Disney Ethics - another WWYD? Thread

[Marionnette]

My opinion of the things you listed that the only thing that is really not unethical is eating at a QS table. Once you are inside the park, seating at anything other than places that require reservations is allowed. Also, did you really have to ask if "lying" about something is ethical? Seriously?

Yes, seriously. Although I think we would all admit that lying is not ethical, how many times have we seen people justify it by saying that the child "just turned" X years old or that they "don't eat much" or that they don't agree with having to pay extra for a 3rd adult in the room or even that Disney charges too much anyway. Situational ethics is often applied by those who want to absolve themselves of wrongdoing. And how often have we seen supportive posts from others who will tell those people "you have to do what's right for your family"?

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I would have never ever thought about paying for a phantom person in a room to get extra dining credits, seems like it would cost more than just paying OOP for an extra meal.

I don't like the policy of paying for extra adults--room capacity is room capacity IMO. That being said I book my adult child as an adult, grumble about it and go on.

The DVC "perk" of being able to book 5 people in a room I don't get. I'm not DVC, so maybe I'm missing something here. What difference would it make to a DVC member if the room they aren't paying points for have that extra person in it? If the room safely holds 5 on points, seems to me that it would safely hold 5 on cash.

Never thought about the SW EBCI thing as I usually just wait and do the 24 hr check in. We like the back of the plane and have almost always been able to sit together.

QS Seating--A couple of years ago at AK I suddenly became ill, head throbbing, felt like I was going to pass out. We were by Restaurantsaurus and DH ushered me in to take a seat and cool off, he got me a free ice water and once I cooled off I was a little better and we moved on. It was busy but there were plenty of seats available. I wouldn't have felt right staying at the table if there was a family holding their food trays waiting for a seat.

Spot holding-not ok for dad to sit and wait and then 10 minutes before parade here comes mom with double stroller and grandma on the scooter trying to wedge in. Sorry but if I take my park time to wait early that's my spot. Bathroom or snack runs are ok IMO.

Line cutting-I completely understand if a child has to go potty, that's not an issue. 10 people "catching up" nope...

 

[chalee94]

Also, did you really have to ask if "lying" about something is ethical? Seriously?

here's another one then:

let's say you are dining solo and trying to book a reservation at boma, for example. the dining website says boma is completely booked up for the night in question. then you are suspicious and try to book a reservation for 2 at boma and the website finds several openings available. it's the same sized tables with availability, so it looks like disney's profit-maximizing software has decided to allow bookings for 2 but not for single diners. (i suppose it's possible that disney might do the same thing to parties of 3 in making larger tables available only to parties of 4.)

is it ethical to book a table for 2 anyway and drop the extra person later, or not?

 

[dpswift]

here's another one then:

let's say you are dining solo and trying to book a reservation at boma, for example. the dining website says boma is completely booked up for the night in question. then you are suspicious and try to book a reservation for 2 at boma and the website finds several openings available. it's the same sized tables with availability, so it looks like disney's profit-maximizing software has decided to allow bookings for 2 but not for single diners. (i suppose it's possible that disney might do the same thing to parties of 3 in making larger tables available only to parties of 4.)

is it ethical to book a table for 2 anyway and drop the extra person later, or not?

I have never had problems booking for odd numbers of people including a table for one I booked for the Wishes dessert party, however people have complained about the issue so it most likely does exist. I would try calling Disney reservations in this situation even moving up to a manager. Not allowing a single person to eat is wrong. However it is wrong to book a table for 6 if you know that you are a party of 3.

 

[hsmamato2]

Taking a kid to the bathroom when needed isn't unethical or lying folks....it's just nature. And to anyone who would grump at a 4 yo needing to go,and then rejoining their family...I find that attitude unethical. (we all know the question was meant for intentional line cutters and a group who thinks one person can hold a spot and then all 50 can crowd into line at the last minute) I have taken my kid out when needed,and rejoined my family- I always allow space for others to do this- and I HAVE stopped obnoxious youngsters from intentionally cutting in front of me also. But then again I tend to ignore most others behavior choices,I'm on vacation and don't want to cloud my own skies....

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

What would Socrates do?

or

Socrates must be rolling in his grave!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

No to any of the lies, most of the rest aren't things we've dealt with except for eating carried in food in CS locations.

