Welcome, Andrea. This is the way to planning magic, and I’m so glad you stopped by with your question!
What an amazing surprise you've got planned for your friend. They are going to be so excited when they step into the
Droid Depot and realize they are going to be able to make their very own droid, customized to their liking. And while the actual droid is a wonderful gift, the experience of making it and knowing that you arranged it for them is worth more than all the beskar in the galaxy. Much like the bond between
Din Djarin and Grogu, some adventures become even more meaningful because of the person you share them with, and this is the kind of memory the two of you will be talking about long after you leave Batuu behind.
While you cannot transfer the reservation to your friend's name, each reservation allows the Builder to bring one person along for the experience. So, you can simply explain to the Cast Member checking you in that while the reservation is under your name, you'll be accompanying the
real Builder, your friend. In true
Mandalorian fashion, you'll essentially be acting as the protector and guide for your very own little Grogu as they head off on their droid-building mission! Just keep in mind that since the reservation will be in your name, you may be asked to show your reservation confirmation, photo ID, and the credit card used when booking.
Now, here comes the tricky part: keeping it a secret. While you won't need to specify the name of anyone accompanying you, if you are connected through the
My Family & Friends list and you both have toggled on the option to see and make plans for each other, even if the reservation is under your name, they will be able to see that you have it in the My Plans section of the
My Disney Experience mobile app. Now, if your friend is like my husband, who I lovingly call a "Passenger Princess," or maybe in this case, an "Intergalactic Snack-Seeking Sidekick," then they’ll never open up the app and will have no inkling about the surprise. Or, if they don’t actively plan with you, toggling off the option to share plans until after the experience likely won’t trigger any alarms with the Rebel Alliance!
However, if they like to see the plans and/or help with them, you may want to consider surprising them ahead of time with a small card that simply says, "A Builder has been chosen. Report to Droid Depot for further instructions on your mission." It sounds exactly like the kind of mysterious little mission briefing Grogu would receive before heading off on another adventure. No matter what, your friend is going to be so excited, very appreciative, and when they see and use their new robot friend, they’ll remember the adventure you shared on Batuu and the special bond that made the experience unforgettable.
A trip to the
Walt Disney World Resort is always fun, but when it's with a special friend who loves every bit of magic as you do, it lights you up before, during, and long after the trip. Enjoy every moment of your adventure together. The Force lives in the special connection you both share.
Please reach out again with any other questions. Think of me as the C-3PO to your vacation planning adventure, minus a few million forms of communication.
This
is the way,
Matt