Has anyone ever fudged the number of people in your room?

[mdinecola]

I am considering not listing one of my little ones because he will get into the parks free anyway - will I get into trouble for this with Disney if they find out that we have one person too many in our room? Has anyone ever done this? What happens if you get "found out"? Just trying my best to save somewhere along the way - Disney is not cheap for big families!

 

[SandrA9810]

Generally infants don't count towards the room total... Like if you're staying at a value, you can have 4 people above 3yrs of age, plus an infant.

The last time I stayed at POP, we were on the dining plan. Which was nice and all, but my brother has a feeding tube, so he couldn't be on it. But there's no way for the reservation people to leave the dining plan off for him. I had to get a special handicap room and all for his needs, but he wasn't on the reservation (even though they were aware of him being there). And he also had no use for a room key card... so he just stayed off even after we checked in.

 

[princessmom29]

I don't think that is wise. It is next to impossible if you are using DME b/c he will not be able to board. If both parents are going you would have to be staying deluxe to be able to declare 5 and one of the 2 littles. Why not just downgrade and get 2 rooms?? Or a family suite at allstars?? That way you would not run the risk of being asked to leave or pay for antoher room if they find out what you are doing.

 

[SandrA9810]

Well they can still stay at a moderate without issues as that one allows for 5 people, plus an infant.

 

[Hannathy]

Well they can still stay at a moderate without issues as that one allows for 5 people, plus an infant.

It looks like she has 5 kids if both parents go that is 7. A moderate would only hold 6 if one was an infant.

 

[SandrA9810]

ohh ok...

that would be a horrible tight sqeeze in a value resort. but if the OP says not listing the last one, sounds like they're already in a moderate resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With six plus one under the age of three, they could fit in a Ft Wilderness Cabin or an All Stars Family Suite. But if they are all aged three or older, they won't fit in those and would need two value rooms.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Children under 3 don't count towards your total. So it won't matter if you list him.

Now to answer a question that you asked - and I know this answer will not be popular with the morality police: you don't have to add everyone on your room. My mom has come to Disney with us and stayed in a DVC 1BR with us - while there is space for her in the room - adding her on to the room would have meant that she had to be on the dining plan and that would have been too much food for her. So - I left her off. She carried one of my kids keys for the week so she could get in the room when we weren't there.

If you leave someone off the room - they can't utilize Magical Express.

We didn't do EMH on that trip so that didn't matter to us. But I can tell you that when we do use EMH that I carry my key and flash that and they have never once asked to see my kid's keys as well. I didn't hide my mom when we were there and no one ever questioned it.

Officially - you can't do this but if you are okay with the perk limitations and the honesty that is involved - there really is no problem not listing everyone on the reservation.

 

[jlima]

Officially - you can't do this but if you are okay with the perk limitations and the honesty that is involved - there really is no problem not listing everyone on the reservation.

Hold it!

I've worked at three strip properties here in Las Vegas and while it isn't Orlando, if you are an unregistered hotel guest anywhere, there can be HUGE ramifications if there is ever a situation where you need the hotel's assistance.

If there is an emergency (fire, etc) and the property is evacuated and you have to leave stuff behind, like suitcases, handbags, medicine, tickets, IDs, cash, etc - you do NOT have the same status as a hotel guest with respect to getting these items returned to you.

If you are injured and the hotel is at fault and you are an unregistered guest, same thing. The hotel does not have the same level of responsibility to you as they would to a registered guest.

I would NEVER try this, ever, no matter how much money I would save. I worked at a property (Bally's) that had a fire in 1980. I worked with the person who had the responsibility of returning luggage to hotel guests . . . and also, those who were not guests. What was described to me was the most giant, unforgiving responsibility and I had the utmost respect for what she went through after the fire to make everything right again and return guest's luggage and property to them. For this reason alone I would never lie about how many people I had in a hotel room just to save a few dollars.

What happens if you get "found out"?

Probably nothing. People do what you're describing all the time. If hotel operations at each Disney Property checked every room for how many people vs bedding, then they'd never get any work done. But it's not something I would do, simply based on my experience working in the hotel industry.

 

[Alesia]

A few years ago I remember reading about a family who got caught with more people than the maximum capacity and they got thrown out of the hotel. I wish I could remember the details.

Regardless, I wouldn't try it.

 

[wdwfan16]

I have never done it and would not recommend you do it. 7 in a room is just way to many. As suggested above do the ASMu suite or a Wilderness Cabin.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

To have more space and be safe, I'd get 2 rooms at a value and ask for connecting rooms because you have more kids than adults.

