Disney has lost another family - do they care?

[Hawk]

Whoever mentioned "FastPass abusers" hit the nail right on the head. FP+ is just another example of how Disney is cracking down on the locals who have figured out how to actually get their money's worth by abusing the pass systems (both GAC and FP-) that Disney put in place to make touring the parks easier. I think the next step will be where Disney raises AP rates through the roof.

Apparently for you, AP rates are through the roof now!

Tim/Hawk

 

[Mad Hattered]

Whoever mentioned "FastPass abusers" hit the nail right on the head. FP+ is just another example of how Disney is cracking down on the locals who have figured out how to actually get their money's worth by abusing the pass systems (both GAC and FP-) that Disney put in place to make touring the parks easier. I think the next step will be where Disney raises AP rates through the roof.

I'd like to know the original poster who coined that phrase, too.

Aren't they also cracking down on the people who don't own an AP, travel thousands of miles, spend thousands of dollars for onsite resorts and dining, buy a ton of souvenirs and spend 50 cents to smash a penny? Just because a lot of those people also knew how to pull a FP or six should somehow feel guilty, I assume?

I don't know high your roofs are in your house but I have a vaulted ceiling. I'm pretty sure their AP rates already hit mine. You must live in a Castle or something.

 

[robinb]

My original question was in response to Iger's quote. Not quoting now but something along the lines of his they were able to accommodate an additional 3,000 guests a day. I didn't understand how MM+ would cause this to happen. But let's say you had FP+ reserved for 10-11, 11-12, and 12-1. You could leave the park then, go back and swim and allow another family to enter. That would be a result of MM+ well really the FP+ part of the package.

Yes, I understand the theory. I'm just saying that I don't think it made that much of a difference when FP- was still in play.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Yes, I understand the theory. I'm just saying that I don't think it made that much of a difference when FP- was still in play.

Why do you think Iger said MM+ helped them accommodate 3,000 more guests / day?

 

[rteetz]

Whoever mentioned "FastPass abusers" hit the nail right on the head. FP+ is just another example of how Disney is cracking down on the locals who have figured out how to actually get their money's worth by abusing the pass systems (both GAC and FP-) that Disney put in place to make touring the parks easier. I think the next step will be where Disney raises AP rates through the roof.

The only thing is people class fastpass abusers as people who take 8+ FPs a day. That was perfectly legal and allowed. People had a plan and they went with it whether they had a runner or not getting that many FPs was perfectly capable any given day if you got there in the morning.

 

[Stitchfans]

No, sadly they don't care.

We have been going to WDW since they opened and now for the first time we are taking a 'long' break and going other places for vacation. We may, or may not, go back in a couple years, but we don't expect Disney to care.

Only read up to here. In our case we won't be able to return because they have priced themselves out of our budget. Middle class families can not afford it any more. As said, no they don't care. They are out to make money and there is plenty of new customers who are willing to shell out the money.

 

[rock_doctor]

I rarely post however I am lying in my bed here at Hilton (never before at 8pm) and I am sad to say this is it!

No they don't care. As long as the parks are full and the resorts are full they could not care less. Sorry but it is the truth. On our last trip we gave up on the parks for the same exact reasons you stated. Just yesterday i saw a half dozen Disney commercials on tv - 30% off for Deluxe resorts and lesser amount for the mods and values. Look at this way, for what you spent on your trip you probably could have taken a cruise. So maybe consider Universal, sea world or even a cruise. Our last one left out of Miami, 7 days, Western Caribbean, $525 pp for a balcony room.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I rarely post however I am lying in my bed here at Hilton (never before at 8pm) and I am sad to say this is it! My daughter is 4 and this is her fourth and last trip with me. It's been fun until now - can't stand having to plan around fast pass+ system. Don't waste money on park hopper anymore as by the time you get to another park, lines are far too lengthy and you can't get fast passes. Spontaneity is gone. I don't spend this kind of money to work so hard planning my day's route and strategy.

I was at WDW last month and did lots of things spontaneously. It's possible.

 

[robinb]

Why do you think Iger said MM+ helped them accommodate 3,000 more guests / day?

No idea. Maybe they simply upped the MK limit by 3,000 people because they *thought* MDE and FP+ would help .

ETA: The parks did not seem any busier than usual. Things were just as insane as they usually are that week.

 

[David Brent]

Living an hour away from WDW, I've been to WDW in the best and the worst of crowds. I'm just happy and blessed to be on vacation with my family and getting off of work to do so. The complaints/posts I've read on this MB just amazes me. Some people on here need to sit back and rethink your priorities in life.

 

[robinb]

Living an hour away from WDW, I've been to WDW in the best and the worst of crowds. I'm just happy and blessed to be on vacation with my family and getting off of work to do so. The complaints/posts I've read on this MB just amazes me. Some people on here need to sit back and rethink your priorities in life.

I'm curious ... how many days do you think you average in the parks in a year since you live that close?

 

[AmyB2006]

And why is that? What CHOICE did you make that prevented you from getting a TSM FP? Because unless someone was forcing you to stay in your room or blocking you from the FP machine, you had just as much chance to get one as any other family.

Yes. We get it. Do RD. LOL

Ya know what though? That SUCKS for a family who doesn't like to do RD, Who doesn't like getting up at the crack of dawn, actually earlier, with little kids to try and get everyone out the door to make it to an 8 am RD.

So I guess what sucks more... Trying to force my family out the door so early so we can ride TSMM, or having to tell them sorry, yet again we can't ride because it's 11 am and all the FPs are gone and the line is 120 minutes?

