Free Dining in jeopardy??

[Crazy4Disney72]

Our WDW trip starts on 9/20, the last day of check in for free dining. Our flight was supposed to arrive at MCO about 8:00 at night, but now Air Tran has changed it, it's no longer a direct flight and we are now arriving at MCO at 11:30 at night. I'm not thrilled about this, as our party includes a 6yr old and two 8yr olds, but we'll manage, the thing I'm most worried about is free dining. With the plane not even scheduled to land until that late, obviously we will not be checking into our resort until after midnight, so technically, 9/21. I've never checked in after midnight before, but I have checked in at 6:30 AM. If we don't get to POR until 1:00AM or perhaps even later, will they still let us have free dining? Will it count as checking in on 9/20?

I hope they even have a room for us...my only other experience with an evening checkin at WDW was arriving at the resort (ASMu) at 11:00 at night(and yes, I noted on my reservation we would be arriving late) only to have them tell us that they did not have a room for us. They moved us to ASSp, which was fine, we were only there one night before the rest of our week at CR, didn't want to pay deluxe prices to get there so late, but that experience has me worried that arriving at what will technically be the next day, there will not be a room or the free dining promotion for us. I will call Disney tomorrow and hopefully get some kind of official confirmation that we will still be okay arriving so late, but I was hoping someone here would have some insight! Thanks!

 

[Madonna3]

Just because you are checking in physically on 9/21, the room was available to you on 9/20. Therefore, 9/20 is still your official check in date. It's not like you are going to gain a day by checking in later.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Just because you are checking in physically on 9/21, the room was available to you on 9/20. Therefore, 9/20 is still your official check in date. It's not like you are going to gain a day by checking in later.

Second that.

 

[marie1981]

Why don't you call them , explain the situation and ask them what will happen ? That way, you can react in advance and sleep better !

 

[antmaril]

Why don't you call them , explain the situation and ask them what will happen ? That way, you can react in advance and sleep better !

I agree that you should call Disney, but don't ask them what will happen. Tell them you will be arriving very late - after midnight (due to flight changes). I'm sure it will be fine. These things happen all the time.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

We arrive the same day and I was wondering if something was to happen and we could'nt get there till the 21st what would happen too. Just call.

 

[mygr8kdz]

You may be arriving late, but you are still paying for the room for the night of the 20th. It's not like you could check in at 1am for the night of the 21st.

 

[Northern_Julie]

The room is yours till 6am. I am arriving around midnight so I asked.

 

[zoie101]

I am sure all will work out!

 

[mickeynut1]

It doesn't matter how late you check in, even if it is after midnight (and technically the 21st). Check in for the 21st can't take place until 6:00am ON the 21st......so even though (according to the clock) it's the 21st at midnight, it's still the 20th according to Disney as far as ressies are concerned (I hope that makes sense). We've had many flights that didn't land at MCO until 11:00-11:30pm and we didn't check into our resort until after midnight many times . Our last trip was in September during free dining and we didn't check in at the Poly until around 1:00 am....NO PROBLEMS . So as long as you will be checking in before 6:00 am the 21st.....you'll be fine . But if it will make you feel better, call ahead of time and have them note it on your ressie that you won't be checking in until after midnight (and no.....your free dining is NOT in jeopardy ).

 

[sherreis]

Are there any other Air Tran flights you could switch to?

We are booked on AirTran and we were originally landing around 8:15 PM which would've been ok for us to get to resort and get decent night sleep. Then, they changed our times and we wouldn't be landing till after 10. I called them and had our flight changed to an earlier flight and it was no problem. Only problem now is that the kids are missing more school that day. Originally, we'd be picking them up about 1/2 hr early. Now, we're picking them up around Noon.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

It doesn't matter how late you check in, even if it is after midnight (and technically the 21st). Check in for the 21st can't take place until 6:00am ON the 21st......so even though (according to the clock) it's the 21st at midnight, it's still the 20th according to Disney as far as ressies are concerned (I hope that makes sense). We've had many flights that didn't land at MCO until 11:00-11:30pm and we didn't check into our resort until after midnight many times . Our last trip was in September during free dining and we didn't check in at the Poly until around 1:00 am....NO PROBLEMS . So as long as you will be checking in before 6:00 am the 21st.....you'll be fine . But if it will make you feel better, call ahead of time and have them note it on your ressie that you won't be checking in until after midnight (and no.....your free dining is NOT in jeopardy ).

Yes, that makes total sense, thank you, and matches what I was told today when I called Disney to check on this. I did have them note that we will be arriving very late, technically the next morning.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Are there any other Air Tran flights you could switch to?

We are booked on AirTran and we were originally landing around 8:15 PM which would've been ok for us to get to resort and get decent night sleep. Then, they changed our times and we wouldn't be landing till after 10. I called them and had our flight changed to an earlier flight and it was no problem. Only problem now is that the kids are missing more school that day. Originally, we'd be picking them up about 1/2 hr early. Now, we're picking them up around Noon.

Looking at Air Tran's website, there are earlier, direct flights showing as available, but I booked through Hotwire, I'm not sure that Air Tran will make the change for me. It's worth a phone call, though, I will investigate that tomorrow. If we have to arrive late, we have to arrive late, but it would definitely be better to be able to get a decent night's sleep so we can hit the ground running the next day in the parks!

 

[sherreis]

Good luck with the call!

 

[Tink3Bell]

Call them and ask them to put a note on your reservation about the late check in and then Call from the airport once you arrive to confirm it.

 

[mousiemom]

i think you will be fine and you've already paid for your vacation in full so i don't think you will have a problem. have fun! we will be there too in 15 days!!!
mousiemom

 

[brymolmom]

Looking at Air Tran's website, there are earlier, direct flights showing as available, but I booked through Hotwire, I'm not sure that Air Tran will make the change for me. It's worth a phone call, though, I will investigate that tomorrow. If we have to arrive late, we have to arrive late, but it would definitely be better to be able to get a decent night's sleep so we can hit the ground running the next day in the parks!

I've booked thru other sources and still been able to make a change if their flight change was unacceptable for my plans. They will (usually) tell you there will be a charge - but you need to argue that THEY made the change and that it will significantly adjust your plans so they need to make amends and give you the best possible flight available. I've done this a couple of times and they are usually pretty good with a little encouraging to giving you the flight you request.