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

[maybeecatlady]

We stayed at AKV in October, booked many months before FP+ roll-out was an issue. In July, we invited my SIL and her family to join us at WDW. I tried to get them a DVC exchange, but we had no luck at all, so we used Starwood points for them to stay at the Swan. By this time, we had our MBs and FP+s. We really wanted to be able to tour together as group. We didn't know if double-dipping would still be allowed, so we really wanted to make sure we could all have FP+s.

So, I called WDW and asked about booking a one-night stay at POP. I explained the situation to the CM, and she informed me that MBs were for the length of the ticket, not the length of the stay. We asked if we needed to stay at the room, and she advised us that checking in online would be sufficient. SIL and fam would have stayed the night at POP had it been "required" but it would have been a bit of a pain for them to have to move.

In terms of this being a "loophole," Disney is well-aware of this. If they wanted to program the system so that MBs were length of stay instead of length of ticket, they could. Just look at dining plans. Those are completely based off length of stay. I can't book a one-night stay and get 10 days of free dining. We cheated nobody out of anything and took nothing that we weren't entitled to. I am somebody who tries to play by the rules, and according to Disney, that is what I did.

How do you check-in online? I'm seriously thinking about doing this if by April offsite guests cannot book at least one FP+ ahead of time.

 

[plumsiren]

That's the mantra I keep saying in my head over and over when I read these boards. I teach 6th grade, and overheard one of my students say, "but it's okay unless you get caught, and then you just tell them it's my life". This is a sad, sorry world we're raising ourselves in. People keep wondering where the "magic" went, it got pushed out by the "me" mentality

This has been going on for a while on another, similar thread. I guess I was naive to think those embracing Disney magic would also be honest people!

 

[kellyg403]

This could actually hurt Disney financially, at least at FW. If someone books one night at the campground, they in effect make the site useless for those who want to stay for a week. I think that the spot has a greater chance of sitting empty when it is booked for say just a Wednesday or Thursday.

There are no rules against it though. Maybe Disney will come up with a minimum stay just as some other campgrounds have.

Not to mention, part of the hype in the beginning with MB was that more guests were shopping. Some of that shopping happens at the resorts. Not to mention food.

Personally, If you want to spend $$$ to get FP for 10 days, not sure I care. I would think that it DOES put pressure on those value/campsite resorts because they are cheaper and more people willing to shell out some money, just not Grand Floridian money for a one night stay. But, I imagine there are plenty of rooms that go unused at some point without the fp scenario. Delays in arriving, having to cancel at the last minute etc.

But the 80% occupancy has me wondering what the break up of those empty rooms are in the different categories. Is POP typically 90% booked and GF averaging 59% booked? Wouldn't that make a difference? Regardless, if you are willing to pay for something you have no plans to use, that's up to you.

Kelly

 

[kellyg403]

If I remember correctly you are in Britain. Things are done differently booking from there.

I can see why they would tell you, since you did ask, that you couldn't keep a room just to use it as luggage storage though. I'm sure that folks doing this don't always ask whether they can do it or not, they just do it. Since most of the time they don't have two onsite reservations (even a DVC reservation might not show for CRO), it won't show in Disney's system that they are double Yet I don't see the difference between paying to keep luggage in a room, and possibly even going back to the room to retrieve an item during that time, and booking a room for the sake of a few perks

There may be something to do with number of guests in the resort and emergencies. For example the resort has had 95 guests check in to stay. Should there be a fire, the number of guests they are accounting for is 95. So a safety issue.

Kelly

 

[Luckybee]

This has been going on for a while on another, similar thread. I guess I was naive to think those embracing Disney magic would also be honest people!

What part of there is nothing wrong with booking and paying for a room you don't intend to use acc'd to Disney do you not understand. Why oh why would you suggest that this is dishonest in any way shape or form. They would care if people started booking then cancelling all the time but most are talking about booking and paying for a room in order to get perks in the park but staying elsewhere because they prefer offsite accom. for whatever reason. Do yourself a favor...call up Disney and see if they find it dishonest. Tell them you wish to book a room, which you're intending to check into, pay for, but not stay in in order to get fp+ . See if they don't want your money. The Disney rep I spoke with indicated they would happily take ours.

