Can I DOWNGRADE Free Dining?

[OneLuckyMom]

After doing free dining for the last few years, I had decided to skip this year and do Disneyland instead (we live in CA). But things have come up, so now I'm debating a trip back to the World for a few days in September. And of course I want free food. But since it's going to be a shorter trip than normal (only 5 nights) and I'm in more of a "carefree" mood, I don't want to do a bunch of preplanning for table service meals. I'd rather eat counter service.

So basically what I really want is free Counter Service Dining, not the regular Free Dining Plan.

Has anyone tried getting Disney to give them the free counter service dining on the free dining code? I know in the past they've allowed table service credits to be used at counter service places (and even sometimes added in a few perks) but this seems to be a last minute thing they allow only once the table service places are fully booked. I'd rather be able to plan on counter service the whole time and not have to deal with last minute changes that cashiers are not fully familiar with yet, etc.

 

[bgraham34]

I believe you can use the counter service instead of table service if you so choose to.

 

[Master Yoda]

I have not tried this but I do not believe that you can downgrade it. If all you want to do is CS you might look into other discount options you might have on your room. Deepening on your party size and where you stay the room discounts can be better than free dining.

 

[OneLuckyMom]

I believe you can use the counter service instead of table service if you so choose to.

Yeah, but I also want the free reusable mug and extra daily snack that come with the Counter Service dining plan. If I am booked onto the regular free dining plan, and just trade table service for counter service, I won't get those :brick:

 

[OneLuckyMom]

I have not tried this but I do not believe that you can downgrade it. If all you want to do is CS you might look into other discount options you might have on your room. Deepening on your party size and where you stay the room discounts can be better than free dining.

Unfortunately, there are no good room only discounts yet for the dates I'm looking at.....

 

[slappy magoo]

Yeah, but I also want the free reusable mug and extra daily snack that come with the Counter Service dining plan. If I am booked onto the regular free dining plan, and just trade table service for counter service, I won't get those :brick:

soooooo, you'd be getting lots of free food, but not exactly the level of free food you want?

You're talking an extra 12 bucks per person for the mugs, and anywhere between 1 and 4 bucks a day per person for that extra snack, out of pocket. And you can always use the table option as a counter-service option (and knowing how lax Disney can be at enforcing certain rules, I really wouldn't be surprised if many counter service eateries would let you leave a counter-service eatery with an extra snack since you're forgoing a table service credit).

Please tell me that this isn't a deal breaker. :brick: "Disney, you cheap sons of bee stings, I want different free stuff than what you're offering! Gimme my free mug and extra box o' popcorn, now! Customer is always right!!! :lol:

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

I really wouldn't be surprised if many counter service eateries would let you leave a counter-service eatery with an extra snack since you're forgoing a table service credit).

I have traded my TS credits for CS credits a couple of times and the first time they actually asked if i wanted to take an extra snack instead, so now when i do it I ask them if I can do the CS meal plus a snack or a bottled water for later. I haven't had a problem.

We usually have to do this because my niece wants to eat at Cosmic Rays as often as possible...apparently when she grows up she's asking Sonny Eclipse to ber her boyfriend :lol: They have always been very accomodating there.

I would also suggest getting the refillable mug out of your pocket and keeping the plan you have, that way you have the option of doing a table service if you choose, you may get some walk up availability or when you get to the park in the AM just ask then if there are any tables available.

 

[mitchk]

I believe you can use the counter service instead of table service if you so choose to.

Yup, you can give up a table service for a counter, and still have the snacks, and everything.

 

[OneLuckyMom]

Please tell me that this isn't a deal breaker. :brick: "Disney, you cheap sons of bee stings, I want different free stuff than what you're offering! Gimme my free mug and extra box o' popcorn, now! Customer is always right!!! :lol:

I'm going to try and get myself the best deal possible I can for myself - I always do that, in all situations, and don't see why that is such a problem for you. Maybe you think it's ok to pay sticker price for a car, but I sure as heck don't.

And never did I say I expected Disney to do something, just wondered if it was possible. Downgrading to the Counter Service plan would be a win-win for both Disney and me, they wouldn't be taking nearly the loss on my free dining as they would be on everyone else there at the time.

I don't think it's bad to ask questions, to see what it is possible to get. Sorry if you don't think asking questions is a good thing. Must be nice to be the only "right" person in the world

 

[slappy magoo]

I'm going to try and get myself the best deal possible I can for myself - I always do that, in all situations, and don't see why that is such a problem for you. Maybe you think it's ok to pay sticker price for a car, but I sure as heck don't.

Feel free, I just think it's funny in a way when someone getting a deal already just feels the need to get a different deal. Maybe you think I shouldn't laugh at people's quirks, but I sure as heck don't.

And never did I say I expected Disney to do something, just wondered if it was possible. Downgrading to the Counter Service plan would be a win-win for both Disney and me, they wouldn't be taking nearly the loss on my free dining as they would be on everyone else there at the time.

Sure, you've got a point, and if you asked a Disney agent, they may agree with you. In fact, I thought one of the things Disney was thinking about was only offering a free Quick Service meal plan for Value and Moderate resorts during the free dining promotion, and the regular plan for Deluxe and Villas. If they only knew how many OneLuckyMoms there are out there, maybe they'd offer guests the choice of a free QS plan or the regular plan. I'm guessing they never imagined anyone who wanted the free mug and an extra snack over a full service meal (though with the problems getting ADRs during free dining promotions, I'm surprised they DIDN'T consider this to be an option)

I don't think it's bad to ask questions, to see what it is possible to get. Sorry if you don't think asking questions is a good thing.

