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

[Granny square]

Agree, but most of the posts on this subject suggest that this is understood. Understanding the business model and personally disliking a new product are not mutually exclusive. I own Apple stock, but I don't buy Macs.

Lol, exactly.

As far as the description of fp+ if they use a tiered system it loses an even bigger chunk of interest.

 

[JanaDee]

It seems to me many of you that are dissatisfied with the new technology and MDE system are forgetting that the Walt Disney Company is a business, not a non-profit, not a charity. These sweeping technological changes are designed so resort guests have a more seamless experience in the parks and at the resorts so they spend more time in their stores. And you know what, it's worked so far. Profit is up 17% in the parks division so far this year. Yeah they are looking to make money but it's supposed to be YOUR Disney Experience. They are aiming to personalize your vacation and make your trip unique. If you don't stay on property they will eventually make the MB available to you, but the priority is the people who spend the most: resort guests.

The transition from the paper tickets (both admission and fast pass) to RFID is not going to be an overnight perfect change. A complete overhaul of the entire system is not going to be without its glitches. Don't forget the paper tickets used to lose your fingerprint scan over time. Entry is a lot quicker without turnstiles now. FP+ I find to be better because you can guarantee yourself three rides at the park you may not have been guaranteed a FP for previously. You don't have to RD anymore if you reserve your FP ahead of time. At parks like Epcot and Hollywood Studios that have 3 really popular rides each, this is very helpful. Many times have I gone to DHS not being able to ride TSMM because of a 110 minute wait and fastpasses being not being available or only available near park. Why wouldn't you want to guarantee that you get to go on a family favorite ride (especially if the wait time escalates) and not have to dart across the park the first thing in the morning to pick up your fastpasses? FYI, you can move the FP+ times around, instead of just accepting your time allotted. Since you used your 3 FP+ on PRIORITY rides to guarantee you'll get on them during the day, you can use your KTTW card on paper FP tickets day-of, without any sort of plan (to everyone against "micromanagement").

As for the ADR CC policy change, I found it ridiculous that people were making multiple reservations for a single night. Just pick what restaurants you want to eat beforehand or eat off property if you can't handle that decision.

No one has forgotten Disney is a business. They make that abundantly clear with every decision they make.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

No one has forgotten Disney is a business. They make that abundantly clear with every decision they make.

Even the decision to put Maximus' hoof prints in the concrete near Rapunzel tower?

 

[JanaDee]

Even the decision to put Maximus' hoof prints in the concrete near Rapunzel tower?

If the bean counters would have known about it, they probably wouldn't have been there.

 

[Granny square]

If the bean counters would have known about it, they probably wouldn't have been there.

Hahahahaha!

The whole "business" thing sunk in when they started charging for the "behind the seeds" tour. I hated that. We used to go every visit. I'm too cheap to pay for it now that they have changed the ride and everything else. :/

 

[Colleen27]

Just to throw out there that the sky isn't falling, and that Disney can be easily navigated without FPs.

Rumor has it, some rides even have these things called "queue lines".

Sure, but who wants to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation to stand in line for hours every day? Isn't that what the whole concept of FP was created to eliminate?

I don't go to Cedar Point or Six Flags or any other just-a-theme-park any more because I won't pay $300+ in admission for my family to go from line to line, waiting 45-90 minutes for a minute or two of ride time. But I'm supposed to be open-minded, patient, even happy about Disney making changes that mean for the $3000+ I fork over to Disney I'll get to do just that if I dare to want to ride more than one headliner ride in a day?

 

[magicbob]

Sure, but who wants to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation to stand in line for hours every day? Isn't that what the whole concept of FP was created to eliminate?

I don't go to Cedar Point or Six Flags or any other just-a-theme-park any more because I won't pay $300+ in admission for my family to go from line to line, waiting 45-90 minutes for a minute or two of ride time. But I'm supposed to be open-minded, patient, even happy about Disney making changes that mean for the $3000+ I fork over to Disney I'll get to do just that if I dare to want to ride more than one headliner ride in a day?

