POR and free dining- should I change our reservation?

[JChoma]

I'm thrilled to be planning a WDW vacation this year! We're targeting the week of 11/26-12/2. I've heard some rumors the free dining promo might be offered that week, but obviously it's too soon to know. Yesterday I booked Port Orleans Riverside, but I read that resort is typically excluded from the free dining promo. Is that the case? If you were in my shoes, would you change your reservation to another one of the moderates in anticipation of free dining being offered during our stay? I'm worried if I wait until the dates are announced in the Spring, not much will be available. I wish Disney would announce free dining dates earlier!

 

[Master Yoda]

There is no reason to change your reservation until the promotion comes out.

Having an existing reservation does nothing to guarantee you that you will get a promotion if it comes out for your resort. If anything, having an existing reservation ever so slightly increases the chance that your dates and/or resort will be excluded from a promotion.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

POR is usually not in the free dining package. I have had to make the same choice before, and chose POR over another resort with free dining. But if you have a big family and feel that free dining is a must, then I would change. All the moderates are very nice. We don't do free dining anymore because it's just my husband and me and we are not big eaters.

 

[21stamps]

I don't think there was free dining for those dates this year. Or if there was it was very limited. Not many resorts had dining or RO discounts during that week.

I purchased an AP to get a discount on a few of our nights lol. Even with the AP there wasn't much availability with the offer.

 

[21stamps]

There is no reason to change your reservation until the promotion comes out.

Having an existing reservation does nothing to guarantee you that you will get a promotion if it comes out for your resort. If anything, having an existing reservation ever so slightly increases the chance that your dates and/or resort will be excluded from a promotion.

Can you sticky this on the front page of Google?

It makes so much sense and I don't know why people don't realize it.

 

[Master Yoda]

Can you sticky this on the front page of Google?

It makes so much sense and I don't know why people don't realize it.

The language most people use is what tends to cause the confusion. People often say something along the lines of "switch their reservation over to the promotion" which can imply that their existing reservation acts as a kind of placeholder and guarantees them a spot when a promotion drops.

The reality is when you do the "switch" is you are making and entirely new reservation and canceling your old one. An existing reservation does nothing save for possibly pushing the resort over the desired occupancy rate thereby blocking it out of promotions. This is why PORS and FQ often have very little if any availability when promotions drop.

 

[21stamps]

The language most people use is what tends to cause the confusion. People often say something along the lines of "switch their reservation over to the promotion" which can imply that their existing reservation acts as a kind of placeholder and guarantees them a spot when a promotion drops.

The reality is when you do the "switch" is you are making and entirely new reservation and canceling your old one. An existing reservation does nothing save for possibly pushing the resort over the desired occupancy rate thereby blocking it out of promotions. This is why PORS and FQ often have very little if any availability when promotions drop.

Exactly. Here's an example-
I had decided to do the dining plan for the second part of our trip..had to do a split stay bc of availability issues. I had to book a bunk bed room (which I do not need in the least) bc it was "the last available courtyard view room" at WL.
A few days later I was looking at the cost of the trip and at our dining schedule. I decided that I probably wouldn't get value out of the dining plan, and have left over meal credits, so I wanted to cancel and not waste more money on something I wouldn't use.
Simple right? Nope. My TA spent so much time on the phone with Disney. They would have to cancel my reservation and book a new one...and I would run the risk of losing the room all together.
I ended up keeping the dining plan. Was left with 3 QS credits, 3 snack credits, and 2 TS credits. Talk about throwing money down the drain.

Moral of the story- Like you said- You don't "switch over" you are cancelling and rebooking an entirely new reservation when you make changes.

 

[JChoma]

This is really helpful to understand! We've only been to WDW once before with kids and didn't book through Disney, so I am no expert on the ins and outs of how changes are made. My assumption was that if free dining become available, we could simply add the offer to our existing package, and that it would also make sense to already have a room booked at a resort that's eligible for the promo. We booked a room/ticket/regular dining plan package so I (perhaps naively) assumed that if the promo ends up happening during our stay, I could call to have the dining plan charge removed from our package and replaced with the free plan.

