Switching people 1/2 through stay

[mydisneyanytime]

We are going to WDW for 10 days at the end of May. Myself, DD and DS are AP holders so don't need tickets. A friend of mine is driving down with us and flying back 1/2 way through the trip. Another friend is coming down on the day that friend A is leaving and driving home with us. There will never be more than 4 people in the room as one is leaving early and one is arriving late. They are both getting their tickets on their own so that is not a room issue.

I have booked through a travel agent, love them by the way, but she says that I will have to change the name on the reservation when I get there from friend A to friend B halfway through the trip. That means friend B can't get magical express and we can't get fastpasses until 30 days out.

It seems like Disney should have a work around for this as we aren't putting anymore people in the room than appropriate and not breaking any rules. I don't want to do a split stay as that means moving my stuff for 10 days and my kids stuff to another room/hotel.

Any suggestions other than doing it when we get there? What about Magical Express?

Thanks!

 

[Fangorn]

You will need to make the change to the reservation at the front desk. Once the resort changes the names, friend #2 will immediately be eligible for DME. They won't have the yellow tags, but those aren't needed. Your friend can either go pick up their luggage themselves, or go to the DME counter and give them the claim checks for the bag(s). DME will then retrieve the bags and deliver them to the resort as normal. And yes, this is normal operations for DME (it's even spelled out on the paperwork you get with those yellow tags). The key thing is that your friend is on the reservation at the time they arrive at MCO. I'd text the confirmation number to them si that have that to give to DME.

Steve

 

[Turksmom]

As far as FP, Have both friends A & B buy and link tickets to their names before 60 days, add friends A & B to your friends and family list. You should be able to make selections for one or both with your reservation. Someone on the room reservation must be on the FP reservation with guest B (so no reserving a ride just for B, but fine if you plan to ride together).

 

[mydisneyanytime]

Thanks. They are getting tickets this weekend so that we can get fastpasses as it is already past the 60 day mark. I am fine as long as she can get magical express to the hotel!!

 

[tbssenterprises]

We've had this issue too. Booked rooms through TA but we don't "own" the reservation. Once I check in on "X" day, I inform the front desk that a particular adult child is arriving on my day three and departing on my check out day. It is NOT until that very first day of my stay that ME can be booked for that particular person. It's never been an issue, and that way, I don't have to pay seven nights for a person who is only staying four nights. ME can be confusing to some people, but we've been going for years so it's not an issue. They know the drill. All they really need is their name on the ME list so that they can get on the bus to the hotel, and on the bus back to the airport on departure day.