Easiest/best way to get kids added in MDE via Orbitz

[Music City Mama]

I'm just looking for the path of least resistance. I haven't added the confirmation number in MDE yet, but should I do that first or handle the adding the kids issue first?

Also, while they have my name, I never provided my DH's name (just that there were 2 adults). Do I need to give them his and the kids' names or is that something I just work out on the back-end via MDE?

Lastly, I really, really hate calling and dealing with someone who doesn't know what they're doing. Am I better off using the chat feature on Orbitz's website or emailing their customer service (assuming there is an email address), or is better to just call?

Just wanted to see how people have had the best luck to make this as painless as possible. TIA!

 

[Mainemama]

Call Disney. They will take care of adding the names.

 

[AngiTN]

You have to get Orbitz to add the kids
Here is what I've done everytime I book with Orbitz
I book for the adults
I link the reservation in to MDE. At that time you can tell MDE the name of any other adults
Then I use the online chat function to request an Orbitz agent contact Disney to add the children, I give them name and age
They will call and have Disney add them
While still on the chat, sign in to MDE to verify the kids are added
You'll likely still need to connect the name shown to the member of your family
I have, even though the name matches

 

[momandRN2B]

I also believe you have to use Orbiz to add the kids. I use the online chat as well, while the rep is calling Disney I always ask for my reference number for Disney. For some reason it's always a new number that I don't have on my Orbitz reservation. I always wait till the end of my chat and then put in the reference number they gave me to MDE. I've booked thru them 4x already and it's always been easy

 

[momandRN2B]

Double post

 

[TJA]

Same here -- I've booked through Orbitz for our last few Disney trips and everything worked smoothly without a hitch. As the last 2 posters have said, just do the online chat with Orbitz to request they add your kids to your Disney trip. They'll ask your kids' names and ages and then they'll call Disney while you're still on chat. I was concerned at first to try this route, but I've saved a LOT of money by booking through Orbitz. Sadly. I'd rather book directly through Disney, but the savings are just not there.

 

[AngiTN]

Same here -- I've booked through Orbitz for our last few Disney trips and everything worked smoothly without a hitch. As the last 2 posters have said, just do the online chat with Orbitz to request they add your kids to your Disney trip. They'll ask your kids' names and ages and then they'll call Disney while you're still on chat. I was concerned at first to try this route, but I've saved a LOT of money by booking through Orbitz. Sadly. I'd rather book directly through Disney, but the savings are just not there.

Same here. I prefer to book through Disney
And if the savings is less than $150 I do. I only use the Orbitz codes when they do not have a cap

 

[Music City Mama]

You have to get Orbitz to add the kids
Here is what I've done everytime I book with Orbitz
I book for the adults
I link the reservation in to MDE. At that time you can tell MDE the name of any other adults
Then I use the online chat function to request an Orbitz agent contact Disney to add the children, I give them name and age
They will call and have Disney add them
While still on the chat, sign in to MDE to verify the kids are added
You'll likely still need to connect the name shown to the member of your family
I have, even though the name matches

Thank you, my fellow Tennessean (assuming the "TN" in your user name is for Tennessee!) -- this is very helpful.

 

[Music City Mama]

Double post

Same here -- I've booked through Orbitz for our last few Disney trips and everything worked smoothly without a hitch. As the last 2 posters have said, just do the online chat with Orbitz to request they add your kids to your Disney trip. They'll ask your kids' names and ages and then they'll call Disney while you're still on chat. I was concerned at first to try this route, but I've saved a LOT of money by booking through Orbitz. Sadly. I'd rather book directly through Disney, but the savings are just not there.

Thank you, both. I guess I've just read too many things on here about it being a PITA. When I used Cheaptickets last year (which I believe is part of Orbitz), it was for Universal and you just add your kids at check-in. With WDW, you obviously need to add them beforehand. The savings is great especially since it no longer appears that they have that $150 cap (at least in recent promotions).

 

[AngiTN]

Thank you, my fellow Tennessean (assuming the "TN" in your user name is for Tennessee!) -- this is very helpful.

