Guests visiting you at DVC

[DisneyPhD]

Hello, we have our 1st trip home in a few days to BCV. My in-laws who winter in Naples have decided last min (at our request) to come visist us and stay with us at our DVC resort for a few of the nights. To save on points we have a studio Fri and Sat and move to a 1 bedroom the rest of the week.

Our inlaws plan to be there Saturday, Sunday and Monday night. We will also have our 23 month old DD with us. (sleep in pack and play).

Should we tell the frount desk when we are checking in that we expect them and get room keys for them? Will they give us problems with the number of people in the room? (5, but one is a baby). Can we leave there names with frount desk and they can check in when we are at the parks, and not have to wait around for them. Will they have any problems parking or getting into the resort? My in-laws will have a car, but we won't. There is no extra charge for more then 2 adults, correct?


Thanks for all the help, I know there are people here with much more experince with this!!!!!!!!!

WDW and BCV here we come, home sweet home!!!

 

[PamOKW]

There is no problem with them coming to visit and/or stay with you. You are within the legal limit since it is 4 people and a child under 3 so you don't even have to worry about "bending" the rules. There is no extra charge.

If you would like them to be able to check-in without you being there to greet them, you can add their name to the reservation by calling Member Services. If you check-in first, I would mention to the front desk that your in-laws will be coming to check-in shortly. They will be given keys and a parking pass for their car. You should let the front desk know whether they should have charge capability on their keys.

At the front gate, they will be stopped and greeted. They can either say they are checking in or coming to meet their son/daughter. There shouldn't be any problem.

Sounds like a lot of fun! DVC sure helps families enjoy good times.

 

[RobDoc]

Just have your inlaws added to the reservation and the desk will provide room keys for them when they arrive.

The occupancy is 4 adults and a child under 3- so you will be fine with your family- no question about it.

No extra charge. Your inlaws can also get a parking pass (or you can just get it when you check in.)

Have a great trip!

 

[Chuck S]

Room sleeps 4 + child under 3, so you are within the room limit. I think you'll be a little cramped in the studio, though, with both the bed, open sleeper sofa, and crib. Yes, do let the front desk know at check-in, and even though YOU won't have a car, get the car tag for your in-laws, they'll need it if they plan to drive around property. Keys for all adults would be nice, especially if you get separated in the parks or if someone wants to go back early to rest while the rest are still in the park.

 

[Dean]

I'd add them on through MS. Sometimes this gets lost at the front desk when you do it at checking. I'd then double check at check in that all is in order. Have a great trip.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Thank you so much for the replays. I will call MS today (we will be there on Friday) and add them to the ressies. I feel much better about this now. When we asked them to visit, the plan was for them to come after Sunday night so we would have more room, but as it turns out they will be 2 hours away on Saturday and want to come then instead of waiting. So yes we will be a bit cramped Saturday night, (and MIL snores, yikes!!!!!) But hey we have all slept in a trailer when camping before, so we can make this work for one night!

Now I just have to figure out what to do about their park tickets. They want to do 2 days in the parks. We will have annual passes and don't want to get stuck with only one park per day. (especially with March reduced hours). The only way I can figure how to do this is for us to buy 2, 5 day park hoppers and let them use 2 days each. Then save the tickets and use them in next year or after that. I don't want to do lengh of stay becuase we don't need the extras.

Any other sugestions? I am heading home soon!

 

[DVC-Don]

Yes, by all means do it through MS. We had guests come while we were at OKW in Jan. 02. We told the CM at check in time about the guests coming later. "No problem" we were told and the CM cut the ID cards and printed a parking permit and put it all in an envelope for them to pick up at the desk when they came in.

When the guests came later, no one at the front desk knew anything about them, nor did the envelope ever appear again. The guests called our cell and I had to leave Epcot to go "check them in again."

 

[Dancind]

We just went through the ticket research because we have guests joining us at OKW for 2 nights, and we will be expanding to a 2 BR from a 1 BR (we hope expanding, not moving). It turned out that the UPH with the DVC discount was cheaper for them than any 3 day park hopper they could find. We have AP's, so don't need tickets. We just have to make sure their kids don't find out about the access to the Water Parks and Disney Quest, since they're trying to do everything in three days! I'd suggest a call to Guest Services at OKW and find out if this is a better deal for you. In the case, it would help to have your in-law's names on the reservation. Diana

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Dancind
We just went through the ticket research because we have guests joining us at OKW for 2 nights, and we will be expanding to a 2 BR from a 1 BR (we hope expanding, not moving). It turned out that the UPH with the DVC discount was cheaper for them than any 3 day park hopper they could find. We have AP's, so don't need tickets. We just have to make sure their kids don't find out about the access to the Water Parks and Disney Quest, since they're trying to do everything in three days! I'd suggest a call to Guest Services at OKW and find out if this is a better deal for you. In the case, it would help to have your in-law's names on the reservation. Diana

I hope this works out for you. The rules say that any stay at the same resort is counted as on continuous stay even if you change unit sizes, units or check out and check back in again. With LOS passes (UMP), that would mean you must get them for the entire length of your stay, not just the portion you're in the 2 BR. You can read the rules in the old Member guidebook, I think it's dated Jan, 01. I'd have a backup plan just in case they enforce this rule.

