Cost frustration

[jwmoss]

We are a family of 4 - 2 adults, a 20 year old daughter (we don't consider her an adult in this situation LOL), and an 11 year old daughter. We are planning a Disney vacation for December, but the older daughter can't come the whole time due to obligations with work and school. She would be flying out for the last 4 days of the vacation. It's really frustrating that Disney doesn't give any pricing options for our situation. We still have to pay for her to be there the whole time and with the same number of tickets as we get. It's costing us more than $500 that is just being flushed down the toilet.
Does anyone know of a strategy that might help me save money with this situation? We don't want to cheat Disney, as it's unethical and don't want to find ourselves in an embarrassing situation if we tried and failed at being sneaky. But we would like to be as cost effective as possible.
Thanks in advance!
Janna

 

[ToddyLu]

Are you on the dinning plan? Why can't you get a room and tickets separate? You don't have to purchase a package, you can price it out separately...am I missing something?

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

We are a family of 4 - 2 adults, a 20 year old daughter (we don't consider her an adult in this situation LOL), and an 11 year old daughter. We are planning a Disney vacation for December, but the older daughter can't come the whole time due to obligations with work and school. She would be flying out for the last 4 days of the vacation. It's really frustrating that Disney doesn't give any pricing options for our situation. We still have to pay for her to be there the whole time and with the same number of tickets as we get. It's costing us more than $500 that is just being flushed down the toilet.
Does anyone know of a strategy that might help me save money with this situation? We don't want to cheat Disney, as it's unethical and don't want to find ourselves in an embarrassing situation if we tried and failed at being sneaky. But we would like to be as cost effective as possible.
Thanks in advance!
Janna

One thing with the park tickets, once you pay for 4, additional days are only $10 per day more so at least for that it won't be that much of a financial waste (the amount over the 4 or so days she's staying) but I do agree more flexibility would be nice.

 

[WillAustin]

I think you can get a package for the three of you, then buy separate tickets for the 20 year old. Add her to your room when she arrives.

 

[ToddyLu]

Can't you just add her to the room when she comes in? I understand the having to pay for four people if she is on the dinning plan...but they are changing some of those rules soon from what I understanding. What does disney do when a visitor just shows up, you arent over the occupancy and they decide to stay? I dont think they would kick them out or make them get a different room.

 

[jwmoss]

So, they can add her to our room on her arrival day there at the resort? We aren't doing the dining plan, and I'm fine with buying her park tickets separate. I had no idea that could add her in to our room for just "her days" versus the whole time we are there (like done online with a package). This has made my day!!!

 

[Becky925]

I agree, you can buy a package for the three of you, then simply buy your older daughter a park ticket and have them add her to the room when you get there, you'll probably just have to pay the third adult charge for the night she's there. My mom and I planned to do this with a friend of ours who would only be able to come for a few days, but their plans fell through. We asked specifically at the hotel if this was possible and was told yes many times.

 

[Marionnette]

So, they can add her to our room on her arrival day there at the resort? We aren't doing the dining plan, and I'm fine with buying her park tickets separate. I had no idea that could add her in to our room for just "her days" versus the whole time we are there (like done online with a package). This has made my day!!!

Just keep in mind that she will not be able to do DME if she's not on your room reservation prior to her arrival. And she's still an adult, even though you don't consider her to be one. That means that you will pay a nightly "extra adult" fee for the nights that she stays in your room.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

Yes, buy her park tickets separately and add her to your room when she arrives. You will have to pay the extra adult fee per night. However, she will not be able to reserve fp rides 60 days out like the rest of you, only at 30 days. You can try for overlapping times for the rides you are booking for yourselves so you can all ride together. Also, she will not be eligible for the free bus ride from the airport or back to it.

So, they can add her to our room on her arrival day there at the resort? We aren't doing the dining plan, and I'm fine with buying her park tickets separate. I had no idea that could add her in to our room for just "her days" versus the whole time we are there (like done online with a package). This has made my day!!!

