So are the rest of us totally out of luck?!

[bicker]

It is actually pretty standard practice. Last week, I was shopping for a hotel (somewhere other than WDW) for an upcoming vacation, and clicked on promotion after promotion, only to find that the specific week I was looking for (January 29 - February 5, 2011) was blacked-out, at a number of places (but not others). In some cases, I was able to get the promotion if I moved a week or two earlier or later. There is no rhyme or reason to it except as a reflection of the load-levels, both already-booked and projected, at that particular venue.

 

[Trep72]

If you're checking in on the 7th, which is still within the promo dates, I thought you're supposed to get FD for the entire trip? I read that somewhere on here and my TA advised me of it as well.

I dont know but i am in the same boat as u because i arrive the 7th of dec they will not give me the discount even tho i am staying for a week. hoping some other discount comes out because i am beyond frustrated!! I feel your pain!

 

[summerlady]

If you're checking in on the 7th, which is still within the promo dates, I thought you're supposed to get FD for the entire trip? I read that somewhere on here and my TA advised me of it as well.

December 7 is blacked out, these are the dates available:
8/15-10/7/10, 10/22-10/28/10, 11/12-11/18/10, 11/27-12/2/10, and 12/10-12/21/10

 

[meagansmomtoo]

The 7th is blacked out but the 10th isn't. It is my understanding that if you are staying just one of the nights you are still eligible. I may be wrong but that is my understanding. Is the 9th your last night? If I am right can you add another day or rearrange your trip to stay on the night of the 10th?

Let me know if I am wrong, because I was counting on this to be true.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

I was told by a CS person that your "check-in date" had to be within the free dining period. This whole thing is leaving a somewhat bad taste in my mouth with all of the black out dates, and then reading on these boards that some have been told they are getting PINs that go into effect next week that will give free dining even during the black out periods.

 

[summerlady]

The 7th is blacked out but the 10th isn't. It is my understanding that if you are staying just one of the nights you are still eligible. I may be wrong but that is my understanding. Is the 9th your last night? If I am right can you add another day or rearrange your trip to stay on the night of the 10th?

Let me know if I am wrong, because I was counting on this to be true.

Your arrival has to be on one of the non-blacked out dates in order to qualify for free dining. For example, our arrival in November is the 14th, which is a non-blacked out date, so we qualify for FD even though our trip carries over into blacked-out dates.

 

[mom2rtk]

You CAN add free dining if you check in during the black out time and hit some eligible days.

HOWEVER........ You would have to have a split stay, with a completely separate reservation starting on an eligible day. Keep in mind you have to buy tickets with the package. So, this really just tends to work if you are checking in a day or two after the promotion begins. Otherwise you could end up buying 2 sets of tickets completely negating any savings you made.

Thankfully they now make provision for picking up tickets for a package 2 or 3 days early, so do check on that if you're just a few days off.

They will NOT promise you that you won't have to check out and check back into a different room, but they will try hard to arrange it so you don't have to.

We did this in 08 when we had already booked airfare THEN they surprised me by adding FD to Disney Visa holders the day AFTER we were ticketed to arrive. We did a room only reservation the first night, then a package starting the next day. We thankfully did not have to change rooms, and they were able to tell us that at the first check-in.

 

[Trep72]

I completely missed the "of Dec" part of the post I asked about. I was thinking 7th of October.

Thanks for your reply. It made me realize my mistake.

December 7 is blacked out, these are the dates available:
8/15-10/7/10, 10/22-10/28/10, 11/12-11/18/10, 11/27-12/2/10, and 12/10-12/21/10

 

[WantToGoNow]

My older dd was taking my younger dd to WDW on her actual 7th birthday on 12/9 - I saw the code this am and called my dd at church to tell her. She called from there and either had to have a split reservation of 12/9 and 12/10-12/17 or change her dates - which she did to 12/10-12/18. But she still wasn't able to stay at her resort - they were at POP and she was going to ugrade the dining but there were no promotions left. So now they are at CBR with free basic dining and had to pay less than $200 more. She is quite pleased because CBR is her favorite resort - was the first one she went to back when she was 10. They were going to Chef Mickey's for her birthday on 12/9 - I jumped online and booked Chef Mickey's for their final evening - now she will be eating with Cinderella at the Castle on arrival night.

