What if we arrive a day late?

[Abra Cat]

I recently managed to get a free dining package for 11/21-27. We planned to drive down immediately after school on the 21st, checking in around 11PM that night. Now it's looking like we may not be able to arrive until the evening of the 22nd because my daughter (a high school junior) may have to give a presentation on the 22nd that is a big percentage of her grade. I know the free dining packages are available until the 15th, so I'm going to continue checking for packages and see if I can change to 11/22-28, but if I can't change it, will that be a big deal? Obviously I would warn WDW in advance if we weren't going to get in until the next day. Thanks in advance!

 

[Marionnette]

I recently managed to get a free dining package for 11/21-27. We planned to drive down immediately after school on the 21st, checking in around 11PM that night. Now it's looking like we may not be able to arrive until the evening of the 22nd because my daughter (a high school junior) may have to give a presentation on the 22nd that is a big percentage of her grade. I know the free dining packages are available until the 15th, so I'm going to continue checking for packages and see if I can change to 11/22-28, but if I can't change it, will that be a big deal? Obviously I would warn WDW in advance if we weren't going to get in until the next day. Thanks in advance!

If you're positive that you're not going to check in on November 21st, then call Disney and drop the first day off of your reservation. There should be no penalty at this point for making a change to your package. At the same time, you can have them check to see if there's availability on the 28th using the same discount. At the very worst you can add on a room only reservation for the end of your stay.

If you do not check in on the 21st, you may be considered a no-show. In that event, your entire reservation will be canceled! You don't want that to happen. So call Disney and either cancel that first day if you're sure that you will not be able to check in on time.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, drop the first day, because if you just don't show up on the 21st then you will go down as a no-show and you will lose the entire reservation.

 

[Q-man]

Call directly instead of the website. Keep in mind you're going to have to extend a day whether you stay for it or not to meet the 6 night minimum for free dining.

 

[Abra Cat]

Hi-- thank you both for your responses. I should have mentioned in my original post that my reservation is for the 6 day minimum to get free dining, so I don't think I'd be eligible anymore if I drop the first day, although please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks again.

 

[TDC Nala]

There is no six-day or six night minimum for free dining. All free dining (except the British offer) is 3 nights minimum, 14 nights maximum (British offers are 21 nights maximum.)

If you've seen any other limit for US free dining, you were just looking at an example that was used for advertising purposes. WDW is not very good at spelling this out, so a lot of persons think they need 5 or 6 nights depending on which ad they saw.

 

[outahere]

I recently managed to get a free dining package for 11/21-27. We planned to drive down immediately after school on the 21st, checking in around 11PM that night. Now it's looking like we may not be able to arrive until the evening of the 22nd because my daughter (a high school junior) may have to give a presentation on the 22nd that is a big percentage of her grade. I know the free dining packages are available until the 15th, so I'm going to continue checking for packages and see if I can change to 11/22-28, but if I can't change it, will that be a big deal? Obviously I would warn WDW in advance if we weren't going to get in until the next day. Thanks in advance!

From everything I've read, if you are not checked in by the time their system "rolls over" to the next day (usually around 6:00 - 7:00AM), the reservation will automatically cancel. If that is the case, then you would need to be there prior to 6:00AM on the 22nd. You "may" be able to get them to bend the rules for you, but I would suggest calling the reservation number and speaking with a supervisor. Even if they will allow you to check in the next day, I would bet they will charge you for the night of the 21st. Hopefully, you can get the dates changed and not have to worry about it, however keep in mind that 11/28 is Thanksgiving Day, so free dining may not be available after the 27th.

 

[Abra Cat]

REALLY??? I guess maybe I read it wrong... Thanks for the heads up!

There is no six-day or six night minimum for free dining. All free dining (except the British offer) is 3 nights minimum, 14 nights maximum (British offers are 21 nights maximum.)

If you've seen any other limit for US free dining, you were just looking at an example that was used for advertising purposes. WDW is not very good at spelling this out, so a lot of persons think they need 5 or 6 nights depending on which ad they saw.

