Question about free dining

[Aliceacc]

My sister, the rat, thinks she can actually swing a trip to Disney this year. She's hoping they'll offer free dining again, and in this economy, I tend to agree.

Last year, I didn't pay too much attention to the details, since I knew we needed to get back before the promotion started-- we're both teachers and we needed to be back a week before Labor Day.

Anyway, let's assume, for the sake of argument, that they'll offer pretty much what they've offered at more or less the same time period.

Should she book rooms now? If and when they do offer free dining, she would have to cancel and book again, right? Would there be any benefit then to already having the reservations?

She's thinking of booking through AAA to get at least their discount, just in case free dining doesn't come through. In that event, couldn't she ask her agent to change the reservations, giving him a list of her resort preferences?


I realize that we can't predict Disney's actions. But, based on your past experiences, what should she do?

 

[BabyRN]

I asked almost the same questions awhile back. People here advised me to book the room at least so that way I would at least be guaranteed the room. Then if free dining is offered, call to see if it can be applied to the reservation. They only allow a certain number of rooms per resort, and with Visa holders getting the free dining first, you take a chance at having the rooms sell out before it's offered to the general public a few days later. The value resorts will probably sell out first, so if she can go for a mod she might be better off. I have a 40% pin for the same timeframe, so I'm going to book that for now and if free dining comes out after, I will ask for that promo instead if I can. It would be a much higher savings for my family of 5!

 

[Sandisw]

They can change the package for you if a new deal comes out. A few years back, that is what happened to me and my agent called and got the deal for me.

 

[Aliceacc]

I I have a 40% pin for the same timeframe, so I'm going to book that for now and if free dining comes out after, I will ask for that promo instead if I can. It would be a much higher savings for my family of 5!

Thanks for the info, and congrats on the PIN.

Last year, we had booked the Contemporary for our family of 5, along with the dining plan.

I wasn't too unhappy that we missed free dining once I did the math-- for us it worked out to be a difference of like $37.

But I'll pass the info on to my sister!