FP + What we know and what we want to know

[bcrook]

No by was to something else entirely. I think there is ALOT that we don't know and somethings that we do know. There are currently more questions than answers.

I think that is reflected on page 1.

 

[WillAustin]

I almost bought the DVC PAP in December, but I would have been purchasing it with the expectation that I would be able to ride ToT or EE multiple times in a day or at least both in one day. I could do that under the previous FP rules. That would have been an expectation. But some people are going in April who bought APs and now they may not. I am glad I waited for this discussion to buy. And now with the changes, I am passing on that.

We did buy APs in December, for the first time, so any negative change in our park experience is a big deal, whether others think it should be or not.

Unless standby wait times drop significantly as a side effect of FP+, or they allow us to get additional in-park FP+s of our choice, a limit of 3 advance attractions per day is a huge negative.

I'm still holding out hope that there will be some element to this that makes it a net gain for us.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I think that is reflected on page 1.

I know. We know some things but not enough to keep everyone calm!

 

[SaraJayne]

We did buy APs in December, for the first time, so any negative change in our park experience is a big deal, whether others think it should be or not.

Unless standby wait times drop significantly as a side effect of FP+, or they allow us to get additional in-park FP+s of our choice, a limit of 3 advance attractions per day is a huge negative.

I'm still holding out hope that there will be some element to this that makes it a net gain for us.

I bought an AP for the first time in Nov, expecting to go back in spring 2013 and once again in the fall. If I had known FP+ was in the works and more detail, I would have saved my money.

 

[Robo]

I think, however that many people on the DISboards actually represent a much larger number than themselves and their immediate families.

Yup.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

At the risk of outing myself: it's Klingon with a K.

Hee Hee...I was debating the same thing. It's hard to ignore when you were going to name your youngest after Spock's father. He had to settle for being named after Obi-Wan.

On Topic:

I will admit...like I said I would if I changed my mind...that I am very interested in purchasing a gaming system and playing Disney Infinity since hearing that it *might* be included as a facet of MyMagic+. And I don't play video games.

I am definitely watching that front.

 

[Camno's Mama]

Thanks, everyone! I did read through the majority of the links...but I didn't read through the Disney letter until after I posted.

It looks like they acknowledge the system. We don't do too many reservations for the same reason that this system could be a potential pain in the butt for us. It's all structure at home...it's nice to be able to change things up during vacation. I guess we may have to stand in more lines.

I guess if it ends up being disaster for everyone, we know Disney will eventually get rid of it. But I have to say, if I worked at Disney and this idea had come up in a meeting, I'm not sure I would have jumped on board.

But then, I don't know much about the bottom line. I'm guessing this has the potential to make them more money. I'm hoping that they haven't rolled it out by our April vacation. But it's sounding like that may be wishful thinking.

 

[doconeill]

Identifiers of the average WDW customer and essentially the bulk of their guests...

• Calls Test Track "Fast Track."
• Visits every 4 years.
• Has a party size of 3 or 4.
• Knows MK but refers to it as Disney World, knows Epcot (Epcot is the strongest park brand, whereas MK is more "known" but often confused with Disneyland. Most human beings on planet earth can be shown a picture of Spaceship Earth and respond "Epcot"), may or may not not know much of anything about Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios and confuse them with other central Florida parks.
• Visits 9 "things" while in a park for a day, this used to be 8 prior to FP.
• Arrives to the park between 11am and 1pm.

The interesting thing about statistics (and I'm not talking about the old adage about lies...) - you can name what an "average person" is, but that doesn't mean that the majority of people are the same or similar. It an "average", which means an equal number of people fall above and below the line. To refer to them as the "bulk" of guests can be misleading.

The "average person" who arrives between 11am-1pm, isn't necessarily the same "average person" who visits 9 things in a day.

A small number of "uberusers" who show up at rope drop, and managed to get in 12-15 attractions in a day, could skew the results if excluding them the average is really only 6-7.

Which is why they have to look at more than just the average. Median, mode, deviation, etc. all need to factor in.

Not all executives understand that.

 

[doconeill]

I will admit...like I said I would if I changed my mind...that I am very interested in purchasing a gaming system and playing Disney Infinity since hearing that it *might* be included as a facet of MyMagic+. And I don't play video games.

I am definitely watching that front.

You're exactly the type of sucker - I mean, "guest" - they want

(I'm TEASING!)

 

[Disneygirl 792]

Found this on WDWmagic.com under FAQ
4. Will you have to use 'MyMagic+'?
- No. The system is opt in, and is not required. However, if you do not use 'MyMagic+' you will not be able to use FASTPASS+.

Ugh so much conflicting info

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I would make the argument that while the folks here do indeed represent a very small percentage of the overall customer base, there are also many, many more out there that have gotten very used to the system as it is now. This (presumably larger) portion of the customer base also feel as if they have "mastered" their approach to touring and using the system that has been in place, in order to maximize their experiences and the way they enjoy their time at WDW.

However, isn't it likely that those who are comfortable with the "as is" system and do not visit sites such as The Dis might be just as unhappy with these changes as outlined (if they come to pass according to current reasoning) once they experience them?

