Hi Regina,
There is nothing better than enjoying the magic of Disney World with your friends! I am glad to hear that your friend is going to be able to join you for a fun adventure.
Unfortunately, your friend will need to be added to your reservation since they plan on staying with you at your Resort hotel. If you do not add them to your reservation, they will not be able to enjoy the benefits of staying at a Disney Resort hotel like access to the pool,
Early Entry to the theme parks, and the ability to purchase
Lightning Lane Passes several days before guests not staying at a Disney Resort hotel. They will also not be able to access the resort property by car or be able to open the room door with their
My Disney Experience app.
It is super easy to add an additional Guest to your Disney Resort hotel room if you are not already at capacity for your room type. If it is just you and another guest, that should not be an issue because all of the room types can accommodate at least two guests. You can make this change online by logging in to your My Disney Experience account, visiting “My Plans,” and scrolling to find your reservation. If you can change your reservation online, you’ll see a button labeled “Change Reservation,” which should allow you to make changes to your travel party. This is where you can easily add your friend especially if you are already connected as "Family and Friends" in the My Disney Experience app.
If you are unable to complete this process through your My Disney Experience account, I recommend calling
Disney Resort Hotel Reservations to add your additional Guest. The cast members are super helpful and will be able to make the change over the phone. If you would rather make the change in person, you can also do this at the front desk upon arrival.
Happy Planning,
Jenna