booking with Hotels.com - max. occupancy issue

[mrsdaly]

Hello all, I have a gift certificate for Hotels.com and want to make a reservation for a couple nights. For most rooms, they are showing no availability because I have 5 people - but one is an infant who will be in a crib. On WDW's website it is fine to book, but hotels.com does not allow because all rooms say "max occupancy: 4" - so, my question is, can I book for the 4 and then call and add the infant later? Anyone have experience with this? Do I call hotels.com, or Disney? I have not booked yet.

 

[Kaytie]

What about calling Hotels.com first?

 

[msb578]

With Orbitz, I talked to Orbitz and they called Disney while I was on with them. I assume it would be the same with other online agents.

Edit: I called to add someone after I had booked.

 

[Maggie at the Fort]

I booked with Orbitz. I never managed to get it fixed. Disney told me it is fine too just add her (the infant) at check in so that they know she is there for fire safety reasons. The major drawback is she did not get a magic band for that reservation. Despite not needing one, a toddler still wants one. This isn't a huge deal for us as we have two back to back reservations so she has one. Otherwise this would be a big deal!!

 

[mrsdaly]

I booked with Orbitz. I never managed to get it fixed. Disney told me it is fine too just add her (the infant) at check in so that they know she is there for fire safety reasons. The major drawback is she did not get a magic band for that reservation. Despite not needing one, a toddler still wants one. This isn't a huge deal for us as we have two back to back reservations so she has one. Otherwise this would be a big deal!!

Our biggest issue would be magical express. She doesn't need a magic band, but it would be nice to get one for her.

 

[HopperFan]

I booked with Orbitz. I never managed to get it fixed. Disney told me it is fine too just add her (the infant) at check in so that they know she is there for fire safety reasons. The major drawback is she did not get a magic band for that reservation. Despite not needing one, a toddler still wants one. This isn't a huge deal for us as we have two back to back reservations so she has one. Otherwise this would be a big deal!!

You can always get a MB at check in when you add a guest. I've done multiple times and the last few times we had our choice of colors.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I highly doubt ME will get cranky about a lap baby.

 

[mrsdaly]

I highly doubt ME will get cranky about a lap baby.

Yes, but I've heard others state that Mears will require you to purchase a ticket for them in order to board since they won't be listed on the reservation. I tried the chat window with hotels.com... was in the queue for 30+ mins (you're the 19th person in line... you're the 1st person in line...). When it got to me being next in the queue, it just said, "we're sorry, no agents are available at this time." I've sent them an e-mail.

 

[Maggie at the Fort]

You can always get a MB at check in when you add a guest. I've done multiple times and the last few times we had our choice of colors.

That is great news. When I was dealing with Orbitz I didn't think she would care but at 15 months she has more opinions than I was expecting!!

 

[HopperFan]

Just going by some old memory banks here I seem to remember folks saying that after they booked via 3rd party in this exact situation they were able to call Disney direct and have the extra child added to the reservation. It might have been closer to arrival time because at some point the the reservation has to be turned over. ME can be added right up until the last minute, I've done that too.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I booked with Orbitz. I never managed to get it fixed. Disney told me it is fine too just add her (the infant) at check in so that they know she is there for fire safety reasons. The major drawback is she did not get a magic band for that reservation. Despite not needing one, a toddler still wants one. This isn't a huge deal for us as we have two back to back reservations so she has one. Otherwise this would be a big deal!!

Your toddler can have my toddler's. He wouldn't wear his on our trip a few weeks ago!

 

[hammie59]

Slightly off topic, but sort of connected....Disney was sold out of Nemo and Cars suites at AoA for my up coming trip. I checked with a very common third party and they had some available. When I attempted to book, the price was $75 more than the originally quoted price (which was the same as Disneys with a room discount). I was puzzled so I clicked the info button and it said I was over the occupancy limit of 2. For a suite. It was actually telling me that the occupancy limit for a suite that sleeps six was 2, and charging extra to boot! What a scam. Needless to say I did not book thru them and ended up with a Little Mermaid room (thru Disney) which is fine.

 

[msb578]

Slightly off topic, but sort of connected....Disney was sold out of Nemo and Cars suites at AoA for my up coming trip. I checked with a very common third party and they had some available. When I attempted to book, the price was $75 more than the originally quoted price (which was the same as Disneys with a room discount). I was puzzled so I clicked the info button and it said I was over the occupancy limit of 2. For a suite. It was actually telling me that the occupancy limit for a suite that sleeps six was 2, and charging extra to boot! What a scam. Needless to say I did not book thru them and ended up with a Little Mermaid room (thru Disney) which is fine.

Not sure about scam Probably a glitch, more or less. You probably would have been able to add more people for free after booking for 2 first. I know this used to be the case with Orbitz.

 

[hammie59]

Not sure about scam Probably a glitch, more or less. You probably would have been able to add more people for free after booking for 2 first. I know this used to be the case with Orbitz.

I call it a scam because a lot a ppl wouldn't know you could do that and just book the way it is paying the extra fee. After reading a few other threads on the subject, it sounds like that's how it always is. According to others, what you said is correct. Book as 2 ppl and then call Disney later to add the kids. But again, not everyone would know that's possible, so I feel like they do it on purpose.

 

[msb578]

I call it a scam because a lot a ppl wouldn't know you could do that and just book the way it is paying the extra fee. After reading a few other threads on the subject, it sounds like that's how it always is. According to others, what you said is correct. Book as 2 ppl and then call Disney later to add the kids. But again, not everyone would know that's possible, so I feel like they do it on purpose.

You may be right... I always looked at it as laziness on their part, but yeah, it's possible they could be hoping to make some easy money. I guess I sometimes fall into the trap of "I know because of the disboards". But the typical user would probably just get ripped off. Interesting.