Disney World is a little "weird" right now

[khaleesi]

If embracing change means paying more for getting less then I guess I hate change.

Seriously though I too am majorly bummed that rides we used to walk on POTC, HM, IASW, now have long lines thanks to fp+.

I'll go with the perspective thing again... these did not have long lines when I was there and I thought the park was very, very crowded. IASM wound up with a line, but only because people were ducking for cover when it started raining.

 

[Minniesgal]

But isn't that the point of the system? You can go to waterparks and just have the band. Go everywhere and charge with it , get into your room with it etc. Is Disney telling people to bring an alternative form of payment/ room key etc. If so I really think they should look at this 1.5 billion dollar expenditure a lot closer. Obviously if this is so they rolled it out too soon.

In fairness any new system needs to be debugged after role out which is presumably why Disney did extended testing. I think it is fair to be carrying back up cards while the system is in flux,

When british airways opened terminal 5 at health rom it was over a year before the automated bag check in system worked properly. You can't beta test a system in anger as you beta test with a sample of the overall population that will use a system and you have to leave time to iron out he bugs.

 

[EMode]

In fairness any new system needs to be debugged after role out which is presumably why Disney did extended testing. I think it is fair to be carrying back up cards while the system is in flux,

True, but in all fairness Disney should not be touting the "all you need is your MB" during the testing then. They should be issuing MB's and KTTW cards together with a disclaimer that this is a test and you should being your card along too in case of any issues. But they aren't, so people aren't doing that, they are believing the hype.

 

[larryz]

I had a nice conversation with a manager during our trip. I explained that I totally, completely, 100% understand such a huge system change needs testing. However, as guests, we aren't on a "test trip". If things go poorly because of testing and glitches, many guests can't afford a "redo".

Ding! Ding! Ding! Someone else gets it!

I wouldn't mind seeing an exec or two fired over all the ill will that forcing guests into this test has generated.

WDW -- where the "guest" is code for new system guinea pig.*

*Pre-21st century term for beta-tester.

 

[larryz]

She had some interesting stories. So it is hard to be a CM there and be MAGICAL and HAPPY 24/7 but that is what they are trained to do.

Please convince her to blog her experiences and be sure to let us know where to find it!

 

[larryz]

My original statement still stands, though, that I was surprised at how many I saw which made me wonder Disney has changed a policy.

It's nothing you said -- you were measured in your comment; you reported an observation and expressed surprise, and I didn't perceive you were being judgmental.

Several topics on the DIS seem to automatically result in heated discussion. Scooters/ACVs/Kids in Strollers are three such hot-button topics.

 

[flicx]

In fairness any new system needs to be debugged after role out which is presumably why Disney did extended testing. I think it is fair to be carrying back up cards while the system is in flux,

When british airways opened terminal 5 at health rom it was over a year before the automated bag check in system worked properly. You can't beta test a system in anger as you beta test with a sample of the overall population that will use a system and you have to leave time to iron out he bugs.

In fairness to customers Disney should be saying this, they need a card in case of magic band failure. Is it really fair to a customer who paid primo dollars to have to deal with the multitude of debugging issues?

 

[mom2rtk]

In fairness to customers Disney should be saying this, they need a card in case of magic band failure. Is it really fair to a customer who paid primo dollars to have to deal with the multitude of debugging issues?

I'm absolutely shocked at the number of people who think it's perfectly fair.

 

[jwoods703]

Ding! Ding! Ding! Someone else gets it!

I wouldn't mind seeing an exec or two fired over all the ill will that forcing guests into this test has generated.

WDW -- where the "guest" is code for new system guinea pig.*

*Pre-21st century term for beta-tester.

This. I don't feel the vast majority minds change, the vast majority would prefer not to spend multiple thousands of dollars and be "chosen" as part of a rollout that occurred too soon. I also do not believe that there would be the same response if Disney did not push the fact that you only need a MB while on your trip. Clearly there are kinks, each guest should be offered the KTTW plus the magic bands, however I have seen people whom have requested it yet denied the alternative option.

I have only been on these boards for a short time, but I do not understand why so many people are willing to sit there and take it from Disney, as if to say it's ok that you're not living up the quality reputation you've built...I'm sure it's somehow my fault that the magic bands didn't work or that the guest service has taken a dive. Maybe it's because some of you are able to go every year and possibly a few times a year, but as my case for my family and I, we only can go once a few years and would appreciate that the trip was going to go as smoothly as possible. It's rather nerve wrecking that I have paid a rather large sum of money and now have to worry if the service is going to be good, the parks/resort will be clean, and now having to worry if I'm even going to be able to get into my room or park without some issue that could happen

Disney had a short coming with this "testing" period, it's not only in reflection of guests recent opinion but in the quality and opinion of their CMs. Sadly this isn't a limited occurrence it's happening rather frequently

Cheers

 

[sporter]

I just don't see how alienating some of Disney's most loyal CUSTOMERS is going to work out for them in the long run.

