MM+ never materialized?

[mom2rtk]

I firmly believe that a large reason for the massive overhaul at DHS is to provide a new bright shiny object to distract from the MM+ experience.

Could it be that $2B later they finally realized that what the parks need is more attractions?

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Could it be that $2B later they finally realized that what the parks need is more attractions?

ITA. I don't think that they're trying to distract from MyMagic+, but I do think that one of the issues that MyMagic+ has highlighted is that the only solution to their lines issue is more attractions. So I guess even those of us who fall on the "Dislike" end of the spectrum should be happy about MDE/FP+ because ultimately I think it's going to help give us what we (presumably) all want--MORE ATTRACTIONS.

 

[socrateze]

ITA. I don't think that they're trying to distract from MyMagic+, but I do think that one of the issues that MyMagic+ has highlighted is that the only solution to their lines issue is more attractions. So I guess even those of us who fall on the "Dislike" end of the spectrum should be happy about MDE/FP+ because ultimately I think it's going to help give us what we (presumably) all want--MORE ATTRACTIONS.

You're right. I just wish thay had skipped MDE/MM+ and moved right to the new attractions.

 

[socrateze]

...... which begs the question........ if they did all of this without upgrading their old glitchy software programs............ what on earth DID they spend all that money on!

Work arounds? WiFi, RFID enabled resort room doors? I think majority of the money went to the contractors who were trying to program MM+/ MDE. I have to feel sorry for them. I'll bet almost every test resulted in another area of the program failing. Can you imagine trying to integrate upgrades on older programs? It would be a nightmare.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I always wondered about the tiers that they put in after testing started in DHS and Epcot. Did they really not know they were going to need those tiers? I guess not.

 

[mom2rtk]

I always wondered about the tiers that they put in after testing started in DHS and Epcot. Did they really not know they were going to need those tiers? I guess not.

I remember the reports on the DIS as this rolled out and the tiers showed up. I always wondered if that was a you know what hitting the fan sort of a moment for them.

I still believe (based on nothing but sheer speculation) that they wanted to be able to hold some FPs back to sell or to use as enticements to "surprise and delight" guests. But I think once they had to put the tiers in place, that gig was up.

 

[itchin2go]

Yes, it's the descriptions you give of those who like it that I take issue with. Many people say they like not having to be at rope drop, but that doesn't mean they're sleeping in.

Btw- we've had 1 trip in all our trips to WDW that was 10 days or more in length and that was more than 10 years ago. Our last trip was 8, the second longest ever and the 2 previous trips were 3 and 4 days in length. In all 3 trips, FP+ worked very well for us. A vast majority of our trips are 5-6 days long.

That's how we do it, but it can be done by using rope drop or emh's as well. FP+ has far more negatives than positives for you, but not everyone.

Generalizations are rarely accurate.

Generalizations abound, don't they?

I don't think anyone was saying there aren't people who have tried FP+, really kicked the tires on it (for the way they tour anyway), and are not UNhappy with it. I am included in that group, so I know they exist. To go a step further, there are those who have done the above, and have found that, on balance, they like this new system better.

By the same token, I know you have seen the posts (as I have) where people say, essentially - FP+ works great! We slept in, showed up at noon, rode our 3 rides, got a balloon and went back and swam at the resorts. The above is fictional, but I have seen many posts that are some version of this. There are also posts where people say, FP+ is great, but I have to add an extra day at Epcot because it's so much more difficult to ride TT and Soarin on the same day. There are many other versions of FP+ is great statements, where it's clear that some don't understand what you used to be able to accomplish under FP-, or where it's clear that people have changed their touring (by adding days for instance) to compensate for what they have lost under FP+, or where it's clear that what some people want to accomplish with a day of theme park admission is woefully less than what others want to accomplish.

All of the groups of people described above exist.

I understand your particular situation, where you used to go to MK in the morning and then hop to Epcot in the late afternoon, only to find that FPs for TT and Soarin had run out. But that specific situation aside, ordinarily, when someone says, "I love FP+ because I didn't have to show up for rope drop", it means they wanted to sleep in.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I remember the reports on the DIS as this rolled out and the tiers showed up. I always wondered if that was a you know what hitting the fan sort of a moment for them.

