What do you think...right or wrong? Possible debate

[phorsenuf]

I took this from the resorts board. I personally don't agree with it. We tried to book POP during free dining and nothing was available. I wonder how many rooms may be sitting empty there that we could have been in?

Am I "cheating the system"??
On the Disney resorts board I started a thread about how my family booked our upcoming trip to Disneyworld. We are going in September and have booked a room at Pop Century with the free dining plan. I absolutely love Boardwalk and have also rented points for a villa there. We will not use the room at Pop Century except to check in and get our theme park tickets and dining plan. This saved us about $300.00 instead of booking the tickets and paying for the dining plan for the four of us.

 

[lecach]

While it stinks for people that can't afford to double book - and keeps those people from booking at the value hotels - I dont think they are really doing anything wrong. They are paying for the room - just not staying in it.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

So the resorts board poster is staying in the Boardwalk Villas but also has an empty room in Pop so she can get those perks? If she can afford them both, I don't think she is cheating anyone, if I am reading this right. I should have so much money to be able to do that.

 

[Charade]

 

[Chilehead Too]

I do not think she is doing anything wrong at all. More power to her for saving 300.00!!!

 

[MidgeD79]

I don't think it is wrong, and if I could do it I would. No different than making multiple adr's with the intent of cancelling some of them.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I agree, nothing wrong with it. We do this with the Universal Hotels just for the front of the line access. I always book at least two days on site at the cheapest rate available. Usually we are staying in a condo, so no need to squeeze into a hotel room. Although, the last time we were upgraded to a kidsuite so we slept there and even extended by a day.

 

[kdibattista]

Hmm... not sure if I think it's "wrong" but I hope that they would somehow donate the empty room to Make a Wish Foundation or some other charity.

 

[cardaway]

I see this as Disney's fault. Both in not seeing this coming given the deals they created and allowing double booking to happen within their system.

 

[Charade]

Ah yes, another person looking for "validation".

If Disney doesn't have a rule against it, then I don't see that they are doing anything wrong. Some of us may not like the idea or be a bit envious but other than that, that's that.

But I guess I just don't see how renting both places saves them any money. Are they saying that even with spending an extra $100 (rack rate)/night for the Pop that they'll save more than that buy using the included park tickets and meal plan?

If they stayed in the Pop, they wouldn't be spending any money on DVC points.

 

[kdibattista]

I see this as Disney's fault. Both in not seeing this coming given the deals they created and allowing double booking to happen within their system.

If they are renting points, would Disney know? I rented points a few years back and although the reservation was in our name (I think), I thought the DVC was an entirely different reservation system.

 

[phorsenuf]

Ah yes, another person looking for "validation".

If Disney doesn't have a rule against it, then I don't see that they are doing anything wrong. Some of us may not like the idea or be a bit envious but other than that, that's that.

But I guess I just don't see how renting both places saves them any money. Are they saying that even with spending an extra $100 (rack rate)/night for the Pop that they'll save more than that buy using the included park tickets and meal plan?

If they stayed in the Pop, they wouldn't be spending any money on DVC points.

And if you stay at DVC you can buy the dining plan. It's $37.99 a day per adult and I believe $10.99 per day for a child.

I'm not envious of it because I actually own DVC and I'm renting my points to pay for my trip. We wanted to stay at POP because that's where the kids wanted to go. It never occured to me to stay DVC and rent a room. I don't see how that could possibly save me any money.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I don't know if it's wrong. Would I do it? Probably not.

I also have heard of people booking at FW to get entrance to EMH and staying offsite. They are also taking away a space from other people, but they ARE paying for it.

 

[Missy1961]

I don't understand why people have to post this sort of stuff. Just do it, and move on.

 

[NMAmy]

And if you stay at DVC you can buy the dining plan. It's $37.99 a day per adult and I believe $10.99 per day for a child.

I'm not envious of it because I actually own DVC and I'm renting my points to pay for my trip. We wanted to stay at POP because that's where the kids wanted to go. It never occured to me to stay DVC and rent a room. I don't see how that could possibly save me any money.

I guess I'm not seeing how it would save her money unless she had a lot of people in her group.

And as long as she's paying for both reservations, it's not cheating as far as I can see. She's paid for them both--it's her decision as to whether she actually uses the room.

 

[cardaway]

If they are renting points, would Disney know? I rented points a few years back and although the reservation was in our name (I think), I thought the DVC was an entirely different reservation system.

Exactly my point. Not exactly rocket science to allow the two systems to talk to each other.

 

[SandraVB79]

I don't see why they are doing anything wrong.
They book a room, pay for a room and then don't sleep in the room. So what? They paid for it, so they can do with it what they want. Sleeping in it, roasting alligators in the bathtub, grilling cheese with the iron, ... or maybe not, sorry

No, really. It stinks that because of that you can't get a room. Them really sleeping in that room or not doesn't change a thing for you. The room has been booked and will be paid.

I do see how that can save them money, though. How much does one night cost at POP? Let's say it costs $100. Dining plan for 4 adults = $152
If they want to stay at Boardwalk + have dining plan, it costs them night at boardwalk + $152
If they want to stay at Boardwalk + have "free dining plan", it costs them night at Boardwalk + $100 (POP + free dining plan)
It doesn't only safe them $52 in this example, but they also get the "right" to poolhop to the POP pool, since they are also paying to use those amenities.

Rather smart from them...

ETA: and there is a difference between doing this and making multiple ADRs from which you're going to cancel some. In this case, they pay for both, DVC and POP. In case of the multiple ADRs, you are only going to pay one of them. If the restaurant gets lucky, someone will walk up and pay, otherwise, teh table will stay empty, and the restaurant looses money.

 

[marybet]

I'm on how this saves money, but don't have a problem with it.

There would be no way for Disney to know if someone booked at two places. A lot of people have the same names, they would have to check addresses and phone numbers. Why would they care as long as the people pay for it?

 

[rparmfamily]

Ditto. They paid for it, no different to me than if they stayed there or not.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, there's no rule against it, and the poster is paying for the room. I guess it's their choice whether to use it or not. Disney is a vacation destination, not your mother. It's not up to them to tell you how to utilize space you have paid for.

I guess I just don't understand how renting a hotel room that you're not going to use saves any money.