Explain to me how problems with MBs and FP+ could destroy your WDW trip?

[isaboo]

Not going to "ruin" our vacation buuuuut...

Months ago, when I planned it all out, EMH at Magic Kingdom were supposed to be on Sunday the 10th of August. So, I reserved CP pre-park opening breakfast at 8:05 that morning thinking that we would arrive in Orlando on Saturday, stay in the park until 11 as scheduled and get plenty of sleep that night before needing to be at the early breakfast. Now if we want to do the only Magic Kingdom EMH scheduled for our trip, I will need to find a way to change that breakfast. There's just no way we can do the EMH and then make the early breakfast after a long travel day. There's no way my kids can stay at MK until 1 a.m then make it to an 8:05 breakfast. So our choices are to skip EMH on Saturday or change the breakfast day, which would require that I change our park days I've already planned because that was the only morning I had scheduled for MK. I don't really want to change our park schedule/FP's around so more than likely we'll just cancel the breakfast. It's just frustrating having to change plans because Disney changed the park hours a few weeks out.

I guess I simply do not get it - how problems would with MBs and/or FP+ would completely ruin a WDW visit? I have been to WDW or DL ten times since 1995 including recently using FP+ and besides missing out on three confirmed rides/attractions why do people get so excited and concerned if MBs or FP+ do not work or have problems?

During all our visits we never depended on FP or needed certain rides/attractions (or experiencing them multiple times) to have a great WDW experience. Just get into a park, perhaps arrive early, stay late, beat the crowds, plan your priorities, look to have a more fuller complete WDW experience besides whether you got to ride TSM four times. Is WDW more then simply a few key rides/attractions in each park? How to visitors handle the other unexpected crisis that can come up during a trip that could also ruin their experience, like rides closed, bad weather, renovations etc....

I am going again in December for 6 days, already set up days in each park, options for counter service meals, and know which FP+ to book, but frankly FP+ adds little value or quality to my visit as can get done what I need to do and as much as like without depending on FP+. Frankly the weather and potential for ride closures would have more of a serious impact, and I certainly can not control those at all - at least with FP+ I can try.

 

[redsbe]

Well if you plan your trip and wish to enjoy The Mine Train or Anna and Elsa, you currently need to be pretty reliant on FP.

So your entire trip that you have spent $$$$$$ and months planning will only be a success if you enjoy those two attractions? What if the Mine Train is closed your only day in MK, no FPs are going to have helped there. I am pretty sure millions have traveled to WDW over the years and missed their favorite ride due to weather or closures and still enjoyed their trip (and boy how did millions enjoy WDW before FP and had to endure long lines or miss rides because of lines).

 

[Disneylover99]

Thank you, OP! This question has been on my mind, too. I just returned from WDW last month and am planning to be back in late Sept/early Oct. We are not die hard fastpassers, we are about the experience itself.
my hats off to you for this awesome thread.

Why does there have to be anything to "get"? You admit that you are not die hard fastpassers but others are/were. Not everyone feels or thinks the same way as you.

 

[Disneylover99]

So your entire trip that you have spent $$$$$$ and months planning will only be a success if you enjoy those two attractions? What if the Mine Train is closed your only day in MK, no FPs are going to have helped there. I am pretty sure millions have traveled to WDW over the years and missed their favorite ride due to weather or closures and still enjoyed their trip (and boy how did millions enjoy WDW before FP and had to endure long lines or miss rides because of lines).

That's not what I said at all.

Sure ride closures happen all the time. But you said you plan your vacation based on the rides that you enjoy most. So if that does happen to include the most popular attractions, why wouldn't you book a FP? Would you happily wait to see Anna and Elsa in standby and wait for 3 hours or more?

 

[mom2rtk]

So your entire trip that you have spent $$$$$$ and months planning will only be a success if you enjoy those two attractions? What if the Mine Train is closed your only day in MK, no FPs are going to have helped there. I am pretty sure millions have traveled to WDW over the years and missed their favorite ride due to weather or closures and still enjoyed their trip (and boy how did millions enjoy WDW before FP and had to endure long lines or miss rides because of lines).

Believe it or not, some people actually do plan a trip around a specific ride or attraction.

Our entire trip in 2012 was geared toward the opening of New Fantasyland, more specifically Be Our Guest. If we had arrived and found that our ADR was lost and we couldn't get in, you can bet I would have been hot.

