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

[MickeyMinnieMom]

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.

We were there last month as well and didn't experience this at all. Hit and miss as they figure things out. Not that it's GREAT for those who experience what you did, obviously, but it's to be expected as they work out kinks. That's just reality with a massive change.

None of us likes it when it affects our vacation. Understandably. But it's to be expected. DH and I were just discussing our Oct plans yesterday, saying how I'm planning for CURRENT FP+ rules and that may all go out the window if they change things the day we arrive! I won't be happy about that, but I'll roll with it. We booked a trip knowing they were still working on this thing. We'll deal!

 

[WillAustin]

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.

That's the problem. The ratios have to work that way. When The FP+ line isn't "fast" it becomes a joke. If the FP+ return takes 30 minutes, that's not very "fast" or "plus", even if the standby line is 90 minutes.

"Relatively faster" isn't much of a "plus".

 

[ArwenMarie]

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.

I think this is the new normal though...FP+ boards before standby. Standby is truly standby now.

 

[mom2rtk]

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.

FP is the new currency by which Disney operates. they are adding FP to everything they can think of. No way are they going to cut back on how many they issue. We all joke about Fps for the restrooms, but if they could do it without backlash, it would be there tomorrow.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

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?

You mean like how fast Bar Codes got outdated?

 

[luvsJack]

when can we expect the kinks to be worked out and things to flow better?

We have always gone at Thanksgiving which is a very busy week but I am not sure how it compares to Spring break. But I have never, ever seen a wait of more than 10 minutes or so at HM. And no wait at Pirates, ever. The only long waits in MK that week were the mountains, Buzz, Peter Pan and Small World. Can we assume that will have all changed now and there is a wait everywhere?

I am really trying to get feel for what to expect.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

when can we expect the kinks to be worked out and things to flow better?

We have always gone at Thanksgiving which is a very busy week but I am not sure how it compares to Spring break. But I have never, ever seen a wait of more than 10 minutes or so at HM. And no wait at Pirates, ever. The only long waits in MK that week were the mountains, Buzz, Peter Pan and Small World. Can we assume that will have all changed now and there is a wait everywhere?

I am really trying to get feel for what to expect.

Always <10min at HM and never a wait for Pirates around Thanksgiving?? We've often seen longer waits than that and go at slower times (May, Sep, Oct, Feb). Guess you have some great theme park karma or something!

Wish I knew when things would be fully worked out. No one here knows -- that's just the truth. Disney probably doesn't know yet -- they'll likely adjust as feedback comes in. They can't know for sure when they'll have it "just right" for them.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

when can we expect the kinks to be worked out and things to flow better?

We have always gone at Thanksgiving which is a very busy week but I am not sure how it compares to Spring break. But I have never, ever seen a wait of more than 10 minutes or so at HM. And no wait at Pirates, ever. The only long waits in MK that week were the mountains, Buzz, Peter Pan and Small World. Can we assume that will have all changed now and there is a wait everywhere?

I am really trying to get feel for what to expect.

Any ride that now has FP+ (It's A Small World, POTC) expect longer waits if you are riding standby. FP+ obviously has priority boarding.

 

[luvsJack]

Always <10min at HM and never a wait for Pirates around Thanksgiving?? We've often seen longer waits than that and go at slower times (May, Sep, Oct, Feb). Guess you have some great theme park karma or something!

Wish I knew when things would be fully worked out. No one here knows -- that's just the truth. Disney probably doesn't know yet -- they'll likely adjust as feedback comes in. They can't know for sure when they'll have it "just right" for them.

LOL maybe so. I guess we just get there at the right time but until we went on a quick trip in April one year, we had never waited for Pirates and very little for HM.

Let me be clear. We normally arrive the weekend before Thanksgiving and stay until the weekend after so there are a few lower crowd days in there and we always follow the "best days" for each park, get there at rope drop and stay all day. Friday after T-day is usually a killer and the wait times for some things gets crazy that day.

I am almost starting to dread planning. i thought in the beginning this was all a "the sky is falling" mentality over the changes. But now I am wondering really hard if we wouldn't be happier at Universal till the kinks get straightened out.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

LOL maybe so. I guess we just get there at the right time but until we went on a quick trip in April one year, we had never waited for Pirates and very little for HM.

I am almost starting to dread planning.

I hear ya'. We are rope-dropers and have hardly ever waiting for HM or Pirates. We've SEEN the longer waits posted... we just don't ride them then!

Don't dread planning!! To the extent that posts on DIS are affecting that sentiment, just remember that negativity will be posted FAR MORE than positive experiences, generally speaking.

I didn't know what to expect last month, and while it WAS different, it WASN'T horrible! Not even close... aspects worked really well for us, other things I hope they change. I suspect that the vast majority of people can make this work for them, and for many it will improve the experience. Some will hate it, and luckily there are other places to vacation!

 

[luvsJack]

Any ride that now has FP+ (It's A Small World, POTC) expect longer waits if you are riding standby. FP+ obviously has priority boarding.

Everything has FP+ doesn't it?

 

[luvsJack]

I hear ya'. We are rope-dropers and have hardly ever waiting for HM or Pirates. We've SEEN the longer waits posted... we just don't ride them then!

Don't dread planning!! To the extent that posts on DIS are affecting that sentiment, just remember that negativity will be posted FAR MORE than positive experiences, generally speaking.

