Newbie with an ENORMOUS dilema!!!!!!!!

[BellaNoche]

Hi! I am a longtime lurker, but a new poster! I have a HUGE ENORMOUS dilema. We are leaving for PoP in three days. Here is the problem.... We have 3 children, oiginally, my teenage(14) son was going to stay behind because of a sports issue. Well, the sports issue was cancelled, and the family he was going to stay with decided to take a trip to see family in CA. (they did not realize how it would affect us) I really do not have anyone else he could stay with, and I hated the thought of him not going from the beginning. (even if he thinks he has outgrown it!!!) WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I GONNA DO????!!!! We booked room only, so I could buy him tix when we get there, but I know Pop is 4 to a room max! We are going with three other families, two of which have a free bed, but he is not listed on their reservation, and they have a package W/dining, so I do not think it would be possible to list him at this point with the other family. HELLLLLLLLLPPPPP!

 

[magicmouse2]

The room is too small for 3 bigger kids I'm afraid. Can the other family not add him to there room is there is a spare bed ? you could offer to pay the difference.

 

[disneydance]

I would recommend either getting a second room or putting him in the room with one of the other familys and paying for the DDP and half the room cost. Also if you are flying to WDW go to Expedia and get a last minute deal on a flight you will have to most likely pay the Unacompied Minor Cost but he will be on your flight or a flight near the arrival of yours

 

[Vemnox]

Whatever you do make sure everyone in any party is listed as a tenant in the room else that person will be lucked out of any EMH benefits plus if you get caught I've heard of ramifications for that.

 

[fla4fun]

I have read several posts that said people with packages have successfully added someone as a "room only" guest. The key is that they have to do it AFTER they check in and receive their package entitlements. So long as they aren't going over their room occupancy, that seems like something that might work for you.

The only problem with this scenario is if you are taking ME from the airport, as he wouldn't be listed as a Disney resort guest until after he checks in.

 

[Quinn222]

I don't think it will be that big a problem. Add him as a guest to one of the rooms with a bed and get him the same package as everyone else, tickets, DDP etc. He's going to need tickets and he's going to need to eat so it should be ok.

 

[followme2disney]

I don't know what your financial situation is like, but maybe you could book an extra room at POP, or switch to a family room at AS or POR. You may not be able to stay at the same resort as the other families that you are traveling with. What would you have done if your son had been planning on going form the beginning? Also you could call Disney and see what they suggest.

 

[BellaNoche]

So, are you guys saying a guest can be added on to a room as a room only, when everyone else has a package? As far as getting another room there is nothing available.

 

[pooch]

Call Guest Services right away. Explain your problem and ask them what can be done. The advice here is always terrific but you need the Disney answer now! CALL and let us know what happens.

Sending Pixie Dust!!

 

[ntsammy5]

We had something similar happen a few years ago. We thought about getting a second room (ASMovies) and would have, but we were able to move to SOG which has huge rooms. Unfortunately that options isn't open to everyone. I'd get a 2nd room. Good luck.

 

[ElizabethB]

I would think if your friends call immediately, they can put him on their reservation in their extra bed. But, they should speak with guest services or Grand Gatherings (if you don't have a Grand Gatherings number, speak to Grand Gatherings and get one for your group).

There should be no fee for increasing the price of a package, and this would increase the price. But have them call immediately. You'll need to pay them for the cost of putting him on their reservation -- the daily dining and the ticket price. I don't see why you need to pay something for the room -- it costs the same for your friends whether your son is in the room or not. You might take them to a nice dinner for their trouble.

Are you all at the same resort? If so, make sure you speak to Grand Gatherings and get one number for all of your reservations from the Grand Gatherings dept. Then, your rooms will be fairly close together. You son can hang out in your room, leave his clothes and personal belongings, etc., in your room and simply go to your friends' room to sleep. If that is a problem for them, bring an air mattress and he can sleep on the floor in your room. (I know, I know, fire codes, flame me, whatever . . . )

He's legal, he has his EMH privileges and, if anyone thinks that, on vacation people confine themselves only to the rooms to which they were assigned, such folks are incredibly naive and have never been to a convention!

Best of luck, but act quickly. It will all work out!

 

[TSWJan78]

If you have a kid under 9 I would add them to the other reservation as then you are paying less for the DDP and you can just upgrade the childs tickets to an adult for the ticket you already have... does that make sense?

 

[ElizabethB]

TSW -- that's a good idea. On the other hand, the dining credits for adults are far move valuable and useful than those for 9 and under. The OP's friends could make use of some of the adult credits if the OP's son doesn't use them all. With kid credits, they're kind of out of luck, unless they have a 9 or under kid.

 

[ElizabethB]

But, I agree, if the OP's son isn't going to use the credits anyway, better to put a 9 or under in the friends' room so less money is wasted on the DDP.

 

[salmoneous]

If you just have the son crash in the room with your friends and not be listed on any reservation, he won't get EMH. Given a choice between seeing my vacation fall apart, and having one son not get EMH, I know what I would choose.

 

[ElizabethB]

salmoneous -- the suggestion is that the friends add the son to their reservation -- not that the son simply crash in the friends' room. That way he gets EMH. So, no problem!

 

[Lisann]

I wouldn't waste anytime...call WDW and ask for their help and their suggestions. Better to get it direct from the horse's mouth.

 

[eeyore45]

It just sounds confusing, but it seems very easy!!

Your friends are willing to let him sleep in their room - but he's your son so you want to add him to your reservation ie you pay the ticket etc - so his dining credits are on HIS room key... and his room key open the door to the room he's sleeping in

So, you do have to interface with disney - but I think it would be easier to do it AT Pop with one of their managers and your friends and you all there in person!

I think if you leave in 3 days it may be harder to get the reservation changed to a grand gathering - but I think you may try and call pop and ask the room assigner to have your friends room and your room next to each other!! (not connecting - as I know that's a hot button issue, or extremely important for the families that have 2 rooms and more than 5!!)

 

[DISNEYNY]

Subsrcibing...I would like to know how this turns out. I'm sure they can do something for you at WDW.

 

[BellaNoche]

OK, just got off the phone with Disney reservations. They said what we need to do is add him to our friends reservation as a room only when we arrive, and not before. They told me it is no extra cost, but for security reasons they need to know he is there, which I totally agree with! I sure hope this info is correct! I think it is. The girl I talked to was pretty quick with the answer. What a relief! She also told me I could not add him their package at this point since it is paid for.