Here now, and here is the problem

[wisblue]

I am locked in when I don't have a car!

Even if you use ME you can still rent a car for a day or two if you want to get off the resort. We have done that several times to go to Universal or Sea World, and once for the Capital One Bowl.

We have rented from the Alamo counter at the Dolphin (I think there is a National counter there too)and from the Avis counter at the Hilton across from Downtown Disney.

Like everything else, it's a matter of how you want to spend your time and money. Disney doesn't lock you into anything, but they offer paths of least resistance to influence your choices.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think they have always wanted people to spend less time in the parks, but they still you to stay onsite and they still want your money. They're greedy like that lol!

Look at that Mickey Mail packet...Come bowl at Splitsville! Play at DisneyQuest! Ride a watercraft around Bay Lake! Arcade points, golfing, etc.

And then of course at the resorts, trying to show off the activities there and having those annoying DJs at the pool all day.

Hoppers are also priced quite high...What they don't want is people hopping and for heavens sake, they don't want you hopping over to MK at night.

I imagine a bunch of executives sitting around trying to figure out what do with the crowds and lines problem and coming up with this brilliant idea (again) to promote the resort's other offerings. "We're not just about rides! We need to make sure people know about all of the other great things you can do at our resort. Marketing people, start marketing that other stuff better."

Of course, most people come to Disney for the parks. There are far nicer (and cheaper places) you can go to swim and hang out, especially when you take into account the airfares that people pay to come to Orlando.

The obvious answer is to build more rides, but rides are expensive, so they'll just keep pushing mini golf. And of course, their new ride-building-avoidance-mechanism...FP+

 

[OurDogCisco]

Even if you use ME you can still rent a car for a day or two if you want to get off the resort. We have done that several times to go to Universal or Sea World, and once for the Capital One Bowl.

We have rented from the Alamo counter at the Dolphin and from the Avis counter at the Hilton across from Downtown Disney (I think there is a National counter there too.)

Like everything else, it's a matter of how you want to spend your time and money. Disney doesn't lock you into anything, but they offer paths of least resistance to influence your choices.

I never realized how close the Hilton is to Downtown Disney Marketplace until we ate at Benihana the other night. I'll definitely keep this in mind for our next trip and rent a car.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Anyone want to go try Radiator Springs Racers with me next week?

LOVE, LOVE that ride. I think, it was the first time I actually got teary eyed at a park. I felt like I was in the movie. We rode standby for our 1st pass through and then, rode single rider line like 5 times after that. Just loved the whole theme of it. I can't wait to read about your experiences of DL.

 

[LucyBC80]

For those who want to stay for longer and enjoy more tier one rides, the choice will be to go standby or to purchase additional FP+ reservations by tier. Disney will imo monetize the FP+ system this way and must feel that people who want more FP+ reservations will be willing to pay for that convenience. They aren't doing this blind. Regardless of how people on this board feel, Disney has most likely done extensive research on the issue and feels that FP+ (and the monetizing thereof) will allow them to increase attendance while giving those folks who want the convenience of additional tier one FP+ rides that option for an additional fee.

Once again, the buffet that was FP- is being replaced by the a la carte system that is FP+. If you want more from an a la carte menu, you purchase more.

I have absolutely no problem with paying for more FP+. I must be one of the suckers who they are aiming this program for. I already buy EP at Universal (or stay on site but their guest capacity is WAY lower than Disney's) so buying FP+ would not make me angry at Disney. Anything so I can bypass the standby line.

 

[magicbob]

I think they have always wanted people to spend less time in the parks, but they still you to stay onsite and they still want your money. They're greedy like that lol!

Look at that Mickey Mail packet...Come bowl at Splitsville! Play at DisneyQuest! Ride a watercraft around Bay Lake! Arcade points, golfing, etc.

And then of course at the resorts, trying to show off the activities there and having those annoying DJs at the pool all day.

Hoppers are also priced quite high...What they don't want is people hopping and for heavens sake, they don't want you hopping over to MK at night.

