Early Check-in for Dining Plan: Entire Party Present?

[Kansasdreamers]

We are doing a DVC on our first night. We would love to start our DxDDP on day 2. Can my husband go to POR early on Day 2 to check-in to get the ddp started or do we all have to go with him?
Thanks!

 

[princessjv]

We are doing a DVC on our first night. We would love to start our DxDDP on day 2. Can my husband go to POR early on Day 2 to check-in to get the ddp started or do we all have to go with him?
Thanks!

Your husband should be able to check into a resort without the entire family with.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Emphasis on should. If you review your reservation documentation, it probably has wording to the effect that "all members of your party must (may need to) be present to get all package features".

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) You all need to be present ONLY if you are doing Free Dining.
2) This eliminates phantom guests in order to get more dining than allowed.
3) otherwise, no problem checking in later.
4) You can ask his key to be kept at Front Desk.
5) They will give it to him when he arrives.

 

[aaarcher86]

1) You all need to be present ONLY if you are doing Free Dining.
2) This eliminates phantom guests in order to get more dining than allowed.
3) otherwise, no problem checking in later.
4) You can ask his key to be kept at Front Desk.
5) They will give it to him when he arrives.

How would this work then if you have a guest on the package arrival the following day?

 

[GillianP1301]

I did free dining in August at CBR and checked in while my DH and DS waited in the car. I had no issue at all.

 

[lurkernj]

I checked into POR in Sept for free dining and my husband and kids weren't coming until two days later. My husband and kids also used Magic express, so it was documented somewhere that they were coming two days later.

I think they've lightened up a bit about the whole party being there after they made the requirement for two day tickets instead of one with free dining.

 

[StacyMarie]

In August, we checked in with FD at Pop and my mother joined us 2 days later. They gave us her card with her dining credits on it when we checked in, even though she was not there.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

DH has checked into CSR for free dining without us (we arrive that night after a day of school for the kids) and he has always been given our KTTW cards and dining credits without question. This has been for at least the last 6 years.

 

[Colleen27]

I checked in on our last FD trip (January of this year) without the rest of the family. They were just out front playing with the toys (at Pop) but the CM checking us in had no way of knowing that. I think a previous poster had it right - they've relaxed the requirement about everyone being present when they upped the ticket requirement to 2 days, counting on that expense to deter the addition of phantom guests.

 

[SoosieQ]

I concur with many of the other posters. I checked in by myself last month and my mom arrived 2 days later. I did not have a problem at all. In fact I got extra meals since she wasn't there for 2 days.......hahahaha

 

[TheRustyScupper]

How would this work then if you have a guest on the package arrival the following day?

1) You can get their key card.
2) But, the dining will not be on the card.
3) They would have to go back to Front Desk to activate dining.

4) WDW has had too many phantom guests.
5) This way, people can get 1-15 extra meals per phantom.
6) This halts the scam.