Is it just me?

[sonofanarchy]

This made me giggle. When I tell people that the blogs are message boards are all ablaze about FP+ and MB talk, they look at me like I have 5 heads. LOL

Whenever I mention the words Disney Message Board to my wife she tells me I need to get a life.

 

[aaarcher86]

But that's just in regards to FP. I'm talking about the enjoyment some are getting out of MB's. But hey, as I said, it's just me.

I think it's just part of the enjoyment. It's not a maker breaker, but I could see where tapping your wrist to something is easier than pulling out a card, putting a card away, worrying about losing the card, etc. They're fun and pretty.

 

[sonofanarchy]

They're fun and pretty.

That must be where I'm lost. As a huge, bulking, macho man, I don't find things to be pretty. I'm too tough for that.

Now where's my cup of hot cocoa???

 

[Mkrop]

Whenever I mention the words Disney Message Board to my wife she tells me I need to get a life.

DH was the same way, and sometimes got frustrated with me, then as we got closer or when we were there he was once again glad I had a clue what was going on. I said werent you listening 3 weeks ago when I mentioned that, and he said no why would I???, were here now

 

[Tigger's ally]

What's funny about it?

I love the ROTFL emoticons. They so eloquently express the frustration a poster feels who can't think of anything witty to say.

I can think of alot of things to say. I don't keep harping on the same thing day after day like some do.

Why are you trying so hard to convince people?

The way I see it, it is up to me to make sure I enjoy my trip. I make sure I enjoy every one of them, abiding by the rules. I plan. I adjust. I come up with new strategies.

 

[AmyB2006]

Whenever I mention the words Disney Message Board to my wife she tells me I need to get a life.

Yes I get the same. LOL

Mostly from my co-workers because my job has a lot of down time. So I'm on here during my down time. They always make fun and ask me stupid questions like, "So, are talking about Turkey Legs with your Disney friends?"

 

[Laketravis]

Our 8 year old thought the MB's were pretty cool. He would always run to the resort room door so he could be the first to open it. Good thing he didn't have buying privileges on his because while buying items at the resort store we'd sometimes catch him at another register trying to tap his MB to pay for the candy he put on the counter.

He had a hard time understanding why Daddy couldn't get another FP+ for RRnR, though.

 

[jennylyn_b]

I like planning too, but let me ask this (as I really don't know the answer) - How do you remember what FP's you have and what time they are for if you have booked them 60 days in advance? Because if it's by using your telephone, I don't see how having to fumble about for your phone and worrying about battery life and wi-fi is easier than pulling a piece of paper from your pocket.

Well for me it's easy. I remember. I have a weird memory like that though which I know most don't. Once I see the fp+ log on mde I can recall it in my mind. My DH used his phone to keep track but it's not any more fumbling than digging in the pocket to look at fp tickets in his opinion. Battery life has never been a problem and we only charge at night and we never had any problems with the wifi.

 

[Tigger's ally]

That must be where I'm lost. As a huge, bulking, macho man, I don't find things to be pretty. I'm too tough for that.

Now where's my cup of hot cocoa???

I think if Disney came out with camo bands, it would get alot of takers.

As would various Dooney prints.

hmmmmmm

 

[baileybrad]

Well, I'm not one that has started any of these threads, but I can tell you that our last October trip, was our smoothest ever. My family loved being able to "show up" at a ride and get on with little to no wait.

But, we never really used the old FP system that much. Which I think makes a huge difference with regards to FP+, of whether you're going to like it or not. If we showed up to TT and the standby line was long, we'd look to see if there were FPs left, if not, we moved on. If there were, we'd grab one and come back.

This time, whenever our FP+ was scheduled for, we walked up, got in the FP return line and got on. They loved that aspect of it.

As far as easier to open doors, pay, enter the park with the band... Sure it's easier. I liked not having to dig out 4 cards, making sure I got them all back and safely put away. It was mildly easier than swiping a tiny card.

As far as the planning aspect, I love to plan. I'm kind of an over planner. So that didn't bother me.

So I don't think one thing more than another made it a smoother vacation than before. I think all of it combined made it smoother.

