Hello, hello there, Matthew! Welcome to
planDisney!
I hope you're ready for a fun Spring at the
Walt Disney World Resort. Your magical trip will be here before you know it! And it sounds like you're a bit of a foodie like my husband and I, so I recommend that you visit the Outdoor Kitchens at the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. The full menus haven't been released just yet, but I'm suspecting that they will be very soon! If you're interested, please check back on the
Disney Parks Blog for more news and a lot of surprises.
And now, on to the question that actually brought you here! Officially, the Guest who made the dining reservation originally does have to be present at check-in. However, Cast Members often tend to make exceptions. I definitely can't promise anything, but what I would do in a scenario like this would be to approach the host or hostess at the podium to explain the situation. Usually, they will simply alter the amount of people on the reservation and let you dine, but I still wouldn't expect it.
If you're sure that there's someone in your party who won't be able to make it to one or more dining reservations, I would
call the Dining Reservations hotline for UK Guests so that a Cast Member can help you modify those. And if you have any other questions before your magical vacation, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us so we may assist you further! Have a magical day!
Warm hugs,
Ana Paula