2015 FREE DINING THREAD _ All Questions HERE!!

[Kerri1211]

CSR or CBR opinions please. 4 adults (parents and grand parents), 3 kids (9, 7, 1). 2 rooms. Thanks

 

[tabistar]

CSR or CBR opinions please. 4 adults (parents and grand parents), 3 kids (9, 7, 1). 2 rooms. Thanks

We chose CBR over CSR because of the pool and it being newly refurbished. I love the look of the new rooms! But it was a hard decision with most other things being equal.

 

[ehoops120912]

This is a great tip from everyone! I don't have a redcard yet but I'm going to get one.

You mentioned paying part of your deposit with gift cards - do you (or others) know if it's possible to pay the whole deposit with gift cards?

Thanks!

Yes! You can pay the whole thing in Gift Cards! Once u have a Disney Gift Card it is literally "Disney Money" where you can use it anything and all Disney. Wether its your Vacation or Disney Store. It works for anything Disney!

 

[Aubrav]

I think I'm going to give up on a POP standard room coming available for my dates and just get excited about trying the All Stars for the first time.

 

[ehoops120912]

I also want to note that you can also use Disney Gift Cards for Food at the parks as well.
Overall, If your going to spend money and you know its going to be used at Disney, this is the way to go.

 

[DisneyNannie]

I think I'm going to give up on a POP standard room coming available for my dates and just get excited about trying the All Stars for the first time.

Aubrey, don't give up. I never thought I would be able to get 3 garden view rooms at the Beach Club but a few prayers helped make it happen this morning. Has been nothing available all week I was able to add dining to the 3 rooms on Monday but I had to upgrade to pool view. There were no garden view rooms all week but this morning I checked and there it was. Was not sure I would be able to get them 3 rooms back to garden view but somehow it all worked. My prayers were answered.

 

[masupo]

Yes! You can pay the whole thing in Gift Cards! Once u have a Disney Gift Card it is literally "Disney Money" where you can use it anything and all Disney. Wether its your Vacation or Disney Store. It works for anything Disney!

I also want to note that you can also use Disney Gift Cards for Food at the parks as well.
Overall, If your going to spend money and you know its going to be used at Disney, this is the way to go.

Thanks!! I have Disney Research Overload lol. I thought I read somewhere that they only accept a credit card for the $200 deposit. I've never been more happy to be wrong because I haven't made my reservation yet and now I can save 5% on the whole thing

 

[Kerri1211]

I was offered a magical deal through a TA saving about $500, but can't add dining. I'd have to switch resorts from CBR to CSR. So confused...

 

[DisneyWorld4Ever]

CSR or CBR opinions please. 4 adults (parents and grand parents), 3 kids (9, 7, 1). 2 rooms. Thanks

It is really just a preference, they are both great resorts. We prefer CSR, its our favorite moderate resort.

 

[ehoops120912]

Thanks!! I have Disney Research Overload lol. I thought I read somewhere that they only accept a credit card for the $200 deposit. I've never been more happy to be wrong because I haven't made my reservation yet and now I can save 5% on the whole thing

Im glad I could help! Any money saved helps all around, for everyone

 

[oddball1214]

I'm really frustrated right now with Disney's system/website, so please excuse me while I vent a little lol We booked through a TA and were originally booked at POR. Unfortunately, the TA website and back line were down on Monday, so we weren't able to get FD at POR or anywhere else. We actually switched yesterday to POP with FD. This morning I was so excited to see that POR was available again and hopeful that we could switch back. We contacted our TA who called Disney immediately...of course they told our TA to call back in a half hour because their systems were down. Our TA called back in 20 minutes just to be told that the POR rooms were gone. I honestly feel bad for the TAs this year...although it isn't their fault, unfortunately I think we will be booking our next Disney trip on our own.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

Nada!!! the agent seems new as she was reciting to me the current GP codes and I explained I was looking for a UOC and she said that those get emails or mailed to people. She was very nice and professional but was not able to help me.
I'll give it to next week as she said she saw nothing on my profile.
Oh and of course she wanted me to make more dining reservations cause I only had a couple but I told her until I save more money on the room I wasn't going that route and I didn't want to change resorts. Oh ya she didn't know what I was talking about when I said "Magnolia Bend" at POR.
She was calling it Mongolia. One of us is wrong.

