Not Eligible for Free Dining

[Eliza32]

So, having booked my trip a year in advance, I find that they are now offering free dining for the dates we are going. Are Virgin going to honour this?? Oh no!
Last time we went (2007) the exact same thing happened and they did honour it. Have asked Virgin in several emails why not, but no real explaination. Anyone else found this problem?? Seems that booking early for Disney is no longer appropriate from UK if we're all going to miss out.!
Anyway, reading the DisBoards I see over and over again that our American Cousins simply phone up Disney and get the free dining added to booking they have already made.
Anyone think we're getting a bum deal in the UK??????

 

[2Tiggies]

When did you book for and when are you going? I got free dining for this October and I booked last year in early May. The Free Dining offers for next year were out in April/May this year. I did see in their terms and conditions that you can't amend your reservation to take advantage of a promotion that comes out after booking. They allow it in the US

 

[diddldonna]

Maybe contact disney direct and see if they will add it? its worth a try.

 

[2Tiggies]

Maybe contact disney direct and see if they will add it? its worth a try.

Unfortunately Disney in the US can't touch the UK packages - or any other TA package for that matter. Your contract is with the tour operator so you are kind of stuck with who you booked with.

 

[Eliza32]

I know I'm stuck with it, although I do plan to ask when we check in. I know I didn't pay for it, but as everyone else who will be there at the same time seems to be getting it, it's seems unfair that we don't (particularly as Virgin honoured it last time!). I can't remember exactly when we booked, but it was well over a year ago.
I accept that I'm not getting it, but it hardly seems 'Disney' that some get it and some don't. Will seriously consider booking late in future.
It's a serious spend to get there from the UK at all these days without this 'discrimination'. Rant over!!!

 

[diddldonna]

Sorry though they might beable to help as i know a friend had a room/resort problem and the tour operator wouldn't do anything but disney in the usa did and re-arranged everything and it was all sorted for when they got there.

 

[2Tiggies]

Sorry though they might beable to help as i know a friend had a room/resort problem and the tour operator wouldn't do anything but disney in the usa did and re-arranged everything and it was all sorted for when they got there.

That is something they can do though. Sorting out a room is up to the resort manager or can be done through Disney directly, who will liaise with the resort. However the dining is linked to the tickets and the US does not sell the UK structured tickets.

 

[Eliza32]

diddldonna, thanks for the suggestion, will give it a try by fax maybe. Can't afford to spend ages on the phone with them....it cost enough last time to phone to make the ADR's. Thank God for online booking this time for those!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

diddldonna, thanks for the suggestion, will give it a try by fax maybe. Can't afford to spend ages on the phone with them....it cost enough last time to phone to make the ADR's. Thank God for online booking this time for those!!!

What number are you dialling to the US?

Try using this access code: 0844 720 0000. Listen to the prompts and then dial 001 and the number you need followed by #

It costs 1 p per minute. I regularly make US phone calls and it is cheaper than calling someone in the UK on a landline this way.

 

[diddldonna]

Ok don't really know how it all works, thought it might be worth a try. Have you contacted your travel company by phone and got an answer direct?

 

[dixonsontour]

I know dining can't be added at the resort on check in.

Can you cancel and rebook without too much penalty?

Free dining is a big perk so you may still be better off.

One good thing about UK is we have the choice to book with disney US or UK. Last trip I booked with US and this trip with UK as the deals suited us better that way at the time I was booking.

 

[aaronandterri]

an ammendment may only cost you 30pp, so may be worth rebooking that way maybe...?

 

[2Tiggies]

an ammendment may only cost you 30pp, so may be worth rebooking that way maybe...?

Cancellation and re booking, which is what you will have to do, will cost either £120 or £135 per person depending whether you took flight inclusive. If you would have spent more than that per person on dining for the duration of your trip, then it is probably worth it.

 

[Laurafoster]

Anyway, reading the DisBoards I see over and over again that our American Cousins simply phone up Disney and get the free dining added to booking they have already made.
Anyone think we're getting a bum deal in the UK??????

