How can I simplify a complication?

[ShhhQ]

I am trying to book our vacation and each of my family members has thrown up complications. First I sent off for a quote for 2 rooms and 3 adults (my brother does NOT share a room with my Mother and myself). We planned on staying for 4 days in the parks and the night before and morning after. Only needed 3 tickets each, because we participated in Disney give a day, get a day. However, when we got our quote my brother decides that he doesn't want to spend money (I think he thought he was gonna have a free ride, but thats another story) and backs out. Good for me... less people we can afford an extra day!!! So I email the TA and change it to 1 room and add an extra day.... dummy me... forgot to mention that we needed an extra ticket too... oh well.. since the curveball my Mom threw me may negate the whole thing. She decided to invite a friend to go with us... which I think is a great idea. BUT, this friend has yet to decide IF she can go... plus Mom wants to share our room with her so it would be less money for her.

Herein lies my complication... I wanna book our vacation asap (so far all we have is the quote)... how is the best way to handle this... We definately plan on using the DDP so we need package deal.

We need 1 room for 3 adults (gonna be a bit crowded, but I think it will be ok) DDp and 4 day park tickets for my Mom and myself and 5 day park tickets for her friend. Is this even possible? How would anyone else work this? She may not even go, but I would like to know how that can work out.

 

[moongirl]

If you book a package to get the DDP, you will have to buy tickets as part of the package. You will not be able to apply your GAD tickets to the package.

 

[Samar]

I would buy your tickets seperate from the package. Some sites have decent rates and you wouldn't have to worry about factoring your mom's friend into it if she can't go.

Or you could buy all of you 5 day tickets and turn you and your mom's GAD tickets into the fastpasses.

 

[eliza61]

Herein lies my complication... I wanna book our vacation asap (so far all we have is the quote)... how is the best way to handle this... We definately plan on using the DDP so we need package deal.

We need 1 room for 3 adults (gonna be a bit crowded, but I think it will be ok) DDp and 4 day park tickets for my Mom and myself and 5 day park tickets for her friend. Is this even possible? How would anyone else work this? She may not even go, but I would like to know how that can work out.

Give everybody a dead line. Tell them you are booking on March 7th for example and you need a decision. If she is sharing a room then she has to make a commitment (with cashola ).
Also, have a back up plan. I find that every time people who went with us were sort of "wishy-washy" they tended to back out at the last minute.

 

[ldrprn]

I'm not sure if this will work, but I will put it out there for comments. Can you book your package with one day passes, and then upgrade them when you get there. that way Mom's friend can upgrade to 5 day and maybe you can apply your GAD voucher toward yours. Not sure if this will work, but the one day ticket will get you the package price, and maybe give you some options for changes later.
If she does back out at the last minute I think you can take her off the reservation as late as check in. We did this last year when my son had to leave early so when we moved to our second resort of our split stay, they just took him off the reservation. Again, out for comments, just a thought.

 

[Ka' eo]

Adding days costs a few dollars after 4 days, so you should all get as many days as you are there since it won't cost much. As others have said, you don't have to decide this until you go to the parks. If you buy the dining plan, you have to buy at least one park day. We have priced this out before and it will add a lot to your trip. I would not do the DDP, myself, given you have the free vouchers that can be upgraded.

I would book the two rooms. You can cancel the second up to 5 days before your trip with no penalty.

Good luck!

 

[tink_n_pooh]

You could rent points from a DVC member and rent a one bedroom or studio as long as 2 of you don't mind sharing a bed (which you would be doing in a regular room anyway). With DVC you can add the dining plan without booking a package. The person you rent from would need to call DVC to add the dining plan but this is something that is done quite often with renters. By renting points you would also now have a larger room, a kitchen/kitchenette and laundry facilities in your room (one bedroom only).

 

[Cheshire Figment]

1. For a package everyone on the reservation must purchase the same tickets as part of the package.
2. If you get dining, everyone on the package must be included and it must be for the number of nights of the reservation.
3. THE GAD cannot be applied to an existing ticket or package. And it does not make economic sense to use two separate tickets on the same trip.
4. By definition, a ticket upgrade is taking one ticket and adding cash (or other payment) to end up with one ticket with more days and/or features. You cannot combine two tickets as an upgrade.
5. You may be best off booking room-only, where you can cancel one room (or even the entire reservation) up to five days prior to arrival without penalty. Forget about the dining plan.
6. If you go to the locked sticky Everything About WDW Tickets in the TPA&S Forum, especially Post #6 and #18, you can get a lot more information. An easy way to get to the sticky is by clicking on the link in my signature.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Where are you planning on staying and when are you going? Right now, if you want to use the GAD and have the DDP - a DVC rental is the best choice!

If you are planning on just a regular room - the studio is a great choice! Then you can add the DDP on and get your tickets using the GAD.

The GAD promotion is awesome but it really doesn't work for people trying to use a package!

 

[poohfriend]

Disney GAD promotion for the fast pass or the pins...buy the ticket package as usual.

adds a minimal cost to you and your mom's package (around $80 with tax) and it simplifies things.

Or as somone else mentioned, you could get one day tickets on your package. You and your mom use the GAD ticket to upgrade (and save your one-day pass for a future visit). your mom's friend just upgrades as usual.

Renting DVC points is an option...but might take you longer than you want to sort out and depending on where you stay someone may end up on a sofa bed.

a third option is for one of you to upgrade to an annual pass ($520 for a non-florida resident). You can then book the AP rate and add dining. Tickets purchased sep. Then you can find an excuse to go to Disney again. Also you should be able to use your GAD ticket to upgrade to the AP.

As far as which simplifies the most...that's up to you. If I didn't think I'd return to Disney in the year, I'd just add the $80 to my package cost and use the GAD for fastpasses or Pins.

have a great trip!

 

[ShhhQ]

Thank you all for such quick and thought out replies.

Just to clarify things... we are going at the beginning of Sept, staying at a value (most likely ASsp), we use the ddp to simplify our food situation and have everything prepaid before we arrive, we hope that their is free dining but will go either way.

Still going to research and see what I can come up with... too bad the GAD tickets are non-transferable (my brother won't be using his), maybe if she does go she can do something for a GAD ticket!

 

[ShhhQ]

First I want to thank everyone for the great advice... after reading all them I was still unsure what to do so I contacted my TA and told her the situation... all I can say is she is AWESOME!!!

I now have a quote for all 3 of us at ASsp from sept 5-11 with 4 day tickets for each of us. Should the friend decide she really can't go, she has until we have to pay off our balance in July to be taken off. If she can go, she can either get a GAD ticket too or upgrade her 4 day ticket to a 5 when we arrive. Much simpler than I thought it would be and we still got our dining and I can reserve the package today. (Would already have except waiting for Mom to wake up so I can show her the quote before I commit.. mainly out of courtesy, cause I am going regardless!!)

hmm since we are going a day early, I really need to update my ticker!!!