No more Stanby line for A&E?

[AngiTN]

That is what I've been saying about people drawing the parallel between JTA or the frozen sing-a-long or jack sparrow.

M&G in people's mind are not the same as a show. Shows have start/end times. JTA which I think is the closest you have to show up ahead of time to "prepare" (get your cloak). If A&E was like JTA where there was a performance people would get it.

But is that because of conditioning, how we've come to expect things to work? Can people learn to think of a M&G like a show? Many of them (not A&E but others) have times they appear just like a show does

 

[MommaBerd]

I've been reading this thread with interest and for entertainment Regarding the difference between JTA and this new process: It's all about expectations. JTA has always been a very exclusive experience - you knew you had to get there early to get your child(ren) signed up, and even then, you may not get a spot. Now you are taking an experience that has been open to everyone (who was willing to do the time) and making it exclusive. That is rarely well-received. Additionally, this seems very similar to the DAS program. Maybe they received a lot of positive feedback from that, and thought they should try it with the general public on high-demand attractions?

And just to throw my $.02 into the change jar, I think they could extend the stand-by wait time to an hour - comparable to other rides - AND give you the OPTION to wait or come back. That gives people the feeling of having more control and will lead to higher satisfaction.

 

[FlipHipster]

They only started this three-day test yesterday morning. And I'm guessing Disney picked this specific three days because there WASN'T evening EMH at MK during that span. There's morning EMH this morning, so I'm curious to see if that means the return tickets run out faster. But we won't know how this will work for evening EMH until (if) Disney implements this system as a permanent solution after the testing period ends.

I'm curious about this as well. If they do this during EMH that means they could potentially run out of A&E slots before the park even opens. This would make A&E essentially "onsite resort guests only" for those days.

I've already prepped my girls for the possibility we won't see A&E. They aren't too broken up about it. Maybe 6 months ago....

 

[Mommymarie]

I see the comparison to JTA, but not sure if as many people want to do it as A&E......A&E has gotten to be crazy! Although, my daughter has no interest in Star Wars so I admit I have no first hand knowledge...

 

[AngiTN]

I've been reading this thread with interest and for entertainment Regarding the difference between JTA and this new process: It's all about expectations. JTA has always been a very exclusive experience - you knew you had to get there early to get your child(ren) signed up, and even then, you may not get a spot. Now you are taking an experience that has been open to everyone (who was willing to do the time) and making it exclusive. That is rarely well-received. Additionally, this seems very similar to the DAS program. Maybe they received a lot of positive feedback from that, and thought they should try it with the general public on high-demand attractions?

I get that. Truly I do. My point is, can a new way be learned? Was JTA always the same? It's my understanding no, at one point I think they took kids from the crowd, or something (been too long since I read about it). Right now, those arriving are expecting one thing and finding something else. I get they are not happy to be turned away. But, can the method work with a M&G or are people incapable of looking at a M&G in a new way?

And do all people really know they have to get to HS early for JTA? The people who don't research at all? Probably many of the same people who don't know they can to prebook FP. They've been shut out of JTA. Those are the folks most likely shut out of A&E, right?

 

[AngiTN]

I see the comparison to JTA, but not sure if as many people want to do it as A&E......A&E has gotten to be crazy! Although, my daughter has no interest in Star Wars so I admit I have no first hand knowledge...

No, there are not as many people who want to do JTA as there are that want to meet A&E.
But, there are far fewer openings for JTA too. So the percentage of openings vs. potential participants may be close. No idea, probably no way to know. Just guessing.

 

[jco_direwolf]

But is that because of conditioning, how we've come to expect things to work? Can people learn to think of a M&G like a show? Many of them (not A&E but others) have times they appear just like a show does

Yep. Not saying it can't be changed, I just think in the mass mind there is "show" category and a "m&g" category and there is an expected way each works and if you cross the streams you get total proton reversal and the end of the universe.

Which results in huge lines at GS to complain and unhappy guests.

Personally if I decide to visit A&E I'm doing FP+. I'm not waiting. I don't care about them and my son is way more into Star Wars, JTA is way more important.

 

[AngiTN]

Yep. Not saying it can't be changed, I just think in the mass mind there is "show" category and a "m&g" category and there is an expected way each works and if you cross the streams you get total proton reversal and the end of the universe.

Which results in huge lines at GS to complain and unhappy guests.

Personally if I decide to visit A&E I'm doing FP+. I'm not waiting. I don't care about them and my son is way more into Star Wars, JTA is way more important.

Good one!

I do have a FP+ for them and we're set too. I'm honestly trying to find a way to be outraged for those that don't but mostly, I think the change is positive. I know that people should be free to stand in line for 3 hours if they want to but eh, things are what they are and if you get there and you can't then in my mind it's no different than getting to HS and finding you can't do JTA. Not once you drop the "it's always been that way" mind set.

We had better be doing both. While this trip is a surprise for DGD she's already said she wants to do JTA again when we got back. We had the misfortune of going to Disney in March 2013, when the temps dropped in to the upper 40's during the day and freezing at night. The weather was bitter cold on our HS day. She didn't enjoy her JTA at all, with the shivering and all.

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

I get that. Truly I do. My point is, can a new way be learned? Was JTA always the same? It's my understanding no, at one point I think they took kids from the crowd, or something (been too long since I read about it). Right now, those arriving are expecting one thing and finding something else. I get they are not happy to be turned away. But, can the method work with a M&G or are people incapable of looking at a M&G in a new way?

