Is anyone else hugely entertained by the FP+ tier system test?

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I'm amused by the amount of teeth gnashing, chest thumping, wailing and moaning both by FP+/MB and by the GAC/DAS. The only constant is change. Adapt or sink in the tar pits people. Just got back last week and going back in March. There were things I liked and things I think I might not like but I'll either work it out or find somewhere else to spend my money. It doesn't have to be a production. Debate/Discussion/Dialog all perfectly acceptable but the Drama has got to go.

Of course my adapt may cost Disney $$$$$$


That is the real choice. Live with Disney's inept IT or go someplace else. For the next year or so I am going elsewhere and withholding long term decisions.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

The reality is that one piece at a time, all of the aspects of FP+ that turned people off are being implemented. My philosophy is to expect the worst - in this case, expect that FP+ will be tiered and that all headliners will be booked within 24 hours of their availability in the booking window. Get in early or stand in line.

Anything short of that will be a pleasant surprise. I will plan accordingly, and make my decisions accordingly.

 

[AmyB2006]

No!!!! LOL. As a matter of fact DVC owners, IMO, get less than people paying a "cash" resort stay. But, we bought into a timeshare, that's all. I don't expect to get extra perks because I bought a timeshare. I'm ok with that.

However I do think guests staying on site (whether cash or DVC) should get perks. I like the EMH, I hope they don't get rid of them. I'm happy with keeping those. If they do get rid of them, that would suck. I also love immersing myself in the whole WDW experience.

I'm not saying we should get more perks than what are already there. But sometimes it sounds as if people don't think on site guests should any perks at all for staying on site.

Unless they drop the prices they have to give some kind of perk to get enough guests to fill rooms.

But even if they do drop prices (which I doubt will happen) you don't think onsite guests should get any perks? That's what I'm asking. Because it sounds like that's what a lot of people are saying. I realize they get some now, but it seems like people don't even want them getting that.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The Grand Floridian is no nicer than Portofino. IMO.

The GF ranks as one of my most disappointing stays ever. Motel 6 service. Ritz pricing.


If I am paying those prices it is going to take more then a FP to measure up. Disney probably thinks. "If we give them an extra FP they won't care our quality and service are sub par ". Sorry Disney I card.

 

[MrInfinity]

The GF ranks as one of my most disappointing stays ever. Motel 6 service. Ritz pricing.

Did they at least leave the light on for you?

 

[KatieCharlotte]

The reality is that one piece at a time, all of the aspects of FP+ that turned people off are being implemented. My philosophy is to expect the worst - in this case, expect that FP+ will be tiered and that all headliners will be booked within 24 hours of their availability in the booking window. Get in early or stand in line.

Anything short of that will be a pleasant surprise. I will plan accordingly, and make my decisions accordingly.

And if you happen to start your WDW stay at the end of the week instead of the beginning, good luck getting a headliner FP+ for Friday when everyone else's booking window opened six days earlier.

Can't wait 'til people book two (or more) weeks at a resort, grab FP+ for the second week with a jump on the competition, and then cancel the first week/s. People do that to get spots at our popular state park campgrounds, so I'm pretty sure they will at Disney.

 

[Nancyg56]

A lot of the problem is no one knows how this is going to work. You can't really base it off of what is going on now because not everyone is online with this yet. But with what some are saying as far as lines go(and still having paper fastpass available)it is definitely concerning. They more than likely will do away with the paper fastpass. Even if they do keep some same day passes available in a kiosk the times will be anything but prime.

I know. Without having the system really up and running it is not possible to know how the changes are going to affect me, or anyone else. Touring is personal, and as we have seen time and again, most folks embrace their style becasue that is how they can maximize their vacation value.

I am trying to not to go negative here because I really want the system to enhance rather than constrict, but I admit that I am very lad that I have no vacation planned during all of this testing.

 

[clsteve]

I am trying to not to go negative here because I really want the system to enhance rather than constrict, but I admit that I am very lad that I have no vacation planned during all of this testing.

But wouldn't you be very lady......

 

[ArwenMarie]

The reality is that one piece at a time, all of the aspects of FP+ that turned people off are being implemented. My philosophy is to expect the worst - in this case, expect that FP+ will be tiered and that all headliners will be booked within 24 hours of their availability in the booking window. Get in early or stand in line.

Anything short of that will be a pleasant surprise. I will plan accordingly, and make my decisions accordingly.

I'm with you, expect the worse, lower my expectations and then be pleasantly surprised

 

[robpa]

But even if they do drop prices (which I doubt will happen) you don't think onsite guests should get any perks? That's what I'm asking. Because it sounds like that's what a lot of people are saying. I realize they get some now, but it seems like people don't even want them getting that.

