Answering Pete about negative FP+ posts - from 3/11 podcast

[brandytheauthor]

So, I have been a bit lapsed in joining the boards as I have been listening, well I should say watching since we began planning our vacation over a year ago. I knew about wdwinfo from having been a Fl resident, but I am not a big social media user. I also just got in to the boards and blogging game.

However, as a newbie to the Disboards world... I thoroughly enjoy the show. I call it my "my news" (cause let's face it the national news is so depressing these days). I play it as I do homework or work on books... it's great!

All of that being said...

Pete addressed something on the 3/11 podcast that my sister and myself have both been saying since the "test" of Fastpass + began.... Even my daughter has been amazed at the response.... both here and on another board I am on.

I felt that we wanted to chime in on this so I joined this board as well as Pete said he wanted perspectives.I was honestly surprized to see no other post about it (maybe I missed it )

Let me give you the demographic... I am 37, my sister is 24 and my daughter is 13... so we are Gen's XY & Z.

My sister went to DW with her grandmother every year until she was 13. My first visit was in 1995 and I have been back many times.

I think Pete is right. There is a HUGE backlash when Disney changes things and it needs to stop. People are ruining it for folks who have never been there. I am sure there are kinks in the system right now. It's a test. They need to roll this out to see what needs to be improved and how the public responds. If you have an issue you need to let Disney staff know. they do watch these boards sometimes but not all the time.

And Change.. well that's inevitable.

My mother worked for Disney World as a teen in the 60's and 70's. We talk about all of the upgrades and such. (for those who are curious what she worked is posted on my profile). Lines and guest experience have been a topic of conversation forever.

When I visited the World for the 1st time, Extra Magic hours were the thing. We stayed at Old Key West as my uncle had the time share and we went in August from a Thursday to a Tuesday. This is peak season and over a weekend. The EMH were all that we needed. We were able to see everything we wanted to see, dine at Liberty Tree and get back to the pool by 3pm. At 7, we headed back to the MK and watched the Fireworks.

Epcot was no different. We had time at the pool starting at 1pm but went back earlier so that we could eat and see Illuminations which had just started.

Back then it was MGM and that was even better. Finished up all that we wanted to do (and in all fairness there wasn't much there then and I was too chicken for ToT) and were at the pool by noon. the last day there we visited everything I wanted to see again.. again and then went home the next day. Let me reiterate that there were no FP's. We got it all done. We stood in line. I had such a wonderful time that 5 years later I moved to Fl and I have lived there 3 times since. (On the Cape )

In fact, even in 2000 when I went back and there were FP's. There were kinks then, maybe not quite so bad, but... I didn't use them then either. I had a friend here from Great Britain, he wanted to go. We had a blast. It wasn't peak but not off peak either and again a weekend.

In fact I have only ever had 1 Fast pass ever and it was given to me. When we took Cheyenne to the World for her 3rd birthday, as we stood in line for Splash Mountain a woman came by and gave them too us. I regret taking them. It was nice getting to the ride quicker, but I felt like I missed the line experience and the cool "hidden" stuff you see.

My sister had fast passes and said the same thing. There is so much she didn't see in the lines like the skeleton's playing chess.

No I know there are some of you who go every year, or like Pete and his crew go all the time and you don't care about all of that. You want to cram as much as you can into as short a period as possible. There are "re-riders" that want to ride the same rides. I get it. However it hardly "ruins" Disney and Disney is not dead.

However the posts that we heard on the podcast and read on the other boards are what is killing the magic. I work in the Entertainment industry and Disney is one of the few entertainment things that isn't losing money. However, the FP system was always too good to be true. Admit it, you got spoiled. And this was a HUGE whole in revenue that Disney needed to plug. Yes they are our fantasy providers but they are also a business.

I remember the grumblings about EMH for folks that stayed off property when I was there in 1994. I remember the complaints about FP in 2000 when I was there. But once people learned the systems and started finding their way around and planning with them, they worked. Furthermore the changes were tested on a roll out and changed to make guests experiences more enjoyable.

There were flaws in the FP system. I can honestly tell you that I, not once EVER got a FP for Space Mountain and I did try twice. Didn't matter how early I got there. But I bet there were re-riders that got theirs. SO there you go.. re-riders took away from my experience but do I blame them no.. they know the system great.