If I waited to book in April or whenever they announce free dining, wouldn't room choices and availability be much more limited, regardless of the free dining?

 

[21stamps]

This is really helpful to understand! We've only been to WDW once before with kids and didn't book through Disney, so I am no expert on the ins and outs of how changes are made. My assumption was that if free dining become available, we could simply add the offer to our existing package, and that it would also make sense to already have a room booked at a resort that's eligible for the promo. We booked a room/ticket/regular dining plan package so I (perhaps naively) assumed that if the promo ends up happening during our stay, I could call to have the dining plan charge removed from our package and replaced with the free plan.

If I waited to book in April or whenever they announce free dining, wouldn't room choices and availability be much more limited, regardless of the free dining?

If you are going to stay at your resort regardless of a promotion then it makes sense to book now, probably not mandatory though. If you will only stay where a promotion is applicable then there is no reason to book now...you aren't reserving a spot for that promotion.

Availability for that week this year was EXTREMELY limited. The monorail resorts had most room types sold out by the end of March...but then rooms opened up closer to. I had to move our dates around and ended up canceling my reservation and switching resorts in September I think. There was a few options at the time, but not many.

I think you'd be totally fine to hold off for a few months at this point. Unless you are dead set on a certain resort/room type.

 

[JillC LI]

Wait to change resorts to one that is included if it turns out that your current one is not.

 

[Master Yoda]

This is really helpful to understand! We've only been to WDW once before with kids and didn't book through Disney, so I am no expert on the ins and outs of how changes are made. My assumption was that if free dining become available, we could simply add the offer to our existing package, and that it would also make sense to already have a room booked at a resort that's eligible for the promo. We booked a room/ticket/regular dining plan package so I (perhaps naively) assumed that if the promo ends up happening during our stay, I could call to have the dining plan charge removed from our package and replaced with the free plan.

If I waited to book in April or whenever they announce free dining, wouldn't room choices and availability be much more limited, regardless of the free dining?

No. You seem to still be operating under the assumption that having a reservations saves your spot...it does not.

Having a room already booked at a resort does nothing to make getting that same room under a promotion easier.

Even though it appears as such, you reservation is not switched nor is a discount applied to your existing reservation. The cast member will book a new reservation and cancel your existing one.

The only thing that will make your chances of getting what you want under a promotion better is to be on the phone with Disney the second they open at 7:00 AM on the day the promotion drops. If you wait until later to call, availability will be reduced.

 

[JillC LI]

This is really helpful to understand! We've only been to WDW once before with kids and didn't book through Disney, so I am no expert on the ins and outs of how changes are made. My assumption was that if free dining become available, we could simply add the offer to our existing package, and that it would also make sense to already have a room booked at a resort that's eligible for the promo. We booked a room/ticket/regular dining plan package so I (perhaps naively) assumed that if the promo ends up happening during our stay, I could call to have the dining plan charge removed from our package and replaced with the free plan.

If I waited to book in April or whenever they announce free dining, wouldn't room choices and availability be much more limited, regardless of the free dining?

Free dining will be offered in connection with resorts that are not full in order to attract more guests there. Therefore, if you act quickly when the promotion is announced, you should have no problem getting a room in one of the free dining resorts. By booking a room there in advance, you make that resort slightly fuller so it decreases the chances that it will be included in the free dining promotion at all.

 

[JChoma]

No. You seem to still be operating under the assumption that having a reservations saves your spot...it does not.

Having a room already booked at a resort does nothing to make getting that same room under a promotion easier.

Even though it appears as such, you reservation is not switched nor is a discount applied to your existing reservation. The cast member will book a new reservation and cancel your existing one.

The only thing that will make your chances of getting what you want under a promotion better is to be on the phone with Disney the second they open at 7:00 AM on the day the promotion drops. If you wait until later to call, availability will be reduced.

Totally get it now, I was explaining why I asked the question in the first place; I didn't realize making a change = a new reservation altogether. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Calvin34]

Free dining will be offered in connection with resorts that are not full in order to attract more guests there. Therefore, if you act quickly when the promotion is announced, you should have no problem getting a room in one of the free dining resorts. By booking a room there in advance, you make that resort slightly fuller so it decreases the chances that it will be included in the free dining promotion at all.

