MB and FP+ a few complaints

[FlipHipster]

It'd be fairly straightforward to add a GPS verification to the MDE app, so that a 4th FP+ reservation could only be made if the user (or rather, the user's phone) was physically within the park where they were making the reservation. This would have the convenience of using an app, rather than standing in line, while still retaining the localization requirement.

Not all mobile devices have GPS. So now we are limiting usage to those with mobile devices (smaller number than total guests) and further limiting that number to mobile devices with GPS, even smaller number.

 

[Fire14]

Yup, they still have to remove the FP you reserved from the available pool whether you show up or not.

I would love to see the following numbers from Disney although I know it will never happen:

1. How many people actually book 60 or 30 days out? *
2. How many guests that book 60 or 30 days out keep the reservations they originally made?
3. How many booked in advance are changed last minute/day of or skipped altogether?

* I know they threw out the 70% of guests are booking number, but it really means nothing without some context.

Plenty of people are reporting same day availability for non-headliners and the new and shiny hasn't even worn off yet. I wonder if in a year or 2 we will be right back to the FP- scenario where most people don't even bother with reserving FP except for headliners and just getting in the SB line for everything else.

I know my Hubs and his buddy had prebooked FP+ at AK and next thing I know are calling me ( the MDE expert) to change their FP to Epcot because they had done everything they wanted in AK and not used their fp. This was pre 4+ fp allowed but still.

 

[webshark3]

So true. Blue = fail is an odd option. They need a sound too. Ding ok, buzz fail. You have those like DH who are color blind and can't tell what color they change period. There isn't enough color area for him to get an idea or tell if it's blue or green.

It actually makes sense if you think about it from a customer relations standpoint. You're right, red = bad. That's not something people like to associate with themselves; especially on vacation. A nice calming blue seems to say, "Well, it's not green. Let's all see what happened."

It's similar to the supermarkets which have replaced their annoying alarms with the calming female voice, "We're sorry, but we appear to have forgotten to remove the security tag from one of the items in your bag. Please return and a associate will help you out right away!"

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Does anyone remember the Disney app that they had prior to MDE? I just remembered...MOBILE MAGIC! That's what it was called. With that app, you could only access certain features (like wait times) inside the park. It used location services (not necessarily GPS, but the other ways that they can track you through your cell) so I'm not sure why MDE couldn't. I don't remember it being a battery suck like MDE is, but that app wasn't nearly as clunky (powerful???) as MDE. Also, I had it on my Blackberry (RIP) and maybe that had better battery performance than my Android device.

 

[Ronda93]

The MDE app could use location services. The user would have to grant permission, but it could tell where the device is. Better still, if you're on their wifi, they'd know EXACTLY where you are. If you are using your own data, they may be able to query the tower connection, determining where you are on their property.

 

[Sparkly]

Exactly. It's hard to comprehend that people here don't realize that making it easier to book FPs will make them run out sooner. There are already complaints that the 4th FP is illusory. Why would people want to make it more so?

And you just know the moment Disney do allow you to do that, everyone'll start complaining about there being no availability for anything.

I agree with you that more kiosks is really the best solution here. They could have kept some of the areas where the old FP kiosks were and converted them to FP+ ones. But then they need more staff to man the kiosks.

 

[Suvadoo]

Yup, they still have to remove the FP you reserved from the available pool whether you show up or not.

I would love to see the following numbers from Disney although I know it will never happen:

1. How many people actually book 60 or 30 days out? *
2. How many guests that book 60 or 30 days out keep the reservations they originally made?
3. How many booked in advance are changed last minute/day of or skipped altogether?

* I know they threw out the 70% of guests are booking number, but it really means nothing without some context.

Plenty of people are reporting same day availability for non-headliners and the new and shiny hasn't even worn off yet. I wonder if in a year or 2 we will be right back to the FP- scenario where most people don't even bother with reserving FP except for headliners and just getting in the SB line for everything else.

According to the Disney shareholder report last week, only 50% of park goers are using MDE. I think a lot of first time guests are arriving without FP+ reservations.
IMO the only way to resolve these issues is to build new attractions and increase park hours. WDW has very few slow days, but now I think their guest satisfaction is declining because people have to wait in long lines for everything. I don't blame FP+ for this, I blame a good economy and Disney's advertising campaign.