75 mins for HM!?!?!? Time to fire current Disney parks MGMT

[Silock]

And referring to the OP, here we are today a Saturday at end of March (3/29) at 1130am and SB line for HM is 15 minutes, while all other major MK rides are 30 min or less.

So again where is the failure?

At WDW the rule is as it has been for many years: if you visit during peak crowds (with park days of 8+) there are going to be long lines especially as you move through the day.

If anything MBs and FP+ are making the 9 park days even worse, but they were already pretty bad to start with.

Tornado says what?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You think my recent decision to cancel a Disney trip entirely at 50 days out doesn't send up huge red flags to my friends and colleagues? " 'Mr Disney' thinks the new system sucks so bad he's cancelling one of his yearly 'must do 'trips'? Nothing happens in a vacuum.

Yes, I think this is happening quite a bit. Most of us loyal WDW customers would be what marketing people consider "influencers" that have a huge effect on how others decide on things.

When I've posed the question on DIS several times, most of these influencers here say they're NOT "giving up on Disney" or giving up on vacationing in WDW (yet)... most on here appear not to be canceling trips... at least "not yet". And this is among a group of pretty vocal non-FP+-lovers. Of course, this is all anecdotal. And it's too soon to have any financial data that one could draw any conclusions from.

Curious where you're getting the impression that "this is happening quite a bit". Personal anecdotal?

 

[Angel Ariel]

That's correct. For many, that means lowering their expectations from here forward. That's what so many of us are struggling with.

Yep...and it's not like most of those expectations are "unrealistic," as people have those expectations because of their previous experiences.

 

[Angel Ariel]

And referring to the OP, here we are today a Saturday at end of March (3/29) at 1130am and SB line for HM is 15 minutes, while all other major MK rides are 30 min or less.

So again where is the failure?

At WDW the rule is as it has been for many years: if you visit during peak crowds (with park days of 8+) there are going to be long lines especially as you move through the day.

If anything MBs and FP+ are making the 9 park days even worse, but they were already pretty bad to start with.

This is all most people are saying...that FP+ is contributing to lines being worse than normal. I can tell you on our spring break trip last year we never saw a HM line at 75 mins. Not once, not even on the app while we were there and at another attraction. And we were there a lot closer to easter than that week fell wrt easter this year. I'm not saying it didn't happen, but if it was the "norm" for spring break time, as many have asserted here, I would expect that we would have at least seen it happen at some point. When I read on these boards that x wait time is "normal" that means, to me, that I can expect an average wait to be around that time. The data I posted for HM during Easter Week last year only had 2 days of average wait times that high...

The only time I've personally seen a HM line longer than 60 mins was at DLR a few years ago. We were there on DLR's "Goth Night" and there was a crazy 2-3 hr long line for HM...that, clearly, isn't the norm and was very specific to that event.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I just posted this in another thread but it seems to fit here as well...

A friend at work just got back last week and had the same complaint. This was his first ever trip to Disney, to boot. He and his family got in line for Mission Space with a posted 10 minute wait and got off the ride 50 minutes later. His complaint was that they were letting all the FP+ people bypass them continuously. He also had the same situation at Dinosaur. They waited 30 minutes longer than the posted wait.

One would think that with this new Earth-Shattering technology that they could accurately track and post a realistic wait time. Those bands are "magic", correct?

He thought FP+ was OK. He liked the fact that he could open his door, and that sometimes it worked when they would pay for meals with it (although he called Disney QS some of the worst food he has ever eaten). I then pulled my wallet out and showed him the FP-s that are in my sig pic. Even he agreed that 3 < 6 and he would have liked a lot more. But he is an Engineer, so take that for what it's worth.

 

[Angel Ariel]

By the local town chow-hound or from a place like Trip Advisor? I'm to the point now where I don't try any place new without checking with Trip Advisor first. I balance out the ratings and peoples comments to get an idea at least.

I don't read review sites for restaurants and movies. period.

I have read TripAdvisor for hotels on certain vacations, but that's about all I'd ever use it for. i've been to restaurants I like that others don't, and I've been to movies that I like that were bombs according to critics. I personally don't see the point in avoiding something because someone else doesn't like it.

Anyone I know or work with planning a trip to WDW consults me like I'm some sort of oracle when it comes to WDW and Florida (being a Floridian in the midwest has that effect by itself though).

My friends and family for the most part treat me similarly. But I tailor my responses to what I know they like and dislike. We went with my entire family last year. I know my brother hates crowds and lines, so I played up FP+ with him (for example). With other people I've emphasized dining (b/c they like different foods), others I've emphasized character interactions or rides. I don't talk about what I don't like...I give them facts and let them go about and make their own decisions. I might warn them about something (like if they want a BOG reservation, but hate making ADRs, I will tell them they have to make that ADR at 180 if they really want it), but I specifically try not to talk about my dislikes with them.