Change is good. It teaches you to think analytically. Uses your brain.. you guys like that game thing that does that (not saying it but you've seen the commercials) well change does the same thing.

I can tell you what isn't good......

My daughter has never ever had a vacation. Sure we have been to visit people but because her father wasn't (and still isn't really) a contributing parent, we had no $$ for it. She got to go to MK one day when she was 3 years old and you know what.. she STILL remembers the feeling she got when she saw that castle and heard that music and saw Mickey Mouse (who didn't give kisses to little girls that still had pacifiers.. bam paci gone) for the first time.... or taking a group shot with Goofy that mean so much to us now that her "aunt" Erin passed away in July.... she was 3.. what 13 year old remembers their 5th birthday let alone their 3rd. Admittedly the images are fleeting but what she remembers most is the awe and the joy.

When we began getting monies in from her father's disability, I said to myself.. this child has never ever had a vacation. You haven't had extra $$ in 12 years you should give her 1....

And I went to this child and I said to this child you can go anywhere in the world.. not in the US THE WORLD.... and this child.. who wants to be a linguist, who is FASCINATED by European culture said to me... "Mom I want to go to Disney World and I want to stay at one of the hotels and have the 'experience' that you and Aunt Lizzy talk about all the time."

And so we began to plan. Every Sunday we watched YouTube on hotels and picked just the right one. We listened to DisUnplugged (esp the 7 in 7 segments), got our planning book, watched how to planning videos... and as the FP+'s rolled out... and as she heard the negativity just from the TITLES of the most popular weekly posts, I watched her little face get sadder and sadder. She wanted to listen each week but I could tell something was disappointing her.. and she wasn't excited to go.. she didn't participate in the plan and secretly told my sister that FP+ was going to take away her magic because the people said so.... In that moment I knew the magic was dying and it wasn't because of FP+.

It was because of people. I thought to myself you know what I wish someone would say something and gradually.. all of the moderators began to write stuff... but I have to tell you Pete.. it was YOU and DisUnplugged that made the biggest difference. I can't remember the date, but you finally said that you wished everyone would stop posting things like that. That you felt that they were affecting people who had never been and that they needed to give it a chance.

And you still are.. as you continue to express and as your board members express and as the panel on the show continues to express that this wasn't that bad... that there were bad things but that you were still able to enjoy it etc. And as responses came up in the positive I saw her face begin to light up and she is excited again.. I need to thank you for that.

When we watched last Sunday, she turned to me and Liz as we discussed the FP+ and said you need to post that on the board so Pete can see it... hear are our thoughts...

We are sure there are issues. In fact we know there are. We aren't happy with the tiers. We aren't happy with the limitations on parks or amount of passes etc. But we know it's a test. Having programmers and engineers in our family we know that test means something isn't final. We are going to go down and have our fantasy vacation and enjoy the lines (Liz bought a hidden secretes book to look for stuff) and see how it works. When the surveys come out (surveys that confirm the rumors you guys discussed on the podcast btw) we will answer how we feel the program should change (should be noted that CHARGING for extra FP is not an option on the survey). If we have major issues we will address them to Cast members. Even if we feel just as you do that this trip was awful, we will express but qualify this with a wait and see hopefulness. (I doubt it will be awful)

And then..... as we are now planning to go every other year.. when we go back, we will see how it is. IF it is exactly the same then perhaps we might reconsider.. but you know what... somehow I doubt it... there is no place like Disney in the world.. no place and the magic exists from the second you get off of a plane or arrive at the resort until you leave... you are 5 years old again.. you want to see everything, smell everything... taste, hear feel everything and a stupid FP+ wristband bad cellphone app will not take it away... unless YOU let it.

And again.. I ask you.. is it you, or Disney ruining the magic?

But that is just how we feel. We all will feel different, but Pete had expressed he wanted feedback on this issue and so, per Cheyenne's request.. we have told Pete... and I hope it helps the venomous backlash to stop. People need to keep in mind that for intellectual older children in this digital age... their words just might be heard


Looking forward to reporting as we go and crossing fingers (but doubting) a soft opening in our future .

