Visitors at your DVC villa

[ML_LovesDisney]

Hi all, I am going to Disney in August and we have a 1 bedroom at BCV. My mom lives in Miami and will be driving up to stay with us for a night or two. She won't be on the dining plan or anything, but how does this work for her going to BCV pool? Will she be able to do that? TIA

 

[Chuck S]

If she is staying, even a night or two, she must be listed on the reservation.

If you are getting the DDP, she will also need to be on the plan for the entire length of the reservation. The plan was not designed for the way many DVCers vacation, but was designed for "normal" cash room reservations where people do not come and go during a stay. If those rules do not work for your stay, it is best to not get the dining plan for this trip.

A reminder that our DVC boards do not allow posters to suggest any way to bypass established and published Disney/DVC policies.

 

[JimMIA]

On the pool question, she will have a problem using SAB if she is not on the reservation. People who are not staying at BCV are not allowed to use SAB...and the lifeguards check.

 

[KathyK]

You may be able to add her to the reservation after you have checked in and paid for the dining plan.

My husband is flying in on the last night of our first reservation (he is not currently listed on that reservation), and we can't book ME for him, as he isn't on the reservation (though he is arriving close to midnght, an he is on the reservation starting the next day). After not being able to add him through DVC, they gave me the number to call ME directly.

They told me that you can add people to your reservation (as long as you don't go over room occupancy) at guest services after your reservation has started.

 

[JimMIA]

You may be able to add her to the reservation after you have checked in and paid for the dining plan.

My husband is flying in on the last night of our first reservation (he is not currently listed on that reservation), and we can't book ME for him, as he isn't on the reservation (though he is arriving close to midnght, an he is on the reservation starting the next day). After not being able to add him through DVC, they gave me the number to call ME directly.

They told me that you can add people to your reservation (as long as you don't go over room occupancy) at guest services after your reservation has started.

That's true...but. ALL people staying in the villa - even if for only ONE night - have to have DDP for the entire length of the reservation. When you check in, you are going to be charged for your husband's DDP for the entire period.

The same would be true for OP's mother.

 

[JimMIA]

There is a legitimate way to avoid paying for one person for the whole trip when they are only going to be there part of the trip, but it means you might have to change rooms.

You book two separate reservations, with the correct numbers of occupants in each reservation. Then you only have to pay for DDP for the nights they will be there. If the person is visiting in the middle of your trip, it might not be worth doing because you'd have to have three separate reservations.

 

[KathyK]

That's true...but. ALL people staying in the villa - even if for only ONE night - have to have DDP for the entire length of the reservation. When you check in, you are going to be charged for your husband's DDP for the entire period.

The same would be true for OP's mother.

Well, if that will be the case, I'll tell DH to go to the Mears counter and pay the $20 to get to the resort. But several people on the transportation board have said that they have added people to their reservation after checking in, and have not been charged for DDP. I figure that it can't hurt to ask when I'm there. And if I ask, and they are able to do it, then there is nothing illigitimate about it.

I asked the DVC MS CM if I could make a separate reservation for that one night to add DH, and he wasn't willing to do that for us.

BTW, when I made the reservation (we took DH off the 1st reservation b/c he couldn't get the days off from work and added the 2nd week at a different resort), the CM who helped us that day said, "Your husband can get a plane after work on Friday and use ME to join you at the resort. That will be no problem." And she was the one who just took him off of that reservation.

 

[Chuck S]

Well, if that will be the case, I'll tell DH to go to the Mears counter and pay the $20 to get to the resort. But several people on the transportation board have said that they have added people to their reservation after checking in, and have not been charged for DDP. I figure that it can't hurt to ask when I'm there. And if I ask, and they are able to do it, then there is nothing illigitimate about it.

I asked the DVC MS CM if I could make a separate reservation for that one night to add DH, and he wasn't willing to do that for us.

