I've read the writing on the wall, and its not a great big beautiful tomorrow

[Planogirl]

That's why I said starting too... I have full faith that we will always morn FP-, it was amazingly awesome for people that knew how to use it fully.

People in general could have been taught to use it properly. I would have loved to have seen Disney explain it just as they are explaining FP+ now. They never did though.

 

[Planogirl]

That's why I said starting too... I have full faith that we will always morn FP-, it was amazingly awesome for people that knew how to use it fully.

Eck, the DIS seems to be fighting me today...

 

[Astridia]

Come on, , there are more "must do" parks for people besides MK. We spent two days at AK, two days and more than a few nights at Epcot. (although I agree, Future World is just plain depressing at this point). Hollywood Studios, now there we only spent a half day, but hopefully they will expand on it in the coming years...

That's you and your family. But I see an awful lot of posts from people that are dooing 1/2days at AK and then hopping over to MK. Same thing for DHS and Epcot. I love Epcot's WS, but lets face it, it's basically a shopping mall.

 

[amg35]

That's you and your family. But I see an awful lot of posts from people that are dooing 1/2days at AK and then hopping over to MK. Same thing for DHS and Epcot. I love Epcot's WS, but lets face it, it's basically a shopping mall.

Well, we'll have to disagree on this.

 

[lauradis]

People in general could have been taught to use it properly. I would have loved to have seen Disney explain it just as they are explaining FP+ now. They never did though.

Yep I think that is why we got to over use it... If I had a dollar for everytime someone said "You have to pay to get the special tickets"

 

[Astridia]

I looked at Portofino and it's $373 a night in June. Does staying at those hotels include the ticket prices too or just the express access?

But compare the price of Portofino with the price of a Disney deluxe at the same time. I think POrtofino with free express pass is a better deal and less expensive. On top of that, the rooms at Portofino are larger and more luxurious than a Disney deluxe.

 

[subtchr]

People in general could have been taught to use it properly. I would have loved to have seen Disney explain it just as they are explaining FP+ now. They never did though.

The problem is that if more people had used it (FP-) the way those of us who knew how to maximize the system used it, it would not have worked as well as it did.

Yes, there is a much larger percentage of visitors using the FP+ system than used FP- (I would LOVE to know the actual percentages for both...), because of Disney's efforts to publicize the system and educate their guests how to use it. And what has been the result? In many cases, longer lines for anything a guest does not have a FP+ for. The same thing would have happened if a higher percentage had used FP-.

 

[Astridia]

The problem is that if more people had used it (FP-) the way those of us who knew how to maximize the system used it, it would not have worked as well as it did.

Yes, there is a much larger percentage of visitors using the FP+ system than used FP- (I would LOVE to know the actual percentages for both...), because of Disney's efforts to publicize the system and educate their guests how to use it. And what has been the result? In many cases, longer lines for anything a guest does not have a FP+ for. The same thing would have happened if a higher percentage had used FP-.

but there are also more rides that now have FP+. I was amazed that people were using FP+ for the teacups on my last visit, and the ride was a walk-on! IMO Disney turned too many rides into FP+: like POTC,IASW,HM, EO, Figment!

 

[HopperFan]

I still think Disney's overall strategy is to lock up the parks with so many on-site people that off-siters will eventually be "Frozen" out.

Disney can't afford to do this, they most certainly need the offsite guests. Unofficial estimates put park capacity at around 325,000 and that is just the major parks. Add the water parks, DisneyQuest, Golf, mini-golf, boat rental, Downtown Disney, resort restaurants, etc that is way more than the approximate 120,000 Disney resort guests (30,000 rooms x average of 4 guests) assuming 100% occupancy. Offsite guests are very important to park profits.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Almost 3k a day more at MK in 2013 over 2012. Be interesting to see the spike for 2014. This is what happens when the park attractions are set for 16m guests at MK and they get close to 19m.

Then there is HS, probably has attractions for 5m...

Even if all 3k were in the park from opening to closing there is no reason that relatively small number should make wait times for rides go up 10 min or more. There are only two explanations for this:

1) The FP+ provides a lot less opportunity for people to get access to rides creating an increase in waiting and people in turn willing to get FP for things they never would have before creating an even bigger log jam
2) CMs no long being adequately trained or motivated to know how to keep the rides moving efficiently

I do know that I have yet to talk to a single front line CM that has anything positive to say about the process. They're the ones that have the best feel for how it works and they certainly don't have a positive feel for it.

 

[amg35]

Disney can't afford to do this, they most certainly need the offsite guests. Unofficial estimates put park capacity at around 325,000 and that is just the major parks. Add the water parks, DisneyQuest, Golf, mini-golf, boat rental, Downtown Disney, resort restaurants, etc that is way more than the approximate 120,000 Disney resort guests (30,000 rooms x average of 4 guests) assuming 100% occupancy. Offsite guests are very important to park profits.

