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

[Vidia2]

My feelings about this go beyond just saying it's wrong to do, I am being selfish. If everybody gets on the bandwagon with 1 night throwaway rooms, so they can get FP+ then that proportionately reduces the amount of FP+ there will be remaining. I do feel Disney owes it's onsite guests the perk of getting FP 60 days in advance. If this takes off in the wrong direction, it ruins for all of us. Now not only do I have to make reservations 60 days in advance, I'm also competing with offsite guests getting the same perks because they are playing the system to take away from legitimate reservations. I do feel that is wrong.

I think that clearly Disney thinks they owe us (onsite guests) extra perks! That's fine by me!:-D

 

[Roxy13]

If Disney charges 400.00 a night for a room that I could get offsite for 100.00 night, then yes, I do expect there to be perks for staying onsite. This is a no win debate, people will do whatever they have to in order for them to get what they want, regardless what anyone thinks. I'm from a different generation, and don't have the same values. If this is what Disney and guests have sunk to then I am done.

 

[momtosam]

Update:
My dates continue to roll and I booked FP+ for 5/14 today. MDE still says I am not eligible to book 5/15 -- the only day I don't have an ADR attached to. Tomorrow will be 60 days out on 5/15. I am going to see if that opens up tomorrow. If not, I'll try making an ADR for that day and then see what happens.

Major update:
5/15 opened up for me today WITHOUT an ADR. It now says "you have made no plans for this day" instead of "you are ineligible to book Fast Pass+ for this day." I was able to hit select and start making Fast Pass+ ressies.

 

[ckelly14]

Major update: 5/15 opened up for me today WITHOUT an ADR. It now says "you have made no plans for this day" instead of "you are ineligible to book Fast Pass+ for this day." I was able to hit select and start making Fast Pass+ ressies.

Great! Hoping things stay the same for the next 2 weeks!

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Major update:
5/15 opened up for me today WITHOUT an ADR. It now says "you have made no plans for this day" instead of "you are ineligible to book Fast Pass+ for this day." I was able to hit select and start making Fast Pass+ ressies.

Thank you so much for keeping us updated. We have 3 1/2 weeks before we would be able to pre-book any FP+s so it is great to know exactly what is going on.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think that clearly Disney thinks they owe us (onsite guests) extra perks! That's fine by me!:-D

And I think that clearly Disney doesn't think prebooking FP+ is one of those perks, as none of the marketing materials they have market FP+ the way they market things like EMHs in the same materials.

 

[Angel Ariel]

If Disney charges 400.00 a night for a room that I could get offsite for 100.00 night, then yes, I do expect there to be perks for staying onsite. This is a no win debate, people will do whatever they have to in order for them to get what they want, regardless what anyone thinks. I'm from a different generation, and don't have the same values. If this is what Disney and guests have sunk to then I am done.

Disney does give onsite guests perks. ME, Dining plan access, EMH, free parking, the "total immersion in all things Disney," etc....if those perks aren't worth it to a family, then yes offsite would be a better choice for that family. It isn't as though should Disney make prebooking available to all (which does seem inevitable at this point), that there aren't any perks for staying on property.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Disney does give onsite guests perks. ME, Dining plan access, EMH, free parking, the "total immersion in all things Disney," etc....if those perks aren't worth it to a family, then yes offsite would be a better choice for that family. It isn't as though should Disney make prebooking available to all (which does seem inevitable at this point), that there aren't any perks for staying on property.

I agree. I've always said that paper FPs were not an on-site perk or even a perk that got you more if you paid more for your room and people still stayed in all their resorts. Resort guest will have the same perks that they had before FP+ ever came into play. If the cost of a Disney resort isn't worth those perks then how did they keep the resort going up to now? Disney can not afford to turn off so many of the off-site guest by requiring them to use the kiosks and only day of. Word of mouth is a powerful thing!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Major update:
5/15 opened up for me today WITHOUT an ADR. It now says "you have made no plans for this day" instead of "you are ineligible to book Fast Pass+ for this day." I was able to hit select and start making Fast Pass+ ressies.

Sorry to ask this so late, but what kind of tickets do you have linked, an AP or regular? Thanks.

 

[Vidia2]

And I think that clearly Disney doesn't think prebooking FP+ is one of those perks, as none of the marketing materials they have market FP+ the way they market things like EMHs in the same materials.

If you contact Disney they'll say that being able to book 60 in advance is an onsite resort perk only.

AP holders now have 30 days.

