Soarin' SB+ test...Fail

[ArwenMarie]

Okay, so Sea World sells 2 levels of front of the line passes, Six flags also sells different levels of front of the line passes. And If I'm not mistaken Universal also offers something of the sort. Why has Disney not implemented the sale of an extra ticket or tier of tickets that allows the people to make a choice on whether they want to stand in line, or if they want to pay to bypass the line?

They have, the VIP Tour.

 

[Luvchefmic]

They ought to start handing out antacids, Different strengths for FP+ line, special standby lines, and the Go pound sand/You're out of luck crowd..they could come in different character and flavors just like the old Flintstone vitamins...that should make things all better.

This is all so stupid. I agree with what someone else said: whoever keeps coming up with this stuff has obviously not been to the parks.

 

[mom2rtk]

Only if everyone who entered the park bought one. Some would be deterred by the price. Other's would be willing to spend the money. But then again, I guess thats a step backwards. Back to the old ticket booklets.

Even a small percentage of a day's admission at Disney is probably enough to overwhelm the system.

Besides. If it was even remotely possible, I think they would have done it by now.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Disney, please roll back the clock a couple of years and spend $1.5 BILLION dollars on some new rides, not a customer management system with tracking bracelets.

Yes, yes and YES!!!!!!

The ONLY thing everyone can and does agree on? MORE ATTRACTIONS!... I guess, except for Disney...

 

[ziravan]

This Sept is my first time to WDW since 2005. I did go to DLR last year (almost no prep for DLR, 90 min wait for Soarin' and no shot at Carsland).

I made an account here in April to better prepare for WDW (and even that was already past my 180 day ADR date). Since then, I've gotten most of what I want for our Sept trip (assuming no tech failures).

1. BOG Dinner (searched 8-10/day for 40 days).
2. CRT - that was actually still available about 160 days out.
3. TT Dessert Party (stumbled into the thread here when it was chaos because of the switch to 180 ADR. Made a call. Got it. If I wasn't on the Disboards all the time planning, I wouldn't have known).
4. DVC Rental Deluxe for price of a moderate (and dozens of hours of research before renting, including dozens of more hours comparing to FD).
5. A&E FPs - including all the research into how to get and booking last day first, etc.
6. 7DMT FP for each of three MK visits.

And more.

My upcoming vacation is almost perfectly planned.

But.

But.

But.

Conservatively, I've spent over 250 hours reading, learning, planning, searching, and booking (that's about 2 hrs/night for each of the last 120 nights and that's a conservative estimate).

Now, at my 40 day mark, I've imposed a moratorium on changes out of fear that some change will jinx the whole thing.

My point is two-fold

1. How many people will spend 200+ hours planning a vacation (I've known Bridezillas that were pikers by comparison)?

2. Just how entitled do you think I'll feel to be enraged if Disney makes a material change that sabotages the intricate planning they all but twisted my arm to make?

 

[chapie1968]

As soon as they started this FP+ bullcrap I knew the long term plan was to eliminate standby lines and go to an all reserved time ride system. If they ever do this, I will never give WDW another dollar.



I hate planning, and I don't like standing in lines so I do see the advantage of both. But I'm not spending $100 a day for the privilege t walk around your theme parks and shop. It should be up to the paying customer if they want to stand in line for an attraction and WHICH attractions they want to do on ANY given day. Not only on certain days, at certain times, that have to be planned out 30 to 60 days in advance.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I've been to Disney a couple of times since FP+ was introduced and we absolutely love it!! Looking forward to using it again in September.

I'm wondering if they would have even started the SB+ if it wasn't for the monsterous waits for A&E? I can see it necessary for them but so far I'm not convinced it's needed in other places but happy to reserve final decision until I've tried it out myself....if it's still available.

If you haven't tried FP+, please give it a try. You might really like it! We sure do!!!

 

[sethschroeder]

As soon as they started this FP+ bullcrap I knew the long term plan was to eliminate standby lines and go to an all reserved time ride system. If they ever do this, I will never give WDW another dollar.



I hate planning, and I don't like standing in lines so I do see the advantage of both. But I'm not spending $100 a day for the privilege t walk around your theme parks and shop. It should be up to the paying customer if they want to stand in line for an attraction and WHICH attractions they want to do on ANY given day. Not only on certain days, at certain times, that have to be planned out 30 to 60 days in advance.

Why?

Whats the difference between going to a ride getting a time to come back and get in the standby line vs just entering a very long standby line? I don't really see a difference...?

If anything the new system is exactly the benefit of the new system. I want to ride Soarin but instead of waiting 50-60 mins I get a return time 20 mins from now and have a 30 min wait.

The biggest issue Disney has is when they test something it does mess up someones trip that is in the park now. In the end if they can get IT to get things straight they can actually make the system better.

