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

[amylevan]

I really truly don't care one way or another, but I think the real issue that people have with those who book the campsites (as opposed to resort rooms) is the relative scarcity. There are less than 100 tent sites in all of WDW, as opposed to thousands upon thousands of hotel rooms.

Having said that, the campsites are first come, first served. Someone else's lack of advance planning isn't really your problem.

This is the issue. We camp, and most people here would be surprised at how darn hard it is to get a campsite reservations at Fort Wilderness. It can be so complicated, there are posts on the camping forum on how to go about improving your chance of getting reservations. And it's really frustrating to know that you had to keep calling back hoping for a site to open up, and you arrive and there are open sites.

But having said that, I'm in the first come, first served camp who has long as you are paying for the site, you are free to use it as you see fit. You may annoy me by taking a spot that I'd like to actually use, but that's your right.

 

[cmurray234]

This is the issue. We camp, and most people here would be surprised at how darn hard it is to get a campsite reservations at Fort Wilderness. It can be so complicated, there are posts on the camping forum on how to go about improving your chance of getting reservations. And it's really frustrating to know that you had to keep calling back hoping for a site to open up, and you arrive and there are open sites.

But having said that, I'm in the first come, first served camp who has long as you are paying for the site, you are free to use it as you see fit. You may annoy me by taking a spot that I'd like to actually use, but that's your right.

A good level-headed response.

FWIW, I wouldn't book a campsite out from under somebody else if I wasn't going to use it. But I can't see people throwing around words like "unethical" and "not moral" when that is patently untrue. Inconsiderate? Perhaps. Annoying? Probably. Immoral? Definitely not.

 

[fla4fun]

I agree that if you are willing to pay for the room (or campsite in this case) it's up to you how you use it. I've been on vacations before (not Disney) where I had booked accommodations for a week, planned a day trip somewhere only to realize the drive was a little longer than I anticipated, and booked an overnight while keeping my week stay as well. Sometimes things just work out that way.

But I can see where Disney might at some point require a minimum stay for at least the tent sites at FW (maybe not all the time, but certainly at peak times) in order to maximize their profits. After all, they want you to spend as much time as possible on property eating and shopping and renting recreational vehicles.

I think the real problem for some people is that they see the people booking the throw away rooms as creating more competition for those early FP+ and ADR bookings. They really aren't. Disney has a finite number of rooms/sites available - whether the person sleeps there or not doesn't change the possible number of other booking opportunities. It really has a benefit to the rest of us actually staying on site in the form of less crowded transportation.

 

[doconeill]

Arguing about what is and isn't "ethical" and "moral" is pretty useless. Both are completely subjective terms. There are no rules to what is and isn't. It's up to the individual.

No hotel cares whether you use the room or amenities as long as you are paying for them.

However, failing to check in I would assume could result in cancelation of the reservation - and if Disney wanted, could invalidate the magicbands, FP+, etc.

 

[heathla2]

I booked a onsite room for May 10 and linked a 5 day ticket. Today I am sixty days out from the first day. When I log on to MDE it lets me book my fastpass + for the May 10 and May 11.
I had to call Disney for a different issue and the CM told me I Can only book my fastpass + for the 2 days of my reservation not the full days of my ticket.. is this true now? or is it just a rolling 60 days and she was wrong????

 

[doconeill]

I booked a onsite room for May 10 and linked a 5 day ticket. Today I am sixty days out from the first day. When I log on to MDE it lets me book my fastpass + for the May 10 and May 11.
I had to call Disney for a different issue and the CM told me I Can only book my fastpass + for the 2 days of my reservation not the full days of my ticket.. is this true now? or is it just a rolling 60 days and she was wrong????

If this wasn't an MDX CM, I wouldn't necessarily expect them to be accurate with all the latest MDX/FP+ information.

As far as We can tell, you can book at 60 days for the length of your reservation (max 7 days? and max to ticket length), and then at the 60 day window beyond that once you're activated. You'll know in a couple of days for sure.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I laugh every time people post on here about petitions or threads to show Disney how much they hate MDX when there are people literally throwing money away participate in the program.

 

[morethananyonex]

I laugh every time people post on here about petitions or threads to show Disney how much they hate MDX when there are people literally throwing money away participate in the program.

