2010 Free Dining Discussion-Free Dining released for everyone (see 1st post)

[ShhhQ]

This morning we still had $752.70 left to pay on our trip....

Sometime, while I slept (worked 3rd shift and tried to stay up but couldn't keep my eyes open any longer)... my TA got us booked on Freeeee Dining.

Now we owe $368.82... saving a total of $383.88.. we owe less than we saved.... how cool is that?

However, if we had been able to get reg. DDP for values, we would have saved over $500.... I am just glad to save what we did....

 

[kloiec]

Hi,
I booked the waterparks and more 8 day passes too with the original reservation too.

 

[ear_poppin]

Hi,
I booked the waterparks and more 8 day passes too with the original reservation too.

I wonder if you received a discount with the original reservation and did not realise ? Why not do a dummy run on the on line booking and see how much it comes out at?

 

[Raecheal]

Hi Robin
Well, I must say I DO love a quality meal....however, I don't think that we'll be getting every last drop out of the plan we can...we more or less booked DLX for the flexibility of not worrying about a thing!!! and .... my breakfasts will be in the lounge (I love AKL oatmeal in the AM with Quinoa!), then we mostly have a signature dinner/dinner show for our evening meals (2 TS credits). So this is how we will get around the notion of "having to have 3 sit down meals a day"...
I don't want to be rolled home, LOL
I am planning on forgoing apps and desserts at lunch (really don't need it) and if I want an appetizer at dinner, then we have the freedom to have one. I don't mind using my snack credits on popsicles, water or drinks if need be. I think with these strategies, we should be fine. This is probably the one and only time I will try Deluxe dining, as I usually find regular dining more than enough food! I am really looking forward to trying some 2 TS experiences this summer, especially Jiko, Yachtmans, and Hoop De Doo Yeah for FD!!!

I love Quinoa.... ohhh....I've been trying to convince Dbf to do Club during our stay at AKL... but it's not going over so well. I would LOVE to do it!!

 

[KELLY]

Quite a few people have reported the CM's upgradeing the DP and or adding INS without asking......could be the reason , I would call back and check

Please make sure they didin't upgrade you without you knowing. Maybe a waterview room or insurance. It maybe that is all they had was waterview but I doubt it. Alot of people staying at the values have ended up with perferred rooms without there knowledge. Or upgrade to the regular dining plan.

 

[kloiec]

I wonder if you received a discount with the original reservation and did not realise ? Why not do a dummy run on the on line booking and see how much it comes out at?

Thanks again for your reply, I did that too this morning and according to today it should cost me 4284.00 this is with the higher airfare. When I booked it came to 4200.00 with the discount in the airfare. The only thing that is different is that when I booked it did was not required to pay more than the 200.00 deposit for the whole vacation, but if you book it today through the website they want the airfare up front. I am hoping the change is not related to the airfare that they reissued it in some way? And there is a charge for that, Last time I booked a trip to disney I booked my airfare with the airline not thought the disney website. They are saying I owe 4367.00
after I paid the 200.00 deposit on March 10th.

 

[gls8376]

I've always wanted to take advantage of free dining, but I don't think the math works out for us. As Florida residents we get discounted tickets and often discounted onsite hotels. Even though "FREE" dining sounds very enticing, I think the rules require booking at full price for hotel and tickets.

It seems to be less expensive to pay for the dining program and get the discounted FL resident tickets/hotels.

Has anyone else noticed the same thing? Am I mistaken? Is there a way that I could be saving more by taking advantage of free dining?

 

[sexyravenfan]

Our TA just booked us free dining! POR August 20-29 Our TA knew that we wanted free dining, so before we even called her this morning, she had been on the phone for 2 hours getting her clients free dining. Kudos to our TA!

 

[StacyMarie]

Well, I am happy to report that my TA finally got the led out of her butt and took care of some business for me this afternoon!! Congrats to all!!!

 

[medman]

POFQ was not available for me either. Booked it as POR instead.

Just heard from the TA - she was able to get us FD for our original ressie at POFQ with only one change - one of our three rooms was a king bed, but kings are not available under the FD plan, so 2 doubles instead. All are waterview, and we asked for river view too.
I cannot say enough about using a WDW specific TA. This was our first time using a TA to book Disney (I usually do it myself) and it has been great! All our ADRs and other ressies were taken care of. For those of you who are looking for a Disney TA, I recommend Small World Vacations. We dealt with Anne, and she is the best!

See you in September!

