Comments please, about "camping"/EMH strategy

[dj2]

Well, just when I thought I'd heard it all....

I just read a suggestion in a tour book from the library that one way to get the most bang for your buck is to stay off site, but have a one night ressie at Fort Wilderness campgrounds, which you check in for but don't actually use! This gets your whole family two days free parking and two days of extra magic hours.

The authors go on to say that if you're really into this, you can check in and out every other day. wow.

Comments??? Anyone ever try this? Is this a popular strategy that I just never heard of before? Anyone think it's weird? unethical? or a good idea???

 

[ugadog99]

There was a huge discussion about this on both the budget and camping boards. Everyone has different opinions on the subject, but I think it's wrong.

 

[Tissa]

I think it's wrong. It takes away space from people who actually want to stay at the campgrounds and not trying to scam Disney.

 

[lillygator]

Wow - I've heard it all now!

You're paying for the "site" so I can see the "entitlement" to the EMH and parking situation but still, I think it's tacky.

 

[dj2]

There was a huge discussion about this on both the budget and camping boards. Everyone has different opinions on the subject, but I think it's wrong.

i couldn't think of what key words to use to search for this topic. i'd like to read those other threads. anyone know the best way to find them? thx. -dj

 

[we3disneygo]

 

[Msslaydbug]

Why not just stay onsite ? I would think that paying for a hotel plus an offsite hotel in addition to taxes would just about equal an onsite hotel

 

[kbkids]

Why not just stay onsite ? I would think that paying for a hotel plus an offsite hotel in addition to taxes would just about equal an onsite hotel

That's what I was thinking too.

 

[CarolA]

I see nothing wrong with it....

There have been WHOLE threads about folks doing this exact same type of thing during free dining. Booking a value for free dining, but staying in thier condo etc. That was a "GREAT idea", but using a camp site is "wrong" ?????

What appears to make it "wrong" is the campers who are apparently thinking you are stealing thier space??? Why? Everyone had the same opportunity to BOOK the space....

 

[dj2]

found another thread on the camping board. i think this is the link, if anyone's interested.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1004525&highlight=EMH+parking

 

[hezell123]

I started a thread a while back on this and got flamed pretty bad.

But after little discussion, my family decided this plan works for us. We are renting a pool home in Formosa Gardens AND FW campsite w/ myw tickets and the dining plan. There are 8 of us so booking 1 camp ground (up to 10 can stay at 1 campsite) was more economical than say booking 2 value rooms. Even with 2 rooms we actually needed at least 5 beds so we would of actually needed 3 value rooms. With the pool home we get 5bed/4bath, a mickey mouse shaped pool w/ spa, a games room and family room w/ps2. It's only 2 miles from WDW.
Our other option was a 2 bedroom villa at OKW.

Here's how it breaks down for us:
pool home w/ FW myw w/ dining plan: $4200 (aprox.)

2bdroom OKW w/ myw w/ dining plan: $7500 (aprox.)

Here's the above mentioned thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1002027

 

[HunnyPots]

Ok - you're PAYING for the campsite, right? I don't know how anyone could say you were trying to "scam" Disney!
I just think it seems like a lot of trouble just to get EMH and free parking.

 

[krismom]

We did this a few years ago- but we did it at POP- the rooms were like $49 a night or something (off season) and the parks closed really early. We were only there for a few days and wanted to be in the parks as long as possible- it was worth it!

 

[irishbosoxfan]

I think the problem everyone had with it is the same one I have with it---My family can not afford to do WDW the way many of you do--Like the OP can afford a huge condo(?)offsite and then a site a FW in addition to everything else you need money for to do Disney.

My family is lucky to be able to afford the campsite at FW----If it wasn't for FW we would not be able to go--We can't afford even a value hotel and here are these ppl who can afford more than we ever could in relation to WDW taking up a spot that some truly deserving family could be occupying to give their family that once in a lifetime trip.

