******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[lacy1101]

I ran into this same thing. I got around it by booking on my iPhone using Safari instead of my computer. I also had to add as new guest for all people in party instead of using family and friends from the pull downs.

I tried from my phone as well, but ran in to the issue of when I clicked "Check Out," it simply reloaded my cart page. This issue also happened on my laptop, in addition to the F&F issue.

 

[dkdaisy]

How do you make another reservation with an existing reservation?

You can have more than one reservation at the same time. I had an existing reservation, book my two new ones (split stay), waited until I got confirmation emails and then cancelled my original one online. They're refunding the deposit. Could have done it all in one phone call, but didn't want to wait on hold and the site was working fine for me. Long story short, they don't really care if you have more than one reservation at the same time, as long as you pay your deposit.

 

[karaintn]

So what's the easiest way to keep checking? Looking for fd at the Poly, standard room 11/18 - 11/25. Should I keep the "results" page pulled up, which currently says "This resort is unavailable . . . " and just keep hitting "refresh"? Or do I need to back out of that and start at the beginning each time?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

To me Free Dining only made sense when booking a moderate resort before. It was barely worth it when Disney made you add park hoppers last couple of years, but it was still best discount if going in the Fall for parties of 3 or more (if again booking Moderate). But now that Moderate gets quick service only it's so not worth it! I priced out Port Orleans Riverside for our dates Aug 13-19 and upgraded the Dining plan to regular and was at $3325 for 2 adults, 1 child under 10.
It was only $160 more if we did the same resort, same dates with the room discount and added the dining plan. Ok yes free dining still cheaper but barely...

Now at Wilderness Lodge it would cost us $3541 so only $200 more to go to a deluxe now.

I think it depends what your family was going to do anyway... if you usually stay at value and add park hoppers and you like quick service only.. great. We like the regular dining plan and the moderate resorts. There is no way I will pay $500 more for the same thing at Riverside as last year.
We will be staying at a deluxe this year, but most likely with a good room discount we already booked with.

I believe this is Disney trying to phase out the Free Dining promo. The sooner we let go of it the better... By the way I love the Disney Dining Plan so I'm sad about it

I think that this year's FD offer tells us that Disney is more focused on filling Value and Deluxe resorts during this time period. The old FD plan pushed people to Moderates - this one pushes folks away from Moderates.

 

[momofbk]

Well, boo....i missed out on FD this year. Unfortunately due to a disabled member of our party, we need a specific type of accessible room, and there's no availability under the FD offer for the several date ranges when we could have gone. Trying to decide on plan B for a vacation location this year...but wherever it is, it'll be inferior to WDW.
Is it just me or are there just a lot fewer FD rooms available this year?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I am trying to change my reservation. I can see it, however where it used to say "change reservation", it is just a spinning wheel.

It was doing that in Chrome for me just spinning and spinning and it was only that part; I had the "Change Reservation" button for my ADRs. I switched to Microsoft Edge and the button appeared and I went through the steps just fine. FWIW I got the ability to select the "Change Reservation" button on my phone as well through the Internet app (not the Chrome app) but I didn't want to do it all on my phone (was nervous about all that). I was doing the Room Only discount not the Free Dining but it should be the same process.

Also FWIW it took just a few mins for my updated reservation (changing from Standard to Preferred room but still at All-Star Sports) to reflect in MDE though I only looked through my laptop instead of my phone as I don't have the MDE app downloaded yet.

 

[Kiki_pa]

After spending over an hour trying to call and waiting on hold for almost 2.5 hours when I finally got through, we have free dining! And we didn't have to switch resorts! Still at POP!

Happy for you! Hoping for the same results once I get off hold!

Just curious was it available online before you called and you just weren't able to get it modify online? Or was it not available and you called to see what they could do? Was it due to the Disney agents help that you were able to get it?

 

[fasa77]

After only getting 2 hours of sleep, I had to take a quick nap before everyone else in the house got up, so just now posting my update: Got through the offer & past Goofy's shenanigans a little after 5:30am & scored our exact reservations we were hoping for! Had 2 iPads going simultaneously to get 2 separate rooms--1 for us & 1 for my parents. AKL standard Nov. 14-19 for DD's birthday on the 14th. So very happy!! Thanks to everyone for your help! Hoping the best for all of you, too!

I wish that it would allow you to book more than one room at a time... that would be so much easier!

 

[Mollymovacca]

I was able to modify our 11/26-11/30 standard view CBR room to FD by using the Disney Visa link (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/resort-parks-stay-dine-visa-package/)

I'm relieved, but stressed because the update isn't showing up in MDE. I did get an email confirming the successful change, so my guess is, the site is just overloaded and hasn't updated yet. I'll call in later today or tomorrow when hold times calm down. Good luck to everyone still trying!!! I got up at 3:45 (after maybe 2 hours of sleep) so today at work will not be fun....

How did you modify through that link? I can't figure it out!

 

[robinb]

Well, boo....i missed out on FD this year. Unfortunately due to a disabled member of our party, we need a specific type of accessible room, and there's no availability under the FD offer for the several date ranges when we could have gone. Trying to decide on plan B for a vacation location this year...but wherever it is, it'll be inferior to WDW.
Is it just me or are there just a lot fewer FD rooms available this year?

Hmmm ... is there availability for those rooms without the FD discount and is there FD availability for the same view but not accessible? If so, I might call and see if a manager can finagle a discount for you.

 

[PrincessMommy75]

Well, it is done! Many hours of sleep lost and 357 busy signals later. I kept getting the blue spinning symbol when I clicked change reservation. I watched and watched as it tried to hypnotize me into a deep sleep, it never stopped. After attempting my Mac, work computer, phone, and ipad. I was about to lose it! Finally my husbands work computer worked like magic! Mickey popped up on his little suitcase and said to wait 30 sec (was actually more like 5 min) but I was able to modify my CB standard view with gift cards to free dining!!!! We are kind of looking forward to the freedom of QS and the food and wine booths and extra goodies with the gift cards!

COngratulations! What are your dates?

 

[maxiesmom]

My dates are September 29 - October 7, my modify prompt says room not available for those dates, party size. ??

I get the same message for Oct 18-23. I'm wondering if all of October is blacked out. Wish they would just list the dates.

 

[GMU MOM]

I got a standard view at Sports. I think what is available depends on your dates.

I'm just wondering if something wasn't available online but when calling got different availability.

 

[Mollymovacca]

*sobs*

My Poly standard... I'm booked for a stay, but no FD availability at this time.

So if you're going to cancel between sept 17-23rd and have FD for a Poly standard let me know first.

So sorry bestie!! I'm in the same boat for our CBR ressie!! I will be calling and stalking the site for the next few weeks!

 

[FoxC63]

After spending over an hour trying to call and waiting on hold for almost 2.5 hours when I finally got through, we have free dining! And we didn't have to switch resorts! Still at POP!

Did you have to modify an existing reservation or did you have to get new ones?

 

[monorailrabbit]

is there any point to continuously refresh the website or am i wasting my time and just making myself more depressed?

 

[sbbwdw]

COngratulations! What are your dates?

Thanks!!! 9/25-9/29

 

[Ejw5]

Just wandering if anyone had any luck getting FD with a contemporary standard room?

 

[K-Jen]

I

I get the same message for Oct 18-23. I'm wondering if all of October is blacked out. Wish they would just list the dates.

already have reservations. But, when I add free dining, it says no rooms available.

 

[Tonyz]

Hmm... stuff is starting to open. If I book 5 nights can I later change it to 3?