Disney won't lose offsite guests. For every person on here who says they will never come again, there's a person that will take their place. Even when they offer more perks to onsite guests (which I can't say I disagree with, just like Universal does), the offsite guests will still come.

 

[Ambear]

But compare the price of Portofino with the price of a Disney deluxe at the same time. I think POrtofino with free express pass is a better deal and less expensive. On top of that, the rooms at Portofino are larger and more luxurious than a Disney deluxe.

That's a good deal then. I also like how much closer it is to the parks. I've stayed because of a free upgrade at a disney deluxe 1 bedroom one time and I don't see why people spend $300+ for it. Even our little daytona timeshare is nicer than it. I stay in moderates at disney but I'm thinking of trying to save more money by choosing value next time.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

but there are also more rides that now have FP+. I was amazed that people were using FP+ for the teacups on my last visit, and the ride was a walk-on! IMO Disney turned too many rides into FP+: like POTC,IASW,HM, EO, Figment!

That's because people can't get FP for what they really want so they just end up reserving whatever they can get. The result is increased wait times accross the board and people actually getting a net loss in what they get to do during the day.

 

[Ambear]

That's because people can't get FP for what they really want so they just end up reserving whatever they can get. The result is increased wait times accross the board and people actually getting a net loss in what they get to do during the day.

You also HAVE to pick three so that's probably why they needed more attractions with the option. I always have one I don't want at DHS. I never mind spending one on Figment though <3.

 

[MolonLabe]

There are other highly effective strategies you can utilize that allows you to experience in demand attractions with little to no line, they are: rope drop, during parades or fireworks, and/or just before close.

No. Just NO.

Space? BTMRR? Sure. 7dmt? You're dreaming.

At rope drop there are two hundred people waiting at the castle and back of the carousel from ADRs, EASY. Even if you sprinted from the front ceremony, best case is an hour.

I came out Anna and Elsa 5 minutes after the castle rope dropped ( second family to see Elsa) and the queues were over flowing for both.

Our friend, not lucky enough to get inside pre RD waited 40 minutes that AM and they were basically the first family from the front to make it back there.

Fireworks? HA! 7dmt and a&e aren't affected by that.

1130 on a Monday night? 40 minutes, best case.

I know, I rode it 5 times in that last hour that night and kept walking past the same people each time, the sign was correct.

 

[HopperFan]

I still think Disney's overall strategy is to lock up the parks with so many on-site people that off-siters will eventually be "Frozen" out.

Disney won't lose offsite guests. For every person on here who says they will never come again, there's a person that will take their place. Even when they offer more perks to onsite guests (which I can't say I disagree with, just like Universal does), the offsite guests will still come.

I never said Disney would lose offsite guests. I was addressing the above quote that Disney's strategy was to "freeze" out offsite guests. My point was Disney can not afford to do that they depend on offsite money.

 

[Planogirl]

Disney won't lose offsite guests. For every person on here who says they will never come again, there's a person that will take their place. Even when they offer more perks to onsite guests (which I can't say I disagree with, just like Universal does), the offsite guests will still come.

Never say never. Big corporations can fail. I imagine that Disney and other large companies do try to keep that in mind.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I never said Disney would lose offsite guests. I was addressing the above quote that Disney's strategy was to "freeze" out offsite guests. My point was Disney can not afford to do that they depend on offsite money.

I agree, they need offsite customers as well.

I think the balance they are trying to strike right now is encouraging onsite stays at their hotels (which are way more expensive than comparable offsite properties) while not alienating offsite visitors.

I was a big believer that they were going to give more prebooked FPs to onsite as an incentive, but they haven't done that yet. That might be an example of something they can't do without reducing the offsite pool of FPs to an unacceptable level.

 

[amg35]

Never say never. Big corporations can fail. I imagine that Disney and other large companies do try to keep that in mind.

Sure, but in the foreseeable future.

 

[jthornton94]

But compare the price of Portofino with the price of a Disney deluxe at the same time. I think POrtofino with free express pass is a better deal and less expensive. On top of that, the rooms at Portofino are larger and more luxurious than a Disney deluxe.

But compare the price of a value to Universal hotels. And I prefer the discounts that Disney offers military. We are going next month and are paying an average of $85 a night at Pop and that gives me my FP+. Now add in the discount Disney is gracious enough to give in tickets to the military and the decision is a no brainier for me. I have stayed deluxe at Disney once and probably will not again, because we don't go to be in the hotel. Even with the access granted t Universal hotels, why do I want to pay hundreds a night for a hotel if I am not there to enjoy it? No matter what system Disney uses, someone will be unhappy. And that is why you have the choice to find the destination that best fits your family. Sure, you can be upset about it, but does that accomplish anything?