A day-tripper's gripe

[Sparkly]

Our only cell phone is a tracfone that stays in the car for emergencies, so I feel your pain. Just one more thing that Disney is doing to phase out the middle class, IMO. I think people forget not everyone has internet access, much less a smart phone!

Most middle class people who can also afford a Disney trip are likely to have at least ONE smartphone in the house. Or at least the internet for MDE...

 

[Oswin]

As someone who spent an entire semester as a day tripper, I can agree and disagree with a lot of your points, OP! I do feel that Disney has intentionally made it easier for guests staying on property for multiple night stays at the expense of the locals/day trippers. Spontaneous same day trips are still possible, but you have to understand the new system and know how to work it to your advantage to really make the most out of the new FP+. Part of Walt's vision was always moving forward, and that vision is in play at WDW these days. With the roll out of MDE and FP+, you really should have taken the time to educate yourself in the changes before heading up to the park and assuming that things would be the same with the new system. If you don't move forward with the direction of technology, you'll end up left behind and can't blame Disney (or anyone else for that matter) for that. If you don't have a smartphone or internet at home, go to your local library to use their computers and internet to book your FP+ selections. I think the loss of paper FP is a good idea. It cuts down on waste, helps streamline the crowds at park opening, and makes plans more flexible in that FP can now be changed/cancelled as needed.

It really boils down to the fact that day guests now have to use touring plans and advance preparation the same as any other guest does. They also now have to get used to waiting in queues for attractions that used to be walk ons before FP+ rolled out and spread out the crowds more. Those are both hard pills for day guests to swallow, especially when they've spent years being used to doing things a very particular way.

 

[maxiesmom]

Our only cell phone is a tracfone that stays in the car for emergencies, so I feel your pain. Just one more thing that Disney is doing to phase out the middle class, IMO. I think people forget not everyone has internet access, much less a smart phone!

Seriously???? I pay $35 a month for my smart phone. It is not something only the uber rich can afford. Smart phones are super cheap now too.

 

[AngiTN]

Right, there's a difference between refusing it and being able to afford it. The person I was responding to said that Disney is using smartphones to shut out the middle class. I can get a new smartphone and a month of service for $31, (and if you discontinue payments, you still have a wifi smartphone) so it can't be about the money.

Good point. You can buy a 2nd, or 3rd hand iPod Touch and use that in the parks. No cell phone required.

 

[GrumpyDudeByChoice]

I've had trouble getting FPs 30 days out.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

They also now have to get used to waiting in queues for attractions that used to be walk ons before FP+ rolled out and spread out the crowds more. Those are both hard pills for day guests to swallow, especially when they've spent years being used to doing things a very particular way.

This is the hardest part of FP+ for me-it just kills me to know that I use to be able to walk onto POTC and now it's almost always at least a 20-30 minute wait.

Times change and I think overall the new system is better for everyone, no more survival of the fittest for FPs.

 

[jaysmom4285]

I'll keep saying it . Never believe the app when it says there are no more FP+ for an attraction. Keep refreshing the app for the attraction you want, and some times will almost invariably pop up. It takes some persistence, and you may have to refresh dozens of times (best done while taking a break somewhere), but, as I've noted previously, I have had little trouble getting any Tier 1 FP+ I wanted or any Tier 2 for that matter, at any time of day I wanted, even if I was trying that same day. The key is constant refreshing. If a time comes up that you don't want, take it - it's easier to modify an existing FP+ to get a better time. Just as an example, for the heck of it the other night (late March, so it was fairly busy spring break time), at around 8:30 PM I decided to see if I could get an FEA FP+ for two for the next day (all from the comfort of my living room at home). Of course, the app said there were none. I refreshed 17 times (I counted), and on the 18th try, a 5:50 PM time popped up. This was for a party of two, and it would probably be more difficult for a larger party. But it wouldn't be that hard to get overlapping times if you worked at it.

 

[lynzi2004]

I have only ever known the FP+ system so I have always been confused when people talk about the old system and running from attraction to attraction to get them. Wouldn't that actually require more work and the need to get there early in the morning to ensure that you would get a FP return time? Meaning if you parkhopped to MK late in the afternoon, was there typically anything left for the bigger rides?

I personally love the FP+ system, but it is all I've ever known. Yes, it takes early planning but I know if my family and I get to the park at rope drop, we can ride a handful of rides and then be promised the headliners from 11-1ish or so. We can take a break and swim in the afternoon, knowing that we've got a 4th FP for something else when we come back later that night.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have only ever known the FP+ system so I have always been confused when people talk about the old system and running from attraction to attraction to get them. Wouldn't that actually require more work and the need to get there early in the morning to ensure that you would get a FP return time? Meaning if you parkhopped to MK late in the afternoon, was there typically anything left for the bigger rides?

I personally love the FP+ system, but it is all I've ever known. Yes, it takes early planning but I know if my family and I get to the park at rope drop, we can ride a handful of rides and then be promised the headliners from 11-1ish or so. We can take a break and swim in the afternoon, knowing that we've got a 4th FP for something else when we come back later that night.

Lots liked the old system because every FP for every ride was still available every morning. There were no tiers, so if you planned right, you could accomplish all the headliners by FP in the same day. You could also get off a ride and if your kid said "I want to do that again" you just pulled another ticket.

 

[mom2rtk]

no more survival of the fittest for FPs.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

I have only ever known the FP+ system so I have always been confused when people talk about the old system and running from attraction to attraction to get them. Wouldn't that actually require more work and the need to get there early in the morning to ensure that you would get a FP return time? Meaning if you parkhopped to MK late in the afternoon, was there typically anything left for the bigger rides?

