Is FP+ forcing people into the parks?

[ArwenMarie]

To my un educated eye it seems like fast pass plus encourages a lot more waiting/milling around, not shopping and dining "instead". Plus stopping to check the wait times and plans and read an email now that Space Mt is down and the fast pass window is open. I know we often don't try to fit anything but a small snack or bathroom break between a fast pass, and if ride lines are 45-60, don't want to "risk" missing a fast pass when the line is longer or breaks down (talking about you Pirates). So I think a lot of people just sort of wait. Which leads to the really crowded feeling walk ways. I mean the area outside of Pirates is very wide, yet seems to be filled to the brim more often than not! And I don't know, but the gift shops have seemed like ghost shops...

I do like the feature on MDE with the wait times grouped with short, moderate, long waits, that really seems like it should help balance some lines.

But it also makes sense that more people would sleep in or decide on a whim to go to the park because they know they have 3 rides...vs before if you missed RD you knew there wasn't any point to going to HS if you really really wanted to not wait hours on end for TSM, RnR and TofT.

I agree I feel like there are a lot of people waiting around now especially in MK.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I don't think it has anything to do with FP+, the parks are just busy because more people are going. Whether it's because of the improving economy or just the fact that WDW seems to have become trendy in recent years.

I know it's an unscientific poll, but I know 7 different families (none of which know each other) who have gone to WDW for the first time in the last two years. They watched for years as we went and were unfazed (even acted like they would never have any interest in such a thing), then suddenly announced they were going. And they knew nothing about FP+ when they made that decision. Whatever they are doing with their marketing campaign to the untapped public, it seems to be working.

 

[Planogirl]

It's too bad that they don't release attendance figures. Lots of conjecture but who knows?

 

[GPC0321]

I don't think it has anything to do with FP+, the parks are just busy because more people are going. Whether it's because of the improving economy or just the fact that WDW seems to have become trendy in recent years.

I know it's an unscientific poll, but I know 7 different families (none of which know each other) who have gone to WDW for the first time in the last two years. They watched for years as we went and were unfazed (even acted like they would never have any interest in such a thing), then suddenly announced they were going. And they knew nothing about FP+ when they made that decision. Whatever they are doing with their marketing campaign to the untapped public, it seems to be working.

This rings true for me too. Heck, I'm going in the spring for the first time in 17 years, so I'm contributing to the increase in attendance.

Also, I do think it's somewhat "trendy" as you say. It's always been the #1 family destination, but I don't remember personally knowing so many people who go to WDW very frequently. I live in a VERY small town and work in a small high school, and there are 5 of my colleagues who visit WDW on a yearly basis. There are students who go a lot too, and my cousin and her family go quite frequently as well. Oh and my best friend and her family have gone twice in the past few years.
I don't know THAT many people, so knowing that many who frequent WDW is pretty significant. It's sort of "the" place to vacation...at least around these parts.

Luckily, I handle crowds ok. Getting ready to head to the NC State Fair, as usual, on opening Saturday. It will be so crowded you can hardly walk by the time we've been there a few hours. Good training for our trip to WDW, LOL!

 

[Hootch]

Half way through our trip earlier this year, my wife commented that we were spending more time in the parks to do what we had done iin trips before.. I do think the better economy and lower gas prices have impacted crowd levels. I also believe FP+ has an impact. Secondary attraction wait times have grown. Pirates at 25 minutes in the middle of the afternoon is expected. It is not expected to be that at 10:00 AM on a normal opening.

Disney designed a system that regulates lines inclusively. It helps them plan and control crowds. Their action has a negative impact on my family relative to wat we experinced before. It is up to us to determine how the new reality impacts us. In my view, I think Universal is a relative better visit. Not that Universal is better, but that we should shift our number of days toward Universal. My wife seems to be looking to cut Universal out completely and reducing days.

It will probably be two years before we go again. We're doing college visits. We will figure that out when the time comes.

 

[bc7ate9]

I don't know if FP+ is the cause or not. DLR still has FP- and the crowd levels there are increasing as well.

We were at DL this past January - what predicted to be a low crowd week...it was PACKED. There were long lines to do EVERYTHING. We missed the FP+ system. I agree with the people who attribute the higher attendance levels to things like the economy, not FP+.