That way you'll get 2 bathrooms and 4 beds which is much nicer to have when staying at a value. I think it's cheaper than the All Star Music Family Suites too.

 

[Kay1]

Mdenecola, would you mind sharing what hotel you're staying in? It might be as simple as changing rooms within your resort as some resorts have rooms that can accomodate a larger party.

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

The question is "Has anyone ever fudged the number of people in your room?" and my answer is yes.

Children under 3 don't count towards your total. So it won't matter if you list him.

Now to answer a question that you asked - and I know this answer will not be popular with the morality police: you don't have to add everyone on your room. My mom has come to Disney with us and stayed in a DVC 1BR with us - while there is space for her in the room - adding her on to the room would have meant that she had to be on the dining plan and that would have been too much food for her. So - I left her off. She carried one of my kids keys for the week so she could get in the room when we weren't there.

If you leave someone off the room - they can't utilize Magical Express.

We didn't do EMH on that trip so that didn't matter to us. But I can tell you that when we do use EMH that I carry my key and flash that and they have never once asked to see my kid's keys as well. I didn't hide my mom when we were there and no one ever questioned it.

Officially - you can't do this but if you are okay with the perk limitations and the honesty that is involved - there really is no problem not listing everyone on the reservation.

We are DVC owners and had a very similiar situation. My DSis and I were going down for a DIS meet. We purchased the dining plan. At the very last minute, my DH decided he could go when we previously thought he couldn't. He did not need the dining plan but, unfortunately, if you are added to the room, you have to have the dining plan. So, we brought him along and he used either mine or my sister's key when he needed to get in the room w/out us. We did not use Disney's Magical Express so that wasn't a problem. Like the PP said, we were ok w/ the perk limitations etc.

I'm not here to debate whether it was right or wrong, I'm just answering the original question with "Yes".

 

[libinatorsmom]

I am sorry but to all of you trying to "beat" the system - shame on you.... there are reasons why the rules are in place.... this is part of the reason we have some many issues and higher fees on things in life.... (health insurance, car insurance, etc etc) Drives me nutty... please list your guests as it should be.... pay for them like the rest of us!

 

[TamaraQT]

I say upgrade the room to accomodate 7 people. Like others have said, if something happens, I dont think its worth the risk.

Honestly room accomodations is one of the reasons I choose to stay offsite. For the price of a 2 or 3 bedroom resort along with a rental car is still less expensive than a moderate at disney. Sometimes its less expensive than a value room. But then again, some find it difficult not to be engulfed in the disney magic 24/7

So, my advice would be to upgrade to better accomodations, and if that is not possible, maybe consider staying off-site.

 

[delmar411]

I'm sure the answer is yes and frequently. But if you are staying in a moderate (assuming since you only want to leave off #7) and I'll even stretch it farther and say you are staying at POR. Then I'll warn you flat out, do not attempt it. We had 6 in that room and there was no room to breathe. It was insane. We could barely get our luggage and 2 strollers in there with everyone else. And the beds are only doubles so there is simply no room for a 3rd in the bed with you.

Upgrade, rent DVC points, rent a DVC room through CRO or get 2 rooms if you want 7 people in one room.

 

[mjkacmom]

I am sorry but to all of you trying to "beat" the system - shame on you.... there are reasons why the rules are in place.... this is part of the reason we have some many issues and higher fees on things in life.... (health insurance, car insurance, etc etc) Drives me nutty... please list your guests as it should be.... pay for them like the rest of us!

Okay, I'm honest and always pay for 2 hotel rooms (mostly for the extra bathroom ). But when you say "the rest of us," and only have one child? I feel for the family of 5, because most things are set up for the family of 4. If I want to take my family on a cruise, it doesn't bother me to pay for 2 cabins, because I NEED 2 cabins. We do take up most of the occupancy for 2 rooms. It would kill me to pay for 2 rooms if we only had 5, and I'd probably fudge. We just fudged at the great wolf lodge, because a friend booked a bunch of rooms at a great holiday rate ($305), but the occupancy was only 6. We "put" one of our children on someone else's reservation to get the wristband. We had plenty of room.

OP - looks like, no matter where you stayed, you'd be cramped.

 

[mrsklamc]

This is a fire code. Worst case scenario? There's a fire or other disaster, your family is incapacitated, and the firemen don't find one of your kids because they weren't listed. Is it really worth it?

 

[glasslipper]

Stay at a FT. Wilderness cabin. Your kids will love it and you'll be on the up and up! Really that many people in a smaller room would be way too crowded, and the fire code thing, not too safe either. Plus, if you are constantly worried about getting "caught" you wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy your vacation.