New free dining offer yeaaah

Well, here it is again :-)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2771101

FREE DINING FACTS AND INFORMATION


The Free Dining Promo/Discount was first introduced in the fall of 2005 and up until the fall of 2009, was, basically, just offered during the timeframe of mid August to the first of October (height of hurricane season) and included the Basic/Plus Dining for all levels of WDW resort. Starting in the fall of 2009, they offered a second Free Dining Promo/Discount that covered dates between October 1st and the third week of December and they also started including the Quick Service DDP for Value resorts and the Basic/Plus DDP for Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. With the popularity of the Free Dining Promo, last year, for the first time, WDW offered multiple Free Dining discounts during this year that included many value season/low crowd weeks.

To take advantage of a Free Dining (FD) discount you must be booked at a Disney-owned resort and purchase a Magic Your Way Package that includes room, tickets and dining with a 2 day base ticket purchase. The FD promos have a 3 day booking minimum and a 14 day booking maximum. You can not include Annual Passes or previously purchased tickets for Disney or any other outside ticketing agent.

The current FD promos have included the Quick Service Dining Plan for Value Resorts and the Basic/Plus Dining Plan for Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. You can not downgrade to the Quick Service Dining if you are staying at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort - there have been reports that, once in the parks, guests have been able to trade/convert Table Service (TS) credits for Counter Service (CS) credits, but this is not advertised on the WDW website and should not be considered WDW "policy." You can however pay the monetary difference and upgrade to the Basic/Plus DDP or the Deluxe DDP if you are staying at a Value Resort and can upgrade to the Deluxe Plan if you are staying at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. The Deluxe Dining Plan has never been included in any free dining promos. Here is a breakdown of FD upgrade costs for 2011:

2011 Upgrade from Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Basic/Plus DDP $45.99/$11.99
$11.00 per adult 10+; $0.00 per child 3 - 9

2011 Upgrade from Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Deluxe DDP $78.99/$21.99
$44.00 per adult 10+; $10.00 per child 3 - 9

2011 Upgrade from Basic/Plus DDP $45.99/$11.99 to Deluxe DDP $78.99/$21.00
$33.00 per adult 10+; $10.00 per child 3 - 9


2012 Upgrade from the Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Basic/Plus DDP $51.54/$15.02
$16.65 per adult 10+; $3.03 per child 3 - 9

2012 Upgrade from Quick Service DDP $34.99/$11.99 to Deluxe DDP $85.52/$23.79
$50.53 per adult 10+; $11.50 per child 3 - 9

2012 Upgrade from Basic/Plus DDP $51.54/$15.02 to Deluxe DDP $85.52/$23.79
$33.98 per adult 10+; $8.77 per child 3 - 9

Your check in date must fall within the dates of the FD promo to apply the discount to your reservation. If your check in dates do not fall within the FD dates, you can not apply the discount - even if every single night of your vacation falls within the promo, except for your check in date, you can not take advantage of the FD promo.

If any of your vacation dates fall within a FD promo dates you can receive the FD discount for your entire vacation stay, up to 14 nights, even if you are checking in on the last day of a FD promo, you can still recieve the discount for up to 14 nights.

If your vacation starts a couple of days before a FD promo, it's possible to do a Split Stay - meaning, you can do a room only reservation for 1 to 3 nights at the beginning of your vacation, pay for your food out-of-pocket for those days, and be allowed to pick up your PACKAGE TICKETS up to 3 days early at guest relations at any of the four parks or at Downtown Disney (For further info on picking up tickets early, please see Diser, CheshireFigment's, Ticket Sticky on the top the Themeparks Board.)

If you already have an existing reservation that falls within the dates of a FD promo, you can call and have the FD code added to modify that reservation. You can not add the FD code on line, you will need to call WDW Reservations, 407-W-Disney. You do NOT have to rebook, your reservation number does not change and there is not a fee - if you are within your 45 day window, they can charge you a $50.00 change fee, but, most FD promos come out before the 45 day window, so this shouldn't be an issue. If you have already paid your package in full, WDW will refund you the monetary difference - this can take up to 2 billing cycles or about 2 months. Each resort is only allotted so many FD rooms, so if you call and your resort is sold out of FD promo rooms, you can change your resort and do not have to cancel or pay a fee and your reservation number stays the same. If your existing reservation is a room only reservation, then you would have to cancel and rebook under a Magic Your Way Package to receive the FD discount. If you booked with a Travel Agent, then the TA must call and add this discount to your existing reservation. The TA owns your reservation and Disney will not change the discount/code for without going through your TA.

