No Wonder FtW Is Always "Booked"

[poohbearwithme]

The fact is WDW has a way of plugging these little loopholes and patching them good. i.e. the finger print tickets. When it comes to messing with the profits Disney does not fool around. BTW, great forum. I just found this site and think it is great. I am hoping to go to WDW in late 2007 (my first trip in over 15 years-I know I'm telling my age). I see where people are defending him/her by saying they planned ahead and paid for it-so what. But its not the planning part that's my problem, its the having the money on hand to pay the deposit when I book problem. I know none of you know about that problem. Instead of being a FW "posser" why doesn't (s)he just rent a large RV and pitch a tent and stay at FW. To me that would make more sense than getting in the crowds to leave and come back everyday. I think Disney should have the same rule as US Forest Service. Require that the site be occupied the first night.

 

[CajunDixie]

So many people are saying book early and if you don't tough luck. That may work for self-employed people and retired people but your average working person cannot always plan their vacation days 2 years ahead of time. Some people have to request their vacations on a year to year basis and others have to go by seniority and if they are low on the totem pole you can bet the vacation weeks left will be slim pickings. Even some self-employed people cannot plan a vacation a year out due to the type of work they do. For example anyone in construction type work can figure the summer months will be very busy whereas the winter months are slower but then kids are in school.

Eventually, I think WDW will have to stop the the abuse of the low campground rates by non-campers. They'll have to either raise campground prices or raise ticket prices or all resort rates to compensate for an empty campground that turned into a glorified parking lot. Or they'll have to patrol the campground and determine any sites that are vacant. I think after a few people lose their camping/parking spot and lose out on the money they spent this practice will stop.

Since it's actually in the "how to" books, it makes it even harder for someone doing this, to see a problem with it.

But are they Disney authored or approved books? I don't recall reading about this practice in the Birnbaum's guidebooks.

 

[DMRick]

I agree, it's hard for those who either don't have much time to plan, or have to come during busier times. We've been over at Tropical Palms, when we'd rather be at Disney. I don't really mean to make it sound like "tough", but more like, well, they are playing by Disney's rules, so they really aren't doing something not allowed.
I think it was mentioned in this thread, or the other one on this, which book it was. I really don't remember what they said. But many people don't know the difference between a Disney sanctioned book and one not. I do wonder, if the campsites without the sewers is so often totally booked, why Disney doesn't build more. They seem to have the room.

 

[cakesnkids]

WOW, I didn't realize booking at FW was so hard. I just booked us into FW, preferred site, for Oct this year, with no problems...every date was open, with no qualms at all from the girl I was speaking to. I called Disney to book, got a great rate, and was very happy.

 

[Alexander]

WOW, I didn't realize booking at FW was so hard. I just booked us into FW, preferred site, for Oct this year, with no problems...every date was open, with no qualms at all from the girl I was speaking to. I called Disney to book, got a great rate, and was very happy.

We've also never had a problem booking a site at FW. I can see where the peak holiday and summer months would be especially busy, but you've got to book them early. There was a time when you couldn't stay on WDW property at all if you didn't book 2 years in advance. This was when there was a choice of the campground, Contemporary, and Polynesian.

 

[ugadog99]

Much of the problem in booking FtW is the time at which you are going. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Spring Break, and some times in summer are just very difficult to book. I could have sworn that some literature I was given when we checked in last summer addressed the issue of not actually using the campsite. I think all my material is in the popup and it is closed right now. Of course if Disney doesn't enforce policies then it really doesn't matter what the literature says. I think it's wrong to book a site you don't plan on ever using. As for the snippiness on the budget board, I've seen it before, too. I just try to avoid the controversial topics.

 

[rwenzel2]

But its not the planning part that's my problem, its the having the money on hand to pay the deposit when I book problem. I know none of you know about that problem. :

I don't know if this will help you at all or not, but when I called to book my reservation, they only asked for a deposit of the first night's site rental + tax. So for me it was $56 + tax.

 

[clkelley]

I'm actually surprised it is still a problem with the Magic Your Way tickets. I can't imagine that EMH and free parking are enough of a benefit to warrant this.

Now, several years ago before that advent of Magic Your Way tickets, the only way to get a park hopper for less than 4 days was to stay on site and get Ultimate Park Hopper tickets.

One time we were in Florida for a family emergency and then decided at the last minute to head on down to Orlando for the rest of the weekend. We were in between Annual Passes and only had two days. All-Stars was fully booked, but we were able to get one night at Ft. Wilderness and bought two-day Ultimate Park Hopper tickets. We actually called CRO from the Florida Turnpike when it opened that morning at 7am. By the time our call was finished, we were pulling into World Drive, and then drove on into the campground. We got our tickets and headed for the parks.

We then stayed at a hotel in Kissimmee. We would have gladly stayed at All-Stars had a room been available. Ft. Wilderness was available. Since it was so last minute, I don't think we took a site away from anyone trying for the weekend.

I would never dream of doing such a thing just for EMH and parking. If the opportunity arose for a quick weekend and we didn't have passes, MYW tickets now make it possible to purchase park hopping tickets for even one day.

Now one thing I have noticed is when booking at Disney for the campground, when I try for the weekend nights, it shows booked, but if I try for 4 or more nights, starting on Thursday and ending on Monday, I can get a site. I then call back a day or two later and cancel the nights I don't need.

Carol

 

[Disbug]

Hello, all! I also LOVE FW...tent and pop-up camper here! In the past when I have noticed empty spots while checking in and asked to be moved, I have been told there are some sites that are not available due to resodding, or landscaping, or general maintenance. This was pretty far-reaching... not just one or two sites. So, even though I was there a week and didn't see them start sodding or anything until the end of that week, that could be an explanation for some of the empty sites. I personally couldn't tell that the sites "needed" anything done to them. In fact, I believe Loops 100 and 200 were totally closed off for renovation.

I also have had very few times not getting a campsite. But I usually don't go during Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July! So, if you don't get what you prefer... try another week and I'll bet you'll eventually find something. Also, don't give up! I've been told FW is booked solid and kept calling for cancellations and have usually gotten in.

 

[stillh2o]

I find it funny that someone who thinking out side of the box tells everyone. If you think about it the more people you tell the more people are going to do it. Take this site info now more & more people are going to do less site for everyone. Now the person who thought of this great idea trys to get a site on this next trip can't that is funny to me. I do a lot thinking out of the box at Disney but I don't tell anyone

 

[tinkerbell211]

Why would someone pay that much $ just for Early entry and parking? Transportation is available to anyone w/ a park ticket, right? Isn't parking around $8.00 a day?

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Why would someone pay that much $ just for Early entry and parking? Transportation is available to anyone w/ a park ticket, right? Isn't parking around $8.00 a day?

Hoping nobody quoted me...I just thought of giving an explanation to this answer. I just backtracked and saw the "out of the box" comment and concluded gee...that's a good point thar.