Travel Agents must be taking sites from legit campers

[MattFromPA]

I just reserved the last pop-up site for next February, according to the Disney rep. Read about the supposed loophole where travel agents are reserving blocks of sites just for the free resort parking, with the customers staying off-property. This must be true, as I find it hard to believe that all tent sites would ever be booked in February. Is Disney going to address this? Many commercial campgrounds charge extra for parties larger than six. It might be a way to clamp down on this, just to make these phantom reservations go away. Or, every party (regardless of size) is only issued one key card that is valid for parking. If you legitimately need another one, then at check-in you could be issued extra cards. At some point Disney is driving off potential customers by letting this go on.

 

[CamperMomma]

Sad to know this is potentially (and more so sounding realistically) happening. Another way to combat it could be going to the policy many state parks near us have? You must OCCUPY the site on your first night, or forfeit your entire reservation (thus cutting off your KTTW and parking pass)? 98% of the time it's easy to tell if a site is occupied, aside from the very very rare people who pack up everything when they leave daily.

 

[amylevan]

I am trying desperately to get a site the end of Jan/beginning of Feb. The reservationist that I talked to seems to think that not all of the sites have been "released". She thinks the rest will open up when the packages are released.

I have no idea if she is right or not, but I hope so. Otherwise I am going to have one very upset 4 year old.

 

[Cousin Ed C]

Does anyone really think Disney cares who pays for the site?

 

[jbrostek]

As long as the reservation is paid they do not care. Though to pay for that reservation plus a local hotel I just dont see the savings being worth it.

 

[angelmom27]

I have a feeling disney has not released all the sites. Cause I know after online registration opened up last yr there were tons of sites avaiable for all months. I know cause I was pricing out different options for a trip with the kids.

And as for someone saying something about charging extra for more than 6 people. I seriously hope that doesn't happen. The campgrounds are now our only option for our large family. My youngest one turns 3 in jan and she makes one too many for two value rooms.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Disney would indeed be unhappy if this is true, as FW is usually full or nearly full and this is not good publicity for them.

The Disney name and image is what counts in the end, they protect it very carefully. (ok they mess up now and then)

All that said, it makes no sense, the cost of a off site room and the driving time and crowds and the time to get to MK and longer for the other parks.....it just does not make any sense.

There is little or no savings and the waste of time.

AKK

 

[sharadoc]

I have a feeling disney has not released all the sites. Cause I know after online registration opened up last yr there were tons of sites avaiable for all months. I know cause I was pricing out different options for a trip with the kids.

And as for someone saying something about charging extra for more than 6 people. I seriously hope that doesn't happen. The campgrounds are now our only option for our large family. My youngest one turns 3 in jan and she makes one too many for two value rooms.

Wow - how do you afford tickets for 9 people??? That to me is the worst cost of the trip, the room and food are manageable, but those tickets - wow!!

 

[rharper1496]

I have a feeling disney has not released all the sites. Cause I know after online registration opened up last yr there were tons of sites avaiable for all months. I know cause I was pricing out different options for a trip with the kids.

Oh, I hope you're right. DH surprised me last night by telling me to book FW instead of the Poly. Renting an RV and camping there is #1 on my Disney bucket list but I could never get him to agree to it. I'm going to need a site from Jan 31 to Feb 7 if I want it to happen.

 

[jbrostek]

We called in March and had no issues booking our sites/group for the first weekend of january for 2 weeks.

I would keep calling, it seems to be odd sometimes that you can call one day nothing, the next day no problem.

 

[amylevan]

I've been trying to get Jan 26-Feb 7 for several weeks...

 

[angelmom27]

Wow - how do you afford tickets for 9 people??? That to me is the worst cost of the trip, the room and food are manageable, but those tickets - wow!!

Thankfully being FL residents help too. Our last may trip we just did one day. Wish we could have done the 3 day pass. This sept is me and DD for NOJ weekend. We got 2 day hoppers. We really haven't been able yet to go as a family except for this past may. First time stay on site too. DH says he is hooked and won't stay off site anymore. The next one I am planning is a christmas family trip since its the only time DH gets a paid vacation. Going to book as soon as I can and pay it off little by little.

 

[sharadoc]

Thankfully being FL residents help too. Our last may trip we just did one day. Wish we could have done the 3 day pass. This sept is me and DD for NOJ weekend. We got 2 day hoppers. We really haven't been able yet to go as a family except for this past may. First time stay on site too. DH says he is hooked and won't stay off site anymore. The next one I am planning is a christmas family trip since its the only time DH gets a paid vacation. Going to book as soon as I can and pay it off little by little.

That's wonderful! Plus the Fort is so much fun it's a vacation in itself.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) All this talk about Disney not releasing rooms or camping sites.
2) The fact is that Disney does not hold back rooms.
3) They are all available for booking.

4) The confusion comes in from GUEST BLOCKED rooms.
5) There are blocks of rooms that are held for "possible" guest bookings.
. . . conventions (on site or off site)
. . . weddings (brides need blocked rooms for their packages)
. . . groups (family reunions, Boy Scouts, other groups)
. . . sports (eg. cheerleader competitions, Pop Warner Football, etc)
6) Usually 30-60 days before arrival, un-booked rooms must be released.
7) They are released by the groups booking them, or must be paid for.
8) Then, Disney can rent them.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Though to pay for that reservation plus a local hotel I just dont see the savings being worth it.

It may be if you're hotel is close to the parks and you like EMHs.

I crunched some numbers for a family of four (two children under nine) staying at Caribbean Beach vs staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek (which is very close to CBR) and sharing a campsite with another family of four. I used the last week of October (our vacation dates) as the dates. i realize you can't get a campsite for Halloween anymore, so I just used the average of the days up until the 31st and mulitplied by seven.

Caribbean Beach Famiiy would pay $2,743.92 which includes 1 room, park tickets for 8 days (I think non-hoppers) and admission to Disney Quest and I think Fantasia Gardens. It also includes Magical Express, park transportation, free parking and EMHs.

Wyndham Bonnet Creek family would pay $2,338.48, broken down as follows:

Two bedroom condo with living room and kitchen: $700/week (estimate)
8-day non-park hoppers: $1,318.48
Cab transportation to and from airport: $110 (estimate)
1/2 campsite at Fort Wilderness for week: $210
($59.63/night for tent site, multiplied by seven and divided by two)

As well as the increased space, the WBC family would get everything the Caribbean Beach Family would get except Disney Quest, Fantasia Gardens and the Magical Express video. And it's $400 cheaper.

I compared CBR to WBC because they're right next to each other. It might be an apples to oranges comparison since CBR is a one bedroom hotel, and WBC is a two bedroom condo. The comparison might be greater if you compare WBC to a villa such as Beach Club or AK.

Would I rent out a campsite just for the parking and the EMH? Nope. I just think it's wrong.

Would I rent out a campsite to experience the Fort? One of these days I want to. But this trip, we're staying at Wyndham Bonnet Creek.

With the $15/day parking, and without the EMH.

 

[jbrostek]

I am surprised since I am traveling next week for a conference at the Orlando Convention Center, and seriously had a hard time finding a room that was close to per diem (seriously could not find a per diem room even 5 months ago) and that is up in the international drive area. So I pretty much assumed it would be just as bad near disney.