A bit complicated reservation questions...

[JS514]

Hello, all! I'm sure these will be easy questions for most, but I was unsure myself as it is the first time we are doing it this way.

My wife and I go once or twice a year to Disney just the two of us. We are pros are planning and booking. However, next year we are going with some friends. It will be us two, plus one other family (Husband, Wife, child), so 5 in total. They have never been to Disney and have no clue where to start even planning, so we have taken that on for them and are booking the whole thing. We have no idea how to really do that though.

We are probably staying in a Value...not sure where yet. We'd like adjoining rooms, but honestly would be fine with rooms that are just near each other (same building/floor, etc). Is that possible to do yourself online, or will we need to call Disney Reservations?

Second question is with MDE. Obviously, we will need to make the FP and Dining reservations together to ensure we get them at the same times. Will they have to be added onto my personal MDE? Can they have their own account but still be "linked" to our shared reservation? If so, can they adjust their FP's themselves, or will I have to since I'm technically the "admin" of the account? Will they have to have my login and password?

Lastly (at least so far), with the MDE, we of course have our credit card/room charge connected to our MagicBands. Will they be able to link their MagicBands to their own credit card/room, even if they are under my own MDE account? They are spenders and so I don't want to have nice surprise credit card bill at the end of the trip


Planning a trip for two families is new territory for us, so all help, suggestions, and tips will be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Master Yoda]

Hello, all! I'm sure these will be easy questions for most, but I was unsure myself as it is the first time we are doing it this way.

My wife and I go once or twice a year to Disney just the two of us. We are pros are planning and booking. However, next year we are going with some friends. It will be us two, plus one other family (Husband, Wife, child), so 5 in total. They have never been to Disney and have no clue where to start even planning, so we have taken that on for them and are booking the whole thing. We have no idea how to really do that though.

We are probably staying in a Value...not sure where yet. We'd like adjoining rooms, but honestly would be fine with rooms that are just near each other (same building/floor, etc). Is that possible to do yourself online, or will we need to call Disney Reservations? Calling tends to be the easiest way with situations like this, but regardless of how you do it, each room will be its own separate reservation and will require its own deposit. In addition, it sounds like you are referring to "connecting" rooms, not adjoining. Connecting rooms connect to each other by a door. Adjoining rooms are typically just next to each other without a door. Either option is possible, but it is a request that can be made when you are booking and can not be guaranteed.

Second question is with MDE. Obviously, we will need to make the FP and Dining reservations together to ensure we get them at the same times. Will they have to be added onto my personal MDE? Can they have their own account but still be "linked" to our shared reservation? If so, can they adjust their FP's themselves, or will I have to since I'm technically the "admin" of the account? Will they have to have my login and password?

Lastly (at least so far), with the MDE, we of course have our credit card/room charge connected to our MagicBands. Will they be able to link their MagicBands to their own credit card/room, even if they are under my own MDE account? They are spenders and so I don't want to have nice surprise credit card bill at the end of the trip Each room can have their own separate account.


Planning a trip for two families is new territory for us, so all help, suggestions, and tips will be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Minnie Mum]

I'd recommend calling to make your room reservations. It's just easier. You can either pay the deposits for both rooms yourself (and have them reimburse you), or you will need their credit card information. Ask to have the reservations linked and request adjoining or connecting rooms.

Your friends should have their own MDE account. Then follow the instructions for linking them via "family and friends" invites. You don't need this for dining - you can make ADRS for as large a party as you want. But it's very useful for making FP bookings for everyone. And yes, they can still adjust their own FPs if they want to.

Each room can have its own room charging account. Do this at check in.

 

[MickeyMomV]

You will need to call for the room reservations. They will make a note on each reservation referencing the other.

You can make dining reservations for as many people you want on your reservation, you don't need to all be on the same MDE account. The only issues would be for fast passes. Personally I would offer to set up the fast passes for them on their account and let them change them as they want. With a child their "must do's" may not be the same as yours.

And "lastly" there are no credit cards linked to your magic bands. It seems like this is something that gets brought up all of the time. The only thing your MB does is point back to your MDE account and/or room reservation. So when you want to use your MB to purchase something all your MB is doing is pointing them your information about your room reservation and then they are charging your item or meal to your room then you pay your room charges with your CC you left on file. Your friends will do the same to their room and their charges get put on the card they left on file.

 

[LeighM]

We just came back from a week's stay with my in-laws. We found it easier for them to book their own room and tickets separately and then when I made my reservations, there was a place to request adjoining rooms with the other parties last name and check in date/confirmation number. We connected as friends and family so I was able to make ADR and FP for the entire group. Having our room reservations separate allowed us to later change plans when better rates came out. She was able to apply the military discount and I was able to do the Disney Visa room discount.

 

[JS514]

You guys are all life savers! Thank you so much!!

 

[Crazydisneygirl]

We went with my adult daughter and even though I was the admin, I was able to restrict the credit card use to just myself and husband. My daughter and her boyfriend went to the front desk and hooked their magic bands to their own credit card. No suprises or issues ( also restriced 12 year old as didn't want him to charge stuff). But they all had access to the snacks/ food options.

 

[DisAl]

All of our trips are essentially two family trips since we have to have two rooms for our family group of eight - three year old grandson to eighty-nine year old mother.
First, as several have already said, CALL Disney. The can do a lot of things on line that you can't. One thing they can do is add a note to your reservation that if available you would like connecting or adjacent rooms with the other reservation. You will need both reservation numbers, and you should ask them to add that note on BOTH reservations.
You would have to have separate reservations numbers for the two rooms regardless. I am paying for our family group of 8 which will require two rooms, and they have separate reservation numbers. Each room can also have its own "charge to" credit card on file. (Make SURE you / they remember their PIN number. Son in law forgot his last trip and couldn't charge to the dining plan until he got back to the motel to reset it!)
You can link everybody together in you friends and family list. That makes it very easy to do fast passes for the whole group if you want to, and if not you can still select only the ones you want for each fast pass.
If you do the Memory Maker and link it with your friends and family list everyone on the friends and family can make photos and they will all show up in that one MM account.
You can make dining reservations for the whole group. Those reservations only have the number of people, not names.

 

[DisneyJoe]

One thing they can do is add a note to your reservation that if available you would like connecting or adjacent rooms with the other reservation.

FYI - "connecting" means it has a connecting inner door, "adjacent" means the rooms are close to each other, they can even be across the hall or separated by a few rooms. They'll do their best.

 

[JS514]

You all have greatly reduced my stress level over the planning. I knew this site was good for something

Thank you all so much! I may revisit with more questions once it gets closer to booking!


Oh actually, when should I expect 2019 prices to be announced? I think I ask every year, yet somehow forget...every year.

 

[DisneyJoe]

You all have greatly reduced my stress level over the planning. I knew this site was good for something

Thank you all so much! I may revisit with more questions once it gets closer to booking!


Oh actually, when should I expect 2019 prices to be announced? I think I ask every year, yet somehow forget...every year.

Usually mid to late June.