 

[StacyMarie]

Just heard from the TA - she was able to get us FD for our original ressie at POFQ with only one change - one of our three rooms was a king bed, but kings are not available under the FD plan, so 2 doubles instead. All are waterview, and we asked for river view too.
I cannot say enough about using a WDW specific TA. This was our first time using a TA to book Disney (I usually do it myself) and it has been great! All our ADRs and other ressies were taken care of. For those of you who are looking for a Disney TA, I recommend Small World Vacations. We dealt with Anne, and she is the best!

See you in September!

Thanks for the recommendation of a TA. I know next time, I WILL NOT be using my usual TA. She had the nerve to tell me this morning that she did not have time to wait on hold for 1/2 to get me FD. I have been fuming ALL DAY. She just got back to me within the last 10 minutes and was able to get it done, but I was definitely biting my nails all day, lol!!!!

 

[boyob13]

I told my mom about the free dining, and we might be able to go when we're back in the states! I hope she makes her decision soon so we can get a room at a Value (the counter service is enough for us). It's even better that you need a minimum of a 2-Day ticket for the offer, so we can fit it in.

 

[ShhhQ]

Well, I am happy to report that my TA finally got the led out of her butt and took care of some business for me this afternoon!! Congrats to all!!!

Congrats!!!!!

 

[ShhhQ]

Thanks for the recommendation of a TA. I know next time, I WILL NOT be using my usual TA. She had the nerve to tell me this morning that she did not have time to wait on hold for 1/2 to get me FD. I have been fuming ALL DAY. She just got back to me within the last 10 minutes and was able to get it done, but I was definitely biting my nails all day, lol!!!!

I don't know what TA you were using... I know someone else recommended their TA... I also give a good recommendation for Dreams Unlimited (they are one of the sponsers of this board)

 

[kloiec]

Found out now why I owe 366.00 more on my reservation. Apparently I did not get the airfare deal that I had priced out on March 10th instead of paying 269.40 per person I am paying closer to 400.00 per person. Not sure what happened here since I priced out the resort without the airfare and the airfare with the offical airlines web site. Then priced out both with disney and got the same cost. I booked the dining package too. So when I got my confirmation it was more money than I anticpated to pay since I figured free dining was going to come out. I guess I should have booked thought the phone lines instead. Since the confirmation does not have a breakdown of the cost of the airline, I didn't know there was a mistake with the fare.. and guess what it is to late to change it, or is it any suggestions.
I just don't make mistakes like that so I am a little upset .. any suggestions I am flying with Alaska airlines.

 

[monicastanner]

Am I correct in thinking you must purchase 2 day base tickets PER PERSON staying in each room? (Wishing you say just 2 base tickets in general) Seems like it's per person though when we did it last time a few years ago and it was just 1 ticket per person.

We are using 40% military room rate and $99 4 day military ticket deal, so paying for base price hotel, 2 regular price tickets and then "free" dining would make our bill higher than if we just pay for dining.

Not complaining b/c we have discounts already, just covering the bases to be sure.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Just got off the phone and was able to modify my reservation for free dining. I was freaking out at first because I overslept(not feeling well) so I missed the 7am time. Granted, I'm at the Poly and I had heard the values and mods sell out first so that calmed me somewhat.

So, I'm on hold for something like 8 minutes and an agent finally picks up-that's when my iPhone dropped the call. Hasn't dropped a call yet(had it since January) but had to do it right then? I was wondering, did I anger the Disney gods or something?

I call back and wait about 5 minutes..and get a real nice lady as an agent-they should use her to train other CMs, she was that awesome. So, maybe that worked out for a reason.

Took a real nice chunk off the total cost-so I'm psyched. Congrats to all who got the FD-glad all the agonizing is over!!

 

[disney world dreamer]

I believe you can switch out a TS credit for a QS meal, but I think as of last year, the snacks are not included in the trade anymore.

thanks for your help. i did call disney this morning just to make sure and they said YES you can do it. the TA was quite knowledgeable (thats hard to find lol). she also suggested that even if i call every day and can't get any of the restaurants i want that i should walk into the restaurant that day to see if there are any cancellations. being the first week of free dining i doubt there will be but ya never know i guess.
a big thanks to everyone that tried to help!

 

[disney world dreamer]

was i the only poor unfortunate soul that sat on hold for 50 MINUTES this morning just to ask a question about the dining plan not to even make a dining reservation?!
i keep hearing how people waited 5, 10, 15 minutes but not 50.
whats up with that?

 

[Jacks2583]

was i the only poor unfortunate soul that sat on hold for 50 MINUTES this morning just to ask a question about the dining plan not to even make a dining reservation?!
i keep hearing how people waited 5, 10, 15 minutes but not 50.
whats up with that?

I was on hold for over an hour. And I actually had three calls going at once- my cell and two from work- just in case one got through miraculously before the others.