What to do at check in?

[prettypixie]

I hope someone can help with this situation...
We (me & the kids) are planning to go to WDW this fall during Free Dining. DH has decided he wants to come too. No problem except he will be joining us on day 4 of our vacation. I am sure there won't be a problem adding him to the reservation however, I don't know what to do about the free dining part of the package. Should I inform CM at check in that DH will arrive later in the week and go ahead and pick up his KTTW card when I check in? Or should I just wait until DH arrives and then pick up his KTTW card then?

 

[happily single]

I don't think you can check him in and get his card on your first day. I seem to remember seeing threads about cm's "needing to see every person in the reservation". I think this is because people could technically put someone (who isn't actually going to disney) on a reservation, buy only a 1 day ticket and that person would get dining credits for the entire trip, but he wouldn't be there

 

[TammiMcMan]

Everyone listed on the package needs to be present at check-in. If he can't join you until later in the week, I think your only option is to add him to the reservation as a room only guest when he arrives. Dining would be out of pocket for him, sorry. Too many people were trying to cheat the system and garner more dining credits than they were entitled to.

 

[fall08CP]

I'm a front desk CM and we don't require everyone to be there at check-in.. just one person with a valid photo ID who is over 18..maybe this is something only in effect during free dining? I wasn't here last Sept so things might be different come then.. We need everyone added at the beginning if there is a dining package- it's impossible to change that after check-in (or technically less than 48 hours before check-in). We can cut his card and hold it in our office until he arrives or simply re-cut him a key when he arrives- no worries.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I hope someone can help with this situation...
We (me & the kids) are planning to go to WDW this fall during Free Dining. DH has decided he wants to come too. No problem except he will be joining us on day 4 of our vacation. I am sure there won't be a problem adding him to the reservation however, I don't know what to do about the free dining part of the package. Should I inform CM at check in that DH will arrive later in the week and go ahead and pick up his KTTW card when I check in? Or should I just wait until DH arrives and then pick up his KTTW card then?

You do not have to have every person with you upon check in. Our daugther flew to Orlanda three days after we arrived via car. I was able to get her KTTW card/room key when we checked in. She arrived on day three and she used Disney's Magical Express.

Had absolutely no problems!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm a front desk CM and we don't require everyone to be there at check-in..

With all due respect - and it IS due, because you've been providing us with wonderful information, thank you - conditions/requirements tend to be different during Free Dining than they are the rest of the year.

Back in 2005 - the first year of the Disney Dining Plan, and of the Free Dining promotion - some Guests were inventing "phantom" members of their party, paying for one-day park passes for everyone, and getting/using the 'extra' credits for additional meals, or Signature meals... i.e. in ways Disney had not intended.

For 2006 and 2007 (and I'm 99% positive 2008, although off the top of my head I don't know where my confirmation is at the moment), most Guests were informed either verbally while making reservations, or on their confirmation paperwork, or both, that ALL Guests must be present to check in for Free Dining.

 

[Sammie]

yes during Free Dining all guests are required to check in at the same time, in order to qualify.

 

[tiger4me2]

With all due respect - and it IS due, because you've been providing us with wonderful information, thank you - conditions/requirements tend to be different during Free Dining than they are the rest of the year.

Back in 2005 - the first year of the Disney Dining Plan, and of the Free Dining promotion - some Guests were inventing "phantom" members of their party, paying for one-day park passes for everyone, and getting/using the 'extra' credits for additional meals, or Signature meals... i.e. in ways Disney had not intended.

For 2006 and 2007 (and I'm 99% positive 2008, although off the top of my head I don't know where my confirmation is at the moment), most Guests were informed either verbally while making reservations, or on their confirmation paperwork, or both, that ALL Guests must be present to check in for Free Dining.

You are correct about this. Past May both DH & Myself had to check in together no free dining just AKL policy MHO

 

[dmslush]

we were there during the free dining last year and everyone did not have to be present at check in.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, let me rephrase that (because I hate to disagree with you and because I know you don't lie) - Disney's policy, iterated on the confirmation form, is that all members of your party must be present at check-in.

Actual practice may differ, but Guests should EXPECT to have everybody there, in order to obtain all features of the package for all Guests for all nights.

 

[mickeynut1]

Everyone listed on the package needs to be present at check-in. If he can't join you until later in the week, I think your only option is to add him to the reservation as a room only guest when he arrives. Dining would be out of pocket for him, sorry. Too many people were trying to cheat the system and garner more dining credits than they were entitled to.

This has never been true for us as we've gone for free dining the last 2 years and I have always been the only one who checked us in without DH and our 2 DS's in sight....and I have gotten everyone's KTTW card at check-in. As far as when to add your DH, I have no experience with adding someone after a trip has started, but I do know that my whole party has never had to be present at check-in....even during free dining.

 

[TammiMcMan]

This has never been true for us as we've gone for free dining the last 2 years and I have always been the only one who checked us in without DH and our 2 DS's in sight....and I have gotten everyone's KTTW card at check-in.

It's obvious that DIS'ers have had different experiences with check-in CM's, but I'll refer you back to kaytieeldr's post #6 and #10 as she explained Disney's free dining policy imuch better than I.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

It is definitely the policy that everyone be present at check-in, now whether or not the CM assisting you presses the issue, that's the tricky part. Will your husband need to use ME to get to the resort? If so, they may already have the info that we won't be arriving until later in the stay. Whatever, I would just be honest about it when checking in and let them do whatever they need to to adjust the reservation. If could be they will do nothing, or maybe they can adjust the meal credits for him to use once he's there.