One MDE - separate reservations

[elaine amj]

I have our whole group of 9 on one MDE. I am making my reservations now and would like to make 2 separate reservations for BOG breakfast on the same day at the same time. I am struggling to do this on MDE - it won't let me do it (says I have to cancel Group #1's reservation first), even if I assign the reservations to different people in the group.

I know I can obviously book for the whole party of 9 and only 4 of us show up but I don't want to tie up BOG with our entire group of 9 when there is a strong possibility that only 4 of us will show up. The problem is I won't know for another month (our trip is in August). I'd like to be able to easily cancel the ADR for the other 5 without affecting the ADR for 4.

Any ideas? I'm really regretting just adding my brother and his family to my MDE instead of creating a separate account for him (I thought it would make things less complicated but its only making things more complicated).

 

[melanielll]

You can just modify the number of people when you find out. That will open up a 5 slot - which will be snapped up.

 

[elaine amj]

You can just modify the number of people when you find out. That will open up a 5 slot - which will be snapped up.

I was reading some stuff on these boards that said Disney doesn't modify the number of guests - you basically have to search for a new reservation and if one is available for a smaller number of guests, you would switch. But for hard-to-get reservations, that could be extremely difficult. And many reports that Disney prefers you just show up with however many you have and deal with the no-shows at check-in (obviously with no fee).

Also, this issue is affecting other reservations for other reasons. e.g. I cannot book a reservation at Homecoming for 9 people. But I can get one for 7 people. I'd like to book a reservation for the other 2 (and figure it out at check in) but MDE won't let me do that either.
- as a side note, Homecoming won't allow a group larger than 4 to book an ADR after 6pm. And no group larger than 8 for dinner at all. Interesting.

 

[supersnoop]

I was reading some stuff on these boards that said Disney doesn't modify the number of guests - you basically have to search for a new reservation and if one is available for a smaller number of guests, you would switch. But for hard-to-get reservations, that could be extremely difficult. And many reports that Disney prefers you just show up with however many you have and deal with the no-shows at check-in (obviously with no fee).

The modify function takes your current reservation into account when it offers your alternatives. Since BOG breakfast is not dependent on table size, you shouldn't have any problem reducing the number of guests on the reservation.

 

[elaine amj]

The modify function takes your current reservation into account when it offers your alternatives. Since BOG breakfast is not dependent on table size, you shouldn't have any problem reducing the number of guests on the reservation.

Oh good - I was feeling very guilty about that one!

Now if I run into something like that with another restaurant, is my only alternative to call? I have to say - I really detest calling. I'm inevitably on hold for 30-45 mins so I have to set aside a large block of free time to make a call. Plus, I'm calling from Canada so paying long distance for the privilege.

I get why the system won't allow double reservations. But it really should allow you to make separate reservations based on the number of people in your MDE. Groups do split up! I wish I had set my brother up on his own MDE but my understanding from reading on the Dis was that this would be easier. Ugh.

 

[CarrieR]

When we just did this, we were able to do two res as long as we did the other person (not the MDE account holder) first. So if I needed 14, we would make a res under Aunt Sally's name for 6 and my name for 8.

That said, if that doesn't work, you may need to "give control" of your brother's MDE to him. All of our "Aunt Sallies" have their own MDE.

(I hope that makes sense... I feel like I explained it in the most complicated way possible.)

 

[elaine amj]

When we just did this, we were able to do two res as long as we did the other person (not the MDE account holder) first. So if I needed 14, we would make a res under Aunt Sally's name for 6 and my name for 8.

That said, if that doesn't work, you may need to "give control" of your brother's MDE to him. All of our "Aunt Sallies" have their own MDE.

(I hope that makes sense... I feel like I explained it in the most complicated way possible.)

Can I give control of my brother's MDE to him? How would I do that?

 

[CarrieR]

Yes, you can. As for how...

In the app, I couldn't find a way to do this.

Disneyworld website, sign in, then go to "My Disney Experience." Click "My Family and Friends List." Click on the "update" link next to the name and then at the top, click "Invite to connect." You input his email address and say "yes." That should send him an email that lets him set up his own account, thus "taking control" of it.

Good luck!