Question about 2 yr old on dining plan

[TDC Nala]

Doesn't everyone have to be present at check-in when you have the DDP? If so, wouldn't they then notice you don't have a niece there?

That policy was put in place for free DDP only. And they might not do it at a DVC resort.

 

[catne]

That policy was put in place for free DDP only. And they might not do it at a DVC resort.

Well, it must just depend on the CM's doing the check-in because we were not on the free DDP...both times this happened were paid DDP. May 2007 at the Poly, and May 2008 at POFQ. They checked photo i.d. on all of us in the party before issuing Key cards for me, DH, DD (19) & her friend (18). Maybe it was just uninformed CM's?

 

[catne]

Really, they took attendance?

QUOTE]

Really, they did. Checked photo i.d. on all of us. No, we don't look like terrorists...thoroughly middle-American, middle-aged & normal teens.

 

[njco]

I think getting the ddp for my 2 yr old would save us money over the 12 days we are going to be there. My problem is that whatever my oldest gets my youngest is going to want the same thing. If my 6 yr gets a pizza my youngest is going to want one. How much would a pizza and juice or chicken fingers and juice cost? I would guess around $8. thats just for lunch. add a ice cream or juice during the day as a snack now your over the $9.99 a day it cost to add him on the ddp. if it was oop for the 2 it would cost us more. Yes we can share and go to buffet but just as easy to get the plan and eat where ever we want.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Really, they took attendance?

QUOTE]

Really, they did. Checked photo i.d. on all of us. No, we don't look like terrorists...thoroughly middle-American, middle-aged & normal teens.

That is just odd! My Dh has never once gone up to the check in counter, they haven't ever wanted his ID. Not disputing what you are saying at all, don't get me wrong, but I can understand them wanting IDs for adults and all, but I have just never experienced that.

 

[aubriee]

I've been every Sept for free dining. The first year we did it, I checked us in while my husband and son got our carryons off the DME bus and my D-I-L was walking around taking pictures. They did not have to be there. However, the next year it was mentioned several times here on the DIS that due to people making up fake kids in order to get more dining credits, that CMs were requiring everyone to be present at check in. Sure enough, we checked in at POP, my husband was getting the carryons off the DME bus and my mom had gone to luggage services to get her ECV, and the CM said she had to see all of us. It just so happened both my mom and my husband was walking through the front door about then and I had to wave them over. They did not check their ID though, they just had to see them. Last Sept I had forgotten about it and again tried to check in at AS Music, while my husband was dealing with the carryons. Again I had to wait for him to come through the door and wave him over. That time the CM did check his ID. I guess it depends on the CM and on if it's during the free dining period.

I could see a solo diner making up an extra person for their room, in order to get extra credits, so they would have enough credits for a Signature meal every night. The price of their room wouldn't go up for an extra person and they would have plenty of dining credits to play with. Or I could see a couple adding a couple of fake kids to their room. They wouldn't be able to use their TS credits, but could go to a CS that didn't offer kids meals and use the CS for themselves.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Yes, it is the CM then. We have done Free Dining every year so far....05, 06 and 07. All three trips we were not asked to show everyone at all. The first year was my friend and I and we were both there though. in 06 it was 7 adults and we were not asked. I remember it being only the three of us (we were in 3 rooms) going up to do the check in. in 07 it was DH, me and our girls and again, not asked. DH always runs off to the arcade with the girls while I do the standning in line. Always stayed at POP

 

[n2mm]

Well, it must just depend on the CM's doing the check-in because we were not on the free DDP...both times this happened were paid DDP. May 2007 at the Poly, and May 2008 at POFQ. They checked photo i.d. on all of us in the party before issuing Key cards for me, DH, DD (19) & her friend (18). Maybe it was just uninformed CM's?

Wow, I've used the DDP 10+ times over the past two years and not once did the CM ever ask to see our party members. Even when my daughter checked in by herself it wasn't even an issue (Pop, CSR, BWV, OKW, BCV, WLV). Personally I would never worry about it, IF I had to produce the family later I would, but would never worry about it at check in.

For the OP: Please, call back and change your child to 3 to get the DDP for them. Don't worry about the database. It's never correct. The last time we added our grandson to our reservation they had him listed many times in their database. To my surprise I logged on for August trip and our 13 yo grandson was listed as 16....sometimes he's listed as 9. If they ever said to me that he was 18 or 19 when we wasn't, I'm sure that they would believe me before they believe their database. Afterall, we are listed with at least 10 different addresses and we've never moved....just lots of errors and misspellings. Folks just seem to worry about things that they shouldn't. BTW: Gotta love being a DVC member and not having to buy tickets or a package to add the DDP....a nice perk! (one of many)

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

I also would vote for changing the 2 yr old to a 3 yr old in order to get dp for your 2 yr old. The tickets are not an issue for you, and you have the 2 bedroom which means the room is also not an issue. When you buy MNSSHP tickets you just buy how many you want for whatever ages, no names assigned. The only ones who have to know your baby is still 2 yrs old are members of your family. Now, my 7yr old and 8 yr old DDs would tell on me if I did it with their younger sibling. They can't let us go through a line (ie at Golden Corral) without proclaiming that their little sister is 4 yrs old, not 3 yrs old as Daddy just stated!

 

[asmit4]

That is just odd! My Dh has never once gone up to the check in counter, they haven't ever wanted his ID. Not disputing what you are saying at all, don't get me wrong, but I can understand them wanting IDs for adults and all, but I have just never experienced that.

YUP! We had to show ours to. It was me and my mom and dad. Mom and dad checked in first. We also booked the DDP (not free). They showed their IDs and got their 2 KTTW cards. My mom tried to get mine too. They said NOPE. I had to go up, show my ID and then they gave me my KTTW card. This was at Music in October 08.

