Soarin' SB+ test...Fail

[JoshuaShaw]

Being devils advocate here but if they build more rides, we'll just be in line for those rides not shopping and spending money. They want us shopping so maybe that is why they brought us MM+ instead of new attractions.

Good point. They should demolish some more attractions and build shops and restaurants. Think of the increased revenue!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Good point. They should demolish some more attractions and build shops and restaurants. Think of the increased revenue!

Now you're thinking like a suit!

 

[JoshuaShaw]

Now you're thinking like a suit!

 

[shafke]

Maybe they should return to the era of making rides exit through a gift shop.
Then they would be encouraged to get you through the line faster and possibly build more gift shops, err.. rides.

How about having the lines go through the gift shop?
The more you spend the quicker you get on the ride.

 

[heartse]

I think ^^ that is a fantastic idea!

In all seriousness though... don't know when we will be back if this keeps up. Sad thing is that we have about 5 days left on some 10 day NE tickets! Plus 9 water park trips!!!

 

[clsteve]

Maybe I should start wearing gloves?

Gloves are good, but not necessary.....

 

[dwheaton]

I've been going to Disney World for years, and even with kids our shopping barely takes up any of our time. We may swing by a shop on the way out, or we'll stop by quickly between rides, but the time spent in lines has no impact.

If we wait in fewer lines, we get to ride more things. However, the added complexities mean that SB has gotten longer for some rides that used to be quick walk-ons. This means that FP+ and the new tested system would not give us more time to do other rides.

I'm not in the camp that gets angry about having to plan a vacation. My issue is that it's grown so convoluted that planning doesn't even help that much. You can have the perfect plan and still get stymied by something like this test.

I know that different departments have their own budgets, so the $1.5 B for My Magic Plus couldn't just be moved into another zone. Still, the way to cut lines at Soarin' and Toy Story Mania is to add more rides. It's no coincidence that neither has a huge wait at DCA. TSM doesn't even have FP at DCA! Also, it's sad that I'm using DCA as the example of a park with more things to do. But it's true!

 

[robpa]

Being devils advocate here but if they build more rides, we'll just be in line for those rides not shopping and spending money. They want us shopping so maybe that is why they brought us MM+ instead of new attractions.

I think the shopping is a part of it but not their whole motivation. They are trying to get to a point where they can staff at a minimum if they need to. My place of employment has gone to stocking very little inventory as to not incur that cost and also stocking very minimal parts for rebuilding machinery that breaks down to cut down on that cost. Companies are trying to cut costs anyway they can and the biggest overhead any company has is its employees, especially if they are offering even rudimentary benefits.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I think the shopping is a part of it but not their whole motivation. They are trying to get to a point where they can staff at a minimum if they need to. My place of employment has gone to stocking very little inventory as to not incur that cost and also stocking very minimal parts for rebuilding machinery that breaks down to cut down on that cost. Companies are trying to cut costs anyway they can and the biggest overhead any company has is its employees, especially if they are offering even rudimentary benefits.

Don't argue that point at all. I was "lucky" enough to partake in 3 weeks of layoff last year so the company I work for could make more money. I don't really begrudge companies for making money...that 's their goal. But at the same time doesn't mean I have to be happy about take aways.

 

[Suvadoo]

Being devils advocate here but if they build more rides, we'll just be in line for those rides not shopping and spending money. They want us shopping so maybe that is why they brought us MM+ instead of new attractions.

If Disney wanted us to shop, why does every store carry the same tired merchandise? I would love to buy some souvenirs, but Disney has the same stuff everywhere.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

If Disney wanted us to shop, why does every store carry the same tired merchandise? I would love to buy some souvenirs, but Disney has the same stuff everywhere.

Agree....I have no answer except it's generally cheaper to mass produce things.

 

[robpa]

Don't argue that point at all. I was "lucky" enough to partake in 3 weeks of layoff last year so the company I work for could make more money. I don't really begrudge companies for making money...that 's their goal. But at the same time doesn't mean I have to be happy about take aways.