 

[Dancind]

I hope it works, too, since I called OKW and was told it wouldn't be a problem! Perhaps it makes a difference that our guests, whose names are on the reservation and who will be buying the tickets, are only staying for two nights. I guess I'd better try calling again and see if I get the same answer. Diana

 

[ErinC]

I would think that the UMP will be your best deal if they will let you only do 2 days for them, if not check the budget board, a couple of places were selling 3 day hopper passes.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Another requirement is that the entire party staying on that reservation all purchase UMP's. If some have AP's, they generally will not sell the UMP to one or two of the remaining room occupants.

 

[PamOKW]

Then save the tickets and use them in next year or after that.

Unless you can get the UMP for two days and the price is significantly cheaper, I'd go with a park hopper pass that can be used again. Your in-laws will most likely still be living in Florida next year so you'll be set next time they come to visit or if you bring someone else along. If your in-laws have a way of proving FL residency, they would also qualify Florida resident discounts on passes. You might want to look into that aspect and be sure they bring along whatever paperwork (license, utility bill, etc.) that Disney requires.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by CarolAnnK
Another requirement is that the entire party staying on that reservation all purchase UMP's. If some have AP's, they generally will not sell the UMP to one or two of the remaining room occupants.

I don't think this is true - at least not for the DVC resorts. In my experience, if some have an AP/PAP, others in the party can still purchase UPH.

 

[Gillian]

Bring earplugs! And have a great trip!

BTW, we had a non-connecting studio & the pack n play fit in a little spot by the front door. It worked out great!

 

[CarolAnnC]

I don't think this is true - at least not for the DVC resorts. In my experience, if some have an AP/PAP, others in the party can still purchase UPH

Most definitely true for all WDW Resorts. This was the case for many years, while I was Moderator here on the Theme Park Attractions & Strategies Board. I will check into the current standing just to be sure for our OP.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I just confirmed via telephone with WDW that all members of the party must purchase the UMP. If two people have AP's then the remaining room occupants cannot purchase the UMP's. I inquired about the DVC Resorts and as it was before, the rules are the same for all of the resorts. They may allow you to drop a day when you arrive or depart, however, at the discretion of the desk at check in. Here is the UMP Information taken from our Home Page here on the DIS:

----------------------------------------

Ultimate Park Hopper Ticket
These passes provide unlimited admission to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot. MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, River Country, Blizzard Beach, Pleasure Island, Disney Quest and Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. They must be purchased by ALL members in your party, and must be for the full length of your reservation. Additional days are available through Guest Services or Central Reservations. These passes are available to any guest staying at a Walt Disney World property, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and Downtown Disney area resorts.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CarolAnnK
I just confirmed via telephone with WDW that all members of the party must purchase the UMP. If two people have AP's then the remaining room occupants cannot purchase the UMP's. I inquired about the DVC Resorts and as it was before, the rules are the same for all of the resorts. They may allow you to drop a day when you arrive or depart, however, at the discretion of the desk at check in. Here is the UMP Information taken from our Home Page here on the DIS:

The usual WDW rules do not apply in this case so unless you got this info from MS, it is not rellevant to the situation. I just reread the last written rules we've been given as DVC members which is the 1/1/01 Member Guidelines. There is a requirement for the entire LOS including any room changes and it goes into great detail. It also states it much be DVC and not DC even if on points. There is no requirement for each person getting the passes to qualify and many have reported getting them for some but not others.

So even in the written rules, there's no requirement for all in a party to get the UMP FOR DVC MEMBERS at a DVC resort. Then there's the difference in written rules and application of the rules. Many have been able to drop both the first and last day of a pass which is contrary to the written rules.

As for the other issue, you get get the answer you want 10 times from MS and still not be able to do it when you arrive so I'd still have a backup plan. I'd also do it by email so you'll have written documenation and print that to take with you.

 

[Dancind]

Dean, e-mail confirmation is a really good idea. Should I try and get it from OKW Guest Services or MS? If OKW, any idea how I would find the e-mail address? Thanks, Diana

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Dancind
Dean, e-mail confirmation is a really good idea. Should I try and get it from OKW Guest Services or MS? If OKW, any idea how I would find the e-mail address? Thanks, Diana

I think MS would be the ticket for email. An alternative would be to call OKW and talk with a supervisor or manager and note their name and what they said if they give you favorable info. You're basically hoping they either don't know the rules or don't care. A little of each is not uncommon. You're also banking on the idea that if you have documentation, they'll honor that no matter what. Regardless, it's still possible you could do all of this and still not have a good result but I think your odds of success are pretty good. Good luck.