Thank you,

Brandy

 

[rteetz]

That is a very detailed post and for the most part I agree with you. But Disney service has gone down the past few years I think people are the driving force in magic not being there.

 

[SamSam]

I agree with most of your 'well thought out' post. The negative people on these boards have a negative effect on 'new' people. Some people have posted that they're afraid they won't have a good time after reading all the negative posts.

Change happens, roll with it. The same people that complain about change, also complain when something they enjoyed is taken away! Please, go and enjoy the fact that you can be at WDW. If you have a legitimate complaint, that's fine but realize that a lot of how you feel about your vacation is your own mind set and how you respond to things.

Dh and I have been going since 1988 and never plan on stopping. We consider WDW our 'great escape' from the real world and can't imagine not enjoying it. Have some things changed that we don't care for? Of course! Do we let it ruin our time there? No!

Flame away!

 

[keri125]

So, I have been a bit lapsed in joining the boards as I have been listening, well I should say watching since we began planning our vacation over a year ago. I knew about wdwinfo from having been a Fl resident, but I am not a big social media user. I also just got in to the boards and blogging game.

However, as a newbie to the Disboards world... I thoroughly enjoy the show. I call it my "my news" (cause let's face it the national news is so depressing these days). I play it as I do homework or work on books... it's great!

All of that being said...

Pete addressed something on the 3/11 podcast that my sister and myself have both been saying since the "test" of Fastpass + began.... Even my daughter has been amazed at the response.... both here and on another board I am on.

I felt that we wanted to chime in on this so I joined this board as well as Pete said he wanted perspectives.I was honestly surprized to see no other post about it (maybe I missed it )

Let me give you the demographic... I am 37, my sister is 24 and my daughter is 13... so we are Gen's XY & Z.

My sister went to DW with her grandmother every year until she was 13. My first visit was in 1995 and I have been back many times.

I think Pete is right. There is a HUGE backlash when Disney changes things and it needs to stop. People are ruining it for folks who have never been there. I am sure there are kinks in the system right now. It's a test. They need to roll this out to see what needs to be improved and how the public responds. If you have an issue you need to let Disney staff know. they do watch these boards sometimes but not all the time.

And Change.. well that's inevitable.

My mother worked for Disney World as a teen in the 60's and 70's. We talk about all of the upgrades and such. (for those who are curious what she worked is posted on my profile). Lines and guest experience have been a topic of conversation forever.

When I visited the World for the 1st time, Extra Magic hours were the thing. We stayed at Old Key West as my uncle had the time share and we went in August from a Thursday to a Tuesday. This is peak season and over a weekend. The EMH were all that we needed. We were able to see everything we wanted to see, dine at Liberty Tree and get back to the pool by 3pm. At 7, we headed back to the MK and watched the Fireworks.

Epcot was no different. We had time at the pool starting at 1pm but went back earlier so that we could eat and see Illuminations which had just started.

Back then it was MGM and that was even better. Finished up all that we wanted to do (and in all fairness there wasn't much there then and I was too chicken for ToT) and were at the pool by noon. the last day there we visited everything I wanted to see again.. again and then went home the next day. Let me reiterate that there were no FP's. We got it all done. We stood in line. I had such a wonderful time that 5 years later I moved to Fl and I have lived there 3 times since. (On the Cape )

In fact, even in 2000 when I went back and there were FP's. There were kinks then, maybe not quite so bad, but... I didn't use them then either. I had a friend here from Great Britain, he wanted to go. We had a blast. It wasn't peak but not off peak either and again a weekend.

In fact I have only ever had 1 Fast pass ever and it was given to me. When we took Cheyenne to the World for her 3rd birthday, as we stood in line for Splash Mountain a woman came by and gave them too us. I regret taking them. It was nice getting to the ride quicker, but I felt like I missed the line experience and the cool "hidden" stuff you see.

My sister had fast passes and said the same thing. There is so much she didn't see in the lines like the skeleton's playing chess.

No I know there are some of you who go every year, or like Pete and his crew go all the time and you don't care about all of that. You want to cram as much as you can into as short a period as possible. There are "re-riders" that want to ride the same rides. I get it. However it hardly "ruins" Disney and Disney is not dead.

