Free Dining Watch 2009 - Dates Released!! Update post 1

[HLAuburn]

Originally Posted by mermaid&cinderella

If only it was available to Canadians

Are you serious? I had NO idea! Maybe you should consider moving to the States!

[mermaid&cinderella]

Originally Posted by HLAuburn

Are you serious? I had NO idea! Maybe you should consider moving to the States!

Don't say that too loud....if my dh hears you he will say "I told you so"....LOL
Oh he wants to move down there but we have alot of good up here, its hard to make the adjustment Don't worry I spend lots of money in the great ole USA.

But I should really write someone about us not being able to get the Visa....I would soooo love to have Mickey on my credit card and get all the perks too!

[Cupmom]

Back in 2007 we heard rumors a few weeks before. People were posting info on ads they saw and travel agents had posted info too. This year there is nothing. Making me a bit nervous

[Cupmom]

In 2007 Disney Visa cardholders could book the day after Easter 4/8 I think. We knew before hand because my friend took off of work so we could all be on the phone at 7am

[chumsmum0916]

Hi, is this the price for 2 to fly from TO? I looked into booking from Detroit and for 2 of us to fly it's $278 US. I am thinking of similar dates as yours, and staying at Pop Century hopefully (DD loves it there)

[meljw1960]

Originally Posted by ZeroToHero

They tell you in advance. They'll put it up (hopefully) end of March/beginning of of April and then you know when to be ready, phone in hand, at 7 am.

back in 2007, I had heard about the free dining and knew others who had done it. I mentioned it to a friend, saying "I wish I had someone to go with", thats when she said OK and we booked it, that was in JUNE and we did it online and at POP. eventually, they upgraded us to Saratoga Springs for free, because POP was overbooked but we had no trouble getting a reservation.

Last year, I used the Magic for Less travel Agency and we booked 2 rooms at POP and when free dining came out, she emailed me and said we there weren't any preferred rooms at POP for the FD promo, but we could have stayed there in standard rooms. we chose to move to SPORTS instead because it was my mom's first time there and we wanted her to have preferred room. but we took a couple days to decide and still had no trouble getting in. I'm using the same travel agent this year and we are already booked at POP, if we have to, we'll move to another value, but I don't think that will be a problem.

[Disneynut5]

Originally Posted by meljw1960

back in 2007, I had heard about the free dining and knew others who had done it. I mentioned it to a friend, saying "I wish I had someone to go with", thats when she said OK and we booked it, that was in JUNE and we did it online and at POP. eventually, they upgraded us to Saratoga Springs for free, because POP was overbooked but we had no trouble getting a reservation.

Last year, I used the Magic for Less travel Agency and we booked 2 rooms at POP and when free dining came out, she emailed me and said we there weren't any preferred rooms at POP for the FD promo, but we could have stayed there in standard rooms. we chose to move to SPORTS instead because it was my mom's first time there and we wanted her to have preferred room. but we took a couple days to decide and still had no trouble getting in. I'm using the same travel agent this year and we are already booked at POP, if we have to, we'll move to another value, but I don't think that will be a problem.

I am using this agency. Can I ask if you let them do your dining reservations or not? SHe said she would do them but it makes me nervous to trust someone else with them. What did you do?

[ZeroToHero]

Originally Posted by meljw1960

back in 2007, I had heard about the free dining and knew others who had done it. I mentioned it to a friend, saying "I wish I had someone to go with", thats when she said OK and we booked it, that was in JUNE and we did it online and at POP. eventually, they upgraded us to Saratoga Springs for free, because POP was overbooked but we had no trouble getting a reservation.

Last year, I used the Magic for Less travel Agency and we booked 2 rooms at POP and when free dining came out, she emailed me and said we there weren't any preferred rooms at POP for the FD promo, but we could have stayed there in standard rooms. we chose to move to SPORTS instead because it was my mom's first time there and we wanted her to have preferred room. but we took a couple days to decide and still had no trouble getting in. I'm using the same travel agent this year and we are already booked at POP, if we have to, we'll move to another value, but I don't think that will be a problem.

Yeah, it really depends on how flexible you are, I think. If you're willing to change room types, resorts, dates, etc, you should be okay, but if you want a specific thing, you might have to call earlier. And this year might be weird, because a lot of people might be depending on free dining to be able to go. It's a huge savings for a lot of people who might normally have been able to afford a dining plan or a deluxe resort who are now having to move to a cheaper way of going to visit the Mouse.

[cricketgirl]

I actually ahve 2 questions.

1st: If I already have a room booked at All Star Movies if I get FD can I keep the Reservations I have already?

2nd: If I get FD, when can I make the ADR? I thought it was 90 days out, but now I am kinda confused.

Thanks in advance.
Lori

[meljw1960]

Originally Posted by Disneynut5

I am using this agency. Can I ask if you let them do your dining reservations or not? SHe said she would do them but it makes me nervous to trust someone else with them. What did you do?

Yes, I gave her a list of days and restaurants I wanted and she took care of everything. Not only that, but she emailed me a spreadsheet with all our dates, park hours, ADR's everything.. thats why I'm using her again. I was extremely pleased with our last trip. I don't know if it will be harder now that everything is 90 days out. but if I don't have to wait on the phone, I'm a happy camper.

[ZeroToHero]

Originally Posted by cricketgirl

I actually ahve 2 questions.

1st: If I already have a room booked at All Star Movies if I get FD can I keep the Reservations I have already?

2nd: If I get FD, when can I make the ADR? I thought it was 90 days out, but now I am kinda confused.

Thanks in advance.
Lori

You have to call them and they will "rebook" you. Meaning they cancel your reservation and book a new one, using one of the allotted "free dining" rooms at ASMo.

You can make the ADRs 90 days out from your day of arrival, and since you're staying on-site, you also get the +10 option, so you get to book up to 10 days of ADRs from the day you arrive. If you're staying for more than 10 days, you have to call back.

[grace&philipsmom]

Originally Posted by mermaid&cinderella

If only it was available to Canadians

I know!!!!! I get so frustrated when I see things available to the Disney Visa members (i.e. first crack over free dining). I wonder why it's not available for canadians. Maybe we could start a petition......

[aestapa]

Originally Posted by ZeroToHero

You have to call them and they will "rebook" you. Meaning they cancel your reservation and book a new one, using one of the allotted "free dining" rooms at ASMo.

You can make the ADRs 90 days out from your day of arrival, and since you're staying on-site, you also get the +10 option, so you get to book up to 10 days of ADRs from the day you arrive. If you're staying for more than 10 days, you have to call back.

OK...can you clarify something for me?? We are booked for AKL in Sept. Based on your post, it looks like I can call 90 days in advance of our arrival date and book ADRs for all 10 nights of our stay?

I was thinking the +10 meant that we could call in 10 days earlier than those staying off property...so in effect, we could call in at 100 days for each night we wanted a ressie. I like your way so much better!!!

[mermaid&cinderella]

Originally Posted by grace&philipsmom

I know!!!!! I get so frustrated when I see things available to the Disney Visa members (i.e. first crack over free dining). I wonder why it's not available for canadians. Maybe we could start a petition......

We should definately start a petition

[twooley2]

Thats ok I see on the UK website that their packages are about 1000.00 cheaper than the U.S. How can that be ? Is that right?