Here now...President Day thoughts / New FP+ info.

[UpstateMick]

Rope dropped 8:00 AM MK today. Walked on PP, Pooh, Buzz (twice), JC, Pirates, and BTMRR, all before 10:00 AM. Under The Sea was closed at rope drop (Ariel's hair issues) and there was a hold up at Tomorrowland Raceway (security and two gurneys...yikes). Chilled on Tom Sawyers Island, ate at Liberty Tree, went back to POR to chill by pool. Headed to Studios at night about 4:30. FP+ Movie Ride, Star Tours, and Toy Story. No problems at any attractions. Saw Muppets, did the drawing class, and rode Star Tours and Movie Ride again. Ate at SciFi and was out of park by 10:00.

MK was packed at 1:00 when we left. Studios was quiet tonight.

CM with whom I bonded with was very honest about FP. told me that FP+ was a seven year planning process and said that the current system of 3 a day will be gone by Christams. Also said that hoppers are being worked into system and that by the time it's all done, it will be a much, much, better experience. He said that Disney is well aware of the frustration and is busting hump to adjust things before Summer.

Food for thought.

 

[leebee]

CM with whom I bonded with was very honest about FP. told me that FP+ was a seven year planning process and said that the current system of 3 a day will be gone by Christmas. Also said that hoppers are being worked into system and that by the time it's all done, it will be a much, much, better experience. He said that Disney is well aware of the frustration and is busting hump to adjust things before Summer.

Food for thought.

Gone in a good way, so we can get as many as we want or maybe get them in more than one park, or gone in a bad way, like fewer than 3 a day? I am going to be royally PO'd if we spend our money to go in October, have a frustrating time, and then Disney changes it a few weeks/months later. Grrrr… not sure if I feel better or worse, but I'm still confused.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm still confused

Disney will eventually allow more than 3 FP+ per day and eventually you will be able to secure FP+ in different parks on the same day. When that is, how many FP+ and how many different parks remains to be seen.

 

[Laz]

Gone in a good way, so we can get as many as we want or maybe get them in more than one park, or gone in a bad way, like fewer than 3 a day? I am going to be royally PO'd if we spend our money to go in October, have a frustrating time, and then Disney changes it a few weeks/months later. Grrrr… not sure if I feel better or worse, but I'm still confused.

I would feel the same way. However, if WDW officially announces said changes will happen in January, what would happen to their park attendance in the fall? Everyone would wait for the changes. WDW put themselves on the horns of a dilemma: No matter what they do, a lot of people are going to be upset at some point in time. I know I am staying away until things are finally set and then make a go or no go vacation decision. Does anyone think WDW could have done a better job with FP+ implementation?

 

[sethschroeder]

Who knows if the CM knows but this is what I thought would happen all along once FP+ is fully rolled out. We shall see with fingers crossed.

 

[AthenaBolina]

Well we are going late may, so that should be disney's summer season...wonder if they'll have it done by then. I don't know when we'll be back after this so I hope we don't miss anything too big. That would be disappointing

 

[mom2rtk]

So are the hiding extra ride capacity somewhere we don't know about?

 

[DaisyNY]

Glad you had a good experience...we booked all our FP+ for our early March visit and I'm glad that we will be able to enjoy TSMM, Soarin and other of our favorites without having to get there at RD. Also glad to hear Disney is continuing to work out issues to make others happy as well!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

So are the hiding extra ride capacity somewhere we don't know about?

exactly - everyone (myself included) wants more than 3 FP / day and yet we're all complaining about lines at rides that traditionally were walk on (those that now have FP that didn't before).

I suspect they'll add more FP per day but they'll do it by adding FP to more rides/ attractions - FP for Backlot Tour, Peoplemover and Carousel of Progress anyone?

 

[sethschroeder]

So are the hiding extra ride capacity somewhere we don't know about?

