Question about booking Free Dining

[GinnyFavers]

I know it's not out for 2008 yet, but back last year, can anyone remember what the rules were?

If they say Free Dining is running, say Sept 1 - 30, does that mean you can get Free Dining for your whole stay if you check in on Sept. 30?

 

[TDC Nala]

this question has been asked a bazillion times on this board and no one is going to be able to answer it until the offer is actually made and bookings begin. Last year, you had only to check in on the final date of the promotion to extend the promotion to the entire stay. There are reports that the booking system changed last December and promotions cannot be booked past their expiration date, but obviously no one has been able to test that hypothesis for the public free dining.

 

[GinnyFavers]

OK sorry, just wanted to know what happened last year. Just curious.

 

[TDC Nala]

The bouncebackers in September were apparently able to book the promotion for a full trip if they checked in within the promotion dates, BUT it seems to be that the later bouncebackers (not the free dining offer, but the room discounts) were told they were subject to day by day booking and could not apply the promotion past its expiration date. Sometime last year the booking changed in order to price stays by the day, now that weekend days are more expensive, there is a premium charge for the actual dates of holidays and a few days surrounding them, etc.

Even if that's so, some think it's possible that Disney will allow anyone booking free dining to extend past the promotion dates, since the bouncebackers were able to do it. But there's no telling what will happen this year until people actually start trying to book the package with the promotion.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

OK sorry, just wanted to know what happened last year. Just curious.

In the past, yes you could book past the dates. As of January 1, 2008 (per a CM I talked to) all promos must be booked within the dates offered. ie, no more booking on the last date and receiving a promo offer for your entire stay. I don't know why Free Dining would differ from any other offer or code this year. Just my opinion, I guess we will see.

 

[HopperFan]

The bouncebackers in September were apparently able to book the promotion for a full trip if they checked in within the promotion dates, BUT it seems to be that the later bouncebackers (not the free dining offer, but the room discounts) were told they were subject to day by day booking and could not apply the promotion past its expiration date. Sometime last year the booking changed in order to price stays by the day, now that weekend days are more expensive, there is a premium charge for the actual dates of holidays and a few days surrounding them, etc.

Even if that's so, some think it's possible that Disney will allow anyone booking free dining to extend past the promotion dates, since the bouncebackers were able to do it. But there's no telling what will happen this year until people actually start trying to book the package with the promotion.

When I booked Bounceback I was checking out day after offer. She said they were not allowing you to carry it past the date and let's see whether they would allow it. I had the last night of the timeframe but with checkout day after. It went through........but she said that they were told you could not carry it over past the dates anymore ??? Since I wasn't trying to I don't know what would have happened....but they were being told something then about stopping the practice.