This may sound a little off topic but after this thread, the numerous FP threads and debates and all the other hot button issues around here over the years about pool hopping, refillable mugs etc. I finally got my hands around something with one of the most innocent questions being asked on this board.
Someone wanted to know about golf reservations and if you still had to leave a credit card number and was the cancellation policy still 24 hours. Having golfed at WDW many times, I immediately answered the question because hey, I've been enough times that know all that stuff.
I answered and in the response said just go look at the policy online and it explains everything. Then I thought to myself, when is the last time I looked at the policy? So I did, and guess what the answer I gave was wrong. WDW requires a credit card number for golf reservations, and has a 48 hour cancellation policy and stated rates for all seasons and course. Problem was everything I was reading went against everything I thought I knew.
Then I tried to reconcile the whole thing in my mind and suddenly a whole lot of things became very clear. Disney has a policy written out for just about everything that goes on there that they offer to the public. That is their official policy and if you are an honest person that reads rules and accepts them then that's all you need and you move on.
Now I am not suggesting that anyone that moves to the next step in the process is dishonest but this is where the wheels come off in a lot of the discussions. I will only speak to what I know best which is the Tee time policy as written vs to what actually happens. First I go in the summer, and not a lot of folks want to play golf because of the heat and humidity so call it the "off" season for golf. Disney says the cheaper rates start at 2:00 PM, every time I call for a tee time they tell me the cheaper rates start at 10:00AM. Official policy wants a credit card, when I call they say all they need is my reservation number and won't charge me anything if I don't show up. When I get to the course as a single player at 9:15 they offer to start me right away, I say no I have the after 10:00 rate, they say that's fine you can start now there's no one on the course.
What I am trying to get at is there is the "official" policy, and then there is the reality of practicality. Rules for golf don't count in the off season when theres's no one playing. But come back from October through March and the rules apply to the tee, no exceptions.
So the moral of this long rambling story is this, there are rules that say don't park at the resorts to go to a park, use the FP during the window, refillable mugs are only good during your current stay etc. Can you do it and get away with it? Yes. Can you sometimes do it and even get it blessed by the CM on duty at the parking lot, at the FP entrance, or in a food court? Yes again. Could your car be towed, you be denied entrance with a late FP, or be asked to pay for drinks got in the old mug? Once again, YES! So the lesson learned is simple, they have rules that depending on circumstance may or may not be enforced to the letter. Since I am on vacation and do not want to take the chance of ruining my fun, I will adhere to the rules and not take a chance of having unpleasant things happen. Others are willing to take that chance, I am not. All I can say is when they do enforce the rules, don't get mad, yell at CM's or threaten anyone, just say okay, and deal with the consiquinces of your decision.
People do things that are against the rules/law everyday of their life. I feel that it's pointless for people to come on here and be so self-righteous when there is no perfect person.
Just because it isn't your parents, doesn't make it right.. and as I said, you are only the messenger.. and you do not condone what they are doing..
Sooooo read that a little slower... and you may understand what I said too...