Furthermore, is it likely they may be caught unaware when they check-in, become enamored with the spin, and opt in without weighing the factors completely? What kind of dissatisfaction will THAT cause amongst the larger base customer population?

Just because all the base customers are not here projecting negativity about the change, it doesn't necessarily mean they will be fine with it. YES, there is indeed only a very small amount of the base here, but if things come to pass as we are guessing they will, I submit that this "insignificant" portion refered to above will be much more significant by year's end.

Of course, maybe this is good news for those with trips planned for late this year or next, as it gives Disney some time to adjust based on feedback, but for those of us with trips booked in the next 90 days, it doesn't help much. The true guinea pigs are probably the ones with much more at stake here.

You may or may not be right. My point is that we will know this once implemented - not now. And it is still the case that the DIS is not a representative sample upon which we can drawn any conclusions.

I know I never said "insignificant" -- but I will stand by it not being statistically significant to base conclusions upon.

 

[doconeill]

Found this on WDWmagic.com under FAQ
4. Will you have to use 'MyMagic+'?
- No. The system is opt in, and is not required. However, if you do not use 'MyMagic+' you will not be able to use FASTPASS+.

Ugh so much conflicting info

What does this conflict with? You aren't required to use any features of MyMagic+. This does not mean that regular Fastpasses will still be around to use if you don't.

 

[finedice]

Found this on WDWmagic.com under FAQ
4. Will you have to use 'MyMagic+'?
- No. The system is opt in, and is not required. However, if you do not use 'MyMagic+' you will not be able to use FASTPASS+.

Ugh so much conflicting info

I don't see how this is conflicting. I can see how it might be interpreted that way though.

 

[mom2rtk]

What does this conflict with? You aren't required to use any features of MyMagic+. This does not mean that regular Fastpasses will still be around to use if you don't.

Yeah. Sort of like when I worked for an insurance company. They would tell people "We're not telling you that you can't have the operation. We're just saying we won't pay for it".

Pesky little details.

 

[Disneygirl 792]

Just that if you don't opt in, you're outta luck?

 

[jade1]

Identifiers of the average WDW customer and essentially the bulk of their guests...

Arrives to the park between 11am and 1pm.

If this is the case the complaints of long lines and lack of FP's at headliners had to be off the charts, surveys and otherwise. Seems like FP+ would be a great solution for "the bulk of their guests".

 

[tj4disney]

I don't think you can judge from DISboards that their "base customers" have been stirred up "mostly not in a good way" -- not a big enough portion of them, anyway.

As with feedback to a company, those with negative things to say are more likely to post. And trust me: I know plenty of Disney loyalists who don't even set foot on DIS because of the negativity often found.

DIS is a small part of Disney's "base", and I'd guess many who like it (SO FAR) on here are keeping quiet rather than get pounced on and accused of being a Disney plant whose bonus depends on touting FP+ on here!! Lol!!

While it is hard to judge whether or not a big enough portion of the base is stirred up, the fact that there is such a strong reaction from those that are on this board indicates something about this issue. Does anybody really think people such as Robo/Doconeill/bcrook are knee-jerk, reactionary types? So it seems that we should all be able to agree that this is a legit issue for some people.

So, then move on to Rosanne's post a few posts back (apparently I don't know how to handle muliple quotes in one post). I think she put her finger on the risk that Disney is exposing itself to. While those expressing disappointment in this change may be a small portion of even its loyal base of customers, many have influence beyond our own family. Within the past couple years, I have consulted at least 3 families in my neighborhood about Disney, as well as family members. Who knows...maybe they all would have gone anyway, but guess how our next conversations about Disney are going to go?

And while I'm sure that there are base loyalists who like the change and are keeping quiet (or not on the DIS), there are also base loyalist who aren't on the board who don't like it. Case in point...my co-worker, who reads DIS but never posts. He and his wife have been even bigger ambassadors with friends, neighbors, and family (his mom has 17 siblings). They are now re-thinking their fall plans.

As I wrote in a brilliantly written post about, oh, 60 pages ago, this all comes down to a numbers game. Disney has obviously made the calculation that they'll attract more people than they repel. And if I were a betting man I'd say they are probably right. But as an actuary who evaluates risk, I'm just saying that, in my opinion, they are exposing themselves to more risk than they realize.

 

[mom2rtk]

You may or may not be right. My point is that we will know this once implemented - not now. And it is still the case that the DIS is not a representative sample upon which we can drawn any conclusions.

I know I never said "insignificant" -- but I will stand by it not being statistically significant to base conclusions upon.

But for many of the folks on this thread, it's ALL about now. They have trips looming and important decisions to make.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

But for many of the folks on this thread, it's ALL about now. They have trips looming and important decisions to make.

We're looking at possibly buying a SW AP but we're holding off for now. We would prefer the option of going back and forth between SW and WDW during our trip if FP+ doesn't work well for us.

 

[doconeill]

Just that if you don't opt in, you're outta luck?

That is pretty much what it seems to be right now.