What if we don't stay in our room?

[SGMCO]

What about other people who might like to get a room
and can't because someone has book the room and not even
using it? I think it's a bit selfish but that's just my option.
No flames please.

 

[DisneyWisher]

OK, so I know this is strange, but... we booked a room for 4 nights with free dining, but now my mom has the chance to get a 3 bedroom condo. We would be able to have a king bedded room, and a separate bedroom for the kids. I already paid in full for the package, but what if we just don't sleep in our room? Will anything happen? I don't want to pay to cancel. The dining plan and other perks are what caused us to want to stay on site, but the idea of privacy is pretty inviting, especially for free!

When are your dates? Disney has some great discounts for FL residents. Maybe Mom could book a room at the resort you are staying at. Get rooms next to each other and problem solved. I know they are not always as nice as the 3 bedroom condos can be but the kids will love having Grandma right in the middle of the Disney Magic, plus she would be able to board a bus back to the resort if she wanted to take a little nap. If she is going to the parks make sure to get her a Florida pass. 3 days is $129.

 

[kgle]

I'm sorry, but I think that's terrible. Other health reasons may tear you away from the resort, but you are choosing to stay somewhere else and not cancel your reservations. So in turn there will be an empty room that could possibly be used for someone else, but can't be because they assume someone is actually staying there. I say cancel...its not fair to others.

 

[TroyE]

Yes, the right thing to do would be to cancel the reservation.

 

[lookingforward]

I quite honestly don't see how this is any different than airlines. If you book a round-trip ticket and don't use the outbound flight, the airline will cancel your entire reservation.

If airlines can do it, then I would assume Disney can do the same thing if you don't stay in your room. Like others have said, even if there is a cancellation fee (which is doubtful at this point), you would still have to be saving money by cancelling your room and paying for food OOP.

Whether we philosphically disagree with whether Disney should do this or not isn't the point; I'm almost positive Disney is within their rights to cancel the reservation if you're a "no show" to the resort.

Is it really worth all the extra effort to make it "seem" like you're staying in the room when you're really not?

A "no-show" is quite different than someone who checks in and then for whatever reason does not physically sleep in the bed. No shows can't check in because they are not THERE. Once I check in to a room I paid for I don't know how they can legally make a judgement about whether or not I am sleeping in the bed. What about those who fell asleep at a relatives house...or are in the emergency room. Totally different. Heres another scenerio....I win a night in the castle...and don't sleep in my bed at the ALL STARs....can they throw me out?! HA! (Just kidding..not meanness intended).

Many people book a room at the Universal hotels simply to gain front of the line access to the rides during busy months. They own the room for the night...who cares where they sleep?

 

[Nie0214]

If you want to pay for it, I don't see the big deal. Use it for afternoon breaks and maybe a night or two where you had a late night watching fireworks.

 

[maxiesmom]

A "no-show" is quite different than someone who checks in and then for whatever reason does not physically sleep in the bed. No shows can't check in because they are not THERE. Once I check in to a room I paid for I don't know how they can legally make a judgement about whether or not I am sleeping in the bed. What about those who fell asleep at a relatives house...or are in the emergency room. Totally different. Heres another scenerio....I win a night in the castle...and don't sleep in my bed at the ALL STARs....can they throw me out?! HA! (Just kidding..not meanness intended).

Many people book a room at the Universal hotels simply to gain front of the line access to the rides during busy months. They own the room for the night...who cares where they sleep?

The airlines make you use an airline ticket in full, the way it was intended to be used. They don't let you fly just part of your route, if you try to do that they will cancel what remains on your ticket. You can't book a ticket from say Detroit to Chicago to Orlando and just use the Chicago to Orlando part. Their airline, their policy. This is the same for Disney. You book a room, you have to use it, or lose the rest of the perks that go along with having that room. Their resorts, their policy.

 

[lookingforward]

The airlines make you use an airline ticket in full, the way it was intended to be used. They don't let you fly just part of your route, if you try to do that they will cancel what remains on your ticket. You can't book a ticket from say Detroit to Chicago to Orlando and just use the Chicago to Orlando part. Their airline, their policy. This is the same for Disney. You book a room, you have to use it, or lose the rest of the perks that go along with having that room. Their resorts, their policy.

