Switched my dates in September-good idea or not???

[ShellyLynn3630]

I already had a package reserved at All Star Sports in September, the 20th-28th but I went and changed the dates to the 13th-21st in hopes of being able to get free dining. I wasn't too sure whether or not the free dining (if offered of course) would last past the 22nd or 23rd. And the cm I talked to said that I would only be able to get it until the end of the promotion, on whatever day that might be. So does anyone out there think that I did the right thing or not. Oh, and I went ahead and made my ADRS and got the very last table at Chef Mickeys on the 19th! I wasn't expecting that there would be only ONE table left here when I called!!!

 

[wilde_oscar]

um, you do realize that the free DDP package is not an bolt on to an existing reservation right... that if they do offer free DDP that you have to rebook from scratch right. you realize that free DDP is an incentive to get heads into beds during the "slow" season, and by booking a room in anticipation of free DDP you are throwing off the numbers that Disney to offer the incentive?

I know you think you are doing the right thing, and beating people to the jump by having a reservation booked... but on the first morning that you can call to book free DDP the people that call ahead of you are all going to get the deal, there is a limited number of rooms available with the offer, and if they jump in with that call ahead of you, and the room limit for the offer is meet, you won't get free DDP?

just something to think about.

 

[kmvand1]

um, you do realize that the free DDP package is not an bolt on to an existing reservation right... that if they do offer free DDP that you have to rebook from scratch right. you realize that free DDP is an incentive to get heads into beds during the "slow" season, and by booking a room in anticipation of free DDP you are throwing off the numbers that Disney to offer the incentive?

I know you think you are doing the right thing, and beating people to the jump by having a reservation booked... but on the first morning that you can call to book free DDP the people that call ahead of you are all going to get the deal, there is a limited number of rooms available with the offer, and if they jump in with that call ahead of you, and the room limit for the offer is meet, you won't get free DDP?

just something to think about.

Actually, you are wrong. Last year I made reservations in early March for two rooms, paid my deposit for both, then was able to call back and add the free dining with the code - just as I am doing this year, and have been told by the cast member who took the reservation, to do. So if you are sure you are going in the window of the dates from previous years, you should book now and then call back.

 

[missmun52]

um, you do realize that the free DDP package is not an bolt on to an existing reservation right... that if they do offer free DDP that you have to rebook from scratch right. you realize that free DDP is an incentive to get heads into beds during the "slow" season, and by booking a room in anticipation of free DDP you are throwing off the numbers that Disney to offer the incentive?

I know you think you are doing the right thing, and beating people to the jump by having a reservation booked... but on the first morning that you can call to book free DDP the people that call ahead of you are all going to get the deal, there is a limited number of rooms available with the offer, and if they jump in with that call ahead of you, and the room limit for the offer is meet, you won't get free DDP?

just something to think about.

Not everything you are saying is true. As long as you have a package then all you have to do is call with the code and they give you free dining. I have done this two years running and have had no problem.

If you have a room only that is another story, free dining or not, to change to a package, which the dining plan requires, you would have to rebook as they cant just switch from room to package and it takes no time to do this, you will probably get what you want if you call as soon as the lines open in the morning; there is no difference between doing this and making a new ressie.

So I say do whatever makes you happy just keep in mind that if free dining is not offered and you want to switch back to your original dates you may not get the room and reservations you want if you wait too long.

Also I think Disney takes into account, as they have for the past few years now, that some people book for free dining and will cancel if it is not offered.

 

[lmhall2000]

You did the wise thing! Enjoy
Tara

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

um, you do realize that the free DDP package is not an bolt on to an existing reservation right... that if they do offer free DDP that you have to rebook from scratch right. you realize that free DDP is an incentive to get heads into beds during the "slow" season, and by booking a room in anticipation of free DDP you are throwing off the numbers that Disney to offer the incentive?

I know you think you are doing the right thing, and beating people to the jump by having a reservation booked... but on the first morning that you can call to book free DDP the people that call ahead of you are all going to get the deal, there is a limited number of rooms available with the offer, and if they jump in with that call ahead of you, and the room limit for the offer is meet, you won't get free DDP?

just something to think about.