I don't think asking questions is a bad thing, but if I'm going to ask questions like yours, I'd probably assume my time is better spent...I don't know, asking people who can not only give me a definitive answer, but are in a position to make my request a reality. To borrow an analogy, if I'm looking for the best deal on a car, am I going to ask a car sales agent, or a bunch of strangers of varying degrees of knowledge on an internet forum that doesn't sell cars? :brick:

Must be nice to be the only "right" person in the world

Actually, it's more of a burden than you'd think. You've got it much easier.

 

[NewfieFan]

I'm going to try and get myself the best deal possible I can for myself - I always do that, in all situations, and don't see why that is such a problem for you. Maybe you think it's ok to pay sticker price for a car, but I sure as heck don't.

And never did I say I expected Disney to do something, just wondered if it was possible. Downgrading to the Counter Service plan would be a win-win for both Disney and me, they wouldn't be taking nearly the loss on my free dining as they would be on everyone else there at the time.

I don't think it's bad to ask questions, to see what it is possible to get. Sorry if you don't think asking questions is a good thing. Must be nice to be the only "right" person in the world

I don't think that's what Slappy was getting at!?!

But you'd still be coming out on top. You'll certainly be able to turn in your TS credits for CS credits and they'll probably reward you with an extra snack credit (voucher) anyway! Sounds like you'd come out on top to me. Just get the free DP and trade in your TS credits when you get down there! And the price of the mugs is neither here nor there if you're getting free food!

 

[TURKEY]

Not possible. There is not a package code for this type of plan.

 

[elisatonks]

you can pay for a quick service with table service points, just not the other way around. However, you could always decrease the no. of table services you eat in by booking 2 point places (cali grill, narccosses, citricos, cindy's artist point, yatchmans steakhouse, flying fish cafe) and give yourself more flexibility on the days you don't have ressies, my family did this the last time they came and actually found it to be a better way of using the plan - they used to struggle using all the points because of the amount of food it allowed. wolfgang puck's express in downtown is a great place to get a main meal for a qsr point, and after you have ordered at the counter they give you a number, you get your first drink, and from then on they have servers bring your food and look after your table. So if you wanted a sit down at any time, you could do this if you decided to go downtown.

The only downside to 2 point table services to this that you have to be more dressed up for dinner. (business casual attire is required.)

 

[Rob562]

But you'd still be coming out on top. You'll certainly be able to turn in your TS credits for CS credits and they'll probably reward you with an extra snack credit (voucher) anyway! Sounds like you'd come out on top to me. Just get the free DP and trade in your TS credits when you get down there! And the price of the mugs is neither here nor there if you're getting free food!

During the fall Free Dining period, they usually run a special offer where if you use a Table Service credit for a Counter Service meal, they'll give you a voucher for *two* additional Snacks. Both of the additional snacks have to be used at the same time, though they don't have to be for the same item (i.e. a box of popcorn and a soda would be fine). They may run this year-round, but I've only ever seen it in action during the Aug-Sept Free Dining.

So to the OP, if you were to downgrade *all* of your Table Service credits, you'd then be getting *three* Snack credits per night... The only thing you wouldn't get would be the refillable mug. I'm sure you'd be willing to pay out-of-pocket for the mugs if you were getting three Snacks a day...

-Rob

 

[NewfieFan]

During the fall Free Dining period, they usually run a special offer where if you use a Table Service credit for a Counter Service meal, they'll give you a voucher for *two* additional Snacks. Both of the additional snacks have to be used at the same time, though they don't have to be for the same item (i.e. a box of popcorn and a soda would be fine). They may run this year-round, but I've only ever seen it in action during the Aug-Sept Free Dining.

So to the OP, if you were to downgrade *all* of your Table Service credits, you'd then be getting *three* Snack credits per night... The only thing you wouldn't get would be the refillable mug. I'm sure you'd be willing to pay out-of-pocket for the mugs if you were getting three Snacks a day...

-Rob

You're right... I forgot it was two! I never did the "trade" myself but my parents and my brother who were on the same trip with me did this many times. I know my mom was in the gift shop on our last day trying to use up all the snack credits she obtained during the trip. She had lots of yummy souveniers in her suitcase on the way home!

And sometimes they offer a free gift as well (you can choose either the gift or the two snack credits)!

 

[Rob562]

You're right... I forgot it was two! I never did the "trade" myself but my parents and my brother who were on the same trip with me did this many times. I know my mom was in the gift shop on our last day trying to use up all the snack credits she obtained during the trip. She had lots of yummy souveniers in her suitcase on the way home!

And sometimes they offer a free gift as well (you can choose either the gift or the two snack credits)!

We did it on our departure day last fall during Free Dining. We had early-evening flights home, two Table Service credits left, and a noontime ADR at Prime Time Cafe. When we got to the Studios, we decided that we'd prefer having more time in the park rather than lose some of it to a sit-down meal.
So we stopped at Guest Relations to cancel our ADR, and then went back to the hotel in time to grab a quick Counter Service lunch before our DME pickup time. With the vouchers, we stocked up on some snacks from the food court to eat on the trip home, and a couple snacky items from the gift shop as gifts.

-Rob