Is there really no August 2013 thread yet?

[mommyrosa2]

Last August, when we were at the Beach Club, there was a FD BB offer good for August of this year (was starting on 8/18/13). We, unfortunately were bummed b/c we couldn't take advantage of that knowing that the start date would interfere with our oldest DD's college start date. Later in the Fall, we were lucky to get a R/O pin code by mail which was starting on 8/11 of this year and we booked a trip for this coming August. Two weeks ago, my oldest DD finds out that her college has pushed out the start date for the 2013/2014 calendar and she will only be going back after Labor Day (go figure ). That same week airfare was published and because it was so much cheaper to go the last two weeks in August, we decided to tweak our dates and go a few days later. I couldn't find my pin code mailing so I just called the regular booking number to make my changes. Fortunately, for me they couldn't make the change (said it was because of my pin code - which I did find odd) and transferred me. Well, the CM that I got next was wonderful. As she was looking at my new dates, she told me that I couldn't keep my original resort as it wasn't showing availability. We began chatting as she was looking at other resorts and asked if I had any flexibility with my dates again. She then mentioned if I could push my dates back by a few more days and check in the 18th of August, she could get me the original resort I wanted. I chuckled and told her about how funny things turn out and mentioned how we couldn't take advantage of the FD BB when we were there last year b/c of my daughter, etc. She then put me on hold, came back and said if I wanted to switch from my R/O pin, she could offer me back the FD BB...I nearly hit the floor! Without any hesitation, I took it as I already knew FD would save us a lot more than the R/O pin I had. I couldn't thank her enough!!!

 

[World Showcaser]

You can upgrade to a higher service. We got the qsp last year n updated for about $200 more for table service. Well worth it!

This is such a good tip! I had no idea!! Thank you so much. I'll have to do the math but I'm thinking that a free QS plan upgraded to a regular DDP for 2 adults and 3 kids is still a better deal than the current 25% off a moderate that we have?

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

mommarosa, you are so lucky!!! The CM, sounds like it was a supervisor (they have the power to do such things, I have experienced this), saw your last visit was during the time frame of the FD BB offer. My last visit is always mentioned to me, when I make a new reservation. Regardless of how you got the dining, it is exciting. Just another example of what makes Disney, Disney.

I'm still waiting for them to dangle a carrot in front of me.

 

[mommyrosa2]

mommarosa, you are so lucky!!! The CM, sounds like it was a supervisor (they have the power to do such things, I have experienced this), saw your last visit was during the time frame of the FD BB offer. My last visit is always mentioned to me, when I make a new reservation. Regardless of how you got the dining, it is exciting. Just another example of what makes Disney, Disney.

I'm still waiting for them to dangle a carrot in front of me.

I definitely agree that the "stars" were aligned for me that day & while I was happy with my R/O pin code, I was more than thrilled that she offered me the FD BB again

 

[129hutch]

I'm kind of new to this "PIN" thing too. How does Disney get your info to send you one? Do you have to make a reservation and hope they send you one? Or do they get your info from prior stays?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm kind of new to this "PIN" thing too. How does Disney get your info to send you one? Do you have to make a reservation and hope they send you one? Or do they get your info from prior stays?

Nobody knows! It's luck of the draw and so far I've never been lucky. I have 3 friends though who all seem to be in the PIN group as each of them receives a PIN every year or two.

I've heard if you play with numbers, request a DVD and such it might help but there really is no way to get onto the PIN list.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Last August, when we were at the Beach Club, there was a FD BB offer good for August of this year (was starting on 8/18/13). We, unfortunately were bummed b/c we couldn't take advantage of that knowing that the start date would interfere with our oldest DD's college start date. Later in the Fall, we were lucky to get a R/O pin code by mail which was starting on 8/11 of this year and we booked a trip for this coming August. Two weeks ago, my oldest DD finds out that her college has pushed out the start date for the 2013/2014 calendar and she will only be going back after Labor Day (go figure ). That same week airfare was published and because it was so much cheaper to go the last two weeks in August, we decided to tweak our dates and go a few days later. I couldn't find my pin code mailing so I just called the regular booking number to make my changes. Fortunately, for me they couldn't make the change (said it was because of my pin code - which I did find odd) and transferred me. Well, the CM that I got next was wonderful. As she was looking at my new dates, she told me that I couldn't keep my original resort as it wasn't showing availability. We began chatting as she was looking at other resorts and asked if I had any flexibility with my dates again. She then mentioned if I could push my dates back by a few more days and check in the 18th of August, she could get me the original resort I wanted. I chuckled and told her about how funny things turn out and mentioned how we couldn't take advantage of the FD BB when we were there last year b/c of my daughter, etc. She then put me on hold, came back and said if I wanted to switch from my R/O pin, she could offer me back the FD BB...I nearly hit the floor! Without any hesitation, I took it as I already knew FD would save us a lot more than the R/O pin I had. I couldn't thank her enough!!!

So now the question is.....is that when FD will be offered to the general public? What do you all think? Is FD usually align with the same dates as the BB from the previous year?
Seems like they have been pushing FD back into late august, seems to get later and later each year. I think the first year we went is was the 15th, then the 18th, then last year when we didnt go it was like the 23rd I think?

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Hoping for a pin here, or early free dining. We've never paid rack rate, but we've never gone over the summer, either.

 

[mommyrosa2]

So now the question is.....is that when FD will be offered to the general public? What do you all think? Is FD usually align with the same dates as the BB from the previous year?
Seems like they have been pushing FD back into late august, seems to get later and later each year. I think the first year we went is was the 15th, then the 18th, then last year when we didnt go it was like the 23rd I think?

