The Official Free Dining Watch 2007 Thread

[mirthmaiden]

We added ddp on after we made our original ressies. The addition increased each rooms price by $880. The difference more than likely would be that we have 2 childrens rates for the dining plan.

Hmm... I still don't get it. Even with the 2 children vs. 2 adults on the DDP, the cost difference isn't enough to explain the gap. Plus, you have tickets included and I don't. That's about $1200 more I still have to pay after I've paid off my package, so my total price after tix is about $6000! Yours is $4400ish including tickets. We're both staying in preferred rooms at value resorts during value season, so there shouldn't be any difference there.



Sorry to hijack this thread temporarily. Just hoping somebody sees something I don't and maybe I've overpaid and the pennies from heaven will start raining down on me

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

I saw this as well this morning!!! I was hoping this was a good sign!!! At least i know other people noticed this as well!!!

Getting tingles down my spine.. I can feel the excitement.... I'll check first thing tomorrow morning...

 

[SPJammer]

Originally Posted by mirthmaiden
Our total price for 6 people, 2 preferred-location rooms at POP for 9 nights (Aug 3 - 11), with 1-day base tickets, and DDP is $4812.33. That is with AAA discount. If you add the AAA membership fee, it's $4872.33.

Our family of 7 (4 A & 3 children ages 1, 5, & 8) are going August 11-August 20, staying at ASMovies-preferred room. We are paying for DDP-10 day park passes (no hopper). The total for our 2 rooms with AAA discount was $4420.06. We thought that was a real good rate.

Hrmmm we are a family of 6 (two adults, 17, 15, 13, 12) and we were quoted a price of $5827.58 through AAA and this is for 10 nights (Aug 13 - 22) Standard at Pop (2 rooms) and inculdes Park Hopper with Water Park tics, DDP and insurance. We are looking into taking one of my sons friends who is 18 and was told it would be an additional $800 to bring him along which would bring the total to $6627.58. Amazing how three kids over 10, adding park hopper and water park plus an additional day could raise the price $2207.52 or am I missing something here?

 

[bartleby1]

Hmm... I still don't get it. Even with the 2 children vs. 2 adults on the DDP, the cost difference isn't enough to explain the gap. Plus, you have tickets included and I don't. That's about $1200 more I still have to pay after I've paid off my package, so my total price after tix is about $6000! Yours is $4400ish including tickets. We're both staying in preferred rooms at value resorts during value season, so there shouldn't be any difference there.





Sorry to hijack this thread temporarily. Just hoping somebody sees something I don't and maybe I've overpaid and the pennies from heaven will start raining down on me

I do believe you said your trip begins on Aug 3rd? If so, I think value season doesn't start until Aug 5th. Since your trip begins during "summer" season, you are being charged summer season rates for your entire trip.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Our total price for 6 people, 2 preferred-location rooms at POP for 9 nights (Aug 3 - 11), with 1-day base tickets, and DDP is $4812.33. That is with AAA discount. If you add the AAA membership fee, it's $4872.33. Not including we still have to upgrade our 1-day tickets to hoppers + water parks for 8 days when we arrive. And of course it doesn't include a few OOP meals, PnP tickets, travel costs to and from, and possibly CDS -if we win the lottery

That seems high.

I priced it out and can't figure out why yours is so high even if its priced at summer rate.

Summer season prefered room at Pop is $111. With a 15% AAA discount and 12.5% tax that would be $106.14/room/night or $1,911 for 2 rooms for 9 nights.

Dining plan at $38.99/person/night would be $2,105 for 6 people for 9 nights.

1 Day base tickets for 6 adults would be $428.

So that should total $4,444.

Value season would be $94 less 20% plus 12.5% tax or $1,523 for 2 rooms, 9 nights or a package total of $4,056.

Using summer season rack rate without discount I got $4,781.

When I priced out my package AAA was $5.75 higher than I anticipated but I can live with that. Don't know why yours is so high.


Do you have insurance? I chose to decline it. Do you have airfare? Anything else?

This is what my quote says:

Itinerary Details

Check in 08/20/2007 for 10 nights

2 Adults, 3 Children

Resort Name: Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
Special Rate Type AAA Magic Moments Rate
Room Type Standard View Room
Park Tickets: 1 Day Magic your Way Base Ticket
Package Type: Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining
Special Requests: Trundle Bed, Non-Smoking Room,

My AAA TA said the "AAA Magic Moments Rate" is the AAA discount on the room.