Where does it say what kind of "use" you must adhere to? I normally don't like to go back and forth on the dis but I have stayed at disney at least 50 times and I have never read a rule or regulation that requires me to sleep in the bed of my rented room. All due respect but as long as I check in, pay the price and don't break occupancy rules (5 in a room for 4, etc) I just don't agree. Please show me the regulation and I will humbly agree, but I have never seen such a rule.

I do concur that if I have a package I must "check in" to get the benefits, (dining, etc). But once I check in and then decide I would rather sleep somewhere else (friends,family, the castle ) it is my choice. If there is some written rule I would love to see it.
Its not comparable to an airline discount either as they are regulated by different agencies and laws. Of course, Disney could have such a rule if they wanted to...and do bed checks each night. Sorry..I am not trying to be disrespectful...just think it would be hilarious to see a covert team of cast members with flashlights going from room to room in the middle of the night. "Knock knock..its the disney bed check..please yell "HERE" when we say your name!"

 

[maxiesmom]

Where does it say what kind of "use" you must adhere to? I normally don't like to go back and forth on the dis but I have stayed at disney at least 50 times and I have never read a rule or regulation that requires me to sleep in the bed of my rented room. All due respect but as long as I check in, pay the price and don't break occupancy rules (5 in a room for 4, etc) I just don't agree. Please show me the regulation and I will humbly agree, but I have never seen such a rule.

I do concur that if I have a package I must "check in" to get the benefits, (dining, etc). But once I check in and then decide I would rather sleep somewhere else (friends,family, the castle ) it is my choice. If there is some written rule I would love to see it.
Its not comparable to an airline discount either as they are regulated by different agencies and laws. Of course, Disney could have such a rule if they wanted to...and do bed checks each night. Sorry..I am not trying to be disrespectful...just think it would be hilarious to see a covert team of cast members with flashlights going from room to room in the middle of the night. "Knock knock..its the disney bed check..please yell "HERE" when we say your name!"

I'm not sure where they have it in writing, but go back and read post 17. Disney does care if you sleep in your room or not.

And I also remember the post mentioned before where the person had their dining cancelled because they decided to sleep somewhere else. They had even left some belongings in that room, but Disney decided they had abandoned it. I've been on the boards here quite a while so I can't remember where ever post I have ever read is. But I do know that that is a huge reason you can't book dining at the campground, people were booking sites and not sleeping on them. Disney wants actual people in their room, people who will then spend their money at the gift shops, food courts, and everywhere else. They don't want you booking a room for the benefits, and then leaving it empty.

If it is important to see it in writing, I guess you can always write to Disney and ask about it. But then people see things in writing all the time, and choose to ignore it. Just cruise on over to the Transporation Board and ask about yellow tagging your luggage and then using a taxi to get to a resort if you don't believe me.

 

[Miffy]

I know this has nothing to do with the turn this discussion's taken, but I hope the OP lets us know their decision. I have intense curiosity about how this was resolved, especially since the 45-day window on no-penalty cancellation is ticking away, if not already gone.

 

[Tbella]

Honestly, some of the posts here just seem silly. I typically don't like to get into these back and forth debates but... If you pay for the room and check in then what business is it of anyones if you chose to sleep there. The room is PAYED for!

 

[maxiesmom]

Honestly, some of the posts here just seem silly. I typically don't like to get into these back and forth debates but... If you pay for the room and check in then what business is it of anyones if you chose to sleep there. The room is PAYED for!

It is Disney's business, that is the point! Even if it seems silly, they can decide you have to sleep in your room if they want to.

 

[Tbella]

It is Disney's business, that is the point! Even if it seems silly, they can decide you have to sleep in your room if they want to.

Uh no they can't. I just read over my travel documents again and nowhere does it say they can cancel a reservation if you don't sleep in your room. On top of that: even if Disney put something in writing that does state something to that effect it does not mean it is enforceable in a court of law!

 

[maxiesmom]

So how do you explain what happened to MDMOUSE? Or what happened to the other person who had their room and dining cancelled, because they were found to not be staying in their room?

I guess what it comes down to is that you can try booking a room and not staying in it, but don't be suprised if Disney cancels your reservation, and you loose whatever else you booked along with your room.

 

[lookingforward]

So how do you explain what happened to MDMOUSE? Or what happened to the other person who had their room and dining cancelled, because they were found to not be staying in their room?

