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

[Motherofsix]

Wow, I didn't even think to try checking the band at the parking stations on the days other than the check-in/check-out days. Good tip, thanks!

You're welcome! I should reiterate that Epcot was the ONLY park that actually scanned our MB for parking. They scanned it on one of our "onsite" (throwaway campground) days, so we knew it should work since we were entitled to free parking that day. On our second park day, we went to MK and they did NOT scan our Magicbands for parking. We were entitled to free parking that day as well. We were not expecting/planning to get free parking on our 3rd and 4th park days, since we did not have a throwaway room attached to those days. On our 3rd and 4th days we simply held up our arm with the Magicband, and they waved us through-- NO WORDS of communication spoken. I was really surprised at how easy it was. It appeared that anyone with a MB could get free parking on those days with those attendants. Your experience may be different, or it may be the same. FYI we drove into the parking lots at about 8:30am each day-- so it was a (somewhat) busy time to enter. Good luck!

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

You're welcome! I should reiterate that Epcot was the ONLY park that actually scanned our MB for parking. They scanned it on one of our "onsite" (throwaway campground) days, so we knew it should work since we were entitled to free parking that day. On our second park day, we went to MK and they did NOT scan our Magicbands for parking. We were entitled to free parking that day as well. We were not expecting/planning to get free parking on our 3rd and 4th park days, since we did not have a throwaway room attached to those days. On our 3rd and 4th days we simply held up our arm with the Magicband, and they waved us through-- NO WORDS of communication spoken. I was really surprised at how easy it was. It appeared that anyone with a MB could get free parking on those days with those attendants. Your experience may be different, or it may be the same. FYI we drove into the parking lots at about 8:30am each day-- so it was a (somewhat) busy time to enter. Good luck!

I just want to mention that our bands were scanned each time we used them to park. 2 cars on our check-in day and 3 cars for our check-out day.

 

[Motherofsix]

I just want to mention that our bands were scanned each time we used them to park. 2 cars on our check-in day and 3 cars for our check-out day.

Good to know. It seems that we may have gotten lucky, with parking attendants that didn't want to be bothered with scanning our bands. It seems that they are not consistent with this. I'm curious to know how many others have/have not had their bands scanned for parking.

 

[doconeill]

Good to know. It seems that we may have gotten lucky, with parking attendants that didn't want to be bothered with scanning our bands. It seems that they are not consistent with this. I'm curious to know how many others have/have not had their bands scanned for parking.

Scanning bands is more work than looking at a sheet of paper and waving you on. If it is getting busy, they may opt for just "showing" the band to keep the lines moving. It's similar to how they may disable finger scans at park opening to increase flow through the turnstiles.

In theory they should also be asking for ID as well.

Of course, it means a lot more chance of "free parking" to those who don't qualify.

 

[karensi]

We just got back from our trip Oct 1-6th. We had a throwaway campsite on Oct. 2. We did NOT physically check in at the campground. We only did the online check in. ALL of our FP's worked perfectly! We had no issues at all with using our Magicbands, FP's, or free parking. Your FP's will work if you do the online check in. No need to worry!

When it comes to parking, it doesn't matter which band is scanned. We had a party of 10 and 1 park day we got parking for 3 cars. We also did online check in and had no problem with parking, park admission or using our fp+s.

Motherofsix and mom2mickeyfan, THANK YOU so much
This is now one less thing I have to worry about. It was really bothering me, thinking that if I didn't physically check in all of our FP's would be lost.
OK, so I can check that off the list, no need to physically check in. Pheeewww


Once again, thanks so much for taking the time to answer and making me feel less worried about all this.

Karen

 

[Unearned Happiness]

I'm nervous that if I don't physically check in to the campground, which I do not want to do, my FPs won't work.

I don't see any reason to worry about that. We did online check-in back in August and did not lose our FP+. We never once stepped foot on our campsite.

Our experience seems to be consistent with what I've read on this board. I have not seen a single post from anyone saying they lost their FPs by not physically going to their site.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Motherofsix and mom2mickeyfan, THANK YOU so much
This is now one less thing I have to worry about. It was really bothering me, thinking that if I didn't physically check in all of our FP's would be lost.
OK, so I can check that off the list, no need to physically check in. Pheeewww


Once again, thanks so much for taking the time to answer and making me feel less worried about all this.

Karen

You are welcome! Others help to put my mind at ease so I'm happy to pass the help along. Hope your family has a wonderful trip!!

 

[HatboxHaint]

I bought a campsite for one night and got an extra set of bands and used them in conjunction with first set on this last trip. Even though I was wearing a band when I went to the kiosk in the morning to get my same day FP's with the 2nd band I was not questioned by the CM. The 2nd set of FP's worked great and was a big help on rides like Haunted Mansion that had inflated queues this trip. If I had done this at rope drop I probably could have gotten some decent things like Big Thunder or Space. We had time to kill between BBB and CRT. I was able to get a FP for TeaCups, which got us passed quite a line at 11am, using the 2nd band set strategy. I would never have used a primary FP for this but it was great having that secondary set, very handy. Magical riding tea cups with our kids done up from BBB, much like the tv commercials.

 

[ckelly14]

I bought a campsite for one night and got an extra set of bands and used them in conjunction with first set on this last trip. Even though I was wearing a band when I went to the kiosk in the morning to get my same day FP's with the 2nd band I was not questioned by the CM. The 2nd set of FP's worked great and was a big help on rides like Haunted Mansion that had inflated queues this trip. If I had done this at rope drop I probably could have gotten some decent things like Big Thunder or Space. We had time to kill between BBB and CRT. I was able to get a FP for TeaCups, which got us passed quite a line at 11am, using the 2nd band set strategy. I would never have used a primary FP for this but it was great having that secondary set, very handy. Magical riding tea cups with our kids done up from BBB, much like the tv commercials.