Good luck! How frustrating for you!

 

[jcemom]

I wonder if mirthmaiden did not actually get a AAA discounted room and the agent didn't say so. I called AAA for a quote before, specifically asked if they had any discounted rooms available for my dates, was told yes, and when my quote came back it was obvious to me that it was rack rate. The agent did not tell me that, but rather led me to believe that it was the AAA rate.

 

[space ranger 1]

I was so excited to be reading on another site and see some actual screen shots from the TA site. Just seeing a selection for September Magic Your Way Plus Dining as on option on there and that you can't book on it yet sure makes it seem like it might come true very very soon!! We are doing our first family vaction to WDW in Spetember and this is just so exciting. Good luck to all of us!!!!!!!!
Corby

 

[since71]

I've been reading the posts...and wondering if there will be free DDP this Sept. 2007 and according to a CM they had an advisory today to discuss this rumor....she said keep your eye on the WDW site the next few days. She went on to further say the rumor is not entirely true. There will be a special in September but with limitations. I don't know if she was pulling my leg or not...but she was very nice and I made my dining ressie's with her just in case!!!

 

[mirthmaiden]

That seems high.

I priced it out and can't figure out why yours is so high even if its priced at summer rate.

Summer season prefered room at Pop is $111. With a 15% AAA discount and 12.5% tax that would be $106.14/room/night or $1,911 for 2 rooms for 9 nights.

Dining plan at $38.99/person/night would be $2,105 for 6 people for 9 nights.

1 Day base tickets for 6 adults would be $428.

So that should total $4,444.

Value season would be $94 less 20% plus 12.5% tax or $1,523 for 2 rooms, 9 nights or a package total of $4,056.

Using summer season rack rate without discount I got $4,781.

When I priced out my package AAA was $5.75 higher than I anticipated but I can live with that. Don't know why yours is so high.


Do you have insurance? I chose to decline it. Do you have airfare? Anything else?

This is what my quote says:

Itinerary Details

Check in 08/20/2007 for 10 nights

2 Adults, 3 Children

Resort Name: Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
Special Rate Type AAA Magic Moments Rate
Room Type Standard View Room
Park Tickets: 1 Day Magic your Way Base Ticket
Package Type: Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining
Special Requests: Trundle Bed, Non-Smoking Room,

My AAA TA said the "AAA Magic Moments Rate" is the AAA discount on the room.

Good luck! How frustrating for you!

Wow... thanks SO much for crunching those numbers. Yes, I do have insurance. That is one thing I thought of since I posted. But it never occured to me that I might be paying summer rate for the whole thing. I switched to AAA after initially booking with Disney and I don't recall ever being told the nightly rate.

It's weird that my AAA invoice doesn't list anything the same way as yours. It says "9 nights Pop Century Preferred Room, 1 day base ticket, dining plan, insurance accepted." That's it. No nightly rate. No "Special Rate Type."

I just checked my invoice for when we added another day. For the second room (2 adults) the cost for an additional night is $194.20. Subtract the DDP ($39 x 2) and that leaves $116.20 for room, tax, and 1 day of insurance. It's looking like we're paying summer rate for the whole thing. I had no idea.

Knowing that, does it make sense to have the TA split us up into 2 reservations? My gut says "YES!" I'm so glad I asked about this.

 

[kparc]

Ok, for the last month I've told the DW that we couldn't swing the cost of a Disney vacation this year, UNLESS, they offered free dining! ( You know - the YEAR OF A MILLION DREAMS - and our dream was FREE DINING.) Well, I give up, free dining or no free dining we are going for 10 days in August (can't go in late August or September). I'll join AAA to get a discount.
I NEED A VACATION!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Wow... thanks SO much for crunching those numbers. Yes, I do have insurance. That is one thing I thought of since I posted. But it never occured to me that I might be paying summer rate for the whole thing. I switched to AAA after initially booking with Disney and I don't recall ever being told the nightly rate.

It's weird that my AAA invoice doesn't list anything the same way as yours. It says "9 nights Pop Century Preferred Room, 1 day base ticket, dining plan, insurance accepted." That's it. No nightly rate. No "Special Rate Type."