My thought is as long as there's plenty of seating, no problem. But, people buying food should get first seating. For the record, we are big on bringing our own food & have been encouraged more than once by CM's to "come sit inside" while eating at an outside bench.

 

[MillauFr]

Is it ethical to:

• Lie about your child's age in order to get a cheaper ticket? Or cheaper dining? Or *free* adult dining? Or to avoid paying the extra adult fee for the room? Or to be able to have a 5th person in the room without having to move up a resort level?

It depends. I wouldn't lie to get a cheaper ticket, but I buy the kids meals even though my 14yo is older than the recommended age. He loves getting the petite filet on the kids menu at Artist Point and Napa Rose.

• Have more people in the room than what Disney allows? What if it's a DVC villa that allows more people for DVC members but not for people staying on cash?

I'm not sure why Disney would care either way. Sounds like a rule that makes no sense.

• To have a phantom person registered in your room in order to get more *free* dining credits? How about more than one phantom?

Don't you also have to purchase theme park tickets to do this? I don't get why someone would try.

• Make throwaway room reservations so that you can book FP+ at 60 days out? Or using a second MDE account for your current reservation so that you can use the MBs from a previous visit to make a second set of 3 FP+ on the day of?

Sure why not.

• Take a seat at a QS location but eat the food that you brought into the park? If you don't agree, would it make a difference if the person doing this bought a soda at the QS location? Does it make a difference if the restaurant is crowded and the people who purchased meals there cannot find a seat?

If you bought at least one thing from QS it is ok.

• Cut the line to meet up with the rest of your party? Does it make a difference whether it's a group of Brazilian teenagers or a mother who took her toddler to the bathroom.

Grey area. I have when my son said he had to go while in line.

• Purchase one Early Bird Check In on Southwest and then save seats for the rest of your party? What if it's only one other person for whom you are saving a seat? Or two? If you're okay with saving some seats but not a lot, how many is too much?

Ok

• Save spots at Fantasmic! or a parade for members of your party that haven't arrived yet? What if it's because they were riding another attraction while you saved the spots? Is it a different answer if it's because a parent was taking a child to the restroom or dealing with some other need? What if it's because the family has a child who would become disruptive while waiting, so the parent left with them to keep them distracted until closer to show time so that they didn't negatively impact the people around them?

Ok

• Pool hop? Ever? Or only if you're a DVC member and only specific resort pool? What if you have friends/family staying at the resort you're hopping to?

Why would you want to?

• Park at DtD or a resort parking lot in order to avoid paying for parking? What if you have an ADR at the resort? Or if you're an onsite guest but that resort's lot is more convenient (i.e. CR's lot is great for getting out after Wishes or YC/BC lots are great when IllumiNations is done)? Does paying for valet parking make it okay?

It isn't worth the hassle.
​

[/QUOTE]

 

[tink9702]

• Lie about your child's age in order to get a cheaper ticket? Or cheaper dining? Or *free* adult dining? Or to avoid paying the extra adult fee for the room? Or to be able to have a 5th person in the room without having to move up a resort level?

NO

• Have more people in the room than what Disney allows? What if it's a DVC villa that allows more people for DVC members but not for people staying on cash?

NO

• To have a phantom person registered in your room in order to get more *free* dining credits? How about more than one phantom?

NO

• Make throwaway room reservations so that you can book FP+ at 60 days out? Or using a second MDE account for your current reservation so that you can use the MBs from a previous visit to make a second set of 3 FP+ on the day of?

NO

• Take a seat at a QS location but eat the food that you brought into the park? If you don't agree, would it make a difference if the person doing this bought a soda at the QS location? Does it make a difference if the restaurant is crowded and the people who purchased meals there cannot find a seat?

YES if it's not too crowded and you can't find other seating nearby. If there was enough seating in the park this wouldn't be an issue.....

• Cut the line to meet up with the rest of your party? Does it make a difference whether it's a group of Brazilian teenagers or a mother who took her toddler to the bathroom?

YES for a toddler/young child that has a last minute bathroom break. especially since I ALWAYS ask my kids before getting in a long line (more than 10 min. wait).

• Purchase one Early Bird Check In on Southwest and then save seats for the rest of your party? What if it's only one other person for whom you are saving a seat? Or two? If you're okay with saving some seats but not a lot, how many is too much?

