Don't Waste Your Money: Disney Changes Fast Pass, some fans unhappy

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm as negative as they come...

And honestly the bands(and all parts) worked for me for the second time.

The only prickles was the 24 hour/night before cancellation on dining reservations...got completely different descriptions of policy (as expected...cause it's Disney and lack of training/wages for talent rules)...I had a little snot at AKL tell me is be charged the day before because I was 22.5 hours out...and I dropped the hammer. No way in hell...I love a good billing/visa fight...especially since we we're eating up an overpriced storm elsewhere.

I did see some nastiness with this policy in other spots as well...how far will they go to hold you to a predetermined lunch on a tight window the day before? This is Disney's attempt to "rewrite the real world"...which is swampy ground to stand on...

 

[bcrook]

I'm as negative as they come...

And honestly the bands(and all parts) worked for me for the second time.

The only prickles was the 24 hour/night before cancellation on dining reservations...got completely different descriptions of policy (as expected...cause it's Disney and lack of training/wages for talent rules)...I had a little snot at AKL tell me is be charged the day before because I was 22.5 hours out...and I dropped the hammer. No way in hell...I love a good billing/visa fight...especially since we we're eating up an overpriced storm elsewhere.

I did see some nastiness with this policy in other spots as well...how far will they go to hold you to a predetermined lunch on a tight window the day before? This is Disney's attempt to "rewrite the real world"...which is swampy ground to stand on...

As much as I disliked booking FP in advance. Credit card guarantee and cancellation policy irritates me far more. It is crazy to hassle me about making or canceling a reservation at places like Marrakesh and Kouzina.

 

[jamarmiller]

At disney right now, had a breakfasts reservation at aloha , made it 6 months in Advance , got there 10 minutes early to check in. Waited another 55 minutes , and still was not seated despite having breakfast reservations . I told them to screw off and cancel my breakfast because it was going to cause me to be late for my fast past plus stuff in the parks.

Not happy

 

[bcrook]

At disney right now, had a breakfasts reservation at aloha , made it 6 months in Advance , got there 10 minutes early to check in. Waited another 55 minutes , and still was not seated despite having breakfast reservations . I told them to screw off and cancel my breakfast because it was going to cause me to be late for my fast past plus stuff in the parks.

Not happy

Did they charge you ten dollars a person for skipping out? That would be fun a battle.

 

[jamarmiller]

No, I made sure I wasn't charged

 

[Mouse14]

As much as I disliked booking FP in advance. Credit card guarantee and cancellation policy irritates me far more. It is crazy to hassle me about making or canceling a reservation at places like Marrakesh and Kouzina.

I had a bad experience with the cancellation policy as well, one night while staying at WL we made dinner plans for a rest in Epcot for the next night, the next morning while sitting by the pool we decided we didn't want to rush around so I called to cancel... They tried to tell me I was going to be charged for the cancellation because it was in the 24 hr window... I tried telling the lady that there weren't even 24hrs between when I books and the time of dinner!!!

So then I asked if I could just reschedule the reservation.. She said yes I can do that, I said ok so ouch my reservation back 2 days from now... She did.

Then I said ok, cancel that reservation for me. Thanks!

 

[suedon70]

According to a different news story, 50% of the WDW patrons never used FP, so it sounds like there were quite a few people leisurely walking parks and surviving without FP.

Yep, I live an hour away and have an annual pass to the parks and hardly ever use fast passes.

 

[redrosesix]

I had a bad experience with the cancellation policy as well, one night while staying at WL we made dinner plans for a rest in Epcot for the next night, the next morning while sitting by the pool we decided we didn't want to rush around so I called to cancel... They tried to tell me I was going to be charged for the cancellation because it was in the 24 hr window... I tried telling the lady that there weren't even 24hrs between when I books and the time of dinner!!!

So then I asked if I could just reschedule the reservation.. She said yes I can do that, I said ok so ouch my reservation back 2 days from now... She did.

Then I said ok, cancel that reservation for me. Thanks!

this is brilliant!

 

[surferdave]

I had a bad experience with the cancellation policy as well, one night while staying at WL we made dinner plans for a rest in Epcot for the next night, the next morning while sitting by the pool we decided we didn't want to rush around so I called to cancel... They tried to tell me I was going to be charged for the cancellation because it was in the 24 hr window... I tried telling the lady that there weren't even 24hrs between when I books and the time of dinner!!!

So then I asked if I could just reschedule the reservation.. She said yes I can do that, I said ok so ouch my reservation back 2 days from now... She did.

Then I said ok, cancel that reservation for me. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wtfNE4z6a8

 

[bcrook]

I had a bad experience with the cancellation policy as well, one night while staying at WL we made dinner plans for a rest in Epcot for the next night, the next morning while sitting by the pool we decided we didn't want to rush around so I called to cancel... They tried to tell me I was going to be charged for the cancellation because it was in the 24 hr window... I tried telling the lady that there weren't even 24hrs between when I books and the time of dinner!!!

