Question about changing a guest name

[diser_fam]

My wife and I rented points for a 2BR at OKW through David's for a June trip. It will be myself, my wife, our 2 kids, my mother and a friend of the family.

We just found out there is a possibility that the friend of the family may not be able to join us. He is a senior in HS and on the tennis team. The state tournament is the week we will be on vacation and his team has a chance of making the tournament. However, we will not know for sure until Regionals, which are about a week before we leave for our trip.

If he isn't able to go, we were looking at taking our nephew. David's website recommends a 30 day notice on any changes to the reservation. For a change like this, do you think a week would be enough time? I know a lot of that depends on David's ability to get a hold of the owner of the points. Would a change like this also affect tickets? Same number of guests going, just changing the name on one of the guests.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

Personally, and I am sure I am breaking rules here, I would not do anything.
Do you have fast passes? If you drop someone and add someone new, they wont have fast passes.

Would the add on have an AP, and does the person being dropped have an AP?
If not, I would just have the new person assume the name of the dropped person, use that ticket, use their fast passes, etc.

If they have APs then its a different issue

 

[diser_fam]

No APs involved.

I appreciate your feedback. Sounds like your suggestion may be the way to go. I hadn't thought about losing the fast passes. Definitely don't want that to happen.

 

[Sandisw]

No APs involved.

I appreciate your feedback. Sounds like your suggestion may be the way to go. I hadn't thought about losing the fast passes. Definitely don't want that to happen.

I would not do this as if the person who isn’t going ever goes again, these would be set for him. It is also not allowed under Disney rules,

Since you are below occupancy, I would contact David’s now, add the other person, and keep the person who is already there,

This way, both are on the reservation and if one doesn’t end up going it’s no big deal. I have had this happen before And I just let the resort know when I got there.

 

[Marionnette]

I agree with @Sandisw . Call David’s now and add your nephew. Don’t wait until a week before your arrival to try to make changes. Most owners are not sitting around waiting for David’s to contact them with last-minute changes. That’s why David’s wants at least 30 day’s notice.

 

[diser_fam]

I would not do this as if the person who isn’t going ever goes again, these would be set for him. It is also not allowed under Disney rules,

Since you are below occupancy, I would contact David’s now, add the other person, and keep the person who is already there,

This way, both are on the reservation and if one doesn’t end up going it’s no big deal. I have had this happen before And I just let the resort know when I got there.

I never thought about that.....good idea. How would you recommend handling the tickets? Would it be best to get my nephew a flexible date ticket? How long are those good for? If he doesn't go with us, he will definitely go at some point in the next year or so.

 

[CarolynFH]

I never thought about that.....good idea. How would you recommend handling the tickets? Would it be best to get my nephew a flexible date ticket? How long are those good for? If he doesn't go with us, he will definitely go at some point in the next year or so.

As long as the ticket remains unused, it can be reassigned to someone else. So if/when the family friend cancels for sure, you simply go into MDE and reassign that ticket to your nephew.

 

[Marionnette]

As long as the ticket remains unused, it can be reassigned to someone else. So if/when the family friend cancels for sure, you simply go into MDE and reassign that ticket to your nephew.

This works if the family friend doesn’t have their own MDE. If they do, they would have to be the one to reassign the ticket to the OP’s nephew.

 

[CarolynFH]

@diser_fam: Important caveat to my post:

This works if the family friend doesn’t have their own MDE. If they do, they would have to be the one to reassign the ticket to the OP’s nephew.

In other words, as long as the ticket is unused it can be reassigned to someone else by the "MDE owner" of that ticket!

PS for answers to more ticket questions, check the Ticket sticky at top of the Theme Parks board. Tickets for DVC stays work the same as for other Disney resort stays (with the exception that they have to be bought separately from Disney or an authorized reseller and can't be bought as part of a room + tickets package).

 

[diser_fam]

As long as the ticket remains unused, it can be reassigned to someone else. So if/when the family friend cancels for sure, you simply go into MDE and reassign that ticket to your nephew.

Perfect! Our family friend does not have a MDE account so this should work. And reassigning a ticket will keep the same fast passes as originally booked?

I really appreciate all the help on this thread.

 

[CarolynFH]

Perfect! Our family friend does not have a MDE account so this should work. And reassigning a ticket will keep the same fast passes as originally booked?

I really appreciate all the help on this thread.

Ummm - I must say I'm not confident re that issue. I'd recommend consulting the FP thread, also above the Theme Parks board!

 

[Sandisw]

Perfect! Our family friend does not have a MDE account so this should work. And reassigning a ticket will keep the same fast passes as originally booked?

I really appreciate all the help on this thread.

It May or may not. But, what I would do is not reassign the ticket until you get there, Then go to GR and tell them you need to reassign but don’t want to lose the FPs you had booked. They should be able to help with that.

 

[icc2515]

My suggestion is to call MDE Tech support (407-939-4357) and ask them to change the name of the person that is not going to the name of the person that is going. This will solve your FP, ticket and any dining reservations problems. Make sure they can also change the name on the hotel reservation before they do anything else. I assume that you are in control of the HS seniors MDE account. As long as this is the case tech support will probably change the name for you. Do this now before your 60 FP window comes up. I have found that tech support has a much higher level of control over these things than even guest services, or at least they know how to technically do things better. If the first agent will not do it, try another agent the next day. I have had tech support change names, merge accounts, delete accounts, delete magic bands, and give multiple MDE accounts control over my kids and friends MDE accounts.

Personally, if it were me, I would just leave everything the way it is and tell my nephew during this trip you are (HS Seniors name) enjoy your free WDW vaca.