No but they don't need to or allow 3 FP to be booked ahead of time. The previous system "worked" for people with the same ride capacity... So missing your point. If they move towards 2 rides ahead of time and then 1 ride ever 2 hours like in the past that would be a good compromise. They need to solve the issue of giving out too many FP+ though.

In the end if all your going to comment is does it solve the lack of rides leave the comment to yourself I am pretty people are aware or have read your comments on multiple other threads.

 

[summermac]

exactly - everyone (myself included) wants more than 3 FP / day and yet we're all complaining about lines at rides that traditionally were walk on (those that now have FP that didn't before).

I suspect they'll add more FP per day but they'll do it by adding FP to more rides/ attractions - FP for Backlot Tour, Peoplemover and Carousel of Progress anyone?

EXACTLY! We just returned and three FPs on a day when the park is open from 8 until 1:00/3:00 is ridiculous. However as you said, you can bet your butt that you still won't be able to FP a headliner more than once so what is the point of allowing more FP?

 

[livingthedream]

I contributed to the upcoming FP+ dialogue early in the testing process, and have since decided its not worth my time to be continually speculating about what possibilities lay ahead.

However, I know whatever changes that may be coming are being implemented by IT people who appear to constantly be having their goals changed by their bosses.

Disney customers are constantly commenting about the fact that Disney has not committed to a *specific change* by a *certain date*. If you understand anything about IT, you know that it is important to have a date to strive for, but inevitably there are bugs that need to be addressed, and so it is next to impossible for Disney to say something is going to happen by "X" date because they can't guarantee it. It will happen as quickly as it can, but promises by a certain date using this type of system is next to impossible.

A person cannot plan to go to Disney after *certain types of changes* are implemented because no one can guarantee a date. This is a long-term process, and it will unfold as it does based on the original goals, and now the changes requested based on customer feedback.

I not only believe this is a long-term process. I also believe it will never stop. Big things being introduced will slow down, but inevitably smaller tweaks will always be made to the system. I think people just have to plan their vacations with a recognition that the system is in progress, and just go and have fun!!!!

 

[Missymouse18]

Thank you, OP, for your positive attitude! We are going on our annual end of May WDW trip ( I think my ticker is off by two days, lol) and I am just as excited as I was last year and the year before and the year before... WDW is my happy place. I always stay on site, and I am always treated like I matter. FP+ does not change my mind in the very least about my love for Disney. My two sons were there in December and had Mickey bands, and experienced ZERO problems with their FP+.
Again, thanks for the positive feed. Glad you had a good time!

 

[Hopefully]

I contributed to the upcoming FP+ dialogue early in the testing process, and have since decided its not worth my time to be continually speculating about what possibilities lay ahead.

However, I know whatever changes that may be coming are being implemented by IT people who appear to constantly be having their goals changed by their bosses.

Disney customers are constantly commenting about the fact that Disney has not committed to a *specific change* by a *certain date*. If you understand anything about IT, you know that it is important to have a date to strive for, but inevitably there are bugs that need to be addressed, and so it is next to impossible for Disney to say something is going to happen by "X" date because they can't guarantee it. It will happen as quickly as it can, but promises by a certain date using this type of system is next to impossible.

A person cannot plan to go to Disney after *certain types of changes* are implemented because no one can guarantee a date. This is a long-term process, and it will unfold as it does based on the original goals, and now the changes requested based on customer feedback.

I not only believe this is a long-term process. I also believe it will never stop. Big things being introduced will slow down, but inevitably smaller tweaks will always be made to the system. I think people just have to plan their vacations with a recognition that the system is in progress, and just go and have fun!!!!

I agree completely. To the folks who are frustrated that Disney introduced a system that is imperfect - they have said all along it is in testing. There is no way to load test a new system like this other than this way. It is the way of software and IT and it will continue to evolve.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I have been saying all along that Disney would change FP+ over time just as they did with FP-. Thank you for the info from the CM.

My experience in September was that this was a multi-year project as well. I was told somewhere between 7 and 10 if you take it from "blue sky" through to now. That would also mean that the $1.5 billion investment everyone keeps talking about was made over the course of that time and *shockingly* new headliner attractions and a new land were being developed at the same time.

