Friendship Advice Needed - Planning a trip together

[Serrina89]

Hi DISers,

WDW and DL vet as well as long time Diser! I am currently planning a trip with my friend to go to WDW for her birthday. Here are all the planned details:

Hotel: Port Orleans Riverside Riverside (cheapest rooms)
Dates (1/31-2/3)
My Location: OR
Her Location: NC
Trip Goers - Me (an adult), my sister (11), Her (an adult), Her sister (an adult)

Since it's her birthday, she wanted to take the lead and book everything plan everything. (Nothing bought yet except my plane tickets for OR ->NC (to pick up little sister) and (NC to OR)) The main issue is she wants to say that their are two people in the room instead of four because there is a surcharge (more than two adults). I know this is completely against the rules and there are a lot of perks to missed out on by doing so and in the end possibly getting caught and having to pay anyway with no perks). I've already tried explaining once and she didn't care about FP or MB

So far the things we'd miss out on would be:

Extra Magic Hours
Magic Bands
Fast Pass Selection

How would you explain why we shouldn't do this to a friend (without saying its morally wrong)?

 

[IrishNYC]

I'd flat out tell her you're not lying about it because it's against the rules, and you're not risking getting thrown out of the hotel.

 

[Arianabtd]

I'm PRETTY sure that they would kick you out if they found out you had extra people in that room.

 

[bumbershoot]

Have the third adult pay the surcharge. Make it easy on everyone and call yourself the third adult. Problem solved for, what, $75?

Pretty sure POR has king rooms. Would be interesting if your party of "two" was assigned one, yes?

No magical express for two of the party along with the other things you listed.


If she disagreed with you paying the fee I'd just book my own room for me and my sister. Who wants to mess with all that?

And who wants to share a room with two beds with 3 adults and someone's kid sister? Once I became a grownup with the money to back it up I was OVER wanting to share sleep with friends...

 

[hiroMYhero]

Because this is more a Resort reservation issue, moving to Resorts.

 

[Serrina89]

Have the third adult pay the surcharge. Make it easy on everyone and call yourself the third adult. Problem solved for, what, $75?

Pretty sure POR has king rooms. Would be interesting if your party of "two" was assigned one, yes?

No magical express for two of the party along with the other things you listed.


If she disagreed with you paying the fee I'd just book my own room for me and my sister. Who wants to mess with all that?

And who wants to share a room with two beds with 3 adults and someone's kid sister? Once I became a grownup with the money to back it up I was OVER wanting to share sleep with friends...

OMG you solved the problem! We are taking the magical express This should be enough to convince her!!!!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would just tell her we either add everyone or I'll book my own room.

I would be getting my own room anyway with the dynamic of the room.

 

[dansdad]

OMG you solved the problem! We are taking the magical express This should be enough to convince her!!!!

I would think that fraud and theft of services would be enough to convince her but maybe I'm naive.

 

[Serrina89]

I would think that fraud and theft of services would be enough to convince her but maybe I'm naive.

Not necessarily. She has never stayed on Disney Property and many hotels (outside of disney) extra person fees can be circumvented (ie booking on priceline, etc). It may seems unnecessary from that point of view especially from someone who isn't a living in the bubble (on property) vet.

In addition, I have only stayed two people in a room but I feel like the fee or the third person has recently dramatically increased or been instated. Does anyone know about this? Also is it possible for me to add the reservation, to my Disney Experience for Fastpass selection as well as her? (Haven't been to WDW since 2013 since moving cross country)

 

[Deb & Bill]

The 11 yr old won't incur an extra adult fee. Just the third adult (18 and over) in the room. So pay the extra $25 a night and be done with it. Or split it three ways ($8.34 each adult). If no one can afford the extra fee, no one should be going.

 

[dansdad]

Not necessarily. She has never stayed on Disney Property and many hotels (outside of disney) extra person fees can be circumvented (ie booking on priceline, etc). It may seems unnecessary from that point of view especially from someone who isn't a living in the bubble (on property) vet.

Whether or not it's unnecessary, it is their policy.

