The Official Free Dining Watch 2007 Thread

[mirthmaiden]

SHOULD I BOOK WITH DREAMS UNLIMITED OR AAA OR DISNEY DIRECTLY? THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WRITING AND I WELCOME ANY ADVISE OUT THERE. THERES 8 OF US GOING AND I'M INCHARGE OF THE BOOKINGS. SO I WANT TO DO IT RIGHT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

Hey... welcome to the DIS! just a fyi.... when you use all caps, it's considered "shouting"

It's hard to answer your question without knowing what dates you are considering. AAA has a 15 - 20% discount (only available by booking through them, and you have to become a AAA member if you're not already), but you can't use it along with other discounts. If you go during the free dining promotion (8/26 - 9/22), it may be better for you to get that instead of AAA. You could always get a quote from a couple of different TA's and see what is best if you're not familiar with pricing it yourself. Good luck!

 

[gigi1313]

just my personal update...

i called disney to make some ADRs and got to chatting w/the very nice cm... she said next week for free dining and every third call she's been getting today is inquiring about it... she seemed happy to actually do some work (make ADRs) and was very pleasant...

i also called disney visa and she confirmed monday (but told me to try calling tonight! although i haven't yet) is the day to book and said it was a 5 night deal w/package code ZHQ [no new news there]... again the cm was very pleasant...

 

[momtoPrincessA]

From what I understand, you aren't really "modifying" your exisiting reservation as much as you are actually "canceling" it and rebooking with the package. So I think WL and the room type you have now will have to be "available" under the code for you to get the promo. So I guess what I'm saying is...as long as you technically cancel and rebook and use your Disney Visa, I bet you can do it on Monday. They just make sure you have a Disney Visa before they book it for you.

Thanks for the info! I'll have to see what kind of rate I get, since I booked with a discount code. I'm not sure what the better deal will be.

 

[nottelling]

Do you think that if I was starting my vacation on Sept. 22 (what we all believe to be the last day of this deal) do you think it will carry over and extend for the whole vacation???

 

[HLAuburn]

Do you think that if I was starting my vacation on Sept. 22 (what we all believe to be the last day of this deal) do you think it will carry over and extend for the whole vacation???

Yes! It's usually based on the day you check in.

 

[momtoPrincessA]

The person I talked to at Disney Visa didn't say it started on 8/26, she said she didn't have "travel within" dates. What if you are arriving earlier? I'm good b/c I have 2 reservations, 1 package starting on 8/26 but the rest of my family is going from 8/23-8/28. Am I correct in assuming they won't be able to get free dining?

 

[mking624]

The person I talked to at Disney Visa didn't say it started on 8/26, she said she didn't have "travel within" dates. What if you are arriving earlier? I'm good b/c I have 2 reservations, 1 package starting on 8/26 but the rest of my family is going from 8/23-8/28. Am I correct in assuming they won't be able to get free dining?

Check in cannot be before or after the free dining dates. The rest of travel can fall outside of the last day, but check in MUST be within that 8/26-9/22 timeframe. The only way your family could qualify is if they did two separate reservations...one for a check in of 8/23 and one for a check in of 8/26.

 

[twinspluscade]

When I called Disney Visa, they told me that they were starting a 5 night/6 day package at a "select value resort" including free dining and tickets for $455/adult. Bookings for that start on 4/9. She didn't have specific dates you needed to be there.

I'm hoping to modify my existing 4 night WL package to get free dining. Like everyone else, I will be on the phone first thing Monday morning! Although I'm still confused as to whether or not I can do that Monday since I didn't pay my deposit on my Visa. Nobody seems to know if I pay additional with my Visa if I can modify on Monday. Anyone have the answer??????

I didn't put my deposit on dh's Visa either, so I'm wondering about this as well.

Today I ended up paying another $2000 down using the Disney Visa... I'm hoping that will suffice! I figure as long as it shows up on my reservation that I've paid at least part of it on the Visa, I should be okay.

Kelly

 

[lovesdumbo]

Guess I'll have to BEG my boss for time off. Was planning on Aug. 20-27, but I can't stand being that close to free dining!!!!! I have to do something to get time off the following week so I can enjoy free dining! OR, does anyone out there think I should keep the earlier reservations and hope for extremely light crowds! I'm sooo confused on what to do!

Well I am going 8/20 to 8/30 and don't want to change my dates as I want to go for more than 7 nights and want to be home for a few days before kids start school. So my vote would be for you to go for free dining.

I am hoping for light crowds the first week of our trip.

 

[ShhhQ]

I called my TA today and she just called me back.She called Disney and Disney told her it would be open to the general public on Friday. She told Disney she had many calls today from clients wanting to know about the picture with the word free.
(My TA is a DISNEY FREAK TOO!)
Disney told her they know, that they were removing the link due to over flow of calls to them!
So we just have to wait!

Anyone gonna sit back, relax and enjoy the Holiday weekend? Without checking this site?



Hee Hee... me neither!

 

[pamouselover]

Heck no!
It is the only thing I have to do this weekend, I was off all week and did the MAJORITY OF MY SPRING CLEANING.The weather is to darn cold up here in the east,to do anything else.

 

[katieloubear]

Heck no!
It is the only thing I have to do this weekend, I was off all week and did the MAJORITY OF MY SPRING CLEANING.The weather is to darn cold up here in the east,to do anything else.

I NEED to be cleaning, but guess where Im parked..yep that's right
lookin at disney stuff..I am a disney addict!

 

[gottalluvmickey]

Really needed to clean and paint my kitchen! If I spent all my time I've been on the computer checking for free dining, my house would be cleaner than when I bought it!!!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

This is really so exciting. We've done the free dining for the past two years & I'm THRILLED that it is working out for this year!

How long to you think we'll all be on hold Monday morning? At least we can wait patiently knowing it is other DISers on line.... can't wait!!!

 

[Punkin's Mom]

I don't know if this is a hard and fast rule (there hardly seems to be any of those when dealing with Disney) but last year I had a vacation booked with the $200 paid with a non-Disney card. When the code came out I went to the Disney website and applied for a Chase card and was given a confirmation number. I then called reservations to apply the discount code. She did not refund my original deposit and I'm not even sure she verified my new card. She said as long as I pay the balance with the Disney Visa I was good to go.

Several people had asked about this kind of situation so I wanted to share my experience.

 

[aterriq]

How many people here had to call Disney or Visa to verify free dining even though you saw the information posted here from a poster who had called.

 

[alldiz]

How many people here had to call Disney or Visa to verify free dining even though you saw the information posted here from a poster who had called.

I did....and I also called the 407 # to check with them....

Cm in a bored voice....yes maam....but the booking does not
start till april 9th..


Kerri

 

[stepdisney]

I did....and I also called the 407 # to check with them....

Cm in a bored voice....yes maam....but the booking does not
start till april 9th..


Kerri

Okay, Okay, how many (even though we read Monday a million times) called last night to see if you could book early....just in case?

 

[yellowfish78]

Has there been an official announcement yet? Last year I remember getting an email from Disney Visa a day before -

 

[stepdisney]

I went the year before last and wasn't a visa member, but... I love your avitar photo yellowfish 78. I think it should be the representative avitar for this thread.