Resort Problem, Too Many Guests!

[mdbehr]

What if you booked a campsite and added the dining plan to it? Then you could have the dining and the room key for EMH. And I believe the campsites are pretty cheap.

 

[TammiMcMan]

What if you booked a campsite and added the dining plan to it? Then you could have the dining and the room key for EMH. And I believe the campsites are pretty cheap.

Campsites are a great option and a very inexpensive way to stay on site. It may be tough transporting all that camping equipment down though, especially considering they are doing a cruise first. Even if they looked into rentals, the cost would quickly add up.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

what about renting points from someone to stay dvc and all staying together
did you look into POR? What are you paying for all stars?

 

[mdbehr]

you could buy a tent from Target.com and have it shipped to FW.

What happens if someone rents a campsite but doesn't actually stay there? If the main deal is to get the dining and EMH, then a campsite solves that. If nobody wants to sleep in a tent, then you could get a cheap offsite room through Priceline but you would still have a room key and all the onsite perks.

 

[sammi6]

what about renting points from someone to stay dvc and all staying together
did you look into POR? What are you paying for all stars?

For the ASMu's for a family of 4 Dining and tickets was 2300.00 on one room and other was $2600 because my sisters had to pay adult prices. I did look into POR and was told it was full, at least for what I needed. I have not checked into renting points though, that is another good idea.

 

[hildarumpole]

Could you try for an overflow rate through SOG? It might be cheaper to get 3 value rooms that way or SOG may even be able to book a moderate room that can accomodate 5 through their system, even though Disney says everything is booked.

 

[mikesmom]

what about renting points from someone to stay dvc and all staying together
did you look into POR? What are you paying for all stars?

Renting points is probably not an option for the OP. DVC rooms are pretty much sold out October through December unless she can find someone with a standing reservation that they can't use for some reason - pretty much a long shot.

 

[becky1960]

There are some nice hotels at the DTD area and to me that just about being onsite at WDW and its really connected to DW by the waterways.

 

[TammiMcMan]

There are some nice hotels at the DTD area and to me that just about being onsite at WDW and its really connected to DW by the waterways.

Just to clarify, the DTD resorts (Grosvenor, Royal Plaza, Doubletree Suites, etc) operate their own shuttle bus service, it's not Disneys. You're within a short walk to the DTD Disney area where you can take a bus to any of the Disney resorts. There aren't boats that connect to all of DW however. I believe from the Marketplace and Pleasure Island you can take a resort boat to SSR, OKW or POR/POFQ and that's it.

 

[pooh6890]

You must know that many many people would just have her stay in your room....not saying that I do that because I need my space. There are 3 of us and it's tight sometimes. If you do early entrance or after hours parks, its a problem. Someone would have to stay back. I am sure many of us can remember childhood vacations when there were way too many people in one room, but those were the "olden" days. It's whatever you feel comfortable with that is important. I hate that you are spending so much time worrying about what to do. That really sucks!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Assuming you booked through Disney --
I suggest you calling them back and ask what accomodations you can get with a Good Neighbor Hotel.
That may not be the ideal solution you want. But I think it could work out very well for you. Many even offer a free breakfast.
You would not be able to have the DDP though.
In addition to the GNH, there are also the DownTown Disney non-Disney resorts too.

 

[epcotfan]

The room occupancy limit is 4 for the Value resorts, which is why she can't be added. And believe me, in the Value resorts, you don't want more than four in a room.

I agree. I find two people in one value room extremely crowded.
What about an All Star Music suite? They can hold 6 people I believe.

 

[C-CMom]

May not be what you are looking for, but I just noticed a special for the Doubletree (not Disney, but "in the resort") on the Mousesavers home page. Looks like those suites hold at least 5, and may not be quite as far away as some other "over-property" spots. Just a thought... (hope is OK to use brand names...sorry mods, if not)

 

[greenpea89]

Did you try booking online? I checked WDW, Expedia, and AAA for the dates Oct 4-21 and 4-14, they all have availability at All Star Music in both standard and family suites, also a standard room at All Star Sports but not at All Star Movies. AAA and Expedia also have availability at POR (Not at POFQ) on those dates. No special rates at any of the resorts though so I don't know if this will help you at all. WDW is the only site that was a little tricky because it wouldn't accept a res Oct 5-7 but if you check in on the 5th and stay until the 10th or longer it accepts the booking. Maybe they have a minimum stay requirement? Good luck and please let us know how it works out.