NO

• Save spots at Fantasmic! or a parade for members of your party that haven't arrived yet? What if it's because they were riding another attraction while you saved the spots? Is it a different answer if it's because a parent was taking a child to the restroom or dealing with some other need? What if it's because the family has a child who would become disruptive while waiting, so the parent left with them to keep them distracted until closer to show time so that they didn't negatively impact the people around them?

YES if they are going to the bathroom or a child with special needs/real young child who can't sit etc. NO if riding another ride/seeing a show etc.

• Pool hop? Ever? Or only if you're a DVC member and only specific resort pool? What if you have friends/family staying at the resort you're hopping to?

NO

• Park at DtD or a resort parking lot in order to avoid paying for parking? What if you have an ADR at the resort? Or if you're an onsite guest but that resort's lot is more convenient (i.e. CR's lot is great for getting out after Wishes or YC/BC lots are great when IllumiNations is done)? Does paying for valet parking make it okay?

YES paying for valet parking makes it okay in my book especially since it's more expensive than regular parking at the parks. No otherwise.​

 

[bdcp]

here's another one then:

let's say you are dining solo and trying to book a reservation at boma, for example. the dining website says boma is completely booked up for the night in question. then you are suspicious and try to book a reservation for 2 at boma and the website finds several openings available. it's the same sized tables with availability, so it looks like disney's profit-maximizing software has decided to allow bookings for 2 but not for single diners. (i suppose it's possible that disney might do the same thing to parties of 3 in making larger tables available only to parties of 4.)

is it ethical to book a table for 2 anyway and drop the extra person later, or not?

No, and I wouldn't do it.

 

[bdcp]

Yes, seriously. Although I think we would all admit that lying is not ethical, how many times have we seen people justify it by saying that the child "just turned" X years old or that they "don't eat much" or that they don't agree with having to pay extra for a 3rd adult in the room or even that Disney charges too much anyway. Situational ethics is often applied by those who want to absolve themselves of wrongdoing. And how often have we seen supportive posts from others who will tell those people "you have to do what's right for your family"?

It still doesn't make it ethical. My youngest DS was 3.5 but looked size wise about 2.5 when we did our first WDW trip and we never, ever considered saying he wasn't over 3. Even though we were on a very, very tight budget. He's 29 now and caught up in height. If what's "right" for your family is lying, then that's sad.

 

[queenbetsey]

ok as far a saving spots goes, here is my take. out here at DL we have a new parade and fireworks show. We are passholders and left the house one afternoon right after I got off work to go and see these. We know the drill and know that in order to see these we needed to be there and planted early. There were lots of folks doing the same thing. we got our spot at 4:30 pm. there were 4 adullts and one 2 year old (see profile pic). my daughter and I took lil missy on IASW and came back, dh and sil went and got snacks etc. couple of us made coffee runs and balloon run for scarlett. we pretty much stayed close and lots of groups were doing this especially those with little ones. but after 6:30 or so we all pretty much stayed put. snacked played with the bubble gun stuff like as did most of the groups that done the same thing. so with in reason I don't see a problem getting a good spot for parade etc. with in reason is the operative term here.
at Fantasmic folks would show up in front of rivers of America, spread out huge blankets and set up camp 4 or 5 hours before the show. they literally blocked a major walkway out here. now you need to get a fp in the morning.

 

[ilovefh]

• Lie about your child's age in order to get a cheaper ticket? Or cheaper dining? Or *free* adult dining? Or to avoid paying the extra adult fee for the room? Or to be able to have a 5th person in the room without having to move up a resort level?

I have never done it but I have two friends that have. One her daughter will be barely 3. She cannot tell you how old she is. She is also very small. They are not locals and this was one trip. My other friend is a local and prepared her son to lie if asked until he was close to 4. I'd prefer not to do it.

• Have more people in the room than what Disney allows? What if it's a DVC villa that allows more people for DVC members but not for people staying on cash?

I haven't done it at Disney, but we did it at the hotel the night before our flight to save $150. We had 4 adults and two kids (9 months and 3). They allowed 4 adults and one child. We arrived at 10 pm and were gone by 5 am.

• To have a phantom person registered in your room in order to get more *free* dining credits? How about more than one phanto

I don't really know enough about this to have an opinion.

