A & E, no FP+ available 60 days out !

[mi*vida*loca]

I have no issues with someone wanting to see A&E more than once a trip. I read a post recently that someone is taking their DD to see A&E everyday of their trip. I don't know if they are doing FP everyday or a mix of FP and standby. I really didn't care. They paid for their passes just like I did. They get 3 FP+ a day and can use them how they see fit. People book multiple SDMT during a trip. I don't think it's a big deal.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

My 60-day window opened tonight. I just finished. Before I started booking, the first two days of our trip were already gone for A&E. It was the first thing that I went for right at 12am for 4 days into our trip. I got it, but the best time I could get was 7:30-8:30p. Going for my 2-year old and I'm sure she'll be long past crabby by that point. Considering dumping it all together.

I'm assuming you got for Thursday the 21st of May?

A lot changed in one day. I was one day before you...I was up at 12:00 am Tuesday....I went for Wednesday May 20th and got 7 FP+ for 2:10-3:10. Not bad at all. I didn't even need to do the copy thing I just got 7 straightaway. At that time that whole week was open, albeit nothing before 1-2pm. Now I see every day is booked except that Thursday.

All my other FP+ were easy to book, the system worked flawlessly and quickly, and it was kind of fun.

 

[Disneylover99]

I have no problem going twice.
I also think it's an insurance policy. Someone could be sick, A&E could close for whatever reason, you could be stuck on a bus and miss your time. Or you could just get duds.

Totally agree.

If meeting A&E is a "must do" for your family, it would be foolish not to book them for two separate times or two separate days if there is availability when you book, cause you never know what could happen.

 

[Disfan1968]

I didn't make Disney's policy. I'm just explaining it. Maybe you should send your thoughts to Disney?

I had a big reply written up for this, but my better judgement thankfully won out.

 

[mom2rtk]

I had a big reply written up for this, but my better judgement thankfully won out.

OK? I expect that we're much closer in our thoughts on what Disney should do with this than you apparently think.

 

[Disfan1968]

But I think kids who are young/innocent/gullible enough to think they're meeting the actual, real life Anna and Elsa are young/innocent/gullible enough to not realize that multiple lines are feeding into different locations, or can easily be convinced otherwise. After all, if you see the same face character multiple times in the same trip, it's pretty likely that it will be different CMs playing them - that's a lot harder to explain to kids who think they're real.

Exactly. Nice to see someone who sees the absolute lunacy of...

A: The policy.
B: Defending it, no matter how tacit that defense be.

No one is suggesting we line Main Street USA with Anna and Elsas. As for the earlier suggestion that I should send my thoughts along to Disney. You're just being cute now, I like that...

 

[Disfan1968]

OK? I expect that we're much closer in our thoughts on what Disney should do with this than you apparently think.

No, I know who you are quite well, and I usually agree and very much appreciate your board contributions. You just seem while "explaining the policy" to me to be almost in a sense defending it. I sincerely, wholeheartedly apologize if I read you wrong. In any event, I get the whole character redundancy, but they could obviously make a well designed exception in this case. Sticking to tradition at the detriment of your customers in this extraordinary case smacks or sheer obstinacy and is insulting to them.

 

[mom2rtk]

No, I know who you are quite well, and I usually agree and very much appreciate your board contributions. You just seem while "explaining the policy" to me to be almost in a sense defending it. I sincerely, wholeheartedly apologize if I read you wrong. In any event, I get the whole character redundancy, but they could obviously make a well designed exception in this case. Sticking to tradition at the detriment of your customers in this extraordinary case smacks or sheer obstinacy and is insulting to its customers.

I think you're reading me wrong. I think they need to pull out all the stops to make these characters more available. We just disagree whether the physical layout of PFTH lends itself to having only A/E on both sides at the same time while somewhat still maintaining the illusion.

I think that when the spot in Epcot opens, they need to stay in MK as well. I think that until then, they need to put them somewhere else in Epcot, and DHS. And if they can find a way to make them fit..... do it in AK too! (OK, that one might be a stretch.) Put them in a character meal. Make them available after the sing-a-long at DHS. Do what they have to in order to meet the demand. But I think they like the frenzy this limited availability creates.

I'm not a "defend Disney at all cost" sort. But I do get why they aren't putting them on both sides of FTH. That's all.

And FWIW, I wrote Disney when I was upset that they took Belle out of the MK when ETWB opened. It didn't change anything, but I happy to have the chance to go on record with my thoughts.

 

[mesaboy2]

I think you're reading me wrong. I think they need to pull out all the stops to make these characters more available. We just disagree whether the physical layout of PFTH lends itself to having only A/E on both sides at the same time while somewhat still maintaining the illusion.

I think that when the spot in Epcot opens, they need to stay in MK as well. I think that until then, they need to put them somewhere else in Epcot, and DHS. And if they can find a way to make them fit..... do it in AK too! (OK, that one might be a stretch.) Put them in a character meal. Make them available after the sing-a-long at DHS. Do what they have to in order to meet the demand. But I think they like the frenzy this limited availability creates.

I'm not a "defend Disney at all cost" sort. But I do get why they aren't putting them on both sides of FTH. That's all.

And FWIW, I wrote Disney when I was upset that they took Belle out of the MK when ETWB opened. It didn't change anything, but I happy to have the chance to go on record with my thoughts.

You're not?

