The real reason POR is being excluded from Free Dining

[hockeymom519]

I wonder-- what is the price difference between POR and paying for dining or a deluxe like YC with free dining? I guess it depends on how old your children were.. but if I had three kids over 10-- I would upgrade to a deluxe. Our dining with one child and four adults (two kids over 10) is a $1584 value for six nights!

We had reservations at POFQ for Sept but it was exluded from FD. The only moderates for FD were CBR and CSR. We wanted moderate for the queen beds since it's 3 adults and 1 child. That rules out CBR. There wasn't a single room available in CSR the week we are there. We ended up upgrading to Wilderness Lodge with Woods View. Total package with Free Dining is only about $100 more than our original booking paying for dining. Since we are celebrating our oldest son's high school graduation, we decided to splurge. This is our 1st family vacation with just the 4 of us, we've always vacationed with others. May be our last too since the oldest is now 18.

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

If you truly want POR and you go every year at free dining, you really need to book it as a bounce back offer for the next year. I have several friends, some families of 5 who booked it as a bounceback during our fall break last september when it was available. With only a certain percentage of rooms available for free dining and a very limited selection for families of five unless you book the deluxes at rack rate that sleep five, it makes sense that many free dining rooms for POR have already been taken by a bounceback offer a long time ago. I try never to check out without booking a bounceback whether I know I am coming back or not. Now our family does not like free dining but we book RO. Room only was not available the last two trips I made, but free dining was and our friends snagged POR for a family of 5 8 months ago as a bounce back. It is worth the $200.00 deposit on your card if you think you will be back and resort choice matters that much to you. I just booked AKL villa room only, but am considering switching to POR for a short trip and it has room only availability. ANd it does make more sense to give me a 20% or so room only discount to my family of 5 at POR, then to feed my family of five- 4 of which are considered adults on the dining plan(10 and 13). I can't fault Disney for that. So if you have your heart set on it, try a bounceback offer. Because I think that is who currently holds the free dining rooms.

 

[tinker&belle]

If you truly want POR and you go every year at free dining, you really need to book it as a bounce back offer for the next year. I have several friends, some families of 5 who booked it as a bounceback during our fall break last september when it was available. With only a certain percentage of rooms available for free dining and a very limited selection for families of five unless you book the deluxes at rack rate that sleep five, it makes sense that many free dining rooms for POR have already been taken by a bounceback offer a long time ago. I try never to check out without booking a bounceback whether I know I am coming back or not. Now our family does not like free dining but we book RO. Room only was not available the last two trips I made, but free dining was and our friends snagged POR for a family of 5 8 months ago as a bounce back. It is worth the $200.00 deposit on your card if you think you will be back and resort choice matters that much to you. I just booked AKL villa room only, but am considering switching to POR for a short trip and it has room only availability. ANd it does make more sense to give me a 20% or so room only discount to my family of 5 at POR, then to feed my family of five- 4 of which are considered adults on the dining plan(10 and 13). I can't fault Disney for that. So if you have your heart set on it, try a bounceback offer. Because I think that is who currently holds the free dining rooms.

Do you remember is POFQ was included in bounce back?

 

[bafleyanne]

I wish we had booked BB at POR last year when we were there. At the time, we did not plan on going to Disney this year. Then DH got a big bonus and now suddenly we are headed back!

 

[wdwmaw]

Last year for the Sept to Dec 2013 free dining POR was included, but just for rooms that accommodate 4. I had checked early the first morning the deal was available and many times after. We did not book a trip for that time because we could not get POR with free dining for our family of 5 (there had been POR free dining rooms available for 4), and we will not have a fall trip now for the same reason. Best wishes to those who are able to take advantage of the current deal.

We had free dining booked at POR last December ( for 14 nights through the New Year) and we had a party of 5. Actually, we have had the exact dates booked at POR for FD in 2012 also.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Tifley]

Last year for the Sept to Dec 2013 free dining POR was included, but just for rooms that accommodate 4. I had checked early the first morning the deal was available and many times after. We did not book a trip for that time because we could not get POR with free dining for our family of 5 (there had been POR free dining rooms available for 4), and we will not have a fall trip now for the same reason. Best wishes to those who are able to take advantage of the current deal.

