Is this against the rules

[asmit4]

I must be really dense - but what's the big deal about a KTTW card?? I've seen it mentioned on here several times. I thought it was just your "room key" that you could add charging privileges to? Is it not? And if so, at the end of your stay, you still have to pay the charges, so why not just charge stuff as you go? I know some people don't have credit cards, but you could easily get a pre-paid Visa to use. So the big benefit of a KTTW card just escapes me.

For me I like the 1 stop shop. I can charge to it, I have my DDP credits put on it, I can have my tickets loaded onto it so its not a paper ticket anymore, thereby allowing me to save it easier when we add non expiring options. SURE- having a paper style type ticket is not a huge deal, but I like having a CC style card that I can take home and put somewhere safe. I am one of those "where the heck did I put that piece of paper" kinda people. Having the KTTW card is just, I dunno, nice for us....it's not as amazing as I make it sound, I just like having it. It's just one more thing to add to the benefits of stayiing onsite list.

 

[djblu883]

I just have to say >>>>that people who want to camp at the Fort have to make reservations as much as 500 days out to get the days they want! If you do this you would cause some family who really wanted to stay there not be able to.Please kindly consider your actions before you do this !!!!!

My thought is for people who need multiple bed\bath rooms. Condos and houses with great ammenities like private pools are available for much less than a suite or multiple roooms on property. I did some calculations and I would save close to $3200 on a 10 night stay during peak season using this idea.

 

[asmit4]

I just have to say >>>>that people who want to camp at the Fort have to make reservations as much as 500 days out to get the days they want! If you do this you would cause some family who really wanted to stay there not be able to.Please kindly consider your actions before you do this !!!!!

Not true- read the previous posts. Sites are 100% available TODAY for next week and the ENTIRE month following. If this isn't supposed to be busy season- then I don't know what is. Someone tried to book a site for 5 weeks just to prove availability and it 100% WORKED! See for yourself!

 

[peter1706]

The last time I stayed in the CR's tower on the 14th floor I had to settle for a regular room instead of the VP suite that i wanted.
While there i was chatting with a concierge CM and found out the person who had that room was only a party of one!!! She was a local who liked that room and often rented it.

I couldn't believe it!!

Here was only one person who certainly didnt need the amount of space in the VP suite and here we were 4 people and an infant cramped into a regular room all because of her!

I was amazed how stupid, insensitive and selfish she was.
I only wish she was half as smart and considerate as the camping people.

 

[asmit4]

The last time I stayed in the CR's tower on the 14th floor I had to settle for a regular room instead of the VP suite that i wanted.
While there i was chatting with a concierge CM and found out the person who had that room was only a party of one!!! She was a local who liked that room and often rented it.

I couldn't believe it!!

Here was only one person who certainly didnt need the amount of space in the VP suite and here we were 4 people and an infant cramped into a regular room all because of her!

I was amazed how stupid, insensitive and selfish she was.
I only wish she was half as smart and considerate as the camping people.

 

[aribelle]

But if the reason they're not spending money at the marina, golf cart rental or bike rental is because they're at the parks enjoying themselves there, then does it really matter where the money is spent? Someone who does actually "camp" at Fort Wilderness may not engage in any of these activities either but spend all of their time at the parks. Why does it matter?

When I went to law school our real property professor described an interest in real property as a "bundle of sticks"- if I lease the property from you, then I am a holder of one of the sticks, but you at the fee owner would hold a different, larger stick. Your lender would also hold a stick for its security interest, and the electric company would have a teeny tiny stick for its easement across your property to run their electric line (so would the gas company, water company and cable company)--together, all of the interests in the property comprise the "bundle." I think of the campsite as a similar analogy. Yes, it's a traditional campsite. Yes, it offers certain "park perks" that you wouldn't get at the KOA down the road. Whether someone elects to use the "campsite" stick and not the "park perks" stick is their choice and right. Similarly, someone who chooses to use the "park perks" and not the campsite--they should have that right too.

This whole thing may be a moot point soon anyway--in my local paper this morning there was an article about how many motorhome owners are choosing not to take trips because of the poor gas mileage of these vehicles and the price of gas is making it too expensive to take them out for long distances. And that the motorhome sales business has basically imploded. So, unless someone is local to Orlando, I'm not sure that as many motorhomes will be making the trek to WDW this upcoming year as gas prices remain high.