 

[jwmoss]

Does anyone know about what the cost would be to add her to our room once she arrives? We are planning on staying at a moderate resort, probably POFQ.

 

[tobikaye]

OP: If she needs DME, then after you arrive on property, add her to your room for the nights she will be staying and then call DME and make her a reservation for when her flight arrives.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

I am curious since you are not doing the dining plan and your daughter needs a 4 day ticket (I assume) anyways, how does it come to an extra $500 to add her to the package?

 

[jwmoss]

The fast pass thing does concern me. We've had a rough year as a family and really want to be able to ride our favorites together. As crowded as the parks are now compared to the past years, I'm worried about the fast passes for the more popular rides.

 

[rpcvpanama]

Perhaps you could also book a split stay, book a reservation for the days she is there and a separate reservation for the days she is gone. When you get to your resort tell the front desk so that you can stay in the same room (assuming you book the same category). That way she can book her fast passes and use Magical Express.

 

[WillAustin]

Does anyone know about what the cost would be to add her to our room once she arrives? We are planning on staying at a moderate resort, probably POFQ.

Moderates are $15/person per night, Values are $10, Deluxes are $25.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

At 30 days out for you dd try for overlapping times. For example if you have 3 fp for Peter Pan for 2-3 p.m try booking one for your dd for 2:15-3:15 or 2:50-3:50 etc. As long as you have 10 minutes or even 5 minutes of the same time you can all ride together. Chances are though that this may not work for the very popular rides like SDMT etc.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

Another option is that the 3 of you make one package reservation until the day your dd arrives. You then make a second room only reservation for the last 4 days. Your dd buys tickets separately and links them to this second reservation and she will be able to make fp 60 days out from HER check in date. Tickets are good until 14 days after first usage so the 3 of you are good even when you go to the second reservation. You may or may not be able to keep the same room. The difference in your 60 days will be the amount of days you are there before dd joins you.

 

[scrapquitler]

We are a family of 4 - 2 adults, a 20 year old daughter (we don't consider her an adult in this situation LOL), and an 11 year old daughter. We are planning a Disney vacation for December, but the older daughter can't come the whole time due to obligations with work and school. She would be flying out for the last 4 days of the vacation. It's really frustrating that Disney doesn't give any pricing options for our situation. We still have to pay for her to be there the whole time and with the same number of tickets as we get. It's costing us more than $500 that is just being flushed down the toilet.
Does anyone know of a strategy that might help me save money with this situation? We don't want to cheat Disney, as it's unethical and don't want to find ourselves in an embarrassing situation if we tried and failed at being sneaky. But we would like to be as cost effective as possible.
Thanks in advance!
Janna

Instead of buying a package, get a room only reservation, then buy your tickets separately. That way each of you can get a ticket for just the number of days you need.
The other part of buying a room only reservation is that you don't have totally pay for everything 45 days up front.

 

[disnut8]

So, they can add her to our room on her arrival day there at the resort? We aren't doing the dining plan, and I'm fine with buying her park tickets separate. I had no idea that could add her in to our room for just "her days" versus the whole time we are there (like done online with a package). This has made my day!!!

I think what you are trying to do is have everything just done online. Pick up the phone and call. Tell the person your situation, tell them you don't need dining and explain all the options you have been given here. This option you quoted seems to be the best. As long as you have your tickets (however you purchase them) at your sixty day mark and have everything registered on the My Disney Experience for each person, you can make your FastPass reservations then. Each person doesn't have to have the same package or even the same plans. Just an account which you link together and tickets linked to that account. Heck each person doesn't even have to be staying in the same room or resort.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Instead of buying a package, get a room only reservation, then buy your tickets separately. That way each of you can get a ticket for just the number of days you need.
The other part of buying a room only reservation is that you don't have totally pay for everything 45 days up front.

This. Just book the room with 4 people. And buy the tickets separate. You can often get a much better deal this way with room only percentages off.