News Round Up 2017

[jlundeen]

No doubt. That's because the TA is trying to close the deal with you.

Or it might have been different way back when, until they relalized that people were only booking banking on the discounts...I don't know...any TAs on here? Has this way discounts work changed over the years?

EDIT: I now always use a TA, especially if we are hoping a discount comes along...I just don't have the time to sit on hold waiting for a Disney Rep to try to change a reservation. She has always been very skilled at getting us what we want. She is GOLD!!!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

When I first became aware of the FD discount years ago, I was told by the travel agents I talked to, that you could book your room, and then any discounts that came along, you could just apply them to your reservation. We all now know that's not the way it works, and you have to totally cancel and rebook a reservation but only IF there is availability for that room type, or even in that resort. But you can't get people to believe they just can't apply it to an existing reservation.

I always book the resort I want, because I know I'm going regardless of discounts or not. If something comes along we can take advantage of, I consider it pixie dust! This fall, we are booked at a moderate, during a time that FD historically doesn't include. But if a nice RO offer comes along, we'll gladly jump to a Deluxe if we can, but otherwise, we'll be very happy where we are.

That is definitely the best way to look at things - whether it is hotels or airline prices or whatever ... book what you are comfortable with and will be happy with and if something better comes along, then great - but dangerous to book a vacation that you *need* a potential future discount to come through for

 

[danikoski]

I bet, if you have 5 people in a moderate room, 2 or 3 of which are kids between the ages of 10 and 17 it adds up to be a huge discount. People can argue all day long as to whether it's worth it, but in that situation looking at the raw numbers it's hard to turn that down.

The issue is people were hoping for standard Disney dining plan with mods, but this year they will only get just QS. That may work for some folks, but that's not what most people were anticipating. It also, unless you're a family of 5, makes mods less appealing.

 

[Roxyfire]

The issue is people were hoping for standard Disney dining plan with mods, but this year they will only get just QS. That may work for some folks, but that's not what most people were anticipating. It also, unless you're a family of 5, makes mods less appealing.

I know it's vague, but I was specifically responding to another poster who was speaking of how upset people were about that change. Honestly, it's smart. Not very nice, but smart.

 

[jlundeen]

The issue is people were hoping for standard Disney dining plan with mods, but this year they will only get just QS. That may work for some folks, but that's not what most people were anticipating. It also, unless you're a family of 5, makes mods less appealing.

Well, if someone REALLY needs to stay in a room for 5 at a moderate, they can always upgrade to the Regular plan - additional $21 per day per person. I know, it adds up quick though.

 

[danikoski]

I know it's vague, but I was specifically responding to another poster who was speaking of how upset people were about that change. Honestly, it's smart. Not very nice, but smart.

There will be people who will be quite upset. There are many who plan their whole vacation around free dining expectations. Problem is, fall isn't really not busy anymore between MNSSHP and FW and then MVMCP, no incentive for Disney to offer really good free dining.

I'm also guessing the change was because they have two moderates that have construction, one pretty major. So they may be more at capacity for the mods for the fall so makes sense to try to get people to go Deluxe or Value instead.

Edit: personally I do room only and watch for those discounts. I like having control of my dining, especially since sometimes we just feel like sandwiches in the room or something.

 

[crazy4wdw]

There will be people who will be quite upset. There are many who plan their whole vacation around free dining expectations. Problem is, fall isn't really not busy anymore between MNSSHP and FW and then MVMCP, no incentive for Disney to offer really good free dining.

There were scores of people upset last year as the availability was very limited and free dining was uploaded on the WDW website around 3:00 am to 4:00 am. Many, many people were out of luck when they attempted to book online at 7:00 am. I imagine there will numerous people checking the website all night tonight!

 

[bluecastle]

Or it might have been different way back when, until they relalized that people were only booking banking on the discounts...I don't know...any TAs on here? Has this way discounts work changed over the years?