It's a toss up IMO. LOL But really, I get that it was my choice to not be at RD, but it still sucks that I can't get a FP for TSMM at 11 am. That's why since that ride opened, my family rode it one time. The one time we got up early. Until FP+.

But I get it. If I wanted to ride that ride I could have been at RD and ridden it 5 times. LOL It doesn't make it any more palatable to me though. Anyway, not trying to argue, but I keep seeing this whole "choice" thing thrown at people. We get it. It still stinks though. I wish Disney would build more rides and attractions.

 

[mom2rtk]

Living an hour away from WDW, I've been to WDW in the best and the worst of crowds. I'm just happy and blessed to be on vacation with my family and getting off of work to do so. The complaints/posts I've read on this MB just amazes me. Some people on here need to sit back and rethink your priorities in life.

I'm glad you are happy with all of this. But why the need to pass judgment on others?

If I lived a hour away I'd probably feel differently. If you miss something, you can go back next weekend and catch it then. That's not the case for many of us. For some, it might be their only opportunity for years. Or ever.

And I wonder what your cost per day of park attendance is compared to someone who gets to spend just a few days once a year?

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Yes. We get it. Do RD. LOL

Ya know what though? That SUCKS for a family who doesn't like to do RD, Who doesn't like getting up at the crack of dawn, actually earlier, with little kids to try and get everyone out the door to make it to an 8 am RD.

So I guess what sucks more... Trying to force my family out the door so early so we can ride TSMM, or having to tell them sorry, yet again we can't ride because it's 11 am and all the FPs are gone and the line is 120 minutes?

It's a toss up IMO. LOL But really, I get that it was my choice to not be at RD, but it still sucks that I can't get a FP for TSMM at 11 am. That's why since that ride opened, my family rode it one time. The one time we got up early. Until FP+.

But I get it. If I wanted to ride that ride I could have been at RD and ridden it 5 times. LOL It doesn't make it any more palatable to me though. Anyway, not trying to argue, but I keep seeing this whole "choice" thing thrown at people. We get it. It still stinks though. I wish Disney would build more rides and attractions.

So in that case the new system works better for your family. Nothing wrong for liking that it works for you. What sucks for our family is being there from RD to closing and still only able to get 3 FPs. Disney took our choices (yes I know we could just not go ) away from us (getting a FP for TSM & RnR, Soarin' & TT or more than one for our favorite). Nothing we do will make that better. We already do RD. The way it looks to our family is, we all had the choice, even though some didn't take it. It really sucks to take our choices and limit us to make it easier for those that wish to spend less time in the park. But if you are one of those families, then it not wrong for you to like the system as Disney has set it. But you have to admit that calling the new system more "fair" really isn't true either.

It is like when we go to the beach and want a lounge chairs for our family close to the pool. I know when they open the pool gates, those spots go quickly. I would never expect the resort to tell a family of 6 that was there when the gates were open that they could only have 3 chairs because they were saving 3 for me to show up at lunch. Would I enjoy it if they did, sure, but it isn't something I would expect. Not saying that is what you think either. But being that family that is standing at the gate, looking at the empty chairs and your family of 6, it sucks for the resort to tell them, so sorry, you still can only have 3. Our family just prefers first come first serve. Now that has left me searching for chairs at the pool for our family because I do sleep in when we are at the beach. But that was my choice and no ones fault by my own.

 

[sheetz]

Why do you think Iger said MM+ helped them accommodate 3,000 more guests / day?

I thought he meant they were handing out 3000 more fastpasses per day, not that they had increased park capacity by 3000.

 

[rteetz]

I'm glad you are happy with all of this. But why the need to pass judgment on others? If I lived a hour away I'd probably feel differently. If you miss something, you can go back next weekend and catch it then. That's not the case for many of us. For some, it might be their only opportunity for years. Or ever. And I wonder what your cost per day of park attendance is compared to someone who gets to spend just a few days once a year?

I totally agree. I live in Wisconsin and go to WDW every few years. I would have a different perspective on pretty much everything if I lived close. I'm also sure I probably wouldn't use many FPs if I lived close because if I missed a ride I can always go back next weekend or in the low crowd seasons.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I thought he meant they were handing out 3000 more fastpasses per day, not that they had increased park capacity by 3000.

Could be. Your guess is as good as mine. Not sure how the FP lines were over the holidays but if they did increase number of FPs this would explain long lines. Oh wait....they increased FPs by adding it to more attractions. I bet folks were stoked to have that Stitch FP+.

 

[Love Tink]

Living an hour away from WDW, I've been to WDW in the best and the worst of crowds. I'm just happy and blessed to be on vacation with my family and getting off of work to do so. The complaints/posts I've read on this MB just amazes me. Some people on here need to sit back and rethink your priorities in life.

How does reading what someone writes on a vacation discussion board tell you anything about their priorities in life?

Not to blow your mind or anything, but it is possible (I'm not saying probable, just possible) that someone could come here and express concern about changes at their expensive, beloved vacation destination and...still be someone who loves their family. I know, crazy!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

How does reading what someone writes on a vacation discussion board tell you anything about their priorities in life?

Not to blow your mind or anything, but it is possible (I'm not saying probable, just possible) that someone could come here and express concern about changes at their expensive, beloved vacation destination and...still be someone who loves their family. I know, crazy!

Nope, not possible at all!.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I'm curious ... how many days do you think you average in the parks in a year since you live that close?

I live an hour & a half away & have APs & averaged 7 days trips & 5 onsite stays during our AP year. Love the MBs used them in all the trips except those for Flower & Garden. I feel I got my monies worth. All our onsite stays were 2+ days each. Longest was 4.