I personally love the FP+ system, but it is all I've ever known. Yes, it takes early planning but I know if my family and I get to the park at rope drop, we can ride a handful of rides and then be promised the headliners from 11-1ish or so. We can take a break and swim in the afternoon, knowing that we've got a 4th FP for something else when we come back later that night.

That's why I called it survival of the fittest-first come first served. It really could be a lot of running around-typically you would have a designated runner. And it really wasn't ideal for park hopping. The new system is way more friendly and fair for most everyone, especially those who want to sleep in.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Now that I'm ahem..."more mature" and far less fit....I find that I'm better served by being able to book from the comfort of my couch.

 

[anna samantha]

My daughter and I had the old fast pass system mastered and could circle the park riding all of our favorites over and over again. We had to take a break from Disney due to unfortunate circumstances and had no idea about the new method until we arrived at Magic Kingdom for the first time in 8 years. Luckily there was a glitch on one of our magic bands when we first got there so as a reward for our patience we were granted a day of fast passes on the rides of our choosing. It was awesome and also gave me a chance to get with the program without having to suffer for my ignorance! Now I'm an AP and I do usually stay on property but not usually with 60 days notice. I seem to get everything to work out the way I want with MDE and I don't miss traversing the parks the way we used to have to make our genius scheme work! The one thing I do miss is being able to hand off unused passes to strangers if we decide to switch parks. We are pretty spontaneous and that was always a happy way to end the day!

 

[MKNJ]

Me, too. I refuse to get a smart phone (may be on my gravestone) and I resent that the world has rushed to making them indispensable. As a result, I have not been back to WDW since they introduced the new system which isn't FastPass+, rather it is Disney now using meta-data to staff and artificially control crowds while charging crazy prices for tickets and food. Disney and airlines are at the top of my list of things to avoid in the 21st Century.

Is there a reason why Disney, or any other organization for that matter, wouldn't want to use the data that they collect to optimize their business? Maybe without that analysis they would have to charge more for admission, food, etc. because they would overstaff. Or, worse, maybe they would understaff and the parks would be more crowded, dirtier and the rides would not be as well maintained. Disney, or again, any other company is not interested in making sure that every individual consumer's needs are met, they are interested in making sure that enough consumer's are satisfied to maximize profits.

More importantly, I think it's very certain that very few, if any, members of this board know what Disney's priorities/goals are. Soulless corporation? Maybe. Happiest place on Earth? Maybe. A combination of both? Certainly

It's guaranteed that if people started protesting with their wallets and staying away because they don't like FastPass or food prices adjustments would be made. But, other than a few cranks on a message board, business is booming. Good for them, good for their shareholders, good for the people who are employed by Disney.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I hope some day to live close enough to have this problem.

 

[TimR573]

I can feel where the OP is coming from. I get annoyed that AP holders don't get the 60 day treatment without a hotel stay (my parents live 20 minutes away, so we don't stay onsite) , and it makes getting FP for hot new attractions (7DMT & FEA) difficult.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can feel where the OP is coming from. I get annoyed that AP holders don't get the 60 day treatment without a hotel stay (my parents live 20 minutes away, so we don't stay onsite) , and it makes getting FP for hot new attractions (7DMT & FEA) difficult.

Doesn't matter how far or close you are. You're still free to pay inflated resort prices to get the 60 days. Just like everyone else.

Remember WDW is a resort company that happens to have theme parks. They are in this to fill resort rooms.

 

[Shanti]

Thanks everyone for the (sometimes) sympathy and advice to get tech'ed up. It's not that I'm completely out of touch, but I do agree with the posters who pointed out that spontaneity is no longer really advisable.
We come at most once a year, for one day. Never more. Sometimes not even that. I will look into buying something in advance next time.

You'll do great next time if:

• You buy & link your tickets 30 days in advance, & book your FastPasses then, as well.
• Avoid EMH since you don't stay onsite.
• Arrive at rope drop & use the first hour to ride your highest priority rides that you don't have FastPasses for.
• Accept the fact that WDW is much more crowded year-round than it used to be, so don't expect top-tier ride waits to be 20 minutes or less.

WDW has changed, but it isn't all due to FP+. The biggest change is the uptick in year-round visitation, which has led to more crowds, higher prices, and the need for more advance planning.

 

[maxiesmom]

Doesn't matter how far or close you are. You're still free to pay inflated resort prices to get the 60 days. Just like everyone else.

Remember WDW is a resort company that happens to have theme parks. They are in this to fill resort rooms.

Or they are free to be to the parks at rope drop.

 

[TimR573]

Doesn't matter how far or close you are. You're still free to pay inflated resort prices to get the 60 days. Just like everyone else.

Remember WDW is a resort company that happens to have theme parks. They are in this to fill resort rooms.

Of course. That doesn't make it any less annoying that you miss out on that perk when you're one of their premium customers. (The AP turnstiles are nice though! I don't think I had to wait behind a single person who couldn't figure out which finger they used the day before once last week)

Edit: We do get a nice perk for staying offsite though - the visitor hang tags @ their condo look enough like premium parking tags that we get waved into the premium lot about 50% of the time

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I can feel where the OP is coming from. I get annoyed that AP holders don't get the 60 day treatment without a hotel stay (my parents live 20 minutes away, so we don't stay onsite) , and it makes getting FP for hot new attractions (7DMT & FEA) difficult.

Book a room, book your FP+, then cancel the room reservation. You keep your FP+ reservations. The only real limit for passholders is the 7 day limit.