My DH hates Disney. I'll say it. He hates it. MK mostly. He tolerates the rest, for me and the kids. He actually uttered the words, "This time it wasn't so bad", on our last vacation. LOL

We leave in 2 days to head up there again, and I hope it goes just as smoothly.

But, not a fan of the tiered attractions. All of our FP+ for this trip in a few days were booked before tiers. So once we have to take a trip with that, I don't think I'll be as happy. And I'll admit in the beginning, I was a big proponent of this whole system. I still am. But not the tiered attractions.

I really believe that you have nailed why folks (our family included) enjoy the FP system the way it is.

You never used the system much before. But with FP+ you loved being able to show up at a pre-arranged time with a FP already in your possession. You mention that you are not a fan of tiering. The other 3 current points during this testing besides tiering in two parks are only 3 FP per day, 1 park only, and no multiple booking of an attraction.

What you enjoyed about FP+ is exactly what supporters of the old system also like. They (we) just see how getting a FP- in the AM and returning in an hour or so works great just like how you enjoyed using your pre-booked FP+ at your chosen time worked great for your family. We see them as being pre-arranged but we are not required to do so months in advance. We see the inability to move around the park gathering multiple FP- (repeating an attraction if we see choose with another FP-) as the day progresses as a huge negative with FP+. We see the inability to hop to another park and gather FPs if the crowd at the park we are in starts to blow up as a big deal.

The entry to rooms and charging with a band is fine by us. The changes to FP almost seem to have been an afterthought.

People who understand all things Disney realize that you have to pre-plan many aspects of your trip. We (actually it turns out to be me, my spouse not so much a fan either) enjoy laying out our plan about how many days in the parks and what days to hit what park. Part of the park day planning was based on the ability to get FPs in multiple parks.

I really think that as an adult, the one thing that bugs me the most about the entire direction that Disney has gone is a company really believes that they can control folks in such a manner that they can somehow "trap" them into spending more time at their hotels and their parks -- both of which equates to more money for the company.

Hope you have a great trip. Look forward to hearing about it. Jealous that you will be there prior to the rolling in of the Holiday crowds. We are there from the 20th - 24th.

 

[aaarcher86]

That must be where I'm lost. As a huge, bulking, macho man, I don't find things to be pretty. I'm too tough for that.

Now where's my cup of hot cocoa???

I think you'll change your mind when you strap on that pretty pink MB. There's no way not to feel pretty in pink.

 

[Laketravis]

I think if Disney came out with camo bands, it would get alot of takers.

As would various Dooney prints.

hmmmmmm

LOL!

You know, I think a lot of the debate (and much of the frustration) comes from the fact that many of us look at this whole FP+ thing at different levels.

Personally and because of my background, I consider it from the "hard" viewpoint of queuing science, yield management, revenue optimization, ROI, etc. I'm not just concerned about what WDW is doing, I'm also fascinated because they are putting a lot of weight behind some relatively new principles that have never before been tested on such a large scale. And while they are doing that, they have a competitor across town that is bound to react and be inclined to take advantages of any stumble WDW might make.

So I can be pretty emphatic about my speculations.

By the same token, I can also understand how someone else who prefers to look at this from a "soft" perspective of how it allowed them to not have to worry about being on time for RD because they scheduled their one main attraction for later in the afternoon. And understandably so, that is a big benefit to them. Maybe even enough to make them feel "giddy" about it.

In the end, it's all about individual perspective. Nobody is right or wrong against another, it's only going to boil down to what the predominant view becomes over time.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I can think of alot of things to say. I don't keep harping on the same thing day after day like some do.

Why are you trying so hard to convince people?

The way I see it, it is up to me to make sure I enjoy my trip. I make sure I enjoy every one of them, abiding by the rules. I plan. I adjust. I come up with new strategies.

I'm not trying to convince anybody. The only people that need convincing is Disney, and that's not gonna come from a message board.

Never once have I said we won't enjoy our trip. We enjoyed it last year through torrential day long downpours. We can handle it. Maybe your situation differs from mine (there's a crazy thought!) But given OUR situation, it will simply not be as enjoyable or relaxing as in years past.

 

[sonofanarchy]

In the end, it's all about individual perspective. Nobody is right or wrong against another, it's only going to boil down to what the predominant view becomes over time.

