My FP+ Park Strategy WILL SAVE ME ALMOST $20,000!!!

[DisLee]

sounds like you have a good plan, OP. Sometimes you have to vote with your wallet. If enough people do that, some things might change in the current system.

 

[shalom]

I've figured out how to save $20,000 over the next five years and most likely get more bang for the buck. And I give FP+ 100% credit for motivating me to explore those options.

I think that's excellent, and applaud you for making the changes work for you.

I've seen much the same thing, on a smaller scale, with rabid on-siters once the cost of on-site passed their tolerance level. They started exploring offsite options and quickly discovered that they could get more room in nicer surroundings for much, much less. For some, "Disney magic" still trumps that, but I've seen people I never would have believed could be happy offsite who were actually much happier once they were pushed out of their comfort zone, to the point where they even (*gasp!*) started exploring non-Disney attractions.

Well, we certainly did find ourselves spending less time in the park each day which is counter to Disney's strategic objective and caused us to re-examine our onsite/dining strategy.

So long as they're filling their hotels (and 89% is generally considered full capacity -- get above that and you're putting people in rooms that frankly need work), and so long as they've got people in the parks filling the restaurants, I don't think Disney cares where you stay or how much time you spend in the park. They want the highest percentage possible of "big spenders", and if they can replace you with someone who is going to stay onsite, eat onsite, AND spend tons in the shops, they're good. The risk they took with FP+ is that they'd drive away formerly faithful customers, who were likely to lose interest once it was clear they couldn't repeatdly reride as easily they could with the FP- system, without drawing new people in. So far, it doesn't look like that is happening.

Disney presumably had the numbers on how many people were repeat riders under the old system, so they had a pretty good idea how bad *that* risk was; where they may get bit, IMHO, is in the fact that some of us who didn't use old FP were repeat riders of things like The TTA, which never had a FP but were usually easy to ride repeatedly. Could be the "Repeat TTA" type is also the "Will never take a survey" type, and the "Won't wait in lines" type -- have a good percentage of those, and Disney's numbers are going to be very off.

But to be honest I think things are shaking out about as they predicted; the people who spend the most time in the parks are also the people who will spend the most money in the parks, or at least a higher percentage of those than before.

while WDW is seeing high occupancy among it's limited inventory, I don't think the off-site market is anywhere near that and will continue to provide wonderful deals.

You are correct. Especially when it comes to timeshares and rental homes, Orlando is overbuilt, probably meaning that, so long as there's a local draw that keeps pulling people in (Disney, Universal, whatever), somebody is going to keep building newer and better resorts (fancier pool areas on the low end; fancier service on the high), adding to the possible units, that isn't likely to change in the foreseeable future.

 

[disneyseniors]

You gave me a great idea! I just updated DAY TWO in the other thread after making FP's this morning for Epcot and am working on day three's plan but I wanted to get a non-amusement-park activity during the week and KSC would be awesome.

So, Lake, where is this other thread? Is it under parks strageties or community, or ???? What is the name of this new thread? I seem to have trouble navigating this board at times. I agree with you completely! This thread should have been kept in theme parks and strategies, because that is what it is for. I think you have handled the snarky comments from a few attention seekers and haters with diplomacy and common sense. These individuals should just star another hate thread of their own and get a life! I, for one, am learning a lot from this new strategy you are trying. So keep up the good work and don't let the snarkanators bother you! Your common sense comes off making you look classy

 

[Laketravis]

So, Lake, where is this other thread? Is it under parks strageties or community, or ???? What is the name of this new thread? I seem to have trouble navigating this board at times. I agree with you completely! This thread should have been kept in theme parks and strategies, because that is what it is for. I think you have handled the snarky comments from a few attention seekers and haters with diplomacy and common sense. These individuals should just star another hate thread of their own and get a life! I, for one, am learning a lot from this new strategy you are trying. So keep up the good work and don't let the snarkanators bother you! Your common sense comes off making you look classy

Thanks! I'm actually on the plane right now, about 75 minutes outside of Orlando. The other thread is on the Strategy board, the title starts with More for Less. I'll update it completely next week as this little exercise unfolds.

EDIT: That thread has been closed for some reason.

 

[Planogirl]

Have an amazing time! I'm excited to hear how it goes for you.

 

[Laketravis]

Hard to believe we are almost two weeks into this little exercise. The amount of savings has exceeded our expectations and we feel like we've been able to accomplish much more than we were able to in Nov/Dec even though the crowd levels are much higher right now. This has been a good practice run for our upcoming June trip when we can apply what we've learned and the savings will really start to cascade.


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[mom2rtk]

Glad things are going well. Can't wait for more details when you get back.

 

[jade1]

Hard to believe we are almost two weeks into this little exercise. The amount of savings has exceeded our expectations and we feel like we've been able to accomplish much more than we were able to in Nov/Dec even though the crowd levels are much higher right now. This has been a good practice run for our upcoming June trip when we can apply what we've learned and the savings will really start to cascade.


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Yep-same here, FP+ is awesome.

Great to hear.

 

[Laketravis]

I'm not sure why you are attributing my comment to FP since I did not explain how we've been able to accomplish more?

The "more" has very little to do with FP and WDW but I'm hesitant to provide details as that sometimes results in threads being closed or posts removed and I don't want this thread to suffer the same fate.