I know they need more rides to deal with the crowds but I don't see how this is ride rationing? They are still filling up the rides to capacity right? They are not saying oh lets put less people on a ride because we don't want a regular standby line...?

 

[stky6]

Well looking at what they have added lately wouldn't they have to get back some of the imagineers they lost to Universal to actually CREATE another E ticket ride?

 

[Mad Hattered]

Or you could plunk down $80/person for six samples from the F & W festival. That would make me forget about not riding Soarin'.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/international-food-and-wine-festival/news/31jul2014-new-after-hours-street-party-coming-to-this-year's-epcot-food-and-festival.htm

 

[Rileygirl]

i did not make it to soaring tonight. We got sucked into test track, dd's favourite.

I have not read all of this thread but the biggest potential alarming problem with this standby plus system to me is this:

You can only book either soaring or test track with the fp+ system. With this new standby system, it is possible that you will be shut out of one of the two biggest attractions at Epcot on any given day, if you dont arrive within the first hour or two to grab the standby plus. As in, there is no way you are going to get to ride both headliners, unless you are there first thing in the morning....

Think about that. It could become the norm. No new attractions coming to epcot anytime soon. At 60 days, you have to pick one or the other. (because, test track will have to have the same system, or there will be 4 hr standby lines due to the over flow from no soaring....)

Rope dropping is almost useless here now anyways right now...

And, given the unreliability of test track in the rain,,,, this could become very interesting.....better add weather forecasts to your preparation...

Not a happy direction at all. I would rather choose, or not choose, to stand in line for the headline attraction I paid maximum price for with my admission. I dont want to KNOW that its impossible for me to ride both attractions at my epcot day. I may not ride both, but don't tell me I CANT.

I hate the word CANT. I always believe that knowledge and research and planning can allow me to do what I want to do at Disney. But its creeping in so much of our vocabulary.

I CANT get a BOG dinner ressie if I wanted one.
I CANT get an A&E fp+ if I wanted one
I CANT see both Soarin and Test Track on the same day at epcot....

This direction is concerning, alarming even.

 

[clsteve]

This Sept is my first time to WDW since 2005. I did go to DLR last year (almost no prep for DLR, 90 min wait for Soarin' and no shot at Carsland).

I made an account here in April to better prepare for WDW (and even that was already past my 180 day ADR date). Since then, I've gotten most of what I want for our Sept trip (assuming no tech failures).

1. BOG Dinner (searched 8-10/day for 40 days).
2. CRT - that was actually still available about 160 days out.
3. TT Dessert Party (stumbled into the thread here when it was chaos because of the switch to 180 ADR. Made a call. Got it. If I wasn't on the Disboards all the time planning, I wouldn't have known).
4. DVC Rental Deluxe for price of a moderate (and dozens of hours of research before renting, including dozens of more hours comparing to FD).
5. A&E FPs - including all the research into how to get and booking last day first, etc.
6. 7DMT FP for each of three MK visits.

And more.

My upcoming vacation is almost perfectly planned.

But.

But.

But.

Conservatively, I've spent over 250 hours reading, learning, planning, searching, and booking (that's about 2 hrs/night for each of the last 120 nights and that's a conservative estimate).

Now, at my 40 day mark, I've imposed a moratorium on changes out of fear that some change will jinx the whole thing.

My point is two-fold

1. How many people will spend 200+ hours planning a vacation (I've known Bridezillas that were pikers by comparison)?

2. Just how entitled do you think I'll feel to be enraged if Disney makes a material change that sabotages the intricate planning they all but twisted my arm to make?

You are miles ahead of the game and well informed, compared to most who will be there at the same time. Knowledge is key - you have it and everybody posting here (no matter what our opinions are) is willing to help at the drop of the hat.

You've also realized that, once The Plan is where you want it - let it sit, unless something major changes it.

Now, if Disney changes things while you are mid-trip: be the squeaky wheel, in a firm but adult way: names, dates, times (pictures) - It works. Other than that - have as much fun as possible, and check Dis and Twitter for updates if all of this mess is still ongoing....

 

[ArwenMarie]

Think about that. It could become the norm. No new attractions coming to epcot anytime soon. At 60 days, you have to pick one or the other. (because, test track will have to have the same system, or there will be 4 hr standby lines due to the over flow from no soaring....)

Rope dropping is almost useless here now anyways right now...

And, given the unreliability of test track in the rain,,,, this could become very interesting.....better add weather forecasts to your preparation...

Not a happy direction at all. I would rather choose, or not choose, to stand in line for the headline attraction I paid maximum price for with my admission. I dont want to KNOW that its impossible for me to ride both attractions at my epcot day. I may not ride both, but don't tell me I CANT.

