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

[loricdietzel]

Got in this morning with fd for 14 nights at POR royal rooms (garden view) for mid-end Oct/beg Nov. Had an EXTREMELY helpful and cheerful cast member who nicely pushed the AoA suites (as I had previously booked a LM room) thinking the price wouldn't be too much different and then was really apologetic when she realized there was a big price difference for that long of a stay. She just thought we would enjoy them (of course we would!!!) and didn't want us to miss out if the price was similar. I had to have gotten through before the rush as I had no wait time and the CM originally was going to add FD to our current reservation and I had to point out to HER that the LM rooms weren't included. I *think* all my dining reservations are now set. VERY excited!!!!

 

[smitch425]

Okay.. just so I'm clear. You will get hit with that ticket price increase whether you had to upgrade to a garden view (or higher) or not? Right? Just the act of adding FD to your package is what triggers the price increase (because of the ticket price increase). Am I understanding correctly?

And since we will be there 15 days... it's going to be substantial, I guess. Yes, of course it's no comparison to what we are getting with the free dining. That goes without saying. But it is yet another unforeseen expense I have to add to my package payoff amount. Know what I mean?

Yes, adding FD will trigger the increase. Tickets max out at 10 days. Are you buying two sets of tickets? If you have added the WP&M and Park Hopper to your tickets then you are in luck, bucause adding those two options together is now at a discount. So while you would pay more for your base days, you will get a deal on your options. I hope that made sense.

 

[princessdi]

Grrrr... According to the Disney Visa offer the FD doesn't start for Deluxes until 10/21. We check in on the 20th. Does anyone have any ides why the Deluxe discount starts 2 days after the Values & Moderates?

We are in a Deluxe-BWI-and earlier the CM I spoke to said the dates started on 10/19 for ALL resorts for the offer. We go oct 10 so we will wait and hope for a discount. Just an update... Maybe call again...

 

[phillymummer]

Yes, free dining rooms are limited. All of the resorts are only alloted so many free dining rooms. Some resorts and room categories and more popular than others and will go faster than others. In the past, All-Star Movies and Pop standard rooms have usually sold out first and Port Orleans Riverside usually sells out too.

The room only discounts can very slightly but are almost always in line with the free dining dates.

Thank you. Pop is our first choice if FD is available, but I don't know if hubby will go for making reservations before we know the details of the plane tickets. Where is Wilderness Lodge on the popularity list? Last time we went, Hubby said he would love to stay there but I don't know if he will want to upgrade to a deluxe. We don't plan on making ADRs..... maybe Germany in Epcot and WCC if we can get it, but that's it. I could use the TS credit for QS, correct?

I would almost rather have the room discount (it would make staying at the Wilderness Lodge a little easier to bear) so I guess I should still book for the weekend of the 19th, if I want a chance of getting a room discount? Do the room discounts work the same way? If I make the reservation and then the discount comes out, I can call and ask to get the discount applied?

 

[princessdi]

Yes, but someone in a thread asked about a Disney Visa debit card (which was discontinued and made into a regular Chase debit card), and I never heard back on if they got an answer on that. As far as the Disney Visa credit card, this offer is for everyone who has a regular card or the premier card.

I asked earlier about my disney visa debit and was told no since the program is discontinued so is the benefits that were once in place. I do have the disney visa credit card though.

 

[princessdi]

Thank you. Pop is our first choice if FD is available, but I don't know if hubby will go for making reservations before we know the details of the plane tickets. Where is Wilderness Lodge on the popularity list? Last time we went, Hubby said he would love to stay there but I don't know if he will want to upgrade to a deluxe. We don't plan on making ADRs..... maybe Germany in Epcot and WCC if we can get it, but that's it. I could use the TS credit for QS, correct?

I would almost rather have the room discount (it would make staying at the Wilderness Lodge a little easier to bear) so I guess I should still book for the weekend of the 19th, if I want a chance of getting a room discount? Do the room discounts work the same way? If I make the reservation and then the discount comes out, I can call and ask to get the discount applied?

Yes you can just call and add the code/ discount if open for your time and resort.

WL has a greathome and comfy feel. It is one of our favs. Its really easy to get anywhere fromthere imo too. Our other favs are CR and BWI.

 

[Celine]

Yes, adding FD will trigger the increase. Tickets max out at 10 days. Are you buying two sets of tickets? If you have added the WP&M and Park Hopper to your tickets then you are in luck, because adding those two options together is now at a discount. So while you would pay more for your base days, you will get a deal on your options. I hope that made sense.

LOL!! No, we skipped the WP&M thing this time since we're going in the winter.. instead we will be doing 9 park days (3 for MK), taking two days off to just explore resorts and relax.. and two days to visit US/IoA. The other two days are just wasted travel days because we get in late and leave early. Darn JB!

 

[phillymummer]

Yes you can just call and add the code/ discount if open for your time and resort.

One more questions..... can you get both FD AND the room discount??

 

[princessdi]

One more questions..... can you get both FD AND the room discount??

Nope just one or the other. Figure out prices and see where you come out ahead. My family always prefers the discount but its a preference.

