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

[GadgetGod]

We just returned from a week-long offsite visit. I booked a one night reservation onsite about two months ago. My main reason for the throwaway room was to allow me to pre-book my fastpasses and also get my DD a magic band since I knew she would enjoy it.
I only did the online check in and did not drive over to the resort to check in. No problems at all. I was able to make purchases on the MB (with PIN) during my stay, and was able to modify my FP on my phone even after my resort stay was over.
For my family, the small cost of one night (especially after factoring in the savings on parking) was worth not having to use the kiosks in park (and wait in their lines).

 

[Tuffcookie]

We just returned from a week-long offsite visit. I booked a one night reservation onsite about two months ago. My main reason for the throwaway room was to allow me to pre-book my fastpasses and also get my DD a magic band since I knew she would enjoy it.
I only did the online check in and did not drive over to the resort to check in. No problems at all. I was able to make purchases on the MB (with PIN) during my stay, and was able to modify my FP on my phone even after my resort stay was over.
For my family, the small cost of one night (especially after factoring in the savings on parking) was worth not having to use the kiosks in park (and wait in their lines).

Glad it worked for you. It really is a no-brainer.

TC

 

[CanadaJulie]

.
I only did the online check in and did not drive over to the resort to check in.
For my family, the small cost of one night (especially after factoring in the savings on parking) was worth not having to use the kiosks in park (and wait in their lines).

This is good to know !!

We debated about physically checking in and finally did drive to the resort. I wanted the parking pass otherwise I would not have bothered. Since you had not checked in, I assume you did not get the paper parking pass ? You mentioned the savings on parking - how did they know not to charge you for parking ?

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

This is good to know !!

We debated about physically checking in and finally did drive to the resort. I wanted the parking pass otherwise I would not have bothered. Since you had not checked in, I assume you did not get the paper parking pass ? You mentioned the savings on parking - how did they know not to charge you for parking ?

I would like to know this also. I have been wondering how to save on parking without actually going to the resort. If we get a throwaway room, it will be for our first park day instead of the day we arrive in the Orlando area.

 

[ampc3]

how did you charge things to your MB? was it only for your check in and check out day?? how did that work, haven't seen that before? TIA

 

[GadgetGod]

This is good to know !!

We debated about physically checking in and finally did drive to the resort. I wanted the parking pass otherwise I would not have bothered. Since you had not checked in, I assume you did not get the paper parking pass ? You mentioned the savings on parking - how did they know not to charge you for parking ?

I did not receive the paper parking pass. On the first day (animal kingdom), when going through the gate, I told them that 'today' is our check in day (it was) he used a handheld scanner on my MB and confirmed the resort reservation. On the next day, when the gate attendant saw my MB they waived me through. On subsequent days I held up $ to pay and still got waived through (twice this happened at two parks in the same day since we often went to EPCOT for dinner). I think when the parks are busy (and there is a long line at the parking gate) the attendants are trying to keep the line moving and they would prefer to hit the resort guest button for any reason rather then making change.

 

[GadgetGod]

I would like to know this also. I have been wondering how to save on parking without actually going to the resort. If we get a throwaway room, it will be for our first park day instead of the day we arrive in the Orlando area.

that is what we did, we arrived on a Saturday and our first day in the park was Sunday. In all we went through the parking gate 8 times. 5 morning park visits, 2 additional evening EPCOT visits and one time on our way to a V&A dinner.

 

[GadgetGod]

how did you charge things to your MB? was it only for your check in and check out day?? how did that work, haven't seen that before? TIA

When I did the online check in, I assigned my credit card to the MB. I also picked a PIN. At many location there is a MB reader with a keypad. when I paid for items I would hold my MB to the reader, wait for the prompt for my PIN and enter it. I only did this for the first two days, until I got the email with my "check out" bill (that showed the charges I had made). I do not think this would still work after I had checked out, but I did not try it to confirm.

 

[CanadaJulie]

Oh yeah - thought I'd tell you my funny story - happened to us 2 times.

We had ADR's for our check in and check out days. The hostess says "Oh, I see you are staying in one of our resorts !" I gave her a blank look... "um... no... ?" <My husband elbows me in the ribs> "OH RIGHT !! YES, resort.. yes... of course!"

Since we were not physically staying in the report, I kept forgetting we were "onsite". They ask since they want to know if youl'll be charging to your MB, on the dining plan or paying cash.

Poor hostess must have thought I'd been out in the sun too long...

 

[rachdd]

This is good to know !!

We debated about physically checking in and finally did drive to the resort. I wanted the parking pass otherwise I would not have bothered. Since you had not checked in, I assume you did not get the paper parking pass ? You mentioned the savings on parking - how did they know not to charge you for parking ?

I did not get the paper parking pass and was waived thru about 75% of the time. A couple of times they scanned my band and told me I was good to go. I was even asked where I was staying a couple of times and I never lied and always said Shades of Green and they also said okay, have a good day and waived us thru. Also, at AK they asked if I had the pass and I said no so they wanted to scan my band but they were having trouble with the scanner, I offered to pay and she said "oh no, it will only take a minute" she got the scanner working, scanned my band and told us to have a great day. I did not have to pay for parking one day and we drove to all parks except the MK. It made the car rental and throw away night that much more worth it.

