Renting Reservations-NAMES/AGES up front

[CarolA]

Occasionally, I'll make reservations for friends, or sell a reservation when I have extra points. Regardless, I always used to book a reservation in my name, then swap out the name at a later date.

Now DVC requires ALL names and ages up front. This is a real inconvenience for me, as I prefer to make the arrangements first, not knowing which of my friends/family might actually use them.

Anybody have any suggestions in dealing with this???

Thanks

I have had to change the names on a reservation fairly recently. My name stayed on but a friend needed to be added and made "first" as she was arriving 1 day before me. I had no issue with MS adding her and she had no issues checking in.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The more I think about it, the more I agree with Carol. I think you got an inexperienced cast memeber. We rarely know all the names of those on the reservation when we book, and even with close friends, I don't always remember their complete address off the top of my head. I've never been denied the reservation though. I have often made a reservation for a 2 bedroom and only given our names at first. I HAVE been told to call back with the information when I know it, and have always been able to do that without a problem. The thing I don't understand about your situation is why you were not allowed to make the booking with just your name.

 

[y2khardtop]

I'm glad this has not been a problem for most of you. I book the particular reservation approx 2 months ago, for november, for some good friends of mine. They would NOT take the reservation, even though it was available, and I had to get all of the names and call back.

It was for 2 2-bedroom units, which was a real pain for me to track down all of the info. Not to mention our friends are of Norwegian origin, and the names were not easy to spell and translate to the CS rep.

I guess I'll just try again next time, and see what happens.

 

[Shadeaux]

I'm at OKW in a 2BR now. When I made this reservation the only name I gave was mine even though I was sure my husband & daughter would be with me.Call me stubborn, but unless I'm not going to be there at check-in, I refuse to give the names of anyone else in my party until we actually check in. As long as I have enough points for the reservation, that's all Disney needs to know. I've always done this and never had a problem.

 

[jamstew]

I have had to change the names on a reservation fairly recently. My name stayed on but a friend needed to be added and made "first" as she was arriving 1 day before me. I had no issue with MS adding her and she had no issues checking in.

Next May will be my first trip home with family. I know I have to list everyone on the reservation, no problem. We'll more than likely be traveling from different cities, but on the same day. If I find out that my son & his family will be arriving earlier than I do, will I need to call and tell MS?

I want to link my credit card to the adults' room keys. Is the earlier group going to be able to check in with their credit card and then change everything over to mine when I arrive? (I'm obviously hoping to arrive first, but you never know).

Hopefully, this will only be confusing the first time I do it

 

[CarolMN]

Next May will be my first trip home with family. I know I have to list everyone on the reservation, no problem. We'll more than likely be traveling from different cities, but on the same day. If I find out that my son & his family will be arriving earlier than I do, will I need to call and tell MS?

No. As long as your son's name is on the reservation he will be able to check in even if you are not there yet. If you have chosen one of the Dining Plans, they may ask him to pay for all of you at that time, though.

I want to link my credit card to the adults' room keys. Is the earlier group going to be able to check in with their credit card and then change everything over to mine when I arrive? (I'm obviously hoping to arrive first, but you never know).

Hopefully, this will only be confusing the first time I do it

You don't need a credit card to check in. Your son should just tell the CM that you will be arriving later and want to provide a credit card at that time. However, your son (and the other other adults who arrived before you) will probably have to get new keys if you want them to have charging privileges. The option you suggested may be best - yoru son provides a card at check in and has the adults' cards enabled for charging. When you arrive, you can have the CM delete your son's card and substitute yours. Only one card per unit can be set up for charging.

Enjoy the trip!

 

[CarolA]

I want to link my credit card to the adults' room keys. Is the earlier group going to be able to check in with their credit card and then change everything over to mine when I arrive? (I'm obviously hoping to arrive first, but you never know).

Hopefully, this will only be confusing the first time I do it

We actually did change the credit card and move some charges over to my card when I got there a day late and it was really not an issue.

We credited the dining plan off of the first card and on to mine so I know it can be done!

 

[akk]

I have changed names or added names on a reservation and done it with an email. This avoids evening speaking to anyone and you usually receive a confirmation in a few days.

 

[jamstew]

We actually did change the credit card and move some charges over to my card when I got there a day late and it was really not an issue.

We credited the dining plan off of the first card and on to mine so I know it can be done!

Thanks, that will make things a lot simpler I haven't decided about the dining plan yet, although it's a strong consideration, but I need to run some numbers. My biggest problem is that I can't imagine we'll want to do a TS every day, especially since it's the first trip for the little ones, and TS takes a good deal of time.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm glad this has not been a problem for most of you. I book the particular reservation approx 2 months ago, for november, for some good friends of mine. They would NOT take the reservation, even though it was available, and I had to get all of the names and call back.

It was for 2 2-bedroom units, which was a real pain for me to track down all of the info. Not to mention our friends are of Norwegian origin, and the names were not easy to spell and translate to the CS rep.

I guess I'll just try again next time, and see what happens.

I don't think anyone is doubting you had this issue, it's just that we haven't had the same issue. I think there is something more to this story though. First of all, why would Norwegian names be an issue? I live in the northern "land of the norskie", and there's nothing diffcult about Olson, Hanson, Johnson, etc, etc,. I too think this was an inexperienced CM UNLESS (and this might be the "rest of the story") you had already made 20 reservations in the past use year.

 

[Eveningsong]

They can't even get names correct when you check in and type up the room keys.

