Dining Plan Question

[geniegirl]

We are thinking about getting a dining play. 2 of us will be there the full 8 days but another will be there on 1 day. We have to pay for his room and food the whole 8 days though. Will we be able to use some if his credits on the days he is not there for the sit down and counter meal. We will have his room card.

Also the 1 day ticket we have to get with the package is that name specific or could we use that as well at a later time since we already had tickets for this trip or will he have to be the one who uses it later?

Thanks

 

[snykymom]

You can use any or all of his credits at any time. You get all your credits when you check in. And all the credits are on all the keys; you don't need his. (I'm assuming you're all in the same room.)

And yes, anyone can use the 1 day ticket.

 

[disneyin2008]

One word of warning.....don't know if they're doing this now, but last year I remember reading many threads where every member of the party had to appear at the check in counter, including all children, during FREE dining. I guess this was to prevent people from having "phantom guests" to get more dining credits or something equally stupid, lol.

I haven't read about that this year, or maybe because it was so prevelant last year people have accepted the practice. I believe that what was being done was if some of your party arrived later than the person checking in, their free dining credits weren't being put on the room keys until they arrived and checked in.

Now...if you're talking about paying for the dining plan....then no problem, they don't care since it's paid for. The credits are not person specific (except adult/child divisions)...but if it's 3 adults then you would simply have 3 TS, 3 CS and 3 snack credits for each day (so in your case 24 TS/CS/snack)....how you spend them is up to you. So the two who arrive first could definitely be doing several Signature meals that cost 2 TS, or character breakfasts and sit down dinners, etc. And eating yourself silly on CS and snacks, lol.

BUT....might it be cheaper to book him his own room/dining plan for ONLY the one day he'll be there?

Considering that the dining plan is $38 per person, x 7 days he wouldn't be using it, that would be enough to pay for many of deluxe rooms for a night! If you're staying value or moderate, I'd definitely book him his own room and dining plan for only the dates he'll be there. If he doesn't want to stay in his own room and bunk with you guys, that's your business, but financially it'd be cheaper to do his own.

 

[disneyfan55]

One word of warning.....don't know if they're doing this now, but last year I remember reading many threads where every member of the party had to appear at the check in counter, including all children, during FREE dining. I guess this was to prevent people from having "phantom guests" to get more dining credits or something equally stupid, lol.

I haven't read about that this year, or maybe because it was so prevelant last year people have accepted the practice. I believe that what was being done was if some of your party arrived later than the person checking in, their free dining credits weren't being put on the room keys until they arrived and checked in.

Now...if you're talking about paying for the dining plan....then no problem, they don't care since it's paid for. The credits are not person specific (except adult/child divisions)...but if it's 3 adults then you would simply have 3 TS, 3 CS and 3 snack credits for each day (so in your case 24 TS/CS/snack)....how you spend them is up to you. So the two who arrive first could definitely be doing several Signature meals that cost 2 TS, or character breakfasts and sit down dinners, etc. And eating yourself silly on CS and snacks, lol.

BUT....might it be cheaper to book him his own room/dining plan for ONLY the one day he'll be there?

Considering that the dining plan is $38 per person, x 7 days he wouldn't be using it, that would be enough to pay for many of deluxe rooms for a night! If you're staying value or moderate, I'd definitely book him his own room and dining plan for only the dates he'll be there. If he doesn't want to stay in his own room and bunk with you guys, that's your business, but financially it'd be cheaper to do his own.

We just changed to the free dining and I, too, have heard that all must be present to check in during free dining. Last year we didn't have to all be there even though we all were. Since we added the free dining, my daughter decided to fly in the first night of free dining. We will already be there. I asked 2 different CMs when we added her to make sure that she didn't have to be there when we checked in and they both assured me that she didn't have to be since she is in our room. I guess the worst that could happen is that she will have to 'check in' late at night to get her card/tickets.

 

[disneyin2008]

We just changed to the free dining and I, too, have heard that all must be present to check in during free dining. Last year we didn't have to all be there even though we all were. Since we added the free dining, my daughter decided to fly in the first night of free dining. We will already be there. I asked 2 different CMs when we added her to make sure that she didn't have to be there when we checked in and they both assured me that she didn't have to be since she is in our room. I guess the worst that could happen is that she will have to 'check in' late at night to get her card/tickets.

Yeah your worst case is pretty easy fix...but the OP made it sound like two people were going to be there for 7 days before the third person arrived. I'm thinking if they are checking (and it's highly likely it's one of those some CMs do and some don't), then they will not be able to get that other person's credits added to their key until he arrives...and then even if you do nothing but eat you'll be hard pressed to use 8 TS, 8 CS and 8 snacks in a day!