Hotels all over Las Vegas give out free rooms to gamblers . Often those rooms will come with perks(comps) such as food credits or free play. Patrons often double or sometimes triple book rooms in order to get those perks. All the hotel/casino cares about is that you give them some play preferably equivalent to your comps. Do you think they don't know that patrons do this a lot ? Do you think they care ? Really ?

 

[Minniesgal]

Hi The difference with doing this at universal is that you only get the express pass only for the amount of visit. If you pay one night at a Universal Hotel and get the express pass for that day and check out day, but if want to spend more days at Universal you won't have the fast pass. I am not sure if the OP is talking about just getting bands for the one or two day visit or using that one night for a weeks worth. I thought I read on another post you have to have nights matching your magic bands for fastpass+.

Unless you have an AP. aP holders with bands can book FP+ for any stay on site or offsite. It might be worth it to get bands for an AP holder.

 

[Networth]

With all these people throwing money for empty rooms I feel like I need to buy some more Disney stock...

 

[kaytieeldr]

With all these people throwing money for empty rooms I feel like I need to buy some more Disney stock...

Best idea in this whole thread!

 

[cosmicdaisy]

What part of there is nothing wrong with booking and paying for a room you don't intend to use acc'd to Disney do you not understand. Why oh why would you suggest that this is dishonest in any way shape or form. They would care if people started booking then cancelling all the time but most are talking about booking and paying for a room in order to get perks in the park but staying elsewhere because they prefer offsite accom. for whatever reason. Do yourself a favor...call up Disney and see if they find it dishonest. Tell them you wish to book a room, which you're intending to check into, pay for, but not stay in in order to get fp+ . See if they don't want your money. The Disney rep I spoke with indicated they would happily take ours.

Hotels all over Las Vegas give out free rooms to gamblers . Often those rooms will come with perks(comps) such as food credits or free play. Patrons often double or sometimes triple book rooms in order to get those perks. All the hotel/casino cares about is that you give them some play preferably equivalent to your comps. Do you think they don't know that patrons do this a lot ? Do you think they care ? Really ?

I may be putting words in Plumsiren's mouth, but I think the point she was trying to make is people purchasing a one night stay to receive the perks of an on-site guest when they had no intention of being an on-site guest at all. Doing something just because you can doesn't mean it is right or even okay. The more I read these types of threads (and I know the other Plumsiren is referring to as well) the more I realize there are two very divided camps on this issue. And honestly, I guess I am shocked in a way. The Dis is not exactly the place it once was. I can easily compare the Free Parking just because you are wearing your MB, the throw away room just to receive on site benefits to pool hopping and bringing your old mugs back before the new mug system. Those things used to be shamed. It seems there used to be a bigger difference between right and wrong. We all have different definitions, I get that, but I will sit over here in the 'this just seems wrong to me' corner.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Disney is crying all the way to the bank

 

[kaytieeldr]

What part of there is nothing wrong with booking and paying for a room you don't intend to use acc'd to Disney do you not understand. Why oh why would you suggest that this is dishonest in any way shape or form. They would care if people started booking then cancelling all the time but most are talking about booking and paying for a room in order to get perks in the park but staying elsewhere because they prefer offsite accom. for whatever reason. Do yourself a favor...call up Disney and see if they find it dishonest. Tell them you wish to book a room, which you're intending to check into, pay for, but not stay in in order to get fp+ . See if they don't want your money. The Disney rep I spoke with indicated they would happily take ours.

Hotels all over Las Vegas give out free rooms to gamblers . Often those rooms will come with perks(comps) such as food credits or free play. Patrons often double or sometimes triple book rooms in order to get those perks. All the hotel/casino cares about is that you give them some play preferably equivalent to your comps. Do you think they don't know that patrons do this a lot ? Do you think they care ? Really ?

Just for clarity, the perk of the free room (and food, and drink) has conditions. You really do have to gamble enough - aka spend enough money - to qualify for the "freebies (that you've earned based on previous play). Las Vegas hotels also designate some rooms for this purpose.

Disney doesn't, to the best of my knowledge, reserve any rooms/campsites for people who don't plan to stay in them. There's someone posting daily from Pop Century right now who's been told the hotel is at 100% occupancy.

