I'm Done!!! Too Many Changes We Don't Like

[wisblue]

Oddly enough, for the first time in 8 years, I do indeed find myself considering swapping my lodging dollars to Universal. I figure I could stay there, get FOTL all day, then schedule 3 evening FP+ rides at a Disney park each day. I'd be in and out in a few hours, and eating offsite. I guess Disney would have to settle for getting about 75% less of my vacation dollars.

I would think that Disney would be thrilled to take your money for a day of park admission and have you spend a few hours in the park riding just 3 rides.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would think that Disney would be thrilled to take your money for a day of park admission and have you spend a few hours in the park riding just 3 rides.

That's fine. But they'd be giving up lodging for the week and every single overpriced meal we would normally be splurging on while on Disney property. Every day.

 

[btk2333]

I haven't read the whole thread- but I just want to say that the changes mentioned by OP all make us MORE likely to return to WDW in the future- I think they are positive additions to the experience

 

[redsbe]

I haven't read the whole thread- but I just want to say that the changes mentioned by OP all make us MORE likely to return to WDW in the future- I think they are positive additions to the experience

Once people adjust to MB and FP+ and the system rolls out fully functional, I am certain vast majority of WDW visitors will feel the same way. Others will leave, with many coming back in time due to the draw that WDW will still have on them. WDW is a multi billion dollar company with plenty of access to data and visitor surveys, you can be certain the development, and necessary fine adjustments to MB and FP+ will be geared to maximize the experience of the majority of visitors and profit margins.

 

[Auntie Sherry]

I wonder If Disney will advertise the MB and FP+ once the testing is done. Seems like that would help get the word out for first timers.

 

[disneyworld1977]

I'm done!!! Too Many Things I Don't Like (about this thread)

 

[mom2rtk]

I wonder If Disney will advertise the MB and FP+ once the testing is done. Seems like that would help get the word out for first timers.

No company spends $1B then doesn't advertise what they just spent it on.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't think the cc policy is going to stop people from making multiple adrs. All they have to do is cancel them 24 hrs ahead and there is no charge. Disney isn't charging the $10 up front, just if you don't cancel before 24 hrs. I don't think most people book 2 to choose for the purpose of deciding that day. I think more people make multiple adrs at the 180 day mark, and cancel ones they decide not to use as the trip gets closer and they have a better idea of what their schedule will be.

That may seem it would be the case, but in reality it has stopped people from hogging ADRs. When the cc policy was rolled out a year or so ago for all character meals and some other restaurants, all of a sudden you could get ADRs that were impossible to get before. It is very nice indeed!

I think the vast majority of guests are too lazy too book a bunch of ADRs that they have to turn around and cancel. It was much easier to book a bunch when you were not charged if you didn't cancel.

 

[diskev]

That may seem it would be the case, but in reality it has stopped people from hogging ADRs. When the cc policy was rolled out a year or so ago for all character meals and some other restaurants, all of a sudden you could get ADRs that were impossible to get before. It is very nice indeed!

I think the vast majority of guests are too lazy too book a bunch of ADRs that they have to turn around and cancel. It was much easier to book a bunch when you were not charged if you didn't cancel.

People keep saying this but it just doesn't add up. It's still difficult to get character meals inside the 180 day window. Not impossible, but it wasn't impossible before the CC guarantee. I never book my vacation 180 days out, let alone my ADRs. I've always gotten what I wanted when I wanted before and after the CC guarantee policies. What the guarantee DOES do, is help reduce the chances of empty tables at all TS restaurants, not just character meals. The 24 hour window offers same day or day before availability. I just don't believe there's enough impact to suddenly prevent some mass amount of ADR availability.

 

[Glenn]

My first trip was in 85. You could get an ADR the same day or 3 days early if in a disney hotel. My early vacations were very relaxing but not any more. Society has changed, its more me me. Disney has changed to needing to get ADRs 180 day out & now they want you to reserve rides. I dont go as oftern, dont do ADR, get counter meals unless something is open at city hall. Lots of the little whimsy stuff is gone, talking drinking fountains & working phone booths is UK. Am I whining probably but also going less, spending less. One of these days it will end because the world will no longer be relaxing. My brothers recent comment shows how 1 former disney nut feels. He asked,
When will they want you to reserve bathroom breaks 30 days in advance?
And i dont think we was joking.

 

[Angel Ariel]

That may seem it would be the case, but in reality it has stopped people from hogging ADRs. When the cc policy was rolled out a year or so ago for all character meals and some other restaurants, all of a sudden you could get ADRs that were impossible to get before. It is very nice indeed!

I think the vast majority of guests are too lazy too book a bunch of ADRs that they have to turn around and cancel. It was much easier to book a bunch when you were not charged if you didn't cancel.

It's still virtually impossible to get bog..least it was for our trip in march. Just tonight I tried getting an adr for 1 person for ca grill on Jan 6th (a Mon night) and the only 2 times available were 535 and 930. I booked the 535 for her, but I have already subscribed to the adr cancellation thread to try and pick up a time closer to wishes (8pm that week).

 

[anna08]

Between FP+, not being able to get FP- for at decent times unless there before RD, the changes to GAC/DAS, and the new upcoming ADR CC policy, I really think no more visits to WDW. No longer a vacation. Anybody else feel the same?

I apologize if someone has already mentioned this, but I think Juanolas agrees with you...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3189888

 

[TCups4Me]

We planned a break from WDW to explore other destinations for the next few years and all the changes make it easier. Yep, I still follow the DIS and all the Disney news because my heart loves the memories I have from there. BUT - it is not the same place that I first visited in 2001 and I have to accept that.