However the posts that we heard on the podcast and read on the other boards are what is killing the magic. I work in the Entertainment industry and Disney is one of the few entertainment things that isn't losing money. However, the FP system was always too good to be true. Admit it, you got spoiled. And this was a HUGE whole in revenue that Disney needed to plug. Yes they are our fantasy providers but they are also a business.

I remember the grumblings about EMH for folks that stayed off property when I was there in 1994. I remember the complaints about FP in 2000 when I was there. But once people learned the systems and started finding their way around and planning with them, they worked. Furthermore the changes were tested on a roll out and changed to make guests experiences more enjoyable.

There were flaws in the FP system. I can honestly tell you that I, not once EVER got a FP for Space Mountain and I did try twice. Didn't matter how early I got there. But I bet there were re-riders that got theirs. SO there you go.. re-riders took away from my experience but do I blame them no.. they know the system great.

Change is good. It teaches you to think analytically. Uses your brain.. you guys like that game thing that does that (not saying it but you've seen the commercials) well change does the same thing.

I can tell you what isn't good......

My daughter has never ever had a vacation. Sure we have been to visit people but because her father wasn't (and still isn't really) a contributing parent, we had no $$ for it. She got to go to MK one day when she was 3 years old and you know what.. she STILL remembers the feeling she got when she saw that castle and heard that music and saw Mickey Mouse (who didn't give kisses to little girls that still had pacifiers.. bam paci gone) for the first time.... or taking a group shot with Goofy that mean so much to us now that her "aunt" Erin passed away in July.... she was 3.. what 13 year old remembers their 5th birthday let alone their 3rd. Admittedly the images are fleeting but what she remembers most is the awe and the joy.

When we began getting monies in from her father's disability, I said to myself.. this child has never ever had a vacation. You haven't had extra $$ in 12 years you should give her 1....

And I went to this child and I said to this child you can go anywhere in the world.. not in the US THE WORLD.... and this child.. who wants to be a linguist, who is FASCINATED by European culture said to me... "Mom I want to go to Disney World and I want to stay at one of the hotels and have the 'experience' that you and Aunt Lizzy talk about all the time."

And so we began to plan. Every Sunday we watched YouTube on hotels and picked just the right one. We listened to DisUnplugged (esp the 7 in 7 segments), got our planning book, watched how to planning videos... and as the FP+'s rolled out... and as she heard the negativity just from the TITLES of the most popular weekly posts, I watched her little face get sadder and sadder. She wanted to listen each week but I could tell something was disappointing her.. and she wasn't excited to go.. she didn't participate in the plan and secretly told my sister that FP+ was going to take away her magic because the people said so.... In that moment I knew the magic was dying and it wasn't because of FP+.

It was because of people. I thought to myself you know what I wish someone would say something and gradually.. all of the moderators began to write stuff... but I have to tell you Pete.. it was YOU and DisUnplugged that made the biggest difference. I can't remember the date, but you finally said that you wished everyone would stop posting things like that. That you felt that they were affecting people who had never been and that they needed to give it a chance.

And you still are.. as you continue to express and as your board members express and as the panel on the show continues to express that this wasn't that bad... that there were bad things but that you were still able to enjoy it etc. And as responses came up in the positive I saw her face begin to light up and she is excited again.. I need to thank you for that.

When we watched last Sunday, she turned to me and Liz as we discussed the FP+ and said you need to post that on the board so Pete can see it... hear are our thoughts...

We are sure there are issues. In fact we know there are. We aren't happy with the tiers. We aren't happy with the limitations on parks or amount of passes etc. But we know it's a test. Having programmers and engineers in our family we know that test means something isn't final. We are going to go down and have our fantasy vacation and enjoy the lines (Liz bought a hidden secretes book to look for stuff) and see how it works. When the surveys come out (surveys that confirm the rumors you guys discussed on the podcast btw) we will answer how we feel the program should change (should be noted that CHARGING for extra FP is not an option on the survey). If we have major issues we will address them to Cast members. Even if we feel just as you do that this trip was awful, we will express but qualify this with a wait and see hopefulness. (I doubt it will be awful)

And then..... as we are now planning to go every other year.. when we go back, we will see how it is. IF it is exactly the same then perhaps we might reconsider.. but you know what... somehow I doubt it... there is no place like Disney in the world.. no place and the magic exists from the second you get off of a plane or arrive at the resort until you leave... you are 5 years old again.. you want to see everything, smell everything... taste, hear feel everything and a stupid FP+ wristband bad cellphone app will not take it away... unless YOU let it.

