******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[pghmom]

I apologize if this was already asked and answered - as a POP goer, I would get QS FD if/when it is released. Do i have to upgrade to the TSDP at that moment or can I call and upgrade - for a fee - later on? MY bf and I are still back and forth if upgrading is needed, we would know more once we get MVMCP details and park hours for AK

You should be able to upgrade later on! That's what we did two years ago.

 

[JCSCBROWN]

We are a support group. It's almost like AA but we are supporting each others habbits. I mean I already have free dining and I'm here with you guys stressing.

I'll start. Hi my name is Nicki and I'm a free dining addict.

I love that! A support group indeed. And I am a free dining addict as well.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

My ADR day is Tuesday. BOG is my only real "must have" dinner and day. Did you have to get up at the crack of dawn to get it? Just wondering if I need to get up early. [/QUOTY

Yes, you definitely need to be up and ready as soon as the window opens.

 

[sjs314]

I'm pretty sure you have to call to modify your dates. You can't change them online

I just changed both the dates of my trip and resort a few days ago using the change button online

 

[tinkerone]

My ADR day is Tuesday. BOG is my only real "must have" dinner and day. Did you have to get up at the crack of dawn to get it? Just wondering if I need to get up early.

I could not get a table for my party of four no matter what. Here's a tip for anyone who runs into the issue of not being able to get a reservation for your entire party. I booked 11:55 for a party of two. Then I was able to book another reservation, same time, for a party of one. I kept looking and was able to get a reservation for the last person 15 minutes before the 11:55 everyone else has. We now all have reservations and should be able to enter together.
This, of course, only works for the lunch reservation but it was a nice work around when I could not get our entire party on one reservation.

 

[Neeky78]

I spoke to a CM yesterday and she recommended CALLING to modify the reservation if and when FD is offered. She said that way they can make sure to keep the Gift card on the reservation. Not sure how true it is but thought it was worth noting.

I was told the same thing a few hours ago. The CBR GC offer is being overseen by Guest Relations, so all modifications to a booking with the GC, have to be approved by GR to keep the GC on the booking. The CM I spoke to said the offer was unprecedented in her 15 years of working in Disney bookings, so it's all so uncertain. If you go via the website, any modifications may affect the GC offer. And trying to get them to reinstate it later may be difficult or impossible.

I called to add 2 more nights to my CBR reservation and she had to check with GR if I could keep the GC still!! I was shocked as it never occurred to me that increasing my stay could jeopardise it!

Luckily, GR advised her I wouldn't lose the GC. Phew!

But she advised calling to make ANY modifications so I could be certain the GC was still in place. Even if I wanted to add a (paid) dining package or park tickets to my reservation.

But then again, the CM did tell me that if I wanted to increase my 4 day park ticket while I was there I'd have to do it on my first day of using the ticket as after that I would have to pay for a one day ticket from scratch. Which I'm 99.9% certain is not correct. As long as I upgrade the pass before the end of the 4th day, it will only cost the difference between a 4 day and a 5 day pass.

In terms of my resort booking and fd, I've decided to go online when it drops and secure fd with any mod resort that is roughly the same price as CBR. It may end up being another CBR room even!

And then I'll get on the phone at 7am and see if I can get FD added to my original CBR booking without it jeopardising the GC. If it all goes through, I'll cancel the new booking. If it doesn't, I'll cancel the original CBR booking as we would spend more than $75 (GC amount) on food for the 3 of us per night (we want to do a number of dining experiences). I've crunched the numbers and think I've worked it all out!

BTW, can I just say that it drives me mad that most booking sites in/for the USA don't include taxes in the price. I have been caught out so many times with it! We don't separate taxes and the price in Australia, it's all integrated and by law you have to advertise/display the total price of any item. So what you see is what you pay. I spent ages crunching numbers only to realise that one set had the tax included and the other was missing the 12.5% tax, which put my calculations out by a significant amount. So it was back to the drawing board for me!
I'm learning though. By the time we go in September, I'll have it all down pat.

 

[ThistleMae]

Site says you can only pick one of the pandora rides. People are saying they have been able to book both but they think it's a glitch.

And...folks reported Disney did not take away the additional pick, once they fixed the glitch. It was very short lived.

 

[stayathomehero]

Hey everyone!

This is my first Disney trip!