Thanks for posting. Did you make FP+ reservations with the other bands in the same park or another? Morning or afternoon? Just curious. Personally, I would make my normal FP's in the late morning and use the second set coming back to the same park after a break, but would love to hear your opinion.

One thing is confusing me. If you used the set linked to the campsite for same-day fast passes (SDFP), I assume you didn't reserve a throwaway room for the 60 day window. Did you just do it for the SDFP? Did you have another onsite stay on a different MDE?

 

[poober25]

I'm not sure if this the right place to post this or not, so please direct me to the right place if it's not

I have a group YES trip planned for late Nov/early Dec., so right now we are less than 60 days out. I am thinking of booking a campsite so that at least one person in each family will have a MB, as we are buying Memory Maker, so I want to ensure that everyone can get their ride photos. Since I can invite others to link to MDE, does everyone in my campsite reservation have to actually be on my MDE, or can I choose from my family & friends that have their own MDE account.

Example--4 people in my MDE, then 2 each from 3 other families with their own separate MDEs. Would this work? I don't want to put everyone (28 people total) into MY MDE, I want to invite them all to link to it, though.

Also is there a way to easily delete people from MDE, as I have everyone from last year's YES trip in there right now, and only one is returning

FWIW, some of us might actually stay on the campsite for that night. My very first ever experience to Disney was a class trip in 1986 and we camped at Ft. Wilderness, so it holds very fond memories--it may not technically be a "throwaway," but it might be.

 

[Ero_FL]

Can't you only get FP+ for nights that you are staying onsite? Haven't used it yet but that was my understanding. And since the bands are linked to your account, if you canceled at the last minute that would make the bands useless...

No. I make FP+ selections all the time. I have APs, but if you link your ticket # it will work, too. It goes by park tickets, not by hotel.

Every time we do get a room, we get new bands. We have 2 full sets and an extra set for me and dh for our F&W trip. They are all active and interchangeable as long as your tickets are active- you can link them.

 

[linzjane88]

We will be in Disney 12/16-12/21 at Bonnet Creek. Initially I booked a campsite for 60 day window simply because we are travelling with our family who are staying DVC and wanted to get times our FP+ times with them. I have an annual pass so parking isn't a perk. Our checkout day is the 21st but the majority of our group have decided to stay an extra day. I am considering staying the 1 night on property and was wondering if I could move my 12/16 ressie to 12/21 without it affecting my already scheduled FP. Based on what I have read here and elsewhere, I think the answer is sort of no.

I think that I would have to be within 30 days to move with ruining my FP, right? That basically the 60 day window was only open because of my campsite booking the first day of our stay and moving our stay to the last day would make my bookings invalid? But if I changed the reservation on November 16 this would be 30 days out anyway so it might work?

Much love to the brilliant minds around here

 

[MiMi2Three]

I have magic band for upcoming trip, ticket linked, MDE account and have booked FP+ 60 days out. My DH has MB no park tickets. Can I take his MB or my MB from my past visit into the park and make same day FP's? Thanks in advance

 

[stpats317]

Ok, here's a question - we have a room only reservation for one night and a package starting the next day. We have received magic bands for both of those rooms and both are showing active. Can I use the bands from the one night room only ressie to book additional FPs. Both sets of bands show in MDE as active.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Ok, here's a question - we have a room only reservation for one night and a package starting the next day. We have received magic bands for both of those rooms and both are showing active. Can I use the bands from the one night room only ressie to book additional FPs. Both sets of bands show in MDE as active.

If those bands are under the same MDE account, then it will not work.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I have magic band for upcoming trip, ticket linked, MDE account and have booked FP+ 60 days out. My DH has MB no park tickets. Can I take his MB or my MB from my past visit into the park and make same day FP's? Thanks in advance

I'm not 100%. But from my understanding, your MB would not work unless it was linked to a different MDE account. Even though it is from a past trip, it is still linked to you. In fact, my understand is that you could even use that band for your current trip if they are under the same MDE account. Your DH's band you may be able to use at the park kiosk for same day FP+s but only if there is no other band linked to him that has been used to enter the park.

Hope that makes sense and again, I'm not 100%!

 

[MiMi2Three]

Thanks for the response! Guess I will just try his and see if it works.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Thanks for the response! Guess I will just try his and see if it works.

Never hurts to try. Good luck!

 

[alisigns]

I think the problem is not just the Magic Bands. It's that on site guests get to book ADRs at 190 days and not 180, FP+ at 60 (from their check in date, not just visit date) instead of 30, free Magic Bands (save $13 per person), parking ($17/day) and the option for a BOG FP for lunch. All of it added up makes a pretty convincing case to stay onsite and if throwaway rooms are an option, I can see them becoming big. It would be a lot of work to fake check in, but I can see it happening. Just some thoughts....

 

[KNovacovschi]

I think the problem is not just the Magic Bands. It's that on site guests get to book ADRs at 190 days and not 180, FP+ at 60 (from their check in date, not just visit date) instead of 30, free Magic Bands (save $13 per person), parking ($17/day) and the option for a BOG FP for lunch. All of it added up makes a pretty convincing case to stay onsite and if throwaway rooms are an option, I can see them becoming big. It would be a lot of work to fake check in, but I can see it happening. Just some thoughts....

All this info is correct except the ADRs, you book at 180 days from the day you check in up to 10 days after, not 190 days. So if you check in Sept 20 then you book ADRs starting March 24 for the 20th and everyday after of your trip up to 10 days.