And again.. I ask you.. is it you, or Disney ruining the magic?

But that is just how we feel. We all will feel different, but Pete had expressed he wanted feedback on this issue and so, per Cheyenne's request.. we have told Pete... and I hope it helps the venomous backlash to stop. People need to keep in mind that for intellectual older children in this digital age... their words just might be heard


Looking forward to reporting as we go and crossing fingers (but doubting) a soft opening in our future .

Thank you,

Brandy

I haven't posted anything regarding the FP+ debacle, mainly because I am not a consumer of the Disney product in that way. I LOVE the movies and absolutely LOVED our trip to the World back in 2010, but probably will not be back anytime soon and am not really sad about that. (We are, however, planning our first trip to Universal in November and I am SO EXCITED about that!)
But honestly (and talk about expecting flames!), I feel that so much of this is 'first world problems.' I work in a work search program for people who are receiving benefits, increasing job skills and creating networks, and sometimes I think... "I have clients who have no idea where they are going to house their children next week, or buy gas to get to that interview, or the medicine they need... and someone's trip is ruined because they don't get to ride a ride within 15 minutes?' I also understand that people work hard to earn these trips and have a right to expect great service for what they are paying for, but nowhere else (with any other theme park) have I seen expectations that the theme park itself is going to provide ways and means for park goers to not have to wait in line. I live near the only theme park in the Pacific Northwest, and waits are often 1 to 2 hours for the more popular rides (sometimes more). Granted, tickets are more along $45 per person rather than $100, but the lines are still there. Nobody is insisting that the theme park ensure they don't have to wait in line.

I was wondering if having children might affect how people feel about their Disney vacations. (And maybe this has been addressed elsewhere, and maybe they addressed it in the latter half of the podcast that I have not yet heard.) When I went with my son in 2010, I was a single parent (still am), and here is what my day looked like: I would drop my son off at daycare at 7:45am (he was five at the time) and be at work by 8. At noon (my lunch hour) I would go pick him up from daycare and take him to PM Kindergarten. (Eating my lunch in the car to/from the school). At 3:30 his daycare would come and pick him up and return him to daycare, and at 5, I would go get him. Then home to dinner, any errands we might have, etc. before making sure he got in bed at a decent time to wake up and do it all over again the next day. I was recently divorced and my ex-husband got my son the majority of the weekends, so I often felt like I was the "all work, no play" mom. Well, in October I got a chance to attend a family reunion with my son courtesy of my dad, who paid for everything. Our cousins are DVC members so we were able to stay at OKW for free, and my dad paid for plane tickets, food, park tickets, etc. I planned for this trip for months and got so excited!! We were able to do some of what I planned, but not everything, and that was ok. (We never even made it to World Showcase at EPCOT! ) BUT... the absolute best part of that trip was having seven beautiful relaxing days with my son. I just relished every single second spent with him - watching his face as we watched the fireworks, seeing his reaction on the rides, watching him battle Darth Vader at the MNSSHP (he was dressed as Luke, and another boy his same age was dressed at Darth on the bus we were taking over to the party - they were eyeing each other the entire bus ride, then broke in to an impromptu light saber battle as soon as they jumped off the bus! The adults were laughing and taking pictures, and the boys finished with big smiles and handshakes - it was amazing!!). The magic for me was being with him and getting to enjoy every moment that wasn't spent in hurrying him up as I have to get to work, hurry up and go to sleep because you have to get up early tomorrow, hurry up because your dad will be here soon to pick you up... it was just pure "in the moment" magic.

