DVC and a "having guests over" question..

[com_op_2000]

We have had multiple different guests over for the day or over-night and have never told the front desk. We just meet them at DTD or one of the parks and escort them in our vehicle or Disney transportation to the resort. We have never gone over the room size limit for over-night guests but we have for day guests. Once on Thanksgiving, we had eight people over for the day and dinner in a one bedroom.

 

[Dean]

If I have a guest that "decides to visit" a few days after you've checked in and stays for a couple of nights, and you have the DDP....how does Disney handle that situation when you try to add them to your room mid-stay? Would I have to pay for the DDP for the remainder of his stay (say he arrived night 4 of 7)?

As of right now, I don't know when and for how long DH's BFF will be there. He now lives in GA and we are in CA so we definitely want him to come down and stay with us a few days (especially for DHs birthday). We may not know exactly when he'll be there until after we are in Orlando.

Not telling them of guests purposefully is dishonest IMO. I have had several situations where we needed extra keys and a couple of situations were we had someone stay overnight that we were not expecting. In every case, we let the front desk know and got keys. In every case we were on the DDP and not once did the subject of paying for the plan for an extra person come up, except when I asked about it myself and was told they couldn't if they wanted to. I am not aware of a single instance where one was told they would have to pay for an extra once already checked in or at the time of check in. Like so many things it comes down to intent. If the intent was to get a person in without paying the DDP, it's wrong to do so, if not and life happens, I'd vote the other way. Timeshares are different than hotels and it's far more likely to have people come and go during a stay. At some point DVC/Disney will have to deal with the catch 22 of having to list the DDP early and pay for everyone for the entire time vs not being able to add/change at check in. Until then, the rules are what they are and honest people will try to follow them.

 

[SINK]

Disney really need to work out the occupant thing. Assuming I reserved a Grand Villa for two weeks, and will invite the in-laws in for the first week and then my parents in for the second, Disney have no way of "checking-out" the first set and replacing them with the second week. Only if I had two separate reservations, can this be accomplished. I was told by a CSR last year that Disney is working on this situation. It appears nothing have been completed as of now.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Not telling them of guests purposefully is dishonest IMO. I have had several situations where we needed extra keys and a couple of situations were we had someone stay overnight that we were not expecting. In every case, we let the front desk know and got keys. In every case we were on the DDP and not once did the subject of paying for the plan for an extra person come up, except when I asked about it myself and was told they couldn't if they wanted to. I am not aware of a single instance where one was told they would have to pay for an extra once already checked in or at the time of check in. Like so many things it comes down to intent. If the intent was to get a person in without paying the DDP, it's wrong to do so, if not and life happens, I'd vote the other way. Timeshares are different than hotels and it's far more likely to have people come and go during a stay. At some point DVC/Disney will have to deal with the catch 22 of having to list the DDP early and pay for everyone for the entire time vs not being able to add/change at check in. Until then, the rules are what they are and honest people will try to follow them.

Disney really need to work out the occupant thing. Assuming I reserved a Grand Villa for two weeks, and will invite the in-laws in for the first week and then my parents in for the second, Disney have no way of "checking-out" the first set and replacing them with the second week. Only if I had two separate reservations, can this be accomplished. I was told by a CSR last year that Disney is working on this situation. It appears nothing have been completed as of now.

I spoke to a CM that works the front desk at one of the DVC resorts and I guess with the new system is it nearly impossible to add a guest to the reservation after check in. They can add them as a "day guest" for a night or two with no resort privileges (including EMHs, pool, parking) but are unable to add them to the reservation after the fact (with or without the DDP).

I have 2 "one week" reservations (traded into DVC via RCI) and I'm guessing the guest will be with us the last night of the first week and the first 2 or 3 of the second (over DHs birthday weekend) so we will see what he wants to do.

 

[supersuperwendy]

My brother and his girlfriend stayed overnight in our 2 bedroom at BLT after we all went to Jellyrolls. It never occured to me to try to add them to our reservation for that night. I went to CR to get them a parking pass and mentioned they were staying overnight and the CM never said anything about adding them to our reservation. Since it was only for a night and had nothing to do with our DDP I didn't think I needed to tell anyone. It all worked out great in the end!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

My brother and his girlfriend stayed overnight in our 2 bedroom at BLT after we all went to Jellyrolls. It never occured to me to try to add them to our reservation for that night. I went to CR to get them a parking pass and mentioned they were staying overnight and the CM never said anything about adding them to our reservation. Since it was only for a night and had nothing to do with our DDP I didn't think I needed to tell anyone. It all worked out great in the end!

They gave you a parking pass for the night? Okay that gives me some relief. I assumed that the "day guest" wouldn't allow for overnight parking. I was specifically told no SAB for my day guest.

 

[lakohls]

Our family of 5 + infant stayed in a 2 BR at Kidani April 2010. We had made the reservations, including DDP, 6 months in advance. About 1 month prior to arrival my in-laws advised us that they were going to be in the area for a few days that week before or after a work related conference and also to visit with other friends living near Orlando. They could not nail down their plans & I did not want to drive myself crazy with all the permutations.

When we arrived on saturday via ME & checked in I asked at the desk how to best handle the situation of having in-laws join us, probably on monday of the stay for 2-3 days. CM was very accommodating & told me just to leave the extra guests names at the desk on monday am if we were going to be out & they would have room keys ready for them. He also just reminded me that the extra guests were not part of my meal plan.

