2015 FREE DINING THREAD _ All Questions HERE!!

[Taran430]

I need some advice on how to handle everyone's MDE accounts. In my rush to book FD in the middle of the night, I booked my brother's family under my login and my sister's family under my dad's. I didn't have either of their logins and was trying to book two rooms at the same time on two different devices to ensure that I got all four rooms. Currently, my MDE says that I am managing my brother's family profile. I'm assuming that my dad's says the same for my sister's as she said that she couldn't access hers from her MDE.

I guess my question is what do I do now? This is our first experience with MDE/FP+ so I have no idea how to link or give family members access. I was going to call once everything settles down but I'm not even sure what I would request. I will probably be the one making all of the FP+ reservations so should I just continue to manage my brother's family? Is there a way to make him the "manager"? Should I try to be the "manger" for everyone? Is that even possible with us split on two different accounts? Sorry for all the questions, but this is all new to me and I'm not sure what the best way to proceed would be.

I wish I had good news, but sadly I have spent over three hours talking to different people to fix a very similar problem. I had registered an account using my daughter's email address, but my name because I made reservations during FD because I could not modify the ones on my account. Today the first IT person said they were going to transfer the stuff over to mine and then I could cancel the first. Instead, it merged them all and I could not cancel any...a cast member, reservation specialist, guest services and a second IT later I now have been able to cancel the first set of reservations, but I have no magic band allotted to me and my daughter has two because they changed my name linked with her email (idk why) and created an account for her (she's 17) and two memory makers on the account and my daughter is now in control of everything and it says she made the dining reservations even though her name is not on the credit card used. Worse case scenario everything gets canceled and I have to start all over....I'm hoping for anything a bit better than that.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

I know but, you have to spend at least $50 to save a whole $5. Seems useless to me. Although like you said it will work for some others.

Well don't forget about the points you get for the vacation too as well as the points you get for any dining or spending at WDW. I know the regular card is 1% but I decided to upgrade to the Premier card to try it and I've already earned an extra 15 rewards points just this month and now my vacation will earn me 2% instead of 1%. I was going to cancel after a year since I could to avoid paying the $49 fee (which balanced out with the 50 rewards points they gave me) but I'm seeing a benefit to keeping it now.

Seems like system issues are across the board given the posts above who tried to get a CM. I have been checking just to see if a different resort opens up and I got error messages too that the server is down/busy and to try again. Same thing was happening with my quest to find a BOG dinner rez 10/29. I won't give up, its my daughters bday and we REALLY want to eat there!

OH I have been persistent. I had the most success if I just told it to list the restaurants and picked date and time then. And if putting in time didn't work I asked for just the meal. I saw BOG for 10/30 and 10/31. I had not planned to go there, but DH who gives me no opinion will give his opinion once I tell him what I did. grrrr. So looks like BOG lunch is in our reservations. Not disappointed just had to change my plans.
Oh and BTW, this morning I couldn't do 180+10 with RO but tonight I can. Now I just need a RO discount and I'll be happy.

Just for the record, its 7pm Wednesday night and Im still traumatized by Monday! This is the first time I could get myself to log into anything Disney related

sorry to hear that. But I can relate. With my DH keep telling me what he wants after I ask and he doesn't tell me so I just do what I want and then he corrects me with his opinion. Grrr
I gave him a specific day to give his opinion and he said he didn't want to make a decision, so I said "Fine I'm doing nothing and you can just take what's left when that day comes".

Now I have to get a hold of Magic Express on the phone cause work has us on different flights and the system won't like me do multiple Magic Express reservations. But I guess I can do that later after I have my RO discount applied.

 

[darlak]

I dont think the CM that said that knows what they are talking about. They also said more rooms will probably not be opened up.

This doesn't jive with the fact that Pop was sold out of FD on monday for my dates and then had some open on Tuesday morning. Either they made more rooms available for the promotion or cancelled rooms go back into the inventory (more likely). Both can't be false and still have myself and others see rooms pop up that were previously sold out

I also had one CM tell me the spiel about cancelled rooms going back into the regular pool of rooms and that more would not be opened up for the free dining promo. Another CM told me on the same day that they DID expect more rooms to open up for free dining. I thought to ask that CM how long he had worked in his position. Not sure that it means anything, but he said since 2007 and that has never seen them NOT add additional rooms to the FD promo. So basically...who knows?

 

[Nigel Channing]

I dont think the CM that said that knows what they are talking about. They also said more rooms will probably not be opened up.

