what happens if someone is not on your ressie?

[Kurby]

a thought just occurred to me while reading another post.

when we come down on our next trip there is a chance that we may have dh's cousins oldest stay with us for a night and come to the park with us.

what happens? do we have to put her on our reservations for the whole trip? do we have to separate our reservations to have her in for one night? if we do the ddp does that mean we have to pay for her as well for the one day or for the whole trip.

it's possible that her parents will meet us inside one of the parks and stay with us for a portion of the day then leave after dinner and will leave dd with us for the night. her parents will then pick her up after breakfast so she really isn't taking advantage of the ddp.

can we just not say anything since it's only one night out of 14?

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you intend to get her a room ID for EMH or pool usage, she will need to be added to the reservation. Once you add her to the reservation, you will have to purchase the DDP for her as well for the entire trip. It's all or none.

If you choose not to do the DDP for that one night, you will need a separate reservation for that night, not linked, and you might have to move.

 

[TiggerMan2007]

Don't say anything.

If you add her to your room reservation and you have DDP, they will charge you for her for the whole 14 days not 1 day.

 

[Dean]

Don't say anything.

If you add her to your room reservation and you have DDP, they will charge you for her for the whole 14 days not 1 day.

Yes, if you're honest, you will have to pay for her for the entire DDP OR have a totally separate reservation as Deb & Bill suggested.

 

[DebbieB]

For one night that's not even definite, I would not worry about it.

You could go to the front desk that day or the day before and ask if it would be a problem, if it is then she would have to go home with her parents. My guess is it would not be. That way you would be "100% honest".

 

[wildernessDad]

Honesty is the best policy, they say. I would do what DebbieB suggests.

 

[JodyTG]

As others have said, honesty is the best policy. I always try to put out good karma so that good karma comes back at me...

 

[TriMom]

From experience - just go to the front desk and tell them that she is staying that night. My mother (who was invited, but she didn't think that she could make it) surprized us by calling from the cab from MCO. I simply went to the front desk and told them that she would be spending 2 nights with us. They handed me a room key, and did not add her to the DDP.

 

[TiggerMan2007]

Yes, if you're honest, you will have to pay for her for the entire DDP OR have a totally separate reservation as Deb & Bill suggested.

I was not promoting dishonesty in any way, please don't get me wrong. I agree that when the additional guest arrives you just tell the front desk that you have another person for 1 night. I was just trying to let her know that she would have to pay for her guest for the whole 14 days on the DDP if she added her at time of booking which is an extra $531.00 and a whole lot of food that she probably wouldn't use for someone who is visiting 1 day. By telling the front desk when the additional guest arrives they have another person, she saves a lot of money on the DDP. The extra guest can be separated for any dining they did together. Even if Kurby offered to pay for all food for her guest while they were there, it would be a lot less than the $531.00 for the whole 14 days that they would charge. It;s about saving money and not being dishonest. Disney should offer an add on for visiting friends for DDP for the time they come join you, instead of making you pay for the whole 14 days, or making you make separate reservations.

 

[Deb & Bill]

.... Disney should offer an add on for visiting friends for DDP for the time they come join you, instead of making you pay for the whole 14 days, or making you make separate reservations.

The purpose of the dining plan isn't to give the guests a less expensive meal. The purpose is to fill tables and sell lots of days of dining. I can't see Disney offering a way to sell less when they can require all guests pay for the entire length of stay.

 

[Dean]

I was not promoting dishonesty in any way, please don't get me wrong. I agree that when the additional guest arrives you just tell the front desk that you have another person for 1 night. I was just trying to let her know that she would have to pay for her guest for the whole 14 days on the DDP if she added her at time of booking which is an extra $531.00 and a whole lot of food that she probably wouldn't use for someone who is visiting 1 day. By telling the front desk when the additional guest arrives they have another person, she saves a lot of money on the DDP. The extra guest can be separated for any dining they did together. Even if Kurby offered to pay for all food for her guest while they were there, it would be a lot less than the $531.00 for the whole 14 days that they would charge. It;s about saving money and not being dishonest. Disney should offer an add on for visiting friends for DDP for the time they come join you, instead of making you pay for the whole 14 days, or making you make separate reservations.

It seemed to me like you were and this explanation seems to also suggest it as well. IMO, if you know they're coming and don't tell them hoping when you do later you won't have to pay, is no different and is being dishonest. Obviously it's the intent that counts so if you did the same thing and truly didn't know, it would not be dishonest. I realize it doesn't seem fair in this situation with one night out of 14 but those are the rules Disney has set up.

 

[TCPluto]

The purpose of the dining plan isn't to give the guests a less expensive meal. The purpose is to fill tables and sell lots of days of dining. I can't see Disney offering a way to sell less when they can require all guests pay for the entire length of stay.

I disagree completely.

The dining plan, for the guest, is to provide an economical way to eat on property. Certainly to the benefit of WDW, but to the benefit of the guest as well.

I don't think Disney in general, or DVC specifically, would be so rigid as to not allow someone to stay for a night who doesn't happen to be on the original reservation and thus, not on the length of stay dining plan.

To think that this fact scenario doesn't happen would be naive.

 

[TCPluto]

It seemed to me like you were and this explanation seems to also suggest it as well. IMO, if you know they're coming and don't tell them hoping when you do later you won't have to pay, is no different and is being dishonest. Obviously it's the intent that counts so if you did the same thing and truly didn't know, it would not be dishonest. I realize it doesn't seem fair in this situation with one night out of 14 but those are the rules Disney has set up.

I think the only dishonest act would be trying to feed the overnite guest on the DDP, not the overnight stay.

