ghost reservations will work

[bumbershoot]

...and I haven't even stepped foot in the BC.

That's the part I'm not following; shouldn't you have had to show up and go to the checkin desk? Otherwise they don't know you're there (online checkin isn't fully checking in, or it hasn't been in the past) and could cancel the reservation.

No, that math doesn't add up. Now if you had free lodging somewhere but even with your math, no way that is worth the money.

And that isn't a ghost reservation, that is just spending money and internal rationalization.


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She's just doing that for one night, not for the whole time.

Can you pick a PIN too, if not you can not use it to charge?

I picked PINs during online checkin (for our reservation last Feb) and the system still says those PINs are good. The problem is that I don't know what they are, LOL. So yes, you would have a PIN.



But like everyone else is saying, if you make the reservation, don't cancel it, and pay for it, it's not a "ghost".

On the other hand, some people have been saying for years that those people who make reservations, say, during free dining, at an onsite resort but never stay there (perhaps they have family, or a timeshare, offsite), that they CAN be booted if housekeeping figures out you're not there. Those aren't "ghosts", the term hadn't even been created then, but people say you CAN be sent away.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

To me this is just an extension of "book a night at the campground to get 180+10 and then cancel it"

Not really because the OP is actually staying at the resort they booked at. It's just they can use the Magic band to book FP+ prior to checking in.

Also, people have to pay for the room for at least one night to get the Magic Bands and access to FP+. It's unlike the campground where you can cancel and get your money back.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Even for ghost reservations (not sure this is one), just because it works during testing, doesn't mean it's going to work in the future, at least for the prebooking aspect. Is it going to be tied to number of resort nights or number of days on ticket? We don't know.

 

[bellebud]

what's BoG??

 

[PEC]

For Bonnett Creek, yes you are staying cheaper at in a "luxury suite" but it is not a true "ghost reservation" because you are paying for a room. More like a semi-ghost reservation. Of course if too much of this goes on then Disney will execute a plan that I had heard of (rumor) that individuals in Deluxe Disney hotels get more FP+.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Can you pick a PIN too, if not you can not use it to charge?

Your pin is stored from trip to trip. I could go to WDW today and charge something with my MB, even without having a resort reservation.

That's the part I'm not following; shouldn't you have had to show up and go to the checkin desk? Otherwise they don't know you're there (online checkin isn't fully checking in, or it hasn't been in the past) and could cancel the reservation.

Online check in is fully checking in. It always has been, but you have had to stop and pick up your packet at the Front Desk because you needed room keys. Now your band is your room key.

I picked PINs during online checkin (for our reservation last Feb) and the system still says those PINs are good. The problem is that I don't know what they are, LOL. So yes, you would have a PIN.

Just go to the Front Desk. They will be able to reset your pins for you.

what's BoG??

Be Our Guest restaurant in the Magic Kingdom

 

[f15robyn]

Not that the semantics are that important, but isn't it called a "ghost" reservation because only a ghost is staying in the room?

The intent behind ghost reservations (which are a standard part of a summer event that we participate in that's been going on just about as long as WDW has been open) is that you're paying extra to get some benefits, even if you don't use all of what you're paying for.

In this case, we've paid for one night at Pop in order to have the opportunity to test the FP+ system. We're not going to stay in the room, a ghost is. And that's my choice to to use some of what I've paid for (the FP+) and not use other parts of what I've paid for (sleeping in the room).

I don't know what to call the situation where you book the room, get your magic bands and access to FP+ and then cancel and get your money back (well I know what I'd call it, but I'll refrain from saying so here). But that's not what ghost reservations have traditionally meant in other situations.

 

[Missyrose]

It's not a ghost reservation and not at all against Disney rules because OP will actually stay at BC. The news in this thread is that if you're booked at a MB resort, your bands/tickets/ability to charge things will all work before you check into that resort. In this case, the OP was spending the first half of her trip at WBC, but was able to enjoy all the MB perks that come with being a BC guest, which she and her family will be for the second leg of their trip. She didn't book/check into a room and not stay there.