 

[Abra Cat]

Thanks again, everyone-- all straightened out, I dropped the first day off and kept the free dining. I'm still reading this as a 6 night minimum, but I'm happy with what I've got:
"Get a free dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way package (includes room and theme park tickets) at select Disney Resort hotels. This offer can be booked through September 15, 2013 and is valid for arrivals most nights"

 

[Marthasor]

Thanks again, everyone-- all straightened out, I dropped the first day off and kept the free dining. I'm still reading this as a 6 night minimum, but I'm happy with what I've got:
"Get a free dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way package (includes room and theme park tickets) at select Disney Resort hotels. This offer can be booked through September 15, 2013 and is valid for arrivals most nights"

It's an advertising ploy. Yes, you will get free dining with a non-discounted 6-night stay, but you can also get one with a 3-night stay or even a 9-night stay. Notice it doesn't say "minimum" anywhere. It's quite misleading and I believe it's intended to be! Glad you worked it out so it worked for the dates you needed!

 

[POOHsie]

Thanks again, everyone-- all straightened out, I dropped the first day off and kept the free dining. I'm still reading this as a 6 night minimum, but I'm happy with what I've got:
"Get a free dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way package (includes room and theme park tickets) at select Disney Resort hotels. This offer can be booked through September 15, 2013 and is valid for arrivals most nights"

You're quoting the offer right. But it doesn't say "minimum" non-discounted 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way package. It's slick advertising that many non-veteran Disney-goers can't understand without further knowledge. As a Disney Vet myself, and especially as explained by TDC Nala, we know the current rules for Disney's Free Dining offer requires only minimum 3 nights plus 2-day base tickets for everyone in a room. You don't have to have more nights, and you aren't obliged to purchase more than 2-day tickets. The ticket thing can be important, first, because you don't have to put up so much $$ in advance when you buy minimum tickets. Also, some in a room might need less park days or more park days than others in a room. The FD offer requires everyone in the room to have the same tickets. To get around this, get minimum tickets and Disney will allow you to upgrade tickets individually once you check in.

The DisBoards is where I got my DisneyWorld education. Check-out the "Disney Discount Codes and Rates" Forum for more info about Disney discount offers and rules. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=93

 

[Abra Cat]

Ah, good point-- it doesn't say minimum, you're right. I've been to WDW many many times, but yes, they fooled me. Thanks again!

 

[TDC Nala]

You've got to read it carefully. Yes, you can get free dining when you purchase a 6 night, 7 day vacation package. But you can also get it if you purchase a 3-night vaction package, an 8-night vacation package or a 12-night vaction package. There's nothing in the ad that says you are REQUIRED to purchase a 6 night package. They also don't bother to spell out that you only need a minimum of 2-day tickets.

The only "rules" to remember for free dining are:

1) The reservation must be a package. Room-only and DVC points reservations are not eligible.
2) The room price will be assessed at full rack rate (what they are really doing is discounting your resort package the amount of the eligible dining plan. Free dining is a resort discount, not a restaurant discount. The restaurants have no idea if you have a free dining plan or a paid dining plan; to them, there is no difference.)
3) You must purchase at least 2 day base tickets for each person on the package age 3 and older (you do NOT have to purchase length of stay tickets, but you do have to get the same type and length of ticket for each person registered age 3 or over)
4) Reservation must be 3 nights minimum, 14 nights maximum (21 nights for UK)
5) No other discount applies as WDW does not allow stacking of discounts.
6) "Ticketless" packages with dining (for annual passholders or military) are not eligible for free dining. Everyone who wants free dining must purchase the minimum 2 day park tickets as part of their package reservation.
7) You must check in to your resort during the promotion dates to be eligible for free dining for any part of your stay.

 

[BeerMe]

The 14 day max caught us once - ended up staying at 4 different resorts over a 20 day period. It wasn't free dining either but a huge military discount - 35% & 40% IIRC. We stayed at BC, BWI, CR and POFQ. We almost took a bus back to the wrong resort from AK one afternoon because we forgot where we were that night! Fun trip. 2009.