BIG change to FP+ today

[andyman8]

It is NOT a downgrade for everyone. Just because it is for you doesn't mean it is for me. And just because I think it's an upgrade for me doesn't mean it is for you.

I LOVED our FP+ experience this last week. I got to ride TSM for the first time in 5 years. Go me!

Mathematically speaking, IT IS. On a given day at Epcot (prior to Oct. 14), you could get FPs for TT and Soarin' in addition to attractions like Mission: SPACE. Now, you only get one headliner. So, there's a net LOSS of a min. of one FP for a headliner. I've also tested this system and can say that the test enviornment has greatly changed over the last couple weeks with changes in FP distribution ratios and now, more importantly, headliner FP+s restrictions. Go math and reasoning!

 

[CookieGVB]

first, yes I got the malware warning too.

next, but we don't know that, which has been my point all along.. why fret over something we as of now, today, this second, we know nothing about?

finally, No, I'm not biased at all, the fact that I don't use them doesn't mean I don't advocate them. It's just a matter of it's not a factor that we must use them.

Sorry - it was coming from my signature...which I've had for a couple of years now... I've removed it.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I don't think it's a huge deal right now. Wait and see, be patient. Stuff like that.

 

[beffiegirl]

Well, I just changed my FP+ times in Epcot on MDE this morning.(before I saw this thread) and it allowed me with no problems. Though I only changed Test track and Mission space. I kept Soarin the same time. It didn't say anything about the new rules. I hope my FP+ times stay right where they are!!

 

[AmyB2006]

Mathematically speaking, IT IS. On a given day at Epcot (prior to Oct. 14), you could get FPs for TT and Soarin' in addition to attractions like Mission: SPACE. Now, you only get one headliner. So, there's a net LOSS of a min. of one FP for a headliner. I've also tested this system and can say that the test enviornment has greatly changed over the last couple weeks with changes in FP distribution ratios and now, more importantly, headliner FP+s restrictions. Go math and reasoning!

I really don't care about your mathematics.

You made the statement (I think it was you) "This is a downgrade for everyone". You're assuming that everyone tours that way.

It is not a downgrade for me because your scenario is not how MY family tours Disney. We hardly ever took advantage of FP because it just wasn't something we did.

NOW, we can. We can pre schedule them and show up, and ride. My family was thrilled. We got to ride Soarin', TT, TSM, Splash, BTMR etc this last week. Definitely NOT a downgrade OVERALL, for ME.

So you can try to use all the mathematics you want. It is not a downgrade for everyone.

ETA... Also I am speaking about the FP+ system as a whole. Are you only talking about after October 14th? Because that's now how I read your first statement.

Regardless, I'm happy with even one headliner scheduled vs nothing.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Got it.

Now question... how much money are these said express passes for off site guests? Right now, FP and FP+ are "free" or included with admission.

It depends on the time of year you go. During slow times you can purchase them for $20. In peak season they go as high as $120 during Christmas season. It could be anywhere between those two prices based on perceived crowds.

 

[andyman8]

NOW, we can. We can pre schedule them and show up, and ride. My family was thrilled. We got to ride Soarin', TT, TSM, Splash, BTMR etc this last week. Definitely NOT a downgrade OVERALL, for ME.

Well, as of now with this system, one can assume that you won't be riding both TT and Soarin' by just showing up; you'll have to choose one and wait in line for the other unless you arrive at RD.

If this works for you, great, but you're not the only one who visits a Disney Park.

 

[AmyB2006]

It depends on the time of year you go. During slow times you can purchase them for $20. In peak season they go as high as $75. It could be anywhere between those two prices based on perceived crowds.

That's a per day price?

 

[clsteve]

Well, I had been on the fence about FP+ and it's potential impact on my upcoming trip- now I'm not. I see the potential of the system, understand the why, but am shocked at the rollout.

Last year, we spent 8 wonderful days with Disney at the Boardwalk Villas last December 1st, did RD, had a specific touring plan for each park and had an amazing time.


I have to be in Orlando for a conference mid-Jan and had 5 nights at the Yacht Club booked through the Convention. But, since the Convention will not confirm all of the rooms with Disney until the 30 day mark, I will be unable to link tickets with the room until 30 days prior to arrival- putting me way behind on reserving FP's with the new sys. I have 2 pre-teen DS's, so riding the headliners as much as possible is a must.

Unfortunately, I have now cancelled and moved my stay to Portofino Bay, the Darkside and Universal Express. With me spending mornings at the conference and meeting up with them in the afternoons, I won't put them through the stress between now and then not knowing what type of vacation to expect.

Don't get me wrong, we love Disney and will (most likely) come back. But, I will not spend $5,000+ to be a guinea pig during this test.

Some background, I am a recently retired Director of R&D of a major product line for one of the big 5 software companies and I'm astounded by the lack of info coming from Disney. Having done scores of major implementations in the Fortune 500, there is no excuse for this. Without getting too deep for those who don't have experience in this, Disney knows exactly, down to the task-level, what functionality they expect, when it will be delivered, when it will be tested, and who it will affect. They have to since I would seriously doubt they are doing the majority of the development.

Contrary to popular belief, Very few (if any) major companies do their own software development anymore- it's too expensive to keep large numbers of developers on staff unless that is 60%+ of your business model. Accenture, EDS, Infosys (mostly India-based), etc., contract to the Fortune 500 to provide that- meaning there are incredibly detailed contracts in place with very specific change control/order methodology.

Sorry for the long rant, but this specific type of implementation and development has been my life for 20+ years, I've seen it done well many times and many places, but this is professionally unacceptable. Information is key and would stem all of the speculation- both for and against.