 

[ParTof3]

If you bought your tickets separately and do not link them to your room card, then can you take advantage of EMH? Will your dining card say that you have one more child over 2 but you won't have a ticket for him?
Anyway, it's not the most honest thing to do.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

If you bought your tickets separately and do not link them to your room card, then can you take advantage of EMH? Will your dining card say that you have one more child over 2 but you won't have a ticket for him?
Anyway, it's not the most honest thing to do.

Come on, it isn't dishonest to pay for something when you could have gotten it for free. The 2 year old could eat free at buffets, and even share off of mommy's plate at any TS. How much could she/he eat anyway? What would be dishonest would be to try to sneak in a 3 year old into the park and say he was 2. We have even carried an order of fries to buffets and TS because it was all our little one would eat. Is that dishonest, too? I have even considered telling them my 8 yr old is 10 so she can have adult dp. But that would also be more money for us.

And no, at the gate they don't scrutinize everything on your ticket, just that you have a ticket for each person entering. They don't have time to check how many are on dp, they just let the folks with tickets enter. A 2 yr old in a stroller will be welcomed in thru the stroller gate. CMs would even tell you it is okay to say your kid is 3 to get dp - it is more money in Disney's pocket!!

 

[n2mm]

If you bought your tickets separately and do not link them to your room card, then can you take advantage of EMH? Will your dining card say that you have one more child over 2 but you won't have a ticket for him?
Anyway, it's not the most honest thing to do.

Nothing dishonest here. You only need your room key to use EMH and that is for 3 yo and above--EMH has nothing to do with your park tickets. I agree with other posters, the OP is willing to pay for something they don't even have to pay for. I hope the OP will post back to let us know it all worked out.

 

[maxiesmom]

That is just odd! My Dh has never once gone up to the check in counter, they haven't ever wanted his ID. Not disputing what you are saying at all, don't get me wrong, but I can understand them wanting IDs for adults and all, but I have just never experienced that.

During our stay last month we were not on the dining plan, and they still wanted to see our IDs. Must be something fairly new.

OP--Remember that the Disney database will keep track of your childrens ages forever! So if you go to Disney World when your child is actually 9, they will think he is 10. And you will be paying adult prices for everything a year early. It is actually kind of creepy how much they know about you, once you have stayed on their property! If you plan on going back you might want to try and factor that in to your cost.

 

[n2mm]

OP--Remember that the Disney database will keep track of your childrens ages forever! So if you go to Disney World when your child is actually 9, they will think he is 10. And you will be paying adult prices for everything a year early. It is actually kind of creepy how much they know about you, once you have stayed on their property! If you plan on going back you might want to try and factor that in to your cost.

While that might me true in theroy, you don't really think the info in the disney database is correct. If they tell you your child is 10 when he is 9, are you willing to accept that? I doubt it. They get things wrong all of the time, all you need to do is to correct it when you call. My last call, my grandson is now listed as 16yo. While he likes that idea, in reality he was 13 when I made the reservation. You really don't think I accepted that. I just told them that was wrong and he is 13. We're are not dealing with a USG office of statistics, it's just the disney database that is incorrect 99% of the time. When we took the new baby (3 months old) last August, she was listed as 1 yo, because they don't have a under 1 yo button. So yikes that means Disney will list her as 10 when she's 9.....not going to happen. When I pull up my address when entering information, there are at least 10 versions of my address and each is spelled different.

 

[njco]

Anyway, it's not the most honest thing to do.

Not the Most honest thing to do? I am willing to pay for something i dont have to. I could go to the buffets, or other T/S and my son could eat off the 3 adults plates that will be there. I can save myself the $120 that it is going to cost not to add him(we are going for 12 night).

I can see them check ID on adults but kids? OK i check in and they ask to see ID for the kids and i till them i didnt bring any. Then what?

The computer tracking systems are only as good and the Human putting the info into it, so not 100%

I am going to get the park passes this week(from AAA?) then when i have them in hand i will call and add my son to the ddp. I will let everyone know how it goes. Thanks for the input.

ok what is EMH?

 

[n2mm]

Not the Most honest thing to do? I am willing to pay for something i dont have to. I could go to the buffets, or other T/S and my son could eat off the 3 adults plates that will be there. I can save myself the $120 that it is going to cost not to add him(we are going for 12 night).

I can see them check ID on adults but kids? OK i check in and they ask to see ID for the kids and i till them i didnt bring any. Then what?

The computer tracking systems are only as good and the Human putting the info into it, so not 100%

I am going to get the park passes this week(from AAA?) then when i have them in hand i will call and add my son to the ddp. I will let everyone know how it goes. Thanks for the input.

ok what is EMH?

EMH -- extra magic hours. It's the AM hour before and the PM 3 hours after on certain nights.

 

[ParTof3]

I'm sorry but I think that saying that your child is 3 to save money in one area but not doing so in other areas (park tickets) because that would cost you more is not honest.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm sorry but I think that saying that your child is 3 to save money in one area but not doing so in other areas (park tickets) because that would cost you more is not honest.

I agree! Pick an age, and stick with it. The real age would be best.

And people wonder why Disney uses things like finger scans to try and keep people honest.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

I'm sorry but I think that saying that your child is 3 to save money in one area but not doing so in other areas (park tickets) because that would cost you more is not honest.

Being "dishonest" in this way is not saving money!!! Saying the child is 3 yrs old will not save the OP any money in any area. They will be PAYING extra for the child to have the dp when they could get it for free!! ***Not, not, not***, saving money - the kid could eat for free at all buffets and share with family members at all other meals. Why is that so hard to understand?