 

[maxiesmom]

What part of there is nothing wrong with booking and paying for a room you don't intend to use acc'd to Disney do you not understand. Why oh why would you suggest that this is dishonest in any way shape or form. They would care if people started booking then cancelling all the time but most are talking about booking and paying for a room in order to get perks in the park but staying elsewhere because they prefer offsite accom. for whatever reason. Do yourself a favor...call up Disney and see if they find it dishonest. Tell them you wish to book a room, which you're intending to check into, pay for, but not stay in in order to get fp+ . See if they don't want your money. The Disney rep I spoke with indicated they would happily take ours.

Just keep in mind that whatever rep you spoke with has no control over what happens once you are actually at the resort. None.

Also, I doubt it would happen for a one night stay, Disney has been known to cancel rooms and perks when it seems the room has been abandoned. They know if you are coming and going by your room key. If it shows no activity they can decide the room has been abandoned, pack up any stuff left behind, and re-sell the room. One poster found this out the hard way when they went to use their dining credits and they had been cancelled.

Disney reserves the right to cancel your reservation if they find you did anything wrong.

I agree to with thinking just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. That whole mentality is pretty horrible. Just because I could go into a store and get away with shoplifting doesn't mean I should. Just because I could probably go 80 down a side street and not get stopped by the cops doesn't mean I should.

 

[Laketravis]

This has been going on for a while on another, similar thread. I guess I was naive to think those embracing Disney magic would also be honest people!

Since you mentioned another similar thread, I'll make the same statement here I made there.

My guess is that many of the people who are so quick to pass moral judgement on others and claim that "just because you can doesn't mean you should" are the same people who register for Disney contests multiple times a day using different email addresses or create multiple Disney accounts in hopes of increasing their chances of getting an FD or resort discount PIN.

Yet they see absolutely nothing wrong with THOSE practices.

 

[Laketravis]

I agree to with thinking just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. That whole mentality is pretty horrible. Just because I could go into a store and get away with shoplifting doesn't mean I should. Just because I could probably go 80 down a side street and not get stopped by the cops doesn't mean I should.

Please see my above post. Cast the first stone and all of that...

Disney has been known to cancel rooms and perks when it seems the room has been abandoned. They know if you are coming and going by your room key. If it shows no activity they can decide the room has been abandoned, pack up any stuff left behind, and re-sell the room. One poster found this out the hard way when they went to use their dining credits and they had been cancelled.

I'd be interested in seeing any evidence of Disney removing personal property from any Disney resort room via a declaration of abandonment during any period of time in which the room was paid for and no outstanding charges were pending.

That's a violation of Florida Hotel & Resort Occupancy statutes.

 

[kellyg403]

Just keep in mind that whatever rep you spoke with has no control over what happens once you are actually at the resort. None.

Also, I doubt it would happen for a one night stay, Disney has been known to cancel rooms and perks when it seems the room has been abandoned. They know if you are coming and going by your room key. If it shows no activity they can decide the room has been abandoned, pack up any stuff left behind, and re-sell the room. One poster found this out the hard way when they went to use their dining credits and they had been cancelled.

Disney reserves the right to cancel your reservation if they find you did anything wrong.

I agree to with thinking just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. That whole mentality is pretty horrible. Just because I could go into a store and get away with shoplifting doesn't mean I should. Just because I could probably go 80 down a side street and not get stopped by the cops doesn't mean I should.

Ultimately I agree 100% with you! Just because someone can doesn't always mean they should.

However, if the OP knows the things that could happen and is ok with it, I don't know that wasting a lot of energy on it on my side is productive. There will always people who say 'well, the rules don't mention you can't". They are expecting every single rule to be laid out and is fair game.

I do know personally I would not do this simply from the money factor. FP+ is not worth it, regardless of the price. But that's IMHO.

Kelly

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Just for clarity, the perk of the free room (and food, and drink) has conditions. You really do have to gamble enough - aka spend enough money - to qualify for the "freebies (that you've earned based on previous play). Las Vegas hotels also designate some rooms for this purpose. Disney doesn't, to the best of my knowledge, reserve any rooms/campsites for people who don't plan to stay in them. There's someone posting daily from Pop Century right now who's been told the hotel is at 100% occupancy.

