Is it just me?

[Magpie]

So, based on this thread, when I post that I enjoyed FP+ and MagicBands, I'm either smugly trying to make other people feel bad, gloating, or am secretly a Disney Intern planted on these boards to trick people into liking the new system.

I wish!

-Is it easier being forced to plan what rides you want to do at specific times 60 days in advance?

It's certainly not harder, and I enjoyed it very much. An hour is a BIG window.

Besides, I always knew which park I'd be in on which day, even pre-FP+. I used to plan out which legacy-FPs I was going to pull and when, making spreadsheets and touring plans. So, it's a pleasure to look at my ride options and pick what I want ahead of time. I even enjoy seeing them all lined up, looking pretty on my MM+ page.

It's a way for me to prepare for and anticipate my upcoming vacation. I even still do the old spreadsheet, just because it's just plain fun sticking Mickey clipart all over and printing my daily schedules out and sticking them into a book. Even though all the info's online now, and I really don't need a paper record any more.

-Is it really that much easier to use your wrist to open your door, get into the park and charge purchases than it is to swipe a tiny card? Enough so that it made your vacation the best ever?

Oh gosh, yes! I can't count the number of times we accidentally demagnetized the old cards and had to trek down to guest services to get them fixed. And then the fix wouldn't work. And back we'd have to go again. The old mag-strip cards were horrible.

The RFID cards were better, but I really like the convenience of having my key right on my wrist. I'm a girl. Jewelry makes me squee. I think I'll paint my MagicBand in nail polish moon-and-star sparkles and use it again on my next trip to Disney!

I just don't buy it. These comments sound like they're directly from Disney's marketing department, or from someone who refuses to say anything bad about Disney.

Again, I'm not saying the MB and FP+ are not working for anyone. But to start a thread claiming how they enhanced their vacation just doesn't make sense to me.

Well, if I am from Disney's marketing department, I've got a heck of a posting history. Clearly this was all a nefarious plot, planting me years ago, for this specific moment in history. I'm obviously a sleeper agent!

Man, I'm so cool!

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.

How do you remember what Dining Reservations you have and what time they are for if you have booked them 60 (or 180) days in advance?

When I roll out of my resort bed in the morning, I pull up my plans for the day on the computer. Then I jot down on the resort's handy pad, with the resort's pen, any relevant times or places I've got to be during the day. Along with any confirmation numbers I might need.

Then I stick it in my pocket. I refer to it when needed, same as I did pre-FP+.

Would I say this was my best trip yet? Yes. But that's what I always say, after every trip. I haven't experienced a bad one yet.

We had some technical glitches, but they were easily fixed and didn't impact our time in the parks. One thing that really stood out this time, from the moment we left our driveway, was how well the timing worked out, on everything! We sailed through the border to the US, we made a tight connection without trouble (our second plane was conveniently delayed 10 minutes - yay!), we walked right onto a Magical Express Bus... and it just went on like that. We never once waited more than 10 minutes for a bus this trip, and most times it was less than 5. We rode our favourite rides multiple times, and discovered the joys of staying past official close at Hollywood Studios to take in the Osborne Lights. Even on our way home, we caught one of the last planes out before snow shut down the airport we were in!

It was an AMAZING trip!

Did FP+ make it that way? No, but it didn't hurt. And it meant we were a lot more free-form in our touring style, now that I didn't feel bound to a particular touring plan.

 

[goldenbear]

I am sorry that you will no longer be able to run circles around first timers getting FP after FP, but the playing field is being leveled. Deal with it or move on.

The field was always level. The difference is that the field now has levels (tiers). Section restrictions (1 park a day). Seating restrictions (3 only per day and 1 person per seat). The field also fills up earlier (Standby practically at opening).

And I know that it is TESTING, but there is a large group who haven't been told that the field configuration has changed and, worse yet, that they don't have the same advance opportunity to buy a seat at the field.......they get the leftovers that are not even available until sundown or it is standing room only for them (even though they paid full price and were not told by the owners of the field that these restrictions had been placed only upon them.

Before the field was just available to everybody exactly the same, well except for the bigwigs who changed the rules, they have front of the line paper for everything....they have never seen a standby line or pulled one FP.

 

[rebbyparker]

The field was always level. The difference is that the field now has levels (tiers). Section restrictions (1 park a day). Seating restrictions (3 only per day and 1 person per seat). The field also fills up earlier (Standby practically at opening).

And I know that it is TESTING, but there is a large group who haven't been told that the field configuration has changed and, worse yet, that they don't have the same advance opportunity to buy a seat at the field.......they get the leftovers that are not even available until sundown or it is standing room only for them (even though they paid full price and were not told by the owners of the field that these restrictions had been placed only upon them.

