Free Dining doubtful - travel agent says WDW bookings up by 50% for August this year

[Tinker74]

Why does June keep getting mentioned?? I doubt they would leave it till then.

 

[aubriee]

I think a lot has to do with how successful the Bounce Back program went.

If it did ok I don't think they will need to offer the free dining to the general public.

It would be a nice perk for us, but the only reason I'll actually be upset if it doesn't happen is that we were there in December when they were offering it for bounceback, but there was no advertising for it that I saw!

I booked free dining via the Bounce Back Program when I was there in Dec. After booking it I told the CM I had a friend who may be interested in the free dining but wouldn't be able to make a trip before Dec 31st. He said then there was no way he was going to be able to get free dining as Disney was "severely limiting" the number of free dining pkgs available for 2007 due to both restaurant and visitors complaints. He also said the Bounce Back Program 'may have bitten Disney in the foot' as they were already over their quota despite purposely not promoting the Bounce Back Program that much. He said they were shocked at how many people made a one night trip down there just to book the Bounce Back Program. Anyway he said the only way that anyone was going to get free dining for 2007 was via the UK Program or Bounce Back Program.

I've also been trying to get one of the 40% off codes for a trip in either Nov or Dec (and have been told each time that they are not public codes and I didn't qualify ). The other day I got a very talkative CM who was talking about the screw up and how so many people got the 40% off that weren't supposed to. I asked her about the chances of free dining and she laughed and said with the number or people who already have free dining from the UK and Bounce Back Programs, plus all the people that got the 40% off codes that weren't supposed to, plus they still had to pacify the AP holders and Florida residents (this was just before AP codes came out), that discounts were going to be few and far between and she couldn't see anyway free dining could be offered this year.

Hopefully she was wrong and just thinking out loud.

 

[thunderbird1]

Why does June keep getting mentioned?? I doubt they would leave it till then.

Check out Aubriee's post above. Here are my thoughts.

IF they're already way booked up, they may decide not to do a free dining offer to the general public in April, which is when everyone is expecting it. Many have already packages resorts expecting/hoping for free dining. IF it isn't offered, there will be a bunch of cancellations. So by June, the bookings could be way down, and they'll decide to do a last minute free dining offer to get them back up.

As I remember it last year, the deadline for booking free dining was extended a couple of times, the last being from June 2 to June 23 (or so). Which is probably why June keeps coming up--because that would be the likely time frame for a last minute offer (much like the codes that came out recently for late April through May).

 

[JimMIA]

He also said the Bounce Back Program 'may have bitten Disney in the foot' as they were already over their quota despite purposely not promoting the Bounce Back Program that much. He said they were shocked at how many people made a one night trip down there just to book the Bounce Back Program.

I'm not sure what it means, but I've heard this exact same comment now from 3-4 sources.

That's yet another reason why I don't think Disney cares if people book with the intention of cancelling if free DDP isn't offered. They already have more free diners than they want.

Hopefully, they'll offer it anyway for those of you who want it. We should all know in a couple of weeks, I guess.

 

[JimMIA]

Many have already packages resorts expecting/hoping for free dining. IF it isn't offered, there will be a bunch of cancellations. So by June, the bookings could be way down, and they'll decide to do a last minute free dining offer to get them back up.

I have never thought the number of people booking speculative ressies in the hope of free DDP was consequential, and therefore, I don't think it would make any difference if every one of them canceled.

Disney has a huge number of hotel rooms onsite (25,000+...is that right?) at WDW. Multiply "huge number" X 45-60 days of free dining and you get a really huge number of room-nights. If 10,000 people cancel seven-night stays, those 70,000 room-nights lost would be a drop in the bucket compared to the overall bookings. And they'd just turn around and sell them at less discount than free DDP and make more money.

I'm sure Disney expects a certain level of cancellations, and are well-prepared to deal with them. They do this for a living.

 

[bicker]

They do this for a living.

 

[aries1980]

Well I will almost bet that it will be offered limitedly... They offered up to the UK already and I hear that our turn is coming in april for only like a 2 week opportunity to call and make the reservation. Im going with or without.

 

[kparc]

Man, stop with all the negative waves about no free dining program this summer.

 

[stepdisney]

Man, stop with all the negative waves about no free dining program this summer.

I agree, can we get some pixie dust going for those of us who don't have unlimited funds and need that type of incentive. I will admit that we booked in anticipation of the free DDP. My DH says that we may consider staying somewhere else if the perks are not good because need to stay somewhere large enough to accommodate my DS's special needs. I'm hoping for compassion if a lot of us change our ressies. Just want to say, there are a lot of us with various situations that prompted early ressies and possible cancellations.

