Need advice on park reservations and Genie+ w mixed AP/DVC and ticket holders?

[kboo]

My dad has decided to join us over Christmas at WDW, when he will be seeing my kids for the first time in over 2 years!

He'll be staying with us in our 1BR so we are set w lodging, but I still have to get him a ticket - he's coming for a week in the middle of our 2-week (!!) stay, we are DVC/AP and he was last at WDW 5 years ago, so he's getting a regular ticket. This will also be our first trip with Genie+ and ILL, and our immediate family's 4th trip during the pandemic.

My dad's almost 80 but very active, I think he'll be most interested in MK with my kids, and also SWGE. We already have a good lineup of park reservations and ADRs, I know with ADRs we can upsize by 1 easily in most instances so I'm not too worried about those.

Will I be able to manage all of our plans, with him on a ticket I haven't bought yet?

Thanks for any advice and tips you have.

 

[Pooh12863]

My dad has decided to join us over Christmas at WDW, when he will be seeing my kids for the first time in over 2 years!

He'll be staying with us in our 1BR so we are set w lodging, but I still have to get him a ticket - he's coming for a week in the middle of our 2-week (!!) stay, we are DVC/AP and he was last at WDW 5 years ago, so he's getting a regular ticket. This will also be our first trip with Genie+ and ILL, and our immediate family's 4th trip during the pandemic.

My dad's almost 80 but very active, I think he'll be most interested in MK with my kids, and also SWGE. We already have a good lineup of park reservations and ADRs, I know with ADRs we can upsize by 1 easily in most instances so I'm not too worried about those.

Will I be able to manage all of our plans, with him on a ticket I haven't bought yet?

Thanks for any advice and tips you have.

You need to purchase his ticket before you can make park passes for him and make sure he's on your family and friends list.

 

[BillPA]

You may have a problem with dining if you have 4 now, most tables only seat 4, to add one could be a problem. You better check with the locations to make sure they will allow and additional person. Have a great trip.

 

[RoseGold]

I just got back from using Genie+ and I could see a family member who has regular day tickets booked for January. They need a ticket and park reservations. Genie+ won't play without park reservations. It matches the booking up to your park and to your hopper. For example, it wouldn't let us buy Remy until after hopping when we were park reserved in another park. It adjusted the times we were allowed to go to that park. My understanding is that if you don't have a hopper, it won't let you do this at all.

Park reservations matter, and they need to match up in this system.

If he isn't officially in your room, this might cause issues with the timing, like the extra rope drop 30 minutes and booking ROTR early. We were able to pay for Remy/RR as late as 2 or 3 for bookings later in the night. ROTR will require booking early, and you'll need resort priority. So, you need grandpa to show as on-site and with the right park reservation.

Coolest thing about Genie is that no rush on any of this, unless you think ticket prices are increasing.

I wouldn't worry about adding a person to ADR at all, but I've never traveled peak, like Christmas. I was able to add a person to BOG in June no problem.

 

[RoseGold]

Edit to add: HS park reservations have sold out, so maybe better to buy now and get that sorted out.

 

[kboo]

Another random Q: when buying a multiday ticket, can I select a start date that is before the 1st day my dad will be in the parks (which is obviously a little cheaper because he is coming during peak Xmas)? (ie he doesn't have to USE the ticket on the first day it's available to be used, right?)

 

[kboo]

Edit to add: HS park reservations have sold out, so maybe better to buy now and get that sorted out.

Yep, earlier today it was already showing as sold out for 12/28, 29, and MK was sold out 12/25, 31 and EP was sold out 12/31.

 

[erionm]

Another random Q: when buying a multiday ticket, can I select a start date that is before the 1st day my dad will be in the parks (which is obviously a little cheaper because he is coming during peak Xmas)? (ie he doesn't have to USE the ticket on the first day it's available to be used, right?)

Yes. Just pay attention to the last day of use to make sure all days will be valid for entry on the days he is going to a park.

 

[RoseGold]

he doesn't have to USE the ticket on the first day it's available to be used, right?

when you select the ticket, it will show clear start and expiry dates.

 

[kboo]

Yes. Just pay attention to the last day of use to make sure all days will be valid for entry on the days he is going to a park.

GREAT, thanks!!

 

[kboo]

DVC reservation, tickets and park passes done! Now - I know that this is going by the wayside, but how do I order him a MB in advance? I can bring it to WDW or have it for pickup, but would like one for my dad.

 

[Disneykate605]

If you go into your MDE app and click on your hotel reservation you will see an option to choose magic bands. You can pick one out for him that way. (I believe you said he was added to your reservation). You can pick and choose who you buy one for so you can purchase one for everyone in your group or just some. They will mail them to you. Ordering a magic band this way is a little cheaper than waiting until you are in the park.
Have a great trip! Happy it all worked out for you!

 

[kboo]

If you go into your MDE app and click on your hotel reservation you will see an option to choose magic bands. You can pick one out for him that way. (I believe you said he was added to your reservation). You can pick and choose who you buy one for so you can purchase one for everyone in your group or just some. They will mail them to you. Ordering a magic band this way is a little cheaper than waiting until you are in the park.
Have a great trip! Happy it all worked out for you!

strangely - he's showing on our DVC reservation as well as on MDE but no option to get Magic Bands for him!! argghhhh

 

[Disneykate605]

strangely - he's showing on our DVC reservation as well as on MDE but no option to get Magic Bands for him!! argghhhh

Interesting...on my app it is directly under where our room number would be listed. (There is no room number currently, just 3 dashes because our reservation is not until Thanksgiving week). My mother in law is on our reservation and I have the ability to buy a magic band for her.
It's definitely frustrating when things don't work like they're supposed to!

 

[CarolMN]

Try doing/redoing online check- in. That seems to fix a lot of MDE issues.