Free Dining and Check-in Rules?

[WDWFWfan]

I'm holding out hope that Disney will release FD to the general public for the month of Oct. this year. I saw in another post that someone had received a pin for free dining in Oct. However, the date of my arrival was blacked out (I would miss it by two days). I was planning to check-in Oct. 6th, but the 4th is the last day before the blackout period.

Here's my question. Assuming that FD is offered to the public and assuming that the dates are the same as those mailed with the pin, is it possible for me to book my trip starting the 4th (to secure free dining for the family) and then send one family member down on the 4th to check in and the rest of the family arrive on the 6th? Would this work? Or, does everyone have to check in at the same time (on the 4th) in order to get the FD?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Probably you can do that, but if they post and enforce the "entire party must be present" rule, you might have a problem. Your best bet would be to ask this question on the Dining Plan board.

 

[Geoffmakes3]

We had the same thing happen last year -- I flew down a day early with 1 of my 3 kids, and my husband followed the next day with the rest. I didn't even think to mention it when I checked in and they didn't ask where the rest of my family was .... wasn't trying to be "sneaky", it kinda just worked out that way.

Most times, my husband or I check in solo, while the other watches the kids or checks the resort out .....

You should be fine.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

I'm flying in before my husband so I hope it's okay....

 

[WDWFWfan]

Thanks everyone, I'm not trying to be "sneaky" about anything. I just didn't know if they had a rule about the entire party being present at check in. But I can't see how this would hurt Disney. After all, I would end up paying for an extra day or two that I would not even be utilizing.

Hopefully, the dates I need will be available. Of course the big challenge is getting free dining in Oct.

 

[Lehuaann]

Are you sending 1 family member to check into multiple rooms, booked under different lead names? You might run into issues with that.

When I booked 2 FD rooms last year under mine/parents names (under my CC), we both, or one from each party, had to be present at checkin desk.

 

[WDWFWfan]

No, I am only booking one room. Just wanted to know if everyone assigned to the room would have to be present for the check in at the same time.

 

[TDC Nala]

AT times they have asked that the entire party be present to check in.

This came about because there was apparently a problem with guests adding "phantom teenagers" to the room reservations. If you add one or two fictional teenagers to a free dining reservation, it doesn't affect the room cost and guests got extra full sets of adult dining credits for the cost of a one-day park pass.

Now, of course, it's a two day park pass, and it's not as good a deal to add one or more fictional teenage guests to a reservation. So from what I understand the requirement that everyone be present to check in is now rare if it is used at all.

If it's more than one room, you might have to have someone from each room, though.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm having the same problem too. Good to know that it should work if someone from each room is there to check in on the proper date.

How does it all work with Magical Express though? You have to have everyone listed as coming on the first night, right? How do the ones that come in later go about using ME?

 

[dhardawa]

I have never been asked to have my whole party there. Usually, they are wandering around the gift shop or resort grounds while I check in.

 

[Fire14]

I'm having the same problem too. Good to know that it should work if someone from each room is there to check in on the proper date.

How does it all work with Magical Express though? You have to have everyone listed as coming on the first night, right? How do the ones that come in later go about using ME?

I wasn't under free dining but I had issue where BFF and I flew in day prior to DH. WE just gave correct info for each person using ME and didn't have issue. WE had Dh's room key from day we checked in.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Magical Express: have your reservation number, and call the DME toll-free number directly to make your specific, customized, arrival and departure transportation reservations.

 

[ConnieB]

I'm holding out hope that Disney will release FD to the general public for the month of Oct. this year. I saw in another post that someone had received a pin for free dining in Oct. However, the date of my arrival was blacked out (I would miss it by two days). I was planning to check-in Oct. 6th, but the 4th is the last day before the blackout period.

Here's my question. Assuming that FD is offered to the public and assuming that the dates are the same as those mailed with the pin, is it possible for me to book my trip starting the 4th (to secure free dining for the family) and then send one family member down on the 4th to check in and the rest of the family arrive on the 6th? Would this work? Or, does everyone have to check in at the same time (on the 4th) in order to get the FD?

Is free dining really going to be enough of a discount to make paying for 2 nights room worth it? I'm thinking it may not be considering that you have to pay full rack rate for the rooms to get the free dining....you may want to look around for room discounts and see if that doesn't help offset the cost of paying for the dining plan over paying rack rate plus 2 nights extra. Obviously don't know enough about where you're staying, what you're paying or how many adults/kids to say it's definitely not worth it, but just want to say run those numbers good and hard to be sure paying for extra nights will be worth it.