So then I asked if I could just reschedule the reservation.. She said yes I can do that, I said ok so ouch my reservation back 2 days from now... She did.

Then I said ok, cancel that reservation for me. Thanks!

Awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wtfNE4z6a8

I thought of the same thing!

 

[Karibarry]

I paid the same ridiculous price for my tickets as everyone else. I do not have the money to pay $200+ a night in a disney hotel.
But..I'm not reserving my rides month in advance that's just stupid. But I will be pissed if a ride is over booked because of this!

 

[Postal68]

I solved the problem for me.

I'm on vacation and go into slow mode. Leisurely walk the park and if I see a short line go on the ride. No short line? Well there is next time.

At my age I'm not into the charge of the light brigade anymore.

At one time there weren't fast passes and gosh we survived.

Yeah, but at one time the crowds weren't at the levels they are at today. Different times. Sorry.

I am EXACTLY like you. We strolled the Park and maybe grabbed one or two Fast Passes but basically did all stand by lines where they were short. If they were long we move to another attraction. But the problem is now that FP+ has now made EVERY stand by line an hour + wait. It's not even worth paying to go in the park unless you are staying on site and are able to schedule and take advantage of the FP+ system.

 

[DOPEY44]

I think Disney is shooting themselves in the foot. What is the percentage of guest staying on site / off site? Maybe 35% on and 65% off? Why would you cater to the smaller amount? The parks should be equal to all quests. I hope Disney continues with the plastic credit card type of tickets. The wristbands are annoying.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Yeah, but at one time the crowds weren't at the levels they are at today. Different times. Sorry.

I am EXACTLY like you. We strolled the Park and maybe grabbed one or two Fast Passes but basically did all stand by lines where they were short. If they were long we move to another attraction. But the problem is now that FP+ has now made EVERY stand by line an hour + wait. It's not even worth paying to go in the park unless you are staying on site and are able to schedule and take advantage of the FP+ system.

Which is the point...
Which should never be accepted by the masses.

It's a really dumb idea that people will latch onto like guppies...

"We're charging you a fortune... Don't surprise us or inconvenience our accountants by deviating from plan"

It's ridiculous...to be honest. And it impacts me the least.

 

[StrawberryTink]

I solved the problem for me.

I'm on vacation and go into slow mode. Leisurely walk the park and if I see a short line go on the ride. No short line? Well there is next time.

At my age I'm not into the charge of the light brigade anymore.

At one time there weren't fast passes and gosh we survived.

I couldn't agree with this sentiment more.

The new FP+ will be another Disney benefit however if you don't have a FP it's really not the end of the world.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I couldn't agree with this sentiment more.

The new FP+ will be another Disney benefit however if you don't have a FP it's really not the end of the world.

If you enter a park where all lines at at a level that makes you feel uncomfortable to to do anything...literally...

And you pay $100 plus a day or approaching $1000 a year for that privilege?

What say you then?

From the trend I'm seeing... That is not an impossible scenario.
Especially with more
Bookings and "modest" construction

 

[tjkraz]

But the problem is now that FP+ has now made EVERY stand by line an hour + wait.

That's simply not true.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That's simply not true.

Correct...

But it has made everything "a wait"... And we haven't scene the thunder yet.

Remember they pulled the fastpass machines in January (cowards)... So I would imagine its "all hands on deck for April 10-30.

I will be very interested to see how the next 6 months goes.

Are they going to take the "bear with us while
We work things out , folks!" Approach?

Aww, shucks....not at those prices, partner

 

[DVCJones]

Correct... But it has made everything "a wait"... And we haven't scene the thunder yet. Remember they pulled the fastpass machines in January (cowards)... So I would imagine its "all hands on deck for April 10-30. I will be very interested to see how the next 6 months goes. Are they going to take the "bear with us while We work things out , folks!" Approach? Aww, shucks....not at those prices, partner

We will be going during Easter week and I am so worried that it will be a nightmare. Huge crowds combined with FP+, reports of long standby lines and spotty wifi.... Yikes!!! I hope WDW fixes it by then. End tiering and limiting FP+ to one park would be a start.

 

[tjkraz]

We will be going during Easter week and I am so worried that it will be a nightmare. Huge crowds combined with FP+, reports of long standby lines and spotty wifi.... Yikes!!! I hope WDW fixes it by then. End tiering and limiting FP+ to one park would be a start.

I'd say there's no chance of the tiering going away. Attractions like Soarin and Test Track simply do not have enough daily capacity to accommodate every Epcot guest. Not even close. Same is true for RnR and Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios.

Easter week is the busiest extended period of the year. I believe attendance is higher than Christmas. No matter what sort of FastPass system is in use, you would be in for very long waits and uncertain FP return times at every park.

The saving grace of FP+ for you is that you get three attractions per day on which you can guarantee a ride at any time of your choosing. IMO, that's a vast improvement over walking to a paper FP machine at 11am, not knowing if the return time will be 1pm, 4pm or 9pm.

Arrive at rope drop for short lines early. Schedule your FP+ for either afternoon or evening. And consider anything else you get done to be icing on the cake.