SSR screwed up both my daughter's name on our room keys and I made them redo the keys with the correct spelling. The clerk wasn't very happy with me but the names were correct on our reservation, and I spelled them for her.

 

[TisBit]

I don't think anyone is doubting you had this issue, it's just that we haven't had the same issue. I think there is something more to this story though. First of all, why would Norwegian names be an issue? I live in the northern "land of the norskie", and there's nothing diffcult about Olson, Hanson, Johnson, etc, etc,. I too think this was an inexperienced CM UNLESS (and this might be the "rest of the story") you had already made 20 reservations in the past use year.

Actually sounded to me like maybe they told them it was for someone else, but didn't have that persons info and the CM basicly said call back when you have it. If the OP had just called and made ressies in their own name, without mentioning the other party, it wouldn't have been an issue.

 

[y2khardtop]

from CS via email

Thank you for contacting Member Services.

I do apologize for any inconvenience.

We ask for this information at the time of booking so that they will not
have any problems with Security and to speed up the check in process.
In the past, we allowed Members to confirm reservations for family and
friends. The Member would forget to call Member Services to change the
reservation to their name so this caused problems and time for the
Member Guests. We would then have to try to get hold of the Member with
their guest waiting to check in. As of January 1, 2007, we began to ask
for everyone's name, ages of children, and the home address and
telephone number for the lead person in the room. This change was
communicated to all Members in the Disney Files Magazine.

Once again, I do apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Larry

Member Services | Online Communications
Disney Vacation Club

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for sharing your experience & the email - we understand now that MS is trying to prevent problems at check in and the situations in which they will require full info. The email explains why so many here haven't had a problem - they are just making changes to the original reservation.

Now we also know how to "get around the rule" when it makes sense for us to do so. For example, if I want to make a "tough to get" reservation for friends and don't know their complete info at that time I first call, I'll just reserve for me (I know how old I am and also my address, LOL). Then when I have the info, I'll call back to make the changes. I'm not likely to forget my friends or family need to have the reservation in their name to check in! - the confirmation letter will remind me if I do!

 

[y2khardtop]

I agree, I've never forgotten, but they don't like it anymore. Guess I'll just do the same next time, and make it in my name. Then I'll call later and change it.

 

[Patty3]

I had a situation yesterday and want to know how I could have gotten around it. My family is going to DW next spring. I needed a two bedroom for me and one of my children, their spouse and 2 grandchildren and two studios for my other two children and their spouses. I did not have a problem with my reservation, but I did not have the home addresses of my other children at hand. Without their addresses, MS would not let me make their reservations, would not let me use my address on these either. I had to use my cell to call my DH and get him to look these up on his blackberry with MS on the land line. What would you have done? In the past, I was able to use my home address for their reservations but not yesterday. I have never rented my points, I do not have enough points for my big family as it is, so that was not even an issue. It all worked out in the end, but I was very surprised that they were so unflexible in not permitting me to call back later in the day with their addresses, it had to be done right then.

 

[disneynutz]

I had a situation yesterday and want to know how I could have gotten around it. My family is going to DW next spring. I needed a two bedroom for me and one of my children, their spouse and 2 grandchildren and two studios for my other two children and their spouses. I did not have a problem with my reservation, but I did not have the home addresses of my other children at hand. Without their addresses, MS would not let me make their reservations, would not let me use my address on these either. I had to use my cell to call my DH and get him to look these up on his blackberry with MS on the land line. What would you have done? In the past, I was able to use my home address for their reservations but not yesterday. I have never rented my points, I do not have enough points for my big family as it is, so that was not even an issue. It all worked out in the end, but I was very surprised that they were so unflexible in not permitting me to call back later in the day with their addresses, it had to be done right then.

I would have given them any address and changed it later via email.

 

[Terri2007]

Patty3 I had a situation yesterday and want to know how I could have gotten around it. My family is going to DW next spring. I needed a two bedroom for me and one of my children, their spouse and 2 grandchildren and two studios for my other two children and their spouses. I did not have a problem with my reservation, but I did not have the home addresses of my other children at hand. Without their addresses, MS would not let me make their reservations, would not let me use my address on these either. I had to use my cell to call my DH and get him to look these up on his blackberry with MS on the land line. What would you have done? In the past, I was able to use my home address for their reservations but not yesterday. I have never rented my points, I do not have enough points for my big family as it is, so that was not even an issue. It all worked out in the end, but I was very surprised that they were so unflexible in not permitting me to call back later in the day with their addresses, it had to be done right then.

Sometimes I think there is such a thing as 'too much information' when talking to MS. I would give them all one address with different names and never even mentioned the possibility of the need for change or a different address. I would change it later. I am interested in others comments regarding this as my experience with MS is limited to my dealings with them over the last year involving only about 6 reservations.

 

[Sabor]

There is absolutely no reason that MS needs to know the Ages of children in the party except to cross reference it with Dining reservations to make sure that they get their $27 for 11 Year old Sallys buffet.

They can then keep track of it so you cant claim Jimmy is 9 three trips in a row.

Maybe I am cynical but thats my take on it. They dont ask the age of Mom and Dad.

 

[disneynutz]

There is absolutely no reason that MS needs to know the Ages of children in the party except to cross reference it with Dining reservations to make sure that they get their $27 for 11 Year old Sallys buffet.

They can then keep track of it so you cant claim Jimmy is 9 three trips in a row.

Maybe I am cynical but thats my take on it. They dont ask the age of Mom and Dad.

In a four person room, you can have five people if one is a child under 3.