YEA!!!! We're at the POP from 9/20--9/28!
YES, they will let you have FD beyond the 20th if you check in by then.
We did NOT have to book a preferred room (we don't like to be by the pools).
She did say that the code we (I) were/was using "AYG" was not the correct one ("She laughed kindly and said that's from some boards, isn't it--lots of people are calling with that one, but it's not the one I am supposed to use.) But it wasn't a problem.
She did push the Deluxe Dining (we did not get that).
She didn't say if it is the same code for THURSDAY'S group, but I think if you call on Thurs. it won't be a problem at all.
Good luck everyone!
Oh, my Husband wants to know how much difference it'd be to book a MOD instead. I told him it'd be 63 plus tax a night. For 8 nights that's almost twice as much. Am I wrong on this? He'd rather bump up but I'm happy at the POP since we don't plan to be in the rooms much.