2015 FREE DINING THREAD _ All Questions HERE!!

[Boardwalk Gal]

I just tried to reserve the later Spirit of Aloha Show with dining plan and no go. You have to pay in advance with a CC.
Tier 2 and 3 available with Dining Plan.

no you don't have to pay in advance...they will use your card to hold.

 

[staceycrouton]

If anyone needs CB for Nov.13-22 (standard pirate room w/ free dining package), my TA is in the process of canceling our CB reservation and switching us to a standard room at AKL w/free dining package. We still hope that CSR standard w/ free dining opens for our dates but so far CSR seems booked solid! Hope this post helps somebody

 

[smitch425]

no you don't have to pay in advance...they will use your card to hold.

It is a prepaid ADR unless you use a dining plan credit.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

Nope, you will be fine. We are doing the same. My daughter and her BF can't miss school, so I put myself in their room as the main guest and my DH in our room, so we can each check in the rooms. I called and made sure it wasn't an issue, and the CM said no problem, we can even book ME for them 2 days after were are checked in.

Glad to read this. Because of work schedules, DH will arrive before me and check into our room. We are a RO so I didn't think it was a problem but I haven't called Magic Express with our flights yet so I didn't know how that was going to work that we were not on the same flights.
Thanks for posting that.

 

[mara512]

no you don't have to pay in advance...they will use your card to hold.

It says your credit card will be charged $xxx.xx for the ADR reservation. Not like the others that say your
reservation will be held with a CC.

 

[alpina0560]

I prefer Pop too. I have stayed at both AS Music and POP within the past 6-8 months and believe POP is a stronger, more solid choice. I prefer the bus system at POP. At AS Music you share some buses with the other AS resorts and on more than a few occasions the buses were full after their first stop at AS Sports. POP has the benefit of the Generation Gap Bridge & its a plus to walk over to the AoA cafeteria, to wander that resort to see the landscaping and particularly to be able to take advantage of the AoA buses if they show up first for transportation back from the parks at night. I found POP's layout to be more practical and intuitive. AS Music has a longer footprint so it can be a longer walk to and from the further bldgs such as Country Fare, Broadway & Rock. While AS Music has a beautiful fountain area & a fun, themed pool, POP seemed to be in better repair . . . especially the outside lighting at night. I noticed more blown lights and darker areas at AS Music in February. AS Music has just had renos done to its food court. However, I find I eat 99% of my meals in the parks and there are still a few (but only a few!) unique POP food items that I still enjoy. The King Cupcake and the (now sad, little) tie-dye cheesecake. POP is where I'm heading next fall. I've stayed at POP a number of times and personally prefer top floor, 50s section, lakeview. Sometimes I catch a partial view of fireworks at night from my window. While it is a bit longer walk to the food court and buses, I find it is generally quieter in that area. Good luck with your choice! ps check out the large POP resort thread on this board. It has lots of helpful info that may make a difference to you and your family.

This is great information!!!! I am checking into POP on Wednesday and was a little worried, but I am really looking forward to it!

 

[samsteele]

This is great information!!!! I am checking into POP on Wednesday and was a little worried, but I am really looking forward to it!

Hope you enjoy your stay!

 

[Madame]

It says your credit card will be charged $xxx.xx for the ADR reservation. Not like the others that say your
reservation will be held with a CC.

I had that problem trying to book CRT on dining credits for our March trip. I called & a CM was able to do it without the cc charge. I never figured out why & had booked on credits the previous Aug with no issues .

 

[Ladyfish77]

OK, I just booked FD. I debated RO vs FD, but when the CBR standard became available it was just too good to pass up. Here's my question. I booked a 7 day/6 night reservation. It allowed me to book the 6 day park hopper. I tried to book another room and when I choose 6 day park hopper, it doesn't change the price and then says I have a 7 day park hopper. So am I allowed to book a 6 day park hopper on a 6 night/7 day ressie? Why wouldn't it allow me to do the same on the second room? TIA!