As for the "well they booked it first mentality" say you and DH both work fulltime and DH has vacation time he hasn't used and his boss comes up and says you need to use x amount of your vacation days by XX day or you lose them--So your Dh says well weve been wanting to take the kids to WDW lets do it by XX day and they find that given their 3 kids they cant afford a value BUT they can swing it by camping at FW so they call to make reservations and its a no go because all the sites are booked---1/2 by ppl who arent even using the site for anything other than discounted dining and free parking---So now this family cant take their kids to WDW for the first time ever but a family who can afford the better WDW vacation for the 10th time has discounted dining,air conditioning,private bathroom and a rental car to enjoy other attractions in the Orlando area while the other family was willing to give all that up so their kids could actually say "We went to Disneyworld!"

 

[tinkerbell211]

But after little discussion, my family decided this plan works for us

I am one of those people who is desperately trying to get a tent campsite to CAMP on w/ a tent, but cannot because they are all booked up! HMMM....

I am forced to pay nearly $200.00 extra just to be able to pitch a tent in Ft Wilderness on an RV site. Now I find I am doing this so that someone who can afford to pay for a condo can have parking (which is only $8 a day BTW)and a couple extra hrs in a park!!!

Enjoy

 

[hezell123]

I'll agree to disagree with many of you on this issue. There's so many variables and "what ifs" that one could hardly be able to contemplate all of them.

I will say this though.. on the dates I chose to stay at FW campsite, I went back and was able to book up to 3 more on the same dates so I am not taking up "anyone's space". Feel free to check April 29-May 5, 2006. I think many who are not able to book has more to do with "high" season than someone just looking to get benefits..IMHO

 

[disneyfan67]

I understand why some would do this and I wonder what Disney would do to you ifthey found out? You are paying for the campsite but there's that gray area of skirting the rules.

I don't know if it would be considered against Disney rules. I never even heard of it this until now. The one thing I can't grasp is, How can anyone sleep in a tent without a/c in the middle of summer in WDW? I don't mind the heat during the day but I couldn't imagine a full day in the parks then sleeping with no a/c in a tent. What if you want to go back and take an afternoon break and nap and it's a 100 degrees with full humidity? WOW! I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Well maybe one of my BIL, but that's a story for another time! LOL!

 

[dj2]

Like the OP can afford a huge condo(?)offsite and then a site a FW in addition to everything else you need money for to do Disney.

speaking as the OP, i'd like you to be careful about what facts you attribute to me.

i posted because i was just amazed to see this "tip" in a published tour book (i won't give them free advertising), and wanted to know what people thought about it. i'd never seen this idea before, nor ever saw any previously posted threads. (it was someone else's post that mentioned a huge condo, etc.)

 

[hezell123]

I did tell the CM exactly what I was doing when booking with the 1-800# to make reseervations. She said it was our business as to how we used the campsite as long as we followed the posted rules (such as no indiv. camp fires). In fact, she thought it was a good idea to have a back up in case of inclement weather.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

speaking as the OP, i'd like you to be careful about what facts you attribute to me.

i posted because i was just amazed to see this "tip" in a published tour book (i won't give them free advertising), and wanted to know what people thought about it. i'd never seen this idea before, nor ever saw any previously posted threads. (it was someone else's post that mentioned a huge condo, etc.)

I will apologize for attributing my post to you as I went back and reread and then apply it to hezell----Yes there may be sites available to book but I go back to my original post:WHY would you need to book a site or 2 or 3(going by your post above this one) if you can afford to stay at such a great place offsite? They may be open but that doesn't ENTITLE you to them- all your doing is jipping some less fortunate family out of a trip to WDW because after your big condo you cant afford $8 a day to park--And if I have read info on these offsite rooms and such correctly many do offer buses to WDW. The money youre blowing on a campsite could be used to taxi to the parks and still allow other families their vacation And as for the EMH how much are your really gonna miss in that first hour?

I think if you want the Disney resort benefits you should actually stay at a Disney resort!! Stay at a value instead of a deluxe but dont take something away from someone who is willing to camp in sweltering heat,share a bathroom w/at least 50 other ppl and travel by bus to be able to do something for the first time that you have done any number of times!