Which resorts do you think sell out 1st-free meal deal?

[WDWBetsy]

Are you telling me they'll let you book a package and PAY for the dining plan during the free dining plan but at that same resort if you are booking a package with free dining they'll say it's all booked? That seems like a rip off to me... they are going to have some people PAYING for the dining plan during the free dining plan promotion? Is that even an option?
Or do they just not allow over a specific amount of rooms in each resort to even get a pkg so they CAN take advantage of the free dining plan? Either way- seems unfair to me.

From the time the free dining was announced, everything I've read about it (including Mousesavers and the official Disney World website to name two sites) notes that the number of packages available for this promotion is limited/subject to availability. While it's not a special hotel rate, it did require a special code to book the free dining - so WDW is able to limit the amount of packages sold. I personally wouldn't call it a rip off since many people were able to take advantage of the free dining promotion.

I'm sure there will be people who stay at the resorts and who paid for the dining package while others there at the same time booked the free dining package deal. Many just book the package and don't do any research to get a deal. I try to get the best deal I can find and try not to worry about what the guy next to me paid or didn't pay. It would drive me nuts!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

It doesn't require a code. Read about it on the home page of dis home and click to read about the free dining plan. Not only do they state the code is not needed but I have just booked online with disney.com and didn't need a code.
I think when they have a special like during a specific time you can get the free dining plan- any and all that book a PKG (necessary to be able to get the dining plan) should then get the dining plan free. To me it seems like fraudulent advertising to advertise a free dining plan but then not only limit how many people can get it at each resort but also have people staying during that time actually PAYING for the dining plan!

I'm not worrying about what others are getting or not get- I just know 2 things:
1) I'd be very upset to find out they were having free dining plan while I was there but I paid for it. LOL
2) I'm just upset because I can't book at POP with the free dining plan so I have to stay at All Star sports --- again. I was really hoping to stay at POP but I can't because they limited it. I could see maybe limiting the TOTAL who got the free dining plan- but what I don't get is limiting it at each specific resort to a certain number... that part doesn't make sense to me. why should it matter if I'm staying at POP with free dining plan or staying at ASSp with free dining plan? The room/pkg all costs the same... so that part confuses me. It sounds like to me it's just their way of trying to fill up each resort equally- which I guess I could understand but it bites for those of us who would like to stay at POP once in our lives. LOL

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

BibbidyBobbidyBoo o you get the free dining plan even if just your FIRST day of your stay is the last day of the promotion? If so, that's cool. Doesn't help us because I was wanting to stay Sept-Oct 3 while the kids had school break- but that's cool for those like yourself that can change the arrival date a little to get in on it.

I was told by Disney that as long as you check in your hotel by Oct 4th you will get the free dinning even after Oct.4th. We are staying Oct 1-7th and get free dinning the whole time. But heres the odd thing:
I call AAA and a couple of other places just to double check pricing and they all told me that if I used them to book I could only get free dinning until Oct 4th not after? So I guess if you book through Disney then you get the free dinning after Oct 4th as long as you check in by Oct 4th but if you book with anyone else you can only get the free dinning until Oct 4th.

Hope things have worked out for you and you are set to go this fall! And Hey we are going on the May 27th 2006 cruise too!! Can't wait for both!

Well I guess it's worked out... I had to book at ASSp when I really wanted to stay at Pop Century for once. Not only because we've never stayed there, it's different but also because we've stayed at all the All Star resorts and we noticed that Pop Century always gets their own bus and never had a line waiting. We HATE wasting so much time waiting for buses when we leave the parks- no matter what time we leave.. it's a line... because the majority of the time it's all 3 All Star resorts on the same buses.

