Free dining - does everyone have to be present at check in?

[Tinkmom]

I think we've only had free dining once in many visits, and that was years ago.

I do recall some issues with folks apparently faking members of their group to get free dining, and Disney having some requirements about proof of who was in the room. Has this been resolved by the requirement that each person have buy a park ticket?

Our situation is this: one member of our group will not arrive with us. I didn't know if we will need to wait until everyone is there, or if we can check in for all of us, or if she'll have to do something separately once she arrives.

Just trying to get this straight for planning purposes . . .

 

[serene56]

i checked us in whlile my family waited outside

for free dining the names are on the card and tickets and credits are tied to the card
each person got their own card
if you have paid for three people 2 adults 1 child you could only use 2 adults 1 child credit at a time.

 

[mickeynut1]

I think it depends on the CM checking you in as some people have reported having to have everyone present at check in, while others have not had to do that. With that said, we have gone for free dining twice and both times I checked in while the rest of my family was checking out the resort. Good luck.

 

[maxiesmom]

Usually not.

 

[disneychristmasx3]

The last 3 trips I checked us in while my family waited in the lobby area and wandered around. This time things are a little different. My DD and I will arrive mid afternoon, one DS will arrive straight from college around 7pm via ME and my DH and youngest DS will arrive around 11pm (he has to go to school that day so that he will only miss one school day for the trip). We have never traveled separately before so I hope this isn't the first time they ask to see all our shining faces at check in!

 

[Tinkmom]

Well, it sounds like I'll be able to check us all in. It won't be a disaster if I can't, but I won't worry with explaining that possibility to the latecomer. If there's an issue, we'll just meet her when she arrives and handle it then.

Thanks!

 

[MickeyEars]

We have had free dining several times and my family has always been off wondering around when I check in. No one has ever asked to see them.

Carla

 

[TheRatPack]

We've done free dining for years and have had the CM ask to see everyone once or twice. Maybe it's because we're such a large family and they just want to see what two tired parents and 5 kids look like LOL.

 

[Missytara]

We've done free dining for years and have had the CM ask to see everyone once or twice. Maybe it's because we're such a large family and they just want to see what two tired parents and 5 kids look like LOL.

That is too funny; you are not the usual 2 parents and 2.2 children, when I originally got married several years ago. What does .2 of a child look like?

 

[TheRatPack]

That is too funny; you are not the usual 2 parents and 2.2 children, when I originally got married several years ago. What does .2 of a child look like?

LOL......I'd imagine pretty scary LOL

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Our situation is this: one member of our group will not arrive with us. I didn't know if we will need to wait until everyone is there, or if we can check in for all of us, or if she'll have to do something separately once she arrives . . .

1) When you check-in, the person can be checked-in.
2) However, their key WILL NOT have dining attached.
3) When they show up, they can go to Front Desk and get a new key.
4) That new key will have free dining attached.

NOTE: Hope you can understand. It is easy to say, "Fred is coming later." and
get extra dining credit for nothing. Disney is well aware of this ruse, and does
everything they can to stop people from getting extra free dinning.

 

[maxiesmom]

1) When you check-in, the person can be checked-in.
2) However, their key WILL NOT have dining attached.
3) When they show up, they can go to Front Desk and get a new key.
4) That new key will have free dining attached.

NOTE: Hope you can understand. It is easy to say, "Fred is coming later." and
get extra dining credit for nothing. Disney is well aware of this ruse, and does
everything they can to stop people from getting extra free dinning.

This does not always happen. From reports I have read on here, it hardly happens at all. I know when we had Free Dining this past March, they didn't ask to see everyone. Neither did they the time before when we had Free Dining.

They can ask to see everyone, but odds are they won't.

 

[TheRatPack]

if you have paid for three people 2 adults 1 child you could only use 2 adults 1 child credit at a time.

This is true BUT last year we had a few QS meals left and always have some hungry kids, so we'd go back and get another breakfast at POP for them to share if they finished their pancakes and were still hungry. We tried to get 8 meals once when we went through the register line but she said 'you only have 7 people in your party' since it's listed on the cards and it was a bit of an issue. So we had to go through the line twice if we wanted to get another meal after that.

I never really understood that....I mean if I want to use my meal credits all in one day I should be able to. I think it was more an issue of adult credits versus kid credits, but with QS we never cheated those buy buying adults if we knew we had child's credits left. I'm sure tons of people do though. Plus when you trade your leftover QS meals for snacks, they don't say you can get 3 snacks for an adult QS credit and only 1 for a child's....you get 3 snacks per QS no matter if it's an adult or child's credit. Crazy.....LOL

 

[maxiesmom]

I never really understood that....I mean if I want to use my meal credits all in one day I should be able to. I think it was more an issue of adult credits versus kid credits, but with QS we never cheated those buy buying adults if we knew we had child's credits left. I'm sure tons of people do though. Plus when you trade your leftover QS meals for snacks, they don't say you can get 3 snacks for an adult QS credit and only 1 for a child's....you get 3 snacks per QS no matter if it's an adult or child's credit. Crazy.....LOL

I think it might be more that they don't want you using credits for people not on the plan, and that is how they can control it a bit.

 

[Mom2six]

Plus when you trade your leftover QS meals for snacks, they don't say you can get 3 snacks for an adult QS credit and only 1 for a child's....you get 3 snacks per QS no matter if it's an adult or child's credit. Crazy.....LOL

I don't think they do that anymore. It says on the brochure, I believe, that you cannot exchange a QS for a snack. They must have changed that.

 

[Mom2six]

I think we've only had free dining once in many visits, and that was years ago.

I do recall some issues with folks apparently faking members of their group to get free dining, and Disney having some requirements about proof of who was in the room. Has this been resolved by the requirement that each person have buy a park ticket?

It seems to me that the cost of a ticket is more expensive than the cost of the dining plan, so why bother trying to trick Disney anyway? I would think WDW would know that the ticket is more expensive and not think people are cheating.

 

[vicki_c]

It seems to me that the cost of a ticket is more expensive than the cost of the dining plan, so why bother trying to trick Disney anyway? I would think WDW would know that the ticket is more expensive and not think people are cheating.

A 2 day ticket is less than the cost of 3 days on the dining plan, I think. And they used to only require a 1 day ticket for free dining. So the ticket would usually be less than the entire DDP for a phantom guest. I have heard though that they don't usually ask to see everyone these days.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

Well, I hope it's not an issue. My husband is traveling separately due to business and I need to check in with 2 (probably) cranky kids!

 

[tink1953]

I have always checked in by myself with no issues...we added my grandson who was coming in later with no problem, you just have to make sure they are on your reservation...

BArb