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

[CarolA]

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

I am not bothering to read this thread because of the fact that at least some poster are going to be having the "Stroke" over this...

It's legal, it's fine and don't let the hysterics on here affect you. There is NOTHING in the law or Disney that says you have to USE the room/site you pay for. (In the past year I have paid for a hotel room for weeks on end that was empty every weekend..... GASP! I have not committed a sin and/or broken any laws!)

Every time this comes up I am tempted to do it, just to see what really happens. My bet is on NADA. This is not a new idea. It has been posted on the internet and is even mentioned in guidebooks. The only place it seems to be "horrid" is the DIS.

 

[Atotty]

There's actually a planning book out there that advocates doing what you want to do: staying offsite and renting camping space to take advantage of onsite perks. However, they take it a step further.....they suggest having a one night reservation every other night since EMH, free parking, etc, is good for check in and check out day so to them there's no need to pay for a site each day.

Sounds like a *huge* hassle to me.

 

[Disneyhappy]

They don't care until they realize something's going on that:

a.) they're able to make MORE money on
b.) they're losing money on
c.) is causing other people to get ticked off.

That's when they step up and create rules and regulations that make it difficult for everyone. I think this is an instance of case c. Remember when Disney didn't require credit cards for Cinderella's Royal Table? And somebody just made reservations out the yin yang for other people? Those people were going to eat on Disney property, Disney was going to get their money. Disney was losing NOTHING on that. But enough people that wanted that breakfast spoke up to the point that Disney started requiring a credit card deposit and making the reservations non transferrable. An inconvenience to everyone else.

I wouldn't do it either. If I wanted to stay offsite, it's easy enough to tour without having to use extra magic hours. Or like you, I'd just as soon give Disney the money and use what I'm paying for.

I understand what you are trying to say but I'm not sure I agree this would fall under "C " as I haven't read anyone who is really "ticked off" on this thread to even stir Disney's interest. Also, this is different than Cinderella's Royal Table as those ressies were being made with no money exchanging hands. In the case of the campsite, WDW is receiving payment for their product. The only change I would see them making is to charge more money for a campsite if they feel they can get the price. Are campsites consistently sold out for WDW to even take notice? I don't know. But seriously, I would bet only a miniscule % of people do this at WDW as it really is not that cost effective or worth the hassle for most people.

Lastly, WDW is not the only place where this happens. Cruise line passengers will rent a room from a local hotel/resort for the few hours they are in port just to have use of a hotel's cool pool, beach and a place to freshen up afterwards. It is very common place. Although I can't remember which islands anymore, we did this on two different cruises and paid full price for a one night stays (no 1/2 day discounts were given by the resorts where we rented). They don't care whether someone is actually sleeping in the rooms. I also like the rental car analogy someone previously made. Like I stated in my earlier post in this thread, a similar issue was brought up on these boards last year which piqued my curiosity enough to call WDW. Once checked into the room and they have your credit card for payment of the length of your reservation, WDW advised they do not care whether you use the room or not. They just asked that the guests request no mousekeeping so the mousekeeping CMs do not become alarmed.
For me personally, I agree that the EMH would not be a draw for us to do this. I have sworn off evening EMH for good after last August!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Lastly, WDW is not the only place where this happens. Cruise line passengers will rent a room from a local hotel/resort for the few hours they are in port just to have use of a hotel's cool pool, beach and a place to freshen up afterwards. It is very common place. Although I can't remember which islands anymore, we did this on two different cruises and paid full price for a one night stays (no 1/2 day discounts were given by the resorts where we rented).

I love love this idea. WOW, I can't wait to take another cruise and do this as well. What a great idea. See what you can learn on the DIS!

 

[CarolA]

By the way, yesterday I was listening to a PodCast where the owner of one of the MAJOR Disney booking agencies said that she did this for Free Dining last year. Booked a room at a value and stayed at her DVC room LOL!!!

 

[WillCAD]

Lastly, WDW is not the only place where this happens. Cruise line passengers will rent a room from a local hotel/resort for the few hours they are in port just to have use of a hotel's cool pool, beach and a place to freshen up afterwards. It is very common place. Although I can't remember which islands anymore, we did this on two different cruises and paid full price for a one night stays (no 1/2 day discounts were given by the resorts where we rented).

That would be Nassau. Cruisers who go ashore in Nassau will often book hotel rooms on Paradise Island, near the Atlantis Resort, in order to get swim priviledges at Atlantis' many and varied pools (which are more like a water park in and of themselves). Several hotels near Atlantis do a brisk business this way, because the cost of a room at those hotels is far cheaper than the cost of a room at Atlantis.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I just wanted to add that I fully intend to be at the right place at the right time and win a stay in the castle. I hope noone minds our room being empty that night!

 

[Disneyhappy]

That would be Nassau. Cruisers who go ashore in Nassau will often book hotel rooms on Paradise Island, near the Atlantis Resort, in order to get swim priviledges at Atlantis' many and varied pools (which are more like a water park in and of themselves). Several hotels near Atlantis do a brisk business this way, because the cost of a room at those hotels is far cheaper than the cost of a room at Atlantis.

Thanks, WillCAD! That was one of the places- Paradise Island! Although, we didn't go over to Atlantis (which is an absolutely gorgeous resort complex). We booked the room before our cruise and took a taxi to the hotel. I believe the other port was Bermuda. If I could locate the info easily, I would look it up but I lost a lot of stuff in a computer crash.
Sorry for going off topic!

 

[mrsgus06]

I am a camper. I stay in Ft. Wilderness all summer. I realize that the campground does fill up quickly and frequently so I book early. You have every right to do this, but the campground will become sold out more frequently and Disney will notice this. They will not make more spaces for the campers, but they will raise the price of the site. I am paying $66.00 a night for the site and that is with full hook up. I know the partial/tent sites are around $40.00, but, if you fill those up with non campers, the people that actually camp and only need partial hook ups now move up to full hook up sites. I guess you can say it flows uphill till you have to pay full price (preferred site) for a camper that only needs a partial hook up. I hope this makes sense. I am not saying that it is wrong, but please look at it in a campers point of view also. We, as campers, enjoy our rv's and consider them our second home and a lot of people will not or can not stay in a hotel. My family of 7 will not fit into one hotel room and our prices double because we need two rooms. We all fit in our camper. O.k., thought process over, going to pack the camper as we speak! Two more weeks and we will be there until Aug!!!!!