 

[lpandorf]

Try the section on disboards where people post points for rent. I know someone said they are probably sold out but I just rented some last week and the person was able to get me a room in either SSR or OKW without a problem for a trip in November.

 

[eliza61]

We can't afford to upgrade to moderates and now I don't know what to do. We we made the reservation, we invited her and she wasn't able to go, now she is and she is only 5 and I can't break her heart. Sorry if I am not making much sense, I just don't understand why she can't be on our reservation. We all got in with the code that they released with the DDP for our October trip. I am just so frustrated!

Not meaning to be a wet blanket, but is it possible for all the adults to maybe pool your funds to pay for a upgrade or other ideas to raise a few extra bucks. Was she a last minute addition? What will happen if you absolutely can't get a room on site, Is her mom trying to help make this happen?

 

[Cmbar]

I am sorry this has happened to you.

Seems to me that you should NOT change your plans to stay at WDW to accomodate this one child. I know you must love her since she is your niece, but if her parents can't help you with the situation, I don't think you should feel terrible about it. Now if you can work around the plans then great.

I have never heard of someone being evicted from Disney for having a five year old child in a room. My sister put six in a WL room because they all wanted to be together (two of her kids were on our reservation so we could book legally). But it seems to me that if you wanted to sneak in the child and just forego the EMH that trip that would be a good solution. Just pay out of pocket for her meals and buy her park tickets. Now if you need to get her to the resort via Magical express you will be out of luck and will have to take a taxi. It really depends on what you are comfortable with.

Have you tried Dolphin/Swan with a Military discount? They fit five. Do try to rent from a DVC member. A one bedroom will fit five but you can also book a two bedroom to share with your family. OKW would be plenty of room and the cheapest option. I know they will allow five to book in a one bedroom but not sure if they will allow 9 to book in a 2 bedroom. Good luck

 

[JennyDrake]

I'm so sorry you are so stressing about this. I think you are being way too hard on yourself. You can only do what you can do. It is the PARENTS' job to take THEIR kid to Disney--not yours, and only if they choose to do so.

I am going to admit I am biased as we scrimped and scraped and saved to take our nieces and nephews, 3 of them, 4 years ago. The parents did not even help with spending money--and they could have. The trip was something of a disaster. The kids were more interested in the hotel and the pool than the parks. The parents never even wrote us a quick "thank you" note, and we never heard from the kids again. I'm serious.

Maybe I'm up there with the Disney Villans, but I would sit down with the parents and tell them that you trip was originally planned for "x" people, and that is what you budgeted for. You are willing to take the child and you will pay $$ toward the trip, but you do not have the balance of $$$.

In the mean time, KEEP CALLING. CMs have told me to call 7:30 a.m. EST on Mondays as that is when the Magical Gathering and group ressies cancellations go into the system.

I agree with other posters that you really don't want 5 people in a value room, ESPECIALLY if the kids are small. While it seems unfair, this occupancy was determined by the fire marshall--not Disney and it is a safety feature.

 

[pooh6890]

I also feel your pain. I have taken care of both of my nieces and nephews way too many times with airline tickets, disney tickets and rooms and just last week $1,000 towards both of my nephews cars. I love them and want to help them. But, sometimes you just have to say no. Your problem is you have already planned your trip and now there is a big wrench in it. You should not feel the least bit guilty if the parents won't even help out with the new expense of an additional person going along. But, then again she is only 5 and would take up very little space in your room. There is always that option too.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Seems to me that you should NOT change your plans to stay at WDW to accomodate this one child. I know you must love her since she is your niece, but if her parents can't help you with the situation, I don't think you should feel terrible about it. Now if you can work around the plans then great.

I think she may be feeling really badly because she invited this child in the first place. Although I'm a little confused as to how they would have fit her in the first place, as the OP stated making the reservation first and then inviting her. Maybe that was just a typo or the OP offered the space in the 2nd room to someone else afterwards. Anyway, now all of a sudden the child can make it and they either no longer have the budget for her or can't find accomodations (there's also a week long cruise involved with 35 other friends/family, but I believe they have that expense covered). I think there are many layers to this story that we just aren't aware of and that makes it hard to say whether or not she should feel obliged to follow through on her invitation. I agree that they probably shouldn't be expected to change their plans, but if this child thought she was going, that's a tough one. I asked about the adults pooling money, but it didn't sound like that was an option. My thoughts were, if they could give up the DDP or if they curb some of the cruise expenses, that may free up enough money.

Hopefully the OP will come back and let us know how it all ended up.