Drop In Family Members--Not Staying Whole Trip

[KayKo]

Good Morning--My first post here, so hope I am in the right place! My family of three has a trip for November 27-December 1st. I have been planning for a while (lots of help from DISBoards!) and have great ADR's (Chef Mickey's, Akershus, California Grill, Cinderella's Table, Ohana, LTT, 1 bedroom suite at Bay Lake, etc!
But now have a delightful "problem!" My brother and his girlfriend are able to come stay with us for two days--probably November 28th and November 29th.
What do I need to do??

• Do I add them to my online account, and add them to ADR's? Or can we get away without them having a dining plan, and just eat in our room with room service, etc.?
• I am assuming it is no problem to add them to the hotel reservation for those two days, but I will find out for sure this morning.
• Do they need a two-day park hopper ticket, or just better to pick one park each day for them?
• Any other advice for managing drop-in family for a part of your family Disney vacation?

Thanks so much!!
KayKo

 

[Alesia]

Having the dining plan complicates the issue somewhat. Unless you want to pay for the dining plan for them for the entire trip, you'll need to wait until after you check in to add them. They'll need to purchase tickets separately and won't be eligible for the dining plan.

 

[Happyjen27]

.

Good Morning--My first post here, so hope I am in the right place! My family of three has a trip for November 27-December 1st. I have been planning for a while (lots of help from DISBoards!) and have great ADR's (Chef Mickey's, Akershus, California Grill, Cinderella's Table, Ohana, LTT, 1 bedroom suite at Bay Lake, etc!
But now have a delightful "problem!" My brother and his girlfriend are able to come stay with us for two days--probably November 28th and November 29th.
What do I need to do??

• Do I add them to my online account, and add them to ADR's? Or can we get away without them having a dining plan, and just eat in our room with room service, etc.? It is Disney's policy that all people in the same room have the same dining plan. If they don't want to buy the dining plan, they should consider getting their own room.
• I am assuming it is no problem to add them to the hotel reservation for those two days, but I will find out for sure this morning. When you call this morning they will let you know if the 1 BR can hold 5 people. One of our BLT experts might know this.
• Do they need a two-day park hopper ticket, or just better to pick one park each day for them? The hopper is an added expense, if you want to change your plans to make things more affordable, that's your choice.
• Any other advice for managing drop-in family for a part of your family Disney vacation? We shared our vacation with ILs last year. They had their own rooms, and we had good communication around the fact that we don't have to be together every second of the day and night. We also had friends who live in the area that wanted to "get together" so I looked at the schedule, decided when we would like to get together and invited them to something specific, like our meal at 'Ohana, rather than an open invitation for days. With family, we did spend the days together, and then branched off in the afternoon. We regrouped for meals as our ADRs were all together.
  
  You might have trouble adding 2 people to ADRs. It's not simply adding 2, you may have to cancel your ADR for 3 and remake one for 5. If one for 5 isn't available, they may not be able to accommodate your change.

Thanks so much!!
KayKo

 

[mm1971]

I'm not sure if you can add them to the room if you are on the dining plan and they are not. I'm pretty sure it is an all or nothing type package where everyone has to have the dining plan.

I would have them get their own room for the 2 nights if it were us. It just makes everything easier. You can plan to spend the time you wish together and then everyone has the opportunity to get some private time as well. Just a thought. I know when we traveled with the in laws, being able to have some time in separate rooms was nice.

For tickets, a two day base if fine to start. If you decide to park hop on those days add the option then. That way you don't waste the $$ if you choose not to hop. it can be added any time.

Have a fun trip.

 

[KayKo]

Thanks everyone! I especially like the tip about just getting the one day ticket and then adding on the park hopper option if needed. So, just got off the phone with WDW--I DO NOT have to get the dining plan for them! Because they are not staying the same length of stay as us, it is not a requirement. What I am thinking now, is that I will just make an ADR for the two nights we will be together, and then plan to pay OOP for them those two days. Now to find the best family restaurants for OOP--or we may just cook in the room! We have the one bedroom suite, so it is fine with five, and seems to have a nice kitchen. So happy we are not having to add on the Deluxe Dining Plan for them!

 

[mm1971]

Thanks everyone! I especially like the tip about just getting the one day ticket and then adding on the park hopper option if needed. So, just got off the phone with WDW--I DO NOT have to get the dining plan for them! Because they are not staying the same length of stay as us, it is not a requirement. What I am thinking now, is that I will just make an ADR for the two nights we will be together, and then plan to pay OOP for them those two days. Now to find the best family restaurants for OOP--or we may just cook in the room! We have the one bedroom suite, so it is fine with five, and seems to have a nice kitchen. So happy we are not having to add on the Deluxe Dining Plan for them!

Via Napoli in Epcot WS is a great place to eat if you are looking for suggestions. It's pizza and Italian dishes. Reasonably priced (for Disney) and the food is awesome.

Whispering Canyon is a buffet style meal that is a lot of fun as well.

I'm sure there are a lot of other suggestions. These are the two our family likes to make sure we do every trip.

 

[Nancyg56]

Find out if your room can hold two more people. If it can, wait until checkin to add your additional family members. If they are coming later in the week, wait until they arrive so yo only pay the room fee for the days that they stay. You will not need to add them to the package. If you add them now, they will need to be added to the package.

If you want to add them to meals, call and see if you can add them now. They do not need to be using the DDP in order to eat with you. You cannot use teh DDp to pay for their meals.

 

[rigs32]

Aren't you going to lose a LOT of your dining plan value if you're cooking in the room? The delux plan includes three meals a day, so to cook two meals in the room means you're basically throwing money away.

 

[KayKo]

Aren't you going to lose a LOT of your dining plan value if you're cooking in the room? The delux plan includes three meals a day, so to cook two meals in the room means you're basically throwing money away.

Hi,
Not really--we are using two credits for Cinderella's Royal Table, and Hoop De Doo, so I think it will work out. There are a suprising number of ADR's available for Sat. Nov. 30th for 5 people I was happy to see! I added the two guests to my experience online planning tool, so I can actually book it, and then we will just pay OOP for that one. Now if I can convenience my 6 year old that this is a good idea! She is a little disappointed that she is losing "her room"--the living room of the suite!