Welcome, Anthony. Thanks for reaching out to us here at planDisney with your vacation planning question!
Much like the Madrigals in
Encanto,
Disney vacations shine brightest when the whole family comes together. Each person adds their own magic to the experience. While I'd be happy with a small group or just by myself, there's something about a larger group making memories at the Most Magical Place on Earth that hits a little differently. Who knows what doors will open when your family is together?
For a Guest to stay in your
Disney Resorts Collection Hotel room, they must be added to your resort room reservation, even if they are not staying for the entire length of your visit. If you have added the dining plan, all members on the reservation must receive it for the full length of the stay. And just like Casita in
Encanto, magic sometimes only works when everyone is truly part of the family. Guests who are not registered on the reservation would not be able to access
the benefits and perks of staying at a Disney resort hotel, including
Early Theme Park Entry and earlier
Lightning Lane booking. That said, they would still be able to purchase Lightning Lanes just three days ahead of their park visit instead of seven. Much like how the Madrigals each have their own gifts, you'd have different booking windows, but aiming for overlapping Lightning Lane times can help you experience attractions together.
To add a family member to your reservation, you can select “
My Plans and Tickets” from the My Disney Experience dropdown menu and look for your reservation under the “My Plans, Reservations and Tickets” heading. There should be a blue “Change” link you can click. On the next page, you should see another change link next to your travel party. Click it, follow the prompts, and you should be good to go! Just note that this will increase the cost of your vacation package and, depending on how far in advance you make the change,
change fees may apply. If you run into any issues, you can always
reach out to a friendly Cast Member, and they’ll be happy to help answer any questions you may have.
Anthony, with a little planning and the magic that comes from being together, you’ll be making memories worthy of your own Casita in no time. If you have any other questions,
feel free to reach back out!
The miracle is you,
Matt