Most of us on this board spend a significant amount of our income on a semi or yearly basis going on vacation to spend thousands with Disney.

If they don't listen I bet someone else will and that park is about 8 miles away.

 

[katallo]

I just don't see how alienating some of Disney's most loyal CUSTOMERS is going to work out for them in the long run.

Most of us on this board spend a significant amount of our income on a semi or yearly basis going on vacation to spend thousands with Disney.

If they don't listen I bet someone else will and that park is about 8 miles away.

I agree. After 40 years of going to Disney, we are holding our breath for our May trip. We are going in open minded, so hopefully we will have a good experience. I think it was a lousy time to raise rates. Just not sensible.

 

[magicbob]

I just don't see how alienating some of Disney's most loyal CUSTOMERS is going to work out for them in the long run.

Most of us on this board spend a significant amount of our income on a semi or yearly basis going on vacation to spend thousands with Disney.

If they don't listen I bet someone else will and that park is about 8 miles away.

Cue the chorus of "good riddance... less people in line ahead of me."

Second verse: "Why would you go someplace you don't like?"

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

I just don't see how alienating some of Disney's most loyal CUSTOMERS is going to work out for them in the long run.

Most of us on this board spend a significant amount of our income on a semi or yearly basis going on vacation to spend thousands with Disney.

If they don't listen I bet someone else will and that park is about 8 miles away.

Disney's most loyal customers are DVC and no one else. They commit to paying tens of thousands of dollars in advance for decades-----before stepping foot in the parks. They're already locked into contracts unless they sell them to someone else.....either way Disney loses nothing. DVC is doing very well and Disney is building more as we speak.

 

[wdwlver]

Disney's most loyal customers are DVC and no one else. They commit to paying tens of thousands of dollars in advance for decades-----before stepping foot in the parks. They're already locked into contracts unless they sell them to someone else.....either way Disney loses nothing. DVC is doing very well and Disney is building more as we speak.

Well that's me. Bought a lot of points and have used them for many years for many excellent vacations...to us fp+ is not a good thing, don't like the restrictions and well everything else that's been mentioned. I guess the silver lining is after I burn through lots of points for Aulani this year I can think about selling my points and since dvc is so popular, maybe even make some money!!

 

[jwoods703]

Well that's me. Bought a lot of points and have used them for many years for many excellent vacations...to us fp+ is not a good thing, don't like the restrictions and well everything else that's been mentioned. I guess the silver lining is after I burn through lots of points for Aulani this year I can think about selling my points and since dvc is so popular, maybe even make some money!!

I wish you the best of luck, a lot more luck than myself. Timeshares rarely sell for what you have put into it. I unfortunately learned that the hard way.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

Well that's me. Bought a lot of points and have used them for many years for many excellent vacations...to us fp+ is not a good thing, don't like the restrictions and well everything else that's been mentioned. I guess the silver lining is after I burn through lots of points for Aulani this year I can think about selling my points and since dvc is so popular, maybe even make some money!!

Good luck to you!! I have no doubt that you will make money and some. But this proves my point that no matter what you do- Disney will get their money----they have you on the hook whether you decide to use the timeshare or not. All the other amusement parks have to build rides to survive....Disney just has to build timeshares.

 

[mom2rtk]

All the other amusement parks have to build rides to survive....Disney just has to build timeshares.

I think it's pretty obvious that Disney believes this to be the case.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

I think it's pretty obvious that Disney believes this to be the case.

Yes.....it's obvious and sad. I do find it sad because it allows Disney to rest on their laurels instead of competing on the same platform as all the other amusement parks. If Disney did not have DVC they wouldn't be able to do what they're doing now----well, they finally have a few new things now. I should say back then when the last rollercoaster ride they built was back in 2006 and hasn't worked right since. None of the other amusement parks could survive with no new rides for almost a decade.

Oh and I know---just like you know that Disney can build more rides and they can fix that busted up monorail too but they don't care----they just don't care.

 

[surferdave]

I'm absolutely shocked at the number of people who think it's perfectly fair.

I think I realized years before NextGen testing started that if Disney started gouging out their guest's eyes in their sleep there would be a line of loyal fans here ready to defend the practice.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

It's not about defending "the practice." The real question is why are y'all just complaining about this now....when it has been going on forever. Why didn't all of you address this back then????? This is why your argument doesn't hold any water and why Disney is ignoring the mess out of you. Heck, you're not even really addressing Disney...all I see is posters attacking and name calling the posters who like FastPass+....that kind of ugly cattiness is why no one will take you seriously. Your problem lies with Disney not with the people who like the new FastPass+ system. Start there.