Last year his dad passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest. It has been a trying year for him - dealing with normal 9 year old stuff and then the grief of losing his dad. I did financially gain from this, like you did from the disability, OP, and as my son is OBSESSED with Harry Potter (I mean, literally obsessed!) I knew a trip to Universal was in order. I can't afford both Universal and WDW, so we decided to just do Universal this time, especially since the new Diagon Alley/Hogwarts Express will be open. I'm having great fun planning our trip, but again, the thing I'm most looking forward to?! Just spending time with my son. Lots of hugs... lots of treats. Lots of fun. Time for him to just... be a kid. I know Kathy has expressed her feelings regarding WDW being one of the few places her son could relax and be a kid after her husband passed away, and I can relate. Even if we wind up spending 6 hours to ride the Hogwarts Express a total of two timesk, that's ok. You know why? 'Cause that is six hours I wouldn't have with him one-on-one at home. And I plan on enjoying every single minute.
This is a super long post to illustrate my wonderings regarding whether having children changes one's mind about whether WDW still has magic or not. While my son is young and I have this time with him this trip, no matter what happens with regards to attractions and lines, will be magic.

I really don't want to imply that people without children should not be able to enjoy WDW. I love the fact that it is for everyone, whether you have children or not. And I don't know if I am an unusual demographic here on the Boards - someone who mostly lurks, comes out occasionally to post, but has been to WDW once and really has no plans to go back. I just find these boards (and the podcasts) very entertaining, and I like the community boards. However, maybe the FP+ is more upsetting for people who go often, regardless of whether or not they have children.

Thoughts?

 

[rteetz]

I haven't posted anything regarding the FP+ debacle, mainly because I am not a consumer of the Disney product in that way. I LOVE the movies and absolutely LOVED our trip to the World back in 2010, but probably will not be back anytime soon and am not really sad about that. (We are, however, planning our first trip to Universal in November and I am SO EXCITED about that!) But honestly (and talk about expecting flames!), I feel that so much of this is 'first world problems.' I work in a work search program for people who are receiving benefits, increasing job skills and creating networks, and sometimes I think... "I have clients who have no idea where they are going to house their children next week, or buy gas to get to that interview, or the medicine they need... and someone's trip is ruined because they don't get to ride a ride within 15 minutes?' I also understand that people work hard to earn these trips and have a right to expect great service for what they are paying for, but nowhere else (with any other theme park) have I seen expectations that the theme park itself is going to provide ways and means for park goers to not have to wait in line. I live near the only theme park in the Pacific Northwest, and waits are often 1 to 2 hours for the more popular rides (sometimes more). Granted, tickets are more along $45 per person rather than $100, but the lines are still there. Nobody is insisting that the theme park ensure they don't have to wait in line. I was wondering if having children might affect how people feel about their Disney vacations. (And maybe this has been addressed elsewhere, and maybe they addressed it in the latter half of the podcast that I have not yet heard.) When I went with my son in 2010, I was a single parent (still am), and here is what my day looked like: I would drop my son off at daycare at 7:45am (he was five at the time) and be at work by 8. At noon (my lunch hour) I would go pick him up from daycare and take him to PM Kindergarten. (Eating my lunch in the car to/from the school). At 3:30 his daycare would come and pick him up and return him to daycare, and at 5, I would go get him. Then home to dinner, any errands we might have, etc. before making sure he got in bed at a decent time to wake up and do it all over again the next day. I was recently divorced and my ex-husband got my son the majority of the weekends, so I often felt like I was the "all work, no play" mom. Well, in October I got a chance to attend a family reunion with my son courtesy of my dad, who paid for everything. Our cousins are DVC members so we were able to stay at OKW for free, and my dad paid for plane tickets, food, park tickets, etc. I planned for this trip for months and got so excited!! We were able to do some of what I planned, but not everything, and that was ok. (We never even made it to World Showcase at EPCOT! ) BUT... the absolute best part of that trip was having seven beautiful relaxing days with my son. I just relished every single second spent with him - watching his face as we watched the fireworks, seeing his reaction on the rides, watching him battle Darth Vader at the MNSSHP (he was dressed as Luke, and another boy his same age was dressed at Darth on the bus we were taking over to the party - they were eyeing each other the entire bus ride, then broke in to an impromptu light saber battle as soon as they jumped off the bus! The adults were laughing and taking pictures, and the boys finished with big smiles and handshakes - it was amazing!!). The magic for me was being with him and getting to enjoy every moment that wasn't spent in hurrying him up as I have to get to work, hurry up and go to sleep because you have to get up early tomorrow, hurry up because your dad will be here soon to pick you up... it was just pure "in the moment" magic. Last year his dad passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest. It has been a trying year for him - dealing with normal 9 year old stuff and then the grief of losing his dad. I did financially gain from this, like you did from the disability, OP, and as my son is OBSESSED with Harry Potter (I mean, literally obsessed!) I knew a trip to Universal was in order. I can't afford both Universal and WDW, so we decided to just do Universal this time, especially since the new Diagon Alley/Hogwarts Express will be open. I'm having great fun planning our trip, but again, the thing I'm most looking forward to?! Just spending time with my son. Lots of hugs... lots of treats. Lots of fun. Time for him to just... be a kid. I know Kathy has expressed her feelings regarding WDW being one of the few places her son could relax and be a kid after her husband passed away, and I can relate. Even if we wind up spending 6 hours to ride the Hogwarts Express a total of two timesk, that's ok. You know why? 'Cause that is six hours I wouldn't have with him one-on-one at home. And I plan on enjoying every single minute. This is a super long post to illustrate my wonderings regarding whether having children changes one's mind about whether WDW still has magic or not. While my son is young and I have this time with him this trip, no matter what happens with regards to attractions and lines, will be magic. I really don't want to imply that people without children should not be able to enjoy WDW. I love the fact that it is for everyone, whether you have children or not. And I don't know if I am an unusual demographic here on the Boards - someone who mostly lurks, comes out occasionally to post, but has been to WDW once and really has no plans to go back. I just find these boards (and the podcasts) very entertaining, and I like the community boards. However, maybe the FP+ is more upsetting for people who go often, regardless of whether or not they have children. Thoughts?

