Free Dining 2014?

[DisneyRoy]

Now I have a question. My family is going to Disney in December and staying at Pop Century. Our dates are December 5 - 14. Which I understand are not available for Free Dining. My sister-in-law however (arrival date 12/6) got Free dining today. She is a Disney Visa cardholder but from what I understood starting today that didn't matter and the dates always apply. So did she just get someone extra friendly that bypassed something for her or is there some additional perk to the Visa that I am unaware of?

 

[BigTxEars]

Yup, were in the same boat. Family of 5, limited budget. We've been going every year since 2007. Seems kind of unfair that we are forced to spend even more $$$ on a family suite or cabin just because we are a family of 5. If we decide to go anyway this will cut our total # of days down drastically.

5 is s sucky number on any family vacation anywhere, WDW included! But I could never decide what kid to leave at home

 

[BigTxEars]

Now I have a question. My family is going to Disney in December and staying at Pop Century. Our dates are December 5 - 14. Which I understand are not available for Free Dining. My sister-in-law however (arrival date 12/6) got Free dining today. She is a Disney Visa cardholder but from what I understood starting today that didn't matter and the dates always apply. So did she just get someone extra friendly that bypassed something for her or is there some additional perk to the Visa that I am unaware of?

Early access is the only thing the Disney Visa does. Not sure about the date issue but I do not think it is related to the Visa at all.

 

[Ben_since_1971]

Now I have a question. My family is going to Disney in December and staying at Pop Century. Our dates are December 5 - 14. Which I understand are not available for Free Dining. My sister-in-law however (arrival date 12/6) got Free dining today. She is a Disney Visa cardholder but from what I understood starting today that didn't matter and the dates always apply. So did she just get someone extra friendly that bypassed something for her or is there some additional perk to the Visa that I am unaware of?

Don't know how that was possible. My original dates were Dec 11-23 (booked a BB offer last year). When I called, the rep did try to see if she could get it for the 11th but the system did not let her. No big deal, I now have FD for Dec 12-23. And I booked on the Visa offer.

December 6 is the start of Pop Warner week and that is NEVER part of FD. If you can check in on the Thursday before or the Friday of Pop week (as we are now doing), you can get it. But that first Saturday is always blacked out. Either your SIL got away with one, or like you said, got a very friendly and/or system savvy rep.

 

[DisneyRoy]

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

If you look at the list in the post above though, it shows all of December as available. I am pretty sure the reason you specified is why it is. And they are just using that as a reason to start blacking that out this year.

Although in the past I also think that as time goes on, the dates the promotion is going for also have a chance of widening hopefully eventually letting us in.

 

[Doombuggy13]

Offered to leave the wife home......she wasn't amused!

 

[BigTxEars]

Offered to leave the wife home......she wasn't amused!

I would have tried that but yeah I think I would have gotten the same reaction.

One of the kids has moved out so now its only four of us, much easier to plan a vacation for 4. But I kinda miss the one who moved out

 

[Ben_since_1971]

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

If you look at the list in the post above though, it shows all of December as available. I am pretty sure the reason you specified is why it is. And they are just using that as a reason to start blacking that out this year.

Although in the past I also think that as time goes on, the dates the promotion is going for also have a chance of widening hopefully eventually letting us in.

But if you look at the table, it does show 11/21-21/11 as blacked out. And it is not something they are doing for this year. They have blacked out Pop Warner week every year as long as they have been offering FD in December.

 

[DisneyRoy]

Just talked to my travel agent and she said that the Visa holders are given extra dates and that our dates (second week of December) are available to them.

 

[Ben_since_1971]

Interesting. Maybe a TA only perk? I have only ever gone direct through Disney.

 

[BigTxEars]

Just talked to my travel agent and she said that the Visa holders are given extra dates and that our dates (second week of December) are available to them.

Cool to know, I have a Disney Visa, that might come in handy someday