Off to get new glasses. Maybe it's me.

 

[tabistar]

Just got off the phone. No UOC for us, yet. For our dates (9/26-10/2), Junior Suites are available at CSR for both FD and RO, but those are considerable more expensive. We really want CBR, but would be willing to switch to CSR for FD or a considerable RO discount. I guess I'll keep trying!

 

[sarahplus4disneymom]

I spent days and days trying to get what I wanted... Talked to a bunch of really great agents... But the last one I talked to had some good info that I thought I would pass along to those still trying to get what the want.

She said she had been working there forever and her experience she would think that around may2nd-may5th there will be a large influx of rooms available that aren't currently.
The reason being is that TA's can put rooms on hold... No deposits needed and they drop off around 1week from the booking if the deposit isn't paid. She said that there are people who book a lot of rooms but end up only really needing 1... She told me to keep checking the computer around the 2nd but may 4th at 10pm is the magic time! FYI!

 

[aaarcher86]

I was offered a magical deal through a TA saving about $500, but can't add dining. I'd have to switch resorts from CBR to CSR. So confused...

You can't add dining at all, you can't add FD, or you'd have to switch to a different resort to get FD?

There's a 'magical agency' but those bookings don't allow for the dining plan at all to be added. I think they're conference rates or something.

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

I didn't know you could fax in room requests. Could you tell me what number you fax them to and how far in advance of your reservation. Thank you.

You can fax them to your resort 5 days or so before your arrival date.

 

[Ladyfish77]

Yes for the "magical" bookings they are RO discounts (convention rate). If you want DDP or FD you have to book the package including tickets, rooms, dining. I'm getting park tickets through a military discount, so I can't do FD (I'm doing RO discount which works well for us). If I chose to do FD package, then I wouldn't be able to use the discounted tickets. I know some folks just save one or the other tickets for a later visit, but since we don't visit that often, it's not worth it for us.

 

[samsteele]

I spent days and days trying to get what I wanted... Talked to a bunch of really great agents... But the last one I talked to had some good info that I thought I would pass along to those still trying to get what the want.

She said she had been working there forever and her experience she would think that around may2nd-may5th there will be a large influx of rooms available that aren't currently.
The reason being is that TA's can put rooms on hold... No deposits needed and they drop off around 1week from the booking if the deposit isn't paid. She said that there are people who book a lot of rooms but end up only really needing 1... She told me to keep checking the computer around the 2nd but may 4th at 10pm is the magic time! FYI!

This may well be true as my TA can put a hold on a room reservation for me before I commit to paying. I'm not sure exactly what the magic number of days are before the hold expires, but I think the practice rings true and likely no harm in checking for any openings around those dates. Good luck!

 

[dpswift]

This is a great tip from everyone! I don't have a redcard yet but I'm going to get one.

You mentioned paying part of your deposit with gift cards - do you (or others) know if it's possible to pay the whole deposit with gift cards?

Thanks!

They have a limit of four cards total online.

 

[Aubrav]

I'm really frustrated right now with Disney's system/website, so please excuse me while I vent a little lol We booked through a TA and were originally booked at POR. Unfortunately, the TA website and back line were down on Monday, so we weren't able to get FD at POR or anywhere else. We actually switched yesterday to POP with FD. This morning I was so excited to see that POR was available again and hopeful that we could switch back. We contacted our TA who called Disney immediately...of course they told our TA to call back in a half hour because their systems were down. Our TA called back in 20 minutes just to be told that the POR rooms were gone. I honestly feel bad for the TAs this year...although it isn't their fault, unfortunately I think we will be booking our next Disney trip on our own.

Based on what's been said in this thread, you could theoretically jump on it if you see it available to lock it in yourself. Then if the TA can't get it, have them cancel your reservation under them and transfer the new one to them.

I don't personally have any experience with this.