I got 2 rooms that slept 5 last September with FD...got upgraded to GV from Standard!

 

[strmtroopr96]

Do you remember is POFQ was included in bounce back?

Yes, it was. We were there in September and originally booked our Bounceback for September 2014 in Pop Century.

Just after Christmas we decided to switch our dates to the end of August instead and also switched to PO French Quarter at the same time. We love it there and it was only about a $300 difference in price between a standard Pop room with the upgrade to regular dining and a standard room at POFQ.

We're excited to head back. Now if only airfare down to MCO would go low enough to book. Great prices for the way home but crazy high prices for the way down.

 

[TheWrightTrip]

I would have loved to book a bounce back at POR but wasn't given that option. We've been the last 3 Novembers and never been offered a bounce back.

That being said, POR wasn't available for 5 when the fd hit last year for the dates I wanted, but I kept calling back and eventually got exactly what I wanted. I'm holding out hope that they will add POR later on when they hopefully see they need to fill rooms. For us the extra $1000 to stay in a value suite and pay upgrade charge for regular dining, is a deal breaker for us.

 

[momofmikey]

I just switched back to POR through my bounceback offer from last August. We have stayed there last 3 years in a row, and had originally booked it again for this August. Then we decided we wanted a change and changed to AofA with quick service plan. Once I realized that POR is now being excluded and most likely will be in future, I called last night and after many switches to different operators, was able to go back to POR with free dining. Figured I'd take advantage of the great deal one last time. And I agree Disney is excluding it because of the 5 ppl in one room. My two boys are considered Disney adults, so for my family, that amounts to a savings of almost $2100.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Bottom line DIS is just trying to fill the rooms at the larger resorts in providing this offer so early. POR is one of the smaller resorts so to me they are trying to fill the POP, CBR, CS etc to get those rooms filled. I would not be surprised in another three months DIS raised room rates for the back half of 2014.

 

[kaylasmom07]

I would have loved to book a bounce back at POR but wasn't given that option. We've been the last 3 Novembers and never been offered a bounce back.

I booked bounce back last November even though it wasn't offered to me and there wasn't a flyer in my room. Anyone staying on property can call the bounce back number (x8844) before they check out and ask if there are any deals available.

When I was there Nov 13 they had two deals going at once. A room only offer and free dining for the fall.

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

We are looking at possibly taking a small trip mid Dec with our 2 younger ones. We are wanting to take one last big trip with all the kids but they want to go end of May with SWW. So I was wondering if there historically is a BB in Dec for the next year? If so was it a disacount on RO or a package discount and did it include dates throughout the year? Thanks for any helpful information as I need to decide between Dec. 12-17 FD or early Oct. If there is a possibility of a BB discount Dec. would be the winner.

 

[Disneylover99]

We are looking at possibly taking a small trip mid Dec with our 2 younger ones. We are wanting to take one last big trip with all the kids but they want to go end of May with SWW. So I was wondering if there historically is a BB in Dec for the next year? If so was it a disacount on RO or a package discount and did it include dates throughout the year? Thanks for any helpful information as I need to decide between Dec. 12-17 FD or early Oct. If there is a possibility of a BB discount Dec. would be the winner.

We were in DW in mid December last year. The bb available at that time was for RO discounts for various dates throughout 2014.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

POR is included in the Visa room only discounts available through 10/3. That is a sign that they lose too much money on POR rooms for free dining.