BTW, when I made the reservation (we took DH off the 1st reservation b/c he couldn't get the days off from work and added the 2nd week at a different resort), the CM who helped us that day said, "Your husband can get a plane after work on Friday and use ME to join you at the resort. That will be no problem." And she was the one who just took him off of that reservation.

While it may be that they are making a special exception for you, there is nothing in the published policy that says they will do so. And certainly no guarantee they will make an exception for all cirumstances. For instance, they do not even exempt guests traveling with someone who can not eat all and are on tube feeding. If the rest of the party in the room has the DDP, the handicapped person must have it, too. If the published policy allowed for such exceptions, there would nothing to stop all out abuse of the DDP. For instance, what would stop half a party checking in one day with the DDP, and several others checking in the next day to avoid the DDP? This is why we do not allow such discussions, and only permit the rules published by Disney/DVC to be recommended/suggested on the boards.

 

[JimMIA]

And if I ask, and they are able to do it, then there is nothing illigitimate about it.

I agree you would not be doing anything wrong. There's never a problem with asking.

The problem with that kind of answer on the DISboards, though, is that if you are successful it will be because some CM made an exception to established policy. Often, readers (especially DVC/DDP newbies) will read a comment like that and think it is something they are entitled to do. Then, when they get to the resort and can't get that exception, they are faced with going without DDP or facing a big unexpected expense.

That's why folks here will often jump in and offer corrective information on posts -- it's not that you are doing anything improper, we just don't another reader to be disappointed when it doesn't work out.

I asked the DVC MS CM if I could make a separate reservation for that one night to add DH, and he wasn't willing to do that for us.

There is no reason why the CM would not have been "willing." In fact, it is the CM's job to be willing.

He may not have been able, especially if you called within just a couple of months of your arrival, because making that change would have required canceling your entire reservation and rebooking. There simply have not been availability.

 

[Nikisha421]

Here is my actual experience last year we were at AKV for 10 days my 16 yo favorite neice lives in Miami...she wanted to come for a weekend since she had just gotten her first job (yay for her) so she took the train up and then when she came I went to the front desk and they issued her a room key and yes I was already on the dining plan and paid for it...I wasnt trying to break any rules so I brought her straight to the front desk...she got a card, with her name on it even though I explained that she would only be there for the weekend the CM was like "yeah I understand okay ma'am" he had the stop repeating the same thing over and over again look on his face...we had dining reservation and she ended up coming to all...it was the best trip ever since I was able to get a break from my DD...we went in to restaurants she ordered, my DD ordered, and I ordered and actually no one cared who was or wasn't on the dining plan...I just kept explaining it over and over...I usually ended up paying OOP for whatever was the cheapest adult meal from the meal that I ate or the meal that my neice chose...I didnt ask for the leniency the CMs suggested and so it went...they just said use one adult one child and pay for the cheapest...I wasnt looking for any corners to bend or rules to break...I think if you just ask all things are possible...and when you are truthful things will work in your favor...CMs and Disney are more accomadating than many others...just my two cents...since I was in the same exact position last year...hope im not breaking any rules by telling you this! enjoy your trip

 

[KathyK]

On the second day of my trip, I went to the BW Concierge desk and asked if it would be possible to add DH to the last night of my stay. He said it happens all of the time, and was happy to add him. I mentioned that we had already paid for DxDDP for me and my girls, and that if we'd have to pay for DDP, we'd find some other way to get him to the resort. The concierge said that once a DDP has been paid for, it is no problem to add people to the reservation. He never said that he was making an exception for me or said that he was breaking rules to add someone to the reservation after it had started.

 

[Chuck S]

Again, it is up to the CM, there is NOTHING in the published documentation that states that they WILL add an extra person and not pay for the DDP.

While they may have made an exception to the rule, the published rules are that everyone in the room MUST be on the plan for the entire length of stay. Any deviation from that policy is, by definition, an exception.