My in-laws did arrive on monday while we were out & had no problem checking in to our unit. In addition, they were successfully able to add their 3 day park hopper tickets on to their room keys.

Also, while we did not have a car the in-laws did and again this was not an issue - they were able to park on site.

We had a great vacation & are busy planning next trip for this November!

 

[jodifla]

I spoke to a CM that works the front desk at one of the DVC resorts and I guess with the new system is it nearly impossible to add a guest to the reservation after check in. They can add them as a "day guest" for a night or two with no resort privileges (including EMHs, pool, parking) but are unable to add them to the reservation after the fact (with or without the DDP).

I have 2 "one week" reservations (traded into DVC via RCI) and I'm guessing the guest will be with us the last night of the first week and the first 2 or 3 of the second (over DHs birthday weekend) so we will see what he wants to do.

Hmmm. This doesn't work for us at all!

I guess what I will do from now on is max out our room with everyone I think will be coming so I have the max keys possible, and then just have the people hand over the keys and parking passes to the new round of occupants.

 

[WDWMom]

We have done this before. Granted it was only one person. And we just told them we were having a guest come for the day... you have to atleast give a name or your guests wont even get through the gate.

Not true at OKW. We've had lots of guests and never given a name before. Just told the guests to tell the front gate they were coming to visit the Smith's who are guests. Never a problem.

 

[WDWMom]

Actually, it seems you are talking about something different. You are talking about people "coming and going" arranged mid stay - where I was addressing the OP who is planning before the trip.

Or, are you saying when you make your DVC reservation or prior to check in, they take the names of your guests who are there only partial dates and register them in advance for those dates, not the full reservation dates? I have not heard of that....

You do not have to have your guests registered for YOUR length of stay, just theirs. We just did this we DD. We are going down in April for 10 nights. Our college DD is coming for a long weekend. She is on the ressie for only the nights she will be staying not our entire stay. We did this so she could use ME to and from the airport.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

You do not have to have your guests registered for YOUR length of stay, just theirs. We just did this we DD. We are going down in April for 10 nights. Our college DD is coming for a long weekend. She is on the ressie for only the nights she will be staying not our entire stay. We did this so she could use ME to and from the airport.

Did they segment your reservation? And are you on the DDP?

 

[Chuck S]

Actually, it seems you are talking about something different. You are talking about people "coming and going" arranged mid stay - where I was addressing the OP who is planning before the trip.

Or, are you saying when you make your DVC reservation or prior to check in, they take the names of your guests who are there only partial dates and register them in advance for those dates, not the full reservation dates? I have not heard of that....

You do not have to have your guests registered for YOUR length of stay, just theirs. We just did this we DD. We are going down in April for 10 nights. Our college DD is coming for a long weekend. She is on the ressie for only the nights she will be staying not our entire stay. We did this so she could use ME to and from the airport.

WDWMom, please note that this thread was dug up from August 2010, the ability to segment reservations and add guests for the length of their stay was part of a system upgrade after that date. The answers were correct at the time that they were posted.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

WDWMom, please note that this thread was dug up from August 2010, the ability to segment reservations and add guests for the length of their stay was part of a system upgrade after that date. The answers were correct at the time that they were posted.

I dug it up... We booked through RCI so I'm not sure I can segment the reservation (hence my issue). I guess I better get on the phone with MS and see what my options are.

 

[Chuck S]

I dug it up... We booked through RCI so I'm not sure I can segment the reservation (hence my issue). I guess I better get on the phone with MS and see what my options are.

And that is a great question! Once you find out the answer, please post back. It will be interesting to see if RCI reservations are treated differently from Member reservations for the DDP. I hope they are treated equally, since they are technically using member points.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

And that is a great question! Once you find out the answer, please post back. It will be interesting to see if RCI reservations are treated differently from Member reservations for the DDP. I hope they are treated equally, since they are technically using member points.

I will. I have to call them to get my Disney confirmation number for my ADRs.

 

[Dean]

And that is a great question! Once you find out the answer, please post back. It will be interesting to see if RCI reservations are treated differently from Member reservations for the DDP. I hope they are treated equally, since they are technically using member points.

I have an exchange in April and I asked this question of DVC by email back in November. Here is there response.

We appreciate your interest in the Disney Dining Plan. Please contact
Member Services for assistance by calling . Payment in full is due at the time of adding the Disney
Dining Plan to your accommodation. You may add a Disney Dining Plan
selection to your reservation up to 48 hours prior to your check-in
date.

Because exchanges through RCI® requires you to have more of a dialogue
with a Vacation Advisor, please call Member Services at for more information on your reservation number.

I removed phone numbers. Given they didn't simply say no, that you can't segment the DDP for RCI exchanges, I took it to mean it was possible. I haven't yet called and discussed it more formally though as I need and intend to do.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I have an exchange in April and I asked this question of DVC by email back in November. Here is there response.

I removed phone numbers. Given they didn't simply say no, that you can't segment the DDP for RCI exchanges, I took it to mean it was possible. I haven't yet called and discussed it more formally though as I need and intend to do.

Post back after you call.

 

[Dean]

Post back after you call.

I will but it might be a few days given my email to them was a couple of months ago.

 

[Dean]

Post back after you call.

Exchanges cannot be segmented.

 

[Chuck S]

Exchanges cannot be segmented.

Hmm, too bad for the traders. I thought they might have a chance, given that they will segment point reservations. But, at least now we know.

Thanks Dean!