I still believe (based on nothing but sheer speculation) that they wanted to be able to hold some FPs back to sell or to use as enticements to "surprise and delight" guests. But I think once they had to put the tiers in place, that gig was up.

I agree, I do think they thought would have extras to sell or use as incentives but they gave up on that and I'm sure the tiering made that obvious. Even more so once they opened up the 4th FP option. It's like here, if you want to pick through the scraps go ahead lol.

 

[bcrook]

Another thing that I noticed is that the masses figured out pretty quickly that you don't waste a FP+ selection on Its A Small World, little mermaid, tough to be a bug, Nemo, and the land. Even enchanted tales with belle had a standby line less than 20 minutes each time I walked by.

Classic solid rides like Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion were flooded with FP+ users and the standby lines were prohibitively long.

I didn't see a successful funneling of people to lesser attractions.

So E ticket rides had same waits as before via standby but the lines formed much earlier in the day and stayed longer until close. FP+ returns had new Queues and I found those waits to be longer than before.

On the fast loading popular rides (HM, Dinosaur, Etc) I found the standby lines unmanageable compared to the past, and needed a FP that I didn't have.

On the lesser rides con change compared to before.

This seems to me that FP+ ended up putting more people standing in lines than before.

Longer waits for FP return, longer standby waits on a majority of the rides.

Even during the Wishes and parade time, the lines didn't drop on the headliners.

And little mermaid was a walk on most of the trip. That big long fancy queue is rarely needed.

 

[IrishNYC]

I understand your particular situation, where you used to go to MK in the morning and then hop to Epcot in the late afternoon, only to find that FPs for TT and Soarin had run out. But that specific situation aside, ordinarily, when someone says, "I love FP+ because I didn't have to show up for rope drop", it means they wanted to sleep in.

Or it means I don't want to be in the rope drop crown running for FPs, or I want to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and walk in to MK 30 minutes after RD. Sleeping in? No. I have a 5 year old that gets up at 6am regularly, and a husband that normally gets up at 3am for work. There is no such thing as sleeping in for our family. But, I did love the days we got the the park just after RD and just walked in without a line at bag check or at the tapstiles, and without standing around waiting on line to get in.

 

[bcrook]

I remember the reports on the DIS as this rolled out and the tiers showed up. I always wondered if that was a you know what hitting the fan sort of a moment for them.

I still believe (based on nothing but sheer speculation) that they wanted to be able to hold some FPs back to sell or to use as enticements to "surprise and delight" guests. But I think once they had to put the tiers in place, that gig was up.

I think that is a key to the choose three and lock in advance idea. They also thought they could convince people with their suggestion model to take Ranger Spin, Small World, and Pirates and be happy for the day. Steering people away from the mountains didn't work.

 

[itchin2go]

Or it means I don't want to be in the rope drop crown running for FPs, or I want to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and walk in to MK 30 minutes after RD. Sleeping in? No. I have a 5 year old that gets up at 6am regularly, and a husband that normally gets up at 3am for work. There is no such thing as sleeping in for our family. But, I did love the days we got the the park just after RD and just walked in without a line at bag check or at the tapstiles, and without standing around waiting on line to get in.

Is this a reason why FP+ is better for you?

I only ask because I did what you describe under legacy FP, with no horrible repercussions as far as I could see.

I have seen posts (lots of them to be honest), where people say (paraphrasing) "I love FP+ because I don't have to show up for rope drop anymore." Those were the posts I was addressing.

I know there are other reasons for not standing in front of the gates 30 minutes early.

 

[itchin2go]

I think that is a key to the choose three and lock in advance idea. They also thought they could convince people with their suggestion model to take Ranger Spin, Small World, and Pirates and be happy for the day. Steering people away from the mountains didn't work.

You know what DID work for steering people away from the mountains?

A&E and SDMT!

On our last trip, BTMRR and Splash were desolate at rope drop - not because of FP+, but because of the mad rush to Fantasyland, and GASP - NEW ATTRACTIONS!

