Email I sent to Disney

[momof2n2]

OP, I was all with you, until you mentioned paying for Front of Line/Fastpasses.
I hope it never comes to that. I won't pay for them at Universal and won't pay for them anywhere.

Yeah. This is me.
Hope you get a genuine reply though, Sons.

 

[jannylynn]

I have not tried to do the math behind how many fastpasses, tiering, etc. but there has to be a limit. Consider that with the new system everybody will be selecting fastpasses (many did not know about of use fp-) and if fastpasses per day were to increase to 5, 6, 8, 10....that is essentially equating to ZERO fastpasses. The fastpass lines will get longer and longer and overtake the standby lines. So I may agree with you that 3 fastpasses may be a little short at magic kingdom but you realize there can't be that much more. Also the tiering may have to be necessary too. Roughly 30,000 people visit a single Disney park per day. Without tiering maybe 20,000 would all choose Soarin and Test Track. Again, fastpass lines would be huge and no longer fastpass. I believe we have to consider this reality when we complain about tiering and only 3 fastpasses.

Is it really that hard to give the reality of the situation as a response to your guests verses "you can always ride standby"? I already know I can ride standby. I'm a logical person and can understand what you are saying as an answer, but it would be nice to read it from Disney and not some random theory on a message board with made up numbers.

 

[pavicich]

Want to thank The Hub for being honest.

At the end of the day it is the market that dictates corporate behavior. Corporate values are what drive employee morale. Cast members are not working at the park simply to make guests happy- they are there to earn money/experience. Making people happy is a nice by product but not the main objective of a job.

Are there enough people that won't be back? The market swing in the next 12-24 months and financial results for the parks will show. Until then, I can see why cast members and managers alike don't want to hear the ranting from individuals/groups. This corporate decision just made their jobs a lot harder with angry guests.

If 24 months from now the numbers are stable or improved there is no turning back and complaining will have been wasted energy and emotions. IMHO they have spent too much money to allow it to fail.

 

[johde]

I have not experienced FP+ yet, so I can't speak from experience. Playing devils advocate for a minute. The current FP- system greatly benefits the RD people who know how to work the system. On the surface, the goal of FP+ is to spread the love around. People talk about not wanting to stand in long lines. But, someone is obviously standing in a long line or else we wouldn't have said long line.

Let's say for example, you are walking into EPCOT Right Now (12:30 on a Monday early December Crowd level 4 Recommended park according to EasyWDW). TT has a 50 minute wait with FP return times of 5:05-6:05, Soarin' has a 70 min wait FP return times 6:35-7:35. If you pull a FP for one of those now, you can't get another one for at least 2 hours. You are effectively "tiered" You can pick the one you prefer and hope FP are still available in 2 hours for the other one. Even if you could FP both you're looking at 12:30 pickup FP, 2:30 Pickup FP, 6:35 ride Soarin' (assuming you picked that one), Late evening ride TT. You're either spending all afternoon/evening in FW and skipping WS to ride both headliner; constantly traveling all around the park to "do it all"; Or, do what tiering does FP one wait in line for the other.

DHS is even worse. TSMM 50min wait FP Gone; RNR 60 wait FP 5:45-6:45;ToT 70 wait 3:45-4:45 return. If you're walking into MGM right now 12:40 you're definitely waiting in 1 long line and possibly 2. EasyWDW has DHS as the other recommended park for today.

So right now, in the 2 parks with tiering, if you don't arrive in the morning on a moderately light day (4 according to EasyWDW), you can't ride all of the headliners once without a wait.

While I didn't notice it in this thread but other threads were complaining about not being about to ride things 4 and 5 times without waits.

People talk about FP+ ruining hopping. For me, I see the exact opposite. It helps that I travel solo. I can usually handle AK and EPCOT with very few FP's. With Hopping, I can spend more calendar days in the parks I need more FP's in. Instead of doing a whole day in MK and a whole day at EPCOT, I RD EPCOT FW without FP then hop to use my 3 MK FP+ then I RD MK use 3 more FP+ then hop to EPCOT for the evening there in WS.

Would I prefer being able to hop with FP's sure, but if I can't, I'll adapt. That's what everyone will need to do. Once things settle down and get fully implemented people will start creating touring strategies to make effective use of FP+.

 

[Flametamr]

According to what you've posted, you didn't need to bypass the preshow as an accommodation with the DAS. You needed it because of your ADR. If that is the case then that sounds like your problem, not Disney's.

