New free dining offer yeaaah

[PrincessTiffany]

Aaaagh!! I'm so confused now. I booked our ADRs over a month ago but was waiting on free dining to be announced before I booked our December 10-16 trip and now things don't line up. I was planning on driving and getting to Disney the afternoon of December 10th. I have an 8:30 ADR for Tusker House on December 11th. Is there a way to work this without giving up my reservation? I haven't been to Disney in about 18 years and this is the first trip I've planned for us. (me, DH, DD4 and DS2) Help!

All you do is book a room only reservation for December 10 and then book a separate package reservation that includes room, tickets and dining that would start on December 11. We have done this twice. Once we were allowed to stay in the same room, once we had to move to another room - it wasn't a big deal though and totally worth it to save that much money

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We have 3 kids and FD saves us a ton of money too. I definately would not have taken the kids every year without free dining. This is what lured us away from many other vacations over the years .

Us too!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I think there must be something that I am misunderstanding. I was told a couple months ago by various people that I might as well just go ahead and book my package (since it is refundable), and then if Free Dining was offered, I could just call and add it anytime. So if my room is already booked, will there really be a huge rush to call on Aug. 3 to make sure I get free dining? Couldn't I wait a day or two for the phone calls to die down? And if I am correct about this, then why are so many people saying they are going to call first thing on Aug. 3, rather than just calling and booking a package today and adding FD later? I just want to make sure I'm not missing something. I am going Nov. 12-20, so I'm also going to have to get "room only" for my first night.

Because every resort is only allotted so many free dining rooms. If your resort sells out of free dining discounts, even if you already have an existing reservation, you will be out of luck in applying it to the existing reservation and may have to move to a different resort that still has FD room open.

 

[vossjemi]

You can not purchase the dining plan, let alone get a free dining discount unless you are booked with a Magic Your Way Package that includes room, tickets and dining. There is a 2 day base ticket minimum requirement to get the free dining plan discount.

Your TA doesn't seem to know anything about Dining Reservations at WDW. You do not have to switch your reservations and it will not mess up your dining reservations to apply a free dining discount to your reservation. You don't even have to have a WDW reservation to make dining reservations. You wouldn't do anything to your dining reservations if you happen to get a free dining discount. You can ask that the reservations CM link your ADRs to your reservation number, but that isn't required either.

If you are booked under a room only reservation right now, that room will have to be cancelled and you will have to rebook under a package reservation.

Thanks for clearing that up! I wondered how the whole package thing worked with free dining. She is actually very exp with DU...I've used her in 05 and 08...she is with DU...very recommended here. Prob just short response since its a friday. I'm sure it will all be fine. I'm so excited we actually get to take advantage of this!

 

[may12th]

All you do is book a room only reservation for December 10 and then book a separate package reservation that includes room, tickets and dining that would start on December 11. We have done this twice. Once we were allowed to stay in the same room, once we had to move to another room - it wasn't a big deal though and totally worth it to save that much money

So, when did you find out if you were staying in the same room or had to change? Did you have to pack everything up and have it out of the room early in the morning? When did you get your "keys to the world" or whatever they call the tickets? (please excuse the newbie )

 

[nickelk]

Because every resort is only allotted so many free dining rooms. If your resort sells out of free dining discounts, even if you already have an existing reservation, you will be out of luck in applying it to the existing reservation and may have to move to a different resort that still has FD room open.

WOW, so glad you told me that! I didn't realize that at all! Guess I will be on the phone at 7am, too. Thanks so much for letting me know!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

WOW, so glad you told me that! I didn't realize that at all! Guess I will be on the phone at 7am, too. Thanks so much for letting me know!

Don't ya just love the Disboards

 

[LuvnWDW]

What luck!!!! LOL We have been booked for a few weeks and i've been stalking the dis daily looking for discount rumors. We are blacked out ( trip- oct 11th-18th). Oh well. Nothing we can do.. everything is booked and ADR's are made. I guess it's going to be super crowded the week we are going, too.. if they blacked us out.

 

[PHefner]

I posted this question a few pages back but this thread is moving so fast that I'm not sure anyone saw it. If no one knows do you know where I could post or who to ask? Thanks!

We are first time AP holders (just purchased in june) and we are booked to return 11/25-12/2 at POFQ (room only ressie, 3A includes a 11 yo and then 1 C) ...is there any way FD could benefit us (ie buying a 2 day pass or something) or is there hope for an AP discount at that time also? OR do AP holders get any discount by adding the dining?

Hoping someone can help me.
Thx,
Paula

 

[Shehase1]

does this mean that if I check in on November 5th that the dining will be free for my whole visit?? I'm new at this and don't understand how it works

Thanks for you help

 

[verlee]

does this mean that if I check in on November 5th that the dining will be free for my whole visit?? I'm new at this and don't understand how it works

Thanks for you help

yes!

 

[skier_pete]

I posted this question a few pages back but this thread is moving so fast that I'm not sure anyone saw it. If no one knows do you know where I could post or who to ask? Thanks!

We are first time AP holders (just purchased in june) and we are booked to return 11/25-12/2 at POFQ (room only ressie, 3A includes a 11 yo and then 1 C) ...is there any way FD could benefit us (ie buying a 2 day pass or something) or is there hope for an AP discount at that time also? OR do AP holders get any discount by adding the dining?