Even with FP+, which I truly dislike, I try very hard to be neutral in how I present it because I am well aware that while I may not like it, they might.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

And referring to the OP, here we are today a Saturday at end of March (3/29) at 1130am and SB line for HM is 15 minutes, while all other major MK rides are 30 min or less.

So again where is the failure?

At WDW the rule is as it has been for many years: if you visit during peak crowds (with park days of 8+) there are going to be long lines especially as you move through the day.

If anything MBs and FP+ are making the 9 park days even worse, but they were already pretty bad to start with.

I saw this, my kid and I were looking at several wait time apps just jealous of those at the park today. Magic Kingdom looked like walk-ons for POTC, HM, etc. No huge lines for 90% of the attractions.

 

[LaurLaur04]

I saw this, my kid and I were looking at several wait time apps just jealous of those at the park today. Magic Kingdom looked like walk-ons for POTC, HM, etc. No huge lines for 90% of the attractions.

There was a tornado warning there today.... Not so sure you should be jealous

 

[WillAustin]

When I've posed the question on DIS several times, most of these influencers here say they're NOT "giving up on Disney" or giving up on vacationing in WDW (yet)... most on here appear not to be canceling trips... at least "not yet". And this is among a group of pretty vocal non-FP+-lovers. Of course, this is all anecdotal. And it's too soon to have any financial data that one could draw any conclusions from.

Curious where you're getting the impression that "this is happening quite a bit". Personal anecdotal?

Both in posts and from several friends. I've given several people advice to wait and not book a trip this summer, as have several others I know well. I can say I personally affect at least another 10 family trips for other people in a year.

It's disingenuous to say there isn't a huge negative wave going on about the changes in the parks. Dismissing it as small or insignificant is just rose-colored glasses. Things may end up fine, but they certainly aren't there now.

I'll definitely trust my personal anecdotal more than Disney's PR.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

By the local town chow-hound or from a place like Trip Advisor? I'm to the point now where I don't try any place new without checking with Trip Advisor first. I balance out the ratings and peoples comments to get an idea at least.

I don't know how many people visit a message board prior to hitting WDW, I know I never did until I had some very specific questions prior to our trip 3 years ago and I stumbled upon Disboards and two other sites trying to find the answers.

I think that's forgetting that those of us who are "WDW nuts" also live outside of the disboards.

Anyone I know or work with planning a trip to WDW consults me like I'm some sort of oracle when it comes to WDW and Florida (being a Floridian in the midwest has that effect by itself though).

As everyone says "You're always at WDW"... maybe not so much any more but I'm down for at least 2 weeks a year at this point. Would have been more but having a bunch of kids, getting a new house and such tend to drop discretionary vacation funds.

You think my recent decision to cancel a Disney trip entirely at 50 days out doesn't send up huge red flags to my friends and colleagues? " 'Mr Disney' thinks the new system sucks so bad he's cancelling one of his yearly 'must do 'trips'?

Nothing happens in a vacuum.

The impacts on regular visitors will be big. The effects will not be seen until at least one year down the road in terms of a drop in attendance. Traditionally, regular customers will give the business the benefit of the doubt and attempt to try the product for themselves or give time for the business to resolve the issues causing the product to be subpar. Once the customers discover the subpar product is here to stay then the customers will look elsewhere, ala when a pizza shop changes a recipe, customers hate new recipe, pizza shop goes down.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

I just posted this in another thread but it seems to fit here as well...

A friend at work just got back last week and had the same complaint. This was his first ever trip to Disney, to boot. He and his family got in line for Mission Space with a posted 10 minute wait and got off the ride 50 minutes later. His complaint was that they were letting all the FP+ people bypass them continuously. He also had the same situation at Dinosaur. They waited 30 minutes longer than the posted wait.

One would think that with this new Earth-Shattering technology that they could accurately track and post a realistic wait time. Those bands are "magic", correct?

He thought FP+ was OK. He liked the fact that he could open his door, and that sometimes it worked when they would pay for meals with it (although he called Disney QS some of the worst food he has ever eaten). I then pulled my wallet out and showed him the FP-s that are in my sig pic. Even he agreed that 3 < 6 and he would have liked a lot more. But he is an Engineer, so take that for what it's worth.

This is an important point, does anyone actually believe that by the time disney hammers out the technological issues hammering MDE that the technology will not be outdated? Disney attempted to implement to much at once. This technology is interesting right now but this particular RFID technology disney is utilizing is already suffering an enormous backlash based strictly on difficulties of implementation not just general RFID mistrust. Basically, is Disney throwing a ton of money at a particular RFID system that will be outdated?

