Fast Pass Plus wasn't THAT bad…. a lot of hype for how awful it was

[Angel Ariel]

I do think that if one is unhappy with anything at WDW, then they are going to notice every tiny negative detail.

I think that is very dependent on individual people.

 

[JimmyV]

The infrastructure can't support the load - it's readily apparent when actually here with high crowd levels.

Forget the change to FP+.
Forget the decline in food quality.
Forget the increased prices.
THIS is the single biggest reason why we have seen our enjoyment level decline at WDW over the past 5 or so years. The place is understaffed and rides are constantly going down.

 

[mom2rtk]

Forget the change to FP+.
Forget the decline in food quality.
Forget the increased prices.
THIS is the single biggest reason why we have seen our enjoyment level decline at WDW over the past 5 or so years. The place is understaffed and rides are constantly going down.

I totally agree. But I bet someone got a big bonus for bringing more bodies through the gates without a corresponding increase in overhead.

 

[cakebaker]

I do think that if one is unhappy with anything at WDW, then they are going to notice every tiny negative detail.

I think it's human nature that once you're unhappy with one aspect of something, you start noticing other things that bother you. I'm sure there must be people that doesn't apply to, but I don't know any of them.

 

[mom2rtk]

........ and I think it's human nature that when you love something, you often overlook and make excuses for any shortcomings.

That said, I would still put myself in the "I love Disney" camp.

 

[luvsJack]

Well, the pp is there now and the crowd levels are supposed to be 8 and 9's. I was there last week and the levels were 7 and 8's. Not a lot of difference and yet Test Track was the only break down we experienced. As I said the one person said she experienced more but I really do think that part of her experience was not break downs. Is it assumed then that the infrastructure can handle a 7 but not a 9 in crowd levels? Or that the number of cast members can handle a 7 but not a 9? I can't see it making that much difference.

We have been many times and I hardly wear the rose colored glasses that many do in Disney. But, I just didn't see the problems that are being reported. Our family trips tend to be longer than the one we just went on and we tend to slow down more so we were very tired and a bit stressed by the end of the trip and still there wasn't one thing about our feelings that were the fault of Disney or the cast members.

Fewer cast members? I found there to be MORE. There were several in AK just there for the purpose of noticing guests who look lost and helping them find their way. Met a particularly nice man in AK who invited us to join his tiny bit of shade while we made whatever decision we were trying to make at the time. Same thing in DHS, an abundance of cast members all ready to help make things a bit easier. Photopass photographers were every where and all made some great pictures. And we never waited long for food or to pay while shopping. And there again castmembers to help get your food to the table if you needed or to help find things in the stores.

I didn't like the walls at AK, but I know that it will make a great difference when the construction is complete. And we dealt with it.

So what is it that I am not seeing?

 

[cakebaker]

........ and I think it's human nature that when you love something, you often overlook and make excuses for any shortcomings.

That's true as well. But I think that requires a level of "love" that for me, really only applies to people. I may say I love Disney- but it's much like I love chocolate ice cream or my house. It's just a place. I like it a lot. I see many flaws in it though, just not enough to stop me from going.

 

[North of Mouse]

You just called people pigs and slobs. I guess everyone has something to complain about.

Can you honestly disagree with what we all have seen at Disney?? It is 100% true whether you agree or not! (And I said some, not all)

 

[North of Mouse]

To be totally fair, there were 50 in our group in the parks at the same time and some of us had different experiences. The Director's wife and her child felt like everything they got on in MK broke down---Pooh, Splash, Little Mermaid and Peter Pan all stopped when they were on them, and she swore it was for more time than it would take to load a wheelchair. We had NONE of those experiences. The only ride we saw that broke down was Test Track and it didn't put a kink in our day at all.

AK was horribly crowded (and hot) and the guards at the gates said "its a slow day". But the other parks were manageable, but I usually go at Thanksgiving so maybe I am used to bigger crowds??

I did not notice the "filthy" that others keep talking about nor did I encounter any rude or non-magical CMs. I did notice some that seemed very tired by days end but was doing everything in their power to continue to be magical as much as possible.

I do think that if one is unhappy with anything at WDW, then they are going to notice every tiny negative detail.

