Here now, very cold, lots of problems

[Art 1]

I always laugh when I'm walking around in jeans and a t shirt and the Floridians are wearing winter costs, gloves, and hats!

I laugh when in mid July I'm just fine in the heat no problem and I see tourist walking around about to die with misters in their faces.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I laugh when in mid July I'm just fine in the heat no problem and I see tourist walking around about to die with misters in their faces.

Lol, you'd surely be laughing at me! I don't really feel cold until it hits the low 20s, but I live in Colorado. When it gets into the 80s, I'm darting frantically from one AC building to the next, convinced I'll have a heat stroke before I make it. It's all what you're used to!

 

[MamaBear58]

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY. I was in WDW the week before Thanksgiving - record cold temps in Orlando that week (49 degrees as a high, 30s in the mornings) and also record snowfall in Buffalo with 12 feet on the ground. So I'm used to the cold. There's few people even here in Buffalo that would be walking around in a t-shirt in 40 degree temperatures, even if the sun is shining. While in FL, I had an Under Armour hoodie with a North Face fleece over it and jeans on and was still pretty cold. Especially since it was overcast, and rides like Everest and BTMRR whip you through the outdoors in the wind. My hands were ice (didn't bring gloves). We saw a few people in shorts and t-shirts and they looked miserable. Its much colder than one might think, it definitely was for us. Even our lightweight hoodies we had brought were too light, and on one of our last days I broke down and bought a heavyweight hoodie. It's better to pack clothes and not need them than to be unprepared.

This. Was there the same week, and it was unbearable at times. Dropped a lot of money on hats and gloves, as did many other people. So I think more people than my little family from New Jersry were cold. We made the best of it, but not sure I would do Nov. again due to that and the terrible crowds that Disney clearly was not staffed to handle. Extensive waits for "free" transportation is one thing. But those waits in 32 degree weather and 42 degree rain? Not so magical.

 

[maxiesmom]

Extensive waits for "free" transportation is one thing. But those waits in 32 degree weather and 42 degree rain? Not so magical.

I hear you on that! My first winter visit to WDW was December 2010 when it got soooo cold! People kept saying that it wouldn't be that bad, but it was very cold. Add to that that it was a damp cold that got through your clothes and sank into your bones, it was pretty miserable being at the parks at night.

That was also the lovely trip where I had booked a preferred room at the Music, only to be told at check in that they had none available, and neither did any of the value resorts. I was not a happy camper to be making that walk from back in Broadway to the front when I was supposed to be in the preferred section.

 

[msb578]

I like the heat and humidity, as well. In fact, I am one of those people who prefers the weather at WDW to the weather at DL just because I prefer the humidity. And, even without the humidity, I much prefer warmth. Now, when inside, I'd rather it be colder than hotter just because it is easier to sleep that way and I can cuddle up in a blanket. But, if I'm going to be outside doing something, please give me the heat over the cold any day. And I don't get people who have moved to Florida saying it is easier to deal with the cold. If that's really the case, why do people retire to Florida rather than Minnesota?

I'll be different and say I dislike both extremes. I guess I should live on the west coast somewhere.

 

[bumbershoot]

trying to get the 8 magic (not) bands to work

So how were they trying to get them to work, when you were still at the front desk? I'm not really understanding that one. Not doubting you, just asking what they were doing.

Have an awesome trip! And for Floridians and people expecting normal (Florida) weather, 60 is cold!! My sister lives down there and when she came up to Alabama for Thanksgiving it was in the 40s and she froze!! lol

40 in Orlando is colder than 40 in the Seattle area. We have lots of bodies of water, but we aren't around bodies of water every single place we go. In Orlando, just look at a satellite map view. Water EVERYWHERE. The wind blows and it goes across the water and it makes things feel colder. Chills you to the bone.

Since we had known for more than an hour (from personal observation) I was surprised that concierge were not aware of the problem this morning.


Yesterday at check in none of our bands for the 8 of us worked despite the fact that we had used them two days earlier for park entry and FP when we did early activation of our tickets.

They can only know if they are told. If no one told them...not everyone showers in the morning, after all. And if people were hitting the "front desk" button, they were getting sent to a call center that was likely out of state (and defiitely was not on property), and it takes time for call center people to get info to onsite people.

That second bit is what I'm wondering about. What were they doing when they were saying they weren't working? I've found that some CMs are a little too fiddly when it comes to MBs. The times we've just had ONE MB to tap to the mickey head and then we're sent on our way have been the most successful times. When they want each of us to tap, they find problems that don't really exist. We were told to come back, before MBs but after RFID keycards/doors, to get all new keycards (there were 8 of us). They said the keycards didn't work, oh no! But I used the not-working keycard to get into the park (before the park CMs knew that APs were connected to keycards yet, which was kind of fun) and to get into the gate at the resort.