Offsite have day of except for the few who are testing.

Call them or chat or even email and see what they say.

I know there are people cheating the system with throwaway room but all this does is prove to Disney that people are willing to buy onsite stays to get the perk of 60 days.

There are other glitches but Disney will tell you that they are glitches of testing. 60 days advanced booking is an onsite perk.

Everyone wants to think that they are Disney's most valuable customers but they only care about getting your money. Getting you to stay onsite is much more valuable to them than getting you to stay in the parks a bit longer as an offsite guest.

They have plans to build more resorts and more DVC units and they intend to fill them.

Why don't they offer offsite guests free dining? Lol! If it's so important to them to get you to stay in the parks?

People who read the website or watch the planning DVDs or get an email can read whatever they want into it. Disney is the master of double speak.

But TAs are getting emails and two people who don't even have tickets are able to make FP+ reservations at 60 days. Okay. LOL!!

I personally think that AP holders should get 60 days but they don't. That tells me that Disney cares nothing about loyalty. But they care more about non AP holders who stay offsite so they're going to get them the same perks as onsite guests? I don't think so. They'll get probably less than AP holders. And they should.

 

[CanadaJulie]

If you contact Disney they'll say that being able to book 60 in advance is an onsite resort perk.

So I became an onsite guest by paying for the room.

I know there are people cheating the system with throwaway room but all this does is prove to Disney that people are willing to buy onsite stays to get the perk of 60 days.

Why is paying for something in order to obtain the associated perk "cheating the system" ?

There are other glitches but Disney will tell you that they are glitches of testing. 60 days advanced booking is an onsite perk.

You seem very certain that 60 days is the onsite advantage. I am certain of ONE thing: Disney has made no such claims. They've been rather quiet about the whole thing throughout the "testing"....

Everyone wants to think that they are Disney's most valuable customers but they only care about getting your money.

Nope - couldnt care less what Disney thinks about me. All I want, is to make my hard earned family vacation something special. And if that means paying for a throwaway room to obtain the associated perks, then so be it. Nothing immoral or ethically questionable about it. The room was available for my time slot, I booked it, got my MB and was able to book FP+. It so happens that Disney allows you to book FP+ for the length of my ticket, so that's what I did.

I cannot understand where there is any question about my character, ethics, moral compass or any other such nonsense.

People are saying "you should have left it for someone who really wanted it". Why ?? *I* really wanted it !! Why do other people's wishes get precedence over my families ? It is a fair system, first come first serve, available to everyone with a computer or telephone. If someone else wanted it, they should have called and booked it.

You go to a store, you see something on sale, you buy it. Should I worry every time I make a purchase "oh... But what if someone else wants it more than me ? What if they are going to use it more than me ? What if they can't afford the higher priced item ?". Ridiculous !!

All I see here from the people pointing fingers is a bunch of judgmental people, intent on pointing out the "wrongs" of this world as seen by their eyes. The fact that Disney ALLOWS IT means nothing to them. THEY say we are wrong so we are WRONG !!

Crazy...

 

[HookedOnDiz]

If you contact Disney they'll say that being able to book 60 in advance is an onsite resort perk only.

We all know Disney CM's give out all kind of misinformation on the phone. I wouldn't base your argument on what they tell you over the phone... It's a little like studying for medical school using Wikipedia.

 

[Angel Ariel]

If you contact Disney they'll say that being able to book 60 in advance is an onsite resort perk only.

AP holders now have 30 days.

Offsite have day of except for the few who are testing.

Call them or chat or even email and see what they say.

I have no doubt that they are saying that *now* because that is what exists *now*. I am talking about when it is all finalized. Most phone/chat CMs don't have any more information on the future tweaks to FP+/MM+ than we do here on the DIS.

If prebooking was going to remain an onsite only perk, why are they not marketing as such in things like the Vacation Planning DVD? They specifically define FP+ as prebooking rides before your arrival, and then specifically state that FP+ will be available to ALL guests with theme park admission. There are no asterisks or small print on the screen stating that staying at a Disney hotel is required (as there are for things like EMH).

I'm addressing the idea that prebooking will continue to be an onsite only perk. Disney has made it pretty clear that that will not continue to be the case. I'm not debating that the prebooking window may be different for onsite than it is for offsite, as I've said from the beginning that I expect it will be (I still think it will be +10 for onsite guests, and that the AP window will be adjusted as well).

Why don't they offer offsite guests free dining? Lol! If it's so important to them to get you to stay in the parks?

