Complicated plan...maybe...

[perkinsrose]

I'm not sure where to post/pose this question...

We are in planning stages of next trip.

Due to scheduling issues, we are having some challenges. One possibility we realized today, was to have DH meet kids and I a day into our trip. Not ideal but it would solve some things and allow us to have the length of trip we would like within our constraints (work and school schedules, etc). We have never attempted this before.

We also always do a package (tickets, room, dining and use Magical express after flying into MCO).
I know that everyone in the room has to be on same package (same number of nights, dining plan).

1)I'm wondering if it is possible if DH joins us a day later than we arrive and still be on our tix, dining plan, room, etc? I would check us all in as if he were there also?
2) We would use Magical Express. Would he be able to a day later or would he have to taxi or otherwise from airport?
3) Any other issues I am not considering?

Maybe we will sort this out and not have to separate our arrivals like this but trying to be prepared and figure it out in my head if it is an option.

 

[Hopefully]

Yes, You can have your DH arrive a day later than you. He will have to have the same package as you, so dining credits for the day he is not there, but that is fine
Yes He can use Magical Express the next day. You would just call and schedule it that way

 

[perkinsrose]

Yes, You can have your DH arrive a day later than you. He will have to have the same package as you, so dining credits for the day he is not there, but that is fine
Yes He can use Magical Express the next day. You would just call and schedule it that way

Yes-I thought about dining. We would not schedule table service for that day.
Have you done this before or heard of others using Magical Express like this?

 

[Hopefully]

Yes. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't believe it was true.
Whether you schedule a meal for the day your husband isn't there or not, you need to purchase the dining plan for the entire length of stay for everyone in the room. So yes, you have to purchase the dining plan for him if you book him in your room.
You could wait and add him when he arrived. But then he would not have access to your FP+ at 60 days, he would not be eligible for Magical Express, and he would not have any dining credits for his stay.
He can not be on the dining plan less nights then you

 

[HarleenQ]

Yes-I thought about dining. We would not schedule table service for that day.
Have you done this before or heard of others using Magical Express like this?

Yeah, you can schedule him for whatever days he needs ME for.

 

[perkinsrose]

Thanks all. I guess my tentative plan for dining is keep it as is. I would not book a table service for our family that day and save our sit down/table service credits for the day he is with us. We may use some of our credits for a counter service without him but then our "count" would be off. We wouldn't have an even amount to use if that makes sense. Normally we have all 4 credits to use or pay cash for all of us at a meal. I never want to get to the end of a trip and realize we have unused dining credits.

 

[loves to dive]

I understand you always do a package but have you looked into doing it all separate and maybe instead of getting dining plan, pay out of pocket? You might could find a room only discount for your time of stay, tickets at third party vendors like parksavers and find that with those discounts, paying out of pocket for your food comes out better. You would still get ME, (I think I've never used it) but it takes out some of the complications.

 

[tink1970]

ME is the easiest part of the equation...we have often traveled on different days than DH, just call and ensure they have the correct information for both groups (you and children and DH).

As for the dining, tickets, etc, I'd price the individual parts out separately as PP stated to see whether the package is worth it. Only you know how much (and cost effective) dining is for your family.

Another option would be to do a single night stay although running the risk of having to move rooms) and then have everyone on the plan beginning the day DH arrives if being on a package is super important to you...of course that would mean 1 fewer day of parks/ticket but maybe on arrival just do Disney Springs or pool or just schedule a late flight.

My DH has a job with much less leniency than mine so we've learned to be creative

 

[perkinsrose]

I understand you always do a package but have you looked into doing it all separate and maybe instead of getting dining plan, pay out of pocket? You might could find a room only discount for your time of stay, tickets at third party vendors like parksavers and find that with those discounts, paying out of pocket for your food comes out better. You would still get ME, (I think I've never used it) but it takes out some of the complications.

That is something to think about if we do this delay a day with DH.
I have always purchased tix through Disney-hadn't thought about that. We did do one year out-of-pocket for food instead of dining plan. I kept careful receipts. When I added everything, it was near even( slight savings on plan) if we ate same places as if on dining plan. If we are paying out-of-pocket, it would be much harder to pay those huge prices for the table service meals every day and likely we would not and eat mostly counter service (tougher I feel as a semi-vegetarian family).

I suppose part of the draw for me on the dining plan--everything paid ahead of time (nearly-I remember the gratuity included trips!), I don't look a the prices,convenience,& a big part of the vacation is the dining planning even though in regular life I'm more of a eat-to-live vs. a live-to-eat person!

 

[perkinsrose]

ME is the easiest part of the equation...we have often traveled on different days than DH, just call and ensure they have the correct information for both groups (you and children and DH).

As for the dining, tickets, etc, I'd price the individual parts out separately as PP stated to see whether the package is worth it. Only you know how much (and cost effective) dining is for your family.

Another option would be to do a single night stay although running the risk of having to move rooms) and then have everyone on the plan beginning the day DH arrives if being on a package is super important to you...of course that would mean 1 fewer day of parks/ticket but maybe on arrival just do Disney Springs or pool or just schedule a late flight.

My DH has a job with much less leniency than mine so we've learned to be creative

Oh yes! That is the idea I was missing! That might work even if we have to move rooms. Room only one night might work. Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

...it would be much harder to pay those huge prices for the table service meals every day and likely we would not and eat mostly counter service (tougher I feel as a semi-vegetarian family).

I suppose part of the draw for me on the dining plan--everything paid ahead of time (nearly-I remember the gratuity included trips!), I don't look a the prices,convenience,& a big part of the vacation is the dining planning even though in regular life I'm more of a eat-to-live vs. a live-to-eat person!

I do all the dining planning, we eat one TS most days of our trips, we are a fully vegetarian family, and the dining plan does NOT work for us. We don't drink soda and most of the desserts have ingredients we don't eat (always check cupcake ingredient lists for gelatin, for instance...and then DH and DS can't have anything based on corn syrup which knocks out most of the other onsite desserts) so we tend to buy desserts elsewhere. So a big part of the dining plan is lost on us.

You could work it all out (having a limited diet means the dining planning is EASIER because there are fewer menu items to choose from, I've found) and buy some giftcards to cover everything you plan. That way it's prepaid.

 

[perkinsrose]

Bumbershoot, I never thought of it that way--dining being easier due to limited options... always good to have another way to think about things. I don't complain about it-just the sometimes a challenge I have when eating out. I changed my eating habits at age 16 so it is just way of life now. Scare of mad-cow disease in media switched over DH many years ago!

Because the 4 of us our semi-veg. Not all of us skip seafood, gelatin( I hate that it is in so many things!!) etc. , The kids and DH sometimes eat chicken. There are usually more than enough choices (and healthy balanced choices at that) on the reg dining plan and/or at table service. We have a few minor food allergies/intolerances (not anaphylatic) to add in the mix but just another reason to scour all ears.net menus and have good ideas where we will eat before we go. I do love the planning!

Yes, that's an idea to use gift cards to prepay instead of dining plan. I usually do that for gratuity so I suppose I could do that for most of dining if we skip dining plan.

Thanks everyone for help!