 

[GoofyKidd]

Well I thought I knew everything about Disney. I have never heard of a ghost reservation, never thought of booking one to get perks then cancel. Interesting. Since everyone on this thread is more knowledgeable than I am in this area, I'll ask a question. My DH is attending a meeting and is staying at a hotel very close to WDW. The kids & I are joining him partway through his trip and will need to rent a car to get to the hotel & parks. This hotel does offer transportation to the parks, but from what I am reading it's not reliable or efficient. We will go to the parks a few days without my DH then we will all be together for a few days after his trip. I have never stayed offsite and am not looking forward to it. However if it means a trip to Disney then I'll do it. My DH wants to stay on at the hotel after his meeting so we don't have to waste time moving out and into somewhere else. I am more inclined to move to a WDW resort, return the rental car & get the dining plan. To get to the question-if we do switch to a Disney hotel, and get dining & tickets for those 3 nights-what's the best way to work tickets for the beginning of our trip? I certainly don't want to buy 2 sets of tickets-that would be too expensive. This thread about the MB got me thinking-the OP was obviously able to get into the parks before her reservation at the Disney hotel even started-right? How can I do the same thing?

 

[CandleontheWater]

OP here, I was saying that ghost reservations would work because as long as you have the MB in hand, your can have full access to the perks. If your book a ghost reservation, and get the bands in you're hand, that is all you need to access FP plus, and charging. You don't need to check in or anything. The magic bands are ready to work as soon as they are shipped.

 

[asmit4]

OP here, I was saying that ghost reservations would work because as long as you have the MB in hand, your can have full access to the perks. If your book a ghost reservation, and get the bands in you're hand, that is all you need to access FP plus, and charging. You don't need to check in or anything. The magic bands are ready to work as soon as they are shipped.

TRUE. EXCEPT for the free included parking. I have been told I need to stop at the resort to pick up the parking pass.

IMO- there are 2 kinds of ghost ressies. 1 where you book a room you don't plan to sleep in but you PAY for the room to get all the other included benefits which you will be using. So you get what you pay for.

The other kind of ghost ressie is a cheater- where you have no intention of paying for the room, you have every intention of cancelling but just want do book your dinner ressies at 180+10 or something or perhaps worse. You book a room, get your MBs all set up and cancel and hope your MBs work. That's trying to get something you didn't pay for...aka stealing.

I would presume DW isn't thrilled with either option, but in all reality 1 is cheating/stealign and the other is like buying a 12 piece dinnerware set and only choosing to use 8 pieces of it. You bought it- you use it as you see fit.

 

[becd]

I want to make sure I am following this - so if I had a one day reservation at a FB+ testing property, but was staying for five days total (the rest of trip with a friend), I could use the FB+ for my whole trip?

 

[RunningWithScissors]

I want to make sure I am following this - so if I had a one day reservation at a FB+ testing property, but was staying for five days total (the rest of trip with a friend), I could use the FB+ for my whole trip?

This I am not quite sure of. Mine worked for the duration of our trip, but I booked the ghost ressie to go along with another 4 night/5 day trip through DVC. I could not reserve FP+ for any day that I did not have a reservation for. We also have AP's that are linked to the MB. Not sure if that answers your question, though.

 

[asmit4]

I want to make sure I am following this - so if I had a one day reservation at a FB+ testing property, but was staying for five days total (the rest of trip with a friend), I could use the FB+ for my whole trip?

YUPPERS! I only booked 1 night at a value and it gave me the option of booking FPs for 6 days. We are only doing DW for 2 days though- the day of 'checkin' and the day of 'checkout'.

THIS may change though as we move from the testing phase to the actual rollout. I can say that it is not likely though that 1 night ressie wouldn't at least give you FP access for the day of checkin and the day of checkout.