My point was that NO accomadations were ever made for us beyond the new DAS wait times regardless of the problem. They have done away with all alternate entrances and waiting areas. To say otherwise is a lie as far as I'm concerned. To say I had the option of waiting where I prefer is short sighted and just mean. The closest place to wait for us would have been Mouse Gears. An overcrowded nightmare pushing a wheel chair. It is nobody's business but my daughter has severe lung problems and is on oxygen most of the time. She was worn out and was ready to go but desperately wanted to ride Test Track. We had planned Test Track last so we could do it on the way out. We had no idea it would be a problem. Besides the ADR problem it would have been just mean to make her wait another hour or more. Please don't assume I am asking for something special for me. I only ask on her behalf when she needs the help. If that's too much then forgive me.

 

[Flametamr]

Isn't the whole premise of the DAS that you're waiting in an alternate area of your choice?

I've never ridden test track. Is skipping the show portion something that is an option for everyone? If not, I don't see why they would do it for you because you have an ADR and missed your FP time. No one else has that luxury. If it's skippable for anyone, I agree that they should have done it for you and don't know why you'd be refused.

Alternate area of your Choice seems to me to mean "Go spend more money while you wait" because we refuse to provide a suitable waiting area for handicapped persons. Which requires walking even further to go find a suitable place to wait with heat or air conditioning and then return later to ride or see the show.

Someone later points out here that in the past the GAC provided a little relief for handicapped persons and their care takers. Forgive me if I am an advocate for things that make my daughter more comfortable, medically safe and overall happier. We sometimes can only stay in the parks a short while and getting a little consideration was a great help. She asks so little in life I try to pack as much as I can into a Disney vacation every two years or so. Normal people don't get that and think we are asking too much. I'm sure she would trade with anyone and gladly wait in long lines to be able to be healthy.

 

[aaarcher86]

Alternate area of your Choice seems to me to mean "Go spend more money while you wait" because we refuse to provide a suitable waiting area for handicapped persons. Which requires walking even further to go find a suitable place to wait with heat or air conditioning and then return later to ride or see the show.

Someone later points out here that in the past the GAC provided a little relief for handicapped persons and their care takers. Forgive me if I am an advocate for things that make my daughter more comfortable, medically safe and overall happier. We sometimes can only stay in the parks a short while and getting a little consideration was a great help. She asks so little in life I try to pack as much as I can into a Disney vacation every two years or so. Normal people don't get that and think we are asking too much. I'm sure she would trade with anyone and gladly wait in long lines to be able to be healthy.

That's pretty presumptuous of you since you know nothing about my family, how we tour the parks, or what accommodations we require.

I'm sorry if your unhappy with the DAS, but the GAC is gone. With the DAS we're all waiting. Saying that you can wait in an area of your choosing isn't mean (really? Come on). It's true. While you are waiting 40 minutes for TT you don't HAVE to spend money somewhere. You could ride a ride, visit a character, whatever you want. I'm sorry if that doesn't work for you or if you feel like it's 'mean' to now ask people to wait versus going right into the FP line. That's now the way it is. Yes, the GAC offered more. That doesn't mean the DAS is packed with lies and big meanies.

I don't see why they wouldn't allow show skipping if they would before, but that's up to them. But asking not to have to wait because you waited with the FP and missed your time to come back doesn't make sense at all. No one else can do that.

Since the DAS isn't the main topic of this thread and will likely get it closed, I won't continue to debate it with you.

 

[lmb80129]

Alternate area of your Choice seems to me to mean "Go spend more money while you wait" because we refuse to provide a suitable waiting area for handicapped persons. Which requires walking even further to go find a suitable place to wait with heat or air conditioning and then return later to ride or see the show.

Someone later points out here that in the past the GAC provided a little relief for handicapped persons and their care takers. Forgive me if I am an advocate for things that make my daughter more comfortable, medically safe and overall happier. We sometimes can only stay in the parks a short while and getting a little consideration was a great help. She asks so little in life I try to pack as much as I can into a Disney vacation every two years or so. Normal people don't get that and think we are asking too much. I'm sure she would trade with anyone and gladly wait in long lines to be able to be healthy.

I'm so sorry you had a such a difficult time. We had a similar experience with our handicapped son and the DAS back in October. But I've found Disboards in general, rightly or wrongly, to largely lean towards fair and equal access over compassion and understanding for the handicapped and challenges involved. I'm afraid overall you won't find much sympathy here.

