FREE DINING UPDATE- RUMOR and SPECULATION / Update Page 80 !

[doccoc2002]

That is backfiring since now many resorts are already full so why should Disney bother to offer free dining? Everyone booking early is ruining any change of a great offer!

Where are you getting this info? I can't imagine that they are full. We switched ours around to a different resort and there was no problem finding rooms for our Grand Gathering.

Disney Visa holders have until April 24th to book with the current offer available to them (kids stay, play and eat free) That's a Saturday. I'm hoping they announce the fall promo that Monday April 26th to the cardmembers and then on Thursday April 29th to the general public!

I am hoping for this too! I have seen DV have 2 codes out at the same time but if they are concerned with May they may not release it until after the April promo...Here's hoping for April 26th!!!!

 

[Melanie230]

That is backfiring since now many resorts are already full so why should Disney bother to offer free dining? Everyone booking early is ruining any change of a great offer!

I won't book early simply because if there is no FD we won't go to Disney. But the resorts are not even close to full this fall. Not to mention the restuarants. I have been able to book every single ADR I need without any issues at all. I was even able to snag a Fantasmic/Dinner at Hollywood and Vine. If no FD is offered than we can just cancel our ADR's.

 

[jodirn]

We just booked our trip last week for the end of September. We are going even if a discount is not offered. I specifically asked when I booked if a discount comes up do we have to cancel our current reservation and rebook and the answer was NO. We could MODIFY our current reservation. She said any discount whether it be % off or FD we would qualify for. I guess if you are only going if they offer a discount this is not helpful. It does not seem they are very full for Fall because we had the pick of rooms, in different level rooms, in different types of resorts. Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[trtl6941]

That is backfiring since now many resorts are already full so why should Disney bother to offer free dining? Everyone booking early is ruining any change of a great offer!

Yeah, but at the same time, if you know you are going regardless, why not book now? I booked and of course am really hoping for FD, but I don't want to sit around and wait and wait and wait just to find out it isn't going to be offered and then I have lost out on the resort I wanted! I would hate for people to think I ruined their chances of a great offer for booking my vacation!

I can see your point being valid for those that are booking hoping FD will be offered, but plan to cancel their ressie if it isn't.

 

[gigi1313]

"Booking now guarantees you absolutely nothing in regards to the fall promo except your ADR's and then only if you don't end up changing your dates later too.. in which case you'd have to switch your ADRs too.."

wow, you went nearly a whole three days without having to post that!! i think it was a record!

 

[gigi1313]

Please tell me that your sources say it will be after next week. I know none of us on here want to wait any longer, but I have a selfish reason- I will be out of the country all of next week. I was hoping either it would come out today or wait until April 26.

have you considered working w/a Disney TA? that way if on the off chance it does get released while you are out of the country, a TA could put a hold on a ressie... just a thought...

 

[CanadianGuy]

That is backfiring since now many resorts are already full so why should Disney bother to offer free dining? Everyone booking early is ruining any change of a great offer!

Not quite sure they are 'full' -- we have seen ONE post about one resort on certain dates being 'somewhat full' -- but I doubt very much that's the case at all resorts at this point.

People pre book in anticipation of free dining every year and every year someone comes here to post this same thing. The bookings haven't "ruined" free dining in the past, so why should this year be any different?

And in years past../ some resorts (like Pop Century) and certain others that are very popular had very little F/D room inventory ... because they were so well 'pre-booked' with F/D hopers. (hope-ers) I suspect more than a few folks who booked now to secure "their favorite resort/view" will be forced to move in the fall for whatever promo comes out.

We just booked our trip last week for the end of September. We are going even if a discount is not offered. I specifically asked when I booked if a discount comes up do we have to cancel our current reservation and rebook and the answer was NO. We could MODIFY our current reservation. She said any discount whether it be % off or FD we would qualify for. I guess if you are only going if they offer a discount this is not helpful. It does not seem they are very full for Fall because we had the pick of rooms, in different level rooms, in different types of resorts. Keep your fingers crossed!