 

[hoosll]

They don't care if you do 3 rides and leave ... they have you buying 7 days of tickets, hotel rooms and meals when you used to spend 4-5 days and got to ride your favorite rides multiple times now you are lucky to ride them once or twice. This is the ultimate in crowd control ... they know 30-60 days in advance how many people will be in each park and when they will be at each ride.
I'm still trying to figure out how they plan to do tier-demand ticket pricing unless it's like plane tickets or hotel reservations ... tickets are no longer "open" - you buy tickets for a specific park on a specific day - good luck trying to change your "reserved" ticket...

 

[Babs Johnson]

I don't know if FP+ has had any effect on attendance levels, but it seems almost everyone is aware of FP now. I miss the days, not so long ago, when many people didn't even know FP- existed, or thought it cost extra. This despite FP- information being on all the printed park maps, in guide books, on the web, etc. It was more FPs for ME ME ME a few years ago.

 

[kittyab]

I told DH i think the fast pass system will get more people in the gift shops. Who stand in line for 90 minutes? Nope you will kill tome in those over priced gift shops.

For my family any wait more than 20 minutes we would skip that ride. Fast pass or no ride.

 

[kittyab]

We were here before the the fast pass system started up we could never get a paper fast pass, they were all taken by noon.

 

[capegirl]

We just got back from a week's stay last night. For us, FP+ drove us OUT of the parks. We did the FP+ rides we had reservations for, and then the lines were so ridiculously long at rides that never needed FP's before this system that we mostly gave up and went back to the resort. "Killing time" is okay to a certain extent in the parks, but I'd prefer to be killing time by actually experiencing the lesser attractions than trying to look at the overpriced trinkets in the gift shops because Under the Sea has a 45-minute wait.

Same here. FP+ drove us out of the parks and back to our resort. I agree that the lines for lesser attractions were ridiculous. The Disney bubble that I have always adored has burst. I know there are some who have had a positive experience with FP+, but it was just too structured for us. The entire vacation revolved around showing up on time for attractions/ADR's, and checking my iPhone.
So our next Disney vacation will be very different. We will spend fewer days in the parks, and venture away from the 'bubble' to enjoy some other Florida attractions.

 

[Nancyg56]

I told DH i think the fast pass system will get more people in the gift shops. Who stand in line for 90 minutes? Nope you will kill tome in those over priced gift shops.

For my family any wait more than 20 minutes we would skip that ride. Fast pass or no ride.

I just don't see it as a bonus for Disney. Most people have a finite amount of spending money when they are on vacation. I know I have what I plan to spend and when it's gone...it's gone. I never stand in a 90 minute line, never have...never will, but I find plenty to keep us busy til the next FP. WHen we are done for the day we head back to teh resort to rest, swim and enjoy.

 

[wajones2]

Basically there is no off season. Maybe an off day, or week but few and far between. We travel to WDW frequently, so doing our 3 and out works. But for a family that saved years to make this one and only trip, I only hope they hit an off week.

 

[Conno]

people who in the past who planned down days away from the parks, are now feeling more obligated to go to the parks everyday, to use their FP's.

I'm planning a 14 day vacation in April, visiting from the UK. And, for me personally, you couldn't be more right with this speculation.

Normally we would plan 4-5 days of "non-park" time over the two weeks; but now I find myself saying "... but we have 3 fast passes, so we might as well use them to get the best value"; given that people from the UK have access to the "Ultimate Tickets" which allow for 14 days unlimited entry to every park/water park; it would be stupid not to make use of them.

Previously we would have planned our down time, and stuck to it - now, not so much.

 

[5Hfan]

I told DH i think the fast pass system will get more people in the gift shops. Who stand in line for 90 minutes? Nope you will kill tome in those over priced gift shops.

For my family any wait more than 20 minutes we would skip that ride. Fast pass or no ride.

I think Disney is hoping exactly that...but really our last visits I swear every gift shop at the end of rides no one stopped to browse, they seemed so much emptier than a few years back. (and now that you don't have to stop to view ride photos after say Buzz or Splash, the kids aren't wandering over and wanting to buy something either, so we just breeze right out and spend less time/money in the shops!)

