Additional Guests during last three days

[Asuneda]

DH and I made reservations for a trip home in November. My parents are thinking of joining us for the last three nights. Will we be able to get room keys for them when they arrive?

Our reservation is for 2 adults in a 1 bedroom. I don't want to add them to the entire reservation, because we'll be using the dining plan. I spoke to Member services this morning about adding them to the dining plan and that's not possible unless they want to pay for our entire length of stay. The rep indicated that their joining us later wouldn't affect our dining plan, but by not "adding" them to the reservation will it affect our ability to get keys for them?

Hope this makes sense.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since you are only two in a room that allows 4, perhaps you can go down to the front desk on the day they arrive and get the two additional keys. I'm not so sure it isn't "beating the system" though, because to have them officially on the room, you would need to pay dining for them the entire stay.

 

[Dean]

The plan has been set up for DVC members in such a way that the rules make many aspects very inflexible. What I'm being told is that it must be added for each person prior to arrival and through MS. It cannot be modified or canceled at checkin in any way including number up or down. This creates the situation where in many cases, the rules are in conflict. And makes it impossible to get it for the entire party for the length of stay unless all were added prior. So any change of your party size at any point creates a delima. What if you add the plan and someone doesn't go and you have to pay for an extra person who's not there? It also creates the easy opportunity for abuse of the plan rules.

Now it remains to be seen whether Disney will follow through with the rules, they are notorious for not doing so but usually in favor of the guest. So we shall see how these issues actually get handled over the next few months.

 

[LSchrow]

i've a similar scenerio:
DH & i will be at BWV (studio) from aug 27 thru sept 1 (with DDP).
DH goes home sept 1.
my parents, & DB/family will be at BWV (2 bdrm) sept 1-7 (with DDP).
i'm staying with them until sept 4.

according to MS, i can just ask for an extra key at check-in, & can still get ME on the 4th. i canNOT get DDP for the portion of my stay in their room (which is fine ).

hopefully, FD has the same rules as MS

 

[Sammie]

As Dean stated there is no clear cut answer to this situation and Member Services will give you no assistance. They will simply state that everyone in the party has to be on the dining plan or none at all.

They said it is up to the resort as to whether they will give you ID and room key for late arriving guests.

This is definitely a situation that needs to be addressed. Many of our members have parents or older children that come for part of their stay but not all of it and do not exceed the occupancy levels.

 

[mamatojon]

Can you split the stay and have the ressies linked? Then you could have the two of you on the dining plan for the first part and the four of you on the plan for the second part. I guess that would only be possible if there wasn't a waitlist for the room type you have since I suppose they'd have to cancel/rebook... or can MS get around that?

 

[rigs32]

Why don't you add one of them to the reservation? You'd get three room keys and they could split the total number of dining credits between them.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

If they won't be using the dining plan, just give them one of your keys.

You and your DH will both get keys, when you check in. Odds are, you both will be coming and going together, and will only be using one of the keys to get into the room.

 

[KathyRN137]

We are in a similar situation. Family of 5 staying for an entire week in 2 BR at OKW using DP. Stepson to join us for the last 3 nights. He will need to check in when he arrives. He will receive a key card at that time, but we are unable to get the DP for him.

Too bad....you know how 16 yr old boys can eat!!

 

[rascalmom]

Can you go ahead & get the DP for the 16 y.o. when you arrive? Possibly use some of his credits for adding to your own for a signature table meal or an extra character breakfast.