 

[dcmouse]

I saw somewhere on the disboards that it's possible to "upgrade" your 2 day park hopper to a 5 day MYW ticket once you arrive at your resort. I just spoke to a CM to confirm and she said that they won't allow it with the free dining package. Just wanted to pass this along in case anyone was planning on doing this. Bummed since I'm traveling with 3 kids under 5 yrs old and we definitely won't be park hopping. Including my parents' tickets, that's over $400 of wasted money...

 

[Madame]

I saw somewhere on the disboards that it's possible to "upgrade" your 2 day park hopper to a 5 day MYW ticket once you arrive at your resort. I just spoke to a CM to confirm and she said that they won't allow it with the free dining package. Just wanted to pass this along in case anyone was planning on doing this. Bummed since I'm traveling with 3 kids under 5 yrs old and we definitely won't be park hopping. Including my parents' tickets, that's over $400 of wasted money...

Would you use the Waterpark option? I don't know when you are going but you can use it for Disney Quest & I think mini-golf

 

[dcmouse]

Would you use the Waterpark option? I don't know when you are going but you can use it for Disney Quest & I think mini-golf

That's a good suggestion, but we're going the week before Thanksgiving and only staying for 5 days. I know one of the water parks will be closed and the highs are usually in the 70's.

 

[Disneylover99]

I saw somewhere on the disboards that it's possible to "upgrade" your 2 day park hopper to a 5 day MYW ticket once you arrive at your resort. I just spoke to a CM to confirm and she said that they won't allow it with the free dining package. Just wanted to pass this along in case anyone was planning on doing this. Bummed since I'm traveling with 3 kids under 5 yrs old and we definitely won't be park hopping. Including my parents' tickets, that's over $400 of wasted money...

We've always upgraded our two day tickets with a free dining package. You mentioned upgrading at your resort, but what you need to do is upgrade at guest relations inside the park. I can't imagine they wouldn't allow you to add on tickets once you arrive. Maybe you got incorrect info. from a CM?

 

[dcmouse]

We've always upgraded our two day tickets with a free dining package. You mentioned upgrading at your resort, but what you need to do is upgrade at guest relations inside the park. I can't imagine they wouldn't allow you to add on tickets once you arrive. Maybe you got incorrect info. from a CM?

Good to know, thanks! I wonder if it's different this year with the park hopper being a requirement for the free dining? Anyone else ask about this and get a different answer from a CM?

 

[themommy]

We've always upgraded our two day tickets with a free dining package. You mentioned upgrading at your resort, but what you need to do is upgrade at guest relations inside the park. I can't imagine they wouldn't allow you to add on tickets once you arrive. Maybe you got incorrect info. from a CM?

Because you are required to have a park hopper or waterpark option with free dining.

 

[Disneylover99]

Because you are required to have a park hopper or waterpark option with free dining.

I know. But how does that make it impossible to upgrade once you are there? Don't they want you to spend more money?

 

[smitch425]

I know. But how does that make it impossible to upgrade once you are there? Don't they want you to spend more money?

I don't think you can remove the hopper from the ticket period once it's been paid for, but if they were able to remove it, Disney would be losing money, which they don't want to do. Lol! They would happily add the extra days, just no removing the hopper option.

 

[Disneylover99]

I don't think you can remove the hopper from the ticket period once it's been paid for, but if they were able to remove it, Disney would be losing money, which they don't want to do. Lol! They would happily add the extra days, just no removing the hopper option.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. I don't mean to remove the hopper, but if you have the park hopper option on two day tickets, can't you upgrade them to five day tickets once you're there?

 

[themommy]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. I don't mean to remove the hopper, but if you have the park hopper option on two day tickets, can't you upgrade them to five day tickets once you're there?

Ok, I understand now. You did say 2 with hopper to 5 myw. Thought you were just saying exactly that. Not keeping hopper and adding days. I don't see why they would not let you add days if you are keeping the hopper.

 

[dcmouse]

I don't think you can remove the hopper from the ticket period once it's been paid for, but if they were able to remove it, Disney would be losing money, which they don't want to do. Lol! They would happily add the extra days, just no removing the hopper option.

I think you're right. Anyone with little kids take advantage of the park hopper? You can ride the monorail from Magic Kingdom to Epcot, right? Any other good strategies for getting from one park to another quickly (and maybe without folding up strollers?