Got a survey about fp+ from disney

[Shaden]

You've never park hopped before because you couldn't reserve a ride time in advance?

Gottu say SoA I laughed out loud when I read that .... seriously !?!?!? Never able to park hop before ??? Because ... why ? No reserved FPs in the evening. Um, ok? I have park hopped every trip, never having night FPs reserved.

 

[Shaden]

It merely means that I can now go to, say DHS, in the morning, hop on TSM as soon as the park opens, then go and try to do RnRC and ToT....something I have been able to do for my last two trips with FP+. Then, after lunch I go to MK and use my FP+ choices. Compared to, say, a year ago....I could get FPs for a few things in the first park, but by the time I got to the second park, the FPs were either gone or for late that day and that usually didn't suit our plans.

I know that every person has to make their own choices, but I just can't wrap my mind around selling my DVC contracts because Disney put FP+ in. Okay, sure they took away free valet parking. But we do get a nice AP discount. Sure they changed the premium AP discount to 10% from 20%. But, really? There are so many of you that sold your contracts because you don't like FP+? Not even a consideration for me....it just hasn't negatively impacted my park experiences. And that's pretty much the same feeling of everyone I know that owns DVC. But again, not everyone has the same needs.

I think that's a fair analysis, but as I have attempted to point out, this is only true 36% of the year. There are only that many 8+ days. We have always been able to go in the morning, ride a bunch, use FPs, then go to a second park, ride a bunch, using FPs. Its never been a problem.

If you go during high season, ok, I can see that being an issue, I have not experienced it, but ok. But we have people saying this is the case for Sept, Oct, Nov, Jan, Feb, March/April non-high season trips, and that just isn't accurate.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I am not sure that Disney doesn't care. I think they do. They just don't care enough. When we started selling our contracts we contacted Disney Guest relations through email to give feedback. We got a phone call in less than 24 hours. We shared the same thoughts with the guest relations manager who called us and we elaborated. Within 1 day we received a call from a DVC manager. Again we shared our thoughts and displeasure. Within a few hours our tour guide called with his manager on the phone. We got a call on Sunday from another guest relations manager (I forgot the title, something I haven't heard of before) asking for feedback. They tried very hard to keep us as members. They noted on the call how often we visit. They commented in a professional manner that they see how much money we spend. One of the managers I spoke with was quite candid with me about things. The comments that person made were bold and unexpected. Perhaps there are times when they can speak boldly. It might be based upon the position they hold.

And here is where we differ. Because your right- it sounds like they do care. And I think they really do, and I think they are taking the feedback very seriously.

But if your expectations were they were going to hang up, call the press and announce the entire thing is an April fools joke and they are ripping it out tomorrow, you are unreasonable. I think they have their best minds working on how to improve the system. And I think they will.

What makes no sense to me about your story and what I don't buy is that if I believe you, you must have what - 600+ points? So you invested say 40-60,000 dollars in dvc plus 3k + in yearly fees. You must have had a lot of confidence and trust to invest that sum in Disney.

So it doesn't pass my smell test that after a few months you abandon all that trust and respect that you must have had when you purchased your dvc based solely on fp+ without waiting and giving them a chance to fix it. Dropping that big an investment on an impulse and taking such a turn doesn't feel right... And if it doesn't feel right, it usually isn't.

There is clearly more to the story or it's made up.

 

[rteetz]

Your rebuttal is silly. It doesn't mean MORE money for Disney. How do you come up with that? This must be one of those made up statistics. We sold ours. We had quite a few contracts which resulted in two - three visits a year for our large family. We go for almost a month in November/December. Disney does still get the cash from the contracts, but the (20K - 25K we spend a year on tickets, food, souviners, etc wont come from us.

pay it doesn't mean more but they don't lose any money because someone still has the contract and is paying for it.

 

[Imhere]

Your rebuttal is silly.

It doesn't mean MORE money for Disney. How do you come up with that? This must be one of those made up statistics.

We sold ours. We had quite a few contracts which resulted in two - three visits a year for our large family. We go for almost a month in November/December.

Disney does still get the cash from the contracts, but the (20K - 25K we spend a year on tickets, food, souviners, etc wont come from us.

You didn't bury your contracts in a hole in the ground.

You sold them to someone who will take over your money spending stream.