For what it's worth, I'm in total agreement with mom2rtk on the A&E issue.

 

[Disfan1968]

You're not?

For what it's worth, I'm in total agreement with mom2rtk on the A&E issue.

Uh oh! mesaboy2 now??? Who's next, Robo? The whole DISBOARD cartel is coming after me now! Seriously though, as you said mom2rtk, I am not sure we are that far apart on our views. And mesaboy2, as since your opinion counts 100x to 1 against mine on these boards I'll just say that you usually make sense, but not so much (to me at least) on this. This comes down to how they can provide the best customer service, or at least "better" customer service. I just don't think tradition should trump sound service in a case as extraordinary as the A&E craze.

Just my two cents.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just my two cents.

We're all entitled to that.

 

[Disfan1968]

And I am not being factious when I say opinion counts 100 to 1. It's obviously true. People respect your opinion. It gives your (well-earned) bullypulpit a ton of extra weight against mine.

 

[nat8199]

They should do something about parents who have to have a FP+ to go with their kids to see A&E, but don't want to meet the characters themselves. I don't care to get my picture taken with the princesses, but still need the FP's to take my daughter & nieces. How many would that free up?

When I try for our Anna and Elsa FP+s, I will be aiming to get them for 7 people, only 3 of those will be kids. Why? Because it makes the grandparents (and parents) happy to see the kids happy. I don't care if that is selfish and keeping another group of 3 from seeing A&E. I am not making the FP+ just for 4 and going in with the 3 kids by myself.

 

[hpriamson]

I believe that maintaining the illusion that the characters are real, by among other things never having multiple copies of the same character visible, is an excellent policy for Disney. I guess it gets down to how much responsibility does Disney have to maintain that illusion? If 4 different Elsas walk down the street to the M&G building, that's on Disney. If parents take their 5 year old to Enchanted Tales with Belle, then immediately hop over to Epcot to meet another Belle who is clearly a different human being, that's on the parents. If people line up on opposite sides of the same building, each planning to meet Anna & Elsa, and some sharp 6 year old asks "Hey, why are different lines going to meet Anna & Elsa?", it's not clear to me at all who is responsible for that.

 

[grimley1968]

No, I know who you are quite well, and I usually agree and very much appreciate your board contributions. You just seem while "explaining the policy" to me to be almost in a sense defending it. I sincerely, wholeheartedly apologize if I read you wrong. In any event, I get the whole character redundancy, but they could obviously make a well designed exception in this case. Sticking to tradition at the detriment of your customers in this extraordinary case smacks or sheer obstinacy and is insulting to them.

Yes, you're reading mom2rtk wrong. I've read many posts by her advocating increasing capacity for this attraction (and others), while still explaining Disney's policy of guests not being able to visibly see the same character more than once. This is easily achievable in the way they're now doing it, but would certainly also be much more achievable if they have A&E in multiple parks at the same time. I don't understand why you're equating mom2rtk's explanation of Disney policy (and their anemic method of trying to meet demand for A&E) with a defense of it.

 

[Disfan1968]

Yes, you're reading mom2rtk wrong. I've read many posts by her advocating increasing capacity for this attraction (and others), while still explaining Disney's policy of guests not being able to visibly see the same character more than once. This is easily achievable in the way they're now doing it, but would certainly also be much more achievable if they have A&E in multiple parks at the same time. I don't understand why you're equating mom2rtk's explanation of Disney policy (and their anemic method of trying to meet demand for A&E) with a defense of it.

Grimley, if you read the thread I think we are all set on this.

 

[Disfan1968]

Grimley, if you read the thread I think we are all set on this.

I will respond to your other points though...

1. I agree with you that A&E could be inserted as M&Gs into other parks increasing daily capacity.
2. But I think I made it ABUNDANTLY clear that I understand not wanting to make the same character literally visible in duplicity at any given moment. That is NOT what was being advocated. I think you misunderstand what I and others are suggesting. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

 

[Disfan1968]

I believe that maintaining the illusion that the characters are real, by among other things never having multiple copies of the same character visible, is an excellent policy for Disney. I guess it gets down to how much responsibility does Disney have to maintain that illusion? If 4 different Elsas walk down the street to the M&G building, that's on Disney. If parents take their 5 year old to Enchanted Tales with Belle, then immediately hop over to Epcot to meet another Belle who is clearly a different human being, that's on the parents. If people line up on opposite sides of the same building, each planning to meet Anna & Elsa, and some sharp 6 year old asks "Hey, why are different lines going to meet Anna & Elsa?", it's not clear to me at all who is responsible for that.

NO ONE HERE (including me) is suggesting any characters be visible in duplicate AT THE SAME TIME. Sorry to shout, but HOLY COW.

 

[Disfan1968]

To try to clear it up... the suggestion is that you could have a hall where, for instance there were ten mickeys in separate rooms each with it's own entry and exit point. There would be no risk of a kid seeing two mickey's at the same time that way and thus we could avoid any child suffering serious childhood trauma. In short, the kids would be none the wiser. I do think mom2rtk and mesaboy2 understood what I was suggesting and engaged in that discussion with me. I think others are doing a cursory read of the thread and piping in without understanding my real position. I know, unheard of for a DISBOARD thread, right?

 

[Disfan1968]

And to be clear, I AM NOT suggesting we have a hall with ten Mickeys. It's an example, for pete's sake.