 

[nooneshome]

and then reading on these boards that some have been told they are getting PINs that go into effect next week that will give free dining even during the black out periods.

I haven't seen anything about this pin. What are the dates???

 

[Trep72]

I was told that my PIN is for the period 10/3 - 11/23, and does cover the blackout dates.

December 7 is blacked out, these are the dates available:
8/15-10/7/10, 10/22-10/28/10, 11/12-11/18/10, 11/27-12/2/10, and 12/10-12/21/10

I haven't seen anything about this pin. What are the dates???

 

[bribri330]

The 7th is blacked out but the 10th isn't. It is my understanding that if you are staying just one of the nights you are still eligible. I may be wrong but that is my understanding. Is the 9th your last night? If I am right can you add another day or rearrange your trip to stay on the night of the 10th?

Let me know if I am wrong, because I was counting on this to be true.

sorry but it is not true. your check in date has to be within the dates and mine is not. we will be going dec.7-dec.14. the FD dates start dec. 10. ugh

 

[bribri330]

I was told that my PIN is for the period 10/3 - 11/23, and does cover the blackout dates.

so whats coming tues doesnt cover dec dates?

 

[Trep72]

Based on what my TA told me, no.

so whats coming tues doesnt cover dec dates?

 

[bribri330]

Based on what my TA told me, no.

Ha figures...thats my luck...still hoping maybe something comes out for Dec!!!

 

[Trep72]

Correction. It was the CM that told me, not my TA.

Ha figures...thats my luck...still hoping maybe something comes out for Dec!!!

 

[chefmb]

When I talked to a CM about 2 weeks ago and was told that I have a PIN for fd, he said it would be valid for my dates of Dec. 7-12, but I couldn't use it until July 13. Now that FD has gone out to the public, I am very concerned that my first choice hotel will be booked and I still won't be able to use it. I'll be up at 7 tomorrow morning to try to book, and I'll let you know the outcome! Still keeping my fingers crossed. Also, I was playing around with the website some and online at Disney, they had availability at POP for Dec. 10-15 and 2-7 for the fd offer.

 

[bribri330]

When I talked to a CM about 2 weeks ago and was told that I have a PIN for fd, he said it would be valid for my dates of Dec. 7-12, but I couldn't use it until July 13. Now that FD has gone out to the public, I am very concerned that my first choice hotel will be booked and I still won't be able to use it. I'll be up at 7 tomorrow morning to try to book, and I'll let you know the outcome! Still keeping my fingers crossed. Also, I was playing around with the website some and online at Disney, they had availability at POP for Dec. 10-15 and 2-7 for the fd offer.

So curious to see what happens tomorrow, please do tell tomorrow as some think its a general public code/pin and some think its just an individual code/pin...tomorrow cant come soon enough!! This waiting may kill me!!

 

[MusiqChic99]

When I talked to a CM about 2 weeks ago and was told that I have a PIN for fd, he said it would be valid for my dates of Dec. 7-12, but I couldn't use it until July 13. Now that FD has gone out to the public, I am very concerned that my first choice hotel will be booked and I still won't be able to use it. I'll be up at 7 tomorrow morning to try to book, and I'll let you know the outcome! Still keeping my fingers crossed. Also, I was playing around with the website some and online at Disney, they had availability at POP for Dec. 10-15 and 2-7 for the fd offer.

This was my concern. Just because you might get a code, FD has been extended out to the public.

I'm hoping we are still good for getting the resort we want...or at least one we don't mind staying at!

Good luck to you!

 

[Museick]

Just wanted to say that I have been told by a few different CM's that my early December dates that were part of the blackout dates will be covered with the July 13th pin that is attached to a family members name who will be traveling with us.

We will see tomorrow for sure! You can book up to three rooms with that pin code.

Good luck!!!