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

[Judique]

With all the issues Disney has had with the technology/Web site, I really don't think they can have some people's MBs deactivate after the ticket is used up (for MYW tickets), while leaving MBs with APs on them active.

Plus, doesn't the FAQ say people can re-use the MBs on multiple trips if people want to?

Yes, people can reuse the magic bands on multiple trips.

If there are no more days on the ticket, the magic band will indeed for all intents and purposes related to park entry and FP+ advance booking be deactivated. I know this because I can check it on my Disney experience with a family member's expired ticket.

You can also deactivate your own Magic Band.

As far as AP's, I have Disney reservations that start Feb 2 and go through Feb 17.

I have an AP and on 'my Disney experience' I can make plans, book fast passes everyday from this morning through March 12 - 60 days. I have no need to do so except for the days I am actually going to be in a park.

 

[Judique]

I thought you could use an RFID ticket instead of the bands.

If you have an RFID ticket, yes you can use it.

 

[mamabear0222]

I thought you could use an RFID ticket instead of the bands.

So I can use FP+ with offsite tickets such as UT?

I'm hoping that with everyone fighting for fp+ that the standby lines will be shorter lol.. dreaming?

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

 

[Missyrose]

If there are no more days on the ticket, the magic band will indeed for all intents and purposes related to park entry and FP+ advance booking be deactivated. I know this because I can check it on my Disney experience with a family member's expired ticket.

Right, but Disney doesn't forcibly deactivate that MB. There's nothing, at this point, stopping someone from linking another ticket to their MDE accounts and using that MB again, whether they're staying onsite or not. The system simply is not segmented enough to prevent this.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I also agree. I spend over a month a year down at wdw. I rarely need fastpass. We get to ride all the headliners without it. Only exceptions might be toy story and soarin. I can see that you can explain away the throwaway room concept to garner fast passes for the length of the ticket but there is no rationalizing stealing parking. An expired pass is an expired pass. Wrong and a terrible message to teach your kids if you have any.

I don't get how people obsess over planning. It isn't necessary. Get to the parks early and you'll get to ride with little wait. It's like dining. People act like they'll go hungry if they don't make adrs 180 days out. Nonsense. You'll never go hungry. Things have gotten crazy. This throwaway room just brings things to a whole other level of nuts.

No offense, but of course you rarely need FP. You spend a month there in a year! I wouldn't need FP if I spent that much time at WDW either.

I was very lucky to be able to take 2 trips in 2013, but even then we have to purchase the Armed Forces Salute tickets, which are only 4 day Park Hoppers. We got a 5th day in October by buying MNSSHP tickets and entering at 4pm.

When I only have 4 days to experience the major things I want to experience (which generally include all of the headliners, and now more M&Gs since we have our daughter), FP becomes a bit more of a necessity. To fit everything I want to do in that 4 days does require planning to an extent that I would not do at all if I spent a month there (even spread out through the year).

 

[nugov2]

IMHO, it's right up there with making multiple ADR's on the same date and time... not knowing where you will be that day. It's not as much an issue now that many restaurants you need a credit card to make the reservation.[/QUOTE

Actually it is more like me booking CM for my family of 5 just to get a picture with Mickey, but not eating any food. I paid for it, they got there money, but we ate nothing and I got my pic. Is this unfair to the family of 5 who would have actually eaten too? It may have been a waste in some eyes, but it was worth it for me b/c I didn't have to wait in line at a m&g. I am not just reserving the room and cancelling it, I am reserving and paying for this room. That is why it is totally different than making reservations and cancelling at the last minute.

Perhaps you're right. I expected complete chaos during the AK testing, but since that went pretty well, maybe this will be the end game for offsite. It will depend on the details. Since greater than half of the visitors are offsite, will they reserve over half the FP+ slots for same day booking? Or will offsite guests need to pick up the scraps? If it is the latter, I will continue to book one night onsite to keep this privilege, or PAY for it if that is available. If they close that loophole, and same day FP stinks, I will vacation elsewhere. Unfortunately, onsite does not work for this family...

