Throwaway room (read post #2041 or #2710 before posting)

[MAGICFOR2]

Then your experience differs with a lot of other people. Perhaps it is because you have two reservations and a gap. Most people concerned with the throwaway room concept aren't doing that.

I called IT to try to connect my ASMu stay for May 1 to our SSR stay for May 2, explaining that I wanted to be at the 60 plus 10 point for FP+. The CM wouldn't do anything about it, but she did tell me that sometimes the system will allow you to book the first night plus up to 3 days - and sometimes not. Maybe that is what happened in this case.

 

[lauradis]

Lauradis you may wish to read post 2041 before posting further on this thread...it may save you some grief.

Ty it was just shocking that people would do this .. I'll go away now, before I get points that can't be converted to DVC points lol.

 

[klledoux]

I would think this would be even more of a problem if people only have to book a one night reservation to get FP+ for their whole vacation. That 1 night reservation could keep someone from being able to camp all week. It's not like you can switch resorts or room catagories when you are camping if one of your nights isn't available.

I know this won't make me popular, but the simple solution is make FP+ and MB for resort guests only (think Universal here)- or better yet get rid of FP+ and let all guests be equal.

Or have the option for offsite guests to purchase those rights as Universal does!

 

[doconeill]

Or have the option for offsite guests to purchase those rights as Universal does!

The problem with charging for it, is that if you can't guarantee that the guest you charged can get what they want (at least within restrictions), you will have a significant number of angry guests...

 

[Candleshoe]

I personally would pay for a "parking spot" that gave me the same results at the same rate as the campground.

 

[ckelly14]

Can't be watching too closely since this thread started over a year ago...

 

[may1787]

Yes, but now they are aware of it.

 

[may1787]

It's just sad that the cheapest rooms...the one most families can afford, are being left empty just so someone else can have perks.
I'm fine with it if Disney says they are fine with it, but I think the point is that if Disney isn't aware there is a problem they can't fix it for either side (I.e. Perk packages for those who don't want to stay on campus, room availability for those who can't afford deluxes).

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Our first night isn't throw away but just wanted to follow up All 10 days opened up for us at the 60 day mark for our first value night We are using military tickets

 

[RustManFan]

removed

 

[kguenther8]

I'm kind of scared to write on here now! After reading LOTS, I booked a "throwaway" campsite at FW for Sept. 6. We arrive at Disney on Sept. 5th and are staying at Shades of Green. We could stay at Coronado, standard room, for $70 more than Shades (total, not per night), negating the need for the throwaway room. But we like Shades, and our room rate includes buffet breakfast each morning. We love the larger rooms, great views, and dedicated, scheduled buses. We also like the cheaper breakfast and occasional dinner and beer prices. SO, that's background. I was really waffling on staying at Shades, reading that we would not get 60 day Fastpass+ times (Anna and Elsa, and BOG are important to us, as well as Cinderellas Royal Table), nor the 180 day ADR (except on rolling basis). So, I just want to make sure I am thinking through this the right way. We plan on paying for the "room" (campsite), checking in online only, and never physically being there.
Since, I booked for Sept. 6, my first day of 180 Day ADR's will start on March 10th at 6am, correct? Then I can book the rest of my ADR's at that time, right? (We will be there through the 12th). Or can I only book one per day, just like if we were offsite?

For Fastpass+: I can book 60 days out prior to Sept. 6th, and then since I have four day hopper military tickets linked to MDE, I can book my park day for Sept. 6th and Sept. 7th, 60 days out (at midnight EST). Then, my last two park days, I can book on a rolling basis (one day at at time, 60 days out).

I will also receive 4 magic bands, which we will like to MDE and use rather than our plastic passes. I will be keeping them for future visits, and I think they will be easier with the kids. (maybe)

So, my $70 "room" got me magic bands, 60 day Fastpass+ privileges, and ADR 180 day for 10 days, right?
I don't want to waste money on this campsite, if I am seeing this wrong. I was mostly worried about a couple dining ressies and Fastpass+ for Seven dwarves and Elsa, so this should at least help right?
I could always still book at CSR, but not sure if we would really like it? The rooms look so plain, and no good views, (l love Shades in the mornings with the herons, deer, and alligators) although the pool looks very nice.
Thoughts? Thanks for reading my book!