 

[DVCJones]

There needs to be a limit on the number of FPs you can reserve ahead if time IMO (and maybe 3 is too MANY). But, to limit the # you can pull on the fly seems wrong.

I agree^^^^ I think the loss of being able to use FP on the fly the most disturbing. If they limit FP+ to two a day and allowed it in more than one park a day, all with the option of using FP on the fly... I would be ok with this.

 

[going/again]

Nice to know CM laugh at guests behind their backs, you do realise without guests there would be no CM'S.

And you are correct they aren't doctors but they make decisions that effect peoples ability to tour the parks, Disney claims you cant take doctors notes, but the CM's you say answer the questions before they are asked, are they physic, you have no way of knowing what a disabled persons needs are, so don't claim to do so. your so called powers of anticipation have ruined a lot of peoples vacation, and yes if our xmas vacation is as poor as our September one we like the OP wont be coming back, so you and your Buddy CM's go have yourself a good laugh.

 

[maddiebee]

I've held a lot of customer service jobs and honestly, if you can't laugh at a lot of the things people complain about, you're going to go nuts. You can't take every complaint personally. I keep hearing reports about CMs being super frustrated with the new system, so it only makes sense that they would laugh about ANOTHER person being frustrated.

That doesn't mean that your complaints and frustrations aren't being taken seriously. I'm sure they are marked down and passed on to people who do care more about them, but most of the front line CM's who get these complaints probably have very little power to do anything about it but pass it higher up.

 

[Flametamr]

I'm Sorry and did not mean to attack anyone. I was responding as best I could on the fly. I do get defensive when people dismiss my daughter as if she feels entitled. She asks for nothing but to go and enjoy her place. She will sit with a smile until she passes out from heat stroke. I am the one who protects her and asks for considerations. I don't know anyone else's situation and don't presume to know what they legitimately need. I am sorry if this was off topic and will refrain from any further posts on this subject here. Have a Magical Day.

 

[Bete]

I'm done with Disney World at least for a while.

Once the final product comes out for fastpass plus I will reevaluate my feelings. It's 12-9 and I'm here right now. I did an off site resort for a week. The crowd level was suppose to be good our week. I totally feel like a second class citizen, now staying offsite. We have always been early risers and that has worked out for us in the past being off site guests. We tried for two days at Disney Hollywood Studios for legacy fastpass for Toy Story Mania at rope drop and each time the return times were for 4 pm or later. I had no interest in waiting for 7 or more hours to come back for legacy fastpass to do this ride. The fastpass distribution line to get legacy fastpass tickets were at least a 30 minute wait. Whatever legacy fastpasses were available were gone by 9:30 am for Toy Story. I didn't get there on an early entry day, either; so, we didn't have competition on that level. The stand by line was 105 minutes as posted. I said no to all the above and skipped the ride. I did try a few times and go back to see the stand by time again and it never went below 90 minutes. Again, I passed on it. We went one night after an early Fantasmic show and the lines were bad again for Toy Story Mania. I figured with two, Fantasmic shows we'd have a better chance to go when the second Fantasmic show started in the regular line. Well, the fastpass plus line was the worse I ever saw; the fastpass plus line for the ride was outside the building and windy around the building. I couldn't believe it. Anyway, you can imagine how much of a wait it would be in the regular line with all these fastpass plus guests in line. This seemed wrong; I couldn't believe this fastpass line. It was a complete bottleneck and I never saw it this bad even when the ride first opened. We didn't get to go on our favorite ride.

This left me with a very bad taste in my mouth. I pay for a park ticket and I can't go our favorite ride; unless, I want to suffer in a long line waiting.

We did short days in the parks; I just couldn't take the waits everywhere. I came out feeling like I didn't get my monies worth.

I didn't feel the magic; so, I'm done. I know offsite guests will get the shaft with this new fastpass plus system. It's a rare trip now that I can stay onsite. There are reasons for this that I won't go into at this point.

Over the last three years we have been taking more trips elsewhere. Maybe, it's because I'm getting older, but I like our other trips more now. I've been a faithful once or twice a year vacationer to Disney World for the last 25 years. This current Disney trip will go down as the worse one. I will not spend good money for a bad trip.

