Attention Disney Execs: I know what you should do to FP+

[g3pak]

Dear WDW Execs, while I have not personally experienced FP+ (yet), I keep reading reviews of those that have. It seems that a majority of Dis patrons are not in favor of the current FP+ system. As far as I can tell, it will greatly affect how my family will experience our next trip to WDW, and I am pretty confident that it will not be in a good way for us. If the current system is currently broken, I believe I know what you should do to fix it.

First, why did you make the change? Since you are corporation, then you are in business to make a profit. People on the Dis speculate that the change to FP+ is to: 1) draw more people to stay on property, since right now only those staying at a WDW resort can book FP+ in advance, and 2) cause people to have more down time in the parks to spend money in gift shops. If you start allowing off-site guests to make advanced FP+ reservations, then #1 is no longer valid.

So....here is my solution, and it should make everyone happier than they are now: have a FP+/ FP- hybrid. Just for discussion's sake, let's say that under the FP- system, you distributed 100 FPs per hour for Space Mountain. Set up the FP+ system so that 50 FPs per hour are available in advance (like they are now), but also have 50 FP's per hour available like the old FP-. Here how it would work: keep the same rules that are currently in place (each person gets 3 FP+ per day, all in the same park, resort guests can reserve in advance, off-site guests reserve the day of). Those FPs come from the pool of FPs set aside just for the FP+ side of the system. Then you also distribute FPs throughout the day that come from the other half of the FP pool. These are not paper FPs but also connected to your MB. Instead of having to run to each ride to get the FPs, you get them at the kiosks. The same rules apply as in the old FP- system: you can get your next set when 2 hours goes by or when the window opens up, whatever comes first.

Here is why I think it is a good solution: your 3 FP+s done in advance have to be for one park, but you can be getting/ using your FP-s earlier that day in a different park. That encourages more people to get park hoppers. This also may encourage more people to be at RD, which means people are in the parks longer to spend money. If FPs go fast throughout the day, then more people are motivated to be there as early as possible. It may also push more people to stay onsite. If FP+ options are few and far between by the time the off-site guest arrives for the day, then the are motivated to stay onsite the next trip.

Ok, a drawback or two: first, this sounds even more confusing that the current FP+ system. How do people understand that they have 3 reserved for the specific time they wanted, but also can get other FPs, but the return window is determined by what is left? Also, this may mean longer lines at FP kiosks unless you add more, which means more CMs needed.

So...this is not a perfect solution, but I think it is better than what you have right now. At least consider it, improve it, and change what you have right now for the better.

 

[3happydancers]

Dear WDW Execs, while I have not personally experienced FP+ (yet), I keep reading reviews of those that have. It seems that a majority of Dis patrons are not in favor of the current FP+ system. As far as I can tell, it will greatly affect how my family will experience our next trip to WDW, and I am pretty confident that it will not be in a good way for us. If the current system is currently broken, I believe I know what you should do to fix it.

First, why did you make the change? Since you are corporation, then you are in business to make a profit. People on the Dis speculate that the change to FP+ is to: 1) draw more people to stay on property, since right now only those staying at a WDW resort can book FP+ in advance, and 2) cause people to have more down time in the parks to spend money in gift shops. If you start allowing off-site guests to make advanced FP+ reservations, then #1 is no longer valid.

So....here is my solution, and it should make everyone happier than they are now: have a FP+/ FP- hybrid. Just for discussion's sake, let's say that under the FP- system, you distributed 100 FPs per hour for Space Mountain. Set up the FP+ system so that 50 FPs per hour are available in advance (like they are now), but also have 50 FP's per hour available like the old FP-. Here how it would work: keep the same rules that are currently in place (each person gets 3 FP+ per day, all in the same park, resort guests can reserve in advance, off-site guests reserve the day of). Those FPs come from the pool of FPs set aside just for the FP+ side of the system. Then you also distribute FPs throughout the day that come from the other half of the FP pool. These are not paper FPs but also connected to your MB. Instead of having to run to each ride to get the FPs, you get them at the kiosks. The same rules apply as in the old FP- system: you can get your next set when 2 hours goes by or when the window opens up, whatever comes first.

Here is why I think it is a good solution: your 3 FP+s done in advance have to be for one park, but you can be getting/ using your FP-s earlier that day in a different park. That encourages more people to get park hoppers. This also may encourage more people to be at RD, which means people are in the parks longer to spend money. If FPs go fast throughout the day, then more people are motivated to be there as early as possible. It may also push more people to stay onsite. If FP+ options are few and far between by the time the off-site guest arrives for the day, then the are motivated to stay onsite the next trip.

Ok, a drawback or two: first, this sounds even more confusing that the current FP+ system. How do people understand that they have 3 reserved for the specific time they wanted, but also can get other FPs, but the return window is determined by what is left? Also, this may mean longer lines at FP kiosks unless you add more, which means more CMs needed.

So...this is not a perfect solution, but I think it is better than what you have right now. At least consider it, improve it, and change what you have right now for the better.

I would encourage anyone with ideas and possible solutions, to write Disney. Hey you never know!

 

[g3pak]

Although my idea is legit, I just wrote this as a joke to see what others thought. That said, anyone have an email address for these kinds of things at WDW?