Would this work? Free dining.

[hcmommy]

I noticed that one of the dates for free dining this year is 11/12-11/18, 11/18 is a Thursday. We are going to Disney next year and 11/18 would be out first day it is a Friday. We would be there from 11/18-11/26 Do you think if I book for 11/17 instead which is the Thursday I would have a chance of getting in on free dining next year for our whole stay?

Hope this makes sense.

 

[su_A_ve]

For FD, you have to arrive at least on on the last day of the offer.

 

[Missytara]

I noticed that one of the dates for free dining this year is 11/12-11/18, 11/18 is a Thursday. We are going to Disney next year and 11/18 would be out first day it is a Friday. We would be there from 11/18-11/26 Do you think if I book for 11/17 instead which is the Thursday I would have a chance of getting in on free dining next year for our whole stay?

Hope this makes sense.

Hard to tell, considering a free dining plan hasn't come out for that time of year yet.

Some of the free dining plans this year allowed you to do the entire week as long as you checked in on the last day. One of them said you had to be on-site for the entire time.

Until the actual announcement is made, you will not know whether it is one or the other. The best is to book your package now and then watch for a free dining discount for that time period. If it does come out, you can apply it to your existing reservation, if there are rooms available at your resort to do so - you may have to change resorts to keep the free dining. It just all depends whether that resort needs to fill rooms.

 

[Missytara]

For FD, you have to arrive at least on on the last day of the offer.

The offer isn't even out yet; she is conjecturing since it is offered this year, that it will be offered next year.

Also, one of the free dining plans said you had to be there the entire week to take advantage of it.

 

[hcmommy]

I am wondering if the dates generally follow the same pattern. That is what I am trying to base it on, although it's not guaranteed I know. I am really hoping we can catch the tail end of one and get in on it. It would save my family of 2 adults 2 kids a lot.

 

[su_A_ve]

Also, one of the free dining plans said you had to be there the entire week to take advantage of it.

Which one? I've never seen an FD offer that had such requirement... Definitely not the current one...

 

[su_A_ve]

I am wondering if the dates generally follow the same pattern. That is what I am trying to base it on, although it's not guaranteed I know. I am really hoping we can catch the tail end of one and get in on it. It would save my family of 2 adults 2 kids a lot.

If you are firm on your dates, you should plan on not having a PIN, or wait. In order for an offer to be applied to an existing reservation, it requires availability for that resort and category.

If there's no availability, then you would have to change your reservation, which for all intents and purposes, it's the same as making a new one.

Having a reservation is actually less helpful. Offers come out based on low reservation projections. The more reservations, the less chances of offers. That's why you see some upcoming %off rooms with different discounts depending on the resort.

 

[Missytara]

Which one? I've never seen an FD offer that had such requirement... Definitely not the current one...

Not the current one; but there was one that I remember was for a short period and had specific dates you had to be there.

 

[Hemlock]

I am wondering if the dates generally follow the same pattern. That is what I am trying to base it on, although it's not guaranteed I know. I am really hoping we can catch the tail end of one and get in on it. It would save my family of 2 adults 2 kids a lot.

Here is a link to historical wdw discounts

http://www.mousesavers.com/historicalwdwdiscounts.html#rack


Hope this helps!

 

[Missytara]

If you are firm on your dates, you should plan on not having a PIN, or wait. In order for an offer to be applied to an existing reservation, it requires availability for that resort and category.

If there's no availability, then you would have to change your reservation, which for all intents and purposes, it's the same as making a new one.

Having a reservation is actually less helpful. Offers come out based on low reservation projections. The more reservations, the less chances of offers. That's why you see some upcoming %off rooms with different discounts depending on the resort.

I have to agree with part of your statement; it is good to go ahead and book your dates if you already are set on those. If a pin comes out later, it is just icing on the cake.

However, I have to say I had a reservation since February, and got the monster pin code and was able to apply it to my ressie. I was quite surprised because it seems like they never have a discount/promo at POR being the most popular resort for a family of 5. I was so lucky to get it this year - my trip had already been booked and paid off - so for me, it was even better.

 

[clanmcculloch]

In 2009 the last day of the free dining promotion in December was also the Thursday (12/17). My guess would be that it would be same in 2011, but this is purely a guess.

I don't remember a free dining promotion that required your entire trip to fall during the dates of the promotion. When did that happen? I only remember free dining promotions where the first day of your trip had to fall during the promotion. I do remember December 2009 through February 2010 package promotions that required all the days to fall within the valid dates but I thought that was the 4/3, 5/2 promotion only that had that requirement. Maybe I'm remembering wrong.