 

[Alice Royal]

*sigh* And the thread was going so nicely...

There was a tornado warning there today.... Not so sure you should be jealous

Yup...I'd say a good percentage of the people who drive to the parks turned right around or stayed home today...us included. It was pouring with strong winds/thunder and lightning for a good chunk of midday.

Hard to believe in this age of blaming the company for everything that there are still outside, uncontrollable factors that influence wait times...

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Both in posts and from several friends. I've given several people advice to wait and not book a trip this summer, as have several others I know well. I can say I personally affect at least another 10 family trips for other people in a year. It's disingenuous to say there isn't a huge negative wave going on about the changes in the parks. Dismissing it as small or insignificant is just rose-colored glasses. Things may end up fine, but they certainly aren't there now. I'll definitely trust my personal anecdotal more than Disney's PR.

Ok. So personal anecdotal. I wouldn't trust either that or Disney PR. I'd trust actual results, which aren't in yet.

 

[sheetz]

Interesting. I knew the numbers were different but not the mindset.

I guess I'm still wondering why there would be such an outrage if they did put it in out there. The locals/frequent visitors in Orlando seem to like it, or at least be meh about it because they know they can just come back. I can see that attitude in many local bloggers' attitudes actually, like why is everyone THIS upset?

I think DL APers will probably adjust, but I don't see the once-a-year-or-less local daytripper liking the idea of making ride reservations in advance. These types of people don't visit often enough to just come back whenever, and going to DL is not such a big deal for them that they want to go to a lot of planning.

Disney can't make it too much hassle for these people or else they will simply not go anymore.

 

[davedmaine]

• Arrive early
• Tour like a commando from RD until lunch
• Use your 3 FPs
• Leave
• Come back tomorrow
• Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

It's that simple.

For some people, that's not a vacation.

 

[WillAustin]

Ok. So personal anecdotal. I wouldn't trust either that or Disney PR. I'd trust actual results, which aren't in yet.

We are going back in June, so I'll get to trust our own experience. That's really the only way to see any actual results because the only comparison that matters is how it affects us personally.

This time we aren't doing 10+ days in a deluxe resort like we have the past few summers. Solely because of the changes, we are taking a much shorter trip, and spending far less. Instead of our one big annual summer trip to WDW, we have planned one short Disney trip to feel out the changes, and two trips to other places. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Kellykins1218]

We just got back from our yearly spring break trip and didn't find the lines any worse than they usually are. Actually, they were a bit better, but we do usually go the week before Easter so that probably had something to do with it. WE LOVED FP+! We were pleasantly surprised after all of the negativity. I went in with an open mind but still found it much better than I was expecting. We got to do every single thing we wanted to do and many of them we did repeatedly. We're going back in January and I can't wait to use FP+ again.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We are going back in June, so I'll get to trust our own experience. That's really the only way to see any actual results because the only comparison that matters is how it affects us personally. This time we aren't doing 10+ days in a deluxe resort like we have the past few summers. Solely because of the changes, we are taking a much shorter trip, and spending far less. Instead of our one big annual summer trip to WDW, we have planned one short Disney trip to feel out the changes, and two trips to other places. We'll see how it goes.

Absolutely. We all should vacation the way we want to! To balance out your personal anecdote, we have an 11-night stay booked for Oct in the same deluxe resort we've stayed in many times, are planning a short trip for the WDW Marathon in Jan, and have no plans to change our annual trips going forward.

We experienced FP+ for 5 days last month (Princess Half). I'd like to see some changes before I'll love it, but it's not changing our plans. That's our story so far.

This is all anecdotal when it comes to evaluating how this will ultimately affect Disney's bottom line and future. That's where results are relevant and our two stories aren't.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

We just got back from our yearly spring break trip and didn't find the lines any worse than they usually are. Actually, they were a bit better, but we do usually go the week before Easter so that probably had something to do with it. WE LOVED FP+! We were pleasantly surprised after all of the negativity. I went in with an open mind but still found it much better than I was expecting. We got to do every single thing we wanted to do and many of them we did repeatedly. We're going back in January and I can't wait to use FP+ again.

Curious to know if you rode all the headliners (Big Thunder, Space Mtn, Test etc.) and how long you waited in the lines? We could ride everything we wanted too if we were willing to stand in line for an hour but we aren't. 20-25 minutes is about my max for a line.

 

[disneymac000]

I was there last month and I don't think FP + is the problem. I think the real problem is the fact for every 70 FP+ they are letting one standby family on a ride. That ratio was horrible. We literally were at the front of Peter Pan Flight for 20 minutes just waiting to be boarded because they hadn't figure out how to ratio out. When it gets to that point, anger is going to set in.