Of course you could always add the fd then if a discount comes out change to that if you prefer but watch dates... You dont want to change only to not be able to go back to the fd. Make sense?

 

[sjs314]

Alright, it's my turn to apoligize! lol!

I spoke to Winston, who is a customer service manager at Disney reservations, he was super informative, very nice and helpful. He said they were thrown for a bit of a loop this morning and that the agents were just informed that they have implemented a new program in the reservations system and that you still do not have to rebook or cancel, but that the computer WILL automatically charge you the new ticket price. He said that this procedure and program were brand new and some of the agents were still confused and amight not have been giving accurate information to guests.

So, I went back and looked at the reservation that I added the code to this morning, which was for a friend of mine who was at work and could not hang on the phone all morning trying to get the discount, and my math must just have been wrong. They were charge about $100.00 more for ticket increase prices.

Wow, you can always learn something new on the Disboards! I still don't think it's good customer service, and Winston agreed, but it is what it is. We were lucky enough to get a pin code a few months ago for the LM rooms and did not have to pay an increase. We have a large family and usually stay 9 nights, so this would be a substantial increase for us. Free Dining would still be the best discount for us, but you would have to factor in the ticket increase.

Just a thought perhaps this new kink with the ticket prices is to discourage people from booking early then to only wait for the promos which throws off when Disney is allocating the number rooms for said promos based on bookings. Then to there is that they are lessening discounts and by everyone modifying during a promo is cutting into the discount but is increasing Disney's bottom line which makes the stockholders happy.

 

[princessdi]

Just a thought perhaps this new kink with the ticket prices is to discourage people from booking early then to only wait for the promos which throws off when Disney is allocating the number rooms for said promos based on bookings. Then to there is that they are lessening discounts and by everyone modifying during a promo is cutting into the discount but is increasing Disney's bottom line which makes the stockholders happy.

If thats possibly the case i need to invest in more disney stock!!

 

[phillymummer]

That is okay. I am thinking I will not be able to make a reservation for another couple of weeks, by which time the FD will probably have sold out, so I am okay with the room discount. That just means I have to try to persuade hubby to stay at Wilderness Lodge (since the LM rooms at AoA will probably be sold out?)

 

[princessdi]

That is okay. I am thinking I will not be able to make a reservation for another couple of weeks, by which time the FD will probably have sold out, so I am okay with the room discount. That just means I have to try to persuade hubby to stay at Wilderness Lodge (since the LM rooms at AoA will probably be sold out?)

I dont believe the LM rooms are open to the offer. Not sure what you guys like, but the WL really is an amazing resort. Definitely underrated in my opinion. Check out the threads on the WL. After your first visit i bet yall will be won over by the resort!!

 

[princessdi]

We are in a Deluxe-BWI-and earlier the CM I spoke to said the dates started on 10/19 for ALL resorts for the offer. We go oct 10 so we will wait and hope for a discount. Just an update... Maybe call again...

So i went back at the offer despite what the CM told me and the offer does say Deluxe resorts start for 10/21..... Wonder why CM said the 19th.... Prob just a mistake. Wanted to clarify a bit!

 

[hollydolly08]

Hello! We are staying at AOA in a Nemo FS. I'm planning on calling Thurs. morning to get FD. We want to upgrade to the reg. DDP... will I need my CC info during that call? Or will they just add it to my reservation and I will pay the balance when my balance is due?
Thanks!

 

[ksromack]

Wilderness Lodge is my favorite resort. We just wanted to try POR this time around. Of course, maybe it'll be a mixed blessing if I cannot keep our POR room on thursday if they happen to be sold out for the FD. I'll just have to move our ressies over to the WL! It's the least expensive of all the Deluxe resorts....it's unbelievable at Christmastime.......and it would only cost me an extra $350 or so once the free dining discount is taken off.

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

Was anybody able to book a standard room at POFQ with the free dining promo for October?

We were already booked in 2 standard rooms there, but when my TA called about the promo she was told that there are NO ROOMS AT ALL for POFQ for our week (Oct 20-28), there are NO ROOMS AT ALL at POR and the only option we had was to go with a Water View room at CBR. Soooo....with the room upgrade and the ticket increase it wasn't exactly the savings we expected, but it is still less than what we were paying so I'm trying not to complain...too much.

What I don't understand is how will there be any rooms at all to offer everyone else when this goes public on Thurs???

 

[smitch425]

Hello! We are staying at AOA in a Nemo FS. I'm planning on calling Thurs. morning to get FD. We want to upgrade to the reg. DDP... will I need my CC info during that call? Or will they just add it to my reservation and I will pay the balance when my balance is due?
Thanks!

It will be due at the 45 day mark.

 

[mom2rose&john]

Are POFQ standard rooms included in FD? TIA.

Sorry, No. I had to upgrade to garden view to get FD at PQFQ. I think/hope it was worth it.

 

[kerplop]

Sorry, No. I had to upgrade to garden view to get FD at PQFQ. I think/hope it was worth it.

If we weren't staying at Pop to save some dough, I would be trying to get POFQ and I'd be happy with garden view - for what it's worth!