I imagine a bunch of executives sitting around trying to figure out what do with the crowds and lines problem and coming up with this brilliant idea (again) to promote the resort's other offerings. "We're not just about rides! We need to make sure people know about all of the other great things you can do at our resort. Marketing people, start marketing that other stuff better."

Of course, most people come to Disney for the parks. There are far nicer (and cheaper places) you can go to swim and hang out, especially when you take into account the airfares that people pay to come to Orlando.

The obvious answer is to build more rides, but rides are expensive, so they'll just keep pushing mini golf.

At the risk of contradicting myself, I have to admit that in recent years, I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of spending more time at the resort, etc. than in the past. But on the days that I'm in the parks, I don't want to feel limited to one headliner without an exorbitant wait.

 

[mom2rtk]

LOVE, LOVE that ride. I think, it was the first time I actually got teary eyed at a park. I felt like I was in the movie. We rode standby for our 1st pass through and then, rode single rider line like 5 times after that. Just loved the whole theme of it. I can't wait to read about your experiences of DL.

Thanks! I'm thinking we might get to do that one several times. My daughter is finally old enough that we can ride at opening, then with a FP, then also do single rider!

It really does feel good to be excited about our trip...... as opposed to what many are feeling about their upcoming WDW trips.

 

[LucyBC80]

It's entirely possible that having greater guest turnover is Disney's goal with all of this.

I have to say that if it is, they have certainly missed the mark with me at least. I don't go to Disney to sit around the resort. If I don't have enough to do in the parks, I'm going to rent a car so I can do other things. And once I rent the car, I start undoing that magical Disney bubble that keeps me onsite spending every single dollar from arrival to departure there.

If I have a car, I'm not going to purchase the Disney dining plan. If I have a car, I'm going to spend some of my days at Universal. If I have a car, I'm spending at least one day at Sea World. I haven't ventured offisite since 2004. Disney has done a remarkable job making me happy and capturing all of my vacation dollars. Take one piece of that away...... and the entire thing comes up for evaluation . It's no longer a Disney vacation. It becomes an Orlando vacation, with Disney becoming a much smaller piece.

I already do all that without a car!

International guests stay for bigger periods of time and they either divide their stay between Disney and everything else off site (like I do) or they stay for 21 days inside the bubble but leave it to venture to Universal, Seaworld and others. And with the amount of international visitors Disney receives nowadays, maybe they are aiming for exactly that. People who spend less time at the parks but drop more money while they are there.

 

[ArwenMarie]

At the risk of contradicting myself, I have to admit that in recent years, I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of spending more time at the resort, etc. than in the past. But on the days that I'm in the parks, I don't want to feel limited to one headliner without an exorbitant wait.

Same here. I think we're the family that Disney wants...we spend about six hours per day in a park, usually just one. Then we hang out the resort, eat and swim. We like to sleep in.

So the idea of 3 prebooked FPs per day were actually a huge upgrade for us, and I was on board.

(But I know there were people who obviously didn't feel this way, spent more time in the parks, and saw it as a huge downgrade from the start.)

Then they tiered them
Now I'm not on board anymore.

 

[going/again]

I wished you good luck in another languge. See how narrow minded you are in terms of unknown things?

Good will toward you can be turned by you as insults.

So epcot ws to you is nothing but a place for rides or a mere theme parks. Have you ever tried to have your kids to have their name written in chinese in China on the back of a duffy board? What was the purpose for that then if you immediately think something in foreign languages is an insult to you?

No wonder you all wanted to complain about ride ability and nothing but.
Use a translater later on the foreign words to see how dark your heart is.

Sorry but someone has to say it, you seriously have lost the plot.

 

[magicbob]

Thanks! I'm thinking we might get to do that one several times. My daughter is finally old enough that we can ride at opening, then with a FP, then also do single rider!

It really does feel good to be excited about our trip...... as opposed to what many are feeling about their upcoming WDW trips.