Typically, in the past, other than last's August FD announcement, Disney Visa holders ere given the FD Promo Code three (3) days before it opens to the general public. In the past, all you had to do to get the Disney Visa FD discount was put $200.00 down with your card, the balance did not have to be put on the Disney Visa. If you are already booked with a Disney Visa, you will simply have to put another $200.00 deposit down to apply the code. If you have paid the trip in full with a DV, they will still refund the monetary difference and you will not have to re-apply any money.

If you already have Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) changing or modifying a reservation does not effect or cancel your ADRs. You would have to go on-line or call WDW Dining to cancel ADRs, even if you completely cancel a vacation/reservation. Remember, anyone can make ADRs, even offsite guests and don't have to be linked to your reservation in any way. If you have already booked and paid for any restaurants and/or dinner shows, and then a FD promo/discount is released, you can contact Disney Dining once you modify your reservation to include the FD code and give them your reservation number, and they will credit you the amount you pre-paid. This type of refund also takes 2 billing cycles or about 2 months.

Hopefully this info will give everyone an overview of the current Free Dining Guidelines.
 
If you are still waiting Please try the 407-939-7532, after waiting for over 2hrs hung up and used this number and was talkng with a CM in 3minutes!!!!
 
The three numbers I tried were: 407-939...7532, 7675, and 1880...I dialed each twice, each time got an "all circuits busy..." and then finally got through on the 7532 number, instantly connected to a CM and was off the phone in 6 mins (including the survey!) I had a previous reservation so just had to make adjustment and add my flight info...all in all a very pleasant experience. :thumbsup2

For those of you still trying, good luck! It will be worth it. If you aren't trying to modify, only book, I would do it online.

pixiedust:
 
Things went from bad to better to great this morning! Thought for sure Jan. 3 would have free dining, because it's before marathon. My kids are off school the 2nd through the 8th, so my timing was perfect. At least it was till I found out the FD didn't start until the 8th.

Frantically called DH at work, and we quickly figured out the kids would not miss much school if we went at the end of November. Got room at POR from 11/26-12/5!!! Only have to do room-only the first night!

Got even better when I figured out that flights from Denver are only $250!!! The flights on the Jan. 3 date we were originally planning on were $400.

Altogether, I've just saved us $2,590!!!! And we get to be there for Christmas festivities! Woo hoo! :yay:
 

Things went from bad to better to great this morning! Thought for sure Jan. 3 would have free dining, because it's before marathon. My kids are off school the 2nd through the 8th, so my timing was perfect. At least it was till I found out the FD didn't start until the 8th.

Frantically called DH at work, and we quickly figured out the kids would not miss much school if we went at the end of November. Got room at POR from 11/26-12/5!!! Only have to do room-only the first night!

Got even better when I figured out that flights from Denver are only $250!!! The flights on the Jan. 3 date we were originally planning on were $400.

Altogether, I've just saved us $2,590!!!! And we get to be there for Christmas festivities! Woo hoo! :yay:

Not a bad morning's work! :thumbsup2
 
If you get "all circuits busy" keep trying! You will eventually get through. That's what I had to do.
 
YEAH I GOT IT. :banana:

