Ready to book - how do I do the dining plan if I'm hoping for free dining

[itutorfortravel]

You guys are AWESOME! Thank you so much for all the help with understanding the DDP and DxDDP!

I am ready to book our vacation & have just a couple questions.

First off, I think we will do the DxDDP. We plan to eat at Le Cellier, California Grill, Narcoosee (msp), and one of the Italian restaurants in Epcot. All but one of those use 2 credits and those are rather pricey dinners (like $150 for both of us) so I think the DxDDP is going to work well for us. After all, it is a FOOD and wine festival!

I am really hoping for free dining, so are those offers usually limited to 5 night packages? We were thinking on only going 4 nights but I'm afraid if I only book 4 and then free dining comes out for a 5 night pkg that I might not be able to add on an extra day at that time based on capacity.

Should I add the DDP or DxDDP to my package now or neither, just wait until I see if free dining becomes available?

Is it okay that I have made ADR's on my own and not attached to a reservation? I wanted to get those early but I want to use my credits for those meals after our reservations are in place.

And I guess the final question is if I should even book now or wait to see if free dining comes out? In other words, can an existing package be adjusted to include free dining if that promo comes out after I've booked it? I know there are rules surrounding "new reservations only" on DCL but since this is our first WDW resort stay I'm not up on those rules.

THANK YOU AGAIN!

 

[figment_jii]

Historically, when a new offer roles out, you cannot apply it to an existing reservation. You will need to call and make a new reservation that meets the package guidelines. If you have an existing package you can cancel it at the same time as you make a new one, but you cannot use the one you already have. So even if you already have a package, you need to call as soon as you hear the package is being offered because they is usually only a limited number of rooms set aside for the offer.

If the package requires a 5 night stay, then you must book a 5-night stay (there is also usually a minimum ticket purchase required).

The biggest reason to make a booking early is so you can use the 180+10 day ADR feature. It means that on the 180 day mark from your check-in day you can start making ADRs for the first 10-days of your trip. Otherwise, I don't think making a package reservation before the deal is offered will make it any easier for you to get the deal.

 

[KELLY]

Historically, when a new offer roles out, you cannot apply it to an existing reservation. You will need to call and make a new reservation that meets the package guidelines. If you have an existing package you can cancel it at the same time as you make a new one, but you cannot use the one you already have. So even if you already have a package, you need to call as soon as you hear the package is being offered because they is usually only a limited number of rooms set aside for the offer.

If the package requires a 5 night stay, then you must book a 5-night stay (there is also usually a minimum ticket purchase required).

The biggest reason to make a booking early is so you can use the 180+10 day ADR feature. It means that on the 180 day mark from your check-in day you can start making ADRs for the first 10-days of your trip. Otherwise, I don't think making a package reservation before the deal is offered will make it any easier for you to get the deal.

Um this don't make sense. I had the kids free promo swithed it to the free dining at a diffrent resort and didn't have to cancle anything. It is called a modification. It has been this way as long as I remeber. IF you have a room only reservation then yes you need to cancle and re book.

My new package is completly diffrent from the first package and I still have the same reservation number.

 

[vicki_c]

OP - I didn't see your other posts that I guess you made by what you said here (and too lazy to look), but did anyone suggest that DxDDP and all those ADRs may be overkill during Food & Wine?

It depends on how long your trip is, and how much you will be in Epcot of course - but we are taking are 2nd F&W short trip this fall and we aren't booking any table service reservations. We had a few on a prior trip and we regretted them - we would have preferred to just keep eating our way around the F&W booths.

So just a thought.

 

[figment_jii]

If you have an existing package reservation and they come out with a new offer, you can call to see if you can have the new offer applied, but just because you already have the package it does not mean that you will automatically get the new offer. I had a 10-night package at the BC last year, but when free dining was offered, by the time I called they did not have any rooms left at the BC for the deal.

What I meant was, if you do call and modify your reservation, they will override (what I meant as cancelled) you previous reservation. So if you had the BC, but only BW is available, you can make the reservation for BW and that will override your BC reservation with the new terms.

 

[mickeynut1]

If you are going to get the dining plan regardless of whether or not it's free, I'd book with the DlxDDP now and call later to modify your ressie should free dining come out . Depending on the resort you choose, you will have to pay the difference between whatever plan is free for that resort category and the deluxe plan. Keep in mind that if free dining does come out for your dates, there is a chance your resort/room type may not be available under that new promo.....you may have to be flexible with your resort choice or room type in order to get the discount . But even if that's the case, the CM will just modify your current ressie and you will keep the same confirmation number as you will not have to cancel/rebook . However, if you book room only now and later want to change to a package with dining (free or pay for it), the room only will have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit as money paid cannot be transferred between room only ressies and package ressies.

 

[fairytalelover]

I'm confused. What's the free dining?? We can get free dining? How?

 

[vicki_c]

There is a free dining offer out right now for particular dates in late summer (Aug/Sept). Check the Disney site under Special Offers. There's probably a sticky thread in this board about it as well, or on the main Dining board.