Maybe some help to free up "ghost sites"

[tiggerdad]

Some of you have seen in the past that I get bent out of shape when I see posters over on the strategy board talk about staying offsite and booking a "throw away campsite" in order to get some perks of onsite guests. Like booking FP+ and parking for some of the days. Then they don't even stay on the site.

Some of you have noted in the past how sites were reported as "full" but campers there were saying sites were open all over the place. We had suspicions of why that was...

Well, apparently now Disney is going to start letting offsite guests book FP+ up to 60 days out for their ticket days. Original plans were that offsite guests could not book in advance and were being forced to use onsite kiosks the day of their visit and hope they got something, thus the reason for booking cheaper campsites in order to get the perks.

While this may not fix the problem all together, maybe it will help some have an easier time of booking sites. I believe the offsite guests can start booking their FP+ for stays on or after April 8th.

 

[Teamubr]

Hmm, this may help the ghost site issue (has it evey been validated this is the cause?), I think it just created a FP issue. Now people will need to log on 60 days out to guess where and what they plan to do in 2 months or else "take what's left." Getting dinning reservations can be hard enough during busier times and require some early planning. Now we have to do the same with FP.
Not a huge problem for those of us that are computer savey or are the obsessive planners. I feel for the "normal" Disney customer that may not be as aware of the process.
j

 

[super_camper]

Some of you have seen in the past that I get bent out of shape when I see posters over on the strategy board talk about staying offsite and booking a "throw away campsite" in order to get some perks of onsite guests. Like booking FP+ and parking for some of the days. Then they don't even stay on the site.

Some of you have noted in the past how sites were reported as "full" but campers there were saying sites were open all over the place. We had suspicions of why that was...

Well, apparently now Disney is going to start letting offsite guests book FP+ up to 60 days out for their ticket days. Original plans were that offsite guests could not book in advance and were being forced to use onsite kiosks the day of their visit and hope they got something, thus the reason for booking cheaper campsites in order to get the perks.

While this may not fix the problem all together, maybe it will help some have an easier time of booking sites. I believe the offsite guests can start booking their FP+ for stays on or after April 8th.

I don't know how pervasive the throw-away problem is but I do know it does happen, I know someone that has done it more than once.

I will say the throw-away problem predates FP+ so although FP+ may make it worse it is not solely responsible for it.

Although I would never personally do it, I'm on the fence on this one. I see the value of it and why people do it, I also understand why it upsets other people like you. I'm quite sure Disney will take action if the problem grows to a point that it impacts revenue.

 

[bama_ed]

You are more confidant than I am, tiggerdad, that this will help the issue of "throw-away" sites at the Fort. As super_camper said, this only puts on-property guests back on the same footing as off-property guests like they were when everybody showed up at the park that day and had to claim paper FP.

Sadly it will still leave those who want to book a cheap Fort site to get EMH and free parking at the parks.

I'm still kinda bummed about having to hyper-plan my vacation (what days in what parks and what rides) to compete with uber-planners. I'm going to try it this time but if it doesn't go well I can just as easily not spend $100 a day per person in the parks if I have to compete with the herd to ride a stupid ride.

Bama Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

Hey, I'll take any news that is even remotely optimistic these days...

Remember, I'm either at work, clinicals, or studying my rear off all day and night. It doesn't take much to get my atten...SQUIRREL!

 

[CamperMomma]

Is there a reason that FW can't do what many of the busier state parks in the north do? You have to have a unit on the reserved lot by X pm that evening, or it's consider forfeited and is available for others (aside from a call regarding a breakdown, then said time is extended until the following night). Granted, I suppose that wouldn't help for reservations far out, but maybe it would deter those who strictly use this practice for the other perks while not setting a foot in the campground other than to check in then promptly take off to their off site location. If all their "perks" would be cancelled when there's no unit there, suddenly they've paid for nothing. It's been years (more than I care to admit) since I've been down there, so not sure if anything like that would even work. All the FP+ stuff is new since I was there in the early 2000's.

 

[Mmketeer]

I hope your right on the campground thing. But, yes it is 60 days for FastPass.

I used my ticket in Jan. and walked right up to the FastPass CM and got all three attractions that I wanted at a reasonable time (and I didn't enter Hollywood Studios until after 1pm- had to have lunch at my fav. Beaches and Cream).

Now, I am going back for the Flower and Garden Festival in April (no resort stay) and My Disney Experience page is telling me I can book my Fastpass online 60 days in advance (which as of today is April 5th). But, I have also linked my May and November reservations and I still can't do May's yet. Is it just me or is it 60 days out period?