Exactly.

Some people are taking this way too personally. I can't speak for anyone else, but I for one, have only one person (or persons) I'm pointing my finger at, and that's Disney. I'm just blowing the steam off here.

 

[Granny square]

I think you'll change your mind when you strap on that pretty pink MB. There's no way not to feel pretty in pink.

Totally cracked me up. And I'm on a pretty sour mood!

 

[AmyB2006]

I think if Disney came out with camo bands, it would get alot of takers.

As would various Dooney prints.

hmmmmmm

And PURPLE!!!!!

You never used the system much before. But with FP+ you loved being able to show up at a pre-arranged time with a FP already in your possession. You mention that you are not a fan of tiering. The other 3 current points during this testing besides tiering in two parks are only 3 FP per day, 1 park only, and no multiple booking of an attraction.

What you enjoyed about FP+ is exactly what supporters of the old system also like. They (we) just see how getting a FP- in the AM and returning in an hour or so works great just like how you enjoyed using your pre-booked FP+ at your chosen time worked great for your family. We see them as being pre-arranged but we are not required to do so months in advance. We see the inability to move around the park gathering multiple FP- (repeating an attraction if we see choose with another FP-) as the day progresses as a huge negative with FP+. We see the inability to hop to another park and gather FPs if the crowd at the park we are in starts to blow up as a big deal.

Very well said. Yes! I was just talking to a friend last night about this. She is like you with FP-. She was telling me how unhappy they are with the current system, from what they've heard. She'll be there in March. And I totally get it. She said everything that's been said on here. Prices going up, benefits seem to be going down, might have to go to Universal and/or postpone coming back to Disney.

Hope you have a great trip. Look forward to hearing about it. Jealous that you will be there prior to the rolling in of the Holiday crowds. We are there from the 20th - 24th.

Thanks! We plan it that way Another reason why we have never been big FP- users. We never really needed to. It's usually not that crowded. But I have no problem taking my kids out of school a few days to go during non crowded times. They're still pretty young. If I were there during Christmas crowds, gosh I don't even want to think about it. I don't do well in crowds.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I'm not trying to convince anybody. The only people that need convincing is Disney, and that's not gonna come from a message board.

Never once have I said we won't enjoy our trip. We enjoyed it last year through torrential day long downpours. We can handle it. Maybe your situation differs from mine (there's a crazy thought!) But given OUR situation, it will simply not be as enjoyable or relaxing as in years past.

the relaxing part puzzles me. With all your subtle hints, I had you pegged for a commando. My trip in 53 days will be more relaxing than ever. Ride every headliner once, and leisurely cruise the rest of the parks. The only two times I have ever been upset at the world were both because of people running into me in a hurry. Not bumping mind you, running into me on a full boar sprint. Thank god it was me and not my wife or kids. Oh yeah, and I did get mad another time. Something about missing a three foot eagle putt after making the best fairway wood shot of my life. Then I realized where I was at.

 

[sonofanarchy]

the relaxing part puzzles me. With all your subtle hints, I had you pegged for a commando. My trip in 53 days will be more relaxing than ever. Ride every headliner once, and leisurely cruise the rest of the parks. The only two times I have ever been upset at the world were both because of people running into me in a hurry. Not bumping mind you, running into me on a full boar sprint. Thank god it was me and not my wife or kids. Oh yeah, and I did get mad another time. Something about missing a three foot eagle putt after making the best fairway wood shot of my life. Then I realized where I was at.

I am a commando. Big time. I'm at rope drop every day. The thing is, I'm also a die-hard who likes to ride certain rides multiple times. Under the new system, that will be very difficult to do.

That's why I'm not opposed to a pay Fastpass system. All the other major theme park companies do it. Granted, Disney is higher attendance to worry about, so it just has to be more limited. And if they wanted to sell that based on tiers, oddly, I wouldn't have an issue. At least then, you've got a choice. That's what I love about Universal.

To me, an option like that at Disney would be priceless (well, within reason.)

 

[Muddypaws]

Ride every headliner once, and leisurely cruise the rest of the parks.

Except at Epcot and HS.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Except at Epcot and HS.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

50% of the time....it works every time.