using ME for extra person

[sanke]

We're driving to CSR, for a 10 night stay/FD pkg. Our daughter is flying down to spend 3 nights, she's not included in the package. The cast member assured me this was OK, just register her at the desk on arrival and she won't have FD or have to have the same tickets we do. But.... it seems I can't get her on the ME if her name isn't on the reservation. And I can't put her name on the reservation unless I want to make her tickets match ours, and pay the $15/night fee for all 10 nights. Any thoughts on getting her a ride?
Thanks!

 

[maxiesmom]

You are right, she can't use ME unless she is on your room reservation. She can pay and use the Mears shuttle service though. It will cost around $30. Unfortunately, there is no way to get your daughter a free ride to WDW from the airport.

 

[ancestry]

If you don't have her on your reservation then she can not ride DME -- no way around that other than adding her on the reservation and paying the addition costs for her to match your package.

You may have to pay for her to take the Mears Shuttle. In fact if you pay at the Mears desk they may even put her on a DME bus (after she pays).

 

[goofy4tink]

No one, not even those listed on a room reservation, can just walk up to the DME counter and get on the bus..not without a prior DME reservation. I'm really sorry you got bad info. Yes, some have reported being able to do so, but that has not been my experience.

If you can't add your dd to your room reservation, just have her head down to level 1 at MCO when she arrives. She can go to the Mears counter and book a ride with them. It's about $30ish r/t. She may even be put on one of the DME buses after paying. She can not book a ride to a WDW resort beforehand..have to do it in person at the counter at MCO. But, it's a very good substitute for the DME bus. I have done it and it worked out quite well.

 

[Traveliz]

If she is coming AFTER you arrive you can alert the front desk - they will add her name in time for you call and add her to ME. If it is the same day or next day of your trip you might be out of luck.

Liz

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

If she is coming AFTER you arrive you can alert the front desk - they will add her name in time for you call and add her to ME. If it is the same day or next day of your trip you might be out of luck.

Liz

I've done this a few times when grandma joins us for the last days. They will add her to your reservation at the front desk.

 

[sanke]

Thanks! I'll try adding her as soon as we get there, she comes in 4 days after we arrive. And will keep Mears as the second choice.

 

[Traveliz]

Thanks! I'll try adding her as soon as we get there, she comes in 4 days after we arrive. And will keep Mears as the second choice.

You should really have no problem with that much lead time - and if for some reason it won't work out you can count on Mears. But honestly I think you will be fine.

Liz

 

[goofy4tink]

You should really have no problem with that much lead time - and if for some reason it won't work out you can count on Mears. But honestly I think you will be fine.

Liz

I would have to agree. My only issue is that I think we will see Disney change the policy at some point. They already say that everyone on the reservation has to have the same things...but they allow that loophole for later arrivals. I can see them changing it to 'everyone' and they mean 'everyone'..no matter when they arrive.
I just hate to think of a guest being told, at their resort front desk, that their late arriving dd has to have the exact same package everyone else has...but only for the days that she is there (for example).

 

[clkelley]

I would have to agree. My only issue is that I think we will see Disney change the policy at some point. They already say that everyone on the reservation has to have the same things...but they allow that loophole for later arrivals. I can see them changing it to 'everyone' and they mean 'everyone'..no matter when they arrive.
I just hate to think of a guest being told, at their resort front desk, that their late arriving dd has to have the exact same package everyone else has...but only for the days that she is there (for example).

I honestly don't think the flexibility of adding guests after arrival will ever become a rigid policy.

I honestly think it is a function of DRC computers and the HUGE people turnover they have and the push the agents have to keep the calls quick and to sell!! To be able to have different packages for different guests in advance is just way to complicated and too time consuming, so they dumb everything down at the DRC level. (KISS).

Now the folks working at the desks at the resorts have a bit more experience, there is less turnover, so they can have more flexibility in the computer systems at the resort front desks.

 

[Traveliz]

I honestly don't think the flexibility of adding guests after arrival will ever become a rigid policy.

I honestly think it is a function of DRC computers and the HUGE people turnover they have and the push the agents have to keep the calls quick and to sell!! To be able to have different packages for different guests in advance is just way to complicated and too time consuming, so they dumb everything down at the DRC level. (KISS).

Now the folks working at the desks at the resorts have a bit more experience, there is less turnover, so they can have more flexibility in the computer systems at the resort front desks.

I agree - although I think there is a pretty high turnover in resort front desk CMs as well - so many are on the college program or part of the ICP...so they are in and out in a year unless they stay on.

Further, it doesn't benefit Disney not to allow people to add on once they arrive...if people can't come in late, they won't be there to spend more money.

Liz

 

[shera]

so does it work the same if someone on your room reservation has to leave on an earlier day then the rest of the party?