 

[mom2rtk]

You know what DID work for steering people away from the mountains?

A&E and SDMT!

On our last trip, BTMRR and Splash were desolate at rope drop - not because of FP+, but because of the mad rush to Fantasyland, and GASP - NEW ATTRACTIONS!

Absolutely!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Or it means I don't want to be in the rope drop crown running for FPs, or I want to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and walk in to MK 30 minutes after RD. Sleeping in? No. I have a 5 year old that gets up at 6am regularly, and a husband that normally gets up at 3am for work. There is no such thing as sleeping in for our family. But, I did love the days we got the the park just after RD and just walked in without a line at bag check or at the tapstiles, and without standing around waiting on line to get in.

That's how we've always visited. Our 3 y/o needs to be woken up if we're making it to parks anywhere near RD..she'll sleep til 9am on her own every day. So we generally woke her around 7:30 or so, got breakfast, and walked into the parks about 30 mins after RD. Getting FPs has never been an issue.

 

[bcrook]

Or it means I don't want to be in the rope drop crown running for FPs, or I want to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and walk in to MK 30 minutes after RD. Sleeping in? No. I have a 5 year old that gets up at 6am regularly, and a husband that normally gets up at 3am for work. There is no such thing as sleeping in for our family. But, I did love the days we got the the park just after RD and just walked in without a line at bag check or at the tapstiles, and without standing around waiting on line to get in.

To be able to ride multiple headliners rope drop is even more important now. We like staying out until close and enjoying that part of the day. But on our trip last week we couldn't get as much done and were compelled to get up early and try Rope drop to gain another ride or two. I was physically exhausted this trip because my traveling group only had four days in the parks.

My 4.5 year old niece handled it remarkably well. And for the most part, she got to see everything she needed to see. The adults missed out on a lot of the big rides.

I can definitely see how doubling the stay would provide a more leisurely comfortable stay. Every park needs to be played as a half day park. So 8 days would have been great. Then I would be able to utilize my FPs to create a very relaxing park experience.

I guess that is how they can get more people in the parks. I just need to find some buckets full of money so I can retire and afford those longer trips.

 

[socrateze]

Another thing that I noticed is that the masses figured out pretty quickly that you don't waste a FP+ selection on Its A Small World, little mermaid, tough to be a bug, Nemo, and the land. Even enchanted tales with belle had a standby line less than 20 minutes each time I walked by.

Classic solid rides like Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion were flooded with FP+ users and the standby lines were prohibitively long.

And little mermaid was a walk on most of the trip. That big long fancy queue is rarely needed.

This is really interesting. I noticed the same thing back in March. Disney' s effort to funnel guests onto lesser attractions doesn't appear to be successful.

 

[IrishNYC]

Is this a reason why FP+ is better for you?

I only ask because I did what you describe under legacy FP, with no horrible repercussions as far as I could see.

I have seen posts (lots of them to be honest), where people say (paraphrasing) "I love FP+ because I don't have to show up for rope drop anymore." Those were the posts I was addressing.

I know there are other reasons for not standing in front of the gates 30 minutes early.

I was merely responding to this part of what you said about sleeping in: But that specific situation aside, ordinarily, when someone says, "I love FP+ because I didn't have to show up for rope drop", it means they wanted to sleep in.

 

[bcrook]

You know what DID work for steering people away from the mountains?

A&E and SDMT!

On our last trip, BTMRR and Splash were desolate at rope drop - not because of FP+, but because of the mad rush to Fantasyland, and GASP - NEW ATTRACTIONS!

We never saw splash empty but I do think Big Thunder has had its crowd siphoned off by the new Mountain for sure. Big Thunder is much more accessible than Haunted Mansion now for standby best I could tell. But Pirates of Carribbean was closed, so I assume that would have eased the pain for that HM line.

 

[IrishNYC]

We did not RD every day, rode every headliner except RNRRC, and that was only because DD isn't tall enough for it. We did 6 park days, and weren't in any parks after 5pm. We had an amazing trip.