Free Dining...when you can't all be there at Check-in

[mrzrich]

I also don't see what difference it makes to Disney as far as the "phantom guest ". The party is still paying extra for a ticket. It won't cost Disney any more whether the "phantom" uses the credits or a real person. They are actually making $$ even with only a 1 day ticket.

Yeah it is possible to come out ahead by having Phantom guests, but only for a very short stay..the MYW pricing stops it from working for longer stays where a 10 day ticket is $11 more than a 5 day ticket

A party of 2 staying for 2 nights bought 4 one day tickets and got dining credits for four people instead of two

A one day ticket is $71 a two day ticket is $140 so they were only paying $2 more(each) for twice the food. $4 more for an extra $160 worth of food. People figured this out and ruined it for everybody

Others got non expiration tickets for the length of stay and just justified it to themselves by pocketing them for next time.
Pretty greedy.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I will also be dealing with this issue for my Free Dining stay from Sept 2nd to 9th. I am flying down with my parents on Aug 25th and staying for 8 nights at the Polynesian. Then I am checking into CSR on Sept 2nd. However, I will be arriving at CSR around 1pm and my friend will not be arriving until 6pm. I plan on trying to check in because no where on my confirmation does it state that we both need to be present to check in. I will have copies of her flight itinerary as well as her DME info to show when I check in. It's perfectly fine if they want her to stop by the front desk to get her Key to the Kingdom. Hopefully there won't be any issues.

 

[aubriee]

Last Sept at POP, I ran in to check us in as soon as we got off the DME bus, while my mom went to luggage services to pick up her ECV and my ex waited to get our carry ons off the DME bus. I was asked to produce them. My ex was just walking in the door with our bags and I had to have him run get my mom. They were definitely checking for phantom guests that day and all three of us were obviously adults.

As far as it paying to make up phantom guests, I'm going solo this Sept and will have an AP, so only need to buy a one day MYW ticket in order to get the free dining. I would love to be able to pay just an extra $71.00 for another one day ticket and then get an extra 8 snacks, 8 CS, and 8 TS for free. I could then use a CS for breakfast everyday, a CS for lunch every day, and then go to a 2 TS signature restaurant every night for dinner. I'm sure with 16 snacks I'd have plenty left over to bring a bunch of rice crispy treats and fudge home to my family. Yeah, those extra credits would definitely be worth the $72.00 park ticket I'd have to buy to get them and with the phantom adult guest in my room I still wouldn't be over the room limit, so wouldn't have to pay an extra fee for another adult in the room, either. By the way, I'm being sarcastic here. I'd never do such a thing, but it sure sounds good doesn't it.

 

[p2oh]

Could it depend on the tickets as well? Last year I arrived two days ahead of my DF due to a last minute emergency at work, but we had 10 day hoppers with no expiration and I wasn't questioned. However, I heard a lady at the pool say she had to go get her whole party, and she thought it was becasue she had an AP and only bought the one day ticket with the package.

 

[gigi1313]

Boy I hope this isn't the case this year. My oldest won't be there until the 2nd week of our 14 day visit.

then you really will have a "phantom guest" for the first week... that could be a problem... have you considered adding your oldest halfway thru your ressie?

 

[M2DD's]

I called OKW yesterday about this(my DH flying in on a later flight) and they said that they would issue me the KTTK cards but my DH would have to check in at the front desk before they issued our dinning credits. I expained that I would have our 2 kids with me and would like to use some of our CS before my DH arrived and they said they can issue our credits and then have my DH come to the front desk and have his credits added. They said that this yr they have already been told to not issue credits to guest that are not present. Keep in mind that this is what I was told other resorts and CM may not follow this. Our 1st confo sheet did state the all partie must be present at check in our 2nd confo sheet did not have it listed