Ride Breakdowns & FP+ Confusion!

[fiversmama]

I wasn't sure what to expect with FP+, after reading all the feedback about it online. We just tried to keep an open mind and see what happened.

We were able to schedule them in advance and all had been bumping along just fine this trip...until some rides broke down.

Yesterday and today, it just so happened that rides we had FP+ for were not operating. Yesterday-- Test Track was closed due to rain. Today, Dinosaur was closed due to technical issues and Kilimanjaro Safari opened an hour late (and we had 9-10 FP+).

Epcot just automatically canceled our FP+ and gave us an open FP+ for any ride in an 8 hour window. Perfect. Great solution.

Animal Kingdom did the same with Kilimanjaro- we had an open FP+ for anytime the rest of the day.

THEN, there was Dinosaur. The ride was closed all day, but we were unable to switch experiences. Then, two separate CMs told us that due to the technical difficulties, our FP+ had been reset and even if we wanted to go to another park, we could use a FP+ there instead...to compensate for the inconvenience. Sweet! We had done what we wanted in AK and headed back to HS to ride Rockin Rollercoaster. Ummm..not so fast. No way, under any circumstances, would we ever be allowed to use a FP+ in a different park on the same day. Sigh...we had already park hopped and were invested. Not a FP+ to be had (even if we WERE eligible).

We had asked two people and had been placated the same way. I can't help but think this is a pass-the-buck Disneyfied way of keeping the (immediate) peace. They knew that after we left AK, we weren't their problem. I wish there was some follow through on their promise.

Clearly, the FP+ system is a rough work in progress. I was buying it..until today.

 

[GetGlowing]

We had this issue in MK in January. How were you notified that you had a 'good anywhere' FastPass on your account?

We had no idea what had happening and tried to switch our reservation via the app when the attraction went down but hit a dead end. When we asked a FP+ CM for help, it was another dead end. Our app notification feature showed no notifications. So we gave up. It was really frustrating. But, hours later my husband got an email saying we had a FP we could use anywhere. It was no use then. Hulk smash.

The icing on the cake is the MDE page STILL has a red-letter message about the change affecting my FastPass plans for 1/26/14 every time I log in. Salt in the wound.

 

[seashoreCM]

Ideally (not fact), upon arrival at the closed ride, they should let you fastpass any other attraction immediately without having made or updated a reservation at a kiosk, or let you return to the ride in question any time later without having updated your reservation at a kiosk.

This is the proper place to issue paper "emergency" fastpasses much in the way bus drivers hand out "emergency transfers" if the bus breaks down en route. Some transit systems use word of mouth from the patron instead of issuing slips of paper. Disney is capable of doing it this way too.

Ordinarily I would not seize the opportunity (or take the trouble) to park hop as described above but if I did and encountered the problem described above I should have the right to return to the original park and it becomes the problem of the CMs there again.