Is anyone else trying to figure out this My Disney Experience thing as you go along or are is everyone just calling the number they provide for help?

I already messed up back in November and didn't order a colored Magic Band so now I have grey!

 

[JETS70]

I agree with Bama Ed in that I do not like hyper planning my trip. When we have traveled to Disney prior to the MB and FP+, our plans many times changed as often as the weather. This was one of the things that we liked. We always purchased park hopper tickets because we wanted the freedom to travel from park to park as we wanted.
In order to get the FP's that we want now, we have to decide what park we will visit and on what day. Might as well get a regular ticket.
Another point that Bama Ed makes is that on site guests are on the same playing field as off site guests. Call me selfish but I believe that if you are on site, you deserve on site perks such as first dibs on FP's.
I know I am a little off topic but another issue I have is having to pick between the more popular rides when planning our FP+. When we stayed at the Fort during Thanksgiving week, we picked the attractions we wanted FP's for and it gave us choices for times. Now when planning FP's, you have to pick between attractions. Example, if you are visiting Hollywood Studios, you have to pick between Rockin Roller Coaster and Toy Story Mania for a FP on your FP+ MB. You can't do them both. That stinks........ Again, would you be better off without the FP+ and just go to the park and get the FP you want from the kiosk? I understand that this may limit your available times but at least you have a chance of getting to ride the rides you want with FP wait times as compared to stand by times.
Not sure what the solution is to the ghost sites but I have to believe that Disney can somehow stop or at least limit the impact of these ghost sites on those of us who want reservations at the Fort or stay on site at other resorts. Come on, Disney controls everything else except for the weather..... this should be simple.

 

[nabi]

Hey, I'll take any news that is even remotely optimistic these days...
Remember, I'm either at work, clinicals, or studying my rear off all day and night. It doesn't take much to get my atten...SQUIRREL!

I'll join in the optimism. I'd feel safer with campers on the sites beside me.

 

[tiggerdad]

Oh I absolutely agree with both of you on the whole "way too much planning" thing. I noticed on our first trip in 2009 that it was really fun because it was all new to us. Later I realized how "scheduled" the trip was with the ADRs and having to be here and there at certain times actually kept us from riding some rides or seeing some shows. In 2012 I cut back on the ADRs since I was able to cook some of my own at the camper. The trip really seemed smoother (aside from the whole camper damage from the storm thing...).

Now with FP+ it really sounds like Disney is introducing too much "chaos" into the whole enjoy the vacation thing. I agree with you Jets70 that the park hopper option is no longer on the table with the whole FP+ at one park only per day thing...

I believe without a doubt that our next trip will be for 10 days plus, instead of the past two trips for seven. This will allow us some "down" days to just sit around and relax and not worry about being here and there.

Maybe spend the day taking photos of squirrels and trying out of some of Frank's fishing holes...

 

[super_camper]

I agree with Bama Ed in that I do not like hyper planning my trip. When we have traveled to Disney prior to the MB and FP+, our plans many times changed as often as the weather. This was one of the things that we liked. We always purchased park hopper tickets because we wanted the freedom to travel from park to park as we wanted.
In order to get the FP's that we want now, we have to decide what park we will visit and on what day. Might as well get a regular ticket.
Another point that Bama Ed makes is that on site guests are on the same playing field as off site guests. Call me selfish but I believe that if you are on site, you deserve on site perks such as first dibs on FP's.
I know I am a little off topic but another issue I have is having to pick between the more popular rides when planning our FP+. When we stayed at the Fort during Thanksgiving week, we picked the attractions we wanted FP's for and it gave us choices for times. Now when planning FP's, you have to pick between attractions. Example, if you are visiting Hollywood Studios, you have to pick between Rockin Roller Coaster and Toy Story Mania for a FP on your FP+ MB. You can't do them both. That stinks........ Again, would you be better off without the FP+ and just go to the park and get the FP you want from the kiosk? I understand that this may limit your available times but at least you have a chance of getting to ride the rides you want with FP wait times as compared to stand by times.
Not sure what the solution is to the ghost sites but I have to believe that Disney can somehow stop or at least limit the impact of these ghost sites on those of us who want reservations at the Fort or stay on site at other resorts. Come on, Disney controls everything else except for the weather..... this should be simple.

I agree that it could be simple enough to police, the question is whether or not they want to police it.

I am no expert but I do know that if I had access to the data Disney has about it's guest's and likes/dislikes it wouldn't be difficult to make a decision. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking Disney, but at the end of the day they run a business and they know ALOT more more about or habits and how to translate them to maximize profits than we like to admit.