 

[Kitty-chan]

I agree, can we get some pixie dust going for those of us who don't have unlimited funds and need that type of incentive. I will admit that we booked in anticipation of the free DDP. My DH says that we may consider staying somewhere else if the perks are not good because need to stay somewhere large enough to accommodate my DS's special needs. I'm hoping for compassion if a lot of us change our ressies. Just want to say, there are a lot of us with various situations that prompted early ressies and possible cancellations.

I'm really hoping for free dining too! It would make a huge difference in our stay.

So . . . did somebody say pixie dust?

Think lovely thoughts, think lovely thoughts!

 

[Kriii]

The free DDP would be awesome but if I don't get it, oh well! Going to WDW no matter what! Was lucky enough for free dining last summer anyways!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I will admit that we booked in anticipation of the free DDP.

Just want to say, there are a lot of us with various situations that prompted early ressies and possible cancellations.

You are certainly not alone in your logic. I wonder if it would be going out on a limb to say at least 30% of the people booked in Aug/Sep (that were unable to take advantage of the UK/BounceBack offers), did so hoping for free DDP, and that about 20-25% would cancel if it's not offered.

So, if that's the case...when do those people give up hope and cancel their reservations? Because right now Disney is seeing their occupancy levels up, and until they start dropping, why would they feel the need to offer free DDP to the general public? I don't think that's being negative -- it's being realistic.

I feel April will be too early for anything to be offered, but once we get past that date and people start canceling...then we might see some new offers rolling in. Might not be until May or June and even then I think we will see a very limited booking window with less of a check-in date range than what was offered to UK/BB participants.

Believe me, I really hope I'm way off base and we'll hear something soon -- but the logical side of me keeps taking over!

 

[ThinkTink!]

Just booked for the end of September with the 40% off room code. I asked the CM if they anticipated free dining being offered. He said no, not this year and added that it would not be fair to those who booked on the spot in the fall for a return trip in order to get free dining.
I am still keeping my fingers crossed for free dining, but am thankful I was able to take advantage of the code as it works out very close to the free dining savings.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

He said no, not this year and added that it would not be fair to those who booked on the spot in the fall for a return trip in order to get free dining.

Well...that's a new one! I'm happy for the people that were able to do bounce-back, but what about how "unfair" it was to the people that checked in every other day of the year when that promo wasn't running? What about the fact that some people could get the 40% off, but so many others couldn't? Some how I don't think Disney and the term "fair" could ever go hand-in-hand.

 

[HotMama]

subscribing

 

[Acklander]

Well...that's a new one! I'm happy for the people that were able to do bounce-back, but what about how "unfair" it was to the people that checked in every other day of the year when that promo wasn't running? What about the fact that some people could get the 40% off, but so many others couldn't? Some how I don't think Disney and the term "fair" could ever go hand-in-hand.

Huh??? How is Disney unfair? All the time companies do targeted promotions/discounts. When you get a coupon in the Sunday paper for 50 cents off coca cola, that doesn't mean that they put the coupon in every single Sunday paper all over the world. Usually they select an area at a time; or that it's unfair to those who didn't buy the Sunday paper because they weren't able to take advantage of the coupon. by this logic, the only way Disney could be "fair" is to give a discount/free dining to no one.
The way I look at it is, while I may not qualify for a discount/free dining this September, I did last year - and that was great. So I'm not in the targeted group this time - oh well. There is no rule saying every time that they have a targeted group, that I must be included in it.

 

[lustergirl]

I have booked our annual september trip with the dining included in the price. If they offer free dining then I will go for that- if not I will pay for it anyways- no way am I cancelling my annual disney fix, lol..

 

[stepdisney]

I think that discounts should be offered to those who plan to vacation. What sense does it make to offer discounts to those who don't plan to go? With the sunday paper coupon example, anyone who buys a paper gets a coupon, also, if you don't drink coke, you can pass the coupon to someone who needs it (ME)! . Just keepin hope alive. We'll see when we see. Until then, MORE PIXIE DUST!!!! (Thanks Kitty-Chan for your pixie dust support).

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Huh??? How is Disney unfair?

I meant it as a generalization because no matter what they do, there will always be someone that is upset that they weren't offered the deal or for whatever reason can't take advantage of it.

I just thought it was unusual for a CM to take the stance that offering free dining to the general public would be unfair to the people that booked the bouceback offer. I mean really, why would they care -- they've already got guaranteed reservations at the resort of their choice, for the dates they want, and receiving free DDP. To me, that still gave them a huge advantage with being able to do the bounceback offer.

 

[gottalluvmickey]

FWIW, I would take that statement to be 50% more than what bookings were just before Disney offered free dining last year. Beyond the logic of it, the timing is right... it's March 4, 2007, so they really can only compare to March 4, 2006.

As far as I know, there is a great deal offered -- 40% off room rates.

I keep hearing about 40% off...can anyone confirm this. I called Disney and they said they're still focusing on June deals. Claimed they're not close to offering August deals yet!