The Official Free Dining Watch 2007 Thread

[lovesdumbo]

Another question...I still have one day base tickets from last year. I had a season pass last year and didn't need to use them. Now I'm buying ANOTHER base ticket (1 day) for everyone in my family of 5. Is it possible that I could use BOTH 1 day base tickets to upgrade to a season pass? It sure would be nice to get 130-140 dollars off each pass. All of this and free dining...Am I asking too much? lol.

I wish we could apply more than 1 pass. I too still have a pass from last Aug that I plan to use to renew my AP next month then come Aug I'll have more base tickets to use some other time.

Ok, I have been watching this thread for a while and have some questions:

First, I keep hearing about people only buying 1 day passes with their package. Are they just going to the World 1 day? Or are they buying the rest of the passes somewhere else to save a little $$? Confused.

Next, since there probablly won't be other discounts at the time, is it better to book with a TA or directly with Disney? Is there a difference? Does it really matter?

I'm buying 1 day base tickets to be able to get DDP. I already have an AP as does my DS. When we arrive we will upgrade passes for my 2 DD's and DH. I think some folks buy the 1 day base so they don't have to pay the full amount of their tickets until they check in. With a package you need to pay in full 45 days out.

I generally like to book myself through Disney. If you book with a TA you cannont call and talk to Disney about your reservation-everything has to go through your TA. I'm sure lots of folks like having a TA take care of everything.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Hi All,

My parents just booked a trip and are staying at the WL Sept 18th and on. Has the code come out yet? Will it be for their travel dates?

 

[mdhkitten]

Has anyone seen the following? It's the first post by the administrator of another Disney site, and "supposedly" this has come off of the WDW site. You may have to register to view (I did). By the way, I have no clue if this is legite or not since there isn't a link to it, therefore I would only take it with a grain of salt. You may want to contact this person to see if they'll tell you how to get to it:

http://www.mousebuzz.com/forum/front-page-news/35649-wdw-free-dining-released-april-12-2007-a.html

 

[ShhhQ]

I don't understand how they can offer free dining and only have it limited to so many rooms at each resort. So from reading these boards everyone who has already made a reservation will get the free dining and the people calling to make new reservations may be squeezed out. I never used the free dining since I have not gone to the World during this time. We are planning a trip for the end of September and hoping for the free dining. I just checked my Disney Visa account and it says that there are currently no offers but nothing else on the page. The other day I had different options to look at. I wonder if they are getting ready to announce something. After reading this board and some of the others (that I will not mention) you wonder what the truth is.......Free dining or not.......who will be the first to know or post? I made my reservations but need to make the deposit. I keep holding out until I hear something. But my TA from dreams unlimited said she would apply free dining to my reservation if it comes out. Can she do that after I have paid the deposit on my existing reservation? Maybe I am not making sense but its early and I had a late night....

I already made my reservation at the beginning of March with Dreams Unlimited... after hearing about this rumor I asked my TA and she said the same thing about applying it to my reservation if it comes out, and my deposit was already paid.. hope this helps.

 

[Henneman's]

Are u sure this isn't like the longest day ever!!! and then we still have to wait until apirl 12th!!!!

 

[jcemom]

Let's say 100 people have booked WL. Free dining is released for 50 rooms at WL. The first 50 people to call in will get it. Those with existing reservations have no advantage over those without reservations. They (or their TAs) still need to call. If I'm holding a reservation, Susie has a reservation through a TA, and Jim has no reservation at all... Jim calls at 8:00 am on the morning the package is released and nabs one of those 50 available rooms, Susie's TA calls at 9:00 am and has free dining applied to her reservation, I don't get around to calling until the next day and by then all 50 rooms alotted for free dining have been spoken for. Now, I'm already holding a reservation at WL, but I'm paying full price because I didn't call soon enough. Make sense? Already having a reservation does not provide an advantage because they're not automatically converted to free dining -- reservation holders must call just the same as those without. He who calls first dines for free.

Now, there has been some discussion over whether or not those booking reservations at rack rate in anticipation of free dining do or do not reduce the number of rooms offered. I don't think we know for certain. For example, let's say WL has 600 rooms total. 300 people book at rack rate hoping for free dining, and aren't going if they don't get it. Another 200 people book at rack rate because they're going regardless. Now WL has 500 of its 600 rooms filled, they don't need to discount very many rooms because they're booked without a discount. So, they offer 25 rooms up for free dining. If only the 200 who were going regardless booked, and the other 300 held off, now they've only got 200 out of 600 rooms booked. So, they offer 200 rooms up for free dining. It seems that more rooms would be offered with the discount in this instance. But who knows for sure?!

 

[kimberh]

Let's say 100 people have booked WL. Free dining is released for 50 rooms at WL. The first 50 people to call in will get it. Those with existing reservations have no advantage over those without reservations. They (or their TAs) still need to call. If I'm holding a reservation, Susie has a reservation through a TA, and Jim has no reservation at all... Jim calls at 8:00 am on the morning the package is released and nabs one of those 50 available rooms, Susie's TA calls at 9:00 am and has free dining applied to her reservation, I don't get around to calling until the next day and by then all 50 rooms alotted for free dining have been spoken for. Now, I'm already holding a reservation at WL, but I'm paying full price because I didn't call soon enough. Make sense? Already having a reservation does not provide an advantage because they're not automatically converted to free dining -- reservation holders must call just the same as those without. He who calls first dines for free.