This doesn't jive with the fact that Pop was sold out of FD on monday for my dates and then had some open on Tuesday morning. Either they made more rooms available for the promotion or cancelled rooms go back into the inventory (more likely). Both can't be false and still have myself and others see rooms pop up that were previously sold out

Yeah, this. On Monday morning all I could find at CSR for my dates were Business Class rooms which I passed on. On Monday afternoon, Water View was there so I booked it. Come Tuesday morning, Standard View was available so I downgraded to save $230.

 

[BuckeyeMickey]

Trying again for CBR for 10/31-11/8. I will call every day if I have to. Don't see anything online but I refuse to give up! Current hold time quoted was 60 minutes.
Our current FD is for 2 pool view rooms at Pop that I scored Monday morning. No "modify" button for me on MDE I'm assuming because our package is 2 rooms?

Did anyone out there on the Dis get FD at CBR for week of 10/30 or 10/31? Other than the pirate rooms I mean....

 

[sarahplus4disneymom]

I wish you luck! I had to change my dates. I lost some of my dining (including Be Our Guest), but Im finally satisfied.

I originally booked the Polynesian for 09/17 - 09/25. (Booked last October) $8100 ish
I made my ADRs in March for those dates. Got everything I wanted.

Tried to modify for free dining, and they wanted me to upgrade to Club Level for $8400 with the free dining.
I decided to move to the Grand Floridian, same dates, w/ free dining for $7300 ish
I then talked to my husband and he said to move to Beach Club and add an extra day. Extra day was not available, so same dates at BC for $6000 ish.
THEN.... I came on these boards and saw someone got the Poly for dates a week earlier than mine in regular garden view.
SO...I checked and tinkered with dates. Finally got it 09/12 - 09/20 for $6300 ish.

Flights for those dates were also a lot cheaper than my original dates, so I saved about $350 there too. Only problem is I lost BOG, but Ill gladly take what I got over getting some grey stuff!

Look at that thread September dining cancellations... There were a bunch of BOG reservation cancellations that people posted about. Maybe you can grab one up!

 

[ml sumner]

I need some advice on how to handle everyone's MDE accounts. In my rush to book FD in the middle of the night, I booked my brother's family under my login and my sister's family under my dad's. I didn't have either of their logins and was trying to book two rooms at the same time on two different devices to ensure that I got all four rooms. Currently, my MDE says that I am managing my brother's family profile. I'm assuming that my dad's says the same for my sister's as she said that she couldn't access hers from her MDE.

I guess my question is what do I do now? This is our first experience with MDE/FP+ so I have no idea how to link or give family members access. I was going to call once everything settles down but I'm not even sure what I would request. I will probably be the one making all of the FP+ reservations so should I just continue to manage my brother's family? Is there a way to make him the "manager"? Should I try to be the "manger" for everyone? Is that even possible with us split on two different accounts? Sorry for all the questions, but this is all new to me and I'm not sure what the best way to proceed would be.

Definitely call to get this corrected. I did something very similar last year and didn't realize it was a problem until it was midnight at our 60 day window for fast passes and I could only manage 2 out of our party of 7. Needless to say the phone lines were closed at that hour and I had to wait until the next morning to get it straight and get our fast passes booked! The IT folks were great and fixed everything and even showed me how to tweak my fast pass times to line up better. Call Them!!

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

FYI, I've had no problem finding ADR for BOG lunch the whole week of October 25th.
I've not played enough with my ADR that I am not sure what I am doing. I think I still have an ADR for breakfast at Trails end and 1 lunch at BOG.
I want to find a new different place but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
Good night all.

 

[twoolle]

BJs Wholesale Club also sells discounted Disney Gift cards. (and I think I remember someone posting Costco does too)

Sam's Club has $150 gift cards for $143. I think I heard that you can only apply lots of gist cards if you make several payments over time. If you wait until 45 days I think I heard there is a limit of 4.

Definitely call to get this corrected. I did something very similar last year and didn't realize it was a problem until it was midnight at our 60 day window for fast passes and I could only manage 2 out of our party of 7. Needless to say the phone lines were closed at that hour and I had to wait until the next morning to get it straight and get our fast passes booked! The IT folks were great and fixed everything and even showed me how to tweak my fast pass times to line up better. Call Them!!

I agree. Call IT and get it worked out. If you plan to be doing all your touring and dining together then it would be fine for you to manage them all. For our group I just manage my immediate family and then link with extended family by sending a request through MDE. But we won't all be touring together.