The dining plan has always been an onsite perk. FP has not. Apples and oranges, IMO.

 

[Vidia2]

I have no doubt that they are saying that *now* because that is what exists *now*. I am talking about when it is all finalized. Most phone/chat CMs don't have any more information on the future tweaks to FP+/MM+ than we do here on the DIS. If prebooking was going to remain an onsite only perk, why are they not marketing as such in things like the Vacation Planning DVD? They specifically define FP+ as prebooking rides before your arrival, and then specifically state that FP+ will be available to ALL guests with theme park admission. There are no asterisks or small print on the screen stating that staying at a Disney hotel is required (as there are for things like EMH). I'm addressing the idea that prebooking will continue to be an onsite only perk. Disney has made it pretty clear that that will not continue to be the case. I'm not debating that the prebooking window may be different for onsite than it is for offsite, as I've said from the beginning that I expect it will be (I still think it will be +10 for onsite guests, and that the AP window will be adjusted as well). The dining plan has always been an onsite perk. FP has not. Apples and oranges, IMO.

The ability to book in advance has never been a perk for anyone so they can use it however they wish. It's adding, not taking away.

Of course they're going to give offsite guests the ability of prebook. They want to get rid of the lines. If AP holders only get 30 days, what do you think offsite, non AP holders should get?

I think in the past you've stated that it would be 60 rolling.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The ability to book in advance has never been a perk for anyone so they can use it however they wish. It's adding, not taking away.

Of course they're going to give offsite guests the ability of prebook. They want to get rid of the lines. If AP holders only get 30 days, what do you think offsite, non AP holders should get?

I think in the past you've stated that it would be 60 rolling.

I've stated from the beginning that I think the onsite perk will eventually be +10 over offsite guests, just like ADRs.

I don't think they're done figuring out the selection windows for anyone yet. AP holders had 60 days for a while, now they have 30...there's no reason they couldn't change it back to 60 next week, or down to 14 the week after that. The whole mantra that's repeated over and over to people who don't like FP+ that "this is just a test" applies here as well.

I think the change to the terms and conditions on MDE this week - taking out the definitive mention of 60 days for MYW/AP holders in favor of more non-specific wording - demonstrates that they aren't sure what the final windows will be at this point, and they're likely going to change more. I also think the surveying they're doing about changes to FP+ (the rolling 4th FP+, etc) indicates that the entire system is going to continue to evolve for a while.

ETA: I've also never said that Disney couldn't use prebooking as an onsite perk. Of course it's their right to decide how to use it. . That said, the few public statements and marketing materials that DO exist on the subject very much indicate that Disney does not intend to use it as an onsite perk the way the person I was responding to here was indicating they feel it should be.

The "entitled" label has been thrown around on those who dislike FP+ - as in feeling "entitled" to be able to get as many FPs as they could and get more access to rides. In this particular instance, I feel that poster (not you, Vidia), was acting "entitled" - like it is Disney's responsibility to make prebooking an onsite perk to make up for the price difference between onsite and offsite. The reality is that there ARE perks in that price difference already. Disney is not obligated to make prebooking an onsite perk in any way. That's all I was trying to say.

 

[rachdd]

Just back from a great 10 day trip, stayed at Shades of Green. I booked a throw away night at the campsite and we didn't buy our tickets until we got to Shades. Felt it was totally worth it and most of the time I didn't book our FP+ until the night before and had no trouble getting headliners. Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[my4girls10]

Just back from a great 10 day trip, stayed at Shades of Green. I booked a throw away night at the campsite and we didn't buy our tickets until we got to Shades. Felt it was totally worth it and most of the time I didn't book our FP+ until the night before and had no trouble getting headliners. Feel free to ask any questions.

Glad you had a great trip! We're counting down to November!

I only have one question: did you physically check in at FW?

TIA!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[rachdd]

Glad you had a great trip! We're counting down to November! I only have one question: did you physically check in at FW? TIA! Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

No! Only did online check in.

Also, just a side note our booked night was Wednesday and we didn't go to the park until Friday. Since some of our tickets were Military Salute tickets they had to be activated by guest relations. On Friday, we went to guest relations at MK and they linked all of our bands and tickets for us. No problems!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Crazy. Just completely crazy.

 

[momtosam]

Sorry to ask this so late, but what kind of tickets do you have linked, an AP or regular? Thanks.

Just 5 Day MYW tickets from Orbitz. I believe I misspoke earlier in the thread and said they were from UT. Doesn't make a difference, though.