The idea of people thinking they need 2 coats, gloves, and winter caps, for temps in the 40's is still amazing to me.

Looking at your list of trip times, I'm not sure you've been there when it's really cold. December 2010. January of this year. February of...2012 was chilly.

At home, DH is in shorts until it goes below 32 degrees. At Epcot he was nearly in tears in 2010 and it was in the 40s that night. The watery-wind is just SO cold.

It's better to pack clothes and not need them than to be unprepared.

Absolutely.

 

[momimouse27]

I don't like extremes either. But, I'll take hot over cold any day! I grew up in MS, live in GA now and it was 50 here today and I was absolutely freezing. At least with heat you can get a fan or something, but I can't deal with cold wind blowing in my face....brrrr!

 

[pooch]

I don't like extremes either. But, I'll take hot over cold any day! I grew up in MS, live in GA now and it was 50 here today and I was absolutely freezing. At least with heat you can get a fan or something, but I can't deal with cold wind blowing in my face....brrrr!

Funny, I'm just the opposite. I figure I can always add another layer. But at some point I can't take any more off!!

 

[tweetybird1992]

At checkin, we assumed bands were working and went to drop off luggage. None of us could get into either room. Went back to concierge who did numerous things on computer, made phone calls until finally could enter room. Daughter's original band and new grey band did not work first but grey one has worked since.
Had great day. Enjoyed BOG lunch and MVMCP. Lived in Buffalo and Maine. Have no problems with cold weather but 50 degrees here is different. Wore 2 light jackets and was comfortable. Wore our cheap gloves from Walmart tonight which helped.

 

[polyfor4]

We stayed Poly CL in June and had lots of MB problems as well. It's frustrating when you're staying CL and have done so much planning only to not have your MB not work. It will get better- it did for us! Always bring money with you because that whole week we occasionally couldn't pay with our MBs. I agree with cold too! We are here now and I'm glad I brought my coat for night time! Hope pixie dust comes your way soon

 

[nancipants]

Re: Cold weather, I've lived in Central Florida the majority of my life and I swear that cold weather here feels colder than anywhere else. I don't know why, maybe because I don't expect it to be cold, or the humidity, or whatever, but I've been chilled to the bones these past few days. (It doesn't help that I got my hair cut really short on Monday night! My head has been freezing! ) I have family who lives in New York and I've been caught in several blizzards and visited last February when the temperatures didn't get above the 20s. One of those days we were walking around Manhattan and it was so bitter cold--but I still felt warmer than the super cold days I've been at Disney!

 

[ethanwa]

Just remember that the "+" in FP+ stands for the extra days that you will need to do everything that you are used to doing. Once you adjust to doing less each day, things will seem to be more smooth.

I hate attitudes like this on the disboards.com. Such an unhelpful and resentful comment towards FP+ that doesn't do anyone any good.

FP+ is here to stay. Get. Over. It.

 

[JimmyV]

I hate attitudes like this on the disboards.com. Such an unhelpful and resentful comment towards FP+ that doesn't do anyone any good.

and yet.....

Will agree there. And the + money it will cost to add those extra days

Truer words were never written

It's not an attitude. It is an observation. FP+ has many great features. But along with those great features comes the reality that in many instances, it causes guests to slow down, which in turn causes them to spend more days at WDW, and consequently fewer days up I-4 at the other parks. This was absolutely an intended consequence. Ask yourself. Would Disney have spent billions of dollars implementing a system that was tailored toward getting you in and out of their parks faster so that you would have more time hanging out with Harry Potter? Do two things. First--go back and re-read the original post and ask yourself if the delays incurred by the OP were the result of FP+ and MDE or some other cause(s). Go ahead. I'll wait........

Now that you have done that and can see that all of the timing issues were the result of the new technology, the second thing you should do is ask yourself is if slowing down is intrinsically a bad thing. I never said that it was. I said that once you adjust to the fact that you aren't going to move as fast as you used to, then the trip will appear to be much more smooth. That is not "attidtude". It is an observation. And one that apparently many others share. You don't. Fine. Don't attack.

 

[spritna]

and yet.....





It's not an attitude. It is an observation. FP+ has many great features. But along with those great features comes the reality that in many instances, it causes guests to slow down, which in turn causes them to spend more days at WDW, and consequently fewer days up I-4 at the other parks. This was absolutely an intended consequence. Ask yourself. Would Disney have spent billions of dollars implementing a system that was tailored toward getting you in and out of their parks faster so that you would have more time hanging out with Harry Potter? Do two things. First--go back and re-read the original post and ask yourself if the delays incurred by the OP were the result of FP+ and MDE or some other cause(s). Go ahead. I'll wait........