EDIT: I now always use a TA, especially if we are hoping a discount comes along...I just don't have the time to sit on hold waiting for a Disney Rep to try to change a reservation. She has always been very skilled at getting us what we want. She is GOLD!!!

On our last trip, August 2014, I was able to apply the summer discount directly to our balance when I called without having to cancel or rebook and our res number stayed the same. This was at the WLV. I did the same thing on a few of our past trips. Sometime after our 2014 trip I read about the policy change here on the DIS. For our upcoming trip in October at BWV, which I reserved around 10 months out, I went into it knowing there was very little chance of getting a discount later. I will still call, of course.
I have always done RO because I prefer the cancellation policy. (when my daughter was 2.5 she broke out in chicken pox the night before our trip and I was very glad I had done RO) We also prefer only having a few big meals over the course of a week, so we've never even been tempted by the Dining Plan.
P.S. In reference to our trip when my daughter was 2.5, since we were going to visit my in-laws first, we were just outside the 5 day cancellation.

 

[skier_pete]

I am sure it has been posted before but just saw the details for Free Dining this year - big change being Moderate Resorts only get the quick service plan. Booking opens tomorrow:

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/04/walt-...rns-2017-major-changes-moderate-resort-stays/

FD keeps getting weaker. We used to use it, but we bought into DVC knowing the direction it was going. With QS at the moderates, I'm glad I don't have to worry about relying on free dining.

 

[rteetz]

News

Special "Dapper Day" Offers to Be Available at Disney Springs

 

[rteetz]

News

Walt Disney World Introduces New Soccer Training Program

 

[rteetz]

News

Last Killer Whale Birth Takes Place at SeaWorld San Antonio

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

News

Last Killer Whale Birth Takes Place at SeaWorld San Antonio

That's my Sea World. They were doing times this past weekend where you could go see the baby and mother swim in the big show tank.

I don't really want to get into a large Sea World debate here, but the fact that the whales do give birth at Sea World always made me wonder. That is a thing that animal specialists who work at zoos will always say, that you can tell when the animals are happy because they'll have lots of babies if they are. Unhappy/uncomfortable animals typically do not get pregnant.

 

[osully]

Free dining offers are up and the site seems manageable, if anyone is interested!

 

[danikoski]

So I looked at availability for the free dining offer. When I looked at offer details, low and behold, this is what it said:

• Includes complimentary Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan for each Guest ages 3 or older per room at a Disney Value Resort hotel or complimentary Disney Dining Plan for each Guest ages 3 or older per room at a Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotel.

 

[piglet1979]

I don't get the concept behind pre-booking. Disney used the free dining promotion to fill where there are empty rooms ... so the more your pre-book, the less empty rooms there are, and thus the less Disney needs to use Free Dining at that resort - so by pre-booking you are making it less likely you will get free dining

We pre-booked the last time we got the free dining plan. We only pre-booked because our 180 days to book ADR's was before free dining came out.

 

[rteetz]

So I looked at availability for the free dining offer. When I looked at offer details, low and behold, this is what it said:

• Includes complimentary Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan for each Guest ages 3 or older per room at a Disney Value Resort hotel or complimentary Disney Dining Plan for each Guest ages 3 or older per room at a Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotel.

It's quick service for moderate hotels this year.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wal...walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-stays-2017.htm

 

[rteetz]

News

There are other package and room only offers beside free dining as well.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wal...offers-at-walt-disney-world-resort-hotels.htm

 

[danikoski]

It's quick service for moderate hotels this year.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/wal...walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-stays-2017.htm

Not according to the offer details on Disney's website. The Special Offer page has the quick service for moderates, but when clicking on offer details before booking a package it comes up with what I posted above, which clearly indicates the moderate resorts get regular dining plan. Disney might want to get their story straight...

Not that I'm booking, but I thought it was odd...

 

[Capang]

I just went to the disney special offers page and it does state that mods are quick service plans only. Just the deluxes and villas are ddp. Don't have time to screenshot and upload right now