Since they are new at this they will probably spend more in the parks and on souvenirs than you did.

 

[mom2rtk]

You didn't bury your contracts in a hole in the ground.

You sold them to someone who will take over your money spending stream.

Since they are new at this they will probably spend more in the parks and on souvenirs than you did.

Correct me if I'm wrong. But if someone is in the market for DVC and there are no resales available, they would have to buy new, right? So for every person who buys resale, that's one less person buying new?

 

[morethananyonex]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But if someone is in the market for DVC and there are no resales available, they would have to buy new, right? So for every person who buys resale, that's one less person buying new?

Exactly.

The total number of DVC members is lessened if people sell their contracts, even if eager families are scooping up the resales. If nobody was selling, those people would be forced to buy direct or not at all. Disney wants to sell to people direct, there is a huge $$$ difference in purchasing direct through Disney and resale.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Exactly.

The total number of DVC members is lessened if people sell their contracts, even if eager families are scooping up the resales. If nobody was selling, those people would be forced to buy direct or not at all. Disney wants to sell to people direct, there is a huge $$$ difference in purchasing direct through Disney and resale.

Agreed, but at the rate that Disney continues to invest in new DVC properties, I suspect that they are doing just fine selling new.

 

[rteetz]

Agreed, but at the rate that Disney continues to invest in new DVC properties, I suspect that they are doing just fine selling new.

I'm sure once the poly is done another one is going to start DVC is a goldmine for disney. Just imagine how high priced these water bungalows will be especially because they will be in high demand.

 

[eeyoresnr]

You keep saying that, but it doesn't make it true.

 

[Shaden]

Also note that 9/10 haters of the system HAVEN'T USED IT. They just base their opinions on what they've heard of the system.

We used it, loved it, can't wait to go again.

Wow, interesting!

Do you have proof of that statistic?

You keep saying that, but it doesn't make it true.

You guys are awesome !!!!

And yet, some people continue to make absolutely inaccurate claims about the "vocal minority here, with no representation of the general population, who have never used the system but continue to complain about it ... blah blah blah"

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Fourth - the Disney Marketing Machine (DMM!) has begun to spin up to address the negative feedback, and when they get going they are a jaugernaut that's near impossible to stop and anything getting in their way will be flattened and squashed. I have begun to see commercials about FP+ and yeah - they make it look pretty cool. Your average vacationer is going to be convinced FP+ is the coolest thing since the moon launch whether or not it really is.

And flyers too. Sheesh, we got a mailing telling us all about there exciting new system?!?!?! Don't they even know who has been there since the exciting new system has been unveiled? Save the stamp, we have been there and done that, and we will go back again, but the old system worked better for us. Bands are great FP+ not so much. Anyway the point is, maybe they could save some money by only sending this advertising to those who have not experienced it.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

You've never park hopped before because you couldn't reserve a ride time in advance?

I never saw the value in park hopping, so I never purchased it. Now, I can rope drop morning EMH at DHS and ride TSM, ToT, RNRC, and Star Tours by 10 AM and leave. Then, later that night we'll go to MK and ride BTM, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion (Splash is closed). Next week, I will be able to do that within 1 1/2 hours at primetime in MK. I have 3 fp+ reservations for 5:35-6:35, 6:35-7:35, and 7:35-8:35. I can ride BTM at 6:30, HM at 7:00, and Space at 7:45. With the old system, I couldn't walk into MK at 6PM and do that. Now I can. Furthermore, if I get to MK and the line for one of them is short, I can change my FP to another attraction.

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[Shaden]

I never saw the value in park hopping, so I never purchased it. Now, I can rope drop morning EMH at DHS and ride TSM, ToT, RNRC, and Star Tours by 10 AM and leave. Then, later that night we'll go to MK and ride BTM, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion (Splash is closed). Next week, I will be able to do that within 1 1/2 hours at primetime in MK. I have 3 fp+ reservations for 5:35-6:35, 6:35-7:35, and 7:35-8:35. I can ride BTM at 6:30, HM at 7:00, and Space at 7:45. With the old system, I couldn't walk into MK at 6PM and do that. Now I can. Furthermore, if I get to MK and the line for one of them is short, I can change my FP to another attraction.

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We have done this every trip in MK, except we have pulled FPs all morning as well ....