 

[Luckybee]

I'm kind of scared to write on here now! After reading LOTS, I booked a "throwaway" campsite at FW for Sept. 6. We arrive at Disney on Sept. 5th and are staying at Shades of Green. We could stay at Coronado, standard room, for $70 more than Shades (total, not per night), negating the need for the throwaway room. But we like Shades, and our room rate includes buffet breakfast each morning. We love the larger rooms, great views, and dedicated, scheduled buses. We also like the cheaper breakfast and occasional dinner and beer prices. SO, that's background. I was really waffling on staying at Shades, reading that we would not get 60 day Fastpass+ times (Anna and Elsa, and BOG are important to us, as well as Cinderellas Royal Table), nor the 180 day ADR (except on rolling basis). So, I just want to make sure I am thinking through this the right way. We plan on paying for the "room" (campsite), checking in online only, and never physically being there.
Since, I booked for Sept. 6, my first day of 180 Day ADR's will start on March 10th at 6am, correct? Then I can book the rest of my ADR's at that time, right? (We will be there through the 12th). Or can I only book one per day, just like if we were offsite?

For Fastpass+: I can book 60 days out prior to Sept. 6th, and then since I have four day hopper military tickets linked to MDE, I can book my park day for Sept. 6th and Sept. 7th, 60 days out (at midnight EST). Then, my last two park days, I can book on a rolling basis (one day at at time, 60 days out).

I will also receive 4 magic bands, which we will like to MDE and use rather than our plastic passes. I will be keeping them for future visits, and I think they will be easier with the kids. (maybe)

So, my $70 "room" got me magic bands, 60 day Fastpass+ privileges, and ADR 180 day for 10 days, right?
I don't want to waste money on this campsite, if I am seeing this wrong. I was mostly worried about a couple dining ressies and Fastpass+ for Seven dwarves and Elsa, so this should at least help right?
I could always still book at CSR, but not sure if we would really like it? The rooms look so plain, and no good views, (l love Shades in the mornings with the herons, deer, and alligators) although the pool looks very nice.
Thoughts? Thanks for reading my book!

Let me try and help with what I can. I don't know shades or Coronado, so I cant help you with the comparison. Im sure someone else will assist there. If you do keep the campsite you go back 180 to book night by night although on this ymmv. Some posters have had some luck getting a cm on the phone to book all adr's for them as though they were staying on property for the entire time. For fp's normally I would say you have it absolutely right. I say normally because I thought (perhaps incorrectly) that there was something different with military tickets (but I may be confusing that with CM tickets). Why don't you also post the shades vs Coronado query on the resorts board. I think you'd get some great feedback there and it may help you decide what to do. Happy planning !

 

[Itinkso]

or fp's normally I would say you have it absolutely right. I say normally because I thought (perhaps incorrectly) that there was something different with military tickets (but I may be confusing that with CM tickets).

Military ticket entitlements have the regular FP booking privileges.

It's the CM tickets that are greatly restricted for FP booking ever since Disney nicely added them to be eligible for MDE and FP. Comp tickets went from having a 30 day offsite window to a 7 day window.

 

[kguenther8]

So, there is no ADR advantage? I thought I could book all 10 days of ADR once my window opened, rather than doing it day by day, like a normal person. If that is the case, I'm not sure I will gain a ton...although the fastpass+ might still be worth it. Hope more will chime in. My military tickets work like any other ticket...and we do get EMH with Shades, but I tend to avoid those parks. We are there at openings, and that's early enough...can't imagine getting up another hour earlier on "vacation".

 

[kdzgon]

I still don't see why people think this is immoral. If you purchase something, it is your right to how it is used. If you choose not to stay there then oh well. Its like me going and buying food from the store and then I don't eat it and throw it out. Now, if there truly is a loophole where people are booking the room, booking the FP+ and then canceling the room, then I would agree that is not right. But, I have a throwaway room currently. I have booked it for the days I will be at Disney so that I could get the benefits of staying on property. There are 8 of us and it was ideal for us to stay in accommodations outside property but with a 3 year old and 6 month old, we just needed to be able to book the FP+ 60 days out. Do I plan to cancel that stay? NO, I have paid it in full and it was still worth it for me to do so and stay off property.

There is the debate about how its preventing someone else from staying there bc its empty but either way, if I had not stayed outside of disney property or with family, then I would have stayed there so it was still preventing someone else from staying there. I don't really get that argument.

Disney should offer a service where those not staying on Disney property can purchase a package that includes extra magic hours, free parking, booking FP+ 60 days out, etc. It would be worth it to them because they would make that extra money because then other guests would book the room that we would not be "throwing away".

Just my thoughts on the matter.

As far as how it works. I was able to immediately book FP+ for 30 days out once I had tickets linked to my account. Then at 60 days out, I was able to book FP+ only for the check in day and check out day for my one booking. My other booking, I had to wait until that 60 day mark to do it. It only allows the 60 days for your "stay". So if you booked 4/1-4/5 then you would be able to book FP+from 4/1-4/6. Check in being 4/1 and check out being 4/6. If you had split the stay and were staying 4/1-4/2 and then 4/5-4/6, then you would be able to book FP+ for 4/1-4/2 at 60 days and then 4/5-4/6 at 60 days. But you couldnt book 4/3-4/4 because you would not be on Disney Property at that time.