+1

This is what you have to do if Free Dining is truly your objective. We booked CSR last March(ish) for this past Thanksgiving. I'm not saying I won't plan another trip without dining promotions, but it's typically my trigger point. We use them all up.

 

[MagicalMaci]

You've gotten some great advice already, just to piggyback I always recommend booking what you want and are comfortable paying. If you are going to go regardless of the promotion coming out or not, booking now will ensure you get what you want. If you are only going to go if you get the promo, there's no reason to book until it comes out!

 

[I am Timmy]

Exactly. Here's an example-
I had decided to do the dining plan for the second part of our trip..had to do a split stay bc of availability issues. I had to book a bunk bed room (which I do not need in the least) bc it was "the last available courtyard view room" at WL.
A few days later I was looking at the cost of the trip and at our dining schedule. I decided that I probably wouldn't get value out of the dining plan, and have left over meal credits, so I wanted to cancel and not waste more money on something I wouldn't use.
Simple right? Nope. My TA spent so much time on the phone with Disney. They would have to cancel my reservation and book a new one...and I would run the risk of losing the room all together.
I ended up keeping the dining plan. Was left with 3 QS credits, 3 snack credits, and 2 TS credits. Talk about throwing money down the drain.

Moral of the story- Like you said- You don't "switch over" you are cancelling and rebooking an entirely new reservation when you make changes.

Last year my DS got sick while in Disney, we ended up cancelling a few of our table service res. on the dining plan (which went very well, even the last minute cancel, they understood). Soooo, we asked at our resort what could be done (POP) and they said we could get snacks instead (like 3 per reservation). While not nearly making up the dinners, we did end up picking the most expensive snacks we could find that would ship home, and they shipped it for us for free, and we somehow ended up with like 21 sacks of candy and nuts, etc. We had a party with the stuff after we got home. IDK if they still do that, but I will always check now!

 

[Spectro]

While free dining would be nice I chose to book our room early as A. It gives you the actually going to Disney feeling. B. Free dining would be welcome bonus but not essential for our stay, c. I can then make our adrs and built my Disney experience app and plan.
thus avoiding any disappointment If it doesn't happen. I personally chose CSR as it's the only moderate we've never tried and our daughter is grown up now so I think the theming works for us all ( we seriously considered cancun before I decided I really wanted to do Disney again this year) POR is a beautiful resort we've stayed there numerous times and always enjoyed it. I think you need to assess what is most important. A resort you really want to stay at or a resort you may like but not your first choice in order to get free dining. I personally would not book on the premise that it may have free dining as you are really would be cancelling and rebooking your ressie.

 

[DisAl]

"I ended up keeping the dining plan. Was left with 3 QS credits, 3 snack credits, and 2 TS credits. Talk about throwing money down the drain. "

When you end up with leftover credits use them to purchase snacks to take home with you. For example, we took home 8 of the wonderful (and large) Mickey Mouse cookies from the Main Street Bakery. We have never left a snack credit "on the table" in all our visits.

 

[21stamps]

"I ended up keeping the dining plan. Was left with 3 QS credits, 3 snack credits, and 2 TS credits. Talk about throwing money down the drain. "

When you end up with leftover credits use them to purchase snacks to take home with you. For example, we took home 8 of the wonderful (and large) Mickey Mouse cookies from the Main Street Bakery. We have never left a snack credit "on the table" in all our visits.

Oh we raided Main Street Bakery. Still a waste imo. Even more so after our Uber driver dropped our bag of goodies and they fell out of the plastic container.lol

 

[LAKid53]

Just remember to account for the 45 day cancellation window if you make a package reservation (room, tickets. DDP) and decide to switch if free dining is announced.

As both @Master Yoda and @JillC LI stated, free dining is typically offered for those resorts that historically aren't in high demand for that period. And if I remember, to get the regular plan (TS and QS), you have to book a deluxe resort or pay for the upgrade to regular dining.

I'd let the resort you want drive your choice. Port Orleans is probably the most popular Moderate. And a discounted room rate won't come with free dining.