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

[Mad Hattered]

The phrase, "There are lies, damned lies and statistics," is a popular Mark Twain quote attributed to 19th Century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, although Disraeli as the source can't be confirmed. It was one of my statistics professor's favorite sayings.

Well, there you go. I learned something today. But I will still wait for Trey to fill us in on the other questions.

 

[Angel Ariel]

According to my CM family the whole MB program is working awesomely and has been a good thing. Most guests have had very positive things to say about it.

I think most people are fine with the MB program as a whole. As a whole, its a lot more than fp+. Most people here have only been.listing.concerns about the fp+ portion of the mm+ initiative. I know I don't take any issue with MBs themselves, or the touch to pay/enter technology. I'd personally choose the cards over the band's, and I don't ever connect my cc to the room key...MBs won't change that, but I don't have an issue with the technology.

Heck, I don't have a problem with the grand idea behind fp+ either. It's Disney's implementation of it so far, and the many many technical issues, that give me pause.

 

[lugnut33]

I also think a lot of the complaints go back to October. You know, the supposed slow month that has turned into one of the busiest months at WDW. I think a lot of people (guests and WDW management) were surprised by that, however I saw easywdw mention there have been multiple years on the Dis boards where people say they will never go back in Oct.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I also think a lot of the complaints go back to October. You know, the supposed slow month that has turned into one of the busiest months at WDW. I think a lot of people (guests and WDW management) were surprised by that, however I saw easywdw mention there have been multiple years on the Dis boards where people say they will never go back in Oct.

I was there at the beginning of Oct and crowds were fine. They started to get a little heavier towards the end of our trip (70 min SB for Jungle Cruise on a monday early afternoon!? We didn't even see that during Spring Break), but aside from that we didn't really have any unexpected bad waits.

October was also the month that *all* resorts were brought online with MBs and FP+. There were a ton of technical glitches that were reported here. I don't think anyone can rule out the impact that those issues had on wait times and such as well.

 

[Angel Ariel]

You may not want to, but you could do TT and Soarin without FP on a day like today and still have plenty of time left over for the rest of the park. You could even do HS today without the use of FastPass. Just saying. Not saying you should but you could.

Yes, I "could" choose to spend 2+ hrs away from my family in order to ride those rides. If DH and I were there right now, we'd have DD with us. She's 16 months and obviously unable to ride TT. She can't go through the queue, so that means one parent waiting in a very long line while the other has DD for an hour+. The other parent then rides with RS, and then we switch that around for the other headliner and repeat.

I'm sorry, but having to spend hours away from my family on a family vacation seems a bit counter-intuitive.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

riginally Posted by maxiesmom View Post
And comments such as this one only fuel hurt feelings. People should be able to criticize WDW but they should also be free to say they are fine with the way things are changing without being mocked. I was part of the FP+ test last December, and I am part of the bigger test next month. Last years test went just fine, but then we had no problems pulling any other FPs we wanted. Hopefully I will find little has changed, but I'm reserving final judgement till I use the new system myself.

Didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Ya know what they say - the truth hurts.

 

[TreyQ3]

Well, there you go. I learned something today. But I will still wait for Trey to fill us in on the other questions.

Wow – why are you mad?

I’ll answer your question – I don’t know, only Disney knows. Now, I’ll ask you to defend your statement – but you don’t know either. You made an outlandish statement and my comment was that I could use the statistics to support any conclusion I wanted – just as you did. I did not say you were wrong or right. Yet you come back with an over the top response. Really?

This is what is wrong with DIS!

 

[ArwenMarie]

On my bucket list is to just one time go to WDW with a bright orange tour flag and a whistle- with just one poor old individual in an ECV behind me.....

 

[maxiesmom]

Didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Ya know what they say - the truth hurts.

And posts like this are why things get so heated on the Dis. Some people can't take it that others have a different point of view. They mock others to make themselves feel better. Sad.

 

[BayouMickey]

Didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Ya know what they say - the truth hurts.

And posts like this are why things get so heated on the Dis. Some people can't take it that others have a different point of view. They mock others to make themselves feel better. Sad.

Don't you just love how people "get" the magic? I never realized optimism became apologetic...

 

[lugnut33]

Yes, I "could" choose to spend 2+ hrs away from my family in order to ride those rides. If DH and I were there right now, we'd have DD with us. She's 16 months and obviously unable to ride TT. She can't go through the queue, so that means one parent waiting in a very long line while the other has DD for an hour+. The other parent then rides with RS, and then we switch that around for the other headliner and repeat.

I'm sorry, but having to spend hours away from my family on a family vacation seems a bit counter-intuitive.

Indeed your mileage may vary with my proposal.

We as a family could wait it out, but then again my girls are 16 & 13.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Wow why are you mad?

Ill answer your question I dont know, only Disney knows. Now, Ill ask you to defend your statement but you dont know either. You made an outlandish statement and my comment was that I could use the statistics to support any conclusion I wanted just as you did. I did not say you were wrong or right. Yet you come back with an over the top response. Really?

