Free dining and different arrivals

[snow's sis ariel]

I'm trying to figure the easiest, most cost effective way to manage a trip with different arrival dates. My husband and I will be arriving 2 days before free dining starts and a family member will be joining us 3 days after free dining starts.

I plan to get a room only reservation for the 2 days before. I already have tickets but realize I will need to buy at least 2 day tickets for each person in order to obtain free dining.

After reservation #1 - room only for 2 nights. Can I then get a 2nd reservation with the free dining pkg for the next 8 days for my husband and I, and 5 days for the third person. As I said before, I realize I would have to purchase the 2 day tickets with this pkg.

I have extra one day tickets from prior promotions. Therefore, I would prefer not to have to make a third reservation and again buy 2 day tickets due to the late arrival of the third person. Not to mention checking in and out 3 times!

Thanks in advance for the info!

 

[sunset7132]

My husband and I arrive nov 8th with Room only then on the 11 th it changes to myw fd until the 18 th

 

[purple figment]

I'm trying to figure the easiest, most cost effective way to manage a trip with different arrival dates. My husband and I will be arriving 2 days before free dining starts and a family member will be joining us 3 days after free dining starts.

1. I plan to get a room only reservation for the 2 days before. I already have tickets but realize I will need to buy at least 2 day tickets for each person in order to obtain free dining.

2. After reservation #1 - room only for 2 nights. Can I then get a 2nd reservation with the free dining pkg for the next 8 days for my husband and I, and 5 days for the third person. As I said before, I realize I would have to purchase the 2 day tickets with this pkg.

I have extra one day tickets from prior promotions. Therefore, I would prefer not to have to make a third reservation and again buy 2 day tickets due to the late arrival of the third person. Not to mention checking in and out 3 times!

Thanks in advance for the info!

1. Yes, this will work. Get a room only reservation for the nights before the FD promo kicks in. If this room only res and the FD package res are for the same resort and exactly same room category you can let the CM know you have a continuing reservation when you check in. While there's no guarantee you won't have to change rooms, they will do their best to keep you in the same room.

2. You will need to get a package reservation (room + 2 day tickets + dining plan) to take advantage of FD. If you want your family member to have FD for the nights (s)he will be there you will have to include the person for the entire length of your package. You cannot add them for only 5 nights. The dining credits will be linked to the room so anyone can use the family member's extra dining credits. You can do additional meals, if it's a DDP offer you can use the TS for 2 credit sigs and and dinner shows. If you don't want FD for the family member, you can wait and add the person to your room after you check in. (S)he will have to pay OOP for food. If the person needs DME from the airport you can arrange that after you add the family member to your resort reservation.

 

[snow's sis ariel]

Thanks purple figment!! The third person doesn't have to be present on arrival? I wasn't sure how this would work. It sounds like I make the pkg for all 3 people for the entire dining pkg stay. Do I notify Disney that one member will be arriving at a later date? I thought I had read (somewhere on this board) in previous free dining promotions all participants had to check in on arrival in order to receive free dining. Hence my questioning this option. Of course, I can't find that thread now.

This would be much cheaper and easier than checking in & out x 3 and purchasing additional unnecessary tickets!

 

[purple figment]

There were reports during the early years of FD that people were adding phantom members to their party to increase the number of dining credits so in some cases Disney started asking everyone to be present at check in. Since upping the ticket requirement to 2 day tickets it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem. At any rate I haven't seen reports for quite a while that CMs are asking to meet everyone. If you don't get all 3 KTTW cards when you check in for your package, the late arriving family member can stop in the lobby and get theirs when (s)he arrives. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[snow's sis ariel]

Thanks for the reassurance! This will work great!

 

[LSchrow]

not sure if you realize, but there is an additional charge (amount depending on level of resort) for each adult over 2.

 

[snow's sis ariel]

Laurie,

I was aware there will a charge for the 3rd adult. It will be significantly cheaper at $15 plus tax per night for a 3rd at a moderate for a couple nights versus adding another two 2 day tickets at $197 each, . . .

Thanks for the reminder though.

 

[kim929]

There were reports during the early years of FD that people were adding phantom members to their party to increase the number of dining credits so in some cases Disney started asking everyone to be present at check in.

Who thinks of these things? Sometimes I just shake my head at how people think, that is some thing I would never have thought of.

 

[cassie58]

1. Yes, this will work. Get a room only reservation for the nights before the FD promo kicks in. If this room only res and the FD package res are for the same resort and exactly same room category you can let the CM know you have a continuing reservation when you check in. While there's no guarantee you won't have to change rooms, they will do their best to keep you in the same room.

2. You will need to get a package reservation (room + 2 day tickets + dining plan) to take advantage of FD. If you want your family member to have FD for the nights (s)he will be there you will have to include the person for the entire length of your package. You cannot add them for only 5 nights. The dining credits will be linked to the room so anyone can use the family member's extra dining credits. You can do additional meals, if it's a DDP offer you can use the TS for 2 credit sigs and and dinner shows. If you don't want FD for the family member, you can wait and add the person to your room after you check in. (S)he will have to pay OOP for food. If the person needs DME from the airport you can arrange that after you add the family member to your resort reservation.

I had a similar ? as we are booked for 11/23 check-in, but now DH and DS may not be able to get in until 11/25. I thought it would still work out for DD and I to fly on 11/23 and do online check-in for all of us in advance, and use the extra credits for 2 TS meal, as long as we don't all have to be present. But if we are using DME, would that be an issue with the two separate arrival dates ? Has anyone done this before?

cassie58
11/08 - ASMo & Timeshare
8/09 - CSR
11/11 - CSR
11/13 - CSR( & AK?)