Us too. I'd actually pay for a value the length of my park tickets, but I will never sleep on site. It is worth $100 to have pre scheduled FP+. We love Uni/IOA so we most likely would never spend a week at WDW so for the extra $500 it is worth it for us. We don't have a desire to travel to WDW every year so when we do go I want to get on headliners with minimal waits.

 

[DisneyMomLJ]

My brother gets really mad at me when we're planning Parcheesi because I know all the rules and use them to my advantage. He even accuses me of cheating when I use some obscure rule that he doesn't know. But I show him the rules and say, "How is it cheating to follow the rules? You're just mad because I'm using them smarter than you." This whole thread is just a version of that argument.

 

[Ed J]

^
This, and people getting Bo bo feelings when other don't agree, well and we have the spelling police too .


All in all it's pretty good entertainment on a rainy winters day.

 

[Laketravis]

Actually it is more like me booking CM for my family of 5 just to get a picture with Mickey, but not eating any food. I paid for it, they got there money, but we ate nothing and I got my pic. Is this unfair to the family of 5 who would have actually eaten too? It may have been a waste in some eyes, but it was worth it for me b/c I didn't have to wait in line at a m&g. I am not just reserving the room and cancelling it, I am reserving and paying for this room. That is why it is totally different than making reservations and cancelling at the last minute.

Excellent example!

Some might argue that is a short term scenario (about an hour) while the current topic is a day long or longer event. But even some campers admit to the practice of reserving (and paying) for surrounding campsites because the privacy is worth the additional cost, much like the grander scale of a homeowner who buys the lots on one or either side of theirs to keep the neighbors away or increase their yard space.

They all have their personal and valid (in my opinion) reasons for doing so, it was (to them) worth the cost they incurred, and as long as they made that purchase under the same terms & conditions as anyone else could have without explicit advantage then the question of whether it's "right" or "wrong" isn't even applicable.

 

[quandrea]

No offense, but of course you rarely need FP. You spend a month there in a year! I wouldn't need FP if I spent that much time at WDW either.

I was very lucky to be able to take 2 trips in 2013, but even then we have to purchase the Armed Forces Salute tickets, which are only 4 day Park Hoppers. We got a 5th day in October by buying MNSSHP tickets and entering at 4pm.

When I only have 4 days to experience the major things I want to experience (which generally include all of the headliners, and now more M&Gs since we have our daughter), FP becomes a bit more of a necessity. To fit everything I want to do in that 4 days does require planning to an extent that I would not do at all if I spent a month there (even spread out through the year).

None taken. I see your point. I have always been of the mind that more rides or riding multiple times doesn't necessarily equal a better experience. I can't understand the lengths people will go to to score a fast pass. I have no problem with booking a room and not staying in it. Seems a waste but if it suits someone's needs go for it. Waaaay back in the thread some one mentioned using expired parking passes. The right or wrong of that is pretty clear to me. But if you've paid for a room it is yours to use as you see fit.

I realize how lucky I am that my trips can be leisurely. I have the luxury if saying next time. I do encourage others to slow down a bit. Things seem frenzied in the parks and something is lost with that approach.

 

[Angel Ariel]

In all fairness, planning doesn't equal frenzied either...we never had to go to lengths to score fps under the old system. Our trips were planned, yes, but leisurely in that we got fps as we came across them. We didn't do fp running or anything like that.

My major concern, well one of them, is that fp+ will have a negative effect on the leisurely-ness of our trips.

 

[nugov2]

My brother gets really mad at me when we're planning Parcheesi because I know all the rules and use them to my advantage. He even accuses me of cheating when I use some obscure rule that he doesn't know. But I show him the rules and say, "How is it cheating to follow the rules? You're just mad because I'm using them smarter than you." This whole thread is just a version of that argument.

This is great!!

I do encourage others to slow down a bit. Things seem frenzied in the parks and something is lost with that approach.