I agree totally, but the management of companies need to start realizing that good employees that are treated well will also help them make money. One of the biggest complaints (other than FP+) I see on these boards are tired cranky overwhelmed CMs. People seem to remember CMs that made them feel special more than how awesome a ride or show was. That was the MAGIC that everyone talks about. Disney is slowly losing this in favor of the $$$$$.

 

[Missyrose]

Okay, I've read up to page 32 so far, maybe this has been brought up in the last 15 pages or so, but here's what gets me about all this ride scheduling. Ostensibly the idea is to get us out of line and spending money, right? But in our family's case, and I'm sure we're not alone, it's made me schedule less ADRs and rely more on QS for food...just because it's so freaking hard to plan FPs+ and now maybe BSs+ (have to go with Jennasis' term, sorry) around set mealtimes. MDE carves out a two-hour block of time for each ADR during which you can't schedule anything else. Thus, MM+ has actually had the effect of making us spend LESS money overall. I guess we are just outliers if Disney's data is showing a boost in guest spending, though.

I want to point out that MDE will tell you when an ADR conflicts with a. FP+ reservation, but it won't actually prevent you from making it.

 

[mom2rtk]

The app is currently showing a 60 minute wait for Soarin so the test must be over.

I think it was only intended to be a 3 day test.

Good point. They should demolish some more attractions and build shops and restaurants. Think of the increased revenue!

Now you're thinking!

. Still, the way to cut lines at Soarin' and Toy Story Mania is to add more rides. It's no coincidence that neither has a huge wait at DCA. TSM doesn't even have FP at DCA! Also, it's sad that I'm using DCA as the example of a park with more things to do. But it's true!

And Disney knows this. They had a problem with DCA from the day it opened. It never took off the way the hoped. It was through the addition of great new attractions that things finally got back on track. Not magic bands. Not crazy shell games. Honest to goodness things to do that people enjoy. Disney wins, the customers win. It's amazing that the 2 resorts are part of the same company.

 

[Cielei]

Somebody has been drinking the koolaid

I think I skimmed most of the thread while successfully avoiding housework today. Just my opinion; but I don't believe this is a test of the emergency broadcast system, but more likely a storm warning. They will be doing this - those walls didn't go up at A&E for nothing which means that they had to have designed (or redesigned the FP) machines that will make this "test" a reality. My guess is it will actually read your Magic Band or ticket and will not assign a time if you already have an existing FP+ or SB+. Those new VIP tour packages are starting to look better and better as options.

 

[Planogirl]

I think writing a letter is the least effective because there is no pain. A lot of phone calls to the TWDC switchboard in Burbank, a number of emails from the The Walt Disney Company Corporate Communications site and emails direct to the parks will raise eyebrows and get attention.

It actually was an email written in letter format. I was tired when I posted so my terminology was goofy. It's nice to know that SOMEONE might pay attention.

 

[Planogirl]

If Disney wanted us to shop, why does every store carry the same tired merchandise? I would love to buy some souvenirs, but Disney has the same stuff everywhere.

Not to mention but a lot of it is cheap junk. When you can see through the t-shirts then you know that they're not too worried about whether the stuff is any good or not. But then again if the souvenirs don't last very long then maybe you'll buy more?

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I laughed the other night when my friend, wife of an Air Force officer who has lived abroad and traveled the world, told me that planning her first trip to WDW was the most logistically difficult of all of her trips.

I guess she was serious.

This kind of debacle is exactly why we will keep heading west for the foreseeable future.

I would do more shopping if there was park specific, quality merchandise available. My gosh, I can't even get a napkin with a park name on it anymore.

And for the DCA naysayer upthread - it has undergone quite a transformation to the point where we no longer refer to it derisively as "California-land." You should check it out.

 

[kmb584]

Not to mention but a lot of it is cheap junk. When you can see through the t-shirts then you know that they're not too worried about whether the stuff is any good or not. But then again if the souvenirs don't last very long then maybe you'll buy more?

Perhaps that's why I had a cuff fall off (literally) from an Epcot Mickey head hoodie..

 

[Planogirl]

Perhaps that's why I had a cuff fall off (literally) from an Epcot Mickey head hoodie..

So of course you have to buy another one.