Yes. Yes, you are.

 

[Granny square]

Sure, but who wants to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation to stand in line for hours every day? Isn't that what the whole concept of FP was created to eliminate? I don't go to Cedar Point or Six Flags or any other just-a-theme-park any more because I won't pay $300+ in admission for my family to go from line to line, waiting 45-90 minutes for a minute or two of ride time. But I'm supposed to be open-minded, patient, even happy about Disney making changes that mean for the $3000+ I fork over to Disney I'll get to do just that if I dare to want to ride more than one headliner ride in a day?

In theory lots of people have been spending big bucks to stand in lines. They are the folks who glare when you saunter up the fp aisle. It is just those of us who have been in the loop through the years that will miss it.

Lol, not arguing. I'm wondering though if the fp+ will more evenly disperse the benefit.

 

[Mad Hattered]

My Redskins

As a lifelong Cowboys fan I stopped reading anything you wrote after this.

 

[ShayBells]

As a lifelong Cowboys fan I stopped reading anything you wrote after this.

Gross Redskins all the way

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

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?

Nope.

 

[disneybass]

Not us. I think it is a step in the right direction. Will save a lot of walking for us. Looking forward to using the magic bands for our Dec trip.

 

[pinkerbell]

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?

We did not renew our AP this year for the same reason's as you. This is no longer a vacation where the planning is part of the fun, it is now work. We have maybe missed 2 dining reservations in that past 20 trips and literally over a hundred ressies. To be charged for a mistake or sick child is insulting. The silly refill cup chips are amusing at best when they waste a billion dollars on a system that to date seems like an epic failure. The roll out is much anticipated and long overdue. And still no true final implementation in sight.
A bunch of suits were swayed by a bunch of tech geeks that have never spent a vacation in an amusement park a day in their lives to buy a system that the average park goer didn't want and can't understand. Including employees. Last trip my KTTW card failed and many locations and worked at others. SOme werent even accepting them and were CASH only. The system has never had my famnily correct since my children were born (once they added my brother into my "family" who has never even been to disney LOL)
Really a BILLION dollar system to fix something that in the mind of most, wasn't broken. Friend just came back from disney and said there were lines everywhere.
It costs a lot of money to go to a park and only rediscover what the writing on the wall clearly says. This system is mediocre at best. So we already have two trips planned for florida. Jan and April and I will be looking forward to it for a variety of reasons, none of which have to do with Disney. Many have suggested Lego Land, Universal, and Seaworld. Sounds like a plan! maybe I will see you there!!

 

[ArwenMarie]

So we already have two trips planned for florida. Jan and April and I will be looking forward to it for a variety of reasons, none of which have to do with Disney. Many have suggested Lego Land, Universal, and Seaworld. Sounds like a plan! maybe I will see you there!!

Good plan, if you like theme parks, there are other parks out there where you can have just as much fun, even magic!

 

[Mad Hattered]

Good plan, if you like theme parks, there are other parks out there where you can have just as much fun, even magic!

It's called Wizardry.

 

[pinkerbell]

It seems to me many of you that are dissatisfied with the new technology and MDE system are forgetting that the Walt Disney Company is a business, not a non-profit, not a charity. These sweeping technological changes are designed so resort guests have a more seamless experience in the parks and at the resorts so they spend more time in their stores. And you know what, it's worked so far. Profit is up 17% in the parks division so far this year. Yeah they are looking to make money but it's supposed to be YOUR Disney Experience. They are aiming to personalize your vacation and make your trip unique. If you don't stay on property they will eventually make the MB available to you, but the priority is the people who spend the most: resort guests.

