What if we don't stay in our room?

[kgle]

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.

But the original point was that the OP wanted to not cancel ressies to avoid a cancellation fee and completely stay off site.

That is what I have a problem with. Now, if someone IS making use of their room its a completely different story. The room is being used! However, if someone is trying to get out of a cancellation fee and fully intends to stay off site for the duration of the trip, then for godsakes just cancel. Its not fair to those who tried to book a room and were turned away because they were full. Or families getting connecting rooms etc. I doubt Disney would be happy to find out that someone is taking advantage of the free dining or whatever else the deal and not staying on site. The whole reason they offer these packages is to increase the amount of time you are on site so you spend more money. So what does Disney prefer? A family staying off site, but lying and keeping an empty room on site to take advantage of specials, or a family staying on site, taking advantage of the specials and more than likely spending more money at WDW. The answer is pretty simple.

I think some people ought to make up their minds...some people will argue til their face turns blue that lying about a child's age (2 instead of 3) is a terrible thing to do, but in the same breath say that its okay to keep an empty room on site just to get a cheaper ticket.

 

[kgle]

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!)

Just because an employee suggests it doesn't mean that Disney doesn't care


Many employees suggest things that their employer would not be happy about. I doubt Disney would be ecstatic to find out an employee is encouraging guests to book a site then stay no where near it, also preventing others from booking that site. I am almost tempted to email Disney as well

 

[PrincessTiffany]

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!

That is disturbing and shocking!

 

[lookingforward]

I think the OP is motivated by the free dining as anyone would be. I just don't get the big deal about where they lay their bodies at night if they paid in full for the package. This is getting silly.

One more example and then I promise I will shoosh up.... I book a free dining package w/the obligatory tickets for my family of four at the All-Star Resort. We check in, spend a night and I realize that my back is wrenched by the double beds. I am in agony. My college friend lives in Orlando and offers me her guest room with a temper-pedic king sized bed for free. We decide to sleep there instead of on the hard double beds after spending exciting days in the parks. How could disney decide to cancel my PAID for vacation and reservations for dining because I chose to sleep somewhere else. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Sorry..I am done. I couldn't resist.
Good day to all!

 

[Mickey country]

If you paid for your package, and you don't use a component of it, then it is your business. They don't hunt you down if you don't use all of your snack credits, it is up to you.

 

[DMRick]

I think some people ought to make up their minds...some people will argue til their face turns blue that lying about a child's age (2 instead of 3) is a terrible thing to do, but in the same breath say that its okay to keep an empty room on site just to get a cheaper ticket.

Umm..one example is someone lying, and one isn't. It doesn't matter as long as you are paying, if you get a room to get a cheaper ticket or the dining plan (neither of which I think is worth getting a room for). I do think it is wrong to lie (such as about a childs age, or how many adults in a room)..however, when I check in, I have no plans to tell Disney if I plan to use the room or not. I paid for it, I have the right amount of people, and I can sleep in it or not. I'm not lying about anything (if I was to get a room to get a cheaper ticket..however, believe me, in the 4/3, the ticket savings is minimal, and I'm only buying one days worth in any case).

For the person who wants to call and tell Disney that someone has paid for their room, but isn't using Disney's water, or air conditioner, or wearing out the rug..I can't wait to see when Disney will start telling people to stop (the term, 'when pigs fly' comes to mind)..that they don't allow you to get a room and not use it. I think that is pretty funny.

 

[itchin2go]

I don't think OP booked the 4/3 deal - just 4 nights - that's the way I read it. Ethics aside, I'm confused by OP's math. I'm not convinced that the plan of keeping the reservation will save $$$. Will the free dining offset the cost of the room completely?

Edited to add: Ok, I think I get it now. OP originally booked a 4 night pkg with free dining. She's within the 45 days and will incur a penalty if she cancels (probably $100). Her mom has booked an offsite condo for the same time period *which her mom will be paying for*, so it's "free" to her. I think she wants to go ahead and keep the pkg to enjoy all of the benefits of a MYW pkg. I wouldn't do it because I don't think the benefits outweigh the cost. I guess she would need to price out the cost of the tickets plus the cost of dining to see if she would break even. I don't break even with the dining plan, so I would encourage OP to price that out to make sure she's not making a mistake.