Only took: An hour and 15min on hold and then I was disconnected:eek:
Then I keep calling back for 2 hours and being told "All lines are busy, please try your call later":mad:
I called to add the FD and change my dates to Nov 16-23 I reach a very nice CM who puts me on hold to speak to the special request department (My husband is disabled and the only ones who can change my ressies are the Speical request Dept) told me "Your dates are not included" in this offer. :headache: for which I reply, yes they are I'm looking at the offer now. Then She says " what I meant to say was, there is no AVAILABILTY at that resort" so I say change my resort and she says "there is no availabity at ANY resort for your days" :eek::eek::mad::eek::headache::eek::eek:
In the meantime I'm rapidly searching on line and say "but I'm on line right now and I can book a new ressie for my days and for POFQ can you PLEASE:cutie: try again" so she say's please hold and pops right back on and asks what the cost for the package is I'm seeing and puts me on hold again then pops back on and says :lmao:"They are just finishing up adjusting your reservation right now, we have you booked for Nov 16-23 at POFQ with FREE DINING and have added the park hopper option, just a moment and we will be all done, do you need to make dining reservations" :woohoo::banana::woohoo::cool1:
THANK YOU DISBOARDS FOR KEEPING ME EDUCATED, THANK YOU DANNY FOR THE HEADS UP, THANK YOU UNCLE WALT FOR CREATING SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE AND THANK YOU TO MY PRINCE CHARMING because....
:love::cheer2: I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD, I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD:cheer2::love:
 
We used 407-939-1800 and got through in 30 minutes, while the main line said "all circuts are down". I suggest using this number if the wait is still bad.
 
Did anyone else have any issues getting the BC for the week of 10/23? I already had a ressie in the system but was told I couldn't apply the FD as the entire resort with the exeption of the villas there are excluded....hmmmmm

I got October 25-31. The Disney website says it's available for mos
t nights from 10/23. Maybe try online.


Hope that helps
Jennifer
 
Again, thank you so much to Danny for bringing us this info first :hug::hug::hug:

I happened to be up at 4:15 this morning (I'm PST), so called in. It said the wait was over 60 minutes, so I said forget it and went back to bed. I got up this morning and booked the exact package I wanted with no trouble in about 5 minutes on the internet. 14 days of free dining at Caribbean Beach in January. So excited :banana::banana::banana:

I hope everyone is able to get what they want/need!!!
 
ok, I am THRILLED we will be getting Free Dining again this trip BUT we have to change our dates.....does anyone know WHY the week of Feb 5-11th is not offering it? We have been there on that week before and crowds were super low so is something going on that I'm not aware of? :confused3
 
I called this morning around 7:30 and was on hold for 25 minutes. Not too bad, I thought I'd have to wait longer. We already had a package booked using a pin for a room discount and I was able to switch my discount to free dining. So now I'm saving $623 and my parents are saving $550. Already paid it off so now I'm getting a refund. Now I just have to wait until Nov.
 
DANNY YOU ROCK!!!! Thank you so much for the heads up!!! I booked Free Dining (in DEC) today for my family of 5 and saved a a ton of $$$, We would not have been able to make this trip without it.


Thank You!!! Thank You!!!! Thank You!!!!:worship::worship::worship:
 
So I was NOT going to do the free dining thing, we already have a ressie off site really cheap. But we really wanted to stay on Property at a Mod resort.......and we already have a 7 day ticket's so the free dining was going to cost us MORE...... and I did not want a value resort

After searching DISboards and reading info about Pop and seeing pictures I decided to JUMP ON THE BOAT.

So I emailed my TA ~ Laura at Pixie and Pirate Destinations ~ She was able to HOOK ME UP with Free dining at Pop Century October 8-15. I didn't really save any money (b\c of the mistakes I made) but we will be on property. :cheer2:

I have learned a lesson....don't buy your ticket so early.
 
So after being on hold 1 hr & 52 minutes in silence, I decided to try from a different phone. This time got music & 20 minutes on hold, my call was answered by Winslow! Really nice guy!

He originally told me that my dates were blacked out (arrival Oct 27) but I told him the website had the information that it was valid October 23. I was on hold about 2 minutes & he came back and told me I was correct! Yeah!! He said the information CM's have is not correct, that the website is.

Within minutes he changed my reservation & saved me $960.31. Thanks Danny for the heads up!!!

Too bad we can't make a group call and get all our ressies take care of at once, lol!

I know that you were joking, but... My mom, brother, and me all conferenced called this morning to update our existing reservations to FD in case our resorts/dates were unavailable. The conference call worked fantastic. We were all done by 6:30 CST!

So Oct. 7 is a blackout date? On the WDW website they have two conflicting dates. They have that the offer IS VALID Oct. 2-8 but then in another spot it says VALID Oct. 2-6. :confused3

October 7th is not a blackout date. We are booked for check-in that day. Good luck!