Now, there has been some discussion over whether or not those booking reservations at rack rate in anticipation of free dining do or do not reduce the number of rooms offered. I don't think we know for certain. For example, let's say WL has 600 rooms total. 300 people book at rack rate hoping for free dining, and aren't going if they don't get it. Another 200 people book at rack rate because they're going regardless. Now WL has 500 of its 600 rooms filled, they don't need to discount very many rooms because they're booked without a discount. So, they offer 25 rooms up for free dining. If only the 200 who were going regardless booked, and the other 300 held off, now they've only got 200 out of 600 rooms booked. So, they offer 200 rooms up for free dining. It seems that more rooms would be offered with the discount in this instance. But who knows for sure?!

This is why, I think prebooking hurts the chance of us getting "free dining" at the property that we want. If, I were Corporate Disney, I would look at the almost filled rack rate hotel and wonder, why I would offer the discounted package? It only makes sense to me, to wait, then book, unless you are going regardless. I know last year, I had to try at a couple of properties to get the package, I waited until it was announced, then what I wanted was filled. I have the Disney Visa and missed the early booking for that last year, am still waiting this year.

 

[jcemom]

It only makes sense to me, to wait, then book, unless you are going regardless.

I agree.

 

[gigi1313]

I'm buying 1 day base tickets to be able to get DDP. I already have an AP as does my DS. When we arrive we will upgrade passes for my 2 DD's and DH. I think some folks buy the 1 day base so they don't have to pay the full amount of their tickets until they check in. With a package you need to pay in full 45 days out.

my $.02 on the subject... if you have enough adult 1 day base tix, maybe your dh could use them all (a diff't one each day) and not buy him a ticket at all... and only buy tix for your DDs?

 

[MickeyT]

I agree.

I think the majority of us do also!

 

[ShhhQ]

This is why, I think prebooking hurts the chance of us getting "free dining" at the property that we want. If, I were Corporate Disney, I would look at the almost filled rack rate hotel and wonder, why I would offer the discounted package? It only makes sense to me, to wait, then book, unless you are going regardless. I know last year, I had to try at a couple of properties to get the package, I waited until it was announced, then what I wanted was filled. I have the Disney Visa and missed the early booking for that last year, am still waiting this year.

The only reason I am already booked is because I didn't know there would be a possibility of free dining. If I knew then what I know now I would have waited. The very fact that we may not have to save up as much money as before will make our trip that much more likely!

 

[Frosty&PixieRN3903]

I hate checking these board 2-3-4 times a day but it is like a freakin drug We definitely are wanting to go in Sept. but I dare to book thinking it may jinx myself and everyone else I have an idea ...let's all cancel our reservations and Disney will have absolutely no ressies during say a 1-3 month span and then Disney will invite us all to stay for FREE. Wherever we want, whenever we want and all the Free Dining we can handle...5-6 meals a day! And just for rebooking they will throw in a FREE 7-10 night Disney Cruise for you and your family and everyone else you can possibly drag along!
OK...wishful thinking. I got a little carried away there. Oh well, guess I'll go for now, but I'll be back in a few hours to check again

 

[d23cndrela]

Is there Free Dining rehab? Hi my name is Danielle and i'm a free dining-message checking-aholic.

 

[Jewels*CPA]

d23cndrela ~ I totally agree with you...my husband and I are planning our first trip w/ our two year old son, and I am so addicted to checking for any news on free dining!! It would really help us out a lot...

My husband says I have a problem checking it too often...I tell him 1/2 of the fun of a vacation is the anticipation for it!!! haha

Anyways, if free dining is offered, I would like to have my restaurants picked out so I can make ADR's...we are thinking chef mickeys on arrival night, and definetely hollywood & vine because my two year old LOVES Little Einsteins...does anybody else have any good suggestions on a table service meal w/ a two year old boy? I would like to do a lot of character meals, because I think he would enjoy this. And what about Coral Reef, it sounds like something he might like...any help would be appreciated!!

 

[d23cndrela]

Why don't you try the Garden Grill in Epcot. Chip & Dale, Mickey and Minnie are there. They have great food for you and your son! For counter service you have to check out Cosmic Ray's !!!!

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

Just waiting on free dining. Thought if I was logged in on this site I would get email when something is posted. Fingers are crossed.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

It's here...It's here...I got it! Free dining. I just booked 10 minutes ago with a CM who was great. She said she was just told an hour ago that packages for late August through September are a go. I just saved $400.00 off my trip not for having free dining. '

[MOD EDIT - APRIL FOOL'S JOKE... ]

 

[Ziggy]

It's here...It's here...I got it! Free dining. I just booked 10 minutes ago with a CM who was great. She said she was just told an hour ago that packages for late August through September are a go. I just saved $400.00 off my trip not for having free dining.

 

[HLAuburn]

It's here...It's here...I got it! Free dining. I just booked 10 minutes ago with a CM who was great. She said she was just told an hour ago that packages for late August through September are a go. I just saved $400.00 off my trip not for having free dining.

Can you share the code???

 

[Kitty-chan]

It's here...It's here...I got it! Free dining. I just booked 10 minutes ago with a CM who was great. She said she was just told an hour ago that packages for late August through September are a go. I just saved $400.00 off my trip not for having free dining.

Um, is this April Fools or for real?