 

[aaarcher86]

I've held a lot of customer service jobs and honestly, if you can't laugh at a lot of the things people complain about, you're going to go nuts. You can't take every complaint personally. I keep hearing reports about CMs being super frustrated with the new system, so it only makes sense that they would laugh about ANOTHER person being frustrated.

That doesn't mean that your complaints and frustrations aren't being taken seriously. I'm sure they are marked down and passed on to people who do care more about them, but most of the front line CM's who get these complaints probably have very little power to do anything about it but pass it higher up.

My thoughts exactly. Everyone giggles at customers behind closed doors in a customer service position and WDW is no exception. The ones doing the giggling in the parks aren't the ones that make the changes or analyze the feedback.

 

[sonofanarchy]

My thoughts exactly. Everyone giggles at customers behind closed doors in a customer service position and WDW is no exception. The ones doing the giggling in the parks aren't the ones that make the changes or analyze the feedback.

I don't. My customers pay my salary. But I agree, most do.

And those that do laugh about customers, 2 things to keep in mind:

-They shouldn't admit it proudly on a message board.
-There are different degrees of complaints:

A.I ate dinner at 'Ohana and my soda was flat. I'm never coming back to WDW.

B.You have taken away a fantastic free service offered for years that enhanced my family's vacation and made it well worth the $10,000 we spent on the trip. Now, we will get to see and experience much less. Until you fix this mess, you've lost me as a customer.

Of those 2, 1 is worthy of laughing off and can't be taken seriously. The other should not be laughed at and should be taken VERY seriously, especially when so many other people feel the same way.

 

[aaarcher86]

I don't. My customers pay my salary. But I agree, most do. And those that do laugh about customers, 2 things to keep in mind: -They shouldn't admit it proudly on a message board. -There are different degrees of complaints: A.I ate dinner at 'Ohana and my soda was flat. I'm never coming back to WDW. B.You have taken away a fantastic free service offered for years that enhanced my family's vacation and made it well worth the $10,000 we spent on the trip. Now, we will get to see and experience much less. Until you fix this mess, you've lost me as a customer. Of those 2, 1 is worthy of laughing off and can't be taken seriously. The other should not be laughed at and should be taken VERY seriously, especially when so many other people feel the same way.

Very true. But the same person wouldn't typically be hearing the same caliber of complaint. You aren't going to tell the waiter about B.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Very true. But the same person wouldn't typically be hearing the same caliber of complaint. You aren't going to tell the waiter about B.

Yeah, that's kind of my point. I could be wrong, but it seems like TheHub is in some sort of Guest Relations position. I really don't care what the cashier at Pecos Bills says about me if I'm complaining about my cheeseburger. Someone working in Guest Relations should have a bit more professionalism.

I always feel, act in return how you are treated. If you're a butt-monkey to someone, then you deserve to be treated as such. However, if you're professional and courteous, you deserve the same in return.

 

[aaarcher86]

Yeah, that's kind of my point. I could be wrong, but it seems like TheHub is in some sort of Guest Relations position. I really don't care what the cashier at Pecos Bills says about me if I'm complaining about my cheeseburger. Someone working in Guest Relations should have a bit more professionalism. I always feel, act in return how you are treated. If you're a butt-monkey to someone, then you deserve to be treated as such. However, if you're professional and courteous, you deserve the same in return.

Oh, I figured they were a park CM since they mentioned going back stage.

Regardless, as long as they're professional in person and to the guests I don't really care what they say over a beer with friends. I can only imagine the amount of insane things that happen daily.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Oh, I figured they were a park CM since they mentioned going back stage.

Regardless, as long as they're professional in person and to the guests I don't really care what they say over a beer with friends. I can only imagine the amount of insane things that happen daily.

Yeah, obviously, why worry about that? It's not as if we'll ever know. But when a CM comes on here and says that they laugh about guests who have legitimate concerns and spend thousands of dollars, that's kind of disheartening. Not as Disney would say, very magical.

 

[cfriend416]

There needs to be a limit on the number of FPs you can reserve ahead if time IMO (and maybe 3 is too MANY). But, to limit the # you can pull on the fly seems wrong.

I think what would work really well would be to have ONE attraction you can reserve ahead of time. Or maybe even 3 with a limit of 1 per park if you have park hopper attached to your MB. Then unlimited FP's for the day of, with the same rules as the old system (only one at a time, can't pull another one until your window opens or after 2 hrs). Now that's something I could see working.