IS this Disney legal--renting a room for the EMH?

[jenniferhouston2]

We are strongly considering renting a home near Disney to accomodate some special needs in the family. But, we love the resort EMH access. Is there anything wrong with paying for a campsite for the 4 of us to get the resort perks, but then actually staying off campus?

My husband and I are havign an ethical debate. He says its ok because we are paying something for the access, and that it shouldnt bother Disney if we never actually use the space?

Any thoughts out there?

Jennifer

 

[DznyLvr2005]

We are strongly considering renting a home near Disney to accomodate some special needs in the family. But, we love the resort EMH access. Is there anything wrong with paying for a campsite for the 4 of us to get the resort perks, but then actually staying off campus?

My husband and I are havign an ethical debate. He says its ok because we are paying something for the access, and that it shouldnt bother Disney if we never actually use the space?

Any thoughts out there?

Jennifer

Technically I don't see anything wrong with that at all! You're paying for the room, so take advantage of the benefits, even if you're not staying there.

 

[EmptyCinema]

You'd obviously still have to check in and all, but I don't see why it would be a problem.

 

[lucysdad]

The only problem is if you are renting the last space when the facility is close to being sold out. Then you're taking away from someone else the opportunity to stay where they really want to. But really, what is the chance of that? Once you pay for the spot, I bet WDW doesn't care if you use it or not.
Lucy's Mom

 

[DisneyFans4]

The question is whether it's cost effective. If it's only the EMH you want it doesn't seem worth it depending on how much the campsite is costing you.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Campsites go for around 40$ a night I think..

I'd do that if I REALLY wanted EMH and that was the only way to get it. I"m curious tho if they'd boot the reservation out of the system if nobody actually occupies the site. That'd be my biggest concern.

Knox

 

[twinspluscade]

Campsites go for around 40$ a night I think..

I'd do that if I REALLY wanted EMH and that was the only way to get it. I"m curious tho if they'd boot the reservation out of the system if nobody actually occupies the site. That'd be my biggest concern.

Knox

That'd be my concern as well. With a campsite, it would be pretty obvious no one was staying there...unless you went "all out" and set up a tent. Which actually wouldn't be a bad idea, if you already have one--then they'd have no idea if you were sleeping there or not.

 

[Florida_Mom]

The only problem is if you are renting the last space when the facility is close to being sold out. Then you're taking away from someone else the opportunity to stay where they really want to. But really, what is the chance of that? Once you pay for the spot, I bet WDW doesn't care if you use it or not.
Lucy's Mom

Well, it depends on the time of year. FW is very popular and does get sold out quite a bit. There are only two tent-camping only loops (the least expensive options) so those do tend to get used. We have a pop up, and the last time we stayed in a preferred loop rather than the tent loop (where pop ups can stay) because the tent only loops were booked.

I guess Disney would care only to the extent that someone actually camping there would also tend to use the Meadows trading posts to buy things and take advantage of Trail's End, perhaps use the marina, and the hay ride, etc. Certainly someone staying off site at a home could take advantage of those things as well, but probably wouldn't to the extent that someone camping there would.

There have been quite a few threads about this on the camping board. You may wish to check it out, OP.

 

[Sammie]

You can do it but you will have to set up camp and occupy it, or else as stated they will assume you have checked out early.

As crowded as EMH gets, it would not be worth the extra money to me.

 

[La2kw]

I wouldn't bother with the hassle. EMH is not worth the trouble, IMO. Too crowded for us!

 

[princessgirl2238]

as long as you check in and have the "key to the world" (or what ever they do at the campground)thing to show that you are staying at the hotel (which you get at check in), the people at the parks can't prove that you didn't set up a tent at the campground or not. and the people at check in can't turn off a key for things such as EMH and if someone at the campground would call a cell phone or something to ask, just say that you decided that you didn't want to camp that night and you went somewhere else like a downtown disney hotel. as long as you pay for the night, you get all the perks of staying at a disney hotel (my friends and i sometimes do the same thing, but at a moderate or deluxe resort for emh and the pool- plus the busses to and from PI)

 

[disneymayz]

As stated earlier, EMH is not worth it. We have found that the parks with EMH are actually more crowded then the others. When I make the plans to which park we are going to and on which day I use the EMH to figure out which park not to go to that day. I think the main question should be is if you could live with it. There was this one time that I wanted to change the date on my parking pass so I could use it when we stayed off-site and my DW was totally against it because she could not live with it. "It is cheating Disney"

 

[jenniferhouston2]

Well besides EMH, if this is "Disney legal", you would enjoy all of the privileges of resort guests, including free parking at the theme parks. Over 5 or 6 days, that will be a savings.

Thanks for all of the answers, would love to hear from someone else who has actually done this. Thanks Jennifer

 

[larkles]

How could they be cheating Disney if they paid for the site

I would understand that mode of thinking if they had 15 people at 1 campsite and were overcrowding the comfort stations

 

[maxiesmom]

If you want to know what true campers think of this, go post over on that board. The tent sites are hard to come by. While you can do it, it is not considered very nice.

 

[gigi1313]

excuse my camping ignorance, but how would they know that your site was not occupied? do they actually patrol the campground knowing which sites are issued and which are not? it's certainly not like mousekeeping comes and tidies up your dirt

i have heard it told that off-site guests will often book and not use a campsite just to have access to the paid dining plan (campsites are not eligible for free dining)... so this is really no different...

 

[dvcHammer]

At any hotel or resort, if you do not occupy the room (or campsite in this case) it will be assumed that you have checked out early. They should try to contact you first if you gave them a phone number, but there is no legal requirement to do this. They would then cancel (check out) the reservation and the invalidate the room keys.

Why not set up a tent and have a place to go during the day for a break?

 

[EmptyCinema]

You know, you could just consider contacting them directly and seeing what action they would take. Don't give them a name or anything: even if they say it's against the rules, you can still make your own (better informed) decision.

 

[auntie]

I'm not sure what rate you were quoted but often the campsites can be close to $100.00 a night depending on the time of year..and what type of site is available. I am assuming you'd be trying to get a tent site..so that would be cheaper. But even at $50.00 a night..you think that it's worth $350.00 a week to avoid the parking fee and have the extra hours? I'm not sure that's worth it. I'm sure Disney doesn't care who gives them the money. However there are a good many people who actually love to take their RV's to FW, and would enjoy and use the site..not just the perks. I did read about this practice on the camping board...and found it hard to believe. I guess they were right.

 

[Sammie]

excuse my camping ignorance, but how would they know that your site was not occupied? do they actually patrol the campground knowing which sites are issued and which are not? it's certainly not like mousekeeping comes and tidies up your dirt

i have heard it told that off-site guests will often book and not use a campsite just to have access to the paid dining plan (campsites are not eligible for free dining)... so this is really no different...

Security does, it would be a shame for someone to set up camp and then just disappear and no one care. Also Guest Services have had other guests report concerns that their neighbors set up camp and just never came back.