 

[TiggerMan2007]

It seemed to me like you were and this explanation seems to also suggest it as well. IMO, if you know they're coming and don't tell them hoping when you do later you won't have to pay, is no different and is being dishonest. Obviously it's the intent that counts so if you did the same thing and truly didn't know, it would not be dishonest. I realize it doesn't seem fair in this situation with one night out of 14 but those are the rules Disney has set up.

Then I guess it's just one more issue with DDP on top of the things they took away this year. Sorry for trying to help someone save some money.

FYI, my family stayed in July 2007 using DDP for 7 nights I was only there 3 nights and we paid for all 7 nights for them as well as me. They used the extra meals I did not on Character meals and things. If I was so dishonest I would have not added myself on the reservation and only said they were there, But I didn't. We liked the DDP last year but we probably won't use it again with the new changes.

 

[snyderla]

WOW!
This is what I do when my brother or niece decide to stop and spend the night...I go to the desk and let them know we have an extra guest in the room for the night (or however long they will be staying). As long as we aren't over the limit for the room it doesn't matter. Then I can get a room key for them and a parking permit for my brother's car. The situation is similar in that sometimes my brother doesn't know if he can come up and sometimes he doesn't know if his ex will allow my niece to join us. It does not make sense to have her put on the entire reservation when she won't be there the whole time. And doing it this way isn't dishonest. Once you know for sure she is coming and spending the night, go to the desk and tell them. That is the only honest way to do it! Otherwise, if you add her to the ressie and she doesn't stay, you lied! (please---no flames...this is tongue in cheek!)

 

[princessvacg]

Just tell the front desk. That happened to us 1 night. My niece, who was not on the meal plan, stayed at our resort with us 1 night. We were on the meal plan. It is really not a big deal. We told the front desk and she said that was perfectly fine. We ate dinner and just paid cash for her meal.

 

[Dean]

I think the only dishonest act would be trying to feed the overnite guest on the DDP, not the overnight stay.

As I said, waiting until later to notify the resort with the purpose of avoiding paying for the DDP for that purpose is dishonest. There are many other honest reasons to do the same thing.

Then I guess it's just one more issue with DDP on top of the things they took away this year. Sorry for trying to help someone save some money.

FYI, my family stayed in July 2007 using DDP for 7 nights I was only there 3 nights and we paid for all 7 nights for them as well as me. They used the extra meals I did not on Character meals and things. If I was so dishonest I would have not added myself on the reservation and only said they were there, But I didn't. We liked the DDP last year but we probably won't use it again with the new changes.

Honesty sometimes costs money. Telling someone to be dishonest to help them save money is not what I would do.

 

[Kurby]

oh my - i didn't intend this question to cause some kind of argument. I don't even know if they'll meet us let alone have her stay.

i don't think we'd even find out until we got there and called them to work things out.

the last time they met us there they only met us for dinner (even though the daughter wanted to stay) then left so it's not like we'd even know until that day (or at least after we had arrived)

the other thing is that i wanted to know my options - if it was a matter of separating our reservations or paying over $500 just to have our niece/cousin stay 1 night i'd separate the reservations.

though from what people have said it doesn't seem like Disney is that money hungry they'd make people pay for an entire stay if someone is just visiting for one night. if they did i think it would just promote people to omit someone from the reservations so they wouldn't have to pay the extra money.

well on the same vain - i guess the entire reservation is based on honesty isn't it. i mean what's stopping someone from having 2 families in 1 room but only having the reservations in 1 family name? the whole thing is based on trust.

thanks for all the replies - i might just call tomorrow (long before booking) just to hear it from the horses mouth.

 

[Dean]

oh my - i didn't intend this question to cause some kind of argument. I don't even know if they'll meet us let alone have her stay.

i don't think we'd even find out until we got there and called them to work things out.

the last time they met us there they only met us for dinner (even though the daughter wanted to stay) then left so it's not like we'd even know until that day (or at least after we had arrived)

the other thing is that i wanted to know my options - if it was a matter of separating our reservations or paying over $500 just to have our niece/cousin stay 1 night i'd separate the reservations.

though from what people have said it doesn't seem like Disney is that money hungry they'd make people pay for an entire stay if someone is just visiting for one night. if they did i think it would just promote people to omit someone from the reservations so they wouldn't have to pay the extra money.

well on the same vain - i guess the entire reservation is based on honesty isn't it. i mean what's stopping someone from having 2 families in 1 room but only having the reservations in 1 family name? the whole thing is based on trust.

thanks for all the replies - i might just call tomorrow (long before booking) just to hear it from the horses mouth.

Don't worry, you simply asked a legitimate question. The answer will be for everyone in the room for the entire LOS.

 

[jodifla]

oh my - i didn't intend this question to cause some kind of argument. I don't even know if they'll meet us let alone have her stay.

i don't think we'd even find out until we got there and called them to work things out.

the last time they met us there they only met us for dinner (even though the daughter wanted to stay) then left so it's not like we'd even know until that day (or at least after we had arrived)

the other thing is that i wanted to know my options - if it was a matter of separating our reservations or paying over $500 just to have our niece/cousin stay 1 night i'd separate the reservations.

though from what people have said it doesn't seem like Disney is that money hungry they'd make people pay for an entire stay if someone is just visiting for one night. if they did i think it would just promote people to omit someone from the reservations so they wouldn't have to pay the extra money.

well on the same vain - i guess the entire reservation is based on honesty isn't it. i mean what's stopping someone from having 2 families in 1 room but only having the reservations in 1 family name? the whole thing is based on trust.

thanks for all the replies - i might just call tomorrow (long before booking) just to hear it from the horses mouth.

Really, the ONLY issue here is the DDP. If you aren't doing the DDP, then it's really no big deal.

We routinely have different people coming and going when we stay at WDW. I normally only tell them about the first guests... then when first guests leave, I just give the second set of guests their keys and parking pass.