What just happened? Free dining question

[Angry Eyes]

My family: DH, Me, DS 15, DD 11 just booked a trip from 6/17/12 for 4 nights at POP with 5 days MYW base tix and free dining (MYW + Dining, NOT QS!!) with no pin codes! I called only to check to see if my DH or I had any pin codes and the CM clearly said, NO that neither of us had pins. I thanked him and told him that we were still trying to decide between the beach and Disney. He then stated that he could book free dining for those dates up until 6/30 with no pin? I was perplexed, I let him run his numbers and he came up with $1,999 total. I ran the same exact parameters online and got $2536.20. I knew his deal was superior to mine so I put the deposit down. Now, I know I worked all day and maybe I missed some free dining release so I came here first to check and I can't find a thing! What just happened?

 

[focusondisney]

My family: DH, Me, DS 15, DD 11 just booked a trip from 6/17/12 for 4 nights at POP with 5 days MYW base tix and free dining (MYW + Dining, NOT QS!!) with no pin codes! I called only to check to see if my DH or I had any pin codes and the CM clearly said, NO that neither of us had pins. I thanked him and told him that we were still trying to decide between the beach and Disney. He then stated that he could book free dining for those dates up until 6/30 with no pin? I was perplexed, I let him run his numbers and he came up with $1,999 total. I ran the same exact parameters online and got $2536.20. I knew his deal was superior to mine so I put the deposit down. Now, I know I worked all day and maybe I missed some free dining release so I came here first to check and I can't find a thing! What just happened?

You got sprinkled with Pixie dust!! I don't think you missed a free dining offer. I think the CM was somehow able to offer you a deal to entice you to book. Some CMs seem to have authority / flexibility to do so, especially if you seem like you won't book without a discount. Happy for you! Enjoy your vacation!!

 

[jana616]

I think the same thing happened to us yesterday as well. I also called to see if we had PINS, was told all we had were ones for room only discounts. Then he told me to hold on, asked if our arrival would be after 6/1, and offered free dining. (He did also automatically upgrade and charge us to go from quick service to table service, which I didn't catch until later), but I was happy to get the free dining. Thus far I am not having luck convincing my DH to go, but I'm going to keep working on it!

 

[DisGirl1971]

There are no general public free dining offers out right now. I would say that there was some sort of imbedded code in your file in the Disney computers and once they got into your reservations they saw it. There is a slight possibility that if the CM was a supervisor, they they could have used some kind of override code to apply the discount, but I don't think they just hand those out too freely.

 

[jana616]

I just wanted to add that I do think the same thing is going on with your reservation as mine, and that they upgraded you to regular dining when you should have quick service, and are charging you the difference, without telling you. The price for 4 nights/5 days at POP with no dining would be $1679, so if dining was truly free that would be your price, right? The difference for 4 to upgrade meal plans is almost $300, so I think that's what happened to you. I am almost positive the same thing happened with us as well yesterday (and we were also told we had no PINS, so I wonder what is going on with all of this-another person had a similar story yesterday too). I am working on convincing my DH to even go, and if he agrees, I am going to call back and attempt to go down to quick service and save the difference (3 young kids doesn't make for restful TS meals anyway!).

Anyway, just thought I would add that info.

 

[jrichardson504]

I had a similar experience yesterday. I called in and talked with a CM and she told me I had no pins, but I hung up before I got my main question answered so I called back. That CM told me I had a PIN for free dining at a value or Mod. So we just booked 7 days/6 nights for POP starting May 27 for $1449 for DH and myself. Talk about some pixie dust the first CM quoted me about $2000 for that time. Looks like we all just called in that right time. Hope others are as lucky!

 

[Angry Eyes]

Ok OP here, the afore-mentioned conversation was LAST night where the CM said I had NO PINS attached to my name (either me or my husband) yet still booked me with free dining. Fast forward to today when I get home from work and there is a pin in my snail mail WITH MY NAME ON IT. This is the game on pin for 30% off (it is an actual 15 digit pin code too). Now I get the Disney magic and all, but it is pretty much impossible for a piece of snail mail to make it to my Batavia, OH address after the late CM phone call last night where the CM said I had no pins. IMO he was clearly not telling the truth. Is there another reasonable explanation? Honestly for me, it is likely better to do free dining so I am not complaining AT ALL. It just takes away from the credibility of the CM when they can basically pull numbers (pins or grand totals) out thin air? Why not just tell me that I had the 30% off pin code, I just don't get the whole thing??

 

[motherof4]

Called again today, and no pin! I have a room only, so she quoted me a price for package (full price), I declined! Got an e-mail a few hours later with that package price that she quoted me and it was $300.00 more than what she quoted me, I was so scared they converted my room only to a package when I clearly said no! I checked back online and my room only is still there! Very weird!