Have a blast at DLR/DCA! I'm jealous. Radiator Springs was still being constructed when I went to DCA. Indiana Jones ride in DL is great too! Unless you don't like "rough" rides ala "Dinosaur." Space Mountain at DL is superior to the WDW version (although DL Paris version beats them all by a mile!), and of course POTC is a much longer ride there too. Let's not forget Mr. Toad, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland (none of which WDW has).

We definitely plan to make a trip to DLR again sometime in the future. If FP/MB/MDE is not sorted out by the time we start planning our next visit, we too will take the age old advice, "Go West, young man!"

Sure, Disney still gets our money if we visit DLR/DCA, but I don't think anyone is proposing a boycott. Simply stating that we will spend our money on a vacation that doesn't include these hassles. If Disney still offers that opportunity at its other parks, that's great.

As others have said, we WILL vote with our wallets and go elsewhere if WDW becomes a PITA to visit. We don't spend every vacation at Disney as it is. We're fortunate to be living in Europe currently and can get in the car and drive to France, etc. in a few hours. Our recent trips have been to Paris, Ireland, Crete, and Amsterdam. We've got trips planned to Normandy, Berlin, Scotland, and Russia for the coming year. So, yeah, we may just go on vacation someplace else. But I really hope WDW sorts all this mess out and will still be in the "rotation." For one thing, we are hoping to take our niece there when we return to the U.S. (notice my countdown banner).

 

[ShayBells]

Same here. I think we're the family that Disney wants...we spend about six hours per day in a park, usually just one. Then we hang out the resort, eat and swim. We like to sleep in. So the idea of 3 prebooked FPs per day were actually a huge upgrade for us, and I was on board. (But I know there were people who obviously didn't feel this way, spent more time in the parks, and saw it as a huge downgrade from the start.) Then they tiered them Now I'm not on board anymore.

Yeah I was on board before the tiers. And I'm not saying I'm totally off board now. I can still make it work for my family. But it does seem what once (in the beginning) seemed soo cool is turning complicated.

I (probably sadly) still have hope and will reserve love/hate words for the future Lol.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Minniesgal]

I am locked in when I don't have a car!

Not really plenty taxis at downtown Disney or you could walk to Crossroads for plenty of restaurants.

 

[pitterpint23]

Sorry but someone has to say it, you seriously have lost the plot.

FINALLY someone who sees it. I'm just horrible and that's what they were getting at.

 

[Colleen27]

It makes perfect sense if Disney has found out that having more people in the parks for less time generates more income than having less people in the parks for more time.

It certainly should work that way. One person staying 12 hours will only be buying one admission ticket for the day. Three people staying 4 hours will be buying three admission tickets that day. Plus the money spent by three people all eating lunch or dinner, and spending money at the gift shops for four hours will be more that one person will spend in 12 hours.

Disney probably believes that the person who now leaves after 4 hours instead of staying for 12 will spend the money they would have spent on food and gifts anyways. Now that person will just spend that money at their resort instead of the parks.

Did you ever notice how Disney is always releasing their annual attendance figures for the parks. They never speak about how long visitors stay in the parks in their reports. It's all about the attendance numbers and increasing them. FP+ allows people to get the rides that they want done, spend some money on food and gifts, and get it done more quickly. This allows them to spend less time in the parks and more time spending money at their resorts. Which in turn allows more people to get into the parks and do the rides that they want, spend their money, etc etc.

But the question is, will most guests accept that? I know I won't. I'm not spending a thousand bucks on airfare, another thousand on my resort stay, and close to fifteen hundred on tickets to spend a couple of hours in each park and experience a handful of attractions. There simply isn't enough to do on property outside of the parks - free or paid - to make that proposition attractive, and most of what is there can be had anywhere at a much lower cost. If we want to swim, bowl, play mini-golf, and go to the movies... well, we have all of that within a half-hour of home, and far less expensive resorts that offer it all and more within a couple hours' drive. The parks are what sets Disney apart and make it worth the trip and the expense.