• Make throwaway room reservations so that you can book FP+ at 60 days out? Or using a second MDE account for your current reservation so that you can use the MBs from a previous visit to make a second set of 3 FP+ on the day of?

I don't know enough about this either to comment.

• Take a seat at a QS location but eat the food that you brought into the park? If you don't agree, would it make a difference if the person doing this bought a soda at the QS location? Does it make a difference if the restaurant is crowded and the people who purchased meals there cannot find a seat?

If it is super busy and I am walking around with my tray of food and my toddler and I see you and your family sprawled out with your cooler I might be annoyed but I think it's different than a restaurant that is outside a theme park that stands alone.

• Cut the line to meet up with the rest of your party? Does it make a difference whether it's a group of Brazilian teenagers or a mother who took her toddler to the bathroom?

Someone, adult or child, who has a bathroom emergency during line, I will always let them in. I just think it is common courtesy. One person waiting in line and holding a spot for the other 4 people in their group just, I don't love it.

• Purchase one Early Bird Check In on Southwest and then save seats for the rest of your party? What if it's only one other person for whom you are saving a seat? Or two? If you're okay with saving some seats but not a lot, how many is too much?

For now we use the family boarding policy so we don't bother with EBCI. Our son is 4 and their policy is those traveling with a child 4 and under may board between A and B groups. I'm due in November so we'll have a baby with us so we'll continue to use the family boarding policy unless they change it. One person saving a seat for someone else, I don't care. Saving rows I think is not as okay, but I wouldn't make a big deal about it.

• Save spots at Fantasmic! or a parade for members of your party that haven't arrived yet? What if it's because they were riding another attraction while you saved the spots? Is it a different answer if it's because a parent was taking a child to the restroom or dealing with some other need? What if it's because the family has a child who would become disruptive while waiting, so the parent left with them to keep them distracted until closer to show time so that they didn't negatively impact the people around them?

I'd rather a parent save a seat than have a disruptive child sit there waiting, no matter what they are doing while the parent waits. Bathroom break for anyone, I don't care. Going to get food while they wait, I don't care.

• Pool hop? Ever? Or only if you're a DVC member and only specific resort pool? What if you have friends/family staying at the resort you're hopping to?

I've never been to the pool when it was so crowded that someone pool hopping would affect me so I don't care. Would I do it (and we're DVC members)? No, it is too much effort to go to another hotel to swim when I can do it at the pool at my resort.

• Park at DtD or a resort parking lot in order to avoid paying for parking? What if you have an ADR at the resort? Or if you're an onsite guest but that resort's lot is more convenient (i.e. CR's lot is great for getting out after Wishes or YC/BC lots are great when IllumiNations is done)? Does paying for valet parking make it okay?

At DtD, with the new parking garage, I don't care. I wouldn't do it because it takes so much time, but I don't care if you do it. As long as it's not a super busy time and guests of the resort can all get spots, I don't care about people parking at resorts either.

 

[jsmla]

• Lie about your child's age - If the child is small and won't be able to participate on height restricted rides and eats like a small child...I see no problem with doing this?
• Nope

• Have more people in the room than what Disney allows? Why would you want to? The rooms are small enough already.
• Kinda, sorta. It was a dance competition, we had two connecting rooms with 6 girls in one and the two chaperones in another. Don't know if that counts.
• 
  
• To have a phantom person registered in your room in order to get more *free* dining credits? I might and recently had this conversation with someone else. Don't forget the extra FP+ you will get as well. But this is not a freebie, you are paying for that extra phantom.
• Nope
• 
  
• Make throwaway room reservations so that you can book FP+ at 60 days out? Not worth my time and effort.
• Nope
• Take a seat at a QS location but eat the food that you brought into the park? I see no problem with this if it is outdoor seating and may have done this myself in the past.
• All the time. I buy something, usually a drink, and eat in the off hours during slower seasons. I'm often the only guest in there at 10:30 AM. If it's crowded then no.
• Cut the line to meet up with the rest of your party? If it is one person catching up to their group, OK. Otherwise no.
• Nope
• Purchase one Early Bird Check In on Southwest and then save seats for the rest of your party? No.
• All the time, just one seat. We even book the A and C or D and F seats on other airlines. Sometimes it works, if not some late boarder scores a sweet window seat and I take the middle.
• 
  