Tons of FP does not mean frenzied...at least not in our case. We weren't rushed at all and managed to grab a ton of FP. We never ran, walked fast or felt rushed. We were 13 in our party with 3, 2yr olds(almost impossible to move fast) We knew what we wanted to ride, we knew what FP we could have simultaneously and what rides to go on first. Knowledge was power, that and the fact you could use more than 3 FP. It was an amazing trip...especially for my older two who were able to use the FP of those in our party not interested in the headliners(also another thing I know is viewed as unethical on this site). We also had a lot of pixie dust or luck however you view it. We watched parades, we enjoyed the fireworks, we did a ton of TS meals and met all the characters the kids wanted.

That is what I worry about in the end...I fear our next trip will involve more planning and money. I know I will be taking our kids back there again in a few years so my little guy can have fond memories like my older two, but if the changes end up being like I fear it will be our last for a long time. I can spend the kind of money that it will cost me to go to WDW under this new system and have my kids staying in Hawaii's finest resorts or over seas. I like to smell the roses while in WDW, but I refuse to shell out the kind of money we do there for that to pretty much all we do. Ticket prices are too high so in the end I would rather put in an extra $400-$500 on a room I won't use to make sure we enjoy a similar trip(not the same, but feeling as satisfied with the trip), but I will do so with a negative feeling for the place I would be viewing in a whole new negative light(just my personal feeling). They are a buisness and I get that, but their business model for me(unless this pans out differently than I think and I hope it does) is becoming more and more greed related making it less magical. I am hopeful as the new system grows and changes we will be able buy FPs or some other reasonable way to get them and that it isn't as bad as I fear it will be.

 

[quandrea]

This is great!!



Tons of FP does not mean frenzied...at least not in our case. We weren't rushed at all and managed to grab a ton of FP. We never ran, walked fast or felt rushed. We were 13 in our party with 3, 2yr olds(almost impossible to move fast) We knew what we wanted to ride, we knew what FP we could have simultaneously and what rides to go on first. Knowledge was power, that and the fact you could use more than 3 FP. It was an amazing trip...especially for my older two who were able to use the FP of those in our party not interested in the headliners(also another thing I know is viewed as unethical on this site). We also had a lot of pixie dust or luck however you view it. We watched parades, we enjoyed the fireworks, we did a ton of TS meals and met all the characters the kids wanted.

That is what I worry about in the end...I fear our next trip will involve more planning and money. I know I will be taking our kids back there again in a few years so my little guy can have fond memories like my older two, but if the changes end up being like I fear it will be our last for a long time. I can spend the kind of money that it will cost me to go to WDW under this new system and have my kids staying in Hawaii's finest resorts or over seas. I like to smell the roses while in WDW, but I refuse to shell out the kind of money we do there for that to pretty much all we do. Ticket prices are too high so in the end I would rather put in an extra $400-$500 on a room I won't use to make sure we enjoy a similar trip(not the same, but feeling as satisfied with the trip), but I will do so with a negative feeling for the place I would be viewing in a whole new negative light(just my personal feeling). They are a buisness and I get that, but their business model for me(unless this pans out differently than I think and I hope it does) is becoming more and more greed related making it less magical. I am hopeful as the new system grows and changes we will be able buy FPs or some other reasonable way to get them and that it isn't as bad as I fear it will be.

I agree with what you are saying and I don't think pulling many fast passes leads to frenzied touring. I think this new system is bringing the worst out in people. People feel trapped and are going to extreme lengths to get what they feel is a precious commodity. That's what is frenzied. Booking dummy hotel rooms, scheming on parking. All seems a bit extreme to me. Don't really understand why disney felt the need to fix something that wasn't broken. Pulling multiple legacy fast passes in a day operated within the system. The dummy hotel room and scheming parking fall into a gray area. People are feeling desperate which is too bad because ultimately it's just a vacation and this all seems a bit out if perspective.

