A Question about the Dining Plan

[Tomader]

If my daughter is unable to go to Disney and I have already booked her on the food plan am I able to still use her dining credits? She may not be able to go with us but we won't know till the last minute. Do they ask for all people to be present when eating? Do we all have our own dining cards?

 

[Figment*Fan]

If your daughter is not there at check-in, I don't think they will issue her credits. That would be like creating "phantom" children to get more credits (esp. during free dining)-- I think Disney tries to ensure this doesn't happen.

Can't you just call and modify your package once you know when she can go or not?

 

[mom2my3kids]

Everyone has to be there to check in to the hotel when you arrive,so they don't have phantom guests.

 

[Lynne M]

No, you won't be able to do that. Many guests were 'inventing' relatives and adding them to their reservation - so they could get extra credits. Disney then started requiring all guests to be present at check-in.

If your daughter's not there, her credits won't be available.

 

[princssdisnygina]

You should just call and take her off the reservation...dont know when you are leaving but you should do it asap because the longer you wait the less chance you have of getting money back, if you arent within your cancellation time limit.

Gina

 

[dolly-dawne]

If I am correct, you are going during free dining?If this is the case, I would say.. no big deal if you wait until the last minute to change your ressie with the hotel. you are not paying any extra for dining so you wont lose any money by waiting (and incurring a penalty fee). The same goes if she is not going and you do not cancel-if she is not at check-in, they dont issue her a card (becuase she is not there) and you did not pay for her...Again it does not really matter. You have not lost any money.

 

[aubriee]

If I am correct, you are going during free dining?If this is the case, I would say.. no big deal if you wait until the last minute to change your ressie with the hotel. you are not paying any extra for dining so you wont lose any money by waiting (and incurring a penalty fee). The same goes if she is not going and you do not cancel-if she is not at check-in, they dont issue her a card (becuase she is not there) and you did not pay for her...Again it does not really matter. You have not lost any money.

It may. If she's an adult they will be paying a fee for an extra adult in the room. Even if she's not, then they had to buy her at least a one day MYW ticket in order to get the pkg. If a change is made for a pkg less than 45 days out that decreases the price of the pkg, they may have to pay a change fee.

 

[dolly-dawne]

Thats right...I forgot you have to buy a one day ticket(at least). What is the age you have to pay for an extra adult in your room? my niece is 16 and we have not had to pay extra for her yet.If you do not change your package and have only a one day ticket (?) I believe that ticket would never expire so you could potentially not change your package and save the ticket for a later date. Just refuse the extra dining when you arrive. Than again I guess all your ADRS would change and that would be unfair to people who needed a table for 3 and could not get one because you were holding one when you were only 2. Sorry I am thnking outloud now.

 

[PammyPoppins]

I have a question that maybe some of you can help me with an answer. Me and my husband and youngest daughter are driving to Disney in October and staying at Cornado Springs for 13 nights with free dining. Our oldest girl who is 17 is flying because she can't miss something at school that first day we are there, she will be flying in on our second day so she will not be with us at check-in, what is going to happen with her not being htere present the first day and the free dining plan.
Thank-You,
PammyPoppins

 

[TimeforMe]

Posted on the wrong thread. Sorry.

 

[shondad]

While I cannot speak for anyone else (or for the way they do things @ Disney in 2007), I can say that each of the two previous years that we have gone during the 'free' dining period I checked my party in without them at the counter.

The first time at Sports, it was 0130am and they were sitting in the waiting area, there were several families checking in, they may not have seen them and they did not ask.

The second time last year at around 10am @ Pop Century, where I am certain there were thousands of people checking in that morning {8/18 the first day of the free dining}, I rushed my DH and kids into the bldg (they parked while I stood in line and then came in a sat in the waiting area), for concern that they would need to be present and I had no problems checking everyone in. The cast member never asked for my family and distributed all of our cards and other info. Perhaps that was just the cast member I got, it didn't matter though as we were all there.

Soooo, maybe there's hope. Things may be different this year, who knows? Either way, Have a great trip!

 

[FogliaFamily]

We've gone three times in the last year, with one being during the free dining. I've always checked in myself and they've never asked where the rest of my family was. They may not have even been in the check in area and they could have been looking at the pool or in the general store. It really would have been a problem if they asked. It never crossed my mind to have them there with me while checking in.

 

[LizinSTL]

I have a question that maybe some of you can help me with an answer. Me and my husband and youngest daughter are driving to Disney in October and staying at Cornado Springs for 13 nights with free dining. Our oldest girl who is 17 is flying because she can't miss something at school that first day we are there, she will be flying in on our second day so she will not be with us at check-in, what is going to happen with her not being htere present the first day and the free dining plan.
Thank-You,
PammyPoppins

Pammy- bring a copy of her itinerary from the airlines and her DME reservation (if that's how she's getting to the resort) so that at check in you can explain the situation to the CM.

 

[PammyPoppins]

Dear Liz,
You are so smart!! Thank-You so much for this advice! I didn;t think of that but that is GREAT!
Thank-You,
PammyPoppins

 

[bicker]

Also, see if you can get someone at the hotel to send you a letter saying it would be okay for her to arrive a day late. Armed with that, you won't have any problem whatsoever.

 

[PammyPoppins]

Oh thank-You, all this advice really helps.
Thank-You,
PammyPoppins

 

[Piglets Mommy]

We had friends go to WDW last year with exdended family from all over the country. Thay arrived on 4 different flights and stayed in 3 different rooms, all in the same hotel (I think POR, but I'm not 100% on that.) Anyway, the first group who arrived was able to check all 3 rooms, get their park passes, etc. to save everyone else some time. This wasn't during free dining, but they had the DDP. Hope that helps a bit! Enjoy your trip. I hope your daughter gets to go in the end, I'm sure she would love to be there.

 

[bicker]

Yeah, I've not heard them checking for phantom guests at check-in except during free dining. That's the only time of year they check, AFAIK.