Group members need different number of days

[birthygirl]

My kids' dad and I are taking them to Disney later this summer, but they will arrive a few days before me and might visit a park or two before I arrive. We are buying a package and staying on property. What is the best way to do this?

Should we but the maximum number of days we will all need and then add days to only their tickets or do days have to be added to the entire group of tickets?

 

[siskaren]

Every one on a package has to have the same number of days on their tickets, but you can add days just to the ones who need them once you arrive. The only caveat though is that you can only book FPs for the number of days you have on ticket at the time you book them.

 

[PolyRob]

All guests on a package need to have the same tickets and dining options. If you would like to pre-book FP+ for all the days your kids and their dad will be in the parks at 60+ days out, they will need to have the extra days added to the package prior to arrival.

If they upgrade tickets once they arrive on property, they will only be able to get what FP+ selections are left. This may be fine depending on what attractions they want, but if they want highly sought after attractions like 7DMT and Frozen, you will need that resort guest advantage of 60+ days.

Also, a few days for 1 person does not make a huge difference in price once you are past 4 days on a ticket. It would roughly cost $50 to go from 4 to 8 which may be completely worth it for the FP+ advantage.

Now if you are not doing a dining plan, or a special promotion that requires a package, you can book a room only reservation and then add separately purchased tickets from Disney, Park Savers, Undercover tourist, etc and get the correct number of days for each person.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I really depends on how many days you are planning on your park tickets. If you get 6 or 7 days, it may only cost $10 per ticket to add a day. FP+ can be made on all the tickets so if you aren't there the rest of the party can use those (at least I believe that is the case still).

We usually get tickets for the length of time we think we will be in the parks and upgrade when we get there. You can upgrade just the tickets you need - not the whole package. If you aren't doing the dining plan, you can also switch your package to a room only and buy discounted tickets from Undercover Tourist or Parksavers. They can be upgraded as well once you get there.

 

[BethanyLynnFit]

You could book room only and then buy all the tickets separately and link them to the reservation in MDE. I booked room only for some friends and myself because I have an AP and they wanted different ticket options between the three of them.

 

[subtchr]

Is there a reason you are booking a package?

As others have noted, you can make a room only reservation and buy different length tickets separately.

 

[mom2rtk]

The down side to buying the minimum days now and adding later is that you will only get to preschedule fastpasses for the lesser number of days you hold ahead of time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As others have noted, it is easier to buy your tickets separately so you can each have the number of park days you want. If you are just doing room and tickets, book room-only and buy the tickets separately. If you want a room and dining package, call your reservation in and book a "ticketless package" which will include your room and dining plan, then buy your tickets separately.

 

[CarrieR]

As others have noted, it is easier to buy your tickets separately so you can each have the number of park days you want. If you are just doing room and tickets, book room-only and buy the tickets separately. If you want a room and dining package, call your reservation in and book a "ticketless package" which will include your room and dining plan, then buy your tickets separately.

Can you purchase a ticketless package if you're not an AP holder? I thought those were only available to annual passholders.

 

[supersnoop]

Can you purchase a ticketless package if you're not an AP holder? I thought those were only available to annual passholders.

Yes, that changed about two years ago.

 

[CarrieR]

Oh - nice! Clearly I totally missed it. Thanks!!

 

[PolyRob]

Yes, that changed about two years ago.

I believe only AP can book room with dining and no tickets through the website whereas others would need to call to accomplish this.

I've also seen people have MYW packages and remove dining and tickets resulting in a "basic package" that has all the same rules as regular packages like $200 deposit, payment by 30 days, etc, but nothing besides a room.

 

[subtchr]

I believe only AP can book room with dining and no tickets through the website whereas others would need to call to accomplish this.

Makes sense, I know we have to call to add dining to a room reservation when we use military tickets.

I've also seen people have MYW packages and remove dining and tickets resulting in a "basic package" that has all the same rules as regular packages like $200 deposit, payment by 30 days, etc, but nothing besides a room.

Just curious, why would someone do this rather than just making it a room only reservation? Deposit would be the cost of one night, you can cancel up to 5 days before without penalty, and the balance isn't due until you arrive.

 

[PolyRob]

Just curious, why would someone do this rather than just making it a room only reservation? Deposit would be the cost of one night, you can cancel up to 5 days before without penalty, and the balance isn't due until you arrive.

Great point! I have never had a basic package myself. My friend who did this originally had a MYW package with dining and tickets on a Disney Visa promo. Ended up removing dining, and then doing a triple split stay. New package for 1st stay of 1 night with a value resort and tickets, original MYW package 2nd stay converted to basic package, room only 3rd stay. Converting the MYW package to a basic package helped my friend keep the Visa promo since the book by date had passed and if she cancelled, it would have been a full price room only reservation. Besides preserving the promotion that had passed, I can't really see a reason someone would voluntarily take this which may be why you can only do it by calling. I agree having to pay in full and no cancellation after 30 days is not something I would want!