If they allowed this exception, what would stop one person from checking into a two bedroom unit, with their name only the reservation, then having 7 more show up an hour later and be added at the front desk? They could also see people abusing the system and reduce the benefits or increase the price of the DDP, as they have done a few times already, eventually making it no value at all.

You simply can not count on them to always make this exception. There is no benefit to Disney or DVC to make this exception.

 

[spiceycat]

but how does this work for her going to BCV pool? Will she be able to do that? TIA

she can definitely go to BCV pool - she can't go to SALB - the big pool over between bc & yc.

but she can definitely go to BCV pool.

she also can't do EMH at any of the parks.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

We have done this 3 times, but we have never been on the DDP. We to have friends that live in the area that come and visit us while at Disney. I have never put them on the reservation. When they show up, I go down to the desk and ask for a key in each of their names and a parking pass. Easy as pie. We always stay in a 1BR and with them there, it makes 4 adults. I was never questioned about it. We have always enjoyed SAB while there as well.

 

[ToddyLu]

We added my BIL to my MIL reservation after check in.....but last year when we did that with the DDP he got charged for the DDP just like us, no exceptions. So she used his left over credits for the rest of the week after he left.

 

[Sandisw]

We added my BIL to my MIL reservation after check in.....but last year when we did that with the DDP he got charged for the DDP just like us, no exceptions. So she used his left over credits for the rest of the week after he left.

And I think that goes to show that depending on the CM at the desk at the time, if you get one willing to make the exception, you won't be charged. If you do not, you will.

I think that if they start seeing this happen a lot, especially if they see it as guest trying to get around the rules of the DDP, changes could be made in terms of not allowing people to be added to the reservation.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

Thanks all! I actually was staying at SSR when I was there in Feb and my friends were staying at BCV, we went over, our kids swam with their kids, and they gave us wristbands no questions asked but I thought maybe in the summer it would be different since there are probably more people at the pool. I called MS and booked my mom a studio for 2 nights (this way we can use both pools) and I asked MS if we are allowed to pool hop and she said it's up to each individual resort. So what everyone is saying makes sense, it's at the discretion of the resort and not guaranteed.

 

[DVCStudio]

Hi all, I am going to Disney in August and we have a 1 bedroom at BCV. My mom lives in Miami and will be driving up to stay with us for a night or two. She won't be on the dining plan or anything, but how does this work for her going to BCV pool? Will she be able to do that? TIA

If you call up and add her to the reservation, Disney will want to add to her to the Dining plan (if you're already getting one). And she would be able to use Stormalong Bay pool as well.

Otherwise, she can just stay in the room w/no dining plan and no Stormalong Bay.

Jose

 

[evaready51]

While it may be that they are making a special exception for you, there is nothing in the published policy that says they will do so. And certainly no guarantee they will make an exception for all cirumstances. For instance, they do not even exempt guests traveling with someone who can not eat all and are on tube feeding. If the rest of the party in the room has the DDP, the handicapped person must have it, too. If the published policy allowed for such exceptions, there would nothing to stop all out abuse of the DDP. For instance, what would stop half a party checking in one day with the DDP, and several others checking in the next day to avoid the DDP? This is why we do not allow such discussions, and only permit the rules published by Disney/DVC to be recommended/suggested on the boards.

You are absolutley correct. When we go to DVC we have family members coming and going from N.D., CA, IL, & AZ. We always add them to the list but never purchase the DDP because it is not allowed. When we first started doing this we asked at the Front Desk, at SSR, and were given the same info that MS told us, everyone on the DDP or no one.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

We stayed in a 2 bdrm at OKW in 2008. My DD then 19 joined us a couple days later with a buddy of his. They had to finish finals first. We were able to get ME for them and DDP just for the days they were with us. My mother joined us a day later for two nights. She came from My mother came with us also but only stayed for a couple of days and then went back to Tampa with her cousin. She also was able to get the DDP for just the 2 days. It can be done and we did not skirt around anything in order to do this.