Free Dining Oct-Dec Is Here!!

[MichiganDVC]

I don't understand why people would still pre-book if they have been told how FD works. It can't help them in any way to do that. We need to form a FD Awareness group.

I might be confused, so maybe someone can help. I have a DVC room for November, so I'm out of the FD sweepstakes. However, my in-laws already have a 2 week vacation planned at Beach Club for the beginning of November. I was always under the impression that they could call Disney and either cancel their reservation and rebook with FD, or have FD attached to their room.

Where did I go wrong?

TIA

 

[black562]

Besides the Portuguese link above, I've also been sent today--but asked not to share--Disney's artwork for promoting the Spanish-language version of South American free dining, with the exact same book-by and eligible dates.

Related and RO South American links and info are being posted by people onto my facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/**************

And if that last bit is spam let me know and I'll edit it out! The last thing in the world I want is to spam my friends at the dis!!!

I've been speaking with my friend in Brazil and its the same deal. All of them are saying August 1 as well. But I'm just frazzled today...it's seemed like such a twilight zone kinda day.

 

[DavidHobart]

I was always under the impression that they could call Disney and either cancel their reservation and rebook with FD, or have FD attached to their room.

Where did I go wrong?

TIA

Think of it this way and maybe it'll help: there's either FD rooms available their dates/view level or not. If there are, then they could either re-book, or make a whole new reservation and cancel the old one. If there aren't any eligible rooms

then they can't do either. So in effect it doesn't matter if you are booked. What matters is whether any FD room inventory is left when you call...​

 

[saskdw]

I might be confused, so maybe someone can help. I have a DVC room for November, so I'm out of the FD sweepstakes. However, my in-laws already have a 2 week vacation planned at Beach Club for the beginning of November. I was always under the impression that they could call Disney and either cancel their reservation and rebook with FD, or have FD attached to their room.

Where did I go wrong?

TIA

They can change their reservation if there are rooms available in the FD allotment. However already having a reservation doesn't guarantee they will get a FD room. People calling for the first time will have the same opportunity until the FD alotted rooms run out.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

does anyone else feel sorry for all the CM's that had to deal with irate callers this morning?

I do feel sorry for them, but no one on here seemed to be upset with the cms. They obviously are just an innocent victim of circumstance.

 

[MichiganDVC]

Think of it this way and maybe it'll help: there's either FD rooms available their dates/view level or not. If there are, then they could either re-book, or make a whole new reservation and cancel the old one. If there aren't any eligible rooms

then they can't do either. So in effect it doesn't matter if you are booked. What matters is whether any FD room inventory is left when you call...​

They can change their reservation if there are rooms available in the FD allotment. However already having a reservation doesn't guarantee they will get a FD room. People calling for the first time will have the same opportunity until the FD alotted rooms run out.

Ok, thanks. This is what I thought. They were going regardless and only wanted to stay at Beach Club. I just thought that FD would be a nice, extra perk for them if they were there anyway and wanted to keep my eye out for the promotion.​

 

[su_A_ve]

I always said that DIS members are a grain of sand in the big shoreline.

We could discuss upcoming potential promotions like FD and even book ahead knowingly that it would reduce available capacity. But the small percentage would still not make a dent.

Fast forward and with the power of social media, DIS member might still be a few grains of sand, but now we reach out to a LOT more people via Twitter and Facebook. More and more folks listen, so a rumor becomes more than just that.

So now, not just a few folks pre book - A LOT do, and what happens is that resorts are now filled, triggering the "NO MORE FD" alarm. Result = offer pulled.

Now, many will still keep the reservation, but a lot will cancel.

I think we just need to blame ourselves. If were not going to go with FD, there was no reason to book ahead.

In any case, big thanks to Black and Dave.

 

[smitch425]

I always said that DIS members are a grain of sand in the big shoreline.

We could discuss upcoming potential promotions like FD and even book ahead knowingly that it would reduce available capacity. But the small percentage would still not make a dent.

Fast forward and with the power of social media, DIS member might still be a few grains of sand, but now we reach out to a LOT more people via Twitter and Facebook. More and more folks listen, so a rumor becomes more than just that.

So now, not just a few folks pre book - A LOT do, and what happens is that resorts are now filled, triggering the "NO MORE FD" alarm. Result = offer pulled.

Now, many will still keep the reservation, but a lot will cancel.

I think we just need to blame ourselves. If were not going to go with FD, there was no reason to book ahead.

In any case, big thanks to Black and Dave.

No evidence that the offer has been pulled. It is likely that they just didn't offer it to DV holders first, which also happened for this same discount timeframe in 2010.

ETA: I agree with you on the booking thing though. I always say book if you are going regardless of a discount, and if you won't go without a discount, don't book until it is released.

 

[black562]

The offer hasn't been pulled. It is likely that they just didn't offer it to DV holders first, which also happened for this same discount timeframe in 2010.