They should get something since Disney is sucking up a boatload of their cash but it shouldn't be something that would negatively impact people who aren't staying onsite.

Just like offsite guests have the option to stay onsite, onsite guests have the option to stay offsite if they don't think they are getting value(IE more perks). It probably doesn't matter what Disney does someone will feel slighted. Disney will do whatever they think will make the most money anyway. It just seems many people think Disney is still the Company that Walt founded. Its not even close. But most businesses are that way so it is what it is.

 

[Networth]

Having stayed at the GF multiple times and Portifino Bay multiple times(I live in Florida). Portifno is much nicer hotel. The rooms at GF need a refurb immediately. Their is a difference between "Victorian" theming and old. Even look at the linens used at the GF, when was the last time you saw a 4-5 star hotel use a old style comforter. I love Disney, and I get "staying in the magic" but the prices are crazy compared to what you get. Will I continue to stay at the GF, maybe but I will probably start doing CR and BWI now because the rooms are much newer and nicer IMO. Disney needs to take a note from Universal. Period. Call me a snob or elitist but I work hard for my income, if I am paying you $650 a night for a room it better at least feel like a Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental. I have given Disney slack on this because of the location but its getting crazy.

Also to those saying Universal express pass system would not work at Disney because the amount of resorts. Not every resort should get "extra, more, unlimited" fast passes" Only 6-7 of the top tier/rate resorts.

 

[clsteve]

Having stayed at the GF multiple times and Portifino Bay multiple times(I live in Florida). Portifno is much nicer hotel. The rooms at GF need a refurb immediately. Their is a difference between "Victorian" theming and old. Even look at the linens used at the GF, when was the last time you saw a 4-5 star hotel use a old style comforter. I love Disney, and I get "staying in the magic" but the prices are crazy compared to what you get. Will I continue to stay at the GF, maybe but I will probably start doing CR and BWI now because the rooms are much newer and nicer IMO. Disney needs to take a note from Universal. Period.

Loews has the comfort and service thing down pat.

Had a great stay at BWI last year, I'll have a hard time staying anywhere else on property because of it, but am really looking forward to Portofino Bay starting Jan 14.

 

[Bullseye]

Take a weekend off of the Dis and come back to 5 more pages of rants. I love it.

Oh yeah everyone who stays onsite should get the exact same experience as someone staying offsite. *not*.

Oh yeah when you pay $500/nt to stay at the Poly it's for a nicer room. Hah. Have you seen the Poly rooms? They look like -- oh yeah. A hotel room. With housekeepers who make animals out of your towels. You are not paying for just a room.

If you feel the off-site is enough of a savings that it's worth it to you to do so, given you wont get on rides as fast, that is your CHOICE. If you want the fast passes, then pay the extra $100-$300/nt to stay on property. But certainly don't complain that Disney won't give you something for free that others paid a premium for.

Of course Disney is going to offer perk after perk - some of them being things that ARE REALLY VALUEABLE like FPs - to entice guests to spend big bucks and stay at their resorts.

This is business. Disney's goal is to maximize its own profit while killing off all the competing business. Remember those competing Holiday Inns and HoJos only exist there because they are leeching off the Disney attractions in the first place... now, they will have one more obstacle in their way while they attempt to suck Disney guests offsite by offering cheaper rooms.

I can't help but think all the new changes are AWESOME. It is progress -- picking your FPs from the convenience of your home. No rush for Kiosks. Less abuse by FastPass Runners / Masters. More money spent by most guests. More profit for Disney = more capital investment. There may be some volatility during the rollout but that happens w everything new, leading to much better later.

Oh and someone else said Disney hasn't done anything new lately? Really? Disney just bought Lucas Arts! Huge capital investment. And Marvell comics! And new Fantasyland and new Avatar Land and new Star Wars Land and new Shanghai Disney. Disney is spending money hand over foot on improving and spreading their dominance.

It's just... too funny to read some of these rants.

Huh...you're logic isn't fuzzy at all...makes sense to me!

 

[robpa]

I know. Without having the system really up and running it is not possible to know how the changes are going to affect me, or anyone else. Touring is personal, and as we have seen time and again, most folks embrace their style becasue that is how they can maximize their vacation value.

I am trying to not to go negative here because I really want the system to enhance rather than constrict, but I admit that I am very lad that I have no vacation planned during all of this testing.