Disney advertises the heck out of this stuff. And sometimes it works. Someone who visited the parks already this year before 7DMT opened might decide to scrape together the cash to return just for that ride. Does that make them a bad person? No, it makes Disney's advertising effective. But they better deliver on it.

 

[JimmyV]

I get to WDW every 2-3 years but have always planned a trip so I can get the most out of my visit, including the rides and attractions I most wish to enjoy - and none of that planning ever depended on FP, both in its current and past format. It is all about planning. And without or with the use of FP missing a few attractions is not going to destroy my visit.

I think you have to apply the "walk a mile in another person's moccasins" adage. It sounds very much like you have not experienced what others have, yet you are projecting that you would not be as bothered in a way that others are or might be. After you plan your day so as to arrive at RD, get up at Zero-Dark-Thirty, hustle to the park, wait an hour at the gate, and then find out that you cannot get into the park because your MB turned the tapstile "blue", and it takes an hour to get the problem resolved, but in so doing, you lost all your FPs, and then an hour after the park opens, you make your way to Fantasyland only to find a four hour wait for the Ice Girls and a 90 minute wait for the 7DMT, and you still think that you are having a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Day, then come back and tell everyone else that everything is fine. Sounds like you would be fine just sauntering over to the Hall of Presidents and taking a seat with no standby wait at all. Terrific. Do you really think that everyone else is so forgiving about a vacation that they are paying for?

Too often, people here live in a Disney Dream World where a trip to WDW is a "gift" and a "treat". But let's call it what it is. Disney is a huge corporation that sells (at a very high price) a product that people pay for and in so doing, expect the benefits of their bargain. When you go to the movies, you don't expect the movie to start 2 hours late and then crap out in the middle. If it did, you would demand (and receive) a refund. When you pay $250 for a ticket to a Broadway play starring a big name actress and you arrive at the theater only to find out that the sprinkler system when awry and soaked the place, and that the performance will be delayed by 90 minutes, and as a result, the star actress will be bowing out of tonight's performance and the role of Maggie that Cat will be played by Gertrude Schlobotnick, you feel that you wasted a good bit of your money and are rightly disappointed. Believe it or not, most people, if they were kdinapped by a CM, had their money stolen, and were waterboarded behind the scenes at Pirates of the Caribbean, wouldn't say: "That's OK. I can't complain. I'm at Disney World!!"

When someone pays $5,000 for a vacation and gives up many other opportunites to spend that money elsewhere, they expect the product to live up to a certain standard. Weather? OK. Can't do anything about that. Ride malfunctions? Sure. They happen. But when they happen at an alarming rate, complaints will surface. But malfunctions in a multi-billion dollar tech system that causes delay and cancellations of pre-booked activities without any compensation for the inconvenience? Most people would complain about that, and many others would find the problems to be so bad as to have a material effect on the overall vacation. I truly hope that you do not experience any of that. But if you do and you can still say: "Hey. I didn't get to ride the new Mine Train. My kids didn't get to see Anna and Elsa. Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain were closed for repairs. Splash Mountain had a 90 minute wait so we skipped it. But I can't complain. I was at Disney World!" then you really are a ray of sunshine.

 

[redsbe]

That's not what I said at all.

Sure ride closures happen all the time. But you said you plan your vacation based on the rides that you enjoy most. So if that does happen to include the most popular attractions, why wouldn't you book a FP? Would you happily wait to see Anna and Elsa in standby and wait for 3 hours or more?

Yes I plan my trip around the key rides/attractions I enjoy the most, but the overall enjoyment of my trip is not built around those, if for some reason (weather, closure, crowds) I can not experience those, I simply move on. Disappointed yes but not to the point that my entire trip is ruined. Sure I use FP but I the enjoyment of my trip is not dependent on FP alone.

 

[redsbe]

I think you have to apply the "walk a mile in another person's moccasins" adage. It sounds very much like you have not experienced what others have, yet you are projecting that you would not be as bothered in a way that others are or might be. After you plan your day so as to arrive at RD, get up at Zero-Dark-Thirty, hustle to the park, wait an hour at the gate, and then find out that you cannot get into the park because your MB turned the tapstile "blue", and it takes an hour to get the problem resolved, but in so doing, you lost all your FPs, and then an hour after the park opens, you make your way to Fantasyland only to find a four hour wait for the Ice Girls and a 90 minute wait for the 7DMT, and you still think that you are having a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Day, then come back and tell everyone else that everything is fine. Sounds like you would be fine just sauntering over to the Hall of Presidents and taking a seat with no standby wait at all. Terrific. Do you really think that everyone else is so forgiving about a vacation that they are paying for?