But we're talking about campsites, where you pitch a tent, not where you drive a gas guzzling motorhome and hook it up. So maybe all those motorhome folks will now fly down for less than the gas in their motor and bring along their tent?

By your law professors example then also would the landowner, utility company or bank really care whether the lessor was living in the house or simply paying them their portion of the sticks??? Nope, can't imagine that the landowner cares so long as whatever they're doing doesn't bring down the value of their property and their checks don't bounce. And not living in a campsite isn't going to bring down the value of it, but the landowner gets paid and so does the bank and the utility company's wires and such are still where they want them.

 

[aribelle]

I am now orgainizing the members of the camping forum. We will be renting all available off site units within a 50 mile radius of WDW in an effort to 1. prevent people who want or can only afford to stay off site from being able to, and 2. to raise the price of any available units we are not able to secure so that renting is prohibitively expensive. After we accomplish this, we will organize an invasion of the pools at all the deluxe resorts. We may even bring our dogs with us. Our battle cry:KUNGALOOSH!

Be sure to also bring along your refillable mugs from 1980's to use during your pool invasion, lol.

 

[aribelle]

I must be really dense - but what's the big deal about a KTTW card?? I've seen it mentioned on here several times. I thought it was just your "room key" that you could add charging privileges to? Is it not? And if so, at the end of your stay, you still have to pay the charges, so why not just charge stuff as you go? I know some people don't have credit cards, but you could easily get a pre-paid Visa to use. So the big benefit of a KTTW card just escapes me.

The card itself is worthless pretty much, it's just a key...but it's what you use to prove that you're staying on site for the EMH hours, and it has your park tickets on it, and it has your DDP credits on it.

Yes, you can also charge to your account on it, but I agree, why bother? I guess it's a convenience to some to have everything on one key. Me, I'd worry about losing the dern thing, lol. When we were there, I carried my AP, Credit Card, DDE, AAA card, and photo ID (drivers license) in my lanyard around my neck. That was all I needed. I carried about $50 in cash on me for the very very few places that didn't take credit cards (the only ones I actually remember were the vendors selling light up flowers at the parade and the popcorn guy cause his machine wasn't working). I just stuck those bills in the lanyard with the cards, and gave the coins of change to the kids to keep (and carry), lol. But at home I usually give the kids the change too, I hate it in my pocket.

 

[aribelle]

I just have to say >>>>that people who want to camp at the Fort have to make reservations as much as 500 days out to get the days they want! If you do this you would cause some family who really wanted to stay there not be able to.Please kindly consider your actions before you do this !!!!!

But this is simply not so....at least not for the tent/pop up campsites. I didn't try the RV's, maybe THAT is where everyone is thinking is all booked up.

Go to disneyworld.com and enter this week...there is availablity for the next MONTH all the way through the rest of the summer season (most expensive) to the value season that starts on August 3. I didn't go any further than this, but geez louise, if there is campsites available during this time frame, what Disney deems it's busiest time.....and I also looked for the weekend before through the weekend after Labor Day, and still availabilty. Exactly when is it that is so booked up??? Give me dates??? Because everything I've tried I can click and rent a campsite right now for.....including this coming week.

 

[mickaholic4077]

I must say that you all have brightened up my dull dreary Saturday with this topic. Thanks so much!!!

 

[aribelle]

The last time I stayed in the CR's tower on the 14th floor I had to settle for a regular room instead of the VP suite that i wanted.
While there i was chatting with a concierge CM and found out the person who had that room was only a party of one!!! She was a local who liked that room and often rented it.

I couldn't believe it!!

Here was only one person who certainly didnt need the amount of space in the VP suite and here we were 4 people and an infant cramped into a regular room all because of her!

I was amazed how stupid, insensitive and selfish she was.
I only wish she was half as smart and considerate as the camping people.

I didn't see any laughing icons, but I hope you're joking. If that's how she chooses to spend her money and she got the reservation before you, than how is that wrong? I'm sorry you didn't get the room you wanted, but just because someone else did doesn't make them stupid, insensitive or selfish?