I guess what it comes down to is that you can try booking a room and not staying in it, but don't be suprised if Disney cancels your reservation, and you loose whatever else you booked along with your room.

I think that one of the examples you quote was during free dining. Perhaps that is the difference. I am not going to argue about it but two people's experiences does not a fact make. Again, my husband had a kidney stone while at disney and we were not in the room for two or three nights (he was in the hospital) and I never called or explained. The room was ours, our stuff was there, and no one ever cancelled anything. How could they? Perhaps they could have called to see if all was well, but even if I was sleeping in another hotel I doubt they would cancel everything because I chose to pay for two of their rooms. Oh well...we can agree to disagree.

 

[Tbella]

So how do you explain what happened to MDMOUSE? Or what happened to the other person who had their room and dining cancelled, because they were found to not be staying in their room?

I guess what it comes down to is that you can try booking a room and not staying in it, but don't be suprised if Disney cancels your reservation, and you loose whatever else you booked along with your room.

I'm not saying it didn't happen. I'm just saying that it shouldn't have happened and that people do have recourse if it did or does happen to them. I would suggest that the OP notify the front desk that they might not use the room at night or some nights. Also it is very convenient to have a room on property to rest midday and the OP might find that he/she will make use of the room yet.

 

[maxiesmom]

Perhaps they could have called to see if all was well, but even if I was sleeping in another hotel I doubt they would cancel everything because I chose to pay for two of their rooms. Oh well...we can agree to disagree.

Disney does not allow you to double book at 2 different resorts. Try it. They will tell you that you have to choose one or the other.

Ok, I went and sent an e-mail asking what would happen if I booked a room, but went to stay with friends for a couple of nights, leaving the room empty. We will see what they have to say.

 

[DMRick]

One of our rooms was left empty for four days, while my brother went to visit his daughter in the Keys. I called housekeeping from his phone, and told them his room did not have to be cleaned for the four days but did not tell them why. The maid did leave new towels on his bed which he found when he returned. Some hotels have a rule that you must stay the first night, but I've never heard where it was a problem to not stay (and yet keep your room) at any hotel the rest of the time. You've paid for it, they get their money, they are happy (and so is the maid). I have no idea why one person (out of the thousands that have prob done this) had a problem. I would think they were checking up on her, to make sure she was OK. I would have talked to the hotel manager, if someone told me I had to make an appearance daily in my room.

 

[lookingforward]

Disney does not allow you to double book at 2 different resorts. Try it. They will tell you that you have to choose one or the other.

Ok, I went and sent an e-mail asking what would happen if I booked a room, but went to stay with friends for a couple of nights, leaving the room empty. We will see what they have to say.

You know, many families book multiple rooms and wind up staying in another space due to childcare issues, etc (I slept in my sisters DVC two bedroom because I sat with the sick child while everyone else enjoyed the parks). I HAVE had two rooms booked at two different resorts for my family of five and it was fine. We had a room at the GF and the all-stars. The college aged kids in my family stayed at all-stars and three of us stayed at the GF. Both rooms were under my name. No alarms went off. I guess if I was travelling solo and had two rooms they might inquire as to why.

 

[ElizabethB]

We've done this twice, each time for a week. It's never been a problem for us. Like the previous poster, we did it with a value and GF. Why? The rooms at GF are extremely small. We had four booked in the room, including two 19-year olds. The room was too small for four people -- and the teens much preferred the "scene" at the value pool, so most nights they stayed over at the value, but they had room keys and pool privileges at GF, too, for when they wanted to swim and hang out there. We had all four people booked in each room, giving us maximum flexibility re swimming, sleeping, resort transportation, etc. It worked just fine.

In fact, a club level concierge recently told me that he advises people to book a camp site to get all on-site benefits other than the dining plan. Obviously, if employees are advising it, Disney doesn't care!

I gather it's fairly common during free dining to book a value room but stay at an off-site condo. After all, you can still use the value room for naps, etc., and use the pools. I don't see the harm.

You've paid for a room. You're entitled to sleep there or not. All of this talk about airline rules is irrelevant.

Frankly, if Disney did bed checks and cancelled every room reservation where it appears no one is sleeping, they'd never get any more convention business! (I hope I don't have to explain this in greater detail!)