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

[SmallWorld71]

I am going on record as saying I can't stand FP+.

That said, many of these rides were already seeing big increases in waits before FP+ came along.
I was at WDW last April and while I didn't find the crowds bad, Pirates, HM and SmallWorld all had long waits in the afternoon/ early evening. HM and IASW were both over an hour when we walked by them around 5 pm so we just kept walking and returned a couple hours later. Our longest wait of the trip was at Pirates.
Not saying that FP+ hasn't increased wait times as I believe it has, just that I would never have expected to walk on the rides in question before it came along, at least not between the hours of 11 and 7.
Also, there have been plenty of times when my wait with FP- was in the 15-25 min. range if the park was really busy. That's nothing new. They just didn't spill out into the overcrowded walkways, the wait was inside the queue.

 

[dissupermom]

with all the complaints, I wouldn't be surprised if WDW said "ok, forget it (or whatever phrase they choose to say)!! let's get rid of all fast passes and go back to one standby line for everyone".

 

[morethananyonex]

with all the complaints, I wouldn't be surprised if WDW said "ok, forget it (or whatever phrase they choose to say)!! let's get rid of all fast passes and go back to one standby line for everyone".

Yeah, scrap part of their multi billion dollar project just to stick it to guests and hurt themselves while doing it. Makes sense.

 

[Andtototoo]

I was there on Sunday and Monday and the lines were long enough that I have zero urge to go back during a peak period ever again. Not worth my money.

How I think FP+ may increase rides is for people who are using park hoppers -- since we couldn't get FP+ for our "second" park, we had to wait on lines, when in the past we might have been able to get FP for later in the evening.

• 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.

With your plan, you're riding three rides using a ticket that costs $99.

So, if you want to spend $33 per ride, it's that simple.

 

[redsbe]

I was there on Sunday and Monday and the lines were long enough that I have zero urge to go back during a peak period ever again. Not worth my money.

How I think FP+ may increase rides is for people who are using park hoppers -- since we couldn't get FP+ for our "second" park, we had to wait on lines, when in the past we might have been able to get FP for later in the evening.


With your plan, you're riding three rides using a ticket that costs $99.

So, if you want to spend $33 per ride, it's that simple.

No with a plan like that you are likely getting in at least 8 rides. More if you take a break during peak day crowds and return back to same park for the evening (especially of it is open late) and get another several rides in.

 

[flicx]

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 pretty much the expected reply. Indefinite testing. So basically Disney shouldn't know how long testing should be on this billion dollar plus expenditure? I call that unorganized and horribly planned if true. The customer should know when something like this is scheduled to end. Not unreasonable at all considering the cost of a Disney vacation. Of course many on these boards don't think it is even necessary to tell a deluxe monorail guest that the monorail will down during their vacation either.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Of course many on these boards don't think it is even necessary to tell a deluxe monorail guest that the monorail will down during their vacation either.

I'm not one of them. If at all possible, this should require notice to guests who have built plans around using this as a mode of transportation.

But a FINAL "DONE" DATE on a moving target like this? That just doesn't strike me as reasonable.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Regarding FP in more than one park ever coming back...

I agree that would be an improvement of course, but I don't get this logic. That would defeat the point of tiers, no?

I guess if they tiered all four parks, then it's a possibility.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm not one of them. If at all possible, this should require notice to guests who have built plans around using this as a mode of transportation.

But a FINAL "DONE" DATE on a moving target like this? That just doesn't strike me as reasonable.

Neither is it reasonable to be "in testing" indefinitely. I'm not saying there will ever come a point where they stop tweaking the system or changing parameters, but at some point they have to stop calling it a test.

 

[panthergirl]

I was at the MK on the date in question. There was a line for the Peoplemover that stretched almost to COP at about 2:00. The line was so long there was a CM holding a green flag up so you could find the end of the line. No FP+ at that attraction or at the quick service restaurants which all had lines out the door as late as 2:30. It was just a crazy busy day.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Neither is it reasonable to be "in testing" indefinitely. I'm not saying there will ever come a point where they stop tweaking the system or changing parameters, but at some point they have to stop calling it a test.

Agreed. Testing can't be indefinite. They haven't fully rolled out yet, though.

That suggests to me that there's potentially a ways to go before the growing pains and "major tweaking" end. And I wouldn't expect them to have a drop-dead date for that -- they have to react to the changes (intended and unintended consequences, etc.) and associated feedback. How can they know when they'll "have it right", precisely?

Then I'd expect smaller changes/variations to be normal - agree there as well.

 

[WillAustin]

Agreed. Testing can't be indefinite. They haven't fully rolled out yet, though. That suggests to me that there's potentially a ways to go before the growing pains and "major tweaking" end. And I wouldn't expect them to have a drop-dead date for that -- they have to react to the changes (intended and unintended consequences, etc.) and associated feedback. How can they know when they'll "have it right"? Then I'd expect smaller changes/variations to be normal - agree there as well.

I think the drop-dead date was several months ago.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think the drop-dead date was several months ago.

Which was... when?

 

[WillAustin]

Which was... when?

For at least several months last year, the WDW site had the words "rolled out to all guests later this year."

The "plan" was to have it rolled out before 2014. Obviously they missed that target, but I think we knew that was coming. It's still not "rolled out" in the strictest sense of the phrase, but it is adversely affecting some trips and planning every day.

Saying, "it's done when it's done," sounds great, but in practice, people are negatively impacted. Some people have less tolerance when they are spending a lot of money, and they probably do have a legitimate complaint.