I just checked my invoice for when we added another day. For the second room (2 adults) the cost for an additional night is $194.20. Subtract the DDP ($39 x 2) and that leaves $116.20 for room, tax, and 1 day of insurance. It's looking like we're paying summer rate for the whole thing. I had no idea.

Knowing that, does it make sense to have the TA split us up into 2 reservations? My gut says "YES!" I'm so glad I asked about this.

You would save $300 if you booked the last 7 nights at value season. BUT...to get the DDP you would have to purchase at least 1 day base tickets at a cost of $428 for your party of 6. It is unlikely that you would want to wait til the 5th to go into the parks and only buy park tickets for you last 7 nights of your trip. It all enough to give you a headache isn't it?

 

[mirthmaiden]

Ok, for the last month I've told the DW that we couldn't swing the cost of a Disney vacation this year, UNLESS, they offered free dining! ( You know - the YEAR OF A MILLION DREAMS - and our dream was FREE DINING.) Well, I give up, free dining or no free dining we are going for 10 days in August (can't go in late August or September). I'll join AAA to get a discount.
I NEED A VACATION!

I'm so with you on that one brother! Welcome to my world

 

[uconn01001]

All I will say is that everyone should wait until Monday afternoon. Something special might be happening.

 

[katieloubear]

All I will say is that everyone should wait until Monday afternoon. Something special might be happening.

Well, can ya give us a hint???...the suspense is killin me!

 

[mirthmaiden]

You would save $300 if you booked the last 7 nights at value season. BUT...to get the DDP you would have to purchase at least 1 day base tickets at a cost of $428 for your party of 6. It is unlikely that you would want to wait til the 5th to go into the parks and only buy park tickets for you last 7 nights of your trip. It all enough to give you a headache isn't it?

(insert smilie of me pulling out my hair here...)

There, now that I've had my tantrum....

Thanks so much for your assistance. Looks like I'm an uber-loser no matter which way I go

 

[princess brianas mom]

I'm so sad that the tentative dates aren't when we'll be there....

Guess we'll have to downgrade to POR....

Oh well, better than not going at all!!

 

[Mermaid2sea]

Do you think if that they see people switching from August to September they may introduce early August like they extended the offer last year..??

 

[mking624]

Do you think if that they see people switching from August to September they may introduce early August like they extended the offer last year..??

I don't recall them extending the dates of free dining last year...only that they extended how much time you had to book the package. The originally had it to where you had until June 4th to book free dining, then they extended it to some time at the end of the month of June, but I believe the dates of the free dining itself remained the same. I might be wrong though, we never switched our dates (originally planned ours for September anyway), so we never needed to look for date extensions.

 

[smilechaser]

Ok, I am asking you all to use your brain power for me now. We are going aug 22 through sept 1, supposing all the rumors are true which way will we save the most. Buying 2 packages and paying for DDP the first few days and taking free DDP the last part, buying the park passes for 10 days with the first package and a one day base with the second? Or some other way...please help!!! LOL Open for all suggestions!!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

(insert smilie of me pulling out my hair here...)

There, now that I've had my tantrum....

Thanks so much for your assistance. Looks like I'm an uber-loser no matter which way I go

Well I just keep telling myself we'll have lower crowds. Isn't that priceless?

Ok, I am asking you all to use your brain power for me now. We are going aug 22 through sept 1, supposing all the rumors are true which way will we save the most. Buying 2 packages and paying for DDP the first few days and taking free DDP the last part, buying the park passes for 10 days with the first package and a one day base with the second? Or some other way...please help!!! LOL Open for all suggestions!!!!

Where are you staying? Do you AAA? How many? Ages of kids?

ETA: I just figured it out for my trip. I'm going 8/20 to 8/30. So if I did free dining for the last 4 nights I would "save" $443.80 for my family of 2 adults and 3 kids. It would "cost" me $130.50 in lost AAA discount on my POR room and $321.64 in purchasing tickets I don't need for a total of $452.14. Of course I could save the base tickets for use later but I just don't know when I would ever use them. If Disney continues to require tickets purchased for the DDP then I will always need to purchase base tickets. And I would have to take the time to stand in potentially very long lines on 8/26 to check in for the new package as lots of folks would want to be doing the same thing. AND there is always the chance that I would have to move to a new room.