Are you the negative Nancy everyone is talking about

 

[Mad Hattered]

Having stayed at the GF multiple times and Portifino Bay multiple times(I live in Florida). Portifno is much nicer hotel.

Exactly! Fuzzy doesn't have a clue about what he is talking about in that aspect.

 

[dansamy]

I would not be happy if I was unable to have the same opportunity to enjoy an amusement park the same as everyone else after having paid the same price.

Universal Studios guests all pay the same entry ticket price, just like Disney's guests. But Universal gives their on site guests one hour early entry to WWoHP AND unlimited express pass. Off site guests don't get any early entry (like EMH at Disney) and they must pay for express pass, which is ONCE per ride, not unlimited like it is for on site. The new value resort that Universal is building will not have express pass, only the WWoHP early entry.

 

[robpa]

Universal Studios guests all pay the same entry ticket price, just like Disney's guests. But Universal gives their on site guests one hour early entry to WWoHP AND unlimited express pass. Off site guests don't get any early entry (like EMH at Disney) and they must pay for express pass, which is ONCE per ride, not unlimited like it is for on site. The new value resort that Universal is building will not have express pass, only the WWoHP early entry.

I think the difference is that there are more rides in the 2 Universal parks. When we last went in Oct of 2010 we wouldn't have needed FOTL access. Lines were not long at all. Even with non resort guests at Universal you would still get to ride all of the express pass rides once which is more than the 3 rides that Disney is offering now. Which is the better deal if your goal is to ride rides?

 

[f19810]

Is comparing Universal to Disney really like comparing apples to apples? Rollarcoarsters don't like me and since Universal has a lot of rides that I can't ride, I haven't been there for around several years. When I priced things out, three days at universal was cheaper than three days at disney. Adding the express pass evened things up. If disney wants off site guests to pay for a fast pass, then universal will be cheaper. Also, most people will spend more time at disney so 5 days of fast passes can really add up for a family compared to two or three days at universal.

 

[magicbob]

I don't see how that fits. Coach is coach is coach. Everyone is treated the same in coach regardless of how or what you paid. You get a bag of nuts and a soda. LOL

I flew Cryin' Air to Dublin last month and you don't even get a bag of nuts and a soda unless you pay extra for it. I did spring for the $10 euros extra to reserve a seat. The race from the terminal to the tarmac for a Ryan Air flight (first come, first served seating) makes the old Toy Story Mania dash look like a walk in the park!

I'm kind of having a good time watching grown adults lose grip on reality a little bit, I'll admit it.

It seems funny to see someone who obviously is an obsessive planner get upset because fp+ was obviously not in their plans and now their plans are ever so slightly changed.

I don't have a trip to WDW planned until well after FP+ should be well established and (hopefully) all the kinks and bugs worked out. But I have a lot of sympathy for people who are spending thousands of dollars on their vacation during this tumultuous testing. It's not about being obsessed and not able to deal with a slight change. This is not a slight change if someone finds themself fighting huge crowds/lines or they have to spend hours at guest relations just to fix a glitch so they can even enter the park. A lot of people offer the advice to just "go with the flow" but I'd be interested to see how well your vacation flows if it's YOU that's waiting in the hours long GR line because a glitch is preventing you from entering the park and meanwhile you have skrimped and saved for this trip and you're having to spend a significant chunk of it missing out on the vacation while you're trying to get the problem fixed.

And if you happen to start your WDW stay at the end of the week instead of the beginning, good luck getting a headliner FP+ for Friday when everyone else's booking window opened six days earlier.

I see this as a very concerning systemic problem. The overlapping windows of different guests' visits will wreak havoc on availability. Under legacy FP every morning was a clean slate. If you chose to get up and go to the park early enough, there were always FPs available. Under the new system, EVEN IF you get up at the crack of dawn 60 days before your trip, all the FPs could be gone because someone else's (a lot of someone elses) trip begins sooner than yours. Someone explain to me again about that level playing field?

Can't wait 'til people book two (or more) weeks at a resort, grab FP+ for the second week with a jump on the competition, and then cancel the first week/s. People do that to get spots at our popular state park campgrounds, so I'm pretty sure they will at Disney.

But I thought the FP+ system is tied to tickets and not hotel reservation. You would need two weeks worth of tickets to reserve FP+ for the following week. Unless someone goes to the expense of adding NE option to the ticket, this seems an unlikely practice. But I'm sure if there's a loophole to exploit, we'll be the ones to figure it out.

 

[dansamy]

Disney to Universal isn't apples to apples. I'm not implying it is. I AM telling all the "Disney can't/won't do" that it's not impossible nor without precedent, both within Disney & at other theme parks.