In addition, I have only stayed two people in a room but I feel like the fee or the third person has recently dramatically increased or been instated. Does anyone know about this? Also is it possible for me to add the reservation, to my Disney Experience for Fastpass selection as well as her? (Haven't been to WDW since 2013 since moving cross country)

The extra adult fee has been in existence for as long as I can remember, like 1995. I have not noticed an increase recently.

 

[tjmw2727]

So many reasons to be honest with her about why you should pay the extra adult fee. IIRC its $15 a night at the moderate resorts ($10 at the value and $25 deluxe) so that's $5 extra per night if split between the 3 adults! Skip a few cups of coffee between now and the trip and your covered.

In your situation I would just tell her this isn't something you are comfortable doing especially when your 11 year old sister is involved.
Then there are the onsite perks mentioned that one person can't use mainly the transportation cost will be much more than the extra adult fee.

 

[Serrina89]

The 11 yr old won't incur an extra adult fee. Just the third adult (18 and over) in the room. So pay the extra $25 a night and be done with it. Or split it three ways ($8.34 each adult). If no one can afford the extra fee, no one should be going.

Totally understand your point. I have no issue paying my share ($25 dollars or even paying half - splitting the fee four ways). I just don't want to volunteer to pay the extra $75 because I am paying extra to fly from OR to NC and NC to OR and 2 tickets from NC to FL and back. Necessary to pick up little sister (mom will not let her fly alone or with my friends). And then I'm staying an extra night with my sister in order to get my money's worth (coming from the west coast for such a short trip, I would stay longer if it didn't interrupt her schooling). I'm paying significantly more; It's like I'm paying 1/2 of the trip (plus way more since I live on the west coast and have to make a pit stop to pick up my sister), while there paying 1/4. While I can definitely pay the 75. It seems like a lot to add to my bottom line compared to if we shared it equally.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Plus if it was just you and her to begin with and she added her sister, she incurred the extra cost. Or if she was going with her sister at first and you got added, you are the extra adult fee. Otherwise, book your own lodging for you and your sister.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've done the whole squeezing extra people into a hotel room when it's a girls night and we just need somewhere to get ready before we go out and a place to crash in the wee hours of the morning. And it's only one night. But I wouldn't do it at Disney. Too many perks are being lost.

 

[nkereina]

In addition to everything mentioned, the other two people wouldn't be able to get the dining plan either if you are getting one. But between that, no magical express, and the fact that there would only be one extra person charge instead of two extra persons charges - hopefully she'll concede!

Pretty sure POR has king rooms. Would be interesting if your party of "two" was assigned one, yes?

King rooms at POR are a bookable category and cost more.

 

[disneycountrygirl]

I would lovingly call her out on her integrity and refuse to participate if she didn't step up and be a better person with higher standards. Integrity matters. How is she planning on getting her two "stowaways" to the resort - rental car? Uber? Since ME won't be an option.... That negates any savings from lying.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Let us know what she says.

 

[Serrina89]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your awesome advice and tips! Originally, it was going to be 4 adults but one friend had to drop out for medical reasons. I've gone to theme parks before with three people and riding rides without a partner isn't as fun as it could be. As a result, I asked if I could add my sister since my family cant afford to take her and she's almost old enough to lose looking at Disney through a child's eyes. I wanted to give her an opportunity since we had an opening. (I'm freshly married, saving for a house, live cross country from family and friends) so while I have excess money, I should be saving it for the house (we live in a place where a three bedroom/two bath single family home cost more a month) than the average salary a month in the area, and or our many trips to the EC to visit family/friends. We are bests friends. Its her birthday trip and I value her friendship. I just wanted to approach her with some hard facts and really look at whether I was being persnickety and a goody two shoes or if my point was valid.I think the best way to solve an argument/bring up something that's bothering you by taking both perspectives in consideration and speaking with kindness and as much sugar you can through on it. It is her birthday trip, so I want to give her the reins for planning an awesome trip. I just want to make sure we have all the tools to make the trip amazing and tie up any issues that may cause some problems in the future (especially since I'm investing so much money into it.)

 

[Serrina89]

Let us know what she says.

I definitely will!