I didn't know what to expect last month, and while it WAS different, it WASN'T horrible! Not even close... aspects worked really well for us, other things I hope they change. I suspect that the vast majority of people can make this work for them, and for many it will improve the experience. Some will hate it, and luckily there are other places to vacation!

So getting there at rope drop and hitting things early still helps, correct?

 

[mom2rtk]

So getting there at rope drop and hitting things early still helps, correct?

It does. Just not as much as it used to. FP return times used to start 40 minutes after park opening. Now they start at park opening.

What I don't like is that I used to use rope drop to do headliners. Then as the other crowds filed in, we would start doing the secondary attractions. Now the secondary attractions have longer lines, so I'm supposed to do those at rope drop. It really does appear that there's just no way to win any more.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

It does. Just not as much as it used to. FP return times used to start 40 minutes after park opening. Now they start at park opening.

What I don't like is that I used to use rope drop to do headliners. Then as the other crowds filed in, we would start doing the secondary attractions. Now the secondary attractions have longer lines, so I'm supposed to do those at rope drop. It really does appear that there's just no way to win any more.

Touring plans indicate that Spring Break crowds were more dispersed this year than most so the "It's Spring Break what do you expect?" answer isn't quite valid.

That is exactly how we tour. I'm starting to feel like it is going to be 3 and out every day.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

So getting there at rope drop and hitting things early still helps, correct?

Yes, it does -- for sure -- some are saying it's that much MORE important now.

Just our anecdotal... for those 5 days we were there in Feb, we did notice longer lines at things like HM, IASW, etc. EARLIER in the day than we used to. Using MK as an example, we still crammed in as many headliners as we did pre-FP+ by using rope drop. But around 11am we saw longer lines at those "secondary" attractions than we did in the past - generally speaking. For us, that meant waiting 10min for HM instead of walking right on, for instance, at 11am.

By the end of our trip, we had still ridden everything that we wanted to -- including our favorites multiple times, as always. I'd say we waited a little longer (i.e. AT ALL!!) for Pirates and HM, but not quite as long for headliners in standby.

In addition, we were able to do some things that we never could... like hop to Epcot in the afternoon and wait 5min for TT or 10min for Soarin' using our FP+'s -- that was nice. We also liked not runnings for FPs, and being able to easily change FP reservations using our phones/ipads. A couple of times, we decided day before or same day to switch all of FPs to a different park -- went off without a hitch.

It's not all bad -- not for most people -- despite what it often sounds like on here. I'm still hoping for additional same-day FPs and hopping ability, though...

 

[khaleesi]

So that picture that was posted with the return line is, I'm going to assume, from Josh's website. I'm assuming this because it is identical. What the OP failed to also post is the picture right above it of the line out the door at Columbia Harbor House at 7:15pm.

I'm not going to debate the pros and cons of FP+. But it is BUSY there right now. CHH doesn't have FP... positive, negative, or otherwise.

 

[WillAustin]

I'm not going to debate the pros and cons of FP+. But it is BUSY there right now. CHH doesn't have FP... positive, negative, or otherwise.

But busy or not, FP return lines were very rarely as long before. I can count on one hand the number of times our FP return lines were more than 10 minutes on seven trips over the past several years during heavy crowds.

 

[flicx]

when can we expect the kinks to be worked out and things to flow better?

This the real question. Many simply go to the fall back position of Disney is just testing. How about an accurate date when the test period is going to be over? How long is everyone going to be spending their hard earned money on a "test vacation"? I know when we go we only get to go to parks for three days and if we can expect to only do one headliner without less than an hour wait and mostly second tier rides with 30 minute waits it will be along time till I return. However like everything else I am sure Disney won't let us know when the "test" period is over.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

This the real question. Many simply go to the fall back position of Disney is just testing. How about an accurate date when the test period is going to be over? How long is everyone going to be spending their hard earned money on a "test vacation"? I know when we go we only get to go to parks for three days and if we can expect to only do one headliner without less than an hour wait and mostly second tier rides with 30 minute waits it will be along time till I return. However like everything else I am sure Disney won't let us know when the "test" period is over.

A bit of realism... assuming we want them to incorporate feedback to improve the offering... they cannot predict how long that feedback will continue to indicate that tweaks are necessary. Thus they cannot know for certain when the major testing/intro/adjustment phase will end. Even Disney doesn't have a crystal ball. Pretty sure we are all free to vacation elsewhere if we're that concerned about it in the meantime.

 

[jade1]

A bit of realism... assuming we want them to incorporate feedback to improve the offering... they cannot predict how long that feedback will continue to indicate that tweaks are necessary. Thus they cannot know for certain when the major testing/intro/adjustment phase will end. Even Disney doesn't have a crystal ball. Pretty sure we are all free to vacation elsewhere if we're that concerned about it in the meantime.

Yep, and even more important is future expansion IMO, every new headliner adds to the available FP+ pool. Just as ETWB, BOG, 7DMT, LM, A&E have already.

Also think seasons will make a huge difference. Even though Sept may not need any FP's, they may decide to offer extra similar to free dining.

Some folks would maybe decide to go if they can reserve 6 FP+'s per day during off season with a resort package.

Also with a "4th" bonus FP+ already showing up, that's just another test feature they are playing with. There are likely many more scenarios this system was designed for.

So I don't see an end ever to the "test" period.