Yes it is and you are most welcome
I grew up in music city myself

 

[Music City Mama]

Anyone have any advice? I added the Orbitz number to MDE yesterday and was able to choose my DH as the second adult.

This morning, I did the online chat to get the kids added. Wasn't feeling too optimistic at first since I kept advancing in the queue and the wait time kept going down, but after I was no. 1 in the queue, I got a message that "There are no available agents to assist you. Please try back again later." Grrrr. So, tried again -- had a helpful agent who seemed to know what she was doing. I waited while she called Disney. She came back, said that they were added and provided me with a 12 digit number (different than the number in the original Orbitz reservation which was just 6 letters). So, I logged in, it still showed just 2 adults, so I tried to link a new reservation with the number she gave me, and it just states: "This reservation was made by <my name is listed here> and is already linked to a Disney account. Please contact <my name> regarding this reservation." Huh?! Confused.

I've logged in and out several times, but still the same. Just the 2 adults listed and the message about it already being linked when I try to add the other number. Does it just take a while to update?

 

[AngiTN]

Anyone have any advice? I added the Orbitz number to MDE yesterday and was able to choose my DH as the second adult.

This morning, I did the online chat to get the kids added. Wasn't feeling too optimistic at first since I kept advancing in the queue and the wait time kept going down, but after I was no. 1 in the queue, I got a message that "There are no available agents to assist you. Please try back again later." Grrrr. So, tried again -- had a helpful agent who seemed to know what she was doing. I waited while she called Disney. She came back, said that they were added and provided me with a 12 digit number (different than the number in the original Orbitz reservation which was just 6 letters). So, I logged in, it still showed just 2 adults, so I tried to link a new reservation with the number she gave me, and it just states: "This reservation was made by <my name is listed here> and is already linked to a Disney account. Please contact <my name> regarding this reservation." Huh?! Confused.

I've logged in and out several times, but still the same. Just the 2 adults listed and the message about it already being linked when I try to add the other number. Does it just take a while to update?

It can. I had it work like you see once. I had Orbitz add DGD and got a confirmation number but when I checked MDE I didn't see her
I called Disney myself. I don't know if I got lucky or if it's normal but the agent I spoke to at Disney was able to add DGD to the reservation so I could see it on MDE.
The last time I did it, a couple weeks ago, the agent at Orbitz asked me to sign in and check for DGD to be added while I was still on the phone with her so that one was instant.
In your case, I'd call Disney myself and give them the confirmation number you got that starts with a 4 and tell them you want to check to see if they show the children added. Maybe they'll fix it. If not, use chat with Orbitz again and tell them you want to check MDE for the children before you end the chat.

 

[Music City Mama]

It can. I had it work like you see once. I had Orbitz add DGD and got a confirmation number but when I checked MDE I didn't see her
I called Disney myself. I don't know if I got lucky or if it's normal but the agent I spoke to at Disney was able to add DGD to the reservation so I could see it on MDE.
The last time I did it, a couple weeks ago, the agent at Orbitz asked me to sign in and check for DGD to be added while I was still on the phone with her so that one was instant.
In your case, I'd call Disney myself and give them the confirmation number you got that starts with a 4 and tell them you want to check to see if they show the children added. Maybe they'll fix it. If not, use chat with Orbitz again and tell them you want to check MDE for the children before you end the chat.

Thank you. I feel somewhat confident that they'll be able to fix it if I call Disney directly. Considering the message states (when trying to add the number beginning with 4) that it's an already existing reservation in my name, I think there's just something wonky in MDE. At this point, I don't really feel like I'm trying to change anything, so I think Disney would deal with me, I'm just trying to get that number to show up in MDE (which it says is tied to my name) which hopefully would then show the kids. We shall see...

 

[Music City Mama]

Update:

Called Disney wholesale travel (via the regular WDW phone number) and she said that she could see the kids, but she wasn't sure why it wasn't showing for me in MDE. She transferred me to tech support and he was able to fix it in just a few minutes. Everything is showing up perfectly now. Yay, happy ending!

 

[hsmamato2]

Wow! That was like hitting the 'easy' button! Live chat at orbitz and all done- could see it instantly on mde! What a difference from my last experience.....