 

[Disneylover99]

Can you honestly disagree with what we all have seen at Disney?? It is 100% true whether you agree or not! (And I said some, not all)

I don't disagree with you at all. It just struck me as funny when you said you don't understand all the complainers as you complain about pigs and slobs.

 

[Laketravis]

I suppose it can be the little things in aggregate like the inclinator not working for People Mover or the moving walkway at the PoC exit not moving that cause me to wonder why they are turned off or not repaired

Consider as well the photo processing moved from the Figment exit to the centralized location at park front. The empty workstations and wheelchairs used by the disabled CM's are still there but now there are longer lines at the central photo stop.

Just a couple of examples that come to mind. Then there are external factors like the enormous amount of hotel, resort, and timeshare construction I am seeing outside of WDW that will only lead to more guests.

WDW is responding by widening roadways and walkways, building parking lots and garages, all things meant to move more people into and out of the parks, but not a corresponding increase in attractions for those people to do.


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[luvsJack]

Both the inclinator at People Mover and the walkway at PoC were working last week. Would they turn them off for some reason?

 

[Laketravis]

And this week they are not.

I was in MK last week as well. What days were you at MK? It was definitely better than this week.


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[MrInfinity]

The title is now irrelevant anyway.

The thread has mainly become a discussion about how crowded, broken down, and filthy WDW has become, things that really have very little, if anything, to do with FP+.

Haha... Only took 2 pages for the Dis to turn a thread by a hopeful eager WDW guest asking for help into discussing how crowded, broken down, and filthy WDW is.

We now have fast passes for all of our days for the times we want for the attractions we want. I thought this whole advance reservations for fast passes would be a scary nightmare but it was so easy!

Jewels, enjoy! As you've already experienced, picking Fast Passes is easy. I think it's fun... I love thinking about what we'll do and what rides we'll get to ride.

Now that I have my fast passes and I feel set for those rides, is it just going to be a complete zoo of long lines for anything else we want to ride?

Honestly it's no worse than it was 2 years ago, 4 years ago, or 20 years ago. Disney World has always had long lines, and it's no different now. Are they longer overall? Not really. a little longer here, a little shorter there... We got just as much done in FP+ times as we did in FP- times... only we did it in a much more relaxed way! The new system can cut a lot of waste out of how people used to tour... it helps you put together some really nice time-saving days that translate into getting a lot done. Our trip was in May. Yours seems to be April? Hopefully you aren't hitting Spring Break. Have fun!

 

[PSUGuy]

We were among the Test Bunnies when FP+ and Magic Bands were being rolled out and we've been to WDW three times since all this went into effect, two Oct, weeks, 2013 - 14 and March 2014. I honestly haven't noticed longer stand-by lines and FP+ has allowed us to make them for the afternoon park, we always hop, we get our fill at the early park at RD. It can be tweaked but we're fans.

Bill From PA

 

[luvsJack]

And this week they are not.

I was in MK last week as well. What days were you at MK? It was definitely better than this week.


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I was there on Sunday. Sounds like it was a lot better! Sorry you are running into so many negative things. I am sure that can be really disheartening. Its just odd that it would change so much over a week. That's why I asked if they would turn those things off. Like maybe at a certain crowd level or something?

 

[Laketravis]

We were among the Test Bunnies when FP+ and Magic Bands were being rolled out and we've been to WDW three times since all this went into effect, two Oct, weeks, 2013 - 14 and March 2014. I honestly haven't noticed longer stand-by lines and FP+ has allowed us to make them for the afternoon park, we always hop, we get our fill at the early park at RD. It can be tweaked but we're fans.

Bill From PA

Same here. Works best for us on a day like today where we are in USO right now and waits have been reasonable then tonight we'll go back to the MK for FP's that start at 8:30pm. It's only when breakdowns throw a wrench in that strategy.

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[MainMom]

The last time I was in WDW was 2nd week of December 2011. There was a bathroom in Epcot that was so bad I walked out. What was to blame then?

 

[cakebaker]

The last time I was in WDW was 2nd week of December 2011. There was a bathroom in Epcot that was so bad I walked out. What was to blame then?

Did you report it to guest services?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I love WDW, and I never see the things that so many complain about in these threads - but I wouldn't go to WDW during spring break if the trip were free.