And do all people really know they have to get to HS early for JTA? The people who don't research at all? Probably many of the same people who don't know they can to prebook FP. They've been shut out of JTA. Those are the folks most likely shut out of A&E, right?

You're right about JTA, it was pick kids from the crowd in the past, still is that way in Disneyland - earlier this month *7/4* my DD was selected to participate.

 

[mesaboy2]

Good one!

I do have a FP+ for them and we're set too. I'm honestly trying to find a way to be outraged for those that don't but mostly, I think the change is positive. I know that people should be free to stand in line for 3 hours if they want to but eh, things are what they are and if you get there and you can't then in my mind it's no different than getting to HS and finding you can't do JTA. Not once you drop the "it's always been that way" mind set.

We had better be doing both. While this trip is a surprise for DGD she's already said she wants to do JTA again when we got back. We had the misfortune of going to Disney in March 2013, when the temps dropped in to the upper 40's during the day and freezing at night. The weather was bitter cold on our HS day. She didn't enjoy her JTA at all, with the shivering and all.

JTA has set show times and I think that in and of itself implies some kind of capacity limit. M&Gs are continuous attractions that I think implies that if you get in line during the hours they meet, you can meet them. In that respect, M&Gs are no different than traditional attractions--the things we call rides.

If the Times Guide says A&E will meet from 9:00a to 12:00a, does that not suggest I can saunter up at any point in the day and not be turned away completely? Would the TG even say it that way anymore? I dunno....

 

[princeprincess]

Did the CM just ask how many tickets you want? I have a party of 6 and am doubtful they would give me 6 passes if I was the only one who approached (unless they scanned my band to see my party size which they aren't doing right now).

Yes, they just asked how many I wanted. They didn't even have scanners to scan the bands with them.

 

[Aurora0427]

We were there yesterday and I stopped by to see what was going on. At 1:00 I was directed to the CM's handing out the tickets, only had to wait a couple of minutes before being offered 4 tickets with a return time of 11:30pm -12:00am. I declined because my kids are 2 & 5 and we wouldn't be in the park at that time, plus I do have fp for them. So to answer a couple of questions, my whole party was not in line with me and I was able to receive 4 and no they do not scan your magic band,

Wow, so your whole party doesn't have to be present? That is so unfair! What's to stop someone from asking for 4 tickets and going through the line twice? I know that sounds silly, but come on Disney! Lock it down!

 

[Disneylover99]

I think the idea of a paper FP with a half hour return window with a half hour wait is an excellent idea for this meet and greet!

 

[princeprincess]

I have a feeling that the only reason that they still had tickets to give out at 1pm is because a lot of people have small children and were turning down those late hour returns. I agree with the poster who said it's quite unfair if people are allowed to have FP+ AND get these return tickets. For a ride, I suppose it's every man for himself because people may want to ride more than once, but for a M&G, one visit should be plenty, especially when there are so many people who want to meet and so many who will no doubt leave disappointed even if no one with FP+ takes a return ticket. If someone has a late return FP+ and wants an earlier time return ticket then they should have to cancel their FP+ when they receive that ticket.

For some children one visit isn't plenty! Both of my children prefer doing M&G over the rides! So I guess it's to each their own!

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

I'll ask my DD if she wants to visit with them in Oct, I fulfilled her birthday wish *7/3* waited an hour to meet the ladies while my mom, and DD toured FL, DD visited both A & E, at the same time, again this was a Disneyland visit.
If she does we'll use a FP+

 

[mesaboy2]

Wow, so your whole party doesn't have to be present? That is so unfair! What's to stop someone from asking for 4 tickets and going through the line twice? I know that sounds silly, but come on Disney! Lock it down!

It's just the first day of a test.

I think the idea of a paper FP with a half hour return window with a half hour wait is an excellent idea for this meet and greet!

That all sounds wonderful. Then you get to the part where if you don't get one by the time they run out you don't see them at all. That is less awesome.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Not picking on anyone.

But we all HAVE to stop calling these tickets, Fastpasses/FP. They aren't and overloading the term has and will cause confusion.

They are not Fastpasses. They are I don't know "Standby Return Tickets?"

 

[Disneylover99]

If someone has a late return FP+ and wants an earlier time return ticket then they should have to cancel their FP+ when they receive that ticket.

I bet they would cancel their FP anyways. Then they can make another FP for a different attraction. This opens up even more fastpasses for day of FP+. A win-win situation IMO.

 

[wn01aa]

Wow, so your whole party doesn't have to be present? That is so unfair! What's to stop someone from asking for 4 tickets and going through the line twice? I know that sounds silly, but come on Disney! Lock it down!

Time to uncover those old FP- legacy machines that are collecting dust and get them back into action. You need to scan your magicband or RFID card to get a ticket and will have to wait till you use it or wait a certain time before getting another ticket.

 

[AndreaA]

For some children one visit isn't plenty! Both of my children prefer doing M&G over the rides! So I guess it's to each their own!

Sorry, but in this case I think parents should be teaching their kids a little something about selflessness and generosity and taking their fair share. I would certainly feel like utter crap if I grabbed 4 passes knowing I already had a decent FP+ time and then saw some poor little girls crying because they were ten minutes too late.

If Disney wanted people to be able to do the same attraction multiple times, they'd have FP+ set up to allow it. Much as I dislike FP+, the whole point is to try to equalize the experience for guests - no one gets to hoard rides/M&Gs/attractions at the expense of someone else who doesn't get to do anything.