Too often, people here live in a Disney Dream World where a trip to WDW is a "gift" and a "treat". But let's call it what it is. Disney is a huge corporation that sells (at a very high price) a product that people pay for and in so doing, expect the benefits of their bargain. When you go to the movies, you don't expect the movie to start 2 hours late and then crap out in the middle. If it did, you would demand (and receive) a refund. When you pay $250 for a ticket to a Broadway play starring a big name actress and you arrive at the theater only to find out that the sprinkler system when awry and soaked the place, and that the performance will be delayed by 90 minutes, and as a result, the star actress will be bowing out of tonight's performance and the role of Maggie that Cat will be played by Gertrude Schlobotnick, you feel that you wasted a good bit of your money and are rightly disappointed. Believe it or not, most people, if they were kdinapped by a CM, had their money stolen, and were waterboarded behind the scenes at Pirates of the Caribbean, wouldn't say: "That's OK. I can't complain. I'm at Disney World!!"

When someone pays $5,000 for a vacation and gives up many other opportunites to spend that money elsewhere, they expect the product to live up to a certain standard. Weather? OK. Can't do anything about that. Ride malfunctions? Sure. They happen. But when they happen at an alarming rate, complaints will surface. But malfunctions in a multi-billion dollar tech system that causes delay and cancellations of pre-booked activities without any compensation for the inconvenience? Most people would complain about that, and many others would find the problems to be so bad as to have a material effect on the overall vacation. I truly hope that you do not experience any of that. But if you do and you can still say: "Hey. I didn't get to ride the new Mine Train. My kids didn't get to see Anna and Elsa. Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain were closed for repairs. Splash Mountain had a 90 minute wait so we skipped it. But I can't complain. I was at Disney World!" then you really are a ray of sunshine.

I have experienced my share of vacations and trips, including WDW, where circumstances beyond my control had major impacts and delays and changed the experience I spent $$$$$$ and months planning. But the key is not to let that destroy the enjoyment of the entire vacation. The trick is planning around those and not to be totally dependent on every thing working out as planned, be flexible and prepared to shift plans as needed. And when I started this post I was referred to MBs and FPs involving rides and attractions and not the more serious impact of delays even getting into the park, which I can agree would be a major problem.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes I plan my trip around the key rides/attractions I enjoy the most, but the overall enjoyment of my trip is not built around those, if for some reason (weather, closure, crowds) I can not experience those, I simply move on. Disappointed yes but not to the point that my entire trip is ruined. Sure I use FP but I the enjoyment of my trip is not dependent on FP alone.

But you're a better person than most of the rest of us here.

 

[JimmyV]

And when I started this post I was referred to MBs and FPs involving rides and attractions and not the more serious impact of delays even getting into the park, which I can agree would be a major problem.

What does that even mean? The complaints that people have expressed here that have been "ruinous" are the large, macro, systemic failures which you now agree would be a "major problem". No one has ever come here saying that their vacation was ruined because it too three "taps" to get Mickey to turn green.

 

[momto3gsds]

I'd like to thank everyone who's responded to this thread as well as the originally OP. I'm a relatively new member, although I was here many years ago. I'm here because I want to add to what will be my Disney Experience, I want to learn from those of you that share yours.

Recently I noticed people being attacked and even called liars when they expressed dissatisfaction with their trip. Honestly, some of the stuff I read really made me want to go elsewhere. The whole idea that Disney can do no wrong is not right. I'm thankful to those that have posted about problems they have had, perhaps we can learn from this instead of just sweeping it under a rug and pretending it never happened.

As paying Guests, we should be able to expect a certain level of service. I will be taking my last trip to WDW in November. I have Stage 4 Lung Cancer and this will be my last chance to do it right. I am no different than those (for example) who have small children and have worked so hard to make this a dream vacation for their kids. When we've paid for tickets, we should be able to get into the parks and not have to stand in yet another line trying to fix Disney's problem. I can't imagine how hard it would be watching so many other people pass into the parks while I have to stand in another line to prove I've paid for entrance.

I just hope that members here can feel comfortable coming here and expressing their experiences-good and bad.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes I plan my trip around the key rides/attractions I enjoy the most, but the overall enjoyment of my trip is not built around those, if for some reason (weather, closure, crowds) I can not experience those, I simply move on. Disappointed yes but not to the point that my entire trip is ruined. Sure I use FP but I the enjoyment of my trip is not dependent on FP alone.

