Changing names on a reservation?

disneytopdog

Active Member
Can you change the name on a reservation if that person backs out of the trip? Or do you have to rebook the entire reservation? Does Disney charge to change the name like the airlines do?
 

Rob562

Well-Known Member
Can you change the name on a reservation if that person backs out of the trip? Or do you have to rebook the entire reservation? Does Disney charge to change the name like the airlines do?

I'm sure JP can correct this if it's wrong, and probably give more specific info, but here's the basics:

The deadlines for changes depend on whether you have a room-only reservation or a package reservation.

Package:
This is the trickier one. The cancellation deadline is 45 days. This is also the deadline to make changes. Names can be changed up until this point. Under 45 days, and you pay a change fee of $50. This fee is waived if the change would result in an *increase* of the package price (such as adding someone to the reservation), but that isn't the case here.

Room-Only:
This is the easiest to change. Up until the cancellation deadline (5 days before check-in) you can make any changes to the names on the reservation without penalty. After the 5-day deadline, I'm sure there's a change fee similar to the package.

In both cases, I don't believe there's a way to change the *Primary* Guest's name without cancelling and re-booking the reservation. Cancellation fees would apply if you were inside the appropriate deadline date, and when re-booking you're not guaranteed to get any discounts you had on the original reservation.

If you've pre-paid the entire reservation and the price is lowered because you removed someone from the reservation, you'll get a refund of the difference, but I'm not sure *when* you'd get it (right away, after xx # of days, after the trip...).

-Rob
 
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JPVonDrake

Well-Known Member
To confirm...

Each adult Guest's name - including title, first and last name, and home address - must be listed as it appears on the Guest's government issued photo IDs. This is for both airport and resort security, to ensure that the name on a Guest's ID matches his/her travel documents issued by WDTC. Also each child (age 0-17) full name and age must be listed on the reservation. Per new airline requirements, the date of birth is now required for any guest under the age of 2.

We can not book a reservation or hold the availability if all Guest names and information cannot be provided at the time of booking.

All Disney reservations are non-transferable. Lead Guest name changes are not permitted. If the Lead Guest is being cancelled off from a Reservation and being replaced by another Guest who was not already in the original party mix the reservation will need to be cancelled (with penalties if applicable) and re-booked based on availability. However if the Lead Guest is no longer traveling, the remaining guests on the reservation are traveling and no additional guests are being added to the reservation, one of the remaining adult Guest may be made the Lead Guest.

Name changes on reservations with airfare are absolutely not allowed. Once the tickets are issued, our air partners will not modify the name listed on an airline ticket, even a minor change. Be sure that you always give us the legal name (never a nickname) of everyone in your party regardless of age.

You can modify the remain party members (add or remove Guests) on your reservation up to the day prior to arrival. There is no fees on a room only reservation for this modification, although added adult fees may apply if additional adults are added. If you have a Disney Vacation Package, a change fee of $50 may apply if the change is made within 44 days prior to arrival AND the change results in a lower package price. If the total package price remains the same or is increased this fee is waived. Any changes made to a Vacation Package within 14 days of arrival are subject to a $10 special handling fee.
 
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coltow

Well-Known Member
I had to do this and it turned out to be a disaster. I had booked a trip in January 2005 for October with in-laws, we just booked the room thorugh Disney. In February in-laws needed to replace furnace and there went their vacation money. I hadn't cancelled it immediately, a few days later, one of my girl friends said she'd love to join us. I called to (what I thought would be simple) change the name on the room from my in-laws to my friends. I was told it was all set. 2 weeks before our trip friend told me she hadn't received DME stuff. I called back only to find out that what had happend was the agent added her to the in-laws room and then CANCELLED the reservation. We were supposed to stay at Movies however there was no another room to be had. We either needed to ALL move to Pop or have us at Movies and friend at Music, which obviously was not an option. Needles to say we moved. I was extremely upset on the phone and luckily the agent I was dealing with could sympathize, she assured me I'd be happy at Pop and luckily she was 100% right.

If you do this make 100% sure it's done right.
 
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disneytopdog

Active Member
Original Poster
OK...this is what I understand: Oh BTW thanks for the info.

So, if my travel partner backs out...I am out of luck on getting anyone else to go with me. Unless I rebook it, which means the new reservation will not include the FREE dining.

or

I can still go but it is now a solo trip. I still get the free dining, room and park hopper ticket for me. I just loose the other park hopper ticket.

The trip is not until Sept 16..so still outside the 45 day cut off.
 
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Rob562

Well-Known Member
OK...this is what I understand: Oh BTW thanks for the info.

So, if my travel partner backs out...I am out of luck on getting anyone else to go with me. Unless I rebook it, which means the new reservation will not include the FREE dining.

or

I can still go but it is now a solo trip. I still get the free dining, room and park hopper ticket for me. I just loose the other park hopper ticket.

The trip is not until Sept 16..so still outside the 45 day cut off.

Well, it seems like you can easily take the other person off your reservation, or if the reservation is in their name, get your name to become the new Primary Guest name.

As for going solo, you'd obviously still have to pay the entire package price yourself. You'll still pay the same hotel rate, because the rate is based on double occupancy, and no discounts are given for solo Guests. But make sure to remove your friend from the reservation, otherwise you'll be paying for TWO park tickets. A solo Guest reservation would only have the one park ticket. You'd still have the Free Dining for yourself.
As long as you did all of this before your 45-day mark, you wouldn't have to pay a change fee or lose any money (unless airline tickets were invovled in the package)

-Rob
 
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disneytopdog

Active Member
Original Poster
Well, it seems like you can easily take the other person off your reservation, or if the reservation is in their name, get your name to become the new Primary Guest name.

As for going solo, you'd obviously still have to pay the entire package price yourself. You'll still pay the same hotel rate, because the rate is based on double occupancy, and no discounts are given for solo Guests. But make sure to remove your friend from the reservation, otherwise you'll be paying for TWO park tickets. A solo Guest reservation would only have the one park ticket. You'd still have the Free Dining for yourself.
As long as you did all of this before your 45-day mark, you wouldn't have to pay a change fee or lose any money (unless airline tickets were invovled in the package)

-Rob


thanks Rob...No airfare involved. Its still a two person trip. I told her that if she is going to back out I need to know by August 1. I just dont want to lose the free dining for me
 
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I've had a similar experience. When my wife and I were dating, we went to WDW with her family. Well, her Aunt booked the trip, but was not sure of my last name (her aunt lives in Tampa, we live in the New Orleans area). So she just put my last name as my wife's maiden name.

When we got to the resort, we just changed the name in the system to reflect my correct last name. Now, my wife was the PRIMARY person under whom the reservation was made, so there may have been problems had we tried to change her. Everything worked out fine.

Second,

We had some friends: a couple and a single friend who were going to WDW with us this past holiday season. Well, the couple split up, and the reservation was in the name of the wife (pronounced psychopath). Anyhow, my friends (the now divorced [wooo hooo] guy and the single guy) cancelled the old reservation and just made a new one. There wasn't a special deal, so they lost nothing...but I think that was easier.

Hope you can keep your dining plan!

Johnny
 
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