Can we talk about how bad FastPass+ is?

[over50visits]

Before we forget, and just accept that it is here to stay....

Disney wanted to track our movements and spending. They couldn't get us to wear a tracking device unless they somehow dressed it up as doing something for us.

Voila - the magic band. The NFC chip needed for everything for US (entry, FP+, purchases) is tiny. The battery-powered transmitter circuit and antenna that allows Disney to track all of our movements for THEM is larger, and that's why there is a wristband we so willingly wear.

It may be a fait accompli, many may be happy with the new system, and Disney may have dressed it up very well, but have no doubt the huge, huge expenditure was for customer tracking, management, and targeted advertising.

I am so sorry for the front line CMs who have to deal with unhappy customers. I admire them...they deserve our real thanks.

 

[alvernon90]

I thought I already told you that you were done? Seriously. Begone weirdo who plans every 30 seconds of his vacation 2 months in advance.

I guess it is a sign that FP+ remains controversial when a 12-year-old boy can create a new account and do some obvious trolling and yet it kicks off a massive thread.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I am in the middle of my first trip with FastPass+ only (when I was here last November you had the FastPass+ as well as the old system).

This makes me really sad because the original FastPass system was very well designed. Furthermore, I really miss the fact that a Disney vacation used to be something magical you could enjoy without planning every single second of your vacation months in advance.

The MagicBands are wonderful, but the FastPass+ system is abysmal. This is the New Coke of Disney. This is a staggeringly bad idea and even worse implementation.

1) Too control freak. From observing the system and talking to Disney cast members about it, there is a philosophy of controlling how people want to enjoy their vacation. This is unacceptable. Some things I have been told:

"People were only riding the same attraction multiple times, or would go to a park and only ride a couple favorite attractions and leave."

Yeah... so? You mean people were happy and doing the things they enjoy? It is their money and their vacation.

2) Spontaneity is being destroyed and replaced by making vacation feel like a job. I understand that some people like to plan things in advance. That's fine. But the entire park should not be designed to require that.

3) Micromanagement feels like a job. The complexity and limitations along with the reliance on limited kiosks + smart phone app makes this feel like work, not vacation.

4) Lines and waits are much longer. There may be a number of reasons why this happens. I suspect one reason is people are riding crap they don't really want to ride just to burn through their first 3 FP+ and then be allowed to FP with a little more freedom (or FP the same attraction).

5) People are even more stressed. Watching and talking to people they are even more stressed out than ever about when and what they can ride. This is connected to #1, #2, #3, and #4.

6) Stop and smell the roses? Ain't nobody got time for that! I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date! Stopping to look at flowers, watch a street show, take a cool photo, sit down to talk or people watch, or anything fun and unstructured barely exists now. You're constantly on a schedule. I am using the same software I use at work to keep track of where I need to be at what time. Miserable. My vacation experience is the same as being at work.

7) Slave to the smartphone, like at work. I have to check my smartphone many times a day to keep things on track and reschedule things if needed. Of course every time I check there are work email notifications I see that are then harder to avoid. This again makes vacation feel like work. Terrible.

8) ??? I'm only scratching the surface here.

Does Disney know how despised this system is?

Is there any hope of it either being dumped or massively overhauled?

Somebody really hates their job.

 

[muenginerd]

I'm in the small minority but we enjoyed our recent trip with FP+. (We had never been during old FP days so maybe we don't know what we are missing).

We only wanted/needed 3 FP/day. So we never really tried for the 4th. Honestly, crowds at most lines were less than the lines for the FP+ kiosk.

I felt our flexibility was great, we had FP spread through the day so we weren't rushing from one to the next. The couple times we didn't want our FP right away I was able to go on my phone and easily change it to a later time that worked for us. (we didn't try to change soarin or 7DMT, and didn't need A&E).

We didn't RD but stayed until park close. Alot of times we found very short lines later in the evening. All in all our trip was very laid back and we rode everything we wanted. The trip was purposely scheduled during the lower season so we wouldn't fight crowds, so that probably helped too.

 

[ghtx]

I'm in the small minority but we enjoyed our recent trip with FP+.

Actually I am pretty sure that you are in the majority (though you might not guess it from reading these boards).

 

[Love Tink]

(1) You can ride anything as many times in a row as you want to. Have people forgotten about standby? Before there was any fastpass, this was how we did things. FP is an addition to the park experience, not a necessity.

But it is disingenuous to say, "Before there was..." Yes...at one time, there was only standby...but then they brought out Fastpass, and we adjusted to that.

You can't go back. It just doesn't work - in any field. Once people move on and something becomes the "new normal," you can't tell people to revert back to the old normal and expect them to be okay with that.

If you went to buy a new cell phone and they said they were no longer selling phones, but you could buy a pager, would you be like, "Okay. Cell phones are just an addition to my life experience, not a necessity."