Well, I do believe that this may be somewhat true, but it really does'nt matter to me one way or the other if I have to get a new reservation. I just want to be able to get free dining for my entire trip. I REALLY wanted to go from the 20th-28th, but my gut feeling is that free dining just might end a little earlier than that! The main reason I opted to go ahead and booked, was to get my ADRs! And I got all of them, still thinking of changing one or two tonight hopefully. The only other rumor that I am concerned about is having to book a moderate or deluxe. If so, I will have to book a moderate, so be it. Has anyone else heard any recent info on this rumor?

 

[dclfun]

This year's bounceback promo had the last date as Sept. 28th. My niece booked for Sept 28-Oct 7th. Of course the dates of the GP free dining may not coincide as they didn't include all of the dates last year. Who knows? What interests me is being told that your entire trip must fall into the dates offered for the promo. In the past even though your room rate might go up if your dates fell within two "seasons", the promo applied if you started your vacation on the last date of the promo- this was the case with my niece's reservation. Again...who knows?---Kathy

 

[G&J's Mom]

This year's bounceback promo had the last date as Sept. 28th. My niece booked for Sept 28-Oct 7th. Of course the dates of the GP free dining may not coincide as they didn't include all of the dates last year. Who knows? What interests me is being told that your entire trip must fall into the dates offered for the promo. In the past even though your room rate might go up if your dates fell within two "seasons", the promo applied if you started your vacation on the last date of the promo- this was the case with my niece's reservation. Again...who knows?---Kathy

I am also currently booked with the bounceback free dining promo 9/27 - 10/4. There was no problem or question of the dates at all when booking. Now, the 40% discount was another story. When I called to check rates for the same period to compare. They said I could absolutely "not" book dates with the discount past the promo period. I guess we will see how the the gp free dining stacks up.

Denise

 

[G&J's Mom]

Actually, you are wrong. Last year I made reservations in early March for two rooms, paid my deposit for both, then was able to call back and add the free dining with the code - just as I am doing this year, and have been told by the cast member who took the reservation, to do. So if you are sure you are going in the window of the dates from previous years, you should book now and then call back.

Actually they are not completely wrong. It does depend on availability. In the past, some resorts and room categories were very limited or almost impossible to apply the code to. Some people with existing ressies were able to add the code, while others with existing ressies had to change their game plans and choose another resort. I remember WL being a pain to get. There are no guarantees that your resort will have code availability even with an existing ressie.

Good luck!

Denise

 

[nonzerosum]

G&J's mom: I'm curious how you were able to get a bounceback with free dining. I just got off the phone with Disney and the CM told me that if there wil be free dining this year, it won't be released until may or june--just wondering how you managed to get this. Lucky you!!

 

[G&J's Mom]

G&J's mom: I'm curious how you were able to get a bounceback with free dining. I just got off the phone with Disney and the CM told me that if there wil be free dining this year, it won't be released until may or june--just wondering how you managed to get this. Lucky you!!

The bounceback free dining promotion was offered when I was staying onsite in September 2007, at CBR in my case. There was a flier in my room. In order to get it, you had to book before checking out and it was for checkouts through October 12, 2007. After that date, I think the bounceback promotion was a 30% off room discount for awhile.

Denise

 

[wilde_oscar]

Actually, you are wrong. Last year I made reservations in early March for two rooms, paid my deposit for both, then was able to call back and add the free dining with the code - just as I am doing this year, and have been told by the cast member who took the reservation, to do. So if you are sure you are going in the window of the dates from previous years, you should book now and then call back.

Cool that it worked for you, that it seemed like it was just an add on... but they can and do copy and paste the info over, and a new confirmation number is generated. I'd guess you called early on the first day of the offer, when rooms were all still somewhat available, or that where you were staying perhaps had more rooms than other resorts available... but in reality, the more common experience was that folks had to adjust dates or adjust resorts when they pre booked in anticipation for DDP.

Just because it worked for a few, does not make my information wrong. The vast overwhelming majority of pre bookers ran into issues.

 

[christa112]

I also booked my vacation in 2005 and then they released the Free Dining Code and all I had to do was call and the reimbursed me the $500 back onto my Credit Card. When I book for this Sept, I asked the directly if they offer Free Dining this time around what would happen, she told me to call and they would adjust the price for me.

I can only gone what I have experienced and which is great, because I have not run into any snags.


Hopefully it is smooth sailing for Free Dining this year too.