Check in and Free Dining

[LisaInNc]

We all have to be present for check in? That is going to be next to impossible! I am arriving first the night before, staying off site. Checking into the hotel first thing to get my Key to the World Card I have a breakfast ADR that morning. My Mom is arriving later in the day on a different flight from a different state and my Sister and her 2 kids are driving and will not be arriving until after midnight. Another sister is arriving the following day. There are 5 of us at the POR

Are you telling me I can't get into the room until we are all together?

Won't they be able to tell at least my Mom and one sister are arriving later from her Magical Express flight times?

 

[RMulieri]

I know in the past they have required all to be present in the lobby for check in during free dining.I am not sure if that was the case or not last year. or what the deal will be this year.

 

[mbanks21]

Thats just saying you cant check in by yourself and get 5 differant room keys with the DDP. They have to check in to get the keys.

 

[imthatgirl]

we were able to in 2006. my husband took the kids to a sitting area and i checked us in. it wasnt busy and its possible they were aware of my husband.

i dont know how that would work, you would check in and get your room key, but if they dont allow you to check everyone in then how would you get your dining credits? i would assume they wouldnt give you all the credits for everyone if that is the rule.

i would call disney and ask what the best way to check in would be.

 

[kaytieeldr]

All reservation documentation states that all persons on the reservation must be present at check-in. This is to prevent "ghost" Guests, especially during free dining.

The OP will be able to check in, and will be able to get HER dining credits - but it's unlikely that even if the resort is willing to give her all the room keys for the later arrivals, that any of those dining credits will be activated until/unless those people present themselves at the Front Desk.

 

[LisaInNc]

I was worried about this so I called Reservations and they said that I would be able to check in without my entire party.

I still wanted more confirmation so I called the resort. I ended up with someone at the help desk. He gave me his name. I asked specifically about checking in furing free dining.

What he told me was as long as the lead person on the reservation is there to check in they can. I am the name on the reservation and I can check in and get my Key To The World Card and start using the dining credits. We have Chef Mickeys that morning and I don't want to lose that ADR. As the other people arrive they can go to the front desk and get their keys.

So you CAN check into the hotel without your entire party being there.

So if they have a problem with it at least I have his name.

It just didn't make sense to me that I could arrive in the morning and my sisters and Mom arrive later that day and not be allowed to get into the room that I am paying for and paying quite a lot at the rack room rate!

I feel much better now.

 

[FOV]

Last time we went to WDW during free dining my dh wasn't able to join us until day 3 because of last minute business. We had no problems.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's possible. Apparently last year some were asked to present all party members and some were not.

 

[RMulieri]

It's possible. Apparently last year some were asked to present all party members and some were not.

My sil and Bil were one of those lucky people that they would not check-in till we all arrived in the lobby ( there were 8 of us)...

 

[Tink3Bell]

I checked in last year at CBR while my husband and kids waited in the car.
No Problem.

 

[cdrn1]

We are in a similar situation...two rooms, room 1 will have three of us from three different locations at three different times, room 2 will have three arriving at two different times. What a pain it will be if we all need to be present!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We have never all had to be present at check in, but each year it has only been 2 of us (who would go by themselves and eat enough food for 2 people?). They give me both keys with no problem. I will get in late at night and my friend is getting in either later that night or the next morning. I called and was told that I could check in for both of us - I guess I'll see in 16 days.

 

[p2oh]

I have been able to check in for both of us the past two years. I think it may have to do with the type of tickets you buy. We always get 10 day hopper passes and I guess they think no one would pay for those if there weren't two people there.

 

[cdrn1]

Well, I am back from my free dining trip and I am happy to say checkin was a breeze and there were only two of the six of us there at the time; they gave us everyone's keys to the world card and no one else had to go to the front desk. Just FYI.

 

[LisaInNc]

Oh good because my flight was changed and now I am not arriving until after the first 2 people. We are a Grand Gathering and no one is arriving at the same time.