 

[GreatLakes]

I do think there are more locals in the parks now than in the past and a part of that is the ability to schedule a few FP+'s and leave. I also think part of it is the economy being in a good position and more locals springing for APs in addition to more people traveling. I'm sure that has a lot to do with the way Disney changed the pricing and blackout structure of APs.

I also think Disney is scheduling special events during slow times along with publishing discounts so the slow times aren't really slow any longer. Disney is doing all they can to even out the attendance curve so the parks have roughly the same number of people in them throughout the year.

 

[Enjoying Life]

The higher attendance is a direct result of Disney's aggressive business and marketing strategies. Once an outsider, Disney is now a Wall Street darling. Analysts site content creation, brand recognition, and their ability to merchandise, as the reasons for their surging profits and growth.

On 10/11/2011 Disney was worth 57 Billion dollars. Today the company is worth 179 Billion. That's a lot of growth for 4 years. The park attendance is a reflection of this, but by no means a reflection of the overall economy.

Ask any economist and they will tell you that the housing and unemployment numbers are skewed. The unemployment numbers don't account for the record number of people who have “left the workforce”. This is the designation they give to anyone who is not collecting unemployment and can not find a job.

The housing numbers don't account for the emergency measures put into place by the Federal Reserve, forcing interest rates to their lowest levels ever. These emergency measures are still in place. Along with the QE program, the last 6 years has seen 4 Trillion dollars worth of stimulus aimed at RAISING the inflation rate.

It's comical to cite zero inflation as a sign of a good economy. The fact that Social Security recipients will not be getting a raise next year is an indication of weak economic growth. Economists use this as an example of a stagnant economy. Low GDP, low inflation, not good.

 

[Momtomouselover]

We just returned from a fall break trip of 7 days. We spent two of those at Universal for the first time ever. Universal is way different but was fun in its own rights. However, I don't feel the urge to return to Universal for another year. Disney in the past I have returned year after year and sometimes 2 (and even once 3!) times a year. We stay onsite at Disney and have visits anywhere from 5-9 days. However, with the FP+ and the crowding I'm finding myself spending less and less time in the parks and more resort time (also this along with my sons age is what encouraged us to visit Universal). Some would say maybe that is what Disney wants, that is, for us to have short visits to the park and spend more Resort and "other" time. I think this may be backfiring though. I'm beginning to feel that if we can't do more in the parks and we are too fatigued and tired of the crowds to go back in the evening, etc., that it is not worth the money. I'm thinking that perhaps we would be better off with one trip a year or maybe even every other year (gasp!).

 

[RedAngie]

It just seems to me that the parks have become much more crowded since the introduction of FP+. The question is why? I'm sure there are several reasons, but 2 that stick out for me I believe are 1, Locals/Florida Pass holders, who in the past would have stayed away from the parks during certain times of the week/month/year, because of crowds, are now going because of FP+, and 2, people who in the past who planned down days away from the parks, are now feeling more obligated to go to the parks everyday, to use their FP's. What ever the reasons are, the parks unfortunately seem to be much more crowded since we've started going regularly as a family 18 years ago.

I'm not following.....are you saying people on a week's stay, who maybe bought a 4 day pass, are now feeling obligated to upgrade to a 7 day pass just to use FP+? I agree adding those days is relatively inexpensive after the 4th day. But I like my "off" days to relax and do other things, even, gasp, off Disney property.

I told DH i think the fast pass system will get more people in the gift shops. Who stand in line for 90 minutes? Nope you will kill tome in those over priced gift shops.

For my family any wait more than 20 minutes we would skip that ride. Fast pass or no ride.

I'm one of those who would often wait in an hour plus standby line for rides I liked. I'd rather wait and ride something than kill time between FP appointments in an overpriced gift shop.

 

[smiths02]

I'm not following.....are you saying people on a week's stay, who maybe bought a 4 day pass, are now feeling obligated to upgrade to a 7 day pass just to use FP+? I agree adding those days is relatively inexpensive after the 4th day. But I like my "off" days to relax and do other things, even, gasp, off Disney property.

On our last vacation, personally speaking, FP+ and the relatively cheaper cost of a multi-day ticket made me feel like we shouldn't have a "no park" day in our vacation. We ended up upgrading to APs, so it made sense to hop into Epcot to ride Soarin' or hop into DHS to get another ride on TSMM instead of hang in our room/resort/DTD all day.