Modifying your current reservation WILL ONLY work if the resort you are currently booked at has rooms allotted to whatever the fall promo is.

If you don't - you'll be rebooking at a new resort. Technically it's not a cancellation per se -- but what you have booked now guarantees you nothing in relation to the promo except possibly your ADRs.

If you are able to switch your reservation around later - you would have just as much luck making a new reservation at that same time.

Regardless.. people feel the trip is more 'real' when it's booked now -- but I cannot stress enough now - booking now guarantees you NOTHING for the fall promo and actually reduces (however slightly) the promo room inventory at that resort you MUST have.

I keep repeating that. Not because I'm a jerk.

But because every year when the fall promo is announced - people get all bent out of shape because they pre-booked in anticipation of the promo -- thinking they were ahead of the herd -- and then they have to switch resorts and possibly dates because they weren't aware that the promo inventory is completely separate from what they already have booked.

Book if you must - but realize the prebooking for what it is -- something that makes you feel better - not something that actually guarantees you anything.



Knox

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Not quite sure they are 'full' -- we have seen ONE post about one resort on certain dates being 'somewhat full' -- but I doubt very much that's the case at all resorts at this point.




And in years past../ some resorts (like Pop Century) and certain others that are very popular had very little F/D room inventory ... because they were so well 'pre-booked' with F/D hopers. (hope-ers) I suspect more than a few folks who booked now to secure "their favorite resort/view" will be forced to move in the fall for whatever promo comes out.



Modifying your current reservation WILL ONLY work if the resort you are currently booked at has rooms allotted to whatever the fall promo is.

If you don't - you'll be rebooking at a new resort. Technically it's not a cancellation per se -- but what you have booked now guarantees you nothing in relation to the promo except possibly your ADRs.

If you are able to switch your reservation around later - you would have just as much luck making a new reservation at that same time.

Regardless.. people feel the trip is more 'real' when it's booked now -- but I cannot stress enough now - booking now guarantees you NOTHING for the fall promo and actually reduces (however slightly) the promo room inventory at that resort you MUST have.

I keep repeating that. Not because I'm a jerk.

But because every year when the fall promo is announced - people get all bent out of shape because they pre-booked in anticipation of the promo -- thinking they were ahead of the herd -- and then they have to switch resorts and possibly dates because they weren't aware that the promo inventory is completely separate from what they already have booked.

Book if you must - but realize the prebooking for what it is -- something that makes you feel better - not something that actually guarantees you anything.



Knox

I don't think this is necessarily accurate info. For example, I was booked at rack rate. When a discount was available, the discount rooms sold out before I got the chance to change my reservation. The CM I talked to ended up upgrading me, because the discounted rooms were sold out.

 

[kerabriann]

Well, I went ahead and booked using our PIN for free QSDP rather than waiting any more.

August 13-27 at CSR!!

Haven't booked our flights yet, as I'm still hoping for a FD offer, and then we'll just try and make the change to our ressie, but since we're going either way, it just made sense to go ahead and book it now!!

what dates are your pin? mine are thru Aug15 and we are leaving the 16-24 I even called and spoke to a supervisor at disney because if I knew about the pin we would be going in June. She couldnt help me to say the least. There are 10 of us going we need some kind of promo.

 

[metsno1]

what dates are your pin? mine are thru Aug15 and we are leaving the 16-24 I even called and spoke to a supervisor at disney because if I knew about the pin we would be going in June. She couldnt help me to say the least. There are 10 of us going we need some kind of promo.

My PIN is good for stays through August 14. When I called the first time, the CM told me that the stay needed to conclude by that date, but that just seemed wrong to me. So I went online to book with the PIN, and sure enough, I had no trouble starting my ressie on the 14th and extending my stay for two full weeks with free QS dining. We eventually decided to bump back to the 13th because the flights-at least right now-are cheaper that day.