If your first Disney trip includes free dining, then you're the big winner!

Getting free dining really hooks you in though.

 

[Disneylover99]

I've purchased my cdn tickets as a package with my room and dining. I've heard that because I already have a offer attached to my package that I wouldn't be able to "add" another deal (FD). So I believe I have to buy tickets at full price in order to qualify for FD. Hope that makes sense. Thanks

Somebody reported earlier in the thread that if you've attached your Canadian tickets to a package, it might keep the discount if you modify to free dining. I guess you'll find out soon!

 

[ThistleMae]

If your first Disney trip includes free dining, then you're the big winner!

Getting free dining really hooks you in though.

Hey, another newbie to join in all the fun! I'm not even getting FD this year...LOL...and here I am with the rest of you!

 

[Rusty2rules]

Yes, you definitely need to be up and ready as soon as the window opens.

I was afraid of that. LOL What time does the window open?

 

[ellbell]

Did you reserve it for later in your trip? We're there several reservation times available to choose from? And did you do it from your computer or by calling in? Sorry for all the questions but want that bog dinner as well when my adr time comes

I got up at 6 and did it from the computer for our second to last day. Looks like I didn't need to get up so early though because 2 hours after I got it there was still lots of times available. Including on at 5:45. I booked for 7:10

 

[memma05]

I was told the same thing a few hours ago. The CBR GC offer is being overseen by Guest Relations, so all modifications to a booking with the GC, have to be approved by GR to keep the GC on the booking. The CM I spoke to said the offer was unprecedented in her 15 years of working in Disney bookings, so it's all so uncertain. If you go via the website, any modifications may affect the GC offer. And trying to get them to reinstate it later may be difficult or impossible.

I called to add 2 more nights to my CBR reservation and she had to check with GR if I could keep the GC still!! I was shocked as it never occurred to me that increasing my stay could jeopardise it!

Luckily, GR advised her I wouldn't lose the GC. Phew!

But she advised calling to make ANY modifications so I could be certain the GC was still in place. Even if I wanted to add a (paid) dining package or park tickets to my reservation.

But then again, the CM did tell me that if I wanted to increase my 4 day park ticket while I was there I'd have to do it on my first day of using the ticket as after that I would have to pay for a one day ticket from scratch. Which I'm 99.9% certain is not correct. As long as I upgrade the pass before the end of the 4th day, it will only cost the difference between a 4 day and a 5 day pass.

In terms of my resort booking and fd, I've decided to go online when it drops and secure fd with any mod resort that is roughly the same price as CBR. It may end up being another CBR room even!

And then I'll get on the phone at 7am and see if I can get FD added to my original CBR booking without it jeopardising the GC. If it all goes through, I'll cancel the new booking. If it doesn't, I'll cancel the original CBR booking as we would spend more than $75 (GC amount) on food for the 3 of us per night (we want to do a number of dining experiences). I've crunched the numbers and think I've worked it all out!

BTW, can I just say that it drives me mad that most booking sites in/for the USA don't include taxes in the price. I have been caught out so many times with it! We don't separate taxes and the price in Australia, it's all integrated and by law you have to advertise/display the total price of any item. So what you see is what you pay. I spent ages crunching numbers only to realise that one set had the tax included and the other was missing the 12.5% tax, which put my calculations out by a significant amount. So it was back to the drawing board for me!
I'm learning though. By the time we go in September, I'll have it all down pat.

Thanks for sharing this information! My CM didn't elaborate quite as much so this is good to know!
I originally reserved 12/11-12/22 but now that the school calendar for our county has been released I might have to modify that a bit since we aren't out for break until the 22nd! In the past we would have normally gotten out a bit earlier! But until FD is released I wanted to keep it as is until I know the dates available for the promotion!

I have done the same thing and priced out POR and CBR for a number of different night combos as well as room types. We are a family of 5 so we only have those two MOD choices and I do not like alligator bayou at POR which for the same dates with the same tickets will run me $350 more in total! I would much rather stick with CBR and of course keep my GC if thats possible but I will snag what I can when FD drops then call in and see if I can modify my original reservation! I am also OK with upgrading my room type at CBR if I keep my GC because like I said POR would still run me $350 more for the same room type!

