Mods sold out free dining for August

[leahjade]

No available rooms when I tried yesterday

 

[robinb]

Wow! What dates? I was "walked" two years ago from POR to SSR on the first week of free dining. I booked POR again this year and I will be very mad if I'm walked again since POR is the last moderate to scratch off my list. Of course, if they walk to me the YC, GF or FW cabins I'll be OK with that because I have not stayed there either. I don't see getting upgraded to the GF though .

 

[mom2rtk]

You had to figure that would happen since that is the least expensive option offering the regular free dining. The values require an up charge to get the regular dining plan. So why NOT go mod?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Maybe the upgrade fairies that sprinkle pixie dust when the values sell out will sprinkle pixie dust on those of us staying mod in August!

 

[leahjade]

Hope that doesn't mean the end of August will be jam packed with crowds and long lines!!!

 

[2Tiggers]

I hope it won't be packed


What is this upgrade thing you all are talking about?

 

[catne]

Think it's just specific to what your were looking for, because there's still availability...The resorts are not really full...it could just mean the rooms set aside for Free Dining promotion for the exact date/resort you were looking at was sold out. Or it could be just one day of the time you're looking for is sold out at that resort (last year people would report "sold out" for a week starting on Saturday, but if they changed it to checking in on Sunday, there was availability.)

Don't know what your dates are, but going in on the Summer Specials tab, and choosing the free dining option, for the last week of August (starting on Saturday the 22nd) I see availability at all four mod resorts. And of course if you go in with no discount, every resort on property has availability.

End of August is notoriously light-crowds at Disney...that's why they started the Free Dining promotion (long before the economy tanked/market crashed) It's prime hurricane season, very hot & humid, and most kids are back in school so Disney had 100s of empty hotel rooms. They started offering these big deals as a way to get some business during dead-season.

 

[catne]

I hope it won't be packed


What is this upgrade thing you all are talking about?

It will not be packed...no matter how good an offer, it's hurricane season...kids are back in school...people don't want to go to Disney during the hottest/most humid time of year there. Crowds are low in late August & September.

The free upgrades were very limited, and offered for a very specific reason:
last year they did over-book the Value resorts so they offered SOME Free-dining people staying at the Value resorts the opportunity to upgrade for free to SSR or OKW (Disney Vacation Club villa resorts.) It was not offered to everyone booked at Values for free dining...just a certain percentage of people got the limited-time offer email for the upgrade. Disney did it only to open up more Value hotel rooms. I would not expect it to happen at the mods...even with the changes to the dining promotion this year, the mods will not get overbooked. Many people just pay the difference to upgrade to the DDP...that's only $10 a night per person whereas booking a moderate hotel to get the DDP instead of the QSDP would cost way more than that a night.

Last year (first week of September) POFQ was so empty they actually closed 2 buildings to clean all the carpets and/or spray for bugs...no one was staying in those wings the whole week we were there. Obviously Disney was empty enough to schedule down-time maintenance during that time.

 

[leahjade]

End of August is notoriously light-crowds at Disney

Figures, we're there the 2nd week of August which appears to be sold out (for free dining moderates anyway)! So I hope that doesn't mean long lines everywhere!

 

[catne]

Figures, we're there the 2nd week of August which appears to be sold out (for free dining moderates anyway)! So I hope that doesn't mean long lines everywhere!

OK, that makes more sense...early to mid-August is still summer vacation for many school districts. Since you referred to end of August in your other post, I thought you were talking about that in re:sold out. I can believe the week around 8/15 may sell out for free dining.

That first week of free dining was busy the last two years -- because it falls while many families are still taking summer vacations. By 3rd week of August, many kids are heading back to school (or have to be there for Fall sports practices even if school hasn't started) so the crowds really fall out.

Have to say, though, that Free Dining rooms being sold out does not necessarily mean the parks or restaurants will be crowded...that's a maybe-maybe not. Because Disney only sets aside a percentage of rooms for these promos. There could be plenty of rooms available at non-discount.

 

[robinb]

I just looked and there is non FD availability. If you really want a moderate for FD I would just keep on checking or calling. A few years ago my inlaws decided to join us at POP about a month after I made reservations for everyone else. When I called the first time there was nothing available. But I called a couple of times a day every day for about 5 days and I finally got a room.

 

[lily28]

There were no mod room for free dinning from 8/19-8/23. I have been checking and finally gave up early last week and book the all star sport. It could cost me less than $150 to upgrade to moderate if I take into the upgrade fee for ddp.

 

[SplashMom]

I've been checking for over two weeks now and there has been no moderate available for August 17-23 (except the Wilderness Cabins). One day there was availability for CB Pirate Room, which we didn't really want, but when I checked back later that day, it was gone. I was hoping to book mod although we booked Pop and upgraded the dining plan so that will be fine as well. But I'll keep checking just in case!

 

[KELLY]

We are at pop also. There is nothing available for my dates at the mods also. 9/24 to 10/3. Unless I want to pay a extra 1200.00 for a pirate water view room. No Thanks! I'm checking every day to see if something opens up. We didn't upgrade the dining plan so the cost for us to upgrade is 675.00 plus tips.

The funny thing was I checked the night before I went to book and there was every mod with standard rooms except csr. I called the next am and nothing. All those rooms disappered over night.

 

[wdwmaw]

I've been checking for over two weeks now and there has been no moderate available for August 17-23 (except the Wilderness Cabins). One day there was availability for CB Pirate Room, which we didn't really want, but when I checked back later that day, it was gone. I was hoping to book mod although we booked Pop and upgraded the dining plan so that will be fine as well. But I'll keep checking just in case!

If you check Travelocity they have all the mods available and some of the deluxe resorts for same price as the mods. I have a feeling Disney has dumped their resorts in hopes discount travel can reach some bookings. Of course you won't get free dining this way.

 

[n2mm]

That is amazing. I'm guess Disney's strategy to get folks to book those moderates is paying off now. I'm at Pop myself and will be there with my 2009 BB friends who managed to book last year and will be paying value rates and getting the regular DDP and only having to buy the 1 day ticket. (My last time doing the free ddp since the new changes.) Last time I did the free ddp at Pop I got upgraded to CSR, so pretty sure that isn't going to happen again. Maybe the mod folks will get some upgrades this year! Good luck.

 

[robinb]

Maybe the mod folks will get some upgrades this year! Good luck.

It could happen! Like I said before I was upgraded two years ago from POR to SSR at check-in. When I refused the studio they offered me (I *really* wanted to stay at POR) they offered me a 1BR instead. I knew I was fighting a losing battle and accepted the 1BR. It was very strange to be in a DVC 1BR with maid service!

 

[n2mm]

It could happen! Like I said before I was upgraded two years ago from POR to SSR at check-in. When I refused the studio they offered me (I *really* wanted to stay at POR) they offered me a 1BR instead. I knew I was fighting a losing battle and accepted the 1BR. It was very strange to be in a DVC 1BR with maid service!

Now that is a vacation!!!

 

[OwlDisneyGirl]

I cancelled a FD at POR last night for 8/15 to 8/21, so that might be available for anyone looking. We decided to move up to WL this time.
Good luck!

 

[KELLY]

Finally got CBR standard room. But we went with a room only discount instead of free dining. Since we really wanted the qsdp this time around. But CBR opened up for the discount and the free dining promo today for my dates.