But we haven't booked our flights yet. We'll roll the dice and wait to see if the full FD is offered starting on the 15th of August. If it is, then we'll change our ressies to the 16th through 30th to take advantage of that, but either way, we're going!!

 

[Andrea73]

That is backfiring since now many resorts are already full so why should Disney bother to offer free dining? Everyone booking early is ruining any change of a great offer!

If it makes you feel any better. I just cancelled our Nov trip. I changed my dates when the current Visa offer came out. I was not going to hold my breath for FD and a room only discount at the POP is not all that. We have two kids the right age to benefit.

So maybe it could the fall cancellation that pushes the execs over the edge and forces them to announce the FD!

 

[CanadianGuy]

I don't think this is necessarily accurate info. For example, I was booked at rack rate. When a discount was available, the discount rooms sold out before I got the chance to change my reservation. The CM I talked to ended up upgrading me, because the discounted rooms were sold out.

Actually that speaks to exactly what I was talking about.

IN your case you got pixie dusted (by the sounds of it) but the discounted rooms were sold out before you got to upgrade and so you had to upgrade to something else to get the discount.

That's the same idea as downgrading or switching resorts.

Let's say you had a Pop Standard room. Those were sold out .. your choices were to upgrade to preferred to get the promo or switch resorts.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Having the booking guaranteed you nothing when it came to the promo.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Actually that speaks to exactly what I was talking about.

IN your case you got pixie dusted (by the sounds of it) but the discounted rooms were sold out before you got to upgrade and so you had to upgrade to something else to get the discount.

That's the same idea as downgrading or switching resorts.

Let's say you had a Pop Standard room. Those were sold out .. your choices were to upgrade to preferred to get the promo or switch resorts.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Having the booking guaranteed you nothing when it came to the promo.

It guarantees you that you're going to get a room at THAT resort, doesn't it?

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I have been on the Disney website many times in the last month or so pricing all different scenerios, all different resorts, all different views and not once have I had a message that said anything was not available. So I would stop panicing about everything being full. It just isn't true.

ETA: I am booked and I will take advantage of free dining if it comes out. I do realize that I am not guaranteed the same resort or room type. No big deal. I am willing to take any moderate resort. The only one we ever stayed at was CBR. We loved it there, but want to try something new, so that would be my last choice of any of them if free dining comes out, but if it was the only one availabe we would take it in a heartbeat.

 

[CanadianGuy]

It guarantees you that you're going to get a room at THAT resort, doesn't it?

Yes at the rack rate or whatever you booked it at.

It does not guarantee you a room at that resort on the promo.

Some resorts have ZERO promo inventory for example. Others have very little.. but regardless..

 

[trtl6941]

So...CanadianGuy....I totally get what you are saying, I do! But.....are you saying that people that are hoping for FD, but traveling regardless, should still wait to book? What if FD doesn't come out and by the time you come to terms with that your resort is booked? Isn't that essentially the same thing? I guess I am just confused with the logic overall (which doesn't say a lot - I am sleep deprived these days )

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Yes at the rack rate or whatever you booked it at.

It does not guarantee you a room at that resort on the promo.

Some resorts have ZERO promo inventory for example. Others have very little.. but regardless..

That's not true. It guarantees you that if you're booked, and a promo comes out, you're going to get SOME sort of discount.

 

[Huff]

It guarantees you that you're going to get a room at THAT resort, doesn't it?

Yes but at the price quoted when making the original booking. It does not guarantee you a room at that resort at the price of any subsequent promo offerred.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

What I'm saying though, is that if you book at rack rate, you can ALWAYS switch to a promo. They don't sell out of a promo. If those promo rooms are sold out, they will do SOMETHING for you to lessen your price point.

 

[disneyfan55]

What I'm saying though, is that if you book at rack rate, you can ALWAYS switch to a promo. They don't sell out of a promo. If those promo rooms are sold out, they will do SOMETHING for you to lessen your price point.

They may offer another resort but if it's sold out it's sold out. There could be another offer but that's about it.