The BB offers usually start earlier than then what is released to the general public. If I had to guess (and it's truly just a guess based on historical data), I'm thinking that the FD to the general public won't start until the 25th or 26th of August. I will add that the FD BB that was offered last August for this August included the regular Dining Plan. I have read on another thread that the rumor for this year's FD promo will only include the QS dining for Mods and Deluxes and nothing for the values - which, in my opinion, is not a great deal, but I guess we'll all see soon enough.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

The BB offers usually start earlier than then what is released to the general public. If I had to guess (and it's truly just a guess based on historical data), I'm thinking that the FD to the general public won't start until the 25th or 26th of August. I will add that the FD BB that was offered last August for this August included the regular Dining Plan. I have read on another thread that the rumor for this year's FD promo will only include the QS dining for Mods and Deluxes and nothing for the values - which, in my opinion, is not a great deal, but I guess we'll all see soon enough.

That is NOT a good deal at all! If that is the case, Disney needs to go back to the drawing board with marketing strategies....oy!

 

[mom_of_2]

The BB offers usually start earlier than then what is released to the general public. If I had to guess (and it's truly just a guess based on historical data), I'm thinking that the FD to the general public won't start until the 25th or 26th of August. I will add that the FD BB that was offered last August for this August included the regular Dining Plan. I have read on another thread that the rumor for this year's FD promo will only include the QS dining for Mods and Deluxes and nothing for the values - which, in my opinion, is not a great deal, but I guess we'll all see soon enough.

I read something similar but they said FD promo would be QS for mods, DDP for deluxes and nothing for values.

 

[bartleby1]

Our dates are Aug 11 - 24. If free dining starts during our second week (Aug 18th - 24th), could we book a room only for the first week and a package with free dining the second week but get our tickets early so we could use them during our first week? I doubt they would do that but I'm hoping! Anyone know for sure?

 

[Ivonne]

I read something similar but they said FD promo would be QS for mods, DDP for deluxes and nothing for values.

When do you think this will begin?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I talked to several CM today who said they don't think Free Dining is happening anytime this summer/fall, but if it does, the announcement will be in April.

 

[mommyrosa2]

I read something similar but they said FD promo would be QS for mods, DDP for deluxes and nothing for values.

So I just went back to the thread that talked about what the next FD promo would be to re-read what the rumor is. And as I mentioned above, it states that there will be only QS for mods and deluxes and nothing for values. I'll re-iterate that if that stands true, that is a LOUSY deal. Right now, it's just a rumor but it appears the person who started that thread has a very good track record so it may very well be true.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

So I just went back to the thread that talked about what the next FD promo would be to re-read what the rumor is. And as I mentioned above, it states that there will be only QS for mods and deluxes and nothing for values. I'll re-iterate that if that stands true, that is a LOUSY deal. Right now, it's just a rumor but it appears the person who started that thread has a very good track record so it may very well be true.

I don't think it's a lousy deal. Disney is doing REALLY well with the FLE. They don't need to offer anyone anything.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

I don't think it's a lousy deal. Disney is doing REALLY well with the FLE. They don't need to offer anyone anything.

Exactly. Disney doesn't owe anyone anything more than what they willingly paid for - and that's a room and maybe tickets. FD was a perk to fill rooms a few years ago. It was never meant to become a permanent thing. It also used to be that you had to book in a very small window of time to get it. I think though if you book a vacation at xx amount, a later discount is nice, but certainly not something to count on. And with so many people booking early (the whole 180 days out spurred on that) disney is assuring themselves very far in advance just how hard they will have to promote a certain time frame.

 

[mommyrosa2]

I don't think it's a lousy deal. Disney is doing REALLY well with the FLE. They don't need to offer anyone anything.

You're right...so let me rephrase: It's not a lousy deal for Disney, it will be a lousy deal for the folks who have relied on FD promos to travel to Disney. I, for one, have been "fortunate" to take advantage of FD twice, the rest of my trips, were with R/O discounts via pin codes or GP discounts. While a FD promo will always save my family more money than any R/O discount, it is not a deal breaker for us but unfortunately for many it is. And I believe most folks, myself included, are already aware that Disney is a business and doesn't have to offer any discounts

 

[bartleby1]

You're right...so let me rephrase: It's not a lousy deal for Disney, it will be a lousy deal for the folks who have relied on FD promos to travel to Disney. I, for one, have been "fortunate" to take advantage of FD twice, the rest of my trips, were with R/O discounts via pin codes or GP discounts. While a FD promo will always save my family more money than any R/O discount, it is not a deal breaker for us but unfortunately for many it is. And I believe most folks, myself included, are already aware that Disney is a business and doesn't have to offer any discounts

I agree. It is not going to be a complete dealbreaker for us either. We haven't gone since 2010 and will be going this summer. However, it will most definitely affect HOW we are going to do disney. Without a discount, we will most likely be staying offsite and eating many of our meals offsite as well. We are also still up in the air with how many days we will be spending at disney. We are going to Florida for 2 weeks and usually spend all of it in Disney. It used to be so cheap to add on extra days so we spent all of our time (and money) on property. However, with the rising costs and lack of discounts, we are strongly considering cutting that back to 6 days and spending some time visiting other places like the beach, Universal, or possibly St. Augustine. We may even drive down to the Everglades or go to Kennedy Space Center. I just started researching but have a list of possibilities. I just wish Disney would let us know soon what the discounts may be for the summer so that I can make my plans, LOL!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I talked to several CM today who said they don't think Free Dining is happening anytime this summer/fall, but if it does, the announcement will be in April.

My aunt spoke to one a few weeks ago and he made it sound like it was def. going to happen this summer but no dates were given yet.