Question concerning free dining.

[BabyPiglet]

I've heard that they're not going let you book for the last day of the free dining and get it the whole trip. Of course, this is all if they offer it at all.

I know for certain that they've let people book it for the last day and get free dining the entire trip (we did last year, 15 nights from the last day.)

SO can anyone tell me 100% this is true and provide me with proof (article or something.)

Thanks!

 

[RMulieri]

Nothing is etched in stone yet.Last year there were people who arrived a few days before free dining ended and were able to keep free dining throughout their stay.There were also many,many people who were told no you can't extend it.I do know that disney Wanted to avoid letting people keep free dining during the food and wine festival, but what exactly is going to happen has not been determined.I know this is not a 100% assurance for you,but I don't think disney knows exactly what they are doing yet

 

[RMulieri]

Ok, I was on the phone with Disney while I typed my last message..The cm I spoke to said because of Disney's new policy,in order to be eligible for any codes,discounts or promotions, your entire trip must fall within the dates of said code ,discount or promotion.Bounceback guests from last year have a little leeway....so apparently this is the official line now..whether or not they stick to it is another story.

 

[BabyPiglet]

Thank you, I'm a bit nervous now. My trip is September 20th - October 4th and I'd like to get free dining.

Oh well, we'll see what happens.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I don't know if this means anything but I just tried to book a trip in May with the new spring discount. I tried on the very last day to two weeks out, and I got the full discount.

Not sure what that means concerning other discounts.

 

[pinkerbell]

It has been a roll of the dice as to who can and can't book beyond the last day of the special for sure! I am one of the FEW,who did bouceback past the last day. I would split the reservation if you can't.. if it is offered, you can hopefully get a least a week in Sept 20 - 27, the 27th I think is when it ended when I booked in Sept on the bouncedback.. and then the rest on a seperate reservation..
good luck!

 

[BabyPiglet]

Yeah it looks like we have no choice but to wait and get the official word in April.

We'll probably just move up the dates if they won't allow past the 27th. No big deal really, it's just awful waiting and having no clue!

 

[Brer Shay]

According to my TA, there was a policy change effective 1/1/08 that says, basically, the day the "special" ends is the day it ends. For instance, we booked using the 40% off room rates PIN we received to book our September trip. Our dates crossed on both sides of the special (before and after 9/27). We get the discount for the nights through 9/27, but after that we are paying full rates.

I asked if that would apply to free dining if they offered it later this year and she confirmed it would. I questioned it specifically because we had received it on a prior trip even though we arrived the last day of free dining, we got the benefit for our whole trip. Policy change 1/1/08.

Just to be sure, I called Disney direct and got the same information (two times, actually, I called again to see if I'd get a different answer.)

 

[SkcMom]

I have a bounceback offer booked for Sept 27th-Oct 4th. My reservation says free dining at the top of it with my price that I am sure includes free dining for my whole trip.

 

[BabyPiglet]

According to my TA, there was a policy change effective 1/1/08 that says, basically, the day the "special" ends is the day it ends. For instance, we booked using the 40% off room rates PIN we received to book our September trip. Our dates crossed on both sides of the special (before and after 9/27). We get the discount for the nights through 9/27, but after that we are paying full rates.

I asked if that would apply to free dining if they offered it later this year and she confirmed it would. I questioned it specifically because we had received it on a prior trip even though we arrived the last day of free dining, we got the benefit for our whole trip. Policy change 1/1/08.

Just to be sure, I called Disney direct and got the same information (two times, actually, I called again to see if I'd get a different answer.)

So what do you make of this then?

I don't know if this means anything but I just tried to book a trip in May with the new spring discount. I tried on the very last day to two weeks out, and I got the full discount.

Not sure what that means concerning other discounts.

(It was an above post.)

I know I got that discount the full trip, and it was booked on the last day out. Maybe they aren't really enforcing it?

 

[Brer Shay]

I guess it means if you have it offered to you, book it while you can! I know Disney will honor offers made if you put a deposit down, you can always cancel later if you change your mind.

 

[twoeeyy]

I have a bounceback offer booked for Sept 27th-Oct 4th. My reservation says free dining at the top of it with my price that I am sure includes free dining for my whole trip.

See you at POP we will be there Sept 27 thru Oct 5 and also got free dining with bounceback for the whole trip

 

[SkcMom]

See you at POP we will be there Sept 27 thru Oct 5 and also got free dining with bounceback for the whole trip

Cool! Can't wait! We plan on decorating our window DIS style so look for us!!

 

[BabyPiglet]

Great. We always decorate our window and have a lime green poster for all the DISers to sign. It was so much fun.

Hope to see you there.

 

[Tricia1972]

Hopefully they can extend the free dining for you. One word of caution though is that Bounce Back usually has a longer window of availability than the general public free dining.

Last year Bounce Back was offered until September 29, but the general Free Dining dates ended September 22.

IF they keep the same window for the general public this year, you may be checking in on the last day of Free Dining for the general public.

 

[BabyPiglet]

Hopefully they can extend the free dining for you. One word of caution though is that Bounce Back usually has a longer window of availability than the general public free dining.

Last year Bounce Back was offered until September 29, but the general Free Dining dates ended September 22.

IF they keep the same window for the general public this year, you may be checking in on the last day of Free Dining for the general public.

That's okay, because if that's the case we'll just scoot our trip up. After talking about it, we have no real problem with that.

 

[Tricia1972]

That's okay, because if that's the case we'll just scoot our trip up. After talking about it, we have no real problem with that.

That's great! I just wanted to let you know in case it's different this year with the checking in period. Better to move things around this month instead of next month