Maybe now in addition to a rule that you must sleep every night in the campsite/room that you booked, we need another rule that if you live local and therefore could go home to sleep you can't rent a room....or that if you're a single or couple you can't rent a room that would fit more people in it????

Wow....I really hope you're kidding, otherwise, please, read the post above where they discussed it all being about you.

Gee, I rented a 4 bedroom house because it was cheaper than a 2 bedroom condo, but we only used 2 of the bedrooms. Does that make me stupid, insensitive and selfish, because your larger family now couldn't find a house to rent because all that was left was 2 bedroom units????

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The last time I stayed in the CR's tower on the 14th floor I had to settle for a regular room instead of the VP suite that i wanted.
While there i was chatting with a concierge CM and found out the person who had that room was only a party of one!!! She was a local who liked that room and often rented it.

I couldn't believe it!!

Here was only one person who certainly didnt need the amount of space in the VP suite and here we were 4 people and an infant cramped into a regular room all because of her!

I was amazed how stupid, insensitive and selfish she was.
I only wish she was half as smart and considerate as the camping people.

While I agree with you that on paper your family would need the extra space more then this woman, the fact is she got the reservation 1st.

 

[terri01p]

People are going back and forth over nothing at this point but for just the sake of arguing, I don't even think the OP has checked back into the thread.

Lets face it, people are going to do what they want to do regardless if it's right or wrong. They wanted an opinion on doing what they thought was a smart money making move and they have heard from both sides, now it's all in how they feel morally about things, no one can change anyone mind on any subject if they feel it's right...so beit.

It doesn't have to be written in stone for me to be a right minded person, I always try to see the big picture in life and hope that one day it comes back my way.

 

[auntie]

I agree with your there Terri...

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Who is outradged? I'm merily expressing my opinion like you are.



What do you think the intended purpose of a campsite is? Uh, maybe TO CAMP!

Maybe. But since Disney is the one renting those locations, they get to determine it, not you, not me, not anyone else on these boards. That's why I asked if DISNEY had a policy on it.

I appreciate your sarcasm, though.

 

[aribelle]

Out of curiousity to all weighing in on this topic (pro and con)... has anyone actually called Disney (or emailed) and ask IF this is allowed. If so, morality aside, then the OP would be able, if not... then we would all know for sure!

Ok...I took your challenge (man I really am bored today aren't I...yep, DH took the kids swimming and I just wanted to veg). I just got off the phone with "Eleanor" at CRO and asked if I could book a campsite for the week before Thanksgiving (when we're really going and staying offsite) and get the dining plan. "Yes, we have availablity for those dates, the cost is $42 per night Sun through Thursday and $48 per night for Friday and Saturday. DDP costs $37.99 per adult".

I then dropped the bomb (badly worded I'll admit now)....."Eleanor, do I have to actually stay at the campgrounds? " There was a moment of silence and then she asked if I wanted to stay somewhere else she'd be happy to check availability for me. "No", said I, "I would like to pay for the campsite so that I'm eligible for the DDP but I don't want to sleep at the campsite, I'll sleep at a place off I-192. Would that be ok". I could tell I confused her because she asked why I'd want to do that, and I explained that all I really wanted was the DDP but I didn't want to sleep on the ground in a tent, nor did I want to sleep at any of the resorts, I wanted to sleep in a large house offsite. Again, a hestitation probably trying to figure out why, but she then said, "if you stay at the campsite then you're eligible for the DDP, so if that's what you want to do I'd be happy to book it for you". I thanked her and said I'd think about it and hung up, feeling a bit guilty for confusing the poor gal. I'm sure she and the others in the CRO are having a giggle over that silly call.

SOO....that means, yes, we have confirmation from at least one CM that you can pay for a campsite and get the DDP and if that's what I want to do and not sleep there, she'll make the reservation for you. Of course, we all know that if you call 5 different CM's you're liable to get 5 different answers. So who wants to call and try to get a CM who says "no you must sleep in your tent because we'll be doing a bed check mister".