That's fine for you. But perhaps the overall enjoyment of someone else's trip is built around those key rides/attractions. Why is it so hard to see someone else's point of view? You may not agree with it or think it's irrational to feel this way, but people go to DW for many different reasons.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'd like to thank everyone who's responded to this thread as well as the originally OP. I'm a relatively new member, although I was here many years ago. I'm here because I want to add to what will be my Disney Experience, I want to learn from those of you that share yours.

Recently I noticed people being attacked and even called liars when they expressed dissatisfaction with their trip. Honestly, some of the stuff I read really made me want to go elsewhere. The whole idea that Disney can do no wrong is not right. I'm thankful to those that have posted about problems they have had, perhaps we can learn from this instead of just sweeping it under a rug and pretending it never happened.

As paying Guests, we should be able to expect a certain level of service. I will be taking my last trip to WDW in November. I have Stage 4 Lung Cancer and this will be my last chance to do it right. I am no different than those (for example) who have small children and have worked so hard to make this a dream vacation for their kids. When we've paid for tickets, we should be able to get into the parks and not have to stand in yet another line trying to fix Disney's problem. I can't imagine how hard it would be watching so many other people pass into the parks while I have to stand in another line to prove I've paid for entrance.

I just hope that members here can feel comfortable coming here and expressing their experiences-good and bad.

Welcome to the DIS. Please don't give up on the site, as there is a wealth of information here that can help you anticipate issues and plan special memorable experiences.

So sorry about your serious health issues. I hope you make some very magical memories with your family in November.

 

[Disneylover99]

I'd like to thank everyone who's responded to this thread as well as the originally OP. I'm a relatively new member, although I was here many years ago. I'm here because I want to add to what will be my Disney Experience, I want to learn from those of you that share yours.

Recently I noticed people being attacked and even called liars when they expressed dissatisfaction with their trip. Honestly, some of the stuff I read really made me want to go elsewhere. The whole idea that Disney can do no wrong is not right. I'm thankful to those that have posted about problems they have had, perhaps we can learn from this instead of just sweeping it under a rug and pretending it never happened.

As paying Guests, we should be able to expect a certain level of service. I will be taking my last trip to WDW in November. I have Stage 4 Lung Cancer and this will be my last chance to do it right. I am no different than those (for example) who have small children and have worked so hard to make this a dream vacation for their kids. When we've paid for tickets, we should be able to get into the parks and not have to stand in yet another line trying to fix Disney's problem. I can't imagine how hard it would be watching so many other people pass into the parks while I have to stand in another line to prove I've paid for entrance.

I just hope that members here can feel comfortable coming here and expressing their experiences-good and bad.

Chances are your MB's will work fine. I know that my chronic bad experiences are not the norm, but I know for a fact that they can happen.

I hope you have a wonderful trip in November!

 

[mag73]

Personally for us the fp+ took all the spontaneity out of our trip. I understand that we don't have to make our fp+ reservations in advance and try to do get them in the park that day, buy I am afraid at least for us it would not work as we only spend 2-3 hours in each park at a time. Under the old system we could sleep late if we wanted to, than make a decision on which park to visit based on the weather and how we felt. We always managed to get a fast pass
or two, than return to the hotel and enjoy the pool, have diner then return to a park of our choice. On the other hand, I can see how the new system might be great for those who like to plan in advance as I used to years ago. You can plan your rides in advance to minimize the wait times, and ensure you get those hard to get attractions. On the down side you have to decide what park you are going to visit up to 60 days in advance. There are good and bad aspects of this new system and I guess it just depends what kind of vacation experience you are looking for. Our trip is coming up in less that 2 months and my dh and kids are already complaining about having to pick their fp and having to wear MB once at Disney.

 

[NYDisGuy]

What does that even mean? The complaints that people have expressed here that have been "ruinous" are the large, macro, systemic failures which you now agree would be a "major problem". No one has ever come here saying that their vacation was ruined because it too three "taps" to get Mickey to turn green.

There have been complaints about rushing to certain rides too which ruined their overall park experience because they are on opposite ends of the park. What they don't realize is you can easily change the times and/or locations to make it easier. There are obvious user errors that can be avoided but instead people choose to complain about it. The major issues are truly unavoidable but there have been plenty of posts about minor problems as well.

