LOVE or HATE FP+ Anyone's mind been changed ??

[Cormoran]

We're getting ready for our second trip under Fast Pass+. After using it the first time, I liked it even more than I thought I would!

I really missed FP+ while I was at Disneyland last year. Didn't get to ride Radiator Springs Racers!

I just hope FP+ never goes to DLR. RSR is the outlier and I doubt FP+ would help make it any easier to ride.. The FP's would just run at 60 days instead of the late morning.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I just hope FP+ never goes to DLR. RSR is the outlier and I doubt FP+ would help make it any easier to ride.. The FP's would just run at 60 days instead of the late morning.

Staggs announced earlier this month that MM+ was coming to DLR. What he said did indicate that what comes to DLR will likely look different than what it looks like at WDW, though.

 

[daisyduck123]

Denise I finally made it to your thread! 22 pages!

 

[gray52]

For us, FP+ couldn't make our park experience any worse than it did. When a band around your wrist controls your every move, with little flexibility, it's time to hang up the Mickey Ears. SB lines are absurd. Pre-planning and having less ability to adjust on the fly is probably our biggest disappointment. Disney has kicked the regulars to the curb in favor of those first timers who don't know any better. It's not just FP+ (although the most glaring proof), but the body of work over the past 5-10 years shows just that.
As a business model, works perfectly for Disney, I can't really blame them. It's just so far removed from what Walt was striving for, IMO.
We took a year off from Disney this year. Instead, we rented our 2014 points and went to a 4-star, all-inclusive in Playa del Carmen for 10-days. Final cost came in less than what we usually spend at Disney... And what an awesome time! Upon returning home (relaxed!), we have decided to sell one of our DVC contracts. We'll give it one more shot to reclaim some of the Disney Magic in September.... But We'll make a decision soon thereafter if we'll sell our other DVC contract and vacation elsewhere.

 

[Cormoran]

For us, FP+ couldn't make our park experience any worse than it did. When a band around your wrist controls your every move, with little flexibility, it's time to hang up the Mickey Ears. SB lines are absurd. Pre-planning and having less ability to adjust on the fly is probably our biggest disappointment. Disney has kicked the regulars to the curb in favor of those first timers who don't know any better. It's not just FP+ (although the most glaring proof), but the body of work over the past 5-10 years shows just that.
As a business model, works perfectly for Disney, I can't really blame them. It's just so far removed from what Walt was striving for, IMO.
We took a year off from Disney this year. Instead, we rented our 2014 points and went to a 4-star, all-inclusive in Playa del Carmen for 10-days. Final cost came in less than what we usually spend at Disney... And what an awesome time! Upon returning home (relaxed!), we have decided to sell one of our DVC contracts. We'll give it one more shot to reclaim some of the Disney Magic in September.... But We'll make a decision soon thereafter if we'll sell our other DVC contract and vacation elsewhere.

First of all, I agree with your sentiments. I know I've seen quite a few posts from DVCers who will be selling their points and moving on. I'm just wondering if this will have any affect on Disney and if so how long will it be?

Our vacation next April will be our litmus test. If that one is as disappointing as last April, it will be our time to move on. The hardest part for me is giving up on the anticipation associated with visiting WDW. Looking forward to a WDW visit gets me through some dark and painful times. I guess I'll just have to switch coasts!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Shaden, I'm not going to quote your whole post, but you totally nailed how I feel about it, except I pretty much do hate FP+. Hate it, but still trying to learn to live with it, because it's here to stay. I think for me, I went over from the agnostic/general dislike category to the hate category with our December trip. We'd had a pretty good experience in August, and so our December experience was like a slap in the face because it was just so different. So a big part of it for me is being let down, I guess. Also, we do go for the rides, and to be able to do fewer than we did before just sucks. There were a lot of ride closures when we were there, and that did mess with our plans, so that's probably part of it, too.

 

[Cormoran]

First of all, I agree with your sentiments. I know I've seen quite a few posts from DVCers who will be selling their points and moving on. I'm just wondering if this will have any affect on Disney and if so how long will it be?

Our vacation next April will be our litmus test. If that one is as disappointing as last April, it will be our time to move on. The hardest part for me is giving up on the anticipation associated with visiting WDW. Looking forward to a WDW visit gets me through some dark and painful times. I guess I'll just have to switch coasts!

Before I am accused of deception, let it be known that I am the poster formerly known as Suvadoo. The Dis Boards do not allow username changes, so I had to create a new identity.

 

[JimmyV]

Staggs announced earlier this month that MM+ was coming to DLR. What he said did indicate that what comes to DLR will likely look different than what it looks like at WDW, though.

Doesn't this, in and of itself, give one pause? Why would it be different, or why should it be different if FP+ is so superior? Why should people pull paper FPs for Splash Mountain in one park, but not the other if the paper system is so inferior? I really would love to be the proverbial fly on the wall when those discussions were being had in a conference room in Burbank (or Anaheim).

