Changing my opinion of MDE and FP+

[jiminyfan]

At first I was not a big fan on the new system. I was part of the initial beta test rollout and was used to the old world way and really loved the way it was.

I always liked some things as we are not rope drop people, but limited numbers and no park hopping really bothered me. When we travel we like to wing it and this is still an Isis for some attractions as they do run out. BUT....I just got back from being a chaperone on a school trip and for groups of people it actually performed much better than I could have expected.

We, my family, are AP holders and are regulars at WDW. The rest of my group were either first timers or once visited teens with no or little WDW knowledge. In a short time I had explained the system to my bus, had all with smartphones download the app and as soon as we got the tickets linked up and ready to go make FP plans.

I was able to add all the kids who wanted to your with us to our existing plans ( and this was during Easter week ) with only one or two slight time differences - none over 10 minutes later.

We had one or two small glitches in changing FPs when the kids decided they wanted to do different things. But, even this went well as our whole group of 9 split into three smaller groups. All FPs were there when they arrived. Some kids without smart phones used the kiosks with no issues. My son, used his smartphone for his AP and went to kiosks with friend and he said the kiosk was actually easy to use and not too bad of a wait.

Once the park hopping rolls out and maybe allowing even more rolling FPs I think this system is a major improvement.

Only now if they can keep the FP lines moving faster. At Spaceship Earth we had a 10 minute wait to ride in the FP line. Even the supervisior CM said it was unacceptable. So, they are listening and trying to improve the system and process.

I have been converted to actually supporting the changes as long as they keep tweaking it to elevate some of the little snags and glitches.

Interested in seeing how the Park Hopper works as we will be back in August.

 

[Robo]

Yup.

If they CHANGE the new" system to actually IMPROVE the FP situation rather than limit it, I'd be for it too.

And, I'd like to thank all of those on this and other boards who have consistently COMPLAINED about the current inadequate system.
Without complaints, there would be no reason for Disney to know that there was a problem,
and that their guests were unhappy with the weak, flawed system that they had dribbled out originally.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

And, I'd like to thank all of those on this and other boards who have consistently COMPLAINED about the current inadequate system.
Without complaints, there would be no reason for Disney to know that there was a problem,
and that their guests were unhappy with the weak, flawed system that they had dribbled out originally.

This.

Disney reads the DISBoards. So our complaints here are not in vain, they know they influence this community has.

 

[OtherScott]

Yu.

If they CHANGE the new" system to actually IMPROVE the FP situation rather than limit it, I'd be for it too.

And, I'd like to thank all of those on this and other boards who have consistently COMPLAINED about the current inadequate system.
Without complaints, there would be no reason for Disney to know that there was a problem,
and that their guests were unhappy with the weak, flawed system that they had dribbled out originally.

I know this somewhat CW on these boards, but for Disney to "tweak" the system wouldn't capacity have to be there in the first place? And if capacity is built into the system, what was Disney going to do with unused capacity if people didn't complain?

I think a more likely scenario is that tweaks were built into the system and the only question was how guests would like to have excess capacity allocated - extra FPs, hopper availability, etc. I can't imagine a scenario where Disney concludes "as long as nobody complains we'll just let excess capacity expire at midnight."

You were always going to get more FPs to keep you in the park so Disney could have more opportunities to separate you from your money. That's the stated goal of the FP system. Unused FPs have no value to Disney. Disney is just letting you have a voice in how the FPs will be allocated. Which in my experience, is pretty much how Disney (and other successful companies) operates.