I hope my family finds somewhere new that we love and I hope that Disney is magical again when we are ready to return.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

We stopped going after our son hit middle school. We also stopped buying DLR annual passes. The crowds have been insane for the last five years. The world is too big and interesting to go to Disney year after year after year.

 

[mummabear]

Between FP+, not being able to get FP- for at decent times unless there before RD, the changes to GAC/DAS, and the new upcoming ADR CC policy, I really think no more visits to WDW. No longer a vacation. Anybody else feel the same?

I don't see how we can really complain yet about FP+ when it is still in testing, we have no real idea how it will work in the long run, I will resrve my judgement until we know for certain but it could have an effect on my frequency of visits depending on how it turns out.
I don't see how people can complain about the changes to the GAC, except that you need to get one daily, I think these should be valid for length of visit. Otherwise Disney is alining their policy in accordance with the law. For so long people have said its not the waiting time I mind its just that I cant stand in line for all that time, now here id Disney doing just that and people are complaining. They are providing equal access to attractions.
As far as the CC guarentee, what are you complaining about, that you cant make a booking and just not show up? How terrible that you have to think of others and cancel a mere day before.

 

[Planogirl]

I keep repeating this but here goes again.

We have visited Universal numerous times, have stayed offsite all but once and have yet to buy an Express pass. We have been in different parts of August and October and have been able to tour effectively by planning wisely.

Since we won't have access to FP+ this December, will we be able to do the same at WDW? We will be offsite this time and it looks like we will have access to FP- still but what does that mean exactly? I've never been in the middle of December and I don't know what to expect. It has been many years since I didn't know what to expect to this degree at WDW.

I still intend to have a good time no matter what happens but I'm not thrilled about the uncertainty.

 

[WDSearcher]

I agree with you here (hey it can happen! ) which is why I decided to quit worrying as much and just go. I still don't like what I see but I agree that that could change.

Agreement? No! The world is all akilter!

Sorry to quote you twice but I see one possible danger when it comes to newcomers. Family members who have been and choose not to go again have to travel during busy times and cite long lines and crowds as one of the reasons they don't care to go again. IF the lines actually get longer (I don't know if they will before you correct me) that could actually cause trouble for them too.

Plus they could unknowingly pull FP+ for Stitch.

I understand the concern on the first part of this -- but, as you said, we don't know yet if the lines will actually get longer when the system is fully up and operational. But I do understand the concern.

As for the second part ... maybe they will unknowingly pull FP+ for Stitch. But to me, that's the same as someone unknowingly showing up at Cinderella's Royal Table without an ADR and thinking they'll get a walk-up. I'm sure that happens every day, regardless of how long the ADR system has been in place or how many people know that CRT is the hottest ticket in the parks. People will be disappointed. They'll learn. They'll know better next time. And if there isn't a next time, then ... well ... there isn't.

My family took its first trip to WDW before Epcot was open. We had A-E ticket books. We had no idea which attractions were "worth it" from an E-ticket standpoint, and ended up buying additional E-tickets when we found out that we missed most of the best rides because we used our tickets for the first ride we saw instead of reading descriptions first. And so the next day, when we went back, we had a plan and knew what we wanted to see, and had mapped out a strategy. It never occurred to us to be upset with Disney for not walking us through the system or telling us up front that we needed to read the guidemap first. That was all on us.

And a few years later when the ticket books went away and we had to pay a whole lot more for a ticket that included everything, we didn't like it, because there were lots of things we didn't want to ride. We didn't like that we were paying a higher price for the same rides and shows we had seen at the lower price. Disappointed? Sure. Maybe just a little pissed? Probably. But we sat down and re-did our plan and discovered that some of the rides we would have never ridden under the A-E system were worth a second look, and we had a good time, even at the new, higher price.

The family we went with never went to Disney again once they went to a "one price" system because they didn't think it was fair.

 

[WDSearcher]

I don't...because most of the CMs, themselves, are clueless about the whole thing. I get different answers from different CMs. How about a mandatory meeting??

You can have all the mandatory meetings in the world and there will still be people who are clueless.

I've sat in plenty of meetings where the FP+ system has been explained to us in both general terms and in great detail. We are handed fliers, given website resources, have numbers to call with questions, have info posted all over cast areas. It's up to me as a CM to read what's given to me, listen to what's being told to me, and to ask questions when I'm unsure. Not every CM does that.

Just like in any other business, some employees do the work; others don't.

 

[WDSearcher]

Oh, they will. And you don't have to buy your way to the FOTL. It's included in your hotel stay. Their hotels are much nicer than what Disney offers. Example....I stayed at Royal Pacific for $112/night (less than POP) and got free FOTL. If I would have bought FOTL it would have been $50/person. There were two of us. Does that mean I got the hotel for $12/night?

So you can if you want but you probably don't want to go there.

Well ... it's included in your stay if you're staying in the deluxe resorts. Once the new Cabana Bay (moderate / value) opens, you can still have FOTL, but only once per attraction / ride, not unlimited (like the deluxe resorts get). If you're at Cabana Bay and want unlimited FOTL access, you'll need to pay for that.

 

[fr8man]

It has gotten to the point that a spreadsheet would be helpful to keep track of everything. Times for shows? (check) Times for ADRs? (check) Times for FP+ (check) Time for DAS return (check) Time to remember why we are here...... wait....it's not on the spreadsheet!