 

[magicbob]

But the question is, will most guests accept that? I know I won't. I'm not spending a thousand bucks on airfare, another thousand on my resort stay, and close to fifteen hundred on tickets to spend a couple of hours in each park and experience a handful of attractions. There simply isn't enough to do on property outside of the parks - free or paid - to make that proposition attractive, and most of what is there can be had anywhere at a much lower cost. If we want to swim, bowl, play mini-golf, and go to the movies... well, we have all of that within a half-hour of home, and far less expensive resorts that offer it all and more within a couple hours' drive. The parks are what sets Disney apart and make it worth the trip and the expense.

I agree. Like I said earlier, we have enjoyed riding Sea Raycers around 7 seas lagoon and other recreational activities. But we plan a slower paced, non-park (recovery from park?) day for those activities. On park days, we still like to do more than wander around for a few hours and ride three rides.

 

[lugnut33]

There have to be more reasons for FP+ because many of the FP+ lines that have been installed are just plain silly. Take POTC foe example, it was proven years ago that FP did not work well because it actually reduced guest throughput (same with Haunted Mansion). We rode I with FP on Wednesday night and literally walked on to our own private boat, however the line was packed and the boats sent completely full. That is just insanity to effectively eliminate half the rede's capacity. It doesn't make sense unless put into some larger operational scheme that I don't know about.

And really, why does Figment need a FP line? Makes no sense.

 

[clsteve]

There have to be more reasons for FP+ because many of the FP+ lines that have been installed are just plain silly. Take POTC foe example, it was proven years ago that FP did not work well because it actually reduced guest throughput (same with Haunted Mansion). We rode I with FP on Wednesday night and literally walked on to our own private boat, however the line was packed and the boats sent completely full. That is just insanity to effectively eliminate half the rede's capacity. It doesn't make sense unless put into some larger operational scheme that I don't know about.

And really, why does Figment need a FP line? Makes no sense.

I think they're gearing up for the big Disney Marketing push. When that starts and all the TA's/CM's are pushing it as a big advantage to planning for first time and casual visitors - they have to have something to reserve. They're also the ones that don't know FP's haven't traditionally been needed for those rides.

Also, it fits right in to Disney's want for controlling capacity and yield management. They can "suggest" FP's, keep people in a Park (maybe for a full day), they then know where in the Park they'll be, and allows them to staff for that, and make other "suggestions" like CS options close by.

It all just points to how much of this is a Marketing and Accounting endeavor rather than a guest satisfaction one (especially for frequent visitors).

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I am locked in when I don't have a car!

The benefit of spending two days driving each way -- we don't have that problem.

It makes me sad realizing we are exactly the type of guests Disney likely wants to discourage from ever coming back -- we have our own car, stay off-site or spend one night on site, spend a few long days at the parks and part of the week doing something else (Universal/LEGOLAND/ Gatorland/the beach/a non-Disney cruise/spending time with Florida relatives), never eat TS and cook most of our own dinners, use lots of fastpasses, and hate cheaply made souvenirs.

But, we used to tell everyone how much we loved our Disney trips and have inspired other families' first trips. Doesn't Disney see any value in that?

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think they're gearing up for the big Disney Marketing push. When that starts and all the TA's/CM's are pushing it as a big advantage to planning for first time and casual visitors - they have to have something to reserve. They're also the ones that don't know FP's haven't traditionally been needed for those rides.

Also, it fits right in to Disney's want for controlling capacity and yield management. They can "suggest" FP's, keep people in a Park (maybe for a full day), they then know where in the Park they'll be, and allows them to staff for that, and make other "suggestions" like CS options close by.

It all just points to how much of this is a Marketing and Accounting endeavor rather than a guest satisfaction one (especially for frequent visitors).

I'm actually very curious to see what they do for the mass marketing for FP+. While I don't think it's in "testing" anymore from a resort customer's POV (especially once they take away the FP- ability, which seems to be coming soon for all resorts), it is clearly still in testing from a marketing POV.