 

[Vidia2]

I did not get the paper parking pass and was waived thru about 75% of the time. A couple of times they scanned my band and told me I was good to go. I was even asked where I was staying a couple of times and I never lied and always said Shades of Green and they also said okay, have a good day and waived us thru. Also, at AK they asked if I had the pass and I said no so they wanted to scan my band but they were having trouble with the scanner, I offered to pay and she said "oh no, it will only take a minute" she got the scanner working, scanned my band and told us to have a great day. I did not have to pay for parking one day and we drove to all parks except the MK. It made the car rental and throw away night that much more worth it.

.

 

[OtherScott]

The quote above is incorrect. At the 60 day out mark, you can book your FP+ for your check in and out day. Then every day after that, another day opens up and you can book FP+ for the length of your ticket. So for example if 60 days out was today, you can book check in/check out. Then in 2 days you can book for your 3rd ticket day, day after that, another day opens up.

It is similar to the ADR. If you are staying onsite, at 180 days out of your first day, you can make your ADR for the entire trip. If you are offisite, you have to make them 180 days out for each individual day.

Yes people are doing. I did it myself. However everything is pointing to the fact that offsite guests will soon be able to pre-book so this practice will stop then - it will no longer be required to have an on-site room so no need to book "throwaway rooms"

There is a 45 page thread on it on page 1. Search for "Throwaway room".

What will happen to Disney's plan to roll this out to non-resort guests when they see the "occupancy rate" (living humans/ghosts) going north off the charts?

Get ready for a 100-page thread of "let-the-offsiters-eat-cake-acolytes" finding rack rates up 50% and available dates nonexistent suddenly redefine "fairness."

 

[OtherScott]

Taking a campsite and not using it means someone else can't, and yes, maybe it's someone who can't afford anything more. How much clearer does that have to be made?

Doesn't taking a campsite and using it mean someone else can't use it, too? Are you advocating means-testing?

In all seriousness, yours is a noble position to take. Doesn't mean those taking the opposite position are ignoble.

The problem arises when you:

a) narrowly define "use"
b) forget that we're talking about a campsite at Disney World (for crying out loud)

 

[Turn the Page]

Doesn't taking a campsite and using it mean someone else can't use it, too? Are you advocating means-testing?

In all seriousness, yours is a noble position to take. Doesn't mean those taking the opposite position are ignoble.

The problem arises when you:

a) narrowly define "use"
b) forget that we're talking about a campsite at Disney World (for crying out loud)

I think the frustration some have with this practice is if someone tries to book a site for a week long visit and has trouble making a reservation because someone booked a throwaway site for one night in the middle of the week in order to work the system. I can see how that would be very frustrating to deal with.

 

[OtherScott]

I think the frustration some have with this practice is if someone tries to book a site for a week long visit and has trouble making a reservation because someone booked a throwaway site for one night in the middle of the week in order to work the system. I can see how that would be very frustrating to deal with.

I get that and I can certainly sympathize with it - to an extent. I suppose that if Disney required a minimum stay, true tent-camping-disney-lovers desiring a 1 night stay night would be frustrated, too.

 

[OtherScott]

I doubt Disney is terribly worried about this. They were paid in full for a service I did not even use. They are probably laughing all the way to the bank. I doubt they're in a real rush to stop this "problem".

At any rate, the problem will resolve itself once FP+ pre-booking is available to all guests, onsite and off - which from what I hear is very soon.

I'm amazed that anyone would think otherwise. Disney needs to solve the problem of not having to clean rooms and launder dirty linens?

 

[Turn the Page]

I get that and I can certainly sympathize with it - to an extent. I suppose that if Disney required a minimum stay, true tent-camping-disney-lovers desiring a 1 night stay night would be frustrated, too.

What I find frustrating is that people can book a campsite for one night and get onsite benefits for the entire length of their ticket. So people say they pay for onsite perks because they paid for them even though they didn't sleep in the room. Sorry, they did not pay for the perks for the length of their ticket they paid for the perks for one night (or however many nights they booked their throwaway room for).

Is it illegal? No, of course not. People who do this aren't going to be taken to Disney jail. It's a loophole that many of us hope will be closed soon.

 

[OtherScott]

What I find frustrating is that people can book a campsite for one night and get onsite benefits for the entire length of their ticket. So people say they pay for onsite perks because they paid for them even though they didn't sleep in the room. Sorry, they did not pay for the perks for the length of their ticket they paid for the perks for one night (or however many nights they booked their throwaway room for).

Is it illegal? No, of course not. People who do this aren't going to be taken to Disney jail. It's a loophole that many of us hope will be closed soon.

I don't think that is entirely accurate. I don't think you get EMH, DDP or parking for any days other than those onsite. And according to most who have an informed opinion, FP+ advance for non-resort is part of the overall staggered rollout.

So, I guess, what they get is to keep on accessing FP+ after the dates of stay...

 

[Turn the Page]

I don't think that is entirely accurate. I don't think you get EMH, DDP or parking for any days other than those onsite. And according to most who have an informed opinion, FP+ advance for non-resort is part of the overall staggered rollout.

So, I guess, what they get is to keep on accessing FP+ after the dates of stay...

Oh please. There are people on this thread reporting paying for a throwaway room for one night and getting free parking and advanced FP+ access for the rest of their stay.

 

[Turn the Page]

And further, if Disney discovers they are missing out on filling a large number of rooms for a week because the number of single night throwaways means there isn't availability for week long stays then yes, that will be a problem for them and they will want to fix it because it will start impacting their bottom line.