On Free Dining...possible to switch hotels now?

[gypsydoodlebug]

Hi, all --

We're staying at the ASMo as ususal this September on the dining plan, but I'm thinking about switching to a moderate just for a different experience and to surprise DH. Are we able to switch resorts if one is available, and would we lose the DDP? I'd call, but I don't have my Disney Rewards Card with me to go ahead and upgrade. I'd hate to screw anything up before we even get there...

TIA!

 

[kjs]

We are going the week of August 13th on the free dining plan. I also had the same idea as we wanted to stay at the Coronado Springs Resort. The hotel you stay at has to be on that was offered with the dining plan. Coronado Springs was not, so I was told that if we switched, we would lose the dining. Even though we have never used the dining, I didn't think that it was worth losing it. Anyway, I don't know that all of the moderate resorts are excluded, so you may want to check. As long as you have your reservation number, you can go onto the Disney website under my vacation. Click on contact us, and they will get back to you within 48 hours with an answer. Good Luck.
kjs.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i know that i am staying the 13th thru thr 23rd and was told no deluxes with free dining are available

 

[KimberlyC]

We are going the week of August 13th on the free dining plan. I also had the same idea as we wanted to stay at the Coronado Springs Resort. The hotel you stay at has to be on that was offered with the dining plan. Coronado Springs was not, so I was told that if we switched, we would lose the dining. Even though we have never used the dining, I didn't think that it was worth losing it. Anyway, I don't know that all of the moderate resorts are excluded, so you may want to check. As long as you have your reservation number, you can go onto the Disney website under my vacation. Click on contact us, and they will get back to you within 48 hours with an answer. Good Luck.
kjs.

If I'm understanding what you mean, this info is not correct. The free DDP promotion was most definitely available at the moderates. I have free DDP at CSR in September, but I booked prior June 25th when the promotion ended. The free dining promotion was offered at all the resorts but in limited quantity. Once the rooms reserved for free dining were sold out, you couldn't get free DDP at that resort even if you could still book a room.

OP - My understanding is that even shortly after the promo ended the free DDP could be upgraded if your booking was changed (not cancelled and rebooked) prior to the 45 final payment date. But he odds of this happening now are slim to none because in order to do it you would still have to book what WAS once free DDP on a code that no longer can be booked and was probably sold out or close to being sold out in the first place.

Call and ask, but make sure you get someone who knows what they are talking about. Still my guess is you will lose free DDP at this point if you change.

 

[KimberlyC]

We are going the week of August 13th on the free dining plan. I also had the same idea as we wanted to stay at the Coronado Springs Resort. The hotel you stay at has to be on that was offered with the dining plan. Coronado Springs was not, so I was told that if we switched, we would lose the dining. Even though we have never used the dining, I didn't think that it was worth losing it. Anyway, I don't know that all of the moderate resorts are excluded, so you may want to check. As long as you have your reservation number, you can go onto the Disney website under my vacation. Click on contact us, and they will get back to you within 48 hours with an answer. Good Luck.
kjs.

If I'm understanding what you mean, this info is not correct. The free DDP promotion was most definitely available at the moderates. I have free DDP at CSR in September, but I booked prior June 25th when the promotion ended. The free dining promotion was offered at all the resorts but in limited quantity. Once the rooms reserved for free dining were sold out, you couldn't get free DDP at that resort even if you could still book a room.

OP - My understanding is that even shortly after the promo ended the free DDP could be upgraded if your booking was changed (not cancelled and rebooked) prior to the 45 final payment date. But he odds of this happening now are slim to none because in order to do it you would still have to book what WAS once free DDP on a code that no longer can be booked and was probably sold out or close to being sold out in the first place.

Call and ask, but make sure you get someone who knows what they are talking about. Still my guess is you will lose free DDP at this point if you change.

 

[mrslur]

I had this thought just this morning and called. There were no rooms left in the free dining package at any moderates for our dates. We are staying at ASMu with free dining. As long as there are still rooms open that were slotted for the free dining package it's possible to switch.

 

[michelle1]

I called for a similar situation and was told that because I am within the 45 days they would have to enter it in the computer as a cancellation and then do a rebooking but because the promo ended June 25th, the computer would accept the booking but not with the free dining so therefore we would lose the dining. They did tell me that I could add days on without penalty. It wouldn't hurt to call and ask though because different people tend to have different info!

 

[LadyOmega]

All you can do is call and ask really.
But if you do get a no, make SURE that the CM calls guest services and talks to them about it before they give you a final no. I am not sure about switching to moderates, but I was able to switch from ASMovies to Pop Century yesterday, even though there were no free dining rooms left there, although that may have had something to do with the pool refurbishment being planned at ASMo. I don't know if that's true, but someone in another thread mentioned that Disney was honoring requests to change resorts because of the pool refurbishments, so might want to drop that into conversation as one of your reasons for wanting to change when you call.
Hope you are able to get things worked out!!

