Difference between a throw away camping reservation and a room at Universal

[Schrute Farms]

Renting a camping site at FW and not using it for EMH and dining versus renting a room for Front of the Line Access at Universal.

I don't have strong feelings one way or another on this subject but I am curious why one is seen as immoral and the other is endorsed?

 

[luke]

Cost and availability I imagine.
There are plenty more rooms at the 3 Universal hotels than the 'throwaway' campsites.
Plus they're cost is much more prohibitive.
We're planning a one night stay at RPR for august for the fotl access, however we WILL be staying there

 

[txvjc]

Renting a camping site at FW and not using it for EMH and dining versus renting a room for Front of the Line Access at Universal.

I don't have strong feelings one way or another on this subject but I am curious why one is seen as immoral and the other is endorsed?

I was thinking the same thing when I heard the show, but thought I must have misunderstood...glad someone else caught it.

 

[Phoenixblue]

They recommend that you use the room to rest and relax, take a nap, use the pools. They actually say use the room during the day, and if you wanted go back to Disney to sleep. But overall, recommenced staying 1 night for the benefits.

So, they actually said to use the room. Making it not a "throw away" reservation. Also it was for 2 days of park use and actually using services, not only for 3 extra hours of park time. Not the same IMHO.

 

[Schrute Farms]

Cost and availability I imagine.
There are plenty more rooms at the 3 Universal hotels than the 'throwaway' campsites.
Plus they're cost is much more prohibitive.
We're planning a one night stay at RPR for august for the fotl access, however we WILL be staying there

I understand this point, but I wonder how many people know how scarce the FW camp sites are. I had no idea prior to the infamous thread and I go to Disney every year(never been to FW though).

 

[simonkodousek]

To me, the difference is huge. The front of the line access included with a room at a Universal resort is a much bigger deal for me then EMH. I've only used EMH once in the last six years, yet when I went to Universal for the first time last October, I was able to ride nearly every ride in the three days we were there. I still haven't experienced half of the rides or attractions at Disney.

I don't blame the Fastpass system for this, and I know that front of the line access wouldn't work at Disney because it is a much larger park, and that's just it. Disney is not only MUCH larger than Universal, but different in many, many, many ways.

As for the availability of campsites, I do not think it is right to book one night in a campsite for EMH privileges. If you want to stay offsite, by all means, stay offsite, but please do not book a "room" that someone else could use and take advantage of all the resort amenities, etc.

 

[FireDancer]

I think both are equally fine. Disney is getting your money whether you stay in the room (or campsite) or you don't. If I were renting out a room in my home which came with the perk of parking in my garage and someone wanted to rent the room just to use my garage why would I care? I am still getting the money whether they stay in the room or not.

Maybe other guests won't like it because it is an additional person in the parks or restaurants but too bad, it is a business and I don't know of many that would turn away a paying guest for actually using less then they pay for.

 

[kaligal]

I think the beef the Fort people have is that someone else got what they want so much and can't get...and the person who got it isn't using what they'd use. Uni hotels don't sell out all the time, so it isn't really an issue.

 

[disney4dan]

As a camper, there are few options in the area and only one of them that is "Disney". There are times (not many, but it does happen) during the busy periods when people with reservations will tow a trailer or drive an RV from all over the country and arrive at the Fort to find that there are no sites left despite having made a reservation 500 days in advance. If you plan your vacation around the use of your own RV and your own kitchen, you are now out of luck. You will be in a hotel and need to purchase your dining. Then there is the fact that most people who are passionate about camping at the Fort enjoy the resort for what it has to offer. Just as people have their favorite hotel resorts, a person who booked a room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge would not be happy to hear that the resort was full when they arrive; but that's OK, you can stay at Coronado Springs. That is usually where campers are put if Disney overbooks the Fort.

 

[G66]

I think both are equally fine. Disney is getting your money whether you stay in the room (or campsite) or you don't. If I were renting out a room in my home which came with the perk of parking in my garage and someone wanted to rent the room just to use my garage why would I care? I am still getting the money whether they stay in the room or not.

Maybe other guests won't like it because it is an additional person in the parks or restaurants but too bad, it is a business and I don't know of many that would turn away a paying guest for actually using less then they pay for.

Agree. The rooms or spots are available on an equal basis. How a person chooses to use, or in this case not use, the room or spot they rent is their business.

Should Disney throw people out of BC who don't swim in SAB?

 

[WaltD4Me]

I still can't believe anyone would actually do this to get EMH hours. but if there are people who would do this (a number that I think would be very, very small) I don't see why Disney would care? I can understand campers being upset, but again, I think the number of people who would do this and actually get a reservation is so small it hardly seems like something to get upset about.

 

[mrzrich]

The sites that were referred to on that thread were "partial hook up" sites. Those are only in 2 loops. There are 21 sites in the 1500 loop and 69 in the 2000 loop for a total of 90 sites.

Disney has made it hard for tent campers to fit into the other 700 sites by paving over most of them with concrete to accommodate big rigs. You can't stake a tent into concrete.

The Loews Royal Pacific has 1000 guest rooms, Hard Rock Hotel 650, Potafino Bay 750.

I also want to add that the person on the original thread was also using the site reservation as a means to get free parking. Which actually makes it sound less crazy than just using it for EMH.

 

[kaligal]

I still can't believe anyone would actually do this to get EMH hours. but if there are people who would do this (a number that I think would be very, very small) I don't see why Disney would care? I can understand campers being upset, but again, I think the number of people who would do this and actually get a reservation is so small it hardly seems like something to get upset about.

Agreed.

 

[kafitty]

There are times (not many, but it does happen) during the busy periods when people with reservations will tow a trailer or drive an RV from all over the country and arrive at the Fort to find that there are no sites left despite having made a reservation 500 days in advance.

Whooaaa whooaaa back up the truck here. i realize that it's pretty much standard form to overbook in the travel industry, but that really happens? They just say, too bad, so sad, and offer no alternative?? Strange business practice indeed...

 

[sjsjbrook]

In the hotel world it is quite comman for people to rent a room for just a day. Some hotels have special day rates Some people take advantage of these rates without realizing it when they ask if they can have a late checkout and get charge for it.

some locations you have to ask for a late check in, if you don't arrive by 6pm, most places can cancel your reservation and give your room to someone else, so even if you booked 500 days in advance you may not get your room if you don't arrange to have a late check in.

If I am arriving after 6pm, I always call the hotel the day before and let them know so I don't loose my reservation.

 

[briconlo]

The difference is its Universal not Disney

 

[justcynn]

I am sure Disney knows, but I would be curious how many people book stays at Fort Wilderness and do not purchase park tickets, if Disney thought they could fill their rooms/camp sites and require valid tickets at their parks in order to stay there- I would guess they would change their policies to do just that. As far as booking a site you won't use to get extra magic hours - I suppose Disney still gets their money and if you never actually check in the site - then it probably also helps them with their overbooking issue in busy seasons.

 

[kaligal]

The difference is its Universal not Disney

 

[dizneedoll]

The difference is its Universal not Disney

I was thinking the same thing!