cabins - we were there around that time and had free dining, but we were in the cabins. Technically they ARE part of the campground.
I sure do wish they could do it for campers too tho!

 

[smitch425]

I booked my campground reservation today and was told that free dining was offered to campground guests last January and it may be offered again in Jan 2014 (our next visit). He said they won't know for sure until October.

There was not a public free dining offer in Jan 2013, and as mentioned, the campsites are not included in free dining promotions, only the cabins.

 

[thegoofyfamily]

I wonder if they are still outsourcing that reservations line because every single time I call, I'm told crazy things that I know are incorrect! They were telling me a couple of months ago that every site was booked for 2014 and there was no availability. The misinformation is crazy!

 

[chartle]

I wonder if they are still outsourcing that reservations line because every single time I call, I'm told crazy things that I know are incorrect! They were telling me a couple of months ago that every site was booked for 2014 and there was no availability. The misinformation is crazy!

Cheshire Figment has a better post about this but when you call Disney you can hit one of I think 3 or 4 call centers, I think only one that is in Florida. They have always been run by Disney and the employees are CMs.

The person you are talking to may have never been to WDW. They get their info off the computer and if they hit something they don't know how to handle they sometimes get creative with their replies.

I have read many a post where the CM told them things that are just not true like sure you use two "days" off your multiday ticket to park hop.

They are also told to basically lie. Even though there is a set procedure to pick up package tickets up to 3 days early, the phone CMs are told to say you can't.

 

[thegoofyfamily]

Cheshire Figment has a better post about this but when you call Disney you can hit one of I think 3 or 4 call centers, I think only one that is in Florida. They have always been run by Disney and the employees are CMs.

That's not entirely true. I used to work from home working for a company called Arise based down here in Fort Lauderdale. I took calls for AAA for 2 years. Disney was one of their clients and they had 2 lines of business. They are call center jobs -- and one of them was reservations....and they paid $8 per hour. It was contract so they didn't take taxes out and I remember thinking that they weren't looking for very smart people for that client because the pay was so low. The people in the call center are not certified travel agents. I'm not sure what they are certified in, but they don't pay well enough to be certified in much.