All the planning, guessing and assuming is starting to drive me crazy hehe

 

[Sharongal74]

I could not get a table for my party of four no matter what. Here's a tip for anyone who runs into the issue of not being able to get a reservation for your entire party. I booked 11:55 for a party of two. Then I was able to book another reservation, same time, for a party of one. I kept looking and was able to get a reservation for the last person 15 minutes before the 11:55 everyone else has. We now all have reservations and should be able to enter together.
This, of course, only works for the lunch reservation but it was a nice work around when I could not get our entire party on one reservation.

Touring plans has a fantastic reservation finder. You put in the date, time and number and it will text you when it becomes available. Last trip I got all my dining reservations I wanted!

 

[mikesteffen]

Did the room only reservation for last fall include POFQ

 

[ellbell]

My ADR day is Tuesday. BOG is my only real "must have" dinner and day. Did you have to get up at the crack of dawn to get it? Just wondering if I need to get up early.

I did get up at 6am but 2 hours later there was still lots of availability. I also booked for the second last day of our 7 day trip in September for a party of 2

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Thanks for sharing this information! My CM didn't elaborate quite as much so this is good to know!
I originally reserved 12/11-12/22 but now that the school calendar for our county has been released I might have to modify that a bit since we aren't out for break until the 22nd! In the past we would have normally gotten out a bit earlier! But until FD is released I wanted to keep it as is until I know the dates available for the promotion!

I have done the same thing and priced out POR and CBR for a number of different night combos as well as room types. We are a family of 5 so we only have those two MOD choices and I do not like alligator bayou at POR which for the same dates with the same tickets will run me $350 more in total! I would much rather stick with CBR and of course keep my GC if thats possible but I will snag what I can when FD drops then call in and see if I can modify my original reservation! I am also OK with upgrading my room type at CBR if I keep my GC because like I said POR would still run me $350 more for the same room type!

All the planning, guessing and assuming is starting to drive me crazy hehe

FW cabins are mods, but they're expensive. I think for your dates around $350 per night.

 

[Rusty2rules]

I did get up at 6am but 2 hours later there was still lots of availability.

Thanks. I assume that's 6 am EST?

 

[GLS]

I was told the same thing a few hours ago. The CBR GC offer is being overseen by Guest Relations, so all modifications to a booking with the GC, have to be approved by GR to keep the GC on the booking. The CM I spoke to said the offer was unprecedented in her 15 years of working in Disney bookings, so it's all so uncertain. If you go via the website, any modifications may affect the GC offer. And trying to get them to reinstate it later may be difficult or impossible.

I called to add 2 more nights to my CBR reservation and she had to check with GR if I could keep the GC still!! I was shocked as it never occurred to me that increasing my stay could jeopardise it!

Luckily, GR advised her I wouldn't lose the GC. Phew!

But she advised calling to make ANY modifications so I could be certain the GC was still in place. Even if I wanted to add a (paid) dining package or park tickets to my reservation.

But then again, the CM did tell me that if I wanted to increase my 4 day park ticket while I was there I'd have to do it on my first day of using the ticket as after that I would have to pay for a one day ticket from scratch. Which I'm 99.9% certain is not correct. As long as I upgrade the pass before the end of the 4th day, it will only cost the difference between a 4 day and a 5 day pass.

In terms of my resort booking and fd, I've decided to go online when it drops and secure fd with any mod resort that is roughly the same price as CBR. It may end up being another CBR room even!

And then I'll get on the phone at 7am and see if I can get FD added to my original CBR booking without it jeopardising the GC. If it all goes through, I'll cancel the new booking. If it doesn't, I'll cancel the original CBR booking as we would spend more than $75 (GC amount) on food for the 3 of us per night (we want to do a number of dining experiences). I've crunched the numbers and think I've worked it all out!

BTW, can I just say that it drives me mad that most booking sites in/for the USA don't include taxes in the price. I have been caught out so many times with it! We don't separate taxes and the price in Australia, it's all integrated and by law you have to advertise/display the total price of any item. So what you see is what you pay. I spent ages crunching numbers only to realise that one set had the tax included and the other was missing the 12.5% tax, which put my calculations out by a significant amount. So it was back to the drawing board for me!
I'm learning though. By the time we go in September, I'll have it all down pat.

Is there a special number to call GR or do we just go through the main modify reservation number?

 

[ellbell]

Thanks. I assume that's 6 am EST?

Yes EST