Does this concern you?

[dicdover]

I was reading some other forums and noticed some discussion that some people are staying in non-Disney hotels and getting a campsite at FW at the same time. They are not actually staying at the campsite; they are just doing this so that they can enjoy Disney Resort privileges. If someone could save more than $38 to $62 a night by staying in a non-Disney hotel I guess this is a viable option especially if they get discounted tickets and the ability to get the MYW dinning plan. This raises some questions:
1) Have any of you heard of this? Do you think people are actually doing this?
2) Does Disney have a policy preventing this and if so is it enforceable?
2) Could this have a negative impact on those of us who actually camp at FW? (i.e. higher rates, sold-out campground)

 

[clkelley]

I have done this ONCE for one night on an impromptu trip several years ago.

We were in Florida for a family emergency which cleared itself up Thursday afternoon, so instead of driving home Friday morning, we continued South late Thursday night, and arrived in WDW area early Friday morning. All WDW hotel rooms were sold out or over our budget, so we got a campsite for one night and got the two-day LOS passes, then got a cheap room on 192. We then drove up to Ocala late Saturday night,then finished going home on Sunday.

I honestly wouldn't recommend this on a regular basis, but it fit for our circumstances at the time. Of course, at the time we weren't frequent Annual Pass holders, and at the time, that was the only way you could get park hopping for less than four days.

With the new MYW tickets, doing something like this wouldn't be necessary as someone could get a cheap room on 192 and still get park hopping, and pluses for PI and Disney Quest for two or three days. The only extra thing the campsite would get you would be Extra Magic Hour and Free Parking, so that wouldn't be cost effective any longer.

The only reason I would pay for a campsite now and not occupy it, is if I am ever lucky enough to become a Ft. Wilderness "Snow Bird". Then I would probably keep the campsite and go home and visit family for Christmas for a day or two.

Carol

 

[ftwildernessguy]

This is actually the first I've heard of this. I think this practice is despicable and totally self serving with no regard to others. Now that I've said that, I must say I really can't see it being used on a large scale or that it would significantly impact me. Most likely, these people would be going for the cheapest campsite available. Since we go for EWS hookup, I don't think they would be my neighbors, and if they are, it would be an empty site offering more privacy. Is there really that much of an advantage that it would be worth the extra money? I would think that between the campsite fee and the off site motel, it would be more worthwhile to get a room at one of the value resorts.

 

[Heather Smith]

We do it---every year.

We go down with my parents who don't camp and stay at a timeshare (this year Bonnet Creek). We are avid tent campers and my kids love Disney's campground. We do pitch our tent, but we don't stay there all the time. We do sleep there most nights as my kids love to finish up the day with the movie. We would probably ditch my parents and their timeshare altogether if the campground pool didn't suck.

Personally, if it weren't for the actual "camp" experience, I don't see how it's worth the extra bucks for just some extra park hours.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

We do it---every year.

We go down with my parents who don't camp and stay at a timeshare (this year Bonnet Creek). We are avid tent campers and my kids love Disney's campground. We do pitch our tent, but we don't stay there all the time. We do sleep there most nights as my kids love to finish up the day with the movie. We would probably ditch my parents and their timeshare altogether if the campground pool didn't suck.

Personally, if it weren't for the actual "camp" experience, I don't see how it's worth the extra bucks for just some extra park hours.

But, you are staying at the campground, albeit not every night. I think the issue here is people who have no intention of staying at all, and are just interested in whatever perks the on property guests get that they won't get staying off property and getting them the cheapest way possible.

 

[trlrboy]

All Disney is going to care about is filling the campground. If you are paying for the campsite you pretty much can do whatever you want to...either stay there or not. I don't see how you would ever know that it was happening or not.

 

[Heather Smith]

Personally, I think Disney would love it if people stayed at the campground just to get some extra park hours. Those campground guests at the extra park hours have no marginal cost to Disney, and these guests are not using the facilities at the campground, so that fee is pure profit.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Apparently I am missing the point. As someone who has had some poblems in the past reserving a campsite, I would be disturbed if the reason was that people had reserved a spot for the sole purpose of receiving resort perks and had no intention of actually camping there. By your logic, Disney would prefer it if all resorts were filled by absentee guests. And what about the lost income from guests using the Trading Posts?

 

[Heather Smith]

Yep, Disney (or any other resort, hotel, etc) would be thrilled if their resorts were 100% rented with 0% occupancy. Most people go on vacation with a certain amount to spend and Disney is thrilled to have them spend their Disney $ on the products with the lowest marginal cost to them. Those trading post $ aren't lost revenue to Disney, they are probably spent somewhere else in Disney (or at least a high percentage of them).

Disney's problem is if potential campers get angry and take their business elsewhere. I guess their only recourse would be to up the fees so that people would no longer think it's a deal for the extra hours.

 

[nowellsl]

I don't see the big deal. If they're paying for a campsite the same as anyone else, they can do whatever they want with it. I personally wouldn't do it because usually it costs as much for a campsite as it does for a value resort with a FL residents discount.

 

[MandM-Mom]

It seems the costs for a cheap room plus a camp site would be just a costly as a value resort, but if they chose to do it and paid there money, just everyone else I guess I don't see the problem. Did I miss somthing did they get out cheaper than the rest by paying for their site and a hotel.

 

[janethill]

The only way I see that it can be cheaper is that I think you can register up to 10 guests per campsite so that's only about $4/person/day to get the extra park hours.

 

[Memph1s]

I don't see it as worth the cost. But I do see a lot of empty sites when they say the campground is sold out. I know there are a lot of reasons for a site to be empty but I always wonder why there are so many.

If anyone is doing this on the weekends please contact me. I can be there in 2 hours and will split the cost and I WILL use the campsite.

 

[Gillian]

It must be frustrating if you are told there is no availability and then there are empty sites. Keep in mind that people do cancel all the time though.

On the other hand, if someone did reserve that site before you, so what can you do? Even if they aren't using it, they paid for it.

Taking advantage of being able to register 10 people is pretty bad. That's abusing the system, since it's the only inexpensive place that fits more than 4.

I don't see a way that they can prevent this that wouldn't hurt real campers.

 

[always quiet]

If I am not mistaken, there is a limit of 2 adults at a campsite, then an additional fee would also be charged. I think it's $5.00 a day.

I can see how it would be annoying if you really wanted to stay in a campsite but found out it was totally sold out. You wouldn't be too upset if people were actually using the facilities but to only take advantage of the extra hours.........not nice!!

I would imagine that someone from Disney would question a person checking in but then the campsite remaining vacant.