 

[hobbs29]

I was more than willing to change resorts for the free dining. When I asked what the best option was since I was checking in before the free dining. They came up with a quote for the free dining that was $1200 more than what I was paying at POR with dining. Needless to say that was an eye opener. I then asked to speak with Guest Relations to express my concern with the whole family of five thing. I was assure Disney loves family of fives ( FOF'S ). I assured them as a FOF I was not feeling the love. I also asked them if they wanted me to come three days before Oct 26th and they said "yes we do". I then explained that charging me an extra $1000 for tickets was a strange way to express it. They said I had to buy a 2 Day PH and then a 7 day PH. I know now I could have picked up my tickets early but I did not know it at the time. They did not offer that info either and I spoke to 4 people. I do not know how picking up your tickets early affects your magic bands or fastpass so I am not sure if that is a solution or not.

So After a long phone call I am sticking with my POR reservation. I am 95 percent sure that free dining will be offered at least thru a pin code and there will be a room only discount for the rest of Oct soon. This is after talking to 3 people at Guest relations and putting the pcs together. I made sure they understood the position they put families of 5 in and what I thought of making people use the split stay to take advantage of the free dining when checking in early. The above is my take on what was mentioned in the phone calls. As usual they didn't come out an say it but they sure did hint it. So family of 5's keep your heads up and call and let them know about your disappointment.

I was never rude and explained my concerns and I was treated with respect. I explained my point until I thought they understood and it did take a while but in the end Disney will get my $6000 plus dollars.

.

 

[WDW1979]

Not true I stayed at POR last year and got FD in a room for 5

Sweet! I searched the Disney site several times each week from the minute the 2013 free dining deal was made available to the general public to the minute it the deal window closed and found no such availability. Good for you, though.

I assume those reporting free dining for a party of 5 at POR between September and December 2013 are not referring to a bounceback or personal pin code deal, as I was referring to the general public free dining promotion available on the Disney web site at the time.

 

[LuzzBightyear]

POR is included in the Visa room only discounts available through 10/3. That is a sign that they lose too much money on POR rooms for free dining.

Agree. DDP costs approx $60 per day. With the possibility of 5 adults in a room, they are giving away $300 worth of dining for a room that costs approx $200.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Do you think the reason the POR is being excluded from Free Dining is because many of their rooms sleep 5, and not so much the fact that it might be booked up already? I do. Just a thought.

I think it is great that Disney is releasing Free Dining this early, room numbers must just not be where they need them to be! But I also am seeing more and more value in having my Disney Visa too! Not planning to go for free dining, but these are just my thoughts.

I bet that if they offer bounce backs this year, they may get a lot more bites at that too.

I said the same thing. If they are giving 5 people free dining, they don't WANT you to stay at the most economical place!!! Exactly why they only give CS dining to values.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I've wondered if fd at POR is not profitable? If a family has 3 children that are disney adults the cost of the dining plan would be about 200/night. About the cost of the room itself; essentially a 50% discount. A value suite is about $100 more/night(for my dates at least) and then families would have to upgrade or just use qsdp.

We are one of those families. We have 3 kids, 4 of us considered adults, 1 kid. The cost of DDP for 5 of us, for 10 days,$2600. Room at POR, $1850. So not profitable in our case. Luckily we have 2 rooms because my parents are going and weren't planning on POR this year. But we've had FD there twice.

 

[WDW1979]

Agree. DDP costs approx $60 per day. With the possibility of 5 adults in a room, they are giving away $300 worth of dining for a room that costs approx $200.

Yes, but giving away $240 worth of food for four adults in a room is still more than the $200 cost of the room. Anyway, that $300 worth of daily dining (5 people) or $240 worth of daily dining (4 people) is not costing Disney $300 or $240 to provide. Feeding the 5th person in my party at the dining table under the dining plan is not going to cost Disney another $60 per day to fill his plate with food. And I would guess that for many familes of five staying at Disney, at least the youngest in the party may be under 9 (and for some families of 5 two or three in the party may be under 9) where the cost of the dining plan would be only $20 per day for those under 9, not $60.

But if this is an issue for Disney, one idea during a "free dining deal" is for Disney to provide the counter service meal plan for free in POR rooms where 5 people are booked and the regular dining plan where only 4 are booked.