 

[Planogirl]

OK, if we assume that lines are longer for secondary rides right now and decide this could be due to FP+ or bigger crowds or both (probably the right answer) then the problem becomes how to tour when this happens. As more people get access to FP+, then those who have become 'true' standby might wait longer and longer. Since we all likely want to ride more than three rides that could at some point include all of us. Rope drop is nice early in the day but I hope that entities such as the UOG people come up with some plans on how to handle all of this.

It's odd though because supposedly crowds haven't increased that much this year but who knows? I personally believe that building new attractions would have been a better solution to the crowd problem but that ship has sailed.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Agreed. Testing can't be indefinite. They haven't fully rolled out yet, though.

That suggests to me that there's potentially a ways to go before the growing pains and "major tweaking" end. And I wouldn't expect them to have a drop-dead date for that -- they have to react to the changes (intended and unintended consequences, etc.) and associated feedback. How can they know when they'll "have it right", precisely?

Then I'd expect smaller changes/variations to be normal - agree there as well.

As of tomorrow, how is it not fully rolled out? Starting tomorrow, every single WDW guest has the ability to prebook, whether they are onsite or off, and offsite guests can purchase MBs this week as well.

What's left to "roll out"? (and I am being specific to FP+, because in their "be our guest"/tester commercials, they are specifically talking about FP+)

 

[WannabeWeasley]

so let me get this straight....you think management should be fired because lots of people are showing up to the theme parks?


excuse me a moment...

I don't think management should be fired for people showing up, but management might need to be fired due to the now atrocious disbursement of the crowds. Other an Christmas/New Year's week, Easter Week and 4th of July week, you didn't really previously see 75+ wait times for attractions like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. There was a picture on here last week that showed the FP line for Pirates was longer than the standby line. That is really unacceptable.

We have experienced the new MDE system twice since last fall and while the Magic Bands, overall, worked find and I don't have an issue with them, the new Fastpass+ system is HORRIBLE! The teiring at DHS and Epcot is completely unacceptable. I don't so much mind the park price increases if I'm still getting the same park perks as before, but paying more money AND getting less perks is completely unbelievable from a customer service standpoint. As it stands this billion dollar Disney baby is NOT performing or testing or achieving the success that was predicted by Disney upper management. This is a PR nightmare for Disney right now and I wouldn't be surprised at all if some if some upper management employees don't make it through this year.

 

[DebbieB]

Agreed. Testing can't be indefinite. They haven't fully rolled out yet, though.

That suggests to me that there's potentially a ways to go before the growing pains and "major tweaking" end. And I wouldn't expect them to have a drop-dead date for that -- they have to react to the changes (intended and unintended consequences, etc.) and associated feedback. How can they know when they'll "have it right", precisely?

Then I'd expect smaller changes/variations to be normal - agree there as well.

I agree, offsite is just now being brought in to advance fastpasses. I don't think they should have moved faster. Now that everyone has advance FP available, they can get a handle on the capacity numbers and hopefully add more choices per day.

I was there in early March of last year. POTC had the longest lines I have ever seen, out into the courtyard and HM had lines out to the boat dock. FP+ will increase standby times because of the FP people getting priority but they were not short lines before during spring break.

I don't think management should be fired for people showing up, but management might need to be fired due to the now atrocious disbursement of the crowds. Other an Christmas/New Year's week, Easter Week and 4th of July week, you didn't really previously see 75+ wait times for attractions like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. There was a picture on here last week that showed the FP line for Pirates was longer than the standby line. That is really unacceptable.

We have experienced the new MDE system twice since last fall and while the Magic Bands, overall, worked find and I don't have an issue with them, the new Fastpass+ system is HORRIBLE! The teiring at DHS and Epcot is completely unacceptable. I don't so much mind the park price increases if I'm still getting the same park perks as before, but paying more money AND getting less perks is completely unbelievable from a customer service standpoint. As it stands this billion dollar Disney baby is NOT performing or testing or achieving the success that was predicted by Disney upper management. This is a PR nightmare for Disney right now and I wouldn't be surprised at all if some if some upper management employees don't make it through this year.

So how would it work when both TSM & RnR at DHS and Soarin & TT at Epcot are all soldout when the 30 day mark hits? That's what would happen without tiering during busy times. Hopefully they will allow more "day of" to get the other, especially during slower times.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Saying, "it's done when it's done," sounds great, but in practice, people are negatively impacted. Some people have less tolerance when they are spending a lot of money, and they probably do have a legitimate complaint.

It will never be "done". That's why they made the huge investment. It's called "big data", and they will use it to change the program constantly over time.

I would expect that if you go to WDW every year, your FP+, ADR, and perks will be slightly different with each trip.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

For at least several months last year, the WDW site had the words "rolled out to all guests later this year."

The "plan" was to have it rolled out before 2014. Obviously they missed that target, but I think we knew that was coming. It's still not "rolled out" in the strictest sense of the phrase, but it is adversely affecting some trips and planning every day.

Saying, "it's done when it's done," sounds great, but in practice, people are negatively impacted. Some people have less tolerance when they are spending a lot of money, and they probably do have a legitimate complaint.

I suspect most people aren't shocked when a massive project doesn't tie up when originally planned. And thank goodness they didn't ACTUALLY publicize a drop-dead DATE... imagine the fallout -- especially on DIS!

Here's the bottom line for me:

-- If I am so sensitive to the exact status of FP+ on my next trip, I will wait until it actually is fully rolled out and beyond major growing pains before scheduling my vacation. I'll wait for the reports that all customer categories have access, until reports on here or elsewhere suggest things are steady-state for some time.

-- If I am NOT so sensitive, I will chance it.

I just don't understand chancing it while it isn't all rolled out and at least close to steady-state, and then complaining as though I had no choice but to plan a WDW vacation.