Pixie dusting goes bigtime at WDW

[irlandaise]

Sweet Washington Post article about WDW visitors passing along strollers and other costly items:

Disney World isn’t typically a place people go to save money.

Millions empty their pockets at the Florida resort every year. Once you add up admission to the theme parks, cartoon-themed hotel rooms, dinners with characters and Mickey Mouse merch, the budget can stretch from infinity to beyond.
Travel better with news, tips and guides that make you feel like a local wherever you go. In your inbox, Thursdays.

Amid all that spending, some visitors have found a way to find unexpected troves of freebies. Hotel-specific Facebook groups are now flooded with offers to give away all kinds of things: unused rain ponchos, uneaten snacks, handheld fans, popcorn buckets with discounted refills, bottomless hotel mugs with days of free drinks left. People who prepaid for a dining plan buy chicken strips for strangers. Some stock up on Disney trinkets so they can give them away to other families.

For some visitors, it’s a way to adopt the brand’s spirit of making magic. And they’ve found that generosity is contagious.

https://wapo.st/3J5gV3V

(Gift link good for two weeks, although you may need to establish a free WaPo account to view the story.)

I do suspect that sharing Dining Plan credits is against Disney policy; anyone know for sure? But kudos to folks for sharing items that other visitors would have to spend significant money on and/or that are difficult to bring if you're restricted to airline luggage rather than arriving by car.

 

[Genie+]

Over the years we’ve given/taken plenty of things like detergents, softeners, cases of beverages, individual snacks, even strollers, umbrellas and ponchos, etc. The laundry room is commonly used for this.

My most recent encounter was at Grand Flo. As the family packed to leave, Grandmom sat in the lounge area with all their excess goods seeing if any new arrivals wanted some (if left unattended too long staff might need to take them away).

I’ve heard housekeeping can choose to keep certain stuff like this left at checkout, but probably much more is left than they can ever feasibly find use.

Don’t be shy. So many people fly and it’s not worth trying to bring home. WDW can’t let this stuff pile up so unless claimed in a timely manner, it’s costing money to haul it away. Do your part and help use it up!

 

[The Jackal]

We have given away Dining plan credits in the past. We asked a cast member if it was allowed and they said it was. So we did it. This was at a character dining restaurant at the MK. This was a few years ago so I’m not sure if things have changed.

 

[irlandaise]

Over the years we’ve given/taken plenty of things like detergents, softeners, cases of beverages, individual snacks, even strollers, umbrellas and ponchos, etc. The laundry room is commonly used for this.

My most recent encounter was at Grand Flo. As the family packed to leave, Grandmom sat in the lounge area with all their excess goods seeing if any new arrivals wanted some (if left unattended too long staff might need to take them away).

I’ve heard housekeeping can choose to keep certain stuff like this left at checkout, but probably much more is left than they can ever feasibly find use.

Don’t be shy. So many people fly and it’s not worth trying to bring home. WDW can’t let this stuff pile up so unless claimed in a timely manner, it’s costing money to haul it away. Do your part and help use it up!

That's wonderful, Genie+! Great idea to catch people as they're arriving, before they've gone out to buy items you might be able to provide.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Sweet Washington Post article about WDW visitors passing along strollers and other costly items:

Disney World isn’t typically a place people go to save money.

Millions empty their pockets at the Florida resort every year. Once you add up admission to the theme parks, cartoon-themed hotel rooms, dinners with characters and Mickey Mouse merch, the budget can stretch from infinity to beyond.
Travel better with news, tips and guides that make you feel like a local wherever you go. In your inbox, Thursdays.

Amid all that spending, some visitors have found a way to find unexpected troves of freebies. Hotel-specific Facebook groups are now flooded with offers to give away all kinds of things: unused rain ponchos, uneaten snacks, handheld fans, popcorn buckets with discounted refills, bottomless hotel mugs with days of free drinks left. People who prepaid for a dining plan buy chicken strips for strangers. Some stock up on Disney trinkets so they can give them away to other families.

For some visitors, it’s a way to adopt the brand’s spirit of making magic. And they’ve found that generosity is contagious.

https://wapo.st/3J5gV3V

(Gift link good for two weeks, although you may need to establish a free WaPo account to view the story.)

I do suspect that sharing Dining Plan credits is against Disney policy; anyone know for sure? But kudos to folks for sharing items that other visitors would have to spend significant money on and/or that are difficult to bring if you're restricted to airline luggage rather than arriving by car.

This also happens at DLR. Usually someone will post on the DL board and then the interested posters work out the details with DMs.

 

[greeneyedchick]

Sweet Washington Post article about WDW visitors passing along strollers and other costly items:

Disney World isn’t typically a place people go to save money.

Millions empty their pockets at the Florida resort every year. Once you add up admission to the theme parks, cartoon-themed hotel rooms, dinners with characters and Mickey Mouse merch, the budget can stretch from infinity to beyond.
Travel better with news, tips and guides that make you feel like a local wherever you go. In your inbox, Thursdays.

Amid all that spending, some visitors have found a way to find unexpected troves of freebies. Hotel-specific Facebook groups are now flooded with offers to give away all kinds of things: unused rain ponchos, uneaten snacks, handheld fans, popcorn buckets with discounted refills, bottomless hotel mugs with days of free drinks left. People who prepaid for a dining plan buy chicken strips for strangers. Some stock up on Disney trinkets so they can give them away to other families.

For some visitors, it’s a way to adopt the brand’s spirit of making magic. And they’ve found that generosity is contagious.

https://wapo.st/3J5gV3V

(Gift link good for two weeks, although you may need to establish a free WaPo account to view the story.)

I do suspect that sharing Dining Plan credits is against Disney policy; anyone know for sure? But kudos to folks for sharing items that other visitors would have to spend significant money on and/or that are difficult to bring if you're restricted to airline luggage rather than arriving by car.

Not sure but I live near Disney and would meet my brother-in-law’s family at Disney Springs when they went to WDW. They always got the dining plan and would have extra credits. They used to let me and my kids use them up at the treat store at Disney Springs. It never seemed to be an issue,