Yeah I'm not cracking open the bourbon just yet...I'll hang on until Thursday and will then determine if heavy drinking will be involved. Would anyone care to join me?

 

[DavidHobart]

Yeah I'm not cracking open the bourbon just yet...I'll hang on until Thursday and will then determine if heavy drinking will be involved. Would anyone care to join me?

I'm in!

 

[su_A_ve]

Yeah I'm not cracking open the bourbon just yet...I'll hang on until Thursday and will then determine if heavy drinking will be involved. Would anyone care to join me?

I'm in...

SO glad I was able to use a PIN... But have a friend (actually my boss) going at the same time but different resorts so can't extend the offer...

 

[black562]

I'm in!

I didn't doubt you would be. It is a very fine 16 year aged single barrel bourbon...so we should go down the tubes quite gracefully.

 

[Greta]

I have watched this circus unfold today and have read everyone's thoughts, ideas, and rants. I have come to the conclusion that the old saying is true, if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing at all. I appreciate Joe and anyone else that has some insights into what MIGHT be coming. It is fun to dream and ponder and wander what if... Yes we are going regardless, but free dining is awesome and room only discounts are a blessing. Instead of being ugly to others just bite your tongues or in this case your fingers. Now that it is looking as though it will happen, based on what is happening in South America, these naysayers look silly for talking that way. Let's be happy and enjoy our common denominator-DISNEY. Life is too short to argue and be petty.

Nicely said. Thank you

 

[bellefaith42]

I know I'm a newbie on here. Just wanted to add my thanks to Joe and David for sharing the information. It's appreciated. I also wanted to comment about pre-booking. In my case, (family of five) the FD is by far the best deal for us. We want to go Dec 12 so hearing that FD is possible gives us hope.

I understand the logic of not pre-booking and holding out for FD but I also REALLY want to secure good ADRs. So we did a room only reservation just before the 180 days, booked the meals and are waiting to see if FD comes out. If it doesn't, hubby says we have to cancel . It's those darn ADRs that force the pre-booking.

 

[saskdw]

Yeah I'm not cracking open the bourbon just yet...I'll hang on until Thursday and will then determine if heavy drinking will be involved. Would anyone care to join me?

I won't let you drink alone!!

 

[jcarwash]

I understand the logic of not pre-booking and holding out for FD but I also REALLY want to secure good ADRs. So we did a room only reservation just before the 180 days, booked the meals and are waiting to see if FD comes out. If it doesn't, hubby says we have to cancel . It's those darn ADRs that force the pre-booking.

You can book ADRs without having a resort reservation...? The disadvantage would be having to make the ADRs for each day of your trip at each 180 day mark vs. doing them all on the 180 day mark.

 

[saskdw]

I know I'm a newbie on here. Just wanted to add my thanks to Joe and David for sharing the information. It's appreciated. I also wanted to comment about pre-booking. In my case, (family of five) the FD is by far the best deal for us. We want to go Dec 12 so hearing that FD is possible gives us hope.

I understand the logic of not pre-booking and holding out for FD but I also REALLY want to secure good ADRs. So we did a room only reservation just before the 180 days, booked the meals and are waiting to see if FD comes out. If it doesn't, hubby says we have to cancel . It's those darn ADRs that force the pre-booking.

You can still do ADR's 180 days out with a room reservation. Its 190 days with a room reserved. I've never had any problems getting the ADR's I want at the 180 day mark. I had my ADR's made over a month before I booked our trip this year. Particularly now that some of the better places require a credit card to reserve I find ADR's are still readily available 3 months out. We are going in mid December and all the same places are available today that I booked 6 weeks ago.

 

[saskdw]

You can book ADRs without having a resort reservation...? The disadvantage would be having to make the ADRs for each day of your trip at each 180 day mark vs. doing them all on the 180 day mark.

Doing them one day at a time is half the fun!

 

[Rileygirl]

I might be confused, so maybe someone can help. I have a DVC room for November, so I'm out of the FD sweepstakes. However, my in-laws already have a 2 week vacation planned at Beach Club for the beginning of November. I was always under the impression that they could call Disney and either cancel their reservation and rebook with FD, or have FD attached to their room.

Where did I go wrong?

TIA

MichiganDVC

I wonder if the Room Only discount would be a better deal for your inlaws, should such a beast be offered.
If its just 2 people, and its a deluxe resort, often the room only is a better deal discount wise.
So, you should watch for both types of discounts, and then see if any of them apply to the beachclub for the dates of your in-laws.

Good Luck to all
'May the odds be forever in your favour'

 

[jcarwash]

You can still do ADR's 180 days out with a room reservation. Its 190 days with a room reserved. I've never had any problems getting the ADR's I want at the 180 day mark.

With a room reserved it's still 180 days, but you can do up to 10 days of your trip on that day by tying your reservation to your ADRs. It 180+10, but that's not 190 days out.