 

[twoolle]

Sam's Club has $150 gift cards for $143. I think I heard that you can only apply lots of gist cards if you make several payments over time. If you wait until 45 days I think I heard there is a limit of 4.


You can order these online with free shipping. The stores don't always have a good supply. These would be good for paying off your magic band purchases, just be sure to let the resort know the day before checking out that you want to use gift cards and not your cc on file.

 

[LivingforDisney]

I have ended up with 2 reservations.
If I cancel the one I don't want on line, do they just refund the $200 deposit to my credit card or do I have to ring.
As I am from Australia I can't hold on the phone for hours, that's why I have ended up with 2 bookings. Ty

 

[jenineh]

I have ended up with 2 reservations.
If I cancel the one I don't want on line, do they just refund the $200 deposit to my credit card or do I have to ring.
As I am from Australia I can't hold on the phone for hours, that's why I have ended up with 2 bookings. Ty

I just modified my reservation and I was owed a credit of 230.00. It goes back on the method of payment. So I am pretty sure it would be the same for a cancellation.

 

[frechettegirl]

Trying again for CBR for 10/31-11/8. I will call every day if I have to. Don't see anything online but I refuse to give up! Current hold time quoted was 60 minutes.
Our current FD is for 2 pool view rooms at Pop that I scored Monday morning. No "modify" button for me on MDE I'm assuming because our package is 2 rooms?

Did anyone out there on the Dis get FD at CBR for week of 10/30 or 10/31? Other than the pirate rooms I mean....

Yesterday I reserved 10/31-11/6. I'm hoping for the following week so I may cancel.

 

[Aytons4him]

Yesterday I reserved 10/31-11/6. I'm hoping for the following week so I may cancel.

Are you looking for nov 9-16 or so? Cause I am cancelling my ressie with my travel agent and would love to pass her on someone to try and see if they can get the ressie. It's CBR water view. I actually have 2 rooms booked. Both free dining.

 

[PirateD]

Thanks, @donp , @Taran430 , @twoolle , and @ml sumner for your advice. I guess I will give IT a call. It makes me a little nervous. I just don't want something to happen and to lose our reservations and FD by messing with it too much. Good luck, Taran, with your situation. I'm eager to hear how it's resolved!

 

[frechettegirl]

Are you looking for nov 9-16 or so? Cause I am cancelling my ressie with my travel agent and would love to pass her on someone to try and see if they can get the ressie. It's CBR water view. I actually have 2 rooms booked. Both free dining.

Yes that's the week I am interested in. Can you message me and I can give you my email so your ta can get in touch.

 

[Joe'sgirl]

FYI, I've had no problem finding ADR for BOG lunch the whole week of October 25th.
I've not played enough with my ADR that I am not sure what I am doing. I think I still have an ADR for breakfast at Trails end and 1 lunch at BOG.
I want to find a new different place but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
Good night all.

Me either, availability for BOG lunch but its the dinner I need that week - its my daughters birthday so I am checking constantly to see if anything becomes available. That was the only rez I really wanted and I didn't get it.

 

[Joe'sgirl]

Logged in last night and they had junior suites available at CSR - now I don't see them. I really wanted 2 rooms at CSR or CBR but for now its Pop unless something becomes available. My flights are booked so I have no wiggle room with days.

 

[nobellybutton]

Trying again for CBR for 10/31-11/8. I will call every day if I have to. Don't see anything online but I refuse to give up! Current hold time quoted was 60 minutes.
Our current FD is for 2 pool view rooms at Pop that I scored Monday morning. No "modify" button for me on MDE I'm assuming because our package is 2 rooms?

Did anyone out there on the Dis get FD at CBR for week of 10/30 or 10/31? Other than the pirate rooms I mean....

I have ressies for CBR 10/31-11/5 Preffered room but I booked before FD because I wanted that room whether or not FD was offered. I followed advice from my fellow DIS'ers who said booked what you want and are willing to pay for IF you end up with FD hooray. But I must tell you the rooms at CBR were limited even before FD was announced. BEST OF LUCK hope you find what you need!

 

[donp]

I have ressies for CBR 10/31-11/5 Preffered room but I booked before FD because I wanted that room whether or not FD was offered. I followed advice from my fellow DIS'ers who said booked what you want and are willing to pay for IF you end up with FD hooray. But I must tell you the rooms at CBR were limited even before FD was announced. BEST OF LUCK hope you find what you need!

Just curious, did you end up getting free dining?