TOP SECRET Ladies and gentlemens like the previous year MY FREE DINING NEWS

[Amy&Dan]

Well, I just emailed my TA about this, we will be in Disneyland on Thursday and I wanted to go over her with her our resort choices since I have this "feeling" POR will be tough to get with this offer. I am currently booked in a Garden View room under our 30% off bounceback, but fd saves us so much more so dh and talked it over and we are willing to switch to a different mod if we can't get into POR. I hope a week from now my sig still says POR, we so want to stay there (its our favorite).

The things we do for free food that isn't even free!

 

[fdecker]

Everyone is talking about free dining, but what about room only discounts? Are they usually announced along with the free dining? And are the weeks the same, or is it possible that the room discounts don't have the same blackouts?

 

[Timon71]

I too am a TA and find this interesting as it is a has been stated that DSM don't get the information early either. I am in no way saying the TA didn't get an email, but I find it odd that she would.

That's interesting that she got an email with this info...

The reason I say that, and to answer your question cybrkitn, I'm a TA and work for a large travel company (that happens to like vowels...if you get my drift...) and in the past I haven't found out until maybe the day before.

I tend to find out out about things like this on the DIS way before I do from work.

 

[beedale862003]

Everyone is talking about free dining, but what about room only discounts? Are they usually announced along with the free dining? And are the weeks the same, or is it possible that the room discounts don't have the same blackouts?

And does anyone think AoA will do a room only discount instead of FD or nothing at all?

 

[loricdietzel]

From what I have read and seen, it looks like LM rooms are almost booked solid for the rest of the year, so I doubt they will do any discount on them.

 

[ekatiel]

From what I have read and seen, it looks like LM rooms are almost booked solid for the rest of the year, so I doubt they will do any discount on them.

Until we all jump ship to get FDing at other resorts --Katie

 

[mom2rtk]

And does anyone think AoA will do a room only discount instead of FD or nothing at all?

Until we all jump ship to get FDing at other resorts --Katie

Yep. That. I was just going to post that a lot of folks who booked hoping for FD would have to swap to another resort for them to do a room only discount. We have 2 room only nights ahead of our FD package though, so I have my fingers crossed! Definitely not counting on it though, as I know it's a longshot.

 

[Ward On Board]

I too am a TA and find this interesting as it is a has been stated that DSM don't get the information early either. I am in no way saying the TA didn't get an email, but I find it odd that she would.

She received an email regarding an upcoming promotion, but couldn't verify that it was free dining. She speculates that it is due to all of the pin codes being offered. I sure hope this is correct... I will be a happy first timer!!!!

 

[Tinkerbella001]

Also a TA, and I haven't received any emails about upcoming promotions. Only the 2013 packages being released next week. It would sure be nice to have a heads up though

 

[DrivnMeUpTheWall-E]

This is my first time doing the 'Black Friday' method to free dining - I am already booked Dec. 10 - 15 at POFQ.

When does Disney usually announce these? Will at be 'official' anywhere, or do they just expect people to know at open at 7am on Wednesday?

 

[tinker_stinker06]

Now if only i knew when the free dining dates would be for 2013 then we would know exactly when to book our october trip lol

 

[kerplop]

I wish DP and I could stop flip-flopping on resorts we want to stay at this year. We've gone from Pop to POR and now she wants POFQ. Hopefully I can get a FD room at one of those - standard at POR is already sold out and it's not even FD yet Edit: And now it says it's not. Jeez Disney.

 

[sjs314]

I wish DP and I could stop flip-flopping on resorts we want to stay at this year. We've gone from Pop to POR and now she wants POFQ. Hopefully I can get a FD room at one of those - standard at POR is already sold out and it's not even FD yet Edit: And now it says it's not. Jeez Disney.

Room availability can change from hour to hour as people are constantly changing their reservations and/ or booking new reservations. Depending on pre booked percentages at the time of FD release will determine whether or not a particular resort and which room categories will be included. If the bookings of Std rooms at a resort is high more than likely few if any Std rooms will be included in the promo, but rather the inventory of higher priced room categories. This is why pre booking a room will not guarantee you anything, instead if too many people rush to pre book a room in anticipation of any impending promotion it actually lessens the chance that those room categories will be included when the promo is released. You have to remember Disney offers FD to "fill" rooms and it is the most profitable promotion for the Company since you are paying "rack rate" for the room.

 

[catrax]

For those of you who have a family of 5 and have had difficulty booking POR during Free Dining promotions, where do you stay alternatively? This is our first time as a family of 5 (my daughter turned 3 recently) so we've only stayed in Values in the past. Now, when I try to look up other options, they are priced thousands of dollars higher. I'm a little nervous.

 

[smitch425]

For those of you who have a family of 5 and have had difficulty booking POR during Free Dining promotions, where do you stay alternatively? This is our first time as a family of 5 (my daughter turned 3 recently) so we've only stayed in Values in the past. Now, when I try to look up other options, they are priced thousands of dollars higher. I'm a little nervous.

My friends stay in a suite at All Star Music. You could always get two connecting value rooms. That would give you tons of space. There is also the new AoA suite, but it is a bit pricey.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Until we all jump ship to get FDing at other resorts --Katie

Ain't that the truth. LOL

For those of you who have a family of 5 and have had difficulty booking POR during Free Dining promotions, where do you stay alternatively? This is our first time as a family of 5 (my daughter turned 3 recently) so we've only stayed in Values in the past. Now, when I try to look up other options, they are priced thousands of dollars higher. I'm a little nervous.

Connecting rooms at a value.
Family suites at either AoA or All Star Music.
Or, our favorite, the cabins at Fort Wilderness!
We do connecting rooms at a value now (actually, we'll request connecting AND adjoining, as we need three now) but when our family was still small enough, we really liked the cabins.

 

[Tommyboy2529]

I have that same problem, grandaughter will be 3 in jan, this year we have connecting rooms at a value, and would like to go again next year, but to upgrade is so much more money, for just a tiny little girl. I do not know why the will not let 3 children and 2 adults stay in one room. The children are young they will be 3 4 and 5, so they do not take up much room and you are paying for tickets for them, we have 2 children and 2 adults in a connecting room You are right it ends up being over a thousand dollars, to upgrade.

 

[TheRatPack]

Gartner Symposium will be during these dates....does anyone know if that will have a huge impact on crowds?

Anyone?

I'm trying to plan on either backing our vacation dates up a week or putting them off until the following week (Gartner Symposium).

 

[smitch425]

Anyone?

I'm trying to plan on either backing our vacation dates up a week or putting them off until the following week (Gartner Symposium).

Not a huge impact. We were there last year, and it wasn't bad at all. EPCOT can be heavier in the evenings when the attendees are hitting the F&W festival, but really not a noticeable impact during their stay.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Well, I just emailed my TA about this, we will be in Disneyland on Thursday and I wanted to go over her with her our resort choices since I have this "feeling" POR will be tough to get with this offer.

I agree. My October stay is within one of the rumored free dining date intervals but the only rooms currently available for my dates at POR are the royal rooms which I'm not interested in. So if I want book the FD offer, I'll probabaly have to change resorts.