Difference is people in US are not booking a package with a tour operator. They have just booked a hotel package, which is amendable. The US has far better T&C's than the UK does.

Unfortunately with booking a package holiday there is always the risk that a better deal comes along at a later date, i know its happened to me on numerous occassions which is why i never book a UK package anymore.

Have you tried making a complaint in writing (rather than email?) last time we had an discrepancy with Virgin Holidays we got no where by talking to "managers" on the phone nor by email, yet we put the complaint in writing and within 10 days it was resolved. You might not get anywhere but its worth a try?

 

[crabbie1]

That or do a letter of complaint and if you have booked with them before quote this and how disappointed you are that guests going the same time who booked after you are getting a better deal. Also say you will cancel as disney have offered a better deal and if you loose the deposit it will still work out cheaper for you to move to disney.
It is very hard to advise. How much did you pay deposit;is it a package;how many are going.
another option keep your flights /flydrive with virgin and cancel the accomodation and tickets.Book those through disney.That way you will pay amendment fee only and wont loose your deposit.

 

[2Tiggies]

That or do a letter of complaint and if you have booked with them before quote this and how disappointed you are that guests going the same time who booked after you are getting a better deal. Also say you will cancel as disney have offered a better deal and if you loose the deposit it will still work out cheaper for you to move to disney.
It is very hard to advise. How much did you pay deposit;is it a package;how many are going.
another option keep your flights /flydrive with virgin and cancel the accomodation and tickets.Book those through disney.That way you will pay amendment fee only and wont loose your deposit.

Oooh, Crabbie1 is gooooood!

I agree with the letter. I entered into a dispute with Disney UK/Openride last year. It took 4 months or longer to resolve it but I stuck to my guns and pulled them on their terms and conditions. They eventually paid out.

 

[catherine]

another option keep your flights /flydrive with virgin and cancel the accomodation and tickets.Book those through disney.That way you will pay amendment fee only and wont loose your deposit.

We did this a couple of years ago. We had a package booked with Virgin without the DDP. We decided to go ahead and get the DDP, so we changed our booking to a Fly Drive and booked accomodation, tickets and DDP with Disney.

 

[diddldonna]

A letter sounds a really good idea, Let us know if you do get the dining plan added in anyway it may help future members.

 

[Eliza32]

It's too late....we go in 3 weeks and Virgin have already got all of my money!!! We did examine changing/cancelling the booking as soon as we found out (2 days before we had to pay) but the flight out from Manchester was full and they wouldn't guarantee that if I cancelled I could re-book 'my' place again on the flight.
I just think we're getting yet another bum deal in the UK. Am still planning to ask Virgin what the difference was between last time when they did honour it and this time though. The T&Cs were exactly the same then.
Don't want to upset them before we go though........

 

[2Tiggies]

It's too late....we go in 3 weeks and Virgin have already got all of my money!!! We did examine changing/cancelling the booking as soon as we found out (2 days before we had to pay) but the flight out from Manchester was full and they wouldn't guarantee that if I cancelled I could re-book 'my' place again on the flight.
I just think we're getting yet another bum deal in the UK. Am still planning to ask Virgin what the difference was between last time when they did honour it and this time though. The T&Cs were exactly the same then.
Don't want to upset them before we go though........

The T&Cs are subtle about it. They state along the lines of not being able to amend your existing reservation to take advantage of an offer that comes out subsequent to booking. Unfortunately this is the kind of thing that falls under their bum clause.

I was pricing up packages on the US site and did one with free dining and one without. It works out a little cheaper than booking in the UK and I will still get my tickets here, but the US allows you to cancel and change your reservation up to 45 days out so you CAN take advantage of new offers if available. Also, up to this point you can cancel for a full refund including your deposit. Best of all for me, I put in my DD as an adult (as the UK charges her since we are 1 adult and one child), did a quote, then changed her to a child and the price plummeted by about $700. I think I have nothing to lose by booking if I can cancel without penalty.