Cool that we'll be on the same cruise! That so totally rocks!
(now what are you supposed to say after I said that last sentence??? hehe)

 

[WDWBetsy]

It doesn't require a code. Read about it on the home page of dis home and click to read about the free dining plan. Not only do they state the code is not needed but I have just booked online with disney.com and didn't need a code.
I think when they have a special like during a specific time you can get the free dining plan- any and all that book a PKG (necessary to be able to get the dining plan) should then get the dining plan free. To me it seems like fraudulent advertising to advertise a free dining plan but then not only limit how many people can get it at each resort but also have people staying during that time actually PAYING for the dining plan!

I'm not worrying about what others are getting or not get- I just know 2 things:
1) I'd be very upset to find out they were having free dining plan while I was there but I paid for it. LOL
2) I'm just upset because I can't book at POP with the free dining plan so I have to stay at All Star sports --- again. I was really hoping to stay at POP but I can't because they limited it. I could see maybe limiting the TOTAL who got the free dining plan- but what I don't get is limiting it at each specific resort to a certain number... that part doesn't make sense to me. why should it matter if I'm staying at POP with free dining plan or staying at ASSp with free dining plan? The room/pkg all costs the same... so that part confuses me. It sounds like to me it's just their way of trying to fill up each resort equally- which I guess I could understand but it bites for those of us who would like to stay at POP once in our lives. LOL

Well, technically a code is mentioned at the very bottom of the details on the Disney World website (it says ask for package code YNW) but you don't actually type it in if you book online since you're using a special link and it applies it for you in the online booking process. If you don't click the special link and just book through their regular online booking, the special promo isn't applied.

But it is my understanding that at least in the beginning of the promo, many were required to give a code when booking over the phone directly with Disney or a travel agent. The DIS website and Mousesavers list code YMP as well. Some travel agents might already have the codes noted and use them to check availability without asking for them.

Bottom line: it is not false advertising when they offer something like the dining plan and a disclaimer states that packages are limited. They have certain dates that qualify for the promotion, as well as limited availability within each resort. The free dining packages are being advertised on their website, in the Sunday paper and on the internet so it's not like they're keeping it a big secret from those who already have packages booked during that time. I make the effort to see if I can book it and if not, and I understand that they were limited because it states that. Even the DIS details on the free dining states it is subject to availability.

Anyway - I'm glad you're going to WDW and will enjoy the free dining (even though it's not at POP - but I would keep checking up until the last day of the promo!).

Have a good time.

 

[moopdog]

Pretty much you're all right... they only had a certain amount of packages available per resort. And by the way - am I the ONLY idiot who read the details on the "deal" and I swear it read it was only for the VALUE resorts!! This thread is the first I've read that people are staying in other resorts & getting free dining. Oh well, anyhoo...

I had to switch from ASMo to Sports because I added 5 nights to my stay and there wasn't anymore "deals" left at the Movies (or Pop) for my week (9/22-9/30). I am bummed because we REALLY wanted the Movies, but happy to get the free dining. Like DH said, hey it's just a place to sleep, right? I had to pick between Music & Sports (both sound like boring themes to me - stayed in Music once and was not thrilled with the theme).

So - that's what I know... only a predetermined number of packages per resort available. Really - I would expect nothing less than that, to be honest. No different than any other package, special or similar deal anywhere else. That's what makes this board so great - we find this stuff out FAST!

 

[WDWBetsy]

Pretty much you're all right... they only had a certain amount of packages available per resort. And by the way - am I the ONLY idiot who read the details on the "deal" and I swear it read it was only for the VALUE resorts!! This thread is the first I've read that people are staying in other resorts & getting free dining. Oh well, anyhoo...

I had to switch from ASMo to Sports because I added 5 nights to my stay and there wasn't anymore "deals" left at the Movies (or Pop) for my week (9/22-9/30). I am bummed because we REALLY wanted the Movies, but happy to get the free dining. Like DH said, hey it's just a place to sleep, right? I had to pick between Music & Sports (both sound like boring themes to me - stayed in Music once and was not thrilled with the theme).

So - that's what I know... only a predetermined number of packages per resort available. Really - I would expect nothing less than that, to be honest. No different than any other package, special or similar deal anywhere else. That's what makes this board so great - we find this stuff out FAST!