EDIT: And of course the 45 day thing wasn't a factor for us. If you are within the 45 day mark, then there is probably nothing you can do, but it still doesn't hurt to call.

 

[TeresaMc]

I switched from ASSp to WL and changed our travel party and dates but could not switch to any moderate as there were none available for Labor Day weekend. So basically I kept almost nothing the same but my name and DS name on the reservation and still kept the free dining. Of course I did spend an additional $1000.

 

[gigi1313]

Hi, all --

We're staying at the ASMo as ususal this September on the dining plan, but I'm thinking about switching to a moderate just for a different experience and to surprise DH. Are we able to switch resorts if one is available, and would we lose the DDP? I'd call, but I don't have my Disney Rewards Card with me to go ahead and upgrade. I'd hate to screw anything up before we even get there...

TIA!

given that you are booked at ASMo and it's after the work on the main pool is to commence (total refurb on the ASMo main pool from sept 11 to dec 11) you may be able to change your resort and keep your free dining even though the promo date has passed...

i switched my sept ressie from movies to music on saturday because of the pool refurb and have read that they will honor requests to move if there is availability (not "free dining availability" but overall resort availability) to anyone that calls and claims that they will be effected by the pool refurb...

my recommendation is to call and ask for Guest Services, not a regular CRO rep and even at the GS level, ask for a supervisor... explain that one of the reasons you selected movies was because of the pool and now that you've read that it will be closed while you are there, you'd like to switch to another resort, keeping the rest of your package totally in tact... it certainly cannot hurt!

good luck and wherever you stay, i hope it is magical!

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

OK, I called, and we were able to switch to POR for a difference of $338.70. I'm glad you guys told me about the pool refurb...I didn't know that was going on, but it was the kicker for me and total justification for switching! Now if I can just keep it a secret from DH...

 

[gigi1313]

glad it all worked out

 

[KimberlyC]

OK, I called, and we were able to switch to POR for a difference of $338.70. I'm glad you guys told me about the pool refurb...I didn't know that was going on, but it was the kicker for me and total justification for switching! Now if I can just keep it a secret from DH...

That's great news. Good for you for being persistent. It will be a great surprise AND you won't have to deal with the pool refurb issue. How lucky for you that its happening and serves as a great reason to be permitted to switch.

If you can, please post a trip report. We are staying at a mod (CSR) for the first time in September during free dining. I've not tried the mods but I want to go more often and the deluxes get pricey. I'd love to hear how you enjoy POR.

 

[nursemelis374]

I just switched from POFQ to WL for the third week in September last week. My TA had to call Guest Services, but we wer able to get it.

Glad you got to switch too!

 

[kaysmommie]

OK, I called, and we were able to switch to POR for a difference of $338.70. I'm glad you guys told me about the pool refurb...I didn't know that was going on, but it was the kicker for me and total justification for switching! Now if I can just keep it a secret from DH...

Oyur still within the 45 days right? I thoughtabout switching to GF a few times it will only be $300 more. But we are 31 days out now.

 

[torinsmom]

Well, I don't know about switching resorts when your trip is less than 45 days away, but I was allowed to add a day with free dining. What I was told is that there would be a charge if your change lowered the price of your package, but not charge if your change increased the price. I would call and check. Its in their benefit to move you to a more expensive resort.

Marsha

 

[dandave]

I called yesterday to switch our first weekend in September ressie to Sept 29- Oct 3.
I was unable to keep Pop century for those dates, so they switched me to AS Music. They were going to charge me the $50 change fee, and I was getting a $60 refund for switching to a cheaper Season. I told them that I was "very disappointed that they could not waive that change fee, as often as I go to WDW". Long story short... They waived the change fee and I'm getting a $60 credit. I certainly did not expect the credit, but I'm happy as a clam.
If you do change your dates, be aware that dining reservations are scarce. I had an absolutely awful time trying to make any Dining reservations. I am stuck with the 9:30 Hoop De Doo for now, and I couldn't rebook my Le Cellier reservation at all during my stay. I did get the Garden Grill and Kona Cafe, so that's OK. I am hoping that there will be some cancellations for earlier Hoop De Doos as the 45 day mark approaches.

 

[dandave]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I need to correct some misinformation on my part.
I was told I was getting a refund because I was "changing Seasons". In my excitement, it didn't click for me that I had been and still am booked during Value Season. What they did was kick me out of my Preferred room and put me in a Standard room, I now see when I look at my reservation online. And I specifically asked if I was still in a Preferred room, too!
I just wanted to clear that up in case anyone else mysteriously "changes seasons".

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I was able to push back my trip by two weeks on the day that out final payment was due...so like 45 days out...and i was able to keep the free DDP. I was super excited, b/c otherwise i would have had to cancel altogether.

 

[deany]

You will absolutely love POR. And the pool area is wonderful!! Maybe we will see you there in Sept!!