We are being advised no Free Dining availability at All Star Music. Is this correct?

[dfurst05]

Originally we (7 guests - 4 adults, 3 kids 11+) were booked 9/14-9/20 at All Star Music w/ Park Hopper Tickets. Today our TA told us that she had to move us to All Star Sports to get Free Dining because the promotion is not available at All Star Music. However when I checked the Disney World website through the promotion page there were available rooms at All Star Music.

She also told us if we wanted to upgrade from the Quick Service dining plan to the Disney Dining plan we would have to pay the FULL cost of the dining plan for all guests but this is counter-intuitive to what I have read almost everywhere about Free Dining?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[plutolovr]

Originally we (7 guests - 4 adults, 3 kids 11+) were booked 9/14-9/20 at All Star Music w/ Park Hopper Tickets. Today our TA told us that she had to move us to All Star Sports to get Free Dining because the promotion is not available at All Star Music. However when I checked the Disney World website through the promotion page there were available rooms at All Star Music.

She also told us if we wanted to upgrade from the Quick Service dining plan to the Disney Dining plan we would have to pay the FULL cost of the dining plan for all guests but this is counter-intuitive to what I have read almost everywhere about Free Dining?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Availability has been changing all day. Some resorts were not available this morning, but may be now. You only need to pay the difference between quick service and the dining plan. See if your TA can change you back to All-Star Music.

 

[sharonabe]

Alternatively, book your own free dining reservation with the upgrade to regular dining. Then you can either transfer that reservation to your TA and cancel the other reservation OR you can just cancel the reservation with the TA and tell them you don't need their help.

 

[KTwiegs]

We are at music and got free dining today. And you only pay the difference to upgrade your dining plan

 

[BlueStarryHat]

We are at music and got free dining today. And you only pay the difference to upgrade your dining plan

Us too.

 

[qv09vvp]

I had an existing reservation at Pop. My TA went to upgrade us to free dining first thing this morning & nothing was showing. TA offered several other options, including music but they were snatched up ASAP.

 

[bizeemom4]

I just modified two separate reservations for my clients at Music. It's definitely offered there.

 

[FoxC63]

I just modified two separate reservations for my clients at Music. It's definitely offered there.

Hypothetically, if @dfurst05 wanted to switch his TA to another what would he need to do?

 

[dfurst05]

Alternatively, book your own free dining reservation with the upgrade to regular dining. Then you can either transfer that reservation to your TA and cancel the other reservation OR you can just cancel the reservation with the TA and tell them you don't need their help.

So this is tricky because my parents are paying for the trip and I don't know if they have the disposable means necessary to pay the $400 deposit to do our own booking and then transfer it over to the TA.

If I book it and put the deposit on my credit card and then transfer the booking to the TA can she use the funds my parents have already paid towards the deposit and refund my credit card??

Sorry I'm new to how this all works so I really appreciate any help you can give.

 

[rlessig]

I was playing with different dates last night for all star music and all i could find for free dining offer were family suites.

 

[dfurst05]

I was playing with different dates last night for all star music and all i could find for free dining offer were family suites.

I've been keeping an eye on it and there are standard rooms available at music for our dates. I actually just checked again and it is still showing available.

 

[brockash]

Originally we (7 guests - 4 adults, 3 kids 11+) were booked 9/14-9/20 at All Star Music w/ Park Hopper Tickets. Today our TA told us that she had to move us to All Star Sports to get Free Dining because the promotion is not available at All Star Music. However when I checked the Disney World website through the promotion page there were available rooms at All Star Music.

She also told us if we wanted to upgrade from the Quick Service dining plan to the Disney Dining plan we would have to pay the FULL cost of the dining plan for all guests but this is counter-intuitive to what I have read almost everywhere about Free Dining?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Your TA doesn't seem to know what she's talking about and I wouldn't use her. Availability changes often, ASMovies is NOT included, but ASMusic is. There is also no circumstance in which you would have to pay the full price of the regular dining plan while booking the free qs plan and upgrading to the regular plan...you only pay the difference. It's much easier to just book yourself.

 

[sharonabe]

So this is tricky because my parents are paying for the trip and I don't know if they have the disposable means necessary to pay the $400 deposit to do our own booking and then transfer it over to the TA.

If I book it and put the deposit on my credit card and then transfer the booking to the TA can she use the funds my parents have already paid towards the deposit and refund my credit card??

Sorry I'm new to how this all works so I really appreciate any help you can give.

It is a business, so she should be able to do that. If she can't, I really think you need to have a conversation with your parents. Get them their deposit back, you guys do it on your own, and then just let them pay for the rest of it.

 

[nkereina]

If I book it and put the deposit on my credit card and then transfer the booking to the TA can she use the funds my parents have already paid towards the deposit and refund my credit card??

It's always been my understanding that they are two separate transactions, so it's not as if Disney holds a credit for you if you cancel the reservation. And the TA is really just a liaison and isn't the one processing the refund, it's Disney. I believe you would need to make the two bookings and pay the two deposits, and then when you cancel with the TA, Disney will refund you the original deposits through the original payment method. So worst case scenario, your parents will owe you $400 when they get their refund.

 

[Nancyg56]

Your TA doesn't seem to know what she's talking about and I wouldn't use her. Availability changes often, ASMovies is NOT included, but ASMusic is. There is also no circumstance in which you would have to pay the full price of the regular dining plan while booking the free qs plan and upgrading to the regular plan...you only pay the difference. It's much easier to just book yourself.

This is what I think as well. I woudl book my own reservation and cancel the TA when I had the rooms I wanted. I would not trust my stay to a TA who did not understand how the upgrades for a Dining Plan work. You can book the room on your card and use whatever name your parents are comfortable with.

 

[dfurst05]

An updated to those who are interested:

My mom wasn't going to question the TA about this but I pushed the issue and got the TA's contact info. I followed up with the TA on Tuesday and let her know that we would like to be at ASMu and if that wasn't a possibility we would need to consider our options. As of this afternoon I hadn't gotten a response so I sent her a follow up email asking for an update and she informed me she got us rooms w/ FD at ASMu, so all is good. Our family talked about it and we have decided only to do one table service (character) meal (Chef Mickey's) so we will not be upgrading our dining plan, so that is not a concern to us.

I mentioned cancelling and booking but the literature we got from the TA states a cancellation fee of quite a hefty sum. I believe this is for the airfare she booked for us but my mom wasn't comfortable cancelling so I am glad things have worked out this way.

Moving forward I will manage as much of our trip as possible and will be sure to remember I may have to question the TA if I don't believe what she is telling us is correct.

Thanks for everyone's help and support.