The whole business leaves a bad taste in my mouth. As I've mentioned I spend a month a year down there. It's pretty disillusioning to hear about all this. I get an image of people fighting like dogs just to score those three fast passes a day. Changes the feeling of the place for me.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi,

I am not here to judge if this is right or wrong. I was thinking that Disney MAY close this so called "loophole" eventually. The opinion of some people is Disney is hoping to make more money on this new fp+ program (advance reservations) and hoping on-site guests contribute to their profit. If this is part of the reason Disney may have to look at things differently. Here is my example:

If I purchase a 1 night stay on-site, for 1 room 4 person occupancy at a value for $100.00. Then I go off site for 6 nites and spend a total of $300.00. Total stay for this scenario is $400.00 If I stayed the whole time on-site it would total $600.00. I take the $400.00 off-site and compare it to $600.00 on-site I get a savings of $200.00. Wait! Here is the best part I have my fp+ ressies in advance.

Bottom line is Disney would loose money for my stay if their goal is to count on the on-site guests staying the whole time and making money on the rooms. Now Disney may decide that they don't care about this and the point is moot.

 

[nugov2]

Hi,

I am not here to judge if this is right or wrong. I was thinking that Disney MAY close this so called "loophole" eventually. The opinion of some people is Disney is hoping to make more money on this new fp+ program (advance reservations) and hoping on-site guests contribute to their profit. If this is part of the reason Disney may have to look at things differently. Here is my example:

If I purchase a 1 night stay on-site, for 1 room 4 person occupancy at a value for $100.00. Then I go off site for 6 nites and spend a total of $300.00. Total stay for this scenario is $400.00 If I stayed the whole time on-site it would total $600.00. I take the $400.00 off-site and compare it to $600.00 on-site I get a savings of $200.00. Wait! Here is the best part I have my fp+ ressies in advance.

Bottom line is Disney would loose money for my stay if their goal is to count on the on-site guests staying the whole time and making money on the rooms. Now Disney may decide that they don't care about this and the point is moot.

It is possible, but the flip side for that is this:

I book a room for WDW to get access to FP+ and stay in my off site vacation giving WDW 100 they wouldn't have otherwise gotten. Because the majority of the time the resorts aren't at 100% occupancy they see these numbers soar this year making more money. I stay off site, but eat and play on site at the WDW resorts and parks for 5 days before heading to Uni/IOA. They get $$$$$ from me between meals and other extras.

They change this and deny access to pre booking FP+ I go to WDW for one day/2 max...MK is the only park that is the big draw for us and any nostalgia and head over to Uni/IOA for 3 days and I can book a room or purchase express pass, hit sw where I purchase Queue unlimited and hit the beach or one of the million of other options the area has to offer and now WDW gets $ instead. This may not impact their bottom line, or it may. I do know I'm not the only offsite person who feels that way. I also know that changing something that was equal access and free for so long will be viewed negatively. I'm not sure WDW wants that type of PR. Honestly, I will just book a room for how many nights I plan to be at the parks if I have too, but I know many wouldn't pay for more than one night or won't pay at all. I just don't see how this ends good for WDW if truly 50% of the park guests are off site. What company would want to anger that many people? I do think this will most likely end up being like dining ADR's where off site gets 60 days out and on 60+10. I also think there will be the option to purchase more for on and off site. I think deluxe will get more than value too. I just think this will all be rolled out slowly. Only time will tell.

 

[Clare]

Please forgive my ignorance - the MB & FP+ business is all new to me & I haven't done much homework yet.

Reading through some of this I'm wondering what keeps people from making a room reservation, getting their Magic Bands in the mail & then cancelling their reservation? (It is my understanding that the Magic Bands ship before the 5-day cancellation window.)

I assume cancelling the room res. would delete any FP+ they have chosen?