The transition from the paper tickets (both admission and fast pass) to RFID is not going to be an overnight perfect change. A complete overhaul of the entire system is not going to be without its glitches. Don't forget the paper tickets used to lose your fingerprint scan over time. Entry is a lot quicker without turnstiles now. FP+ I find to be better because you can guarantee yourself three rides at the park you may not have been guaranteed a FP for previously. You don't have to RD anymore if you reserve your FP ahead of time. At parks like Epcot and Hollywood Studios that have 3 really popular rides each, this is very helpful. Many times have I gone to DHS not being able to ride TSMM because of a 110 minute wait and fastpasses being not being available or only available near park. Why wouldn't you want to guarantee that you get to go on a family favorite ride (especially if the wait time escalates) and not have to dart across the park the first thing in the morning to pick up your fastpasses? FYI, you can move the FP+ times around, instead of just accepting your time allotted. Since you used your 3 FP+ on PRIORITY rides to guarantee you'll get on them during the day, you can use your KTTW card on paper FP tickets day-of, without any sort of plan (to everyone against "micromanagement").

As for the ADR CC policy change, I found it ridiculous that people were making multiple reservations for a single night. Just pick what restaurants you want to eat beforehand or eat off property if you can't handle that decision.

I am disappointed that I pay a premium price to go to disney and the value of what I get has significantly decreased. When the system becomes so complex that not even the employees can give accurate information after several calls and getting several different answers. There is a serious problem.
Since WDW changed to the One park one day ticket until now I have not been able to obtain accurate information regarding anything from dining reservations to FP+ availability. While the CM's are always pleasant, and a frequent park goer, very often I know more than they do and upon further questioning, and usually some time on hold, I get a completely different answer than the one I was originally given. Yesterday a cm actually to me that the FP+'s don't run out! seriously!
So, yes, I know they are for profit, but I also know that for a billion dollar investment, there was probably a better and cheaper way. how about open more/new restaurants and attractions without demolishing old ones. And don't mention the Fantasy land expansion. Been there done that and it seems like a joke. They took down one dumbo, added two which seem to be smaller dumbo rides and destroyed a much loved children's area and created a castle that looks more like something you would see at a carnival that Disney in a space so small you can barely walk through it.
Disney can tell me how great everything is and is going to be all they want, but all I have to do is look and listen to see what it really is no longer a leader in the industry.

 

[dbramer]

This is what I don't get. Even if your last name is Disney it's not a personal attack.

I think the biggest contention is the "I haven't tried it yet, but I know I won't like it because everyone else says it's horrible so I am never going there again" crowd that is upsetting most people on these boards. The other camp "Disney can do no wrong" is just as annoying.

I think most people are upset that the way they see The World will have to change. Heaven forbid someone has to use stand-by. These are the ones that get me. The "I can't go on every ride twenty times in a row anymore" crowd is bothersome.

Someone earlier said they shouldn't use paying guests as "guinea pigs." Well, I am wondering how else they would have tested the system without using paying guests?

I have been tracking the times lately, just for giggles...they seem to be manageable for the most part. I think the longest wait I saw at any of the parks was 55 min for TSMM, but that ride is never less than a fifty min standy wait. To me, a summer traveller (due to being a school teacher and having school age kids that I make the choice not to take out of school), think that a 55 min wait would be refreshing.

Anyway....I think that is what is getting on people's nerves IMHO

 

[Granny square]

No one is forced to read the opinions of others. Who cares if joe blow from bfe wherever thinks that the new system sucks. I liked the way we toured. Should I just be happy that instead of the many rides we can hit we may hit a third less? That would be silly.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

As a lifelong Cowboys fan I stopped reading anything you wrote after this.

No wonder we can't agree.

I bet we both hate $10 beer.

 

[Colleen27]

In theory lots of people have been spending big bucks to stand in lines. They are the folks who glare when you saunter up the fp aisle. It is just those of us who have been in the loop through the years that will miss it.

Lol, not arguing. I'm wondering though if the fp+ will more evenly disperse the benefit.

I would argue that they have a fundamental supply and demand issue - that is, much more demand for ride experiences than attractions to provide the supply. This is particularly evident at Studios, where there is literally one ride suitable for young children. And I would propose that a billion dollars could have been much better spent correcting that supply/demand imbalance than on a new approach to line management that insures we all get a turn doing the glaring.