Biggest Misconceptions

[PrincessV]

I'll take this another direction, from a local's perspective...

That you HAVE to plan your days, make ADRs, book FPs to have a fun day at WDW! I can't tell you how many times we've decided one night to go to WDW the following morning, and yep - we've done our favorite rides, eaten at table service places we like, and had a wonderful time. Even when we go for a week and do some advance planning, we almost always wind up changing plans on the fly while we're there.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily recommend that approach to first timers booking a WDW vacation, but it's a big misconception, even among my non-local Disney friends, that it's "impossible" to do anything without a ton of planning.

 

[klo1335]

If I were going to WDW next week, I would do all the research and turn my misconceptions into facts, and then make the best of the FP+ system

But you would do the research. I feel like the correct information is just a Google search away. Even if you aren't an uber planner, how would you not look into at least a little bit? Even if we are just going to the beach for a week, I would look some information up.

 

[hultrain]

We helped guide some MISGUIDED people at MK during rope rope the week of Easter. The one parent and child wanted to go to Small World before Peter Pan. We heard them say they had a FP for Mine Train so that was good. We told them to do Peter Pan first not Small World. Then we told them to do Pooh then Mermaid, they were right behind us at Peter and heard the same child ask about doing Small World next. I was happy to help them get on a good path for Fantasy Land.

I'd be careful to assume people who don't tour the way you do are "misguided." These particular people may have been, but I know for me, I am going to Small World first at RD, then Peter Pan, even though I realize that PP should have higher priority. The reason? Small World is my 5 y.o. daughter's favorite ride and the one she wants to ride first. Also, she's all of a sudden developed a "fear" of "bad guys" on rides, and although she was fine riding PP last year, she's now saying that she's scared to ride it because of Capt. Hook. I figure we can break her in on Small World, and then convince her to ride PP once she's more in the Disney spirit. I'm sure we're bound to get some "bless your heart" glances when we pass right by the "gets" at RD like SDMT and PP, and instead head straight to IASW, but whatever, it works for us.

 

[JanaDee]

We helped guide some MISGUIDED people at MK during rope rope the week of Easter. The one parent and child wanted to go to Small World before Peter Pan. We heard them say they had a FP for Mine Train so that was good. We told them to do Peter Pan first not Small World. Then we told them to do Pooh then Mermaid, they were right behind us at Peter and heard the same child ask about doing Small World next. I was happy to help them get on a good path for Fantasy Land.

Just because they want to do different rides in a different order than you does not make them "MISGUIDED". It means their family has different favorites than you do.

 

[Gillyrose779]

I wouldn't call this a misconception but I see a lot of people wanting to go during the time between Christmas and New Year without doing any research on crowd levels. I don't tell them not to go but I do try to tell them to prepare for crowds- like the worst crowds you have ever seen. I tried to tell this to one family but I knew they were using a Travel Agent so I was hopeful the agent would help.

They ended up having a horrible time and wished they just stayed at their off-site resort and swam. I felt bad b/c that will probably be the only Disney experience for their little girl.

 

[jayandstacey]

But you would do the research. I feel like the correct information is just a Google search away. Even if you aren't an uber planner, how would you not look into at least a little bit? Even if we are just going to the beach for a week, I would look some information up.

Agreed, mostly.

Some people like to "book it and forget it" or like the element of surprise. I just got back from a trip to France as a chaperone for high schoolers, and I have to say that it was kind of nice to not look at ANYTHING before going, except where to catch my plane.

I'd also say that for most other amusement parks there's little value in preparation. So as the dad on a week-long trip to the beach, I would do some research - but my amusement park research would be limited to picking one, knowing where it is and how to buy tickets. That's it.

Lastly, for many visitors English is a second language and their experience is different from ours, both in terms of what they can research in their language and what value comes from it. They might be happy with oogling the castle, riding the people mover and hitting Tom Sawyer island - having a great time and not really caring about what they missed.

I plan. Yet, I get those who don't; it's ok. Ironically, our planning relies on a certain high % of visitors NOT planning and doing predictable things (like arriving at 11am, turning right, etc) right?