Before the field was just available to everybody exactly the same, well except for the bigwigs who changed the rules, they have front of the line paper for everything....they have never seen a standby line or pulled one FP.

Great post.

 

[PrettyFlower2]

vera bradley magicband cover?? Sign me up.

 

[AmyB2006]

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

Anchorman.

December 18th, Anchorman 2!!

 

[Mad Hattered]

Anchorman.

December 18th, Anchorman 2!!

You know it! The real line is 60% of the time it works every time...but since you can't book all the headliners at 50% of the Disney parks I switched it up a bit.

 

[AmyB2006]

You know it! The real line is 60% of the time it works every time...but since you can't book all the headliners at 50% of the Disney parks I switched it up a bit.

Go on.

 

[The Hub]

I'm not saying it needs to. If you hate it and know it doesn't work for you, fine. I'm just saying THATS why you don't get the enjoyment people are getting out of it, because you keep applying it to your own situation when you think about it.

As I posted before on one of his prior threads, if FastPass+ and/or DAS does not work for him, he needs to explain to Guest Relations why it doesn't work, what he think will work and see what accommodations they can provide.

I never accused anyone of anything. And I never pointed anyone out.

If I've been a cheerleader of negativity because I think the new FP system sucks, so be it. The way it is now, I don't like it, and until the DIS changes the rules, I have every right to voice my feelings on it.

And where do YOU get off telling me to deal with it or move on?

It's a message board. Honestly, what do you expect? This is the real world. It's not Fantasyland. Not everyone is going to share the same opinions. We all feel passionately about the subject matter, otherwise we wouldn't be here. But to accuse people of whining about it.....Lame. That's just a cheap shot. Someone could turn around and accuse you of whining and running away because you don't agree with everyone.

This subject is the most vocal I (and I'm sure many people) have been on any Disney subject matter. It's a subject that is quite controversial (in our little Disney universe) and one that will impact all of us one way or the other.

Well, this is hypocritical. Remember your other thread about not coming back?

 

[Mad Hattered]

Go on.

I ate a whole bunch of fiberglass insulation. It wasn't cotton candy like that guy said. My stomach's itchy.

 

[Laketravis]

I posted this on another thread, but.....

Just out of curiosity, what took longer to complete?

The GF DVC resort or the new roller coaster in Fantasy Land?

Might provide a clue to Disney's true priorities.

 

[Muddypaws]

I posted this on another thread, but.....

Just out of curiosity, what took longer to complete?

The GF DVC resort or the new roller coaster in Fantasy Land?

Might provide a clue to Disney's priorities.

You forgot the bus loop.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Well, this is hypocritical. Remember your other thread about not coming back?

I think you are confused. One thread was talking about returning to WDW. This thread is referring to returning to this board.

 

[Muddypaws]

Well, this is hypocritical. Remember your other thread about not coming back?

So unless we cancel our vacations if we don't like the way things are going, we are hypocrites?

 

[sonofanarchy]

So unless we cancel our vacations if we don't like the way things are going, we are hypocrites?

I don't think that's what he was trying to imply. I think he was trying to make me look bad because I dared speak in a negative light about his beloved company.

Whatever.

 

[Laketravis]

You forgot the bus loop.

True, but in terms of scope I think it's a fair comparison. The GF DVC resort was started after and completed before the 7DMT.

GF DVC took two years. 7DMT is taking......three?

 

[sonofanarchy]

True, but in terms of scope I think it's a fair comparison. The GF DVC resort was started after and completed before the 7DMT.

GF DVC took two years. 7DMT is taking......three?

That's only because there's been a top secret mission to move the Yeti to the 7DMT. It's part of a surprise ending where the Yeti actually works, and proceeds to eat the dwarfs. It's part of Disney's plan to be more edgy like Universal.

 

[The Hub]

I think you are confused. One thread was talking about returning to WDW. This thread is referring to returning to this board.

So unless we cancel our vacations if we don't like the way things are going, we are hypocrites?

I don't think that's what he was trying to imply. I think he was trying to make me look bad because I dared speak in a negative light about his beloved company.

Whatever.

As you can see, in my original post, I bolded and changed the color for that I was referencing. It seems as in your other thread about not returning, you essentially posted that you feel others shouldn't share their honest opinions about various subjects.

For the record, I speak negative about the direction The Walt Disney Company is heading whenever my area leaders make it seem MyMagic+ is the be it all, end it all, most amazing thing to ever exist. Plus, plenty more. I wasn't trying to make you look bad, this is as you said, a message board. I asked if you remembered what you said in that other thread about the items that were bolded/colored.