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[jade1]

I'm not sure why you are attributing my comment to FP since I did not explain how we've been able to accomplish more?

The "more" has very little to do with FP and WDW but I'm hesitant to provide details as that sometimes results in threads being closed or posts removed and I don't want this thread to suffer the same fate.


.

Sorry-we were able to accomplish much more with FP+ so I assumed that. And not just for attractions-but multiple non park activities that participation in would greatly diminish any headliner FP- chances. I was under the impression you were doing some of that as well-my bad.

EX-we were able to do UNI/IOA in the am/afternoon-then WDW and FP+ that night-something not possible with FP-.

Furthermore-it gave us the "spontaneity" each day to do what we want ("more" things) every single day-golf/fishing/swimming/relaxing/shopping/dining/drinking/sleeping/staying out late etc.

As well as leaving the guest to "choose" much more tailored vacations/budgets-like ample time to travel from an offsite resort, or to leave property for offsite dining/activities/shopping-things that really hindered folks wanting these choices in the past with FP-, yet improving the average "WDW only" guest choices as well IMO.

 

[Laketravis]

I think it's when I start to detail the non-WDW things we've been able to do and the WDW costs we've been able to reduce or eliminate with little effort that the thread starts to go off on a nonrecoverable tangent and I'm trying to avoid that. I've stated that FP is great because we can walk into a park and do three things with little wait, but we are actually spending less time and money in the WDW parks and more time doing other things. Despite our reluctance to do so because we thought we'd miss out, we are pleased to find that hasn't been the case at all and we haven't seen a reduction in our Disney "fix". It's kind of like a bell curve - we've simply eliminated the lower left and right minimal values and focused on the peak.

Certainly as you've pointed out anyone who won't settle for less than all WDW all the time wouldn't even consider some of the changes we've tried. And there's nothing wrong with that. But then there are those who sometimes look to maintain or increase the value they receive for their money and time and I think that is where the results of this trip will help us to do so on future trips even more than we imagined.


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[jade1]

I think it's when I start to detail the non-WDW things we've been able to do and the WDW costs we've been able to reduce or eliminate with little effort that the thread starts to go off on a nonrecoverable tangent and I'm trying to avoid that. I've stated that FP is great because we can walk into a park and do three things with little wait, but we are actually spending less time and money in the WDW parks and more time doing other things. Despite our reluctance to do so because we thought we'd miss out, we are pleased to find that hasn't been the case at all and we haven't seen a reduction in our Disney "fix". It's kind of like a bell curve - we've simply eliminated the lower left and right minimal values and focused on the peak.

Certainly as you've pointed out anyone who won't settle for less than all WDW all the time wouldn't even consider some of the changes we've tried. And there's nothing wrong with that. But then there are those who sometimes look to maintain or increase the value they receive for their money and time and I think that is where the results of this trip will help us to do so on future trips even more than we imagined.


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You are providing a very valuable trip IMO.

Heck if folks want to just stay on WDW property-why would/should they care if you/someone else doesn't? It can only lead to improving there chances at certain resorts and lower prices.

And if folks don't want/can't to budget for onsite (even if values) I think your report could be very beneficial to those guests.

Some of us budget for the WDW deluxe stays (or any onsite)-I will go as far as saying a free offsite hotel and car would not interest us in the least. That's not why we visit WDW on our vacations, heck even a free steak dinner if I have to disrupt our stay and drive over-no I can do that at home, but cannot care less if others enjoy that more for their stays.

I commend your effort though, be interesting to see if any of it was "influenced" by FP+ since you said that has nothing to do with it.

edit: I see now it does have something to do with it? Confused.

 

[Angel Ariel]

LT - perhaps you could share your more detailed observations from your trip in the trip report forum? I am sure people would be very interested in what your experience has been.

 

[Laketravis]

LT - perhaps you could share your more detailed observations from your trip in the trip report forum? I am sure people would be very interested in what your experience has been.

Will definitely summarize everything when this trip is over.

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[Alfalfa]

Will definitely summarize everything when this trip is over.

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So what ever happened with this?

 

[mom2rtk]

So what ever happened with this?

I'm guessing he saved so much on this last trip he has jetted off on another vacation already.

 

[Cormoran]

I'm guessing he saved so much on this last trip he has jetted off on another vacation already.

Bummer, I really wanted to know if the theme park strategy worked. LT, when you're done jet-setting we're still waiting for your results!

 

[johde]

So what ever happened with this?

If I remember right, LT was involved in a conference in Orlando right after the pleasure portion of this trip. So, the TR may need to wait until after that.

Edit: Had a couple of people remind me the conference was before the pleasure portion of the trip.

 

[disneyavonohio]

A shame that it seems a few have discouraged LT from posting anymore. This thread had a lot of good stuff in it.

 

[dayvewc]

You're right it seems that anyone who doesn't fully embrace the magic that is Disney in the prescribed fashion, is personally attacked and punished for having an opposing viewpoint. Around here, there's a pixie dust and pitch fork mentality.

Sadly, that mentality seems to go both ways. People who enjoy Disney and try to find the best possible ways to visit are attacked just as ruthlessly for being "kool-aid drinkers" and "blinded by the pixie dust" by those who disagree.