If I offended anyone- I apologize in advance.

 

[AmyB2006]

Well, as of now with this system, one can assume that you won't be riding both TT and Soarin' by just showing up; you'll have to choose one and wait in line for the other unless you arrive at RD.

If this works for you, great, but you're not the only one who visits a Disney Park.

LOL, yes I get that. Actually I'll ride the one I scheduled, and probably skip the other one. But that's neither here nor there.

Of course I'm not the only one, but I am at least one, and that's why this isn't a downgrade for everyone, overall. I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels this way. Just seems like that here because I'm the only one with the opposing "voice" right now. Well and Bayou Mickey

 

[LvsTnk]

It depends on the time of year you go. During slow times you can purchase them for $20. In peak season they go as high as $75. It could be anywhere between those two prices based on perceived crowds.

Can you hop with this or would you need to buy one for each park?

 

[BayouMickey]

It depends on the time of year you go. During slow times you can purchase them for $20. In peak season they go as high as $75. It could be anywhere between those two prices based on perceived crowds.

Mad, excuse me for asking, as I've not been to universal in years.. With pricing relatively cheap for the passes,
1. Is it massively used?
2. What are the affects to the fp lines? I have it in my head that if it's a commonality that line becomes relatively another standby?

 

[Mad Hattered]

That's a per day price?

Yep. That's why staying onsite at their awesome hotels is such a good deal.

 

[andyman8]

LOL, yes I get that. Actually I'll ride the one I scheduled, and probably skip the other one. But that's neither here nor there.

Of course I'm not the only one, but I am at least one, and that's why this isn't a downgrade for everyone, overall. I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels this way. Just seems like that here because I'm the only one with the opposing "voice" right now. Well and Bayou Mickey

But, if you're not riding a headliner you would have otherwise ridden, that's a downgrade regardless of how you spin it.

Can you hop with this or would you need to buy one for each park?

There's an extra fee for hopping.

 

[AmyB2006]

Yep. That's why staying onsite at their awesome hotels is such a good deal.

We'll definitely do Universal when my kids are older, I'm sure. Right now at 4 and 6 and not fans of loud noises it'll have to wait.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I really don't care about your mathematics.

You made the statement (I think it was you) "This is a downgrade for everyone". You're assuming that everyone tours that way.

It is not a downgrade for me because your scenario is not how MY family tours Disney. We hardly ever took advantage of FP because it just wasn't something we did.

NOW, we can. We can pre schedule them and show up, and ride. My family was thrilled. We got to ride Soarin', TT, TSM, Splash, BTMR etc this last week. Definitely NOT a downgrade OVERALL, for ME.

So you can try to use all the mathematics you want. It is not a downgrade for everyone.

ETA... Also I am speaking about the FP+ system as a whole. Are you only talking about after October 14th? Because that's now how I read your first statement.

I think what they are trying to say is, lets say that if you showed up at the gate at 9:00, they would give you $10. If you showed up at noon, you only got $3. Now you didn't want to show up at 9:00 and just didn't feel like it was worth the $10 so your family came at noon and only got $3. With the new system is like Disney is saying, everyone can have $5 no matter when you show up. So since you didn't want to show up until noon, you end up getting more. But the point she is making is you always had the chance to get the $10. Disney was not taking that chance away from you. It was your choice. Now Disney has taken that from you weather you used the option or not. True it is better for you because you didn't like to be there until noon but that doesn't mean that Disney didn't take your chance of getting $10 from you.

 

[lugnut33]

clsteve, can I ask you to give an opinion about the Disney MDE site? Do you think the functionality of it is any good? Do you like the user interface? Do you think they have built up enough infrastructure to handle what is coming at the end of the month (Holiday crowds)? (I find the site slow, so I can only imagine what will happen while trying to use Disney wifi while in the parks with 80,000 other people).

 

[mom2rtk]

We'll definitely do Universal when my kids are older, I'm sure. Right now at 4 and 6 and not fans of loud noises it'll have to wait.

Your kids are really prime age to do Seussland though. I'm so glad I got my daughter there when she was little. I want to go back, but really enjoyed doing it with her at age 4.

 

[rebbyparker]

I think what they are trying to say is, lets say that if you showed up at the gate at 9:00, they would give you $10. If you showed up at noon, you only got $3. Now you didn't want to show up at 9:00 and just didn't feel like it was worth the $10 so your family came at noon and only got $3. With the new system is like Disney is saying, everyone can have $5 no matter when you show up. So since you didn't want to show up until noon, you end up getting more. But the point she is making is you always had the chance to get the $10. Disney was not taking that chance away from you. It was your choice. Now Disney has taken that from you weather you used the option or not. True it is better for you because you didn't like to be there until noon but that doesn't mean that Disney didn't take your chance of getting $10 from you.

Excellent!

 

[Mad Hattered]

Mad, excuse me for asking, as I've not been to universal in years.. With pricing relatively cheap for the passes,
1. Is it massively used?
2. What are the affects to the fp lines? I have it in my head that if it's a commonality that line becomes relatively another standby?

The unlimited ride passes are more expensive than the "each attraction" once ones which are the prices I quoted.

The FP lines move very quickly at Universal, at least in my experience. I have never been during Holiday seasons so I can't really give any accurate detail on that. They stand outside the entrance and shoot the barcode with a scanner which moves you through pretty quickly. It appears to be a much smoother process than the MB offers. I wouldn't be surprised if Disney takes that approach eventually.

Don't get me wrong. The people in standby still give you dirty looks just like you get at Disney for using FP.