I hate the word CANT. I always believe that knowledge and research and planning can allow me to do what I want to do at Disney. But its creeping in so much of our vocabulary.

I CANT get a BOG dinner ressie if I wanted one.
I CANT get an A&E fp+ if I wanted one
I CANT see both Soarin and Test Track on the same day at epcot....

This direction is concerning, alarming even.

I really think the only thing that is going to restore sanity to a WDW vacation is going for nine-ten days instead of the standard week, which ends up being about six full park days. That way a person can hit Epcot twice, AK, MK maybe 3 days, and DHS maybe even two days. That's seven park days, maybe add in a rest day or a water park. With a longer trip, shorter park days would be fine too.

It also makes the vacation longer to increase the chance of getting the harder ADRs and FPs.

 

[Rileygirl]

Certainly a longer vacation period is a viable solution for some people. But I would not guess this is possible for everyone. a 10 day vacation may not be possible for the vast majority of people from either time or money perspectives

And there are many who like to take short but frequent trips.

I dont know how this will pan out for the general vacation goer, how they will feel when they get to epcot and realize they can't ride one of the best rides at this theme park because they arrived at 10:30 am, and not 9 am...

On top of that, say you get the 'standby' ticket, and the return time is at 6 pm, your dinner adr, or 8:30 pm, and you cant watch illuminations.

Paying more, getting less.

My own personal problem is this: I have always been able to maximize whatever system disney has had in place over the last 10 years, and been able to get in, on the most part, anything I wanted. This was the 'privledge' of being educated, on these boards and other forums. Now, perhaps I can maximize this new standby plus system in the future, but I think that it is not likely.

Already there are some I cants in my vocabulary.

Add to this the very dated look of so many attractions, and some of the surliness of the cast members (truly the worst I have ever encountered have been on this trip, its a little shocking) and I really wonder how dedicated I am to returning anytime soon.

I am a positive person, and I have many happy memories as a child at disney, and with my children at Disney. That counts for something. But there certainly a few negatives creeping in.

Side note, our magic bands have worked without a single glitch, I have had no bad luck with them at all. They have worked at the gates, and at the fast pass machines...

 

[agavegirl1]

On the topic of longer but less frequent trips...that would be me. I have added days to the WDW portion of my trip, agreeing with DBF that we may get bored but, we had to , kind of, to see what we wanted to see without a wait time that would make us, well just not go there.

We are used to repeat rides at Rope Drop and slower times. We are used to riding without a lot of hanging around in lines. We go during slower time and use Rope Drop to our advantage.

I very much want to experience my usual attractions at WDW so ...I added days when FP+ was introduced. I haven't been there since 2010 so I am a little out of touch.

However, I am taking away from WDW by renting a car during a portion of my trip to do Busch Gardens. I am breaking up my trip to go to Sea World and I am ending my trip at Universal.

 

[flatlandcycle]

I really think the only thing that is going to restore sanity to a WDW vacation is going for nine-ten days instead of the standard week, which ends up being about six full park days. That way a person can hit Epcot twice, AK, MK maybe 3 days, and DHS maybe even two days. That's seven park days, maybe add in a rest day or a water park. With a longer trip, shorter park days would be fine too.

It also makes the vacation longer to increase the chance of getting the harder ADRs and FPs.

This will never happen for me. I'll be at Weeki Wachee Springs. At least the mermaids swim there. Make it hard to get one park done in one day and Disney will be completely written off. My travel dollar will be spent on a State Park Pass.

 

[MAD on Disney]

Standby+. Coined in another thread and used very early in this thread.

I tried to coin it as Standby Minus (SB-) in the similar earlier thread about A&E. I was absolutely convinced that my change made sense. Almost nobody else seemed to agree. Does anyone else see the irony? Perhaps I'm on the fast-track for a Disney management position.

 

[maxaroni]

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201407/4143/

Walt Disney World today expanded its "Anna and Elsa"-style timed return ticket system to Epcot's Soarin'. With standby waits often over two hours, Soarin' is one of Disney's most popular attractions, which is why the resort soon will be building a third theater for the show. But in the meantime, Disney's trying the system it employed last week for the Anna and Elsa meet-and-greet at the Magic Kingdom's Princess Fairytale Hall.

 

[wn01aa]

Standby Plus. It's a riff on FP+ that someone used to describe this latest test and it stuck.

I'm glad the SB+ (Standby+) name that I mentioned it should be called last week in the middle of the A&E thread has caught on. Although hopefully it also dies and Disney doesn't actually read this and call it this.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

And you know Disney has that all figured in (longer vacations! See more! Give us more money while you're at it! Oh and after you spend that 9-11 days with us, we're pretty sure you aren't going to have time to toddle off to that park down the road either) but frankly, they have got to be kidding me. I have been to Disney so many times. I don't need to see the same old same old over and over again.