I am now ANGRY!!!!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not sure I follow. Are you saying that since someone else handles something poorly, then we should expect Disney to do the same?

It is not poor handling. It is Economics 101, supply and demand. You want something in limited supply, "jumping through hoops" is what you do.

And unless you can cite examples of Disney performing a bait and switch allowing someone greater advantage than you--and no, 1am is not bait and switch--then Disney is doing fine with how they release things.

But supply and demand. If will always be supply and demand.

 

[minniemous]

I for one am glad I saw this thread because I would have ever known about this issue at all. I would have never thought that this may be a usual occurrence linked to what time MK closes. I did not see in this thread if techtony ever chimed back in to tell us it worked out or not?

 

[mom2rtk]

It is not poor handling. It is Economics 101, supply and demand. You want something in limited supply, "jumping through hoops" is what you do.

And unless you can cite examples of Disney performing a bait and switch allowing someone greater advantage than you--and no, 1am is not bait and switch--then Disney is doing fine with how they release things.

But supply and demand. If will always be supply and demand.

It's definitely supply and demand. And there are countless ways of handling it, many of which still put customer satisfaction at the top of the list of priorities.

 

[mom2rtk]

I for one am glad I saw this thread because I would have ever known about this issue at all. I would have never thought that this may be a usual occurrence linked to what time MK closes. I did not see in this thread if techtony ever chimed back in to tell us it worked out or not?

Maybe he's sleeping in after his late night at the computer.

I sure hope he didn't have to work today.

 

[Cormoran]

I think the best analogy at DCA is what happens at Radiator Springs Racers.

I know that you have the luxury of visiting at off times, so your FP experience is a lot different than ours usually is. But, when we visited DLR right after Christmas, we entered DCA at 8 AM. But, because resort guests were allowed in an hour early, the line for FP distribution was quite long when we walked past it. A lot of the early entry guests obviously had a runner staking their place in that line to be in position when they started issuing them at 8. The standby line was also very long when we got there (I think it was posted at something like 30-60 minutes) but we were planning on going single rider anyway.

If we had waited for the line to clear for FPs for RSR we would have gotten nothing, except for maybe late at night. At RSR we used single rider and it was great. But the popularity of RSR is comparable to A&E at WDW. 're


I would also bet that if they had paper FPs for 7DMT and A&E, it would be very difficult for very many people to get FPs for both of them. If you waited 45 minutes you definitely wouldn't be getting both at a busy time. So, it would be the functional equivalent of tiering, except that you would have to be there at rope drop just to get one of the two.

But, we obviously have different opinions about which of those alternatives is better, and that's OK.

Not sure I follow. Are you saying that since someone else handles something poorly, then we should expect Disney to do the same?

 

[Laketravis]

What would be your solution to advanced planning for rides whose popularity outpaces the available hours in a day? Let me guess..Go back to paper fast passes the day of. And if you don't run to get that fast pass early enough in the day, you may not be able to get the time you wanted, that was convenient for you, while you are at the park. Same outcome. If you have another plan or strategy that can account for the volume of guests wanting to ride the most popular attraction at the same time that doesn't involve some sort reservation system, please enlighten us.

I was trying to be clear when I said in my post that I was taking a few steps back and looking at this from a different perspective, which is not the one you are looking at. Guessing at what I may or may not suggest as a solution to another issue might be fun but isn't relevant. Unless your intent was to be antagonistic, which wasn't successful either.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

It also gives them the ability to do any "magic" to the next days data between 1am and opening. Like perhaps load any day of FP's or run the triggers that make changes based on unschduled maintenance, etc., without impacting the larger data set.

Hmmm, I wonder if them adding in some capacity the night before is why some people have success with making late changes to their FP+s?

I think it is highly.dependent on when.one is at Disney, whether sdmt is gone at 60 days. And I'm *not* referring to high crowd days. I'm referring to days with short hours and also days that have short hours + parties.

