DVC and DME...oh my!!!

[goofy4tink]

Okay, so I'm not new to either DME or DVC MS. I have made more than my fair share of DME reservations using the MS online service. But never have I had the issues I've had this time!!!
My dd, 18, and her two friends are headed to WDW in June...a graduation trip for them. I booked them BWV...okay, no issue there. So, yesterday, I make their DME reservations. Well....I tried to anyway. It seems that when I made the BWV reservations I gave two girls 'nicknames'...it's what they are called everyday. But I didn't think of that when I booked DME..so gave them legal names the same as for airfare. Well...got an email from MS telling me there was a mistake. That the names didn't match up...okay, so Megan isn't the same as Meggie. I go back and resubmit using the same name I used for BWV booking. I figure it's all okay.
Until this morning. I get another MS email, saying there are discrepancies....I say there are three adults traveling...well, one is 18 now (my dd), one friend will be 18 and the other turns 18 a month later...I figured they were adults. That's how they are listed on the room reservation. But for some reason, MS says they are 17. And that there are two nicknames listed...my dd as well.
Man....so now I get peeved. I send a somewhat cranky email back, asking them what they want from me??? I have tried making changes, I'm not sure what ages they see....what is going to happen when these poor girls get to MCO??? Will they be allowed on the bus???

WEll, just got another email from MS...they said that all names have been changed to reflect legal names, and nothing about ages...and that the girls have all been put into the system for reservations.

I just can't remember ever having so much trouble with this. And I know I've never used my dd's legal name for booking purposes. Do you think it is due to the fact that she is now the lead person on the reservation??? Just curious.

 

[Chuck S]

She is:
1) Now a Legal adult

2) There may be new TSA rules requiring names to match for the flight/luggage and accommodation in order to use the resort luggage service for luggage heading TO the airport and obtaining boarding passes. I know that there were some recent changes regarding Senior Citizens and shoes, so that would not surprise me.

 

[JimC]

My advice is to only use the names that appear on the official photo ID when booking any travel -- air, hotel, car, and the like. That way everything matches up nicely. Also make sure that your travel/charge card reward accounts are similarly registered or as close as possible.

 

[disneynutz]

Correct the DVC reservation to the legal names and ask MS to update DME.

When MS says that they have updated and you have verified the reservation on line, call DME at 866 599-0951 and verify that they have the updates. FYI the DME docs will be mailed to the lead name on the reservation.

Bill

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, lesson learned here. I have to remember that dd is now a legal adult...and everything needs to match. It was never an issue before, but that's all changed.
So, will always use 'legal' names that will match passports. Does make more sense.
So, hopefully, everything now matches. DVC has the 'legal' names, as well as birthdates so they can be sure who is an adult and who isn't.
Thanks for the insights guys.

 

[m3retired]

Just a thought, think I read this somewhere--can an under 18 even stay in a room without an over 20 in the room? Or is that restriction just on DCL?

 

[goofy4tink]

Just a thought, think I read this somewhere--can an under 18 even stay in a room without an over 20 in the room? Or is that restriction just on DCL?

I asked this multiple times when talking to MS, on the phone. They said it was no problem.
Now...I just got an email back from MS, saying that they had all three girls names and birthdays correct for registration. They also told me that they had given me a new reservation number that now tied the two reservations together...I added another night on about 4 months after my original booking, so had two different reservations. But, I had called to get them tied together about 2 months ago, and was told that had been done...guess not.
It all seems to be okay now. They are emailing me the new reservation, with updated info on it.
Phew....now, to sit and worry about any possible checkin issues. Sure would hate to have to fly down there!!!

 

[Chuck S]

Each room has to have at least one 18+ old adult for WDW resorts. 18 is cnsidered a legal adult in FL. The cruise line may have a higher requirement because some of the countries it stops at may have different age requirements for what is considered an adult.

 

[TDC Nala]

Under 18 can stay in a room as long as there is someone 18 or over registered in the room.

The cruise would be different, if there is a minor (under 18) registered in a stateroom there also needs to be an adult over age 21 registered in the stateroom. But 18 is enough for resort room reservations.