 

[mom2rtk]

Doesn't this, in and of itself, give one pause? Why would it be different, or why should it be different if FP+ is so superior? Why should people pull paper FPs for Splash Mountain in one park, but not the other if the paper system is so inferior? I really would love to be the proverbial fly on the wall when those discussions were being had in a conference room in Burbank (or Anaheim).

I'd pay big money for that backstage tour.

 

[Robo]

Before I am accused of deception, let it be known that I am the poster formerly known as Suvadoo. The Dis Boards do not allow username changes, so I had to create a new identity.

You just posted yesterday as Suvadoo.
I don't understand why you created a new identity.

 

[wisblue]

Doesn't this, in and of itself, give one pause? Why would it be different, or why should it be different if FP+ is so superior? Why should people pull paper FPs for Splash Mountain in one park, but not the other if the paper system is so inferior? I really would love to be the proverbial fly on the wall when those discussions were being had in a conference room in Burbank (or Anaheim).

The answer to that doesn't have to be any more complicated than the thing a lot of people have said here.

The demographics at Disneyland are simply significantly different than they are at WDW in terms of the percentage of guests who are either local or tourist day guests as compared to how many guests take destination vacations of several days or longer. The latter group is going to much more willing to make more specific plans weeks in advance.

 

[JimmyV]

The answer to that doesn't have to be any more complicated than the thing a lot of people have said here.

The demographics at Disneyland are simply significantly different than they are at WDW in terms of the percentage of guests who are either local or tourist day guests as compared to how many guests take destination vacations of several days or longer. The latter group is going to much more willing to make more specific plans weeks in advance.

I think people want to believe that this is true or that it makes a difference. In reality, it does not. The differences might alter the way people use the system, but not alter the system itself. By that I mean, let's say that 10% of DLR guests pre-book way in advance and could (and would) take advantage of the 60 day FP+ booking window. And they do. Now let's say that 50% of the guests make plans to go to DLR in advance, but nowhere near 60 days in advance. Let's place them at 7 days in advance. With FP+, they could still reap the benefits that WDW is touting by locking in their rides 7 days ahead of schedule. Still beats "day of", right? In other words, why not implement the exact same system, even if "7" is the new "60" (or "30")? If the FP+ system of pre-booking for off site guests and locals is so great in FL, why wouldn't it be for folks in CA? We are told over and over again in these threads that while the 60 day window is nice, it is not imperative, and pre-booking works just great, even up to the very last minute, including on the bus to the park. OK. Let's see Disney put their money where their mouth is. Bottom line...the differences that you outline are only true differences if booking way out at the 60 or 30 day mark is essential to the success of the system. But since we are being bombarded by posters who tell us that booking 2 or 3 days in advance is still a great option, then that option should work just as well in CA.

 

[DisneyKidds]

You just posted yesterday as Suvadoo. I don't understand why you created a new identity.

Guess I couldn't be trusted to lay off the Phil Collins.

 

[mom2rtk]

Guess I couldn't be trusted to lay off the Phil Collins.

Well, I did see her ask you more than once.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Well, I did see her ask you more than once.

True, and after a few more rounds of snark on both sides I put it away for good. I may always hum it in my head, but I will never utter that sweet name in a post ever again.

 

[flicx]

Doesn't this, in and of itself, give one pause? Why would it be different, or why should it be different if FP+ is so superior? Why should people pull paper FPs for Splash Mountain in one park, but not the other if the paper system is so inferior? I really would love to be the proverbial fly on the wall when those discussions were being had in a conference room in Burbank (or Anaheim).

I'd like to field this question if I may. It will be different cause this fast pass plus version sucks. However because Disney has invested 2 billion in it they higher ups will ram it down the customers throats like it or not. The have to defend the expenditure!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'd like to field this question if I may. It will be different cause this fast pass plus version sucks. However because Disney has invested 2 billion in it they higher ups will ram it down the customers throats like it or not. The have to defend the expenditure!

AKA...... "too big to fail".

 

[Laketravis]

I'd like to field this question if I may. It will be different cause this fast pass plus version sucks. However because Disney has invested 2 billion in it they higher ups will ram it down the customers throats like it or not. The have to defend the expenditure!

That's a very good point. MM+/FP+ was a huge capex investment by anyone's standards. The only way such investments proceed is if they can show a target internal rate of return. $2B spread across WDW will not generate a sufficient internal rate of return.

Therefore, hello Disneyland, hello Paris, hello Tokyo, hello anywhere else these costs can be amortized and the resultant internal rate of return translated into an overall ROI that will please the board and the stockholders.

 

[flicx]

AKA...... "too big to fail".

You got it!!!

 

[flicx]

Which leads me to Disney's advertising campaign for the other parks. "Fast pass plus ,we spent 2 billion so it has to be good!"