(2) You don't have to ride 2 other rides first before you can book another FP. Just cancel the other 2 FPs and you're good to go.

Making those reservations, just to later cancel them, is nonsensical and irritating to many people. I've stopped patronizing other businesses and using other services because of dumb, time-consuming stuff like this. Putting patrons in a position of having to do stupid things, jump through hoops, and waste time, isn't a good way to keep customers satisfied.

To those who say, "Ugh. Everything is too PLANNED," I say this: Just because you book them, doesn't mean you have to keep them. Book them because they're a bonus. If they work with your touring, then keep them. If not skip them.

Again, you are acting as if the options are 1) Be okay with FP+ or 2) Don't use anything and tour the parks like it's 1990. People do not consider being able to FP rides a "bonus." It was a built-in expectation of a Disney visit for many years - it is the regular standard, not the bonus. You can't just revert to an old normal

Secondly, if you're running to get to your next FP, it's because you planned poorly. If you plan 3 things at 3 vastly different locations in the park, all within a short period of time, well, whose fault is that?

I suppose one could assume that theme park visitors, on vacation with their family and spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars a day don't want to worry about whether they have "planned poorly" and are "at fault."

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Before we forget, and just accept that it is here to stay....

Disney wanted to track our movements and spending. They couldn't get us to wear a tracking device unless they somehow dressed it up as doing something for us.

Voila - the magic band. The NFC chip needed for everything for US (entry, FP+, purchases) is tiny. The battery-powered transmitter circuit and antenna that allows Disney to track all of our movements for THEM is larger, and that's why there is a wristband we so willingly wear.

It may be a fait accompli, many may be happy with the new system, and Disney may have dressed it up very well, but have no doubt the huge, huge expenditure was for customer tracking, management, and targeted advertising.

I am so sorry for the front line CMs who have to deal with unhappy customers. I admire them...they deserve our real thanks.

Bingo! They know the less removed money is from a purchase the more people will spend. And the number cruncher/data analyzing lover that I am can see the appeal of having this data. But, is it bad that I want to bring my RFID blocking purse with me on my next vacation and store my magic band inside so they can't track my every move?

 

[Love Tink]

I guess it is a sign that FP+ remains controversial when a 12-year-old boy can create a new account and do some obvious trolling and yet it kicks off a massive thread.

Think what you want about troll vs. non troll...but those posts were not written by a 12-year-old boy. (I have a 13-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy.)

 

[kay1864]

Disney wanted to track our movements and spending. They couldn't get us to wear a tracking device unless they somehow dressed it up as doing something for us.

Voila - the magic band. The NFC chip needed for everything for US (entry, FP+, purchases) is tiny. The battery-powered transmitter circuit and antenna that allows Disney to track all of our movements for THEM is larger

It bears repeating that while Disney can in theory track us through the park, at present it tracks only when you enter the park, enter a FP line for (and sometimes have your photo taken during) a ride), or make a purchase. No tracking of guests at present.

and that's why there is a wristband we so willingly wear.

Maybe as a side benefit in the future, but that certainly isn't the reason for them now. Right now the battery serves only to allow ride photos.

 

[Don Disney]

Talk about how bad FP+ is? Isn't that about all we do around here anymore? Realistically whether you love it or hate it you should probably adjust to it because it's not likely going away anytime soon.

We are adjusting to it....cancelling our trip,and going somewhere else!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Somebody really hates their job.

 

[ScottieMouse]

Before we forget, and just accept that it is here to stay....

Disney wanted to track our movements and spending. They couldn't get us to wear a tracking device unless they somehow dressed it up as doing something for us.

Voila - the magic band. The NFC chip needed for everything for US (entry, FP+, purchases) is tiny. The battery-powered transmitter circuit and antenna that allows Disney to track all of our movements for THEM is larger, and that's why there is a wristband we so willingly wear.

It may be a fait accompli, many may be happy with the new system, and Disney may have dressed it up very well, but have no doubt the huge, huge expenditure was for customer tracking, management, and targeted advertising.

I am so sorry for the front line CMs who have to deal with unhappy customers. I admire them...they deserve our real thanks.

Perfect. I will set up my tin foil shop right here.

Anyone want some? I sell by the roll or hats already made.

 

[itchin2go]

Bingo! They know the less removed money is from a purchase the more people will spend. And the number cruncher/data analyzing lover that I am can see the appeal of having this data. But, is it bad that I want to bring my RFID blocking purse with me on my next vacation and store my magic band inside so they can't track my every move?

Tracking of purchases is only true for onsite guests, not everyone.

 

[maxiesmom]

Perfect. I will set up my tin foil shop right here.

Anyone want some? I sell by the roll or hats already made.

Seriously.