I don't see this as any different than people booking a room for "free" dining but actually staying elsewhere. (Not debating the morality - just saying it's not really a new occurrence per se.) Disney didn't put a stop to that (how could they, really? I would think the manpower and PR would not be worth any "savings") so I wouldn't expect any action on this any time soon. There are lots of glitches with FP+, such as booking FPs with someone else's AP when they are not going to the park or just plain issues with disappearing FPs etc. that already take lots of manpower.

I still don't get the great advantages, though. It sounds like the extra money spent [on the throwaway] room gets MBs (vs buying them from Disney?) and FP+ right? The parking pass you get is only good for the night(s) booked, plus check-out date, correct? Is that why many seem to be purchasing multiple single night stays, to extend this benefit? When all is said and done, is there a large financial advantage or is this mostly done to get FP+ (and possible dining) advantages?

Is this something that happens a lot? If I were to stay at a campsite would I see lots of empty slots on a regular basis?

 

[hiroMYhero]

room gets MBs

I believe some campsites can be reserved for a total of 10 guests. So, if 10 guests are listed on the reservation, 10 MagicBands are sent.

Any MagicBand that does not link to any FPs (baby's MB, imaginary guest's MB) can be used at the FP kiosk to acquire same day FPs. So at that point in time, the Throwaway Room benefits morph into SDFP perks.

 

[cakebaker]

Disney didn't put a stop to that

I'm not here to debate this issue- just wanted to make a clarification.

They really did effectively stop it by reducing the plan itself. The campsites and values get a reduced plan, making it much less tempting to reserve a room or campsite just for the dining. You have to book your entire stay in a package deal at rack rates due for free dining so no bargains there and when you add it to the cost of staying somewhere else, it's not cost effective anymore. So without a lot of fanfare or pointing out it was even happening, Disney did stop it by making it unfeasible for most people.

I'm pretty sure that was the reason for the reduction in benefits, but whether it was or not , it pretty much put an end to booking reservations when you weren't staying on site just to get the free dining.

 

[kdzgon]

I'm not here to debate this issue- just wanted to make a clarification.

They really did effectively stop it by reducing the plan itself. The campsites and values get a reduced plan, making it much less tempting to reserve a room or campsite just for the dining. You have to book your entire stay in a package deal at rack rates due for free dining so no bargains there and when you add it to the cost of staying somewhere else, it's not cost effective anymore. So without a lot of fanfare or pointing out it was even happening, Disney did stop it by making it unfeasible for most people.

I'm pretty sure that was the reason for the reduction in benefits, but whether it was or not , it pretty much put an end to booking reservations when you weren't staying on site just to get the free dining.

Thanks for the info. We stopped using the dining plan due to a combination of reductions (DH is a diabetic - appetizers were much more desirable than desserts), DVC stays and "aging out" of a few grands. I thought the next round of cuts were just "more of the same" but your post makes a lot of sense.

And, in the prior post, 10 potential MBs? That's a lot of extra FPs - I can see why this thread is 116 pages long!

 

[ckelly14]

I still don't get the great advantages, though. It sounds like the extra money spent [on the throwaway] room gets MBs (vs buying them from Disney?) and FP+ right? The parking pass you get is only good for the night(s) booked, plus check-out date, correct? Is that why many seem to be purchasing multiple single night stays, to extend this benefit? When all is said and done, is there a large financial advantage or is this mostly done to get FP+ (and possible dining) advantages?
?

I did a one day stay at the Beach Club last June as my "throwaway room" in the early stages of FP+, prior to my week long stay at the Dolphin. When I booked in Jan 2014, the only guests receiving advanced fast passes were onsite, everyone else was same day only.

Now that the Swan/Dolphin get 60 day advanced FP+, I see less of an advantage. I really thought MB's were only cool during my onsite stay when they could be used for payments. I think that extra SDFP's are only really useful at MK, or if you typically take a mid-day break and come back to the same park.

 

[Candleshoe]

And, in the prior post, 10 potential MBs? That's a lot of extra FPs

No not a lot of extra FPs!
It's still 3 per person.

We are traveling with a party of 8 and booked a throw-away room for our party rather than 2 value rooms. We'll be sleeping in a house. I didn't cancel the room. We'll be effectively onsite guests for those two days (check-in and check-out).

I already spoke with the campground to verify where our site is. I paid for a premium site so that we could park in our site and possibly have our mid-day break at the campsite. (Check-in day will be a MK day).

I also spoke with IT so they could help me split the reservation across two MDEs.

None of this was done in secret, or behind Disney's back. They got money out of me that they wouldn't have