Split Family Stay

[KimmyK]

My family is planning a stay at Pop Century January 23 thru 31st.
Also we want to book a room only because of the split stay. (And my mom just wants to go to relax at the hotel and spend a little time with me and my daughter, so no park tickets for her)
Me my Daughter (8) and my mom will be arriving on the 23rd. My mom is staying until Wednesday and my husband and daughter (15) will be arriving on Wednesday night and then the four of us will be checking out on the 31st.
Will there be any issues on check in or magical express for my daughter and husband arriving later? Especially with the magic bands? They will be getting in close to midnight.

If I added the dining plan for Me, my mom, and my Daughter(8) can my mom, that is checking out early, get (pay for) dining credits for the length of of stay, and if so, will we be able to use her credits she has left after she leaves? The reason I ask, is because the four of us, minus my mom, wants to use the dining plan. I figure me and my daughter(8) will get the 8 days, my mom will get her 8 days. We are hoping to actually be paying for my moms part of the dining plan and my husband and daughter (15) will use her 8 days once they arrive on Wednesday. Thus getting four days for two people. Will this work?
I know there is debate on the dining plan, but we have used it before, and like it.
I hope all this make sense. (Sorry for the long explanation)
Please advise. Thanks for your advise Kim

 

[maxiesmom]

Disney views split stays as 2 separate reservations. So if your first reservation ends when your mom leaves, and she has the dining plan, her credits will expire on that day. They won't carry over.

There is also the chance with 2 separate reservations at the same resort that you will have to change rooms. Hopefully they can keep you in the same room, but it is not a given.

If you want the dining plan and your mom does not, have you considered her booking her own room? You can then have one reservation for your whole stay, and everything will be simpler.

 

[Wood Nymph]

You won't be able to buy the dining plan for your mom unless she has park tickets. It is that simple. But you could do a split stay with a room only and no dining plan for the part of the trip with your mom. And then add the dining plan to the second reservation with your husband and daughter.

The easiest way to manage this trip so that everyone gets customized MagicBands and Magical Express reservations and the correct tickets would be to book two room only reservations.

 

[KimmyK]

Thank you for your help. I was looking at this as one reservation and just changing roommates. I never thought of it as two reservations.
I will consider that. It would be simpler that way if we want the dining plan.
Thanks again.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Thank you for your help. I was looking at this as one reservation and just changing roommates. I never thought of it as two reservations.
I will consider that. It would be simpler that way if we want the dining plan.
Thanks again.

It would work as one reservation with just switching roommates as long as you don't purchase the dining plan.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

A lot of misinformation on here. You can add the dining plan without adding tickets to your package. It's called a ticketless package and was introduced very quietly last year. You would have to call in to book your package this way. You cannot do it online.

You do not need to make two separate reservations in order to do this.

You can do this a couple of ways:

1) Make one reservation with dining plan and no tickets for you, DD8 and mom. Yes, you can then add DH and your other DD WHEN you check in and then schedule their Magical Express, HOWEVER, you will not be able to make FP+ for them until 30 days prior to their first park visit (as opposed to your 60) as they will not be listed on a resort reservation until you check in. Yes, if you do this, you will still be able to use your mom's dining credits when you leave, but this whole scenario could really mess up FP+.

2) Put everyone on the reservation NOW and add the dining plan (if you want it). Yes, you will end up with lots of dining credits, but ME and FP+ can be set up for everyone prior to your trip without issue. You will initially be charged an extra adult fee as it will look like you will have 3 adults in the room the whole time, but the front desk can refund those charges when you explain the situation when you arrive.

3). Do room only with no dining. I would still put all on the reservation now and have extra adult charges refunded when you arrive.

4). If you really want the dining plan and don't want to pay for your mom's extra credits, make two ticketless package reservations for the same room category. One for you, mom and DD8 and one for you, your DD's and DH. The only thing this will affect is your FP+ reservation days as you will have two 60 day prior dates to make FP+ reservations. Just explain at check in about your two reservations and how you would like to stay in the same room. If you booked the same room category, chances are you wont have to change rooms.

My vote would be to put everyone in the reservation from the get-go either with or without the dining plan. It will make things much easier for you.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think b/c of the way MDE works now, with fp+,names,and how many are allowed in the room, you have to have 2 separate reservations,and link them up with a call/when you check in. At least that was my experience in January..... If you want fp+ that is the only way,otherwise the booking system won't allow 5 names in that room.....(and it can't separate them by dates,like it logically should) in the 'old days' it didn't matter too much since you didn't have to book those stupid fp+ ahead of time....
..... If it were me I would book 2 room onlys, and pay for dining with some gift cards I brought (purchased ahead) that way it's one less thing to worry about(and believe me this new setup can be a giant hassle with this sort of thing,been there,done that)

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I think b/c of the way MDE works now, with fp+,names,and how many are allowed in the room, you have to have 2 separate reservations,and link them up with a call/when you check in. At least that was my experience in January..... If you want fp+ that is the only way,otherwise the booking system won't allow 5 names in that room.....(and it can't separate them by dates,like it logically should) in the 'old days' it didn't matter too much since you didn't have to book those stupid fp+ ahead of time....
..... If it were me I would book 2 room onlys, and pay for dining with some gift cards I brought (purchased ahead) that way it's one less thing to worry about(and believe me this new setup can be a giant hassle with this sort of thing,been there,done that)

Yes, you are right. I missed the part that they are staying at POP! Only 4 to the room.

OP, highly suggest making two reservations, with or without the dining plan.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Yep, you won't be able to register 5 people in a room at Pop so you would have to book 2 rooms or else you'd have to keep changing the persons registered in the room. Unless one of those persons is under 3 years old. And none of yours are.

You can book them separately and have one room with DDP on a ticketless package and the other with no DDP. But everybody registered in the DDP room will have to have DDP. If you want the rooms to connect you can request that. Might be a little difficult with everybody coming and going.

I'd book a separate room for Mom with no DDP, and then the four of you registered in the other room with the DDP (I think I was reading that you all want DDP but Mom doesn't?) The issue there is that you will have credits for all 4 of you for the entire trip, but you could find some ways to use them.