So I'm am I the only one thinking Disney made this WAY harder than it had to be? First no Disney Visa advance sale, second they could have waited a week or so to roll out the 2012 dates. They could have spread out some of this madness!

Oh well, at least the deed is done.

Now I need to go back and do the happy dance for all the naysayers who said all year that this would never happen. I NEVER lost faith! :banana::banana::banana:

Not to mention the conflicting blackout dates for October!

I was told I was getting an email showing the modified reservation but I haven't gotten it yet. I imagine their system is a little behind though, lol. Has anyone who has called to add on the FD to an existing ressie gotten their email yet?

The sweet CM who help us this morning said that it can take up to 8 hours to get the email. You have nothing to worry about!

I guess I'm going to have to pass and if need be I'll just order her meal from the kids menu.

She just turned 2 this month so I guess it was a good thought at first.

Our last trip our DS was 35 months and DD had just turned 1. DH and I had the reg dining plan and both children ate off our plates at all meals and there was plenty of food. Granted, neither of our kiddos are big eaters and we aren't either. Good luck!
 
So I was NOT going to do the free dining thing, we already have a ressie off site really cheap. But we really wanted to stay on Property at a Mod resort.......and we already have a 7 day ticket's so the free dining was going to cost us MORE...... and I did not want a value resort

After searching DISboards and reading info about Pop and seeing pictures I decided to JUMP ON THE BOAT.

So I emailed my TA ~ Laura at Pixie and Pirate Destinations ~ She was able to HOOK ME UP with Free dining at Pop Century October 8-15. I didn't really save any money (b\c of the mistakes I made) but we will be on property. :cheer2:

I have learned a lesson....don't buy your ticket so early.

Call your TA. Make sure they only have you set for 2 day base tickets on your new package. That will mitigate some of the savings loss....and it's all that's required for Free Dining.

Then tuck those 2 day base tickets away for a future trip...they'll offset some costs (both because you've prepaid for tickets for a future trip AND because you'll be saving some money when Disney inevitably raises their ticket prices).
 
Well, here it is again :-)...

Well, now the most recent page with your helpful summary is pg.135, post#2021!:thumbsup2 Wow, did this thread ever blow up in the last 24 hours.:eek: It's had to have gone up by about 100 pages in the last day.popcorn::

Congrats to all who got their FD and thanks to all those helpful responses, like Princess Tiffany, Kerplop, Incognito 71, Brandilovesdisney (sorry if I left anyone else out), and most importantly danny25!:thumbsup2:thanks:
 
At 11:34am, this is the email I recieved from my Dreams Unlimited planner: "Good Morning! I wanted to let you know I've been working on this this morning, and its taking a while to get through!! I will let you know as soon as I have anything set for you!

Have a Magical Day!"

So's here's crossing my fingers and heck even my toes that things go for the good.
 
Hey Guys, can you help me out and verify this information. The CM I talked to this morning was very blunt and not helpful at all.

After staying on hokd for an hour and 45 mins I finally got through to have FD applied to my reservation (We are checking in on Dec 10, one day before the promotion is offered. Thanks to you guys I was educated enough to know to request a room only reservation for my first night then a vacation package for the rest of my stay to get FD).

The CM practically dismissed me right away saying "There is no availablity." After trying to reason with her that I was aware my check-in date doesn't fall during the promotion and I'd like to modify that (She wouldn't share any helpful information at all, If it wasn't for you guys I would've just hung up assuming I couldn't get the promotion. I was basically doing her job), she priced out my package (6 nights at Port Orleans Riverside with hoppers and Deluxe dining...me paying the difference of course for free dining with one night out of the 6 room only reservation).

She basically said It costs almost exactly the same with the free dining. I was kind of surprised, I thought I'd be saving SOMETHING (especially since everyone here appears to be saving considerable amounts of money). My original price is $2860 and with free dining split reservations its only $2854. Am I missing something here or did she screw something up? Your help is always GREATLY appreciated.
 
Got it!!! Believe it or not I was able to book the FD offer online...for POR 10/23-10/29. It was stressful not being to get in on the phones and I am just swamped at work, I just happened to check WDW's site and there it was and the site didn't crash. :cool1:

Good luck to everyone!
 


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