 

[estherhead]

I guess I simply do not get it - how problems would with MBs and/or FP+ would completely ruin a WDW visit? I have been to WDW or DL ten times since 1995 including recently using FP+ and besides missing out on three confirmed rides/attractions why do people get so excited and concerned if MBs or FP+ do not work or have problems?

During all our visits we never depended on FP or needed certain rides/attractions (or experiencing them multiple times) to have a great WDW experience. Just get into a park, perhaps arrive early, stay late, beat the crowds, plan your priorities, look to have a more fuller complete WDW experience besides whether you got to ride TSM four times. Is WDW more then simply a few key rides/attractions in each park? How to visitors handle the other unexpected crisis that can come up during a trip that could also ruin their experience, like rides closed, bad weather, renovations etc....

I am going again in December for 6 days, already set up days in each park, options for counter service meals, and know which FP+ to book, but frankly FP+ adds little value or quality to my visit as can get done what I need to do and as much as like without depending on FP+. Frankly the weather and potential for ride closures would have more of a serious impact, and I certainly can not control those at all - at least with FP+ I can try.

We've been twice since the testing. In August we stayed at the Boardwalk which didn't have Magic Bands but other resorts did. My parents room keys were supposed to also be their park tickets (Key to the World, ya know.) However if the room key was activated, the park ticket was deactivated. They couldn't have both at the same time. I felt we lived at the concierge. After days, they finally gave them extra room keys and left the main tickets on their Key to the World. They said it was because the magic bands were active at their resort but not really active and it was glitching. It didn't ruin our trip. But man was it inconvenient. I got on first name basis with all the concierge people and the manager. And the first few days my parents couldn't get into the parks and we were at the International gateway entrance. This was IRRITATING.

Then we went in March. And many a time we had issues with our ap. Fortunately, I'm very good at the parks and knew the empty Fastpass+ areas. And I had intelligently screen shot all of our My Disney Experience pages so when it wouldn't work, I still had my photos to know what was going on. But I can completely see how glitches and lines could ruin a trip.

What if every time you went to your room you couldn't get in?
What if every time you went to a park you couldn't get in?
And what if after every ride you had to go spend 30-60 minutes with a CM trying to figure out why you can't change your FP+ reservation or you can but Joey's won't change with you all?
Or your dining reservations don't show up and you didn't write them down so you didn't know what times they were.

We are giving it another go in early December and are hopeful that low crowds and an extra year of working out the kinks will give us our Disney magic again.

That's not a vacation to me. Computer glitches and fixing problems is what i do for a living. I don't go on vacation to do the same thing.

 

[over50visits]

Yes I plan my trip around the key rides/attractions I enjoy the most, but the overall enjoyment of my trip is not built around those, if for some reason (weather, closure, crowds) I can not experience those, I simply move on. Disappointed yes but not to the point that my entire trip is ruined. Sure I use FP but I the enjoyment of my trip is not dependent on FP alone.

I agree with this attitude, but perhaps it is because we have the luxury of visiting WDW a few times each year.

Many people do not have that luxury, and watch the commercials on TV that never show a long line waiting for a ride.

But, most of all, you may not lose any enjoyment because you miss a ride, but I bet you lose a LOT of enjoyment if you had to stand in line 2 hours at GS at the gate because Disney's computer system broke and didn't recognize your ticket. I guarantee you that would cause everyone, everyone to be angry and frustrated.

 

[WillAustin]

Yes I plan my trip around the key rides/attractions I enjoy the most, but the overall enjoyment of my trip is not built around those, if for some reason (weather, closure, crowds) I can not experience those, I simply move on. Disappointed yes but not to the point that my entire trip is ruined. Sure I use FP but I the enjoyment of my trip is not dependent on FP alone.

The takeaway from this should be that everyone isn't like you.

 

[JimmyV]

The major issues are truly unavoidable but there have been plenty of posts about minor problems as well.

Yes. But my point is that the posts about minor problems have not resulted in the conclusion that they "completely ruin[ed] a WDW visit" (OP's words). The jumping off point of this thread was that the OP cannot understand how problems with MBs and FPs could "completely ruin a WDW visit." There has since been some backing away from this with a concession that major problems can understandably have a negative impact. So that leaves us with a thread asking why minor complaints about the use of MBs at attractions should "completely ruin a WDW visit." But no one is saying that. Even the most hardened opponents aren't contending that MBs are ruining their vacations. If there are threads where people have contended that minor problems with MBs have ruined their vacations, I must have missed them.