In all fairness, people aren't throwing money at this because they're just so super excited to use MDE and will pay to do so. They're doing it because they've been shut out of FP booking and don't want to hurt their park experience, so they're doing what is possible to fix it.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I laugh every time people post on here about petitions or threads to show Disney how much they hate MDX when there are people literally throwing money away participate in the program.

Something is better than nothing. Just because someone is willing to do this so as to not have to stay in a 30 to 45 minute kiosk every morning they visit a park doesn't mean they excited to use the system. It is the lesser of two evils. I hate the new system but very well may get a throwaway room for our family. Trust me!! I'm not thinking of getting a throwaway room because I'm jumping with excitement to participate in the new system!

 

[doconeill]

In all fairness, people aren't throwing money at this because they're just so super excited to use MDE and will pay to do so. They're doing it because they've been shut out of FP booking and don't want to hurt their park experience, so they're doing what is possible to fix it.

And I bet it's still a VERY small percentage of guests that would even know about doing this, and an even smaller amount that would, to the point of being extremely inconsequential overall, and it is simply magnified a million times by this thread.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

In all fairness, people aren't throwing money at this because they're just so super excited to use MDE and will pay to do so. They're doing it because they've been shut out of FP booking and don't want to hurt their park experience, so they're doing what is possible to fix it.

This.

I would prefer the old FP, lol, that aint happenin.

After reading another thread from an offsite guest being unable to grab FPs for TSM and all the other problems I've read from offsite guests, I'm okay booking a room if it will help our family vacation run a little less disappointing and stressful.
We haven't been for a full week of WDW since 2007, so there is a lot we want to ride/see in a week's time. We are going to need FP prebooking from the sounds of it, to be sure to get those FPs for the rides we have not been on before! I don't see a toddler being patient for a 60 minute SB line...

Hopefully by the time our trip rolls around, offsite guests will get the option to prebook so I can cancel the room.

 

[Tuffcookie]

This.

I would prefer the old FP, lol, that aint happenin.

After reading another thread from an offsite guest being unable to grab FPs for TSM and all the other problems I've read from offsite guests, I'm okay booking a room if it will help our family vacation run a little less disappointing and stressful.
We haven't been for a full week of WDW since 2007, so there is a lot we want to ride/see in a week's time. We are going to need FP prebooking from the sounds of it, to be sure to get those FPs for the rides we have not been on before! I don't see a toddler being patient for a 60 minute SB line...

Hopefully by the time our trip rolls around, offsite guests will get the option to prebook so I can cancel the room.

Just be careful doing this. Even if Disney decides at some point to allow off-site guest to pre-book, if you cancel your reservations you will lose all the FP+ selections you have made and will have to start over at square one. You will have a much better chance of getting what you want at 60 days out vs. whatever time frame Disney allows off-site to pre-book.

TC

 

[Tuffcookie]

I booked a onsite room for May 10 and linked a 5 day ticket. Today I am sixty days out from the first day. When I log on to MDE it lets me book my fastpass + for the May 10 and May 11.
I had to call Disney for a different issue and the CM told me I Can only book my fastpass + for the 2 days of my reservation not the full days of my ticket.. is this true now? or is it just a rolling 60 days and she was wrong????

At this point, she is wrong! Just keep doing what you are doing. Every night at midnight you will be able to book another FP+ day.

TC

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

[/B]

Just be careful doing this. Even if Disney decides at some point to allow off-site guest to pre-book, if you cancel your reservations you will lose all the FP+ selections you have made and will have to start over at square one. You will have a much better chance of getting what you want at 60 days out vs. whatever time frame Disney allows off-site to pre-book.

TC

Yes, I figured this. Our trip isn't until first week of December. I am hoping Disney gets offsite going long b4 our trip, so that I can cancel it early. Sounds like offsite prebooking is slowly being tested, so I am watching daily for updates...
And yes, if offsite do not get 60 days, I will reevaluate...
Thanks for the tip

 

[LSUfan4444]

I hate the new system but very well may get a throwaway room for our family. Trust me!! I'm not thinking of getting a throwaway room because I'm jumping with excitement to participate in the new system!