Sounds like you'll have fun! Have a wonderful time.

 

[skippyman111]

Skippyman- amen to that... it sure does pay to read this board and read all the things everyone posts here. Thank goodness for Disboard and all it's members!
But I guess that means you would have had to pay for the dining plan, during the free dining plan promotion, had you not known to call back and change it?

I guess I would have. That really stinks, but it's just like any money making outfit - they'll give you the discount, but you have to not be afraid to ask for it.

 

[LglBlonde]

It doesn't require a code. Read about it on the home page of dis home and click to read about the free dining plan. Not only do they state the code is not needed but I have just booked online with disney.com and didn't need a code.
I think when they have a special like during a specific time you can get the free dining plan- any and all that book a PKG (necessary to be able to get the dining plan) should then get the dining plan free. To me it seems like fraudulent advertising to advertise a free dining plan but then not only limit how many people can get it at each resort but also have people staying during that time actually PAYING for the dining plan!

I'm not worrying about what others are getting or not get- I just know 2 things:
1) I'd be very upset to find out they were having free dining plan while I was there but I paid for it. LOL
2) I'm just upset because I can't book at POP with the free dining plan so I have to stay at All Star sports --- again. I was really hoping to stay at POP but I can't because they limited it. I could see maybe limiting the TOTAL who got the free dining plan- but what I don't get is limiting it at each specific resort to a certain number... that part doesn't make sense to me. why should it matter if I'm staying at POP with free dining plan or staying at ASSp with free dining plan? The room/pkg all costs the same... so that part confuses me. It sounds like to me it's just their way of trying to fill up each resort equally- which I guess I could understand but it bites for those of us who would like to stay at POP once in our lives. LOL

Well I think the response to #2 is obvious! If they did not limit the number of free dining packages per resort, everyone would want to be at Pop and they would not be able to fill the AS resorts. Or everyone would want to be at WL and they could not fill the more expensive deluxes. It's not fraudulent b/c every time you see the advertisement, it says the number of packages and dates are limited. It pays to book early.

Here's a "word" to the wise too... my guess is that when you are w/in 45 days or just before then, there will be some cancellations b/c people will want their $200 back. So when you go to make your payment in full, check and see if there have been cancellations. You may pay $50 to change, but you may get Pop. Last year, we really wanted a King room at POR actually and had the Standard booked b/c Kings were SOLD OUT at both POR and POFQ. About 4 days out, I called and found out we could get a KING at POFQ and went for it.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Bottom line: it is not false advertising when they offer something like the dining plan and a disclaimer states that packages are limited.

Packages are limited is not the same as saying limited packages at each resort. LOL I mean like I said... I would maybe understand a limit on how many free dining plans they "give away" (because that's basically what they are doing- only if you know about it and ask for it LOL) but a limit at each resort stinks. For instance, had I known that.... I would have booked POP a few days ago when I was checking and it was available. I had no idea there was a limit at each resort for free dining plan. If I'd known I would have booked pronto- because I could change it later if I wanted. *still pouting* LOL

Well, I might look into changing later but even if there are openings and I have to pay $50 to change, I won't. I want this trip to be as cheap as possible and that defeats the purpose to then pay $50 more to stay there. LOL We just got back... so a return trip that quickly needs to be cheap as possible or DH will veto the whole thing. LOL

 

[LglBlonde]

Well, I might look into changing later but even if there are openings and I have to pay $50 to change, I won't. I want this trip to be as cheap as possible and that defeats the purpose to then pay $50 more to stay there. LOL We just got back... so a return trip that quickly needs to be cheap as possible or DH will veto the whole thing. LOL

If you call just before the 45 days, you may be able to change w/o a fee.

 

[Disney Fans]

Hey everyone,
I just read on another thread that Pop is sold out 1st week of Oct? Do you know about any other resorts selling out that week too? Because I am starting to wonder how crowed WDW will be that week? What do you all think?