You can bet that those reserving the "throwaway" rooms are not specifying when reserving that they will not be using those rooms. But in a "bottom line" way.. a sold room is a sold room. So Disney benefits from the situation.

As far as occupancy goes, long as these people are checking in, resorts will show 100% occupancy, empty rooms are factored as sold rooms - because that is what they are. Whether or not someone actually sleeps in the beds..

 

[maxiesmom]

You can bet that those reserving the "throwaway" rooms are not specifying when reserving that they will not be using those rooms. But in a "bottom line" way.. a sold room is a sold room. So Disney benefits from the situation.

As far as occupancy goes, long as these people are checking in, resorts will show 100% occupancy, empty rooms are factored as sold rooms - because that is what they are. Whether or not someone actually sleeps in the beds..

it is up to the resort CMs at the time if they will care enough to do something or not. Your room activity shows up on their computer. If the room doesn't show anyone coming or going they may check, just to make sure everything is ok. That everyone is not ill or something. It would be up to them if they decide to do anything if the room appears to be abandoned or not.

But yes, if they decided there was any kind of fraud your reservation is void. It is right in the terms and agreements. Again, I highly doubt anything would be done for a one night reservation. But that doesn't mean Disney condones the practice of booking rooms only for the perks.

Whether something is right or wrong shouldn't be determined by the likelihood of getting caught.

 

[Luckybee]

You can bet that those reserving the "throwaway" rooms are not specifying when reserving that they will not be using those rooms. But in a "bottom line" way.. a sold room is a sold room. So Disney benefits from the situation.

As far as occupancy goes, long as these people are checking in, resorts will show 100% occupancy, empty rooms are factored as sold rooms - because that is what they are. Whether or not someone actually sleeps in the beds..

Actually that isn't correct. I very specifically told the rep that we were not going to be staying on property, that we were booking solely to get the fp+ benefits. He told me that I shld wait to see if offsite guests will be getting advance fp bookings (but that he doubted it would happen) and that there were many doing the same thing. He also said that fp+ would only be avail for the 2 days, that is the arrival day and checkout day which was fine by us because we only need the benefits for those days.

 

[Luckybee]

it is up to the resort CMs at the time if they will care enough to do something or not. Your room activity shows up on their computer. If the room doesn't show anyone coming or going they may check, just to make sure everything is ok. That everyone is not ill or something. It would be up to them if they decide to do anything if the room appears to be abandoned or not.

But yes, if they decided there was any kind of fraud your reservation is void. It is right in the terms and agreements. Again, I highly doubt anything would be done for a one night reservation. But that doesn't mean Disney condones the practice of booking rooms only for the perks.

Whether something is right or wrong shouldn't be determined by the likelihood of getting caught.

When we check in we fully expect to tell the hotel we wont be using the room because we are not doing anything wrong at all. We wont have a problem.

 

[Luckybee]

Just keep in mind that whatever rep you spoke with has no control over what happens once you are actually at the resort. None.

Also, I doubt it would happen for a one night stay, Disney has been known to cancel rooms and perks when it seems the room has been abandoned. They know if you are coming and going by your room key. If it shows no activity they can decide the room has been abandoned, pack up any stuff left behind, and re-sell the room. One poster found this out the hard way when they went to use their dining credits and they had been cancelled.

Disney reserves the right to cancel your reservation if they find you did anything wrong.

I agree to with thinking just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. That whole mentality is pretty horrible. Just because I could go into a store and get away with shoplifting doesn't mean I should. Just because I could probably go 80 down a side street and not get stopped by the cops doesn't mean I should.

Except that there is absolutely nothing I am doing wrong here. Going 80 is illegal as is shoplifting.

I am booking a 1 night stay at a hotel which I am paying for in order to obtain the perks offered with that room for our arrival day and our departure day. We are going to sleep elsewhere. Im sorry but imho to think there is anything "wrong" with that is bizarre thinking. We're paying for that room the same way as someone who sleeps in it would be. I'm quite confident that no one at Disney cares where I sleep. What I also don't get is why thoise who seem to think there is something "wrong" with this don't just call for themselves and get it from the horse's mouth.