 

[disneyfan55]

Yeah your worst case is pretty easy fix...but the OP made it sound like two people were going to be there for 7 days before the third person arrived. I'm thinking if they are checking (and it's highly likely it's one of those some CMs do and some don't), then they will not be able to get that other person's credits added to their key until he arrives...and then even if you do nothing but eat you'll be hard pressed to use 8 TS, 8 CS and 8 snacks in a day!

Yeah, I know. If he's in the same room, the OP may luck out otherwise if they're paying for dining I would not even put him on the room and on the last day let the front desk know he's there if they want to be honest. I don't think it would be a big deal for him to sleep there just one night. Why pay all the extra person fees and dining. They didn't say whether or not they had free dining.

 

[geniegirl]

Thanks, we will be there for 4 days before he gets there and he will be there for another 4 days with us. We have 2 rooms 4 adults and 1 under 3. What I was thinking was that we could use some of his snack and CS meals for the little one while the 4th is not there. He would still have credits for when he got there but this way so many would not go to waste and the baby could get some of his own food for a while.

I have read a few posts about us all being there but they knew when we booked that one would not be there for a few days. I am hoping that all goes smooth at check in.

Does one key get all the credtits or does each key get their portion? I just wnat to make sure that we dont lose any keys that are important as we have so much to hold onto, keys, tickets, photopass..........

Oh we did book under the visa free plan.

-------

Sorry i reead the 1st msg and see where i messed up i meant to say that the other would not be there on day 1.

thanks

 

[snykymom]

From what I understand, every key gets all the credits. They're not split up, except the adult & kid credits, and even those are all on each card. As they're used, they're deducted from all the cards.

 

[disneyin2008]

Oh we did book under the visa free plan.

As I said, for the free dining people were reporting quite often that all the parties were required to be there in order to get the free dining credits put on the room keys. And of course, there were those that were never asked and had people arriving later.....so you've got a 50/50 chance.

If in fact the requirement was to prevent "phantom" people from using the dining plan, the fact that you're paying extra for an additonal adult to stay in the room may work in your favor.

 

[imthatgirl]

if they are aware of the fact he is coming 4 days later i would think they wouldnt apply his credits until he arrives, right? i would check with your TA or disney. it doesnt make sense they would give credits to a person they know isnt there.

 

[disneyin2008]

if they are aware of the fact he is coming 4 days later i would think they wouldnt apply his credits until he arrives, right? i would check with your TA or disney. it doesnt make sense they would give credits to a person they know isnt there.

Credits aren't actually separated by person...since everyone in the room has to be on the same plan, for the entire stay, if she were paying instead of getting free dining, the fact is that she'd be paying for the entire stay, not just for the 4 days he is there.

The ONLY reason that they wouldn't put all his credits on the room keys at check in is if they are doing like has been reported in past free dining circumstances, and checking that everyone booked and receiving free dining is an actual person.

It's sad that some people are willing to make up extra people in the room just to get more dining credits, but I fear it's probably a common occurence...just another way people try to cheat the system. Our room will only have 3 people in it...1 adult, two pre-teens.....so we could have easily said that my husband would be coming to try to get more free credits since technically the cost for the room is the same if there are 3 of us or 4. Sadly, not everyone would agree with me that it's wrong.

OP's not going to have an answer to this until she arrives and sees whether the particular CM that is checking her family in requires his presence or not. I just wanted to be sure she understood the chance that his credits may not be available until he arrives.

I still remember last year when this checking first went into affect....there were so many people posting who apparently had no qualms about STILL trying to cheat the system....there were people talking about how they were arriving at the same date so hey you come over and check in with me at my resort so I get the phantom people credits and I'll go to your resort for you. Those posts got very ugly very fast. But it shows you what people will do to cheat the system. Unfortuantely, folks like OP get caught up in the aftermath, though perhaps some would say OP is skirting the rules too, after all why should Disney pay for dining for someone who isn't actually in the parks spending other money, lol.

 

[imthatgirl]

i understand how the dining plan works, but i still dont see disney, knowing one person is going to be 1/2 the time, giving all the credits at the same time. this just doesnt make sense. they arent going to book someone until they are there. or of they did give all the credits at the same time, they certainly arent going to give credits for the time that the person isnt going to be there.
this doesnt add up. the only way i see them giving credits for days he isnt there is if the OP isnt telling them hes coming later.
the OP needs to call and clarify with the resort. i certainly wouldnt wait till i arrive to see whats going on.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you read the Free Dining reservation confirmation paperwork, Disney has the right to not make Jack's dining credits available until, well, Jack is available (random name chosen from show on TV right now). They CAN do this; whether they do/will probably depends on the time, the crowds, the CM...