A&e was not available at all for my trip at midnight at 60 days. 7DMT was gone for my entire trip 5 mins after I signed in. I think this had a lot to do with traveling when parks are closing at 9pm/11pm, and have parties that close it at 7pm on a few of the days.

I really think the party season totally wrecks havoc with A&E and 7DMT in particular. Not only do you have significantly shorter hours on party days, but you also have significantly increased demand on non-party days because people tend to flock to the MK on non-party days. We have had two totally different experiences with obtaining A&E FP+s...one that occurred right before party season and one during. And we didn't go during peak summer crowds, either (it was at the end of August). But starting with trips the week after ours, and continuing right up until Christmas (with an exception for TG), you started seeing more complaints on here about no A&E. And now, since party season stopped...those complaints have dropped off again, even though we're in one of the times of the year when park hours are short. So, I'm sticking with party theory, because it seems to be supported by the evidence we have at our disposal. I predict seeing very, very few complaints of no A&E availability until September.

 

[staceyeileen]

Maybe he's sleeping in after his late night at the computer.

I sure hope he didn't have to work today.

Couldn't have been too late, he obviously got to bed well before 1am

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I think it is poor customer service to change the time on folks, just make it 12am each night so everyone knows what to expect. I would never have known about the 1am booking time if not for this board. There has to be a way for them to fix this.

 

[mesaboy2]

I for one am glad I saw this thread because I would have ever known about this issue at all. I would have never thought that this may be a usual occurrence linked to what time MK closes. I did not see in this thread if techtony ever chimed back in to tell us it worked out or not?

It appears as a purple link in my signature, so it's in about 27,000 places.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Let people vent. They were up late to jump through Disney's hoops and the hoops weren't there. Not everyone got the "memo" on the window opening later. Oh wait, that's right. There was no "memo".

This is WDW - the customer is always in the wrong here on the boards.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I just want to say, I do.t think most people are putting out the "if you really want something specific, be online at midnight to schedule fp+" to instill fear or dislike of the system. Speaking for myself, my experience was that there was no a&e at midnight, and 7dmt was gone within 5 mins. That was my reality. Wishes, FOF weren't available either ( we hadn't wanted ththem, but they weren't there).

If I see a post here where someone is really wanting one of those, that it is an important part of their trip, then I'm going to highly recommend that they be online at midnight to book it. Not to make them fear availability or dislike the system, but because I want them to have the best trip possible and I want them to have the best shot at getting what they really want.

I understand others have had other luck with being able to book those in the morning, bit even when my own window comes up again for Nov 2015, i will be online at midnight, because what I see here shows me there is a *wide* range of experience with availability, and if* those hard to get fp+ are what we really want, then I'm not going to gamble on waiting. No fear, no malice about the system...just wanting everyone to have the vacation they really want to have.

I actually agree with you here if that is what the recommend is.

But even within this thread, someone posted you would get no headliners. That is the fear and hysteria. Spreading mistruths that getting on at midnight is required for anything. It isn't true and never has been.

But, if folks would stick to the recommendation that A&E is pretty much necessary to do at midnight and mine train is a probably at 30/60 for best chances (and wishes and parades)--there would not be much of an issue. That is an Approrpiate strategy suggestion.

But there are many headliners than those and being on right at midnight is not required. We have gotten all we desired including mine train-save the above other mentioned things--with out heeding the proclaimed "requirement" (eTA: but signing on at 30 days first thing in the morning). And this is for 6 people. (I book us all together and seek a change if 2 or more are unable to ride.)

*again, we just began using our APs Nov 30th, so it remains to be seen if this trend continues. But so far, it has worked just fine. My biggest issue is securing a BOG reservation. I was successful this morning once I realized my computer would work better than my iPhone. So at 6:05, I did get am ADR, but way too late on the 9:00 hour. Will try again another day.

 

[Robo]

Has anyone ever tried calling Disney and asking what time their FP window opens? If someone cared enough about it, maybe they could find out that way instead of relying on a forum like the Dis.

 

[staceyeileen]

IA&E also have to rotate in the parade coverage. That's what directly caused the recent FP "glitch" because an additional FoF had to be worked into the scheduling.