And Disney knows it. People will adapt to their new system one way or the other. The ones who get on board earlier will just have a smoother transition.

 

[Tramp68]

Arguing about what is and isn't "ethical" and "moral" is pretty useless. Both are completely subjective terms. There are no rules to what is and isn't. It's up to the individual.

No hotel cares whether you use the room or amenities as long as you are paying for them.

However, failing to check in I would assume could result in cancelation of the reservation - and if Disney wanted, could invalidate the magicbands, FP+, etc.

They legally cannot cancel the reservation. It is paid for. The person reserving the site could show up on any day and any time. By cancelling the reservation they are voiding the contract and would have to provide a refund which they would not do.

If it did become part of policy there would have to be a way to account for a late arrival leading the renter to just call each day and say they are delayed and will be there tomorrow.

Imagine the family who breaks down while driving to the campground. They are delayed by a day and show up 1 day late only to find out that their campsite is gone and rented to someone else...

 

[doconeill]

They legally cannot cancel the reservation. It is paid for. The person reserving the site could show up on any day and any time. By cancelling the reservation they are voiding the contract and would have to provide a refund which they would not do.

If it did become part of policy there would have to be a way to account for a late arrival leading the renter to just call each day and say they are delayed and will be there tomorrow.

Imagine the family who breaks down while driving to the campground. They are delayed by a day and show up 1 day late only to find out that their campsite is gone and rented to someone else...

If you fail to check in by the deadline (whenever that is - for WDW I think it might be 8am the following day) or at least notify them you will be late, I don't believe they are legally required to hold the room for you any longer. And they get to keep the deposit/first night's payment.

Not a big deal for a one-night throwaway room, certainly.

 

[smitch425]

They legally cannot cancel the reservation. It is paid for. The person reserving the site could show up on any day and any time. By cancelling the reservation they are voiding the contract and would have to provide a refund which they would not do.

If it did become part of policy there would have to be a way to account for a late arrival leading the renter to just call each day and say they are delayed and will be there tomorrow.

Imagine the family who breaks down while driving to the campground. They are delayed by a day and show up 1 day late only to find out that their campsite is gone and rented to someone else...

Actually, they can. They can pretty much do anything they want given what is listed in their fine print. Anyone who is unexpectedly delayed would have common sense enough to call and let them know. If not, they are subject to whatever Disney chooses to do.

 

[momimouse27]

I can't believe that people here are actually using motive as an argument for not booking throwaway rooms. Really?? It doesn't matter what your reason for booking the room, it's still unavailable to whoever didn't book it!

My husband used to have FL as his work territory. Some of his work was in Disney, so what if he booked a room at AllStars and stayed in the room the entire time working and never set foot in the park? Is he wrong because he took a room away from someone who wanted to actually vacation there and visit the parks?

Also, someone mentioned Disney could one day institute minimum stays based on abusing the system. This will never happen. Hotel managers rely on last minute trips and one night stays in order to fill the leftover rooms they have. Even Disney has these and the bottom line is, if they can get you to book rooms and they're getting you're money, it doesn't matter how.

 

[amylevan]

Also, someone mentioned Disney could one day institute minimum stays based on abusing the system. This will never happen. Hotel managers rely on last minute trips and one night stays in order to fill the leftover rooms they have. Even Disney has these and the bottom line is, if they can get you to book rooms and they're getting you're money, it doesn't matter how.

Again, when you're talking about Fort Wilderness, it is a possibility. Plenty of campgrounds that we frequent have a minimum stay requirement (check-ins on Fri require 2 nights and holiday weekends require 3 nights....heck, one campground we stay at only allows week-long reservations unless it's last minute and they have the space.)

You have to think like a camper for a second. Campers generally don't go somewhere for a 1 night stay. It's a lot of work to set up/take down. So, if you have a "throwaway" reservation for 1 night, the camper who wants that spot for a week is blocked. And unlike a hotel reservation, where shorter stays can fill in around it, it's a lot harder with a campers.

So, no, I don't see a min stay requirement likely at the hotels, but I wouldn't put it past Disney to put one in place at FW if the spotty 1 night stays were creating holes in their ability to fill the campground.