This is what is wrong with DIS!

Well.....my name is Mad Hattered.

I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers. I guess it was this part of your reply that prompted my response:

"As they say, there are lies, d*** lies, and then there are statistics. I can make multiple arguments for these numbers on every side of the argument."

The point being, since Disney won't release that data to the general public there is no possible way know the real answer. So you can't make multiple arguments to support why HS studios had nearly 8 million less gate clicks than MK.

Edit - In 2012 the WDW parks saw an average of 2.23% growth whereas Universal saw 3.25% and that was 2 years after Potter came to town the first time. If that trend continues then it is VERY conceivable that once Diagon Alley opens in 2014 that they could surpass one of the lesser-visited parks. in the near future.(IMO)

 

[Jenny Sanders]

This thread should really be retired...Yawn!

 

[Angel Ariel]

We as a family could wait it out, but then again my girls are 16 & 13.

It's not a matter of waiting it out...I've not been under the impression while I've been at WDW that DD would be allowed into the line, as she's not tall enough for the ride and they do RS specifically so that those who aren't tall enough aren't in line.

That works when you have grandparents who can watch the little one while the adults ride..but if it's just the parents and the child, one parent has to wait in line while the other stays with the child. FP mitigated how long that wait was for rides like Soarin' and TT that get very long very fast.

 

[lugnut33]

I agree with you Angel. For you, hubby and child it is important to have access to FP.

I'm simply pointing out that it can be done without. Inside Epcot there would really only be two rides you'd have to wait out and it wouldn't effect you being able to see the rest of the attractions (unless Soarin' had a 4 hour wait like it does on NYE).

 

[daytondisney]

On my bucket list is to just one time go to WDW with a bright orange tour flag and a whistle- with just one poor old individual in an ECV behind me.....

you owe me a new keyboard and 1/2 can of Diet Coke

 

[pinkerbell]

I will respectfully disagree with this. Any time I have ever had a problem I felt big enough to complain about, they have bent over backwards to try to help me and make it right. They are constantly sending out surveys and such to get guest feedback. If they didn't care what you think why waste time doing surveys?

Same reason my company does, to make it look like they care. I have taken many of their surveys and have never felt they allow me to truly express my opinios either while at the parks, on the phone or emailed after a visit. They are not interested in what I think. But they sure want me to think they are.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with your priorities. There is a growing chorus of long-time Disney vacationers making the same complaints you are. Personally I don't enjoy feeling moved about as if I'm a cog in a wheel while I'm paying the freight and being told I should be enjoying myself.

It is a tremendous mistake to spend the kind of money that has been expended without increasing capacity or value offered to guests while continuing to raise prices, assuming guests will continue to pay and return for diminished offerings or will be replaced by new guests. I foresee a time in the very near future when the chorus of boos from guests unwilling to return trickles down to potential new visitors. For now Disney can attempt to shore things up with increased Brazilian marketing campaigns. Eventually it will catch up to them. I hope they make a course correction before destroying WDW.

As for us, the next time we look to go to Disney it will be DLR -- or upon serious news of a change in direction at WDW --- one seriously focused on guest satisfaction as opposed to attempting to separate guests from their wallets at all costs.

Well Said!!

I'm curious... what happens if you're wrong and Disney continues to make money hand over fist, with increased attendance across the board? Will you feel disappointed they didn't sink?

You could be right and Disney could be headed for disaster. But, you could also be wrong, and this course may turn out to be the right one for the company, no correction required.

Me, I'm hoping this is all a great success for the company, as they truly are my favorite Big Evil Corporation. I'm rooting for them!

Based on people I know who have returned from first time trips since testing, it will be a first and last time they go. Too much waiting, didnt know about having to get FP='s in advance and didnt want to have to plan that far ahead. SO that is the view from the "newbie" who is not experienced t Disney and from what many say, the group they were trying to reach??? As for myself, someone who did not renew the family AP this yr, specifically due to the changes and someone who does not like any of what they represent due to a long standing history of difficulty implementing changes like these from the top down. I too am looking to forward to universal, seaworld and lego-land - we may even do a disney park but that will be if time allows. For the first time in 10 yrs we probably wont stay onsite because even though the purpose is to get people to stay onsite, there is really no benefit to doing so if the parks are loosing appeal

 

[AmyB2006]

This thread should really be retired...Yawn!

LOL, they'll just be another one tomorrow or the day after. Why bother?

 

[Granny square]

Besides it hurts no one. Who cares if people want to have a discussion in a discussion board?

 

[BayouMickey]

Besides it hurts no one. Who cares if people want to have a discussion in a discussion board?

Lol to be fair granny, this stopped being a discussion long ago.. its just a broken record at this point. Keeps repeating and repeating and repeating and repeating *BUMP* *screeeetch*