Hoping someone can help me.
Thx,
Paula

You COULD buy the free dining for part of your trip - only 11/27 through 12/2 through - which I guess would be 5 nights. You would have to buy the 2-day pass though. You could apply that pass to a later trip, but for only 5 days I am not sure if it is worth it. 4-2 day passes would run you about $600, now admittedly you could use them later, but still not sure if it's worth it. I personally would wait for the room only discounts to come out. (And they probably will, and they might also apply to more dates.) But you could book the free dining as a back-up, and then wait for the room only to show.

 

[coruth4]

We are booked November 10th - 19th. I don't want to change our check in date because we got a super deal on flights with Southwest. We are staying at a value & would be upgrading to regular dining plan. I also don't want to loose 2 days of park time.
Am I going to save anything if I get a 2 day park hopper with dining plan 9we have three sit down meals planned that weekend) and then switch to the free dining time frame? We are also staying in one of the family suites - which I was able to get free dining for in 2009 - but am prepared to switch to two rooms if needed.
Here's hoping this discount is true! It's going to be a long wait until the 3rd! Thanks!

 

[Rekenna]

Firstly, danny25-thanks for the heads up!! I was hoping/guessing/assuming it was coming, but it just takes so darn long.

Just for perspective of how much this saves our family (and makes it even remotely possible for us to go as a family):

-For our trip 10/23-10/29 (we are actually coming in on 10/22 and paying rack rate at POR for 1 night), family of 5; me, DH, DS12, DS5 and DS4, 5 day MYW ticket with DDP, POR.

Orginal price: $3,308.76
Price with 35% off room bounceback I snagged in March: $2,917.34 (savings of $391.42 from original price)
Price with FD: $2,337.06 (savings of $971.70 from original price)

I have a Disney Visa and will be stalking the Disney Visa site and my email to see if the offer is released early, otherwise it is 6:59am on the phone, on Wednesday 8/3, for me.

Now we can go to MNSHHP!! Yay!!

Thanks again for the news-very appreciated.

 

[figmentswife]

OP ~ THANK YOU!!!!!

So assuming this will happen on Wed.....I called my TA (are we allowed to give out names? I would love to give her a shout out) and we talked about what I wanted and she said "I have heard the rumor that is going around on a couple of the boards that started last night, let's assume it's true and go ahead and make you a ressie on a 7 day hold then I will add the free dining on wed morning if it is offered"

YAY ME!!!!!! So my dream of staying ON property just may come true, and the only reason will be b\c of free dining. However, I am not canceling my off site reservation just yet.

And I recieved even BETTER news today......My in-laws have decided NOT to go with us. (was that too ugly???)

 

[PHefner]

You COULD buy the free dining for part of your trip - only 11/27 through 12/2 through - which I guess would be 5 nights. You would have to buy the 2-day pass though. You could apply that pass to a later trip, but for only 5 days I am not sure if it is worth it. 4-2 day passes would run you about $600, now admittedly you could use them later, but still not sure if it's worth it. I personally would wait for the room only discounts to come out. (And they probably will, and they might also apply to more dates.) But you could book the free dining as a back-up, and then wait for the room only to show.

Thank you so much! We'll probably wait for an AP discount then...fingers crossed.

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

And I recieved even BETTER news today......My in-laws have decided NOT to go with us. (was that too ugly???)

 

[skier_pete]

We are booked November 10th - 19th. I don't want to change our check in date because we got a super deal on flights with Southwest. We are staying at a value & would be upgrading to regular dining plan. I also don't want to loose 2 days of park time.
Am I going to save anything if I get a 2 day park hopper with dining plan 9we have three sit down meals planned that weekend) and then switch to the free dining time frame? We are also staying in one of the family suites - which I was able to get free dining for in 2009 - but am prepared to switch to two rooms if needed.
Here's hoping this discount is true! It's going to be a long wait until the 3rd! Thanks!

You are doing what we are doing...look in my PTR post #17, or this is a quicky version:

Book room-only for Nov 10th -12th.
Book Package for Nov 13th - 19th.

You can pick up your tickets on the 10th @ guest services @ the parks. However, your dining plan won't start until you re-check in on the 13th. (Expect LONG lines on the 13th, unless you get up super-early, which I will be doing!)

 

[k_fawver]

Sorry if this has already been answered (I did read through the thread and didn't see it), but do the same rules apply when upgrading from the DDP to the DxDP as when upgrading from quick service plan to DDP? If so, anyone know the price difference and whether or not you have to pay to upgrade the child's plan?

TIA everyone

Travel dates Oct 2-8

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Sorry if this has already been answered (I did read through the thread and didn't see it), but do the same rules apply when upgrading from the DDP to the DxDP as when upgrading from quick service plan to DDP? If so, anyone know the price difference and whether or not you have to pay to upgrade the child's plan?

TIA everyone

Travel dates Oct 2-8

Yes, you have to pay to upgrade a child from Basic Dining to Deluxe Dining. You just subtract the difference between the plans to see how much it is. It's about $33.00 per adult to upgrade to the Deluxe.

Quick Service Dining Plan
Adults (Ages 10+) : $34.99 per day
Children: (Ages 3-9): $ 11.99 per day

Disney Dining Plan
Adults (Ages 10+) : $45.99 per day (regular season) / $47.99 (peak season)
Children: (Ages 3-9): $11.99 per day (regular season / $12.99 (peak season)


Disney Deluxe Dining Plan
Adults (Ages 10+) : $78.99 per day
Children: (Ages 3-9): $21.99 per day