Isn't this really just speculation on your part? I read the thread you're referring to but didn't see where anyone got confirmation of exactly what happened in that situation.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It's definitely supply and demand. And there are countless ways of handling it, many of which still put customer satisfaction at the top of the list of priorities.

But would you be satisfied when you don't get something in limited supply?

 

[mom2rtk]

I think the best analogy at DCA is what happens at Radiator Springs Racers.

I know that you have the luxury of visiting at off times, so your FP experience is a lot different than ours usually is. But, when we visited DLR right after Christmas, we entered DCA at 8 AM. But, because resort guests were allowed in an hour early, the line for FP distribution was quite long when we walked past it. A lot of the early entry guests obviously had a runner staking their place in that line to be in position when they started issuing them at 8. The standby line was also very long when we got there (I think it was posted at something like 30-60 minutes) but we were planning on going single rider anyway.

If we had waited for the line to clear for FPs for RSR we would have gotten nothing, except for maybe late at night.

I would also bet that if they had paper FPs for 7DMT and A&E, it would be very difficult for very many people to get FPs for both of them. If you waited 45 minutes you definitely wouldn't be getting both at a busy time. So, it would be the functional equivalent of tiering, except that you would have to be there at rope drop just to get one of the two.

But, we obviously have different opinions about which of those alternatives is better, and that's OK.

Actually my understanding was that they were now waiting to distribute RSR FPs until the regular park opening (so not during EE). Perhaps people ignored instructions from the CMs and made a line to wait in line? I've heard various stories about that.

And I would have been fine with a late night FP. It's a beautiful ride late at night.

I suspect that our widely different views on all of this has a lot to do with our widely different touring styles. You go at peak times and we don't. You take breaks during the day and we don't. We love to repeat headliners and you don't.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hmmm, I wonder if them adding in some capacity the night before is why some people have success with making late changes to their FP+s?



I really think the party season totally wrecks havoc with A&E and 7DMT in particular. Not only do you have significantly shorter hours on party days, but you also have significantly increased demand on non-party days because people tend to flock to the MK on non-party days. We have had two totally different experiences with obtaining A&E FP+s...one that occurred right before party season and one during. And we didn't go during peak summer crowds, either (it was at the end of August). But starting with trips the week after ours, and continuing right up until Christmas (with an exception for TG), you started seeing more complaints on here about no A&E. And now, since party season stopped...those complaints have dropped off again, even though we're in one of the times of the year when park hours are short. So, I'm sticking with party theory, because it seems to be supported by the evidence we have at our disposal. I predict seeing very, very few complaints of no A&E availability until September.

I absolutely agree with all of that. Except that people had trouble scheduling before the party on party days as well, and those are typically fairly low crowd days. Now granted, that could be because of that 4-7 crossover time period when people can now schedule and previously they were mostly out of luck on FPs if they were gone from earlier.

I'm still wondering if needing to staff the party hours made them cut back to a single pair meeting during the day at least on the actual party days.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Actually my understanding was that they were now waiting to distribute RSR FPs until the regular park opening (so not during EE). Perhaps people ignored instructions from the CMs and made a line to wait in line? I've heard various stories about that.

And I would have been fine with a late night FP. It's a beautiful ride late at night.

I suspect that our widely different views on all of this has a lot to do with our widely different touring styles. You go at peak times and we don't. You take breaks during the day and we don't. We love to repeat headliners and you don't.

But would have other guests?

 

[mom2rtk]

But would you be satisfied when you don't get something in limited supply?

It happens. If I had a fair shot, then you'd be surprised at just how OK I'd be with it.

 

[minniemous]

It appears as a purple link in my signature, so it's in about 27,000 places.

Well I will certainly start paying attention to signatures. I generally glance at stuff below lines as...how many times this person has been to disney, or links to personal photos, etc. I have kind of stopped paying attention to that stuff so I just never noticed or perhaps even looked. I will now know to check out the stuff you have because it obviously has some valuable information.