Now that you have done that and can see that all of the timing issues were the result of the new technology, the second thing you should do is ask yourself is if slowing down is intrinsically a bad thing. I never said that it was. I said that once you adjust to the fact that you aren't going to move as fast as you used to, then the trip will appear to be much more smooth. That is not "attidtude". It is an observation. And one that apparently many others share. You don't. Fine. Don't attack.

 

[maxiesmom]

and yet.....





It's not an attitude. It is an observation. FP+ has many great features. But along with those great features comes the reality that in many instances, it causes guests to slow down, which in turn causes them to spend more days at WDW, and consequently fewer days up I-4 at the other parks. This was absolutely an intended consequence. Ask yourself. Would Disney have spent billions of dollars implementing a system that was tailored toward getting you in and out of their parks faster so that you would have more time hanging out with Harry Potter? Do two things. First--go back and re-read the original post and ask yourself if the delays incurred by the OP were the result of FP+ and MDE or some other cause(s). Go ahead. I'll wait........

Now that you have done that and can see that all of the timing issues were the result of the new technology, the second thing you should do is ask yourself is if slowing down is intrinsically a bad thing. I never said that it was. I said that once you adjust to the fact that you aren't going to move as fast as you used to, then the trip will appear to be much more smooth. That is not "attidtude". It is an observation. And one that apparently many others share. You don't. Fine. Don't attack.

It is fine. But it had nothing to do with what the OP posted about, and so seemed just another chance for you to get a dig in at FP+. Which I guess you are allowed to do, but it wasn't helpful and didn't add anything positive. So don't be so shocked that others call you out on it.

 

[Laketravis]

I hate attitudes like this on the disboards.com

I think it can be easy and somewhat simplistic to confuse being critical about a negative situation with having a "negative attitude".

There are some aspects of WDW that are viewed and experienced as negative right now, and some people are simply critical about it. Including me.

It's no different than dining in a fine restaurant and pointing out that the soup was lukewarm. Negative attitude? Not at all.

 

[tim123]

I think it can be easy and somewhat simplistic to confuse being critical about a negative situation with having a "negative attitude".

There are some aspects of WDW that are viewed and experienced as negative right now, and some people are simply critical about it. Including me.

It's no different than dining in a fine restaurant and pointing out that the soup was lukewarm. Negative attitude? Not at all.

Unless it was vichyssoise in which case it was to hot!

 

[Laketravis]

Unless it was vichyssoise in which case it was to hot!

LOL!

True. And while the chef might be insulted, I'm sure the other diners don't have any reason to be defensive.

 

[JimmyV]

It is fine. But it had nothing to do with what the OP posted about, and so seemed just another chance for you to get a dig in at FP+.

I'm sorry, but that is not at all what my intent was. Funny how others seem to know more about my intent than I do. The original post was all about delay, delay, delay.

... Ending up riding only 2 rides before 11:50 CRT. One was extra FP they gave us. ...After lunch too crowded to ride anything before need to hop to HS FOR FP+. Studios was ok. Did FPs and single rider RRC. 45 min wait...Got FP yest as extra due to initial problems. Appreciated that but didn't make up for the time we lost.
Off to go have some fun.

Let me be perfectly clear so that others do not have to guess my intent. The point of my post is that we, as seasoned guests, are simply going to have to hit the "reset" button and appreciate that the World will, often times, (not always), move at a slower pace than we have been used to over the past 10 or so years. In the OP's instance, some of that was due to mechanical malfunction and some of it was due to crowd redistribution. But both have the same root cause. I don't see that as a "dig". I don't see that as a criticism. I don't see that as an indictment of FP+. I don't see that as attitude. It's as if the highway closest to your house that you use every day had its speed limit lowered from 65 mph to 55 mph and someone told you that you will have to get used to the fact that it will now take you longer to go places. Where does fact end and attitude begin?

 

[Josh Hendy]

... We're told she will probably always have to have tablet person come over. ...

This "solution" is so expensive for Disney and it's happening so long after the trials and deployment of the technology that I suspect the entire investment will never pay for itself. Maybe the attendance figures and revenue streams are looking good at the moment, but on the whole I see a mis-begotten project.

Besides the actual cost of the human intervention, think of the negative long-term effects on both customer satisfaction and employee morale. What's the job classification for "tablet person"? Are problem employees threatened with being shifted to "tablet person" the way they used to be shifted to counter service food prep? Or more likely the very brightest employees are given the job (taking them away from managing attractions, shops and restaurants) because of the extreme stress and skills (technical and diplomatic) that are required. But how do the best and brightest enjoy having to frequently tell guests that they'll be losing some of their time every day because their magic band will never work?