Regarding ethics: Yeah, probably not particularly ethical, but that's up to OP. We can comment on it till we're blue in the face, but people make their own decisions. If it becomes a problem, Disney will crack down on it. I can see where it would be to Disney's benefit to to be able to cancel people's reservations if no one is staying in the room. Then they would be free to rent the rooms to someone else. Maybe this would only be an issue during peak times.

 

[mom22bless]

Ok so how do all of you people deal with coupons? In TX, there are many stores that double/triple coupons. If an item is on sale for $1.00, and you have a .50 coupon that can be double you can get it for free. The supermarket is being PAID by the coupon company.

Some say this isn't ethical, some don't mind.

I use the grocery game and do this all the time and I don't have any problem with it.

 

[firsttimer2007]

I know if you put the "do not disturb" sign on the door housekeeping will leave a bag of towels and soap. If you stop by and take this bag into your room then I do not think you will have any problems.

Families of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) have to book 2 rooms sometimes but all the family stays in one room. I would think this would happen a lot. If you just tell the front desk or house keeping - you will be in and out and not need housekeeping, you should be fine.

 

[DMRick]

I can see where it would be to Disney's benefit to to be able to cancel people's reservations if no one is staying in the room. Then they would be free to rent the rooms to someone else. Maybe this would only be an issue during peak times.

Why would it benefit them to cancel people? They already have the room rented, and the people are still spending money in Disney, but Disney doesn't have to pay for the hot water, the electricity, etc, because they aren't using them.

Why would anyone think it's unethical to use a coupon and get it doubled and the item for free?

I don't understand any of this 'logic'...the room, the coupons LOL.

 

[mom22bless]

Hey you got me!! People look at me like I'm stealing when I walk out with my free or almost free food.

 

[livie1205]

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.

wow you must have been bored....lol

 

[Mary2e]

Hey folks, thanks for all the laughs from reading this thread.

People do things like pay for rooms and not stay in them all the time. They're called "mattress runs" and are done when someone needs stays to reach a certain level in a hotel program.

I'm guilty of a few myself. I check into the hotel for 1 night and go home without sleeping in the room.

How anyone can call this unethical is waaay beyond me.

It's my choice what to do with my money. If I want to throw it away on a hotel room, quite frankly, it's my business.

If the OP is concerned that Disney will check them out of the room after a few days, just tell them at the front desk that you won't be sleeping there but want to maintain the room for use during the day if you want to.

I have never seen 1 single hotel or hotel chain say that if you pay for a room you are actually obligated to sleep in it.

 

[kgle]

Why would it benefit them to cancel people? They already have the room rented, and the people are still spending money in Disney, but Disney doesn't have to pay for the hot water, the electricity, etc, because they aren't using them.

Why would anyone think it's unethical to use a coupon and get it doubled and the item for free?

I don't understand any of this 'logic'...the room, the coupons LOL.

Yeah so sure that out of the entire Disney resort one family would make a dent in WDW's water bill I think their overinflated prices more than cover everything.

And yes, it is lying. The promotion was free dining, with a room reservation. Which they expect you to be staying in. Disney is losing money by that person not staying on property, because they aren't on property as much as they would be if they were staying in the resort.

 

[RescueRanger]

Yeah so sure that out of the entire Disney resort one family would make a dent in WDW's water bill I think their overinflated prices more than cover everything.

And yes, it is lying. The promotion was free dining, with a room reservation. Which they expect you to be staying in. Disney is losing money by that person not staying on property, because they aren't on property as much as they would be if they were staying in the resort.

First of all, let me say that "I have no dog in this hunt". For those of you who don't know what that means, it means I do not participate in renting rooms for perks...I would never waste my money doing something like this. HOWEVER, there is nothing wrong with someone spending their money however they choose. The statements by people against this are getting ridiculous. How is Disney losing money because they aren't using their room onsite? Food? They have FREE DINING so there is no more money to make off of food. The only other thing to purchase besides food is souvies and they will still probably buy that at WDW anyway. They have this argument over on the camping boards all the time about people who rent camping sites and just use them for the perks. The same thing comes up everytime..."Its keeping some family who needed a room from having it because they were booked solid and these people are wasting rooms." Really??? If the rooms were anywhere near being booked solid, do you really think Disney would be offering free dining. To equate not using a room that you PAID for as lying is just beyond ludicrous.