There will be people that will never be satisfied with FP+...."it sucks we can only have 3 a day..." well as of the summer (or whenever Disney chooses) you can have more! "Well, it sucks that I couldn't have more than 3 when I was there!". "It sucks that there are tiers"....WDW is likely either going to take away or re-organize the tiers "Well it sucks that there are tiers at all". "It sucks that I couldn't park hop" WDW might add the ability to park hop "Well it sucks that I couldn't park hop when I was there." And on and on....

Disney is never going to satisfy everyone and they aren't even going to try. As has been pointed out in other threads - guests like us at the DISboards aren't their target audience or where they make their profits.

I'll be interested to see what FP+ looks like by the summer and how many of the "Disney has lost our family" will come back once changes have been made.

 

[EMode]

Until there is an official statement by Disney released what CM's tell guests are just guesses as to what may happen.
I hope that CM is right, but unless they are some top level officer in the company I'm not sure they know what is really going to happen any more than the rest of us.

 

[mom2rtk]

No but they don't need to or allow 3 FP to be booked ahead of time. The previous system "worked" for people with the same ride capacity... So missing your point. If they move towards 2 rides ahead of time and then 1 ride ever 2 hours like in the past that would be a good compromise. They need to solve the issue of giving out too many FP+ though.

In the end if all your going to comment is does it solve the lack of rides leave the comment to yourself I am pretty people are aware or have read your comments on multiple other threads.

No need to shoot the messenger. Denying the realities of the situation won't help.

As much as I dislike FP+ in its current form, I would dislike a reduction to 2, even if it came with the ability to book more once those had been used.... even more.

Why? Because the FP genie has been unleashed. They removed all the barriers to getting FPs by putting them at everyone's fingertips. When you remove barriers you get more usage. More usage with ride capacity remaining constant (or pretty close to it) means they will run out faster.

 

[DIS-OH]

Here is the frustration for my family, under the current system.

DH, DD and I will are heading to WDW later this week; we will be running the Princess Half Marathon.

We are staying at POFQ. Customized and received MBs, made our FP+ reservations.

My parents, who are AP holders, will be joining us in the parks. They are not staying onsite, as they spend a good part of the winter at my aunt's home which is 20 minutes from WDW.

So, even though we will be touring the parks together, we may not be able to ride our FP+ selections together as my parents are "not eligible for My Magic +" according to MDE.

I am hoping that my parents can get "same day FP+" selections, which are in the same time window as our FP+s, at the kiosks in the park. Not optimistic on that happening, though. Plan B is to have my parents get whatever "same day FP+" selections they can and then hope we can move our pre-booked FP+ times to match theirs.

I just hope the "Powers that Be" understand how frustrating this "Roll out and Test" has been! (And, I didn't even mention the 3 hours it took on the phone with IT to link DH and my renewed APs to MDE!)

 

[niclodn]

Honestly, at this point, I just wish I could USE the system. I haven't been a fan from the very beginning, but understand that change is inevitable. My problem is that I am a Premiere Passport holder and due to "glitches" within the MDE program, I have been unable to link my AP and unable to use FP+. I have spent HOURS on the phone with tech support and each time the answer is "sorry but there's nothing we can do right now, but we're working on it". This is the same answer I've received for MONTHS. I get that there are bugs that need to be worked out, but as someone who spends a ton of money at Disney every year, this pisses me off royally. I will be back to the World on Thursday and will have fun regardless, but am very disappointed that I will not be able to join the rest of my group on their FP+ rides. In fact, I doubt I will ride much of anything now that the paper FP's are gone as well. In the past, at least I could use that.

 

[kay1864]

Under The Sea was closed at rope drop (Ariel's hair issues)

Do you mean the Under the Sea ride, or the Ariel meet and greet? And does Ariel often have issues with her hair? I only know that she has issues walking down the...what's the word...street.