I think you are right people should be happy with what they have and more appreciative don't take it all for granted. The people of the disboards are mostly repeat guests the huge majority of people that go to WDW are not repeat guests most will go once or twice in their life. I have gone five times in my life and we are planning on going again this year. I can tell you I don't remember how long the lines were or which restaurant had bad service or something like that. The first couple times I went to WDW. I was too little to remember anything anyways. On our 2012 trip we used one FP the entire trip and it was splash mountain at night. We waited no longer than 55 minutes for any of the rides we went on and we had a great time. When I went in 2003 all I remember was the people I was with where I stayed and how happy i was to be there. Same with 2012 I'm sure in a few years I won't remember as many details as I do right now from my 2012 trip but I will remember who I was with and what a great time I had. I would never let a computer system ruin my vacation. I love to plan like most people on these boards but I also love to relax go with the flow and have a great time. This system helps me do that in a new way and I just have to go with it. My memories are the photos I can look at of the things we saw and the videos of things we did. My family has never had an overall disappointing vacation and you shouldn't go into your vacation with extremely high expectations like some people do. My love for Disney is what keeps me going back and a computer system that gets me a shorter line wait time it's going to drastically change my vacation. I've never not gotten to do what I've wanted to do. That's why we go back because we learn about something we haven't done before and we want to to that or something new comes out and we want to see that. WDW has so much stuff to do you would need to spend a year there to do everything so saying your going to do everything in a few days to a week isn't going to happen and people need to realize this. FP is a Privilege most parks charge for something like this or don't have it at all. Disney includes it in your park admission and you don't have to use it either.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I agree wholeheartedly. Life is all what you make of it. Thank you for posting this, and welcome to the boards!

 

[kbelle8995]

I think that in this case it is not being negative especially when they have been and don't like the program. If you disagree say so. There have been positive and negative views written on this system. I think both sides need to be heard. I still tell people to go because you have to experience this once. Don't take it personally if it's not for someone.

I will be trying the system next week and sees how it works for me.

My first impression. It's a little more structured than I would like. I'm not commando. I usually get 1 FP and then see what else I can hit. If you book one you have to book all three. I'm hoping Disney will make this a lot more flexible. And changing in the park is not an option. I don't have an iphone or a smart phone of any other brand.

It's just a lot of extra steps that I didn't do before. I'm trying to give this a shot.

I did jokingly ask why there wasn't a FP+ for the Dole Whip line.