 

[IrishNYC]

Are you staying in the same room as them? It sounds like you might not be. Only people in each room need to be booked with the same package details.

 

[WillowRain]

I have a question. So what if you are going for 10 days, but someone in your party is only going for 4, but spread throughout the 10 days. Wouldn't you still be able to make FP+ res for any day for the 4 day pass? Or does Disney's site consider you would be using the pass for the first 4 days and then cut off the next 6? I am taking a 10 day trip with my family, but my mom and grandma only care to do 4 in park days. If we decide to have a rest day, then will I still be able to book FP+ past that? That's kind of confusing. I've never done this so I need help.

 

[PolyRob]

I have a question. So what if you are going for 10 days, but someone in your party is only going for 4, but spread throughout the 10 days. Wouldn't you still be able to make FP+ res for any day for the 4 day pass? Or does Disney's site consider you would be using the pass for the first 4 days and then cut off the next 6? I am taking a 10 day trip with my family, but my mom and grandma only care to do 4 in park days. If we decide to have a rest day, then will I still be able to book FP+ past that? That's kind of confusing. I've never done this so I need help.

If you are all on the same reservation, you will have no problem booking the FP+ at 60+ days out either as a group or individual. Just exclude your mom and grandma from the group on the days they do not need FP+ because they will max out after 4. You can book them a total of 4 days over a 14 day span. It does not have to be all consecutive days.

If your mom and grandma are not on your reservation and you would still like to book them 60+ days in advance, you would just have to include them in a group with someone on the reservation to get into the 60+ day window.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

So now I have a follow-on question which relates to the dining plan (I think I understand the ticket issue). We are planning a trip for November for about 7-9 days and are currently planning on a package plus dining. Our oldest son may not be able to go the entire time, and our daughter invited a friend who is in the same position -- they both may only be able to attend for 3-5 days. We plan on booking two rooms and letting our oldest son/daughter's friend stay in the kids' room when they arrive. If our oldest son/daughter's friend are going to stay in the room with the other kids do they have to pay for 7-9 days of the dining plan even though they will only be there for half that time?

And on edit, we may be going at a time that has free dining (will know in March/April I suppose). If we have a room + package with free dining and decide to add someone a few weeks before our trip in November (since we'll have extra room space) can we just add them for the entire length of the trip and they get the free dining? If not, maybe we can include everyone when we book the free dining package in the spring and if someone can't make it then we can cancel for that person.

 

[subtchr]

So now I have a follow-on question which relates to the dining plan (I think I understand the ticket issue). We are planning a trip for November for about 7-9 days and are currently planning on a package plus dining. Our oldest son may not be able to go the entire time, and our daughter invited a friend who is in the same position -- they both may only be able to attend for 3-5 days. We plan on booking two rooms and letting our oldest son/daughter's friend stay in the kids' room when they arrive. If our oldest son/daughter's friend are going to stay in the room with the other kids do they have to pay for 7-9 days of the dining plan even though they will only be there for half that time?

And on edit, we may be going at a time that has free dining (will know in March/April I suppose). If we have a room + package with free dining and decide to add someone a few weeks before our trip in November (since we'll have extra room space) can we just add them for the entire length of the trip and they get the free dining? If not, maybe we can include everyone when we book the free dining package in the spring and if someone can't make it then we can cancel for that person.

Yes, everyone on the same reservation needs to have the exact same package, including the number of days. And free dining has traditionally required the inclusion of a ticket purchase in the package, and again, everyone on the reservation needs to have the same package. So those extra people would get free dining for the entire stay, but they would also need to have the same length tickets as everyone else. Unless you add days to everyone else's tickets later (and still meet whatever the requirements are for the free dining promotion), which would mean no pre-booked FP for the extra days.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Yes, everyone on the same reservation needs to have the exact same package, including the number of days. And free dining has traditionally required the inclusion of a ticket purchase in the package, and again, everyone on the reservation needs to have the same package. So those extra people would get free dining for the entire stay, but they would also need to have the same length tickets as everyone else. Unless you add days to everyone else's tickets later (and still meet whatever the requirements are for the free dining promotion), which would mean no pre-booked FP for the extra days.

Thanks. If free dining is offered that probably isn't much of an issue - i'll just book everyone on the same package then eat the extra cost on the ticket days we don't need. As others have mentioned, there isn't a huge price difference in 5 days tickets v. 8 day tickets. The dining though is a significant price difference. If no free dining then we may just have to skip the dining plan and pay out of pocket (not the worst thing in the world).