If you don't want to be tracked the first thing you need to do is throw out your cell phone. Because you are tracked everywhere you go via that! And then those store loyalty cards, better throw those out. And get rid of Onstar or whatever GPS system your car has....and OMG I hope you didn't fly to Orlando!

People, if you are worried about being tracked, that ship sailed a long time ago.

 

[kay1864]

Bingo! They know the less removed money is from a purchase the more people will spend. And the number cruncher/data analyzing lover that I am can see the appeal of having this data.

Very true. You don't have to reach in your pocket or purse for your KTTW card, much less a credit card or cash.

But, is it bad that I want to bring my RFID blocking purse with me on my next vacation and store my magic band inside so they can't track my every move?

Dunno about bad, but currently unnecessary, since they're not "tracking your every move". I'm sure it will be all over the DIS boards when Disney starts doing so, but for now it's only as I posted above--FP lines, ride photos, and purchases.

 

[soniam]

I liked FP+. It worked really well for us in late July. However, the old system worked well too for us. I didn't try to get 7DMT (long story), and I was really worried right before the trip. However, we just did SB after Wishes and only waited ~30 minutes. We even did Soarin' twice: SB & FP+, and Buzz twice: 2 FP+.

I am not understanding the need for people to be on their phones so much. The only thing I used mine for was to look at wait times via Touring Plans and Disney apps. I didn't do that very often either. I have print outs of our plans, because I don't trust it to a good connection. I did check email once to see our replacement FP+ when SM went down. You can't do much with FP on the app anyway. All additional ones have to go through the kiosk, currently. I hope that changes though.

I do feel bad for anyone that has had issues with booking or getting FP+, especially if the system has just lost stuff. I can understand that things won't go perfectly for everyone, and at anytime that could be me. However, that's always true.

 

[soniam]

Seriously. If you don't want to be tracked the first thing you need to do is throw out your cell phone. Because you are tracked everywhere you go via that! And then those store loyalty cards, better throw those out. And get rid of Onstar or whatever GPS system your car has....and OMG I hope you didn't fly to Orlando! People, if you are worried about being tracked, that ship sailed a long time ago.

What about the internet or FB? Has anyone noticed that ads on pages are for things they buy or search, like Disney. I guess you could remove/disable cookies. But who really does that.

 

[YawningDodo]

What about the internet or FB? Has anyone noticed that ads on pages are for things they buy or search, like Disney. I guess you could remove/disable cookies. But who really does that.

Or you could just install a good adblocker.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I NEVER said you could "book it same afternoon". That would be impossible with FP+ just like it would have been impossible to ride all 3 mountains all using legacy FP if you entered the park in the afternoon.

It's assertions like this that bug me when those who DO like FP+ bring up legacy.

It was not *impossible* to ride all 3 mountains using legacy entering the park in the afternoon. As with FP+, what one could do with legacy *vastly* depended on the crowd levels. No, I would never have expected to ride all 3mountains with legacy FP (arriving in the afternoon) on days with crowd levels of 8-10. However, when we were there last October and had crowd levels more in the 5-6 range, we had no problem riding Space/Thunder/Splash in the afternoon/evening. FP was available for all of them (and that was even when the FP pool was split between FP+ testing and legacy).

Before I'm jumped on again, I am *not* saying legacy was the be all end all or that it didn't have its issues. Nor am I expecting legacy to come back, or FP+ to be dumped. I'm not living in the past, or dwelling on it.

I'm simply making the statement that FP availability - under both legacy and FP+ - is *vastly* dependent on the crowd level at the time of your visit. So what could be an absolute truth for someone visiting in July or Christmas Week, could be absolutely untrue for someone who visited in mid September. It doesn't make anyone wrong - just that there are vastly different experiences out there, and that they are *all* valid.

I wish everyone who hated the system so much stopped going to the parks. Attendance is way up at the parks and I'd like a little more elbow room again..

As for this, there's not much to say except that I find it very rude. I would never wish for anyone who loved something (and I think it's safe to say that those of us here on the DIS love Disney) to just no longer experience it. That's no better than the Kool-Aid/Hater name calling.

 

[Huey]

I suspect the appeal of FP+ will follow some kind of normal distribution curve.

A few audible haters at one end of the curve who feel the need to vent their frustration.

A few audible supporters at the other end of the spectrum for whom the new system really works and/or feel the need to balance the argument for newcomers or passive Disers interests.

Then the silent majority who either don't care or don't care enough to post (or in fact who don't know they can post because they don't treat Disney like a religion, this would be by far the biggest group).

I quite like the new system, I liked the old one too...mmm...not sure a normal distribution curve works as I don't seem to fit on it.

Maybe a Venn diagram would be better - I am no mathematician (I am a Disney nut though).

I think the majority of people asked cleverly phrased marketing questions will at least not give a negative answer, thus proving...well that marketing questions can be used to get the results you need to justify spending a bajillion dollars on some colourful wristbands.