 

[hcmommy]

I already have my package booked and paid the deposit. I think I may just move it up a day to the 17th just in case. We are going either way and I am budgeting for full price on everything, it would just be icing on the cake to get free dining since that is just an expensive week to go and there likely will be no other discounts of any kind offered during that week. We are only flexible within a day or two because we need to go during my son's and our Thanksgiving Break from school. I don't mind him missing a day or two since he'll only be in kindergarten but he can't miss more than that. Thanks everyone

 

[Sandisw]

I already have my package booked and paid the deposit. I think I may just move it up a day to the 17th just in case. We are going either way and I am budgeting for full price on everything, it would just be icing on the cake to get free dining since that is just an expensive week to go and there likely will be no other discounts of any kind offered during that week. We are only flexible within a day or two because we need to go during my son's and our Thanksgiving Break from school. I don't mind him missing a day or two since he'll only be in kindergarten but he can't miss more than that. Thanks everyone

I don't know if I would change the dates specifically for this. When a promotion comes out, there are only some many rooms that will qualify and having a reservation already does not guarantee that you will be able apply the discount to your current reservatin. Many times people can since they call as soon as things are released.

If going on the 17th is not an issue and that is when you prefer to go, then I say change. But, if the 18th is better and you prefer that date, keep it as is and then adjust when and if a promotion is announced that affects your dates.

Good luck!

 

[loganjared]

I called about the free dining that is offered now for our June trip and asked if I come in early so that I am there for part of free dining if I could get it and they said only for the days it is offered. We were looking at being there 3 days of free dining and 5 days after it is expired and they said only 3 days would be free. On top of that they said they would have to do it as two reservations so we may even be moved to a different room half way through our trip. We are going to stick with our original plan of 6/10-6/18 and hope that a discount comes out for that time.

 

[stairstepmom]

Sorry to butt in - I was just curious as I didn't realize you could apply an offer for free dining AFTER your reservation has already been made? You just call and ask them to apply it?

Also, if you've already paid the reservation in full, instead of just making the deposit, does that make a difference or would they still let you apply the offer and refund you the dining portion?

We're planning arrival 12/10 of next year which happens to coincide with a free dining offer for this year, so I'll be on the look out if it's something we might be able to take advantage of!

 

[Rachaelt]

Also, one of the free dining plans said you had to be there the entire week to take advantage of it.

I'm a reservation agent. They all go by the date of arrival. As long as you arrive within the travel date, it will apply for your whole length of stay.
I called about the free dining that is offered now for our June trip and asked if I come in early so that I am there for part of free dining if I could get it and they said only for the days it is offered. We were looking at being there 3 days of free dining and 5 days after it is expired and they said only 3 days would be free. On top of that they said they would have to do it as two reservations so we may even be moved to a different room half way through our trip. We are going to stick with our original plan of 6/10-6/18 and hope that a discount comes out for that time.

I'm sorry that you were misinformed. It will apply for the whole length of stay as long as you arrive between 5/27-6/2. And it is just one reservation, not two.

 

[bjscheel]

Sorry to butt in - I was just curious as I didn't realize you could apply an offer for free dining AFTER your reservation has already been made? You just call and ask them to apply it?

Also, if you've already paid the reservation in full, instead of just making the deposit, does that make a difference or would they still let you apply the offer and refund you the dining portion?

We're planning arrival 12/10 of next year which happens to coincide with a free dining offer for this year, so I'll be on the look out if it's something we might be able to take advantage of!

Yes, you can attempt to add an offer to your existing reservation. If they have rooms that qualify still available you should be able to apply the discount. Make sure they get it done though- in 2008 I called to add free dining and never got a confirmation email. I called back in a day or two and they could see where my CM started something but didn't complete it. If I hadn't called back I wouldn't have gotten it! That call I got the confirmation email within a couple of hours.

I have also called to ask about applying a discount and been told it couldn't be done. I just called back and got a different CM who did it no problem.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I called about the free dining that is offered now for our June trip and asked if I come in early so that I am there for part of free dining if I could get it and they said only for the days it is offered. We were looking at being there 3 days of free dining and 5 days after it is expired and they said only 3 days would be free. On top of that they said they would have to do it as two reservations so we may even be moved to a different room half way through our trip. We are going to stick with our original plan of 6/10-6/18 and hope that a discount comes out for that time.

Call back and talk to a different CM. The CM booking your reservation was wrong. You are eligible for free dining for the entire duration of your trip.

 

[tinka-belle]

Sorry to butt in - I was just curious as I didn't realize you could apply an offer for free dining AFTER your reservation has already been made? You just call and ask them to apply it?

Also, if you've already paid the reservation in full, instead of just making the deposit, does that make a difference or would they still let you apply the offer and refund you the dining portion?

We're planning arrival 12/10 of next year which happens to coincide with a free dining offer for this year, so I'll be on the look out if it's something we might be able to take advantage of!

Yes, you can. If it's after your final payment and there's a price reduction they would take the $50 (current price) penalty from your refund for downgrading the cost of your trip. Within 14 days of your trip the penalty is $65 (current price) for the change.

This is assuming that your room category and resort have FD rooms for your dates. Rooms allotted for promotions are limited. You might have to chage room category or resort for the FD to apply. Best to call Disney as soon as FD applies to your travel dates, IF it does.