Spontaneity at WDW Gone

[WhispyPixie]

I just got back yesterday, we spent 14 nights at WDW and we felt like you feel before we went. We usually get up and pick a park for the day and then change parks if and when we want too. With the FP+ that's gone you do have to pick a park if you want to use FP's for any of the major rides because they will be gone when you get to the park.

Thanks so much TowMater, I appreciate the information and perspective!! I am sure it will be great trip...its all in the attitude!

I disagree with the OP. I just woke up and decided to do MK this morning instead of Epcot. I went on MDE and made FPs for Mansion, Mine Train, and Peter Pan.

NikkiBell, I am glad you had a great experience. As I shared in a later post my perspective is PRE-trip. We don't leave until Friday. Considering the number of people, I am expecting challenges with impulsiveness but I hope I am pleasantly surprised.

I believe the parks are what you make of them.

fuzzylogicllc, TOTALLY agree with this comment, for non-DISer and someone not knowledgeable about the procedures, going at a busy time. It will be challenging. Fortunately, I know what I am getting into.

It felt like spontaneity was gone when I was doing my planning for my quick long weekend trip last weekend.

But once I got there it wasn't so bad.

Thanks GaSleepingBeautyFan, we are getting so excited! No matter what...we will be AT WDW!

I just miss the clean slate every morning while actually there on vacation. Being able to easily switch your plans once you were there, as long as you were willing to get up early enough. Things happen...weather, illness, bad sleep, or just wanting to go to a different park than you thought 60/180 days prior.

So, yes, in that sense, day to day, for our family, a large piece of the spontaneity for us has been taken away unless we are willing to stand in long lines for headliners.

ArwenMarie THIS is what I was referring to in my OP. Certainly didn't mean to "light a fire"


AND on that note, I think I am gonna go do laundry so I can start packing!!!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There are ways it could be improved but that's not what this thread is about.

As for whether I don't or do enjoy Disney, you're right. I hate it. I've been going 25+ years because I loathe everything Disney. You got me Lisa.

Not what I said. But it is clear, based on your abundance of posts focusing on a specific set of attractions, that you are basing your opinions of good or bad and spontaneous possible or not on a narrow selection of attractions.

That is not an objective observation at all.

 

[Laketravis]

I agree. My point wasn't about the overall lack of availability, but that it does not seem (at least for that day), that Disney was releasing any FP+ for that attraction on the day of. I remember reading reports of people wondering if they did for A&E, and - on our trip at least - the answer to that was no.

Even when arriving at RD, by the time we were able to use our FP's in Epcot or Hollywood, there were never any headliner FP's available for the 4th and beyond when we got to the kiosk. Even the CM's were pessimistic when it was my turn in line and they would ask what I was looking for and I'd mention a headliner. I suppose we could have used some additional strategies to manipulate the current system like using the first one and deleting the next two in order to get to the kiosk in time, but that just seemed like additional complications.

Edit to add: I almost forgot. We had taken along a 2nd set of MB's that weren't tied to our tickets in order to test for another thread if they could pull FP's. They could, but the first couple of times we tried to use them - within an hour or so of park opening in Epcot/HS - still, the only things left were things like Nemo or Great Movie Ride. It wasn't even worth the effort so after a couple of tries we abandoned the experiment.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Even some people who want to wait are unable to do it.

As of today--where is waiting for an attraction or a meet and greet NOT a possibility?

 

[Hokie2000]

Ha. Of course, you can enjoy a nice stroll through fantasyland at 2pm. I love jumping scooters and trying to navigate around double strollers. Or perhaps you could enjoy looking at the beautiful souvenir shops. My house could use a few more items made in China. Or, perhaps one of those beautiful parades. I love standing behind people with children hoisted up on their shoulders.

If thrill rides are your thing, please try Busch Gardens Williamsburg some time. Their coasters are awesome, plus it is a beautiful park, the food is excellent (all quick service so no reservations), and it's not terribly crowded on weekdays in the summer. Not many strollers, no parades, and cool animal exhibits (rescued bald eagles and wolves). I haven't shopped there in a while but I know they used to have authentic stuff in the various countries. And Water Country is supposed to be very good as well. If you haven't tried it I highly recommend it. I've been going since I was a kid since we live only 2 hours away. We usually go to BG 1-2 days every summer, it's not WDW but it sounds like it might be a nice change for you.

 

[Hokie2000]

Only if spontaneous = being able to ride 7dmt any time you want the precise moment you demand it Or spontaneous = I want a hamburger and ice cream NOW and Beaches and cream is the ONLY place that I can get exactly that. That sounds more synonymous with the demands of a 2 year old rather than the definition of spontaneous. Shoot, what if you wanted Starbucks but the like was 10 minutes long? There goes the spontaneity because you cannot have it this instant. *stompy feet*

OMGoodness, lol lol lol lol

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If thrill rides are your thing, please try Busch Gardens Williamsburg some time. Their coasters are awesome, plus it is a beautiful park, the food is excellent (all quick service so no reservations), and it's not terribly crowded on weekdays in the summer. Not many strollers, no parades, and cool animal exhibits (rescued bald eagles and wolves). I haven't shopped there in a while but I know they used to have authentic stuff in the various countries. And Water Country is supposed to be very good as well. If you haven't tried it I highly recommend it. I've been going since I was a kid since we live only 2 hours away. We usually go to BG 1-2 days every summer, it's not WDW but it sounds like it might be a nice change for you.

Yes! Not that do rolled coasters much anymore.

I do think the lack of strollers may be due to the hills.

 

[Hokie2000]

Who said anything about this instant? Lisa this is why all your credibility went out the door 15 pages ago. You use hyperbole and exaggeration to try and get your points across and it fails each time. I said people were being turned away from a burger joint. That has nothing to do with this instant, that is for the rest of the night. And I guess I'm a 2 year old because I don't want to wait 60 minutes for 7D. Lisa, what's your position within the Disney company?