Dad joining midweek

[robhawk]

Merry Christmas,

We are staying at BCV President's week. My dad will be joining us sometime in the middle of the week. Can I inform the staff when he arrives or do I have to say something in advance? What about Magical Express? He will be flying home with us. Thanks.

Rob

 

[vicki_c]

You will have to add him to your reservation before his arrival date to use ME.

 

[Tamar]

Since you know his departure date, I'd put him on the reservation for the first date he might arrive, and then have his departure date be the same as you (unless you are doing a dining plan--someone else will have to advise on that.).

 

[CarolAnnC]

He will definitely have to be listed on the reservation, not only to use Magical Express, and the Disney Dining Plan, but also to have a KTTW card to use Stormalong Bay. Without it, he will not be allowed a wristband in order to use that pool area.

 

[PSC]

We had a similar situation on our last trip. Our DS eloped 2 days before a planned trip! Our new DDIL was able to join us at WDW one day late. Making arrangements for ME was simple to do the day of her flight. The front desk at SSR was able to add her to our THV room as a day guest (no charging privileges). We were not able to add her to the DDP. Apparently once it starts, no changes are allowed. It wasn't really a problem - we just told our servers that one of our party was paying cash for dinner - the rest were on the DDP.

In case you are wondering - the newlyweds got the bunk bed room and had to share a bathroom. I don't give up the master bedroom for anybody!

 

[CarolAnnC]

We had a similar situation on our last trip. Our DS eloped 2 days before a planned trip! Our new DDIL was able to join us at WDW one day late. Making arrangements for ME was simple to do the day of her flight. The front desk at SSR was able to add her to our THV room as a day guest (no charging privileges). We were not able to add her to the DDP. Apparently once it starts, no changes are allowed. It wasn't really a problem - we just told our servers that one of our party was paying cash for dinner - the rest were on the DDP.

In case you are wondering - the newlyweds got the bunk bed room and had to share a bathroom. I don't give up the master bedroom for anybody!

That is very nice that they were able to accomodate your DIL, but that is not the norm. Especially with the OP traveling during a holiday week in February, it will be prudent of them to make their plans in advance.

 

[robhawk]

Thanks to everyone.
I will let them know early. No DDP this time so that's easy. I will have to add one to a few ADR's. Hopefully not a problem.

Rob

 

[bumbershoot]

When we were there two weeks ago, I asked if I could add my aunt to our room for a night or two, if she opted to stay with us. They said it was absolutely NO problem, and to just let them know if she was going to stay. (she lives near Daytona in a house not built for the cold, and it was going below freezing, so we wanted her to be warm, even if she had to drive 1.5 hours)

Obviously she wasn't using ME and we weren't on a dining plan, so it would have been simple. She also wouldn't have brought us over occupancy limit.

 

[Dean]

When we were there two weeks ago, I asked if I could add my aunt to our room for a night or two, if she opted to stay with us. They said it was absolutely NO problem, and to just let them know if she was going to stay. (she lives near Daytona in a house not built for the cold, and it was going below freezing, so we wanted her to be warm, even if she had to drive 1.5 hours)

Obviously she wasn't using ME and we weren't on a dining plan, so it would have been simple. She also wouldn't have brought us over occupancy limit.

As long as you're within occupancy, adding a person on arrival or during the stay is no problem. I can't speak to ME but would be surprised if it was a major issue making arrangements on site during the week though I'd agree that adding them prior would be the best by far. As noted above, you can't add them to the DDP but I am not aware of a single instance where anyone was prevented from adding a guess mid stay as long as they were within occupancy limits and that includes with the DDP. I am also not aware of a single instance of anyone being forced to buy the DDP for the person in question although it would be within their rights to do so.

 

[Sunshine22]

Make sure everyone is on your reservation for the dates they will be there. You are able to set up different Magical Express arrivals and Departures for each person or family. As of last week, you are now able to put numerous credit cards (I was told up to the number of people in the room) on your room and assign them to individuals' room keys. We did this last week with my brother's family, and it worked well (4 from one family on 1 credit card and 2 on the other credit card). Initially, there was some confusion with the room keys since we were in a 2 bedroom lockout (system kept thinking it was 2 different rooms), but eventually it all worked out.