 

[imthatgirl]

If you read the Free Dining reservation confirmation paperwork, Disney has the right to not make Jack's dining credits available until, well, Jack is available (random name chosen from show on TV right now). They CAN do this; whether they do/will probably depends on the time, the crowds, the CM...

the question remains will they give him credits for the entire week or just the 4 days he is there?
i can remember over the summer another poster had a similiar problem, but i cant remember the outcome. i do remember her calling the resort and getting an answer to her liking, whatever it was.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I have not been in this situation, however my understanding has always been an all or nothing.
My guess is the res has the extra adult listed included for the whole stay. I don't know the res could have (as example) 2 adults in the same res for 8 days, while another under the same res there for 4.
Not to say anything against what people are told when they book, but if it were me I would take into consideration the res agents are not check in CMs and may not know all the ins and outs. They know what their screen tells them, unless they can judge by personal experience. And if there is one thing we all know about Disney, is they are consistently inconsistent.
I would just be prepared to avoid unexpected surprises.
Just my 2 cents, worth about 1.

 

[disneyin2008]

I have not been in this situation, however my understanding has always been an all or nothing.
My guess is the res has the extra adult listed included for the whole stay. I don't know the res could have (as example) 2 adults in the same res for 8 days, while another under the same res there for 4.
Not to say anything against what people are told when they book, but if it were me I would take into consideration the res agents are not check in CMs and may not know all the ins and outs. They know what their screen tells them, unless they can judge by personal experience. And if there is one thing we all know about Disney, is they are consistently inconsistent.
I would just be prepared to avoid unexpected surprises.
Just my 2 cents, worth about 1.

Yeah, they'll be paying the extra adult in the room fee for the entire stay, not just the 4 days that he's there. And if OP were PAYING for dining, they wouldn't care....in fact if you wanted to create a phantom person so you could buy an extra dining plan (maybe you want to go to more 2TS places, or something), you could probably do it and they wouldn't care even if you told them. But when you throw the FREE into the dining, they DO care about the phantom people, lol. And yes, the CMs doing the reservation probably don't have the information that the check in CMs are supposed to verify that all free dining participants really exist. Last year when they started checking there were a lot of complaints from people who had relatives arriving on another flight etc......but it seemed quite easy...when Grandma arrives take her to the desk and tell them she's there, and her credits are added.

But I'll say it again....I don't think any of us can give OP a definitive answer....I don't think calling the front desk today will give her a definitive answer....we all know that some CMs stick by the policies to the letter (and some beyond)...and others don't seem to know or care or enforce many policies. If OP is lucky and her check in CM is one of the latter, his credits will appear from day 1. If not, then he'll have to show up before he gets his credits.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We have to pay for his room and food the whole 8 days though.

Oh we did book under the visa free plan.

Agree with pp. IF any issues come up, it will be due to FD. The OP stated in their first post they were paying for room and food the whole 8 days. Well -- they are paying (probably) rack rate on the room for however many adults on their res.
But they are not paying for food according to a later post, by Disney package guidelines.
As we know someone cannot have one res where some guests in the room are booked an entire stay under FD, and also have staying on the res other guests for lesser days with no dining plan. Not legitimately anyway.

Unless by the "Visa free plan" they are referring to something other than food.

 

[Tricia1972]

We had a similar situation last year in October. We checked in on September 29 (Me, DH, my Mom and Dad, DS 4 and DS 1). My sister joined us on October 3.

We discussed this with our reserving agent, as I only wanted my sister on from October 3 - October 13. They could not do that for me without us checking out on October 3 and then checking back in on October 3. They could not guarantee that we'd get the same room, so we just put her on beginning September 29.

Disney has no problem with a phantom guest you are paying for. I was clear with our reserving agent and we even set up Magical Express for her specifically on October 3 - tied to her flight. They were well aware that she was not arriving for days after we were.

As a PP suggested, I would suspect a problem could arise during Free Dining. I haven't heard of it being an issue at any other time.

 

[geniegirl]

Thanks again, you are right we will not know until we get there. Either way it should not be that big of an issue. If they hold his credits till he gets there that is fine. They know that he will be late but we are paying for him to be added to the resvie and are paying full room rate. There is no way we could eat all of his extra credits and the baby would never eat a full meal. I just thought rather than those credits going to waste we could use some CS to get the baby something small but again either way will not be an issue. Having to pay to get the baby a side will not kill us. I guess we will find out in 12 days what happens. Thanks for your input.