• Save spots at Fantasmic! or a parade for members of your party that haven't arrived yet? Yes, but only a couple of spots. Not one person holding 5 more.
• Yep, back when the kiddod were little.
• Pool hop? I don't see pool hopping worth my time and effort.
• Nope
• Park at DtD or a resort parking lot in order to avoid paying for parking? No, Time and effort again
• Nope

 

[kaytieeldr]

The one rule that I am tempted to break would be the extra adult fee - really the room rate isn't enough that you have to tack on another per person per night fee because there are three of you in a room over the age of 18? I understand the fire/safety codes and wouldn't risk that but if the code says 4 people I don't think it reads 2 people over 18 and 2 under.

I am ok with one person or one + child leaving for potty break. It happens and sometimes it just has to be addressed.

The extra adult fee always annoys me. How exactly different is it for your 18 year old to be sleeping in a space one night for no extra charge, but once the kid is 19, sleeping in the same bed/space, it suddenly costs more for the room? It's most likely an advertising gimmick, so hotels can say "kids 18 and under stay free!" and draw in more business, but honestly, a room for 4 is a room for 4- doesn't cost more for anyone to sleep in that space.

This is typical throughout the hotel industry. Eighteen and older is legally able to enter into a contract, which is what you're doing by renting a hotel room. Instead of viewing it as costing an extra $10-$25 per night, consider the $100-$350+ your party saves - and the hotel loses - each night by sharing one room. Heck, some hotels upcharge for more than two people in a room, age notwithstanding.

and then rejoining their family.

That's a big key. You can't rejoin a line you were never in.

 

[nooneshome]

These are my answers. Sorry for any confusion.

• Lie about your child's age Been there done that. DD is 19 but looks like she is 15. I have her on my reservation as 17.
  
• Have more people in the room than what Disney allows? Guilty, when the kids were younger.
  
• To have a phantom person registered in your room in order to get more *free* dining credits? Actually had considered doing the opposite. Hard to explain but I did consider it. Mostly has to do with trying to use up old an 6 day pass.
  
• Make throwaway room reservations so that you can book FP+ at 60 days out? nope, but I am going to try to get SDFPs on our next trip using old MBs.
  
• Take a seat at a QS location but eat the food that you brought into the park? I wouldn't take a seat at a CS place during busy times if I weren't a patron. I did once ate ribs I got from the Flame Tree at the McDonalds/Dinosaur place in AK. DD and DW bought their lunch there so I didn't see a problem. I got plenty of interesting looks while walking from place to place. Someone even commented on how good the ribs looked.
  
• Cut the line to meet up with the rest of your party? I've never done this. See, I'm not all bad...
  
• Purchase one Early Bird Check In on Southwest and then save seats for the rest of your party? nope. Although I would love to punch a few people that hog the overhead storage.
  
• Save spots at Fantasmic! or a parade for members of your party that haven't arrived yet? I could see saving a couple seats but no more than that and for only a few minutes.
  
• Pool hop? nope. we don't swim that often.
  
• Park at DtD or a resort parking lot in order to avoid paying for parking? nope, too much trouble.

 

[Marionnette]

@nooneshome I appreciate your honesty and candor, but the way that you inserted your answers into the quote, it makes it appear that I said those things. Could you please edit?

 

[Dakota731]

Wow, I would have never thought about most of these things. Seems like a lot of time and effort going into cheating and stealing. Maybe taking a part-time job to be able to afford the things that you want but can't afford would be a better use of time.

Lie about your child's age

Funny story on this one - while out an amusement park (not Disney) with a friend who was lying at the gate to get her son in for less. She said "he's only nine" and the boy yelled out "no I'm not Mom I'm ten!" She ended up paying the adult price plus taught her son to lie whenever it benefits him. To me that's not worth the extra $20 bucks.

 

[mieuxmew]

What about a 10 year old at a table service restaurant who really insists on the chicken nuggets/fries from the kids menu and refuses to eat grown up food (like at some of the EPCOT international restaurants)?

 

[maxiesmom]

What about a 10 year old at a table service restaurant who really insists on the chicken nuggets/fries from the kids menu and refuses to eat grown up food (like at some of the EPCOT international restaurants)?

Most restaurants allow anyone to order from the kids menu.