People are even saying that they booked FP+ for 3 nights they are onsite, then they are going home and then coming back to DW a week later and STILL have access to FP+ for those offsite days. Basically once you have MB/FP+ access you always will (at this point in time)

 

[RunningWithScissors]

YUPPERS! I only booked 1 night at a value and it gave me the option of booking FPs for 6 days. We are only doing DW for 2 days though- the day of 'checkin' and the day of 'checkout'.

THIS may change though as we move from the testing phase to the actual rollout. I can say that it is not likely though that 1 night ressie wouldn't at least give you FP access for the day of checkin and the day of checkout.

People are even saying that they booked FP+ for 3 nights they are onsite, then they are going home and then coming back to DW a week later and STILL have access to FP+ for those offsite days. Basically once you have MB/FP+ access you always will (at this point in time)

You know, maybe mine did that too, I just didn't try to book them for when we will be on the Disney Dream! LOL!

 

[becd]

YUPPERS! I only booked 1 night at a value and it gave me the option of booking FPs for 6 days. We are only doing DW for 2 days though- the day of 'checkin' and the day of 'checkout'.

THIS may change though as we move from the testing phase to the actual rollout. I can say that it is not likely though that 1 night ressie wouldn't at least give you FP access for the day of checkin and the day of checkout.

People are even saying that they booked FP+ for 3 nights they are onsite, then they are going home and then coming back to DW a week later and STILL have access to FP+ for those offsite days. Basically once you have MB/FP+ access you always will (at this point in time)

OK, I am actually excited to learn about this. Thanks so much for sharing it!

 

[asmit4]

OK, I am actually excited to learn about this. Thanks so much for sharing it!

Remember- that was as of 2 days ago....things can and will change over time. However, as of that point once you have FP+ access you always do. Your MBs are yours to keep and use and reuse- whether offsite or onsite (at this point as of 2 days ago).

 

[SunkistJoy]

Remember- that was as of 2 days ago....things can and will change over time. However, as of that point once you have FP+ access you always do. Your MBs are yours to keep and use and reuse- whether offsite or onsite (at this point as of 2 days ago).

But, you have to have a valid ticket tied to your magic band also, don't you? We are staying one night in a value at the start of our trip. We have 5 day UCT tix, DH and mine are linked correctly, kiddos are not. So I can't make any FP+ for kiddos, and I assumed (haven't tried) that I could only make 5 days worth for DH and I. Interested in this because we plan to add another day after entering the parks...would be nice to be able to select FP+ for that day also.

 

[bellebud]

I want to make sure I am following this - so if I had a one day reservation at a FB+ testing property, but was staying for five days total (the rest of trip with a friend), I could use the FB+ for my whole trip?

I think as long as you book the stay as your first day, you'll be good for the following days.

I cannot book FP+ for my first 2 days on-site, in WL, because they're not yet participating. Then on the 3rd day we move to BWV and I've already booked the fp+'s for the remainder of our trip.

I think if I had done it the other way around (first stayed at a mb resort, then a non-participating one), I'd be able to book FP+ for my whole trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

Online check in is fully checking in. It always has been, but you have had to stop and pick up your packet at the Front Desk because you needed room keys. Now your band is your room key.

Hmm. I don't think that's going to work for people who have booked packages; others have said that tickets are NOT live until you are there at the resort and at the checkin desk.

Also, how are you finding out room numbers?

I want to make sure I am following this - so if I had a one day reservation at a FB+ testing property, but was staying for five days total (the rest of trip with a friend), I could use the FB+ for my whole trip?

This I know, because we check out of POR on the 9th and I was able to make FP+ reservations online for the 11th.

But, you have to have a valid ticket tied to your magic band also, don't you?

Not sure. Although I have APs linked to my account, while doing that process there was wording on the screen (I had no ink in my printer during the time that I was doing all this and the FP+ stuff so I couldn't print it all out, and I wish I had OR knew how to do a screenshot) that was VERY clear that I needed to bring my actual APs for entrance. So I don't think my APs are truly on my MBs, but I was still able to do the above.