 

[minnie61650]

.......Disney is pretty savvy about what is happening on their property. One of the biggest flamings that I see is for people who openly admit that they use a Refillable Mug at either a different resort than they're staying....or an even heavier flaming offense, bring their last mug back on their next vacation. Obviously, if Disney really thought this was unacceptable, there are a zillion ways that they can make it nearly impossible to do......until the last year or two, they had different mugs for each resort, so it would have been easy for a CM to spot a "foreign" mug and politely tell the guest they can't use that here. But they don't. Instead, last year (or maybe the year before) they changed the mugs so that they are ALL identical....now the CM has no way to know what resort you paid for....or if you even did this stay or at all (do you have to show a room key to buy a mug???? or can someone eating at a resort food court living off site pay for one, they appear to be out in the open). If they really wanted to stop this, they'd simply change the design every month, or every quarter, or even every year, ...........

I think you are tring to JUSTIFY your opinion by saying if WDW really cared then they would not count on guest integrity. WDW should know by now that guests will use any loop hole they can. Gee I guess Disney does care other wise they find a way to enforce to enforce their rules.

WHen WDW started selling mutiday tickets that were to be used by the same person each day guests went ahead and sold half used tickets anway.
STUPID Disney if they really cared they would do something about it.
Tickets cost more.

Then came Biometric readers and more time getting through the gates.

DDP child credits and adult credits were grouped.
Another loophole--Guests paid children's meals OOP and used the adult creids for Signature meals.
STUPID Disney if they really cared they would do something about it.
Now the meals are seperated and DDP costs more.

Lets park at CR and go the parks.
STUPID Disney if they really cared they would do something about it.
Now there are 3 hour parking permits.

Refill Mugs. Guests using the mugs at different resorts.
Many guests justified it because they had split stays.
I myself as I am quite sure many others did) wrote to WDW because I (they)felt it was unfair to guests with split stays ( i myself never had a split stay)
WDW changed to one mug so that it can now be used at any place that refills a Disney refillable mug.

This is a plus for any guest who uses a refill mug.

Yes, WDW does care about the bottom and they do care about refill mug abuse and when it effects their bottom line that the increaded price of mug does cover it and there is a cost effective way to stop the mug abuse they will STOP it.

I personally think it is a shame that WDW has to enforce the rules because they can no longer trust the integrity of their guests.

 

[Lisa P.]

This is quite a thread. Our family has never rented a WDW campsite or hotel room just for the bennies and we have no plans to do it either. However...

We've stayed at a campground near us, where some of our friends (the men and older children) camped but others (most of the women, babies, special needs child and adult) went home or to another friend's home to sleep, for various reasons. We paid the campground as if all were staying overnight, which meant an extra campsite or two, so we could all enjoy the amenities and evenings together. IMO, it's absolutely no one else's business that some of our group opted not to sleep there. It's also not a concern that someone else could not rent those empty sites - they could have done so before we did. I'm pretty amazed that anyone really feels it their place to judge someone else's moral character based on how they use the facilities of a paid campsite or not

People are not using bad "ethics" or "morals" when they select which features of their rental that they value for their money and which they don't. In all of these cases, the campsite is being used... just not in the same way that you may prefer to see it used.

Sorry, but this is NOT a charity, a gov't funded park or a public access matter. The campsites are paid up according to Disney's existing policy and rules. It's not a moral issue - it's just a personal preference issue. I can no more criticize these folks than people who fill all the value/moderate rooms and campsites on New Year's Eve, before I get a reservation, and then party out all night. FWIW, I would think Disney doesn't mind the quieter, emptier campground so long as the sites are paid up - they'd probably prefer to have a 7 night paid (but invisible) camper than 7 night present camper who complains about invisible campers. Whoops.

BTW, the more often Disney has full occupancy at FWC during value season (or year-round), the more likely that Disney will find the campground to be a solid profit center and consider expanding it. They've done it before, whenever something stays very full and in high demand over a long period of time. Think of the first moderate hotel, value hotel, princess character meal, etc.

 

[Us3]

Maybe. But since Disney is the one renting those locations, they get to determine it, not you, not me, not anyone else on these boards. That's why I asked if DISNEY had a policy on it.

I appreciate your sarcasm, though.

In all seriousness...Disney does document in detail what can and can not occupy a site...but they don't say that it "must be occupied". Thus, the loop hole.