Crowd levels are all 5s, I can't see why you wouldn't have been able to do this, especially if you picked the recommended parks, except you would have been able to do much more in total throughout the day with legacy FP.

But hey, 3 Tiered FPs are awesome too, especially in Epcot, and HS, and AK

 

[EPCOTatNight]

We have done this every trip in MK, except we have pulled FPs all morning as well ....

Crowd levels are all 5s, I can't see why you wouldn't have been able to do this, especially if you picked the recommended parks, except you would have been able to do much more in total throughout the day with legacy FP.

But hey, 3 Tiered FPs are awesome too, especially in Epcot, and HS, and AK

I still can do much more. I just choose not to. With 3 trips planned this year, no need to go commando. And the day that I will be in MK, 3/3/2014) the crowd level is 8 according to touringplans. So, no, I would not have been able to waltz in there at 6 and ride 3 headliners in a 2 hour span.

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[Shaden]

I still can do much more. I just choose not to. With 3 trips planned this year, no need to go commando. And the day that I will be in MK, 3/3/2014) the crowd level is 8 according to touringplans. So, no, I would not have been able to waltz in there at 6 and ride 3 headliners in a 2 hour span.

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5 According to Easy WDW ... of course, sure if you want to go to a non-recommended park and don't care about maximizing rides, yea, um, FP+ is much better than Legacy FP ?

I don't see how that makes it a better system in general, but glad that's going to work out for you.

I also don't see how this prevented you from park hopping in the past, you could have always hopped to the recommended park when the overall crowd level is a 5, and could have pulled plenty of Fastpasses, but hey yea, getting 3 tiered FPs under this system totally makes park hopping possible when it was impossible before.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

5 According to Easy WDW ... of course, sure if you want to go to a non-recommended park and don't care about maximizing rides, yea, um, FP+ is much better than Legacy FP ?

I don't see how that makes it a better system in general, but glad that's going to work out for you.

I also don't see how this prevented you from park hopping in the past, you could have always hopped to the recommended park when the overall crowd level is a 5, and could have pulled plenty of Fastpasses, but hey yea, getting 3 tiered FPs under this system totally makes park hopping possible when it was impossible before.

Why do you care? I spoke about MY experiences. Do your thing and I'll do mine.

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[goofy4tink]

Just got another survey yesterday. This one was concerning our planning experiences for our upcoming June trip. It asked a lot about the MDE site and if I had had any issues using it, on any particular devices, at home or at WDW. Then it asked about previous trips and the planning that went on for those. It asked specifically about FP+. They wanted to know what I disliked about the system. I was able to check off several choices...tier system, inability to make choices in multiple parks in one day, and only getting 3 choices.
I found it interesting that they asked that. I have found, after many surveys, that when they ask stuff like that, there are usually changes on the horizon. Fingers crossed.

 

[Shaden]

Why do you care? I spoke about MY experiences. Do your thing and I'll do mine.

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By all means, do your thing, I will do mine. But if you are going to make the faulty argument that FP+ will "ALLOW" you to park hop for the first time, I am going to call it out. You could have always park hopped, you chose not to. FP+ does not make this possible, parkhoppers do.

If you want to debate the merits of park hopping, cool, though I pretty much just laid out the argument that you could have park hopped just as easily and done more with Legacy FP.

The entire premise of your "experience" is that FP+ is allowing you to do something you could not under legacy FP ... and that, is incorrect.

 

[sonofanarchy]

In all honesty, what I am finding is that the proponents for FP+ (there are a few of them) are REALLY digging at ways to defend the system. The faults, of which there are an abundance of them, are obvious to everybody. Yes, people have different ways of touring. We all agree upon that. However, it's a very simple, mathematical fact - Under the new system, we are getting less. I'll give you this quote from the Unofficial Guide on FP+ which really tells you all you need to know and is stated perfectly:

More bodies in beds at Disney resorts aside, Fastpass+ is a complicated system that rescinds certain privileges enjoyed by all Disney World guests since 1999. The end result, except for a few fortunate Disney resort guests, is that it will take more time to see less with Fastpass+. Humans respond negatively, sometimes angrily, when something of value is taken from them. We expect Disney to endure backlash on Fastpass+ eclipsing that which is received regarding its ever-escalating ticket, dining, and hotel prices. Compromising a guest's time and quality of experience is more personal than gouging on elective expenditures like food and lodging.