 

[bobbie68]

Hi,

I am not here to judge if this is right or wrong. I was thinking that Disney MAY close this so called "loophole" eventually. The opinion of some people is Disney is hoping to make more money on this new fp+ program (advance reservations) and hoping on-site guests contribute to their profit. If this is part of the reason Disney may have to look at things differently. Here is my example:

If I purchase a 1 night stay on-site, for 1 room 4 person occupancy at a value for $100.00. Then I go off site for 6 nites and spend a total of $300.00. Total stay for this scenario is $400.00 If I stayed the whole time on-site it would total $600.00. I take the $400.00 off-site and compare it to $600.00 on-site I get a savings of $200.00. Wait! Here is the best part I have my fp+ ressies in advance.

Bottom line is Disney would loose money for my stay if their goal is to count on the on-site guests staying the whole time and making money on the rooms. Now Disney may decide that they don't care about this and the point is moot.

Hi

I just realized I goofed. I should have said off-site for 5 nites. I spelled loose it should have been lose.

That's it from now on I have a DO NOT DISTURB Dis work in progress on my door.

 

[Laketravis]

Hi,

I am not here to judge if this is right or wrong. I was thinking that Disney MAY close this so called "loophole" eventually. The opinion of some people is Disney is hoping to make more money on this new fp+ program (advance reservations) and hoping on-site guests contribute to their profit. If this is part of the reason Disney may have to look at things differently. Here is my example:

If I purchase a 1 night stay on-site, for 1 room 4 person occupancy at a value for $100.00. Then I go off site for 6 nites and spend a total of $300.00. Total stay for this scenario is $400.00 If I stayed the whole time on-site it would total $600.00. I take the $400.00 off-site and compare it to $600.00 on-site I get a savings of $200.00. Wait! Here is the best part I have my fp+ ressies in advance.

Bottom line is Disney would loose money for my stay if their goal is to count on the on-site guests staying the whole time and making money on the rooms. Now Disney may decide that they don't care about this and the point is moot.

I like your logic, and I do think Disney cares about the numbers so let me play devil's advocate and flip this around from Disney's view:

(Remember, the premise of all this is that I am going to reserve an on-site accommodation for the minimum required in order to receive the ability to reserve FP+ for the duration of my park tickets. Among any other properly received perks, of course)

If I have 5 day park tickets for three people and reserve a room for 5 nights, Disney gets $500 for the room and $1000 for the tickets.

But if 5 different groups of three people with 5 day park tickets each reserve the same room for one night each, Disney gets the same $500 for the room and $5000 for the tickets.

And for that reason alone, I don't think it's a "loophole" that Disney would be quick to close. In fact, they may even come to encourage it.

Those Disney bean counters, man they're so smart

 

[Missyrose]

Hi,

I am not here to judge if this is right or wrong. I was thinking that Disney MAY close this so called "loophole" eventually. The opinion of some people is Disney is hoping to make more money on this new fp+ program (advance reservations) and hoping on-site guests contribute to their profit. If this is part of the reason Disney may have to look at things differently. Here is my example:

If I purchase a 1 night stay on-site, for 1 room 4 person occupancy at a value for $100.00. Then I go off site for 6 nites and spend a total of $300.00. Total stay for this scenario is $400.00 If I stayed the whole time on-site it would total $600.00. I take the $400.00 off-site and compare it to $600.00 on-site I get a savings of $200.00. Wait! Here is the best part I have my fp+ ressies in advance.

Bottom line is Disney would loose money for my stay if their goal is to count on the on-site guests staying the whole time and making money on the rooms. Now Disney may decide that they don't care about this and the point is moot.

I honestly don't think this is a widespread problem for Disney. Yes, they took free dining away from people booking campsites and not staying there, but those campsites had a capacity of 10 people. A value room will allow four to get FP+ prebooking. I don't think enough people know about this loophole and even fewer who'd pay extra for a room just to get FP+. If it was a real problem, Disney would handle it. I just don't think it is.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi,

I agree with the scenarios that the pps have made. I am glad to see other points of view.

I think Disney needs to hire us Disers' as consultants.