 

[Mkrop]

I may have difficulty replying to this thread without using invectives, so forgive me in advance if I come off strong.

Literally EVERY thread/post I've seen YOU specifically participating in for the last month or so, you've been a cheerleader of negativity. Perhaps some people being hopeful/positive about the situation is because they are hopeful or positive people.

Perhaps there are people with whose touring style FP+ WORKS FOR THEM. I am sorry that you will no longer be able to run circles around first timers getting FP after FP, but the playing field is being leveled. Deal with it or move on.
To come around and accuse people who are having positive experiences with something you don't like as being payed shills is offensive. Seriously... Where do you get off?

How is the playing field leveled at this point when you have 4 resorts who cant pull FP-, and you have offsite, locals and APs who can only pull FP-.

There was one lady at the Pooh ride who was trying to ask about buying the bands, she could not understand why everyone else had them. She asked the CM working the FP entrance...who didnt speak ENGLISH! She looked Indian but I cant be sure. Not one word could she explain to this poor guest. I waved her over, I was waiting for our FP runner and bathroom goers. I explain to her at this point it was a "test" but that only resort guests had it. She was appalled!

Then there were people on the monorail who were long time WDW visitors who have a Marriott timeshare, they were unhappy with the changes and said they could not pull as many FPs as they liked. They were an older couple and knew the ins and outs and all about the bands, and they felt they were being left behind.

So please tell me again...how does this level the playing field for guests?????

 

[sonofanarchy]

As you can see, in my original post, I bolded and changed the color for that I was referencing. It seems as in your other thread about not returning, you essentially posted that you feel others shouldn't share their honest opinions about various subjects.

When in the world did I EVER say people shouldn't share their honest opinions about various subjects?

 

[nansmama]

I'm not very good at times with articulating myself. Let me try it another way:

Some of the posts I have seen that have been incredibly positive about MB and FP+ are just odd to me. I'm not saying the system isn't working well for those people. By all means, it probably is, and I HOPE it is, as I hope it will work for me in July. But here's the thing - Some (not all) of these posts have been claiming that BECAUSE of MB and FP+ it was their best Disney vacation ever. It was their smoothest ever. It was the easiest ever. This all, I don't get. I simply don't buy that any of that is attributed to either MB or FP+:

-Is it easier being forced to plan what rides you want to do at specific times 60 days in advance?

-Is it really that much easier to use your wrist to open your door, get into the park and charge purchases than it is to swipe a tiny card? Enough so that it made your vacation the best ever?

I just don't buy it. These comments sound like they're directly from Disney's marketing department, or from someone who refuses to say anything bad about Disney.

Again, I'm not saying the MB and FP+ are not working for anyone. But to start a thread claiming how they enhanced their vacation just doesn't make sense to me.

Okay, having been twice now with MB/FP+, I'll respond to some of this. BTW I do not work for Disney, or refuse to say anything bad about Disney.

1. Yes, for me, using the MBs to open the door, charge things, and (especially) to enter the parks really was WAY more convenient than using the KTTW cards. You can arrive at a park carrying nothing. You only need the MB and you wear it on your wrist so it's a lot harder to lose and a lot more noticeable if you DO happen to lose it. We loved that we could keep the bands on at the waterparks. No trekking back to where we left our stuff if we wanted a snack or to rent a towel.

2. I didn't feel "forced" to plan things "60 days in advance." Some days we planned FP+ and other days we didn't. Some of our FP+ times we showed up for, others we didn't. Some FP+ we planned at home, others we waited to make or changed/canceled when we got there. We aren't huge on making firm plans way ahead, which is why we usually only make a few ADRs per trip.

3. We rode TSMM and RnRC for the first time ever because we could schedule them in when we knew we'd be at DHS. In the past, we never managed to hit those rides at times the lines were short, and weren't sure if they'd really be worth the wait. So that was a big bonus for us. (BTW, we rode these on separate days, so tiering wouldn't have affected us.)

4. Overall, I do feel like the MBs made our trip go more smoothly, and FP+ made it more likely we'd get on a ride we wanted when we wanted. Now maybe that was not your experience, but my daughter and I both preferred it to the old system. I think there are plenty of things Disney needs to improve on (the sub-par food, the stupid dining plan, half-empty DHS, the packed Pop Century buses), but MB/FP+ is not one of them. The only thing about FP+ I think I'd change is being able to spread the three selections among different parks instead of being confined to one, because sometimes we couldn't find three rides at one park we wanted FP+ for.