 

[eyehartdisney]

Just because they want to do different rides in a different order than you does not make them "MISGUIDED". It means their family has different favorites than you do.

No, making the decision based on the full knowledge that you are sacrificing wait times is not misguided, making a blind decision without all the facts, as clearly this family was, is.

 

[jayandstacey]

I'll take this another direction, from a local's perspective...

That you HAVE to plan your days, make ADRs, book FPs to have a fun day at WDW! I can't tell you how many times we've decided one night to go to WDW the following morning, and yep - we've done our favorite rides, eaten at table service places we like, and had a wonderful time. Even when we go for a week and do some advance planning, we almost always wind up changing plans on the fly while we're there.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily recommend that approach to first timers booking a WDW vacation, but it's a big misconception, even among my non-local Disney friends, that it's "impossible" to do anything without a ton of planning.

Yes, but - don't you have a wealth of info in your head to draw upon? So while you can go for a day and not have a set plan and have a great time - you still have many strategies you employ as you spend that day. You know what moves fast and slow, when a crowd is too big and where your favorites are...

I'm not disagreeing with you, rather I think I'm refining your point - which is to say that with a little experience under one's belt and planning from past trips, one can "wing it" really successfully on future trips. It is not requisite that EVERY trip be planned.

 

[Jfsag123]

Back when Anna and Elsa were meeting in Norway, I overheard one woman tell another that for her upcoming Disney trip, her TA had assured her she would be able to purchase front of the line access "called a fastpass" in order to meet the Frozen sisters. At least 3 things wrong with that statement.

 

[Ambear]

Lastly, for many visitors English is a second language and their experience is different from ours, both in terms of what they can research in their language and what value comes from it. They might be happy with oogling the castle, riding the people mover and hitting Tom Sawyer island - having a great time and not really caring about what they missed.

That's a great point! If I were in dlp or Tokyo, I definitely wouldn't know everything if I research as much as I can beforehand. And I will probably find things fascinating that a local wouldn't, even if it's just cause of the difference in cultures.

 

[JanaDee]

No, making the decision based on the full knowledge that you are sacrificing wait times is not misguided, making a blind decision without all the facts, as clearly this family was, is.

You're assuming a lot about the family that wanted to ride IASW first.

 

[momof2n2]

I'll tell you what the misconceptions are - because I have no idea how FP+ works - so I have nothing but misconceptions.

I haven't been to WDW in about 5 years. I was an "uberplanner" when we used to go more often (5 years ago), but haven't really looked at anything since, or kept up with the disboards. About all I know are that there's a new FP+ system and that the area behind the castle was re-done.

SO here we go, these are my conceptions/misconceptions:

1. FP+ doesn't cost extra but is reserved for those staying on property, thus is already in a bit of an 'elite' class. And it might only be for the high end hotels, or for those buying multi-day passes, etc.
2. FP+ requires you to choose a few popular rides (maybe 2?) and the time slots the day before - which means two things: 1. you have to have a pretty good plan for the next day and 2. you have to stop the day (or two) before and login and choose those actual times. I'm not sure I want to stand at a kiosk in the hotel lobby after a long day in the park, just to sign up for a few rides for the next day.
3. You have to wear a wristband, and so do all family members - I don't like wristbands. And the wristband is connected to your room key, which is connected to your credit card. So if little Sally takes hers off and leaves it on a bench, we might be in for a bunch of pain (phone calls, paperwork) to fix things.
4. FP+ can be good in the right situations, but still won't beat the good old "show up early" tactic. And in fact, like the old FP system, it is just a tool in the larger scheme of planning; it doesn't replace a good plan.
5. If the old FP system exists, it seemed a better balance of risk/reward. Yeah, maybe all the TSM fast passes are gone by 8:00am, but that's ok, I'm in the park and can adjust on the fly.
6. Even if I had a FP+, it is confusing enough for guests overall that it might get me into awkward situations as described in this thread.
7. I still have to deal with restaurant reservations separately.

If I were going to WDW next week, I would do all the research and turn my misconceptions into facts, and then make the best of the FP+ system, however it works. This is just the list of what I fear about FP+ based on my lack of knowledge. I'd expect others to have similar fears. I'd also expect that the truth about FP+ is very different.

Yes x 7

 

[ttintagel]

Back when Anna and Elsa were meeting in Norway, I overheard one woman tell another that for her upcoming Disney trip, her TA had assured her she would be able to purchase front of the line access "called a fastpass" in order to meet the Frozen sisters. At least 3 things wrong with that statement.

This thread (and the comment above in particular) reminds me of this post from last year, where a self-identified travel agent and lifelong WDW fan was shocked and outraged about all the things that had changed at the park that she hadn't looked into before her first trip in a few years. It seems to me that a travel agent would take the time to find out if the things that were most important to her were stioll there. Some of the things that took her by surprise were:

• The price of parking had gone up
• Parking for the Magic Kingdom was at the TTC instead of the park gates (she remembered the old parking price, but not the location)
• Full, unfolded strollers couldn't go on the parking tram
• There was construction going on
• The entrance to the castle passageway wasn't open all the time
• You have to line up for character meets in specific locations, and you can't always get the FP you want for them
  
• During busy periods, you can't save tables in quick-service restaurants
• Chicken nuggets and pizza weren't served at every restaurant she went to
• She couldn't get last-minute ADR's for table service
• ADR cancellation policy and no-show fee
• No pixie dust (FP's, free desserts) on her birthday
• The closures of Pleasure Island, the Adventurers’ Club, Toon Town, and the McDonald's Fries wagon
• They didn't refund her non-refundable tickets after she complained about the above

 

[dkrauss]

I'm amazed at what people assume. My husband, for instance, thought park hoppers meant we had tickets for both Disney and Universal Clearly I don't need any more proof that he doesn't listen when I talk...

This is one of the funniest..........and truest posts I've read...............according to my wife

Well done!

Doug

 

[greeneave]

Some folks just head down, stay offsite and get tickets at the gate. Then they are kinda at a loss for FP's. Disney is getting complicated sorry to have to admit. When people ask me to help them plan the thing I ask is how much do you want to spend and are you staying on site. That way at least I know how mad they are likely to be if they get their tickets at the gate and have no FP's planned.

this is true!

i was at disneyworld for a business trip (working with disney parks) and i was given a free park hopper pass for the duration of my stay and received a bunch of complimentary park hopper passes once the project was over. so, when i booked my family trip i had NO idea that my park hopper passes had fp+ attached to them and i didn't know about magic bands until i started doing research online.

i found out that fp+ were free with your passes when i called the disney hotline because i wanted to enquire about how i got my magic bands in advance and needed to link my expedia reservation for the poly to my mde account.

the cm was SO helpful- he took the time to ask me about passes (did i need to purchase passes or did i already have passes that needed to be linked to my account) and when i told him disney had given me 9 free passes he said, "well, let's load them onto your account. once that's done i can help you set up your fp+ selections and then we can get your magic bands sorted out."

i would have been sooooo bummed (and annoyed with myself) if i'd rolled up to the poly without magic bands and no fast passes set up.

 

[cgattis]

I've encountered at least one guest on almost every trip who thought you had to pay for a Photopass photo--like, pay to have it MADE. Similar comments to the ones about paying to skip the line. But of all the ones I've told "they'll take one with your camera...." none have actually gotten in line . Not sure if they don't believe me or if they're just looking for something to grouse about.

Also, I think I just "liked" about 2/3 of the posts in this thread! LOL. There are some witty DIS'ers here (And probably all smart and good-looking too!! )

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Good looking and killer at cribbage!

 

[klo1335]

This is one of the funniest..........and truest posts I've read...............according to my wife

Well done!

Doug

I was telling my husband last night about the conversation I had with the guy in the coffee shop yesterday. His response....

wait for it.....

"what are park hopper passes?"

Clearly the man doesn't listen to anything I say.

 

[eyehartdisney]

You're assuming a lot about the family that wanted to ride IASW first.

Only because it appears they took the advice given them.

 

[hakepb]

Over the years, I've read a couple of misconceptions on these actual boards!

Shame on those posters who fail to verify information with bus drivers before posting here.