Making ADR's now and then free dining is offered

[mlclements]

We are going to Disney World from 8/31 - 9/10. Can I make my hotel and ADR's now and if they offer free dining can I call and add that to our package. If I book the ADR's now and then the free dining is offered will I have to cancel my restaurant reservations and rebook?

 

[lynninpa]

We are going to Disney World from 8/31 - 9/10. Can I make my hotel and ADR's now and if they offer free dining can I call and add that to our package. If I book the ADR's now and then the free dining is offered will I have to cancel my restaurant reservations and rebook?

You won't have to change a thing. Two years in a row now, we had our entire packages booked-resort, park tickets, and the Dining Plan-also had all of our ADRs booked. When the Free Dining Promotion came out, we simply called and gave the code. They simply deducted the amount we were going to pay for the Dining Plan from our balance and WHA LA! Free Dining!

 

[sunny45]

You won't have to change a thing. Two years in a row now, we had our entire packages booked-resort, park tickets, and the Dining Plan-also had all of our ADRs booked. When the Free Dining Promotion came out, we simply called and gave the code. They simply deducted the amount we were going to pay for the Dining Plan from our balance and WHA LA! Free Dining!

You were able to stay at the resort that you already had booked, same room and everything? We are booked already too, full pkg with the dining plan but I have heard that sometimes you can't keep the same room or even same resort and you may have to switch if that room isn't part of the rooms designated for the dining plan. I also have heard, just like you did, they just deduct the cost of the plan off your package. It's so confusing

 

[maggiew]

If your current resort has "spots open" for the free dining promotion, then you won't have to change a thing. But, if there aren't any spots open at your current resort, you may be able to get the free dining plan if there are spots open at other resorts. You will have to decide if you want to switch resorts or not to get the free dining.

Maggie

 

[cslittle999]

You were able to stay at the resort that you already had booked, same room and everything? We are booked already too, full pkg with the dining plan but I have heard that sometimes you can't keep the same room or even same resort and you may have to switch if that room isn't part of the rooms designated for the dining plan. I also have heard, just like you did, they just deduct the cost of the plan off your package. It's so confusing

It is simple when you think of it from Disney's perspective. Discounts are offered to fill empty rooms. All of the discounts offered (free dining or otherwise) are for a limited number of rooms at each resort. When you "apply a code" to an existing reservation there must be a discounted room available at that resort in the same room category. If there is then it looks as if they just reduced the price of your reservation (or deducted the cost of the DDP in this case). If there isn't then you have to decide to switch room categories (if there is availability) or switch to a resort where there are rooms. This is why on the codes board some people recommend not making reservations in the hope that a discount will become available. If all of the rooms are booked Disney doesn't need to offer a discount at that resort.

 

[JimMIA]

Whether you'll be able to change your hotel ressie to a free dining package depends on the details of the free dining promotion, IF in fact it's even offered. In the past, many people have been able to switch, but that doesn't necessarily mean that will be the case this year.

There has been some speculation that the UK and Bounce Back promotions were so successful that free dining may not even be offered to the general public this year -- or if it is, it may be very limited. There is even speculation that those who are booking hotel ressies in anticipation of free DDP are actually hurting their chances of free DDP being offered, because those ressies make occupancy higher. That's all just speculation, of course, but until an official announcement is made, all you'll have to go on is rumors and speculation.

ADR's, however, have nothing to do with room reservations or how you're paying for a meal. You won't have to change anything about your existing ADRs.

 

[lynninpa]

Originally Posted by lynninpa
You won't have to change a thing. Two years in a row now, we had our entire packages booked-resort, park tickets, and the Dining Plan-also had all of our ADRs booked. When the Free Dining Promotion came out, we simply called and gave the code. They simply deducted the amount we were going to pay for the Dining Plan from our balance and WHA LA! Free Dining!

You were able to stay at the resort that you already had booked, same room and everything? We are booked already too, full pkg with the dining plan but I have heard that sometimes you can't keep the same room or even same resort and you may have to switch if that room isn't part of the rooms designated for the dining plan. I also have heard, just like you did, they just deduct the cost of the plan off your package. It's so confusing

I want to apologize if I caused any confusion. We did not have to change anything from our original ressies in '05 and '06. However, I did not realize this was not always the case. Sorry!

 

[sunny45]

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I want to apologize if I caused any confusion. We did not have to change anything from our original ressies in '05 and '06. However, I did not realize this was not always the case. Sorry!

No problem, it seems that it does change with the seasons and resort room types that people have. We are going no matter if we can get free dining or not. It is our anniversary and this is what we planned to do anyway. Having the free dining would be nice to save some money but it's booked already and we'll just wait and see what happens. If we have to switch something then we will, room type or view or whatever, if not than we will just stay where we are which would be the ideal situation. In the meantime I just have to stay glued for that official date that free dining gets announced

Thanks.

 

[lynninpa]

No problem, it seems that it does change with the seasons and resort room types that people have. We are going no matter if we can get free dining or not. It is our anniversary and this is what we planned to do anyway. Having the free dining would be nice to save some money but it's booked already and we'll just wait and see what happens. If we have to switch something then we will, room type or view or whatever, if not than we will just stay where we are which would be the ideal situation. In the meantime I just have to stay glued for that official date that free dining gets announced

Thanks.

I do hope the Free Dining will be offered again for all of you! We would not be able to get it as we are planning a trip earlier in summer and will not change our plans even if it is offered again. Yet it was a wonderful surprise to get two years in a row-especially last year since there were nine of us! Free Dining or not, have a wonderful adventure!

 

[LauraAnn630]

If you book 10 nights with dining do you have to buy a 10 day park pass?

 

[cslittle999]

If you book 10 nights with dining do you have to buy a 10 day park pass?

No. You have to get at least a one day pass. Everyone in the room has to get the same pass.

 

[CleveRocks]

ADRs are totally separate from room reservations. So if your reservation changes from no dining to the DDP, you will not have to make ANY changes to your ADRs. Orlando locals can make ADRs. People staying off-site can make ADRs. So if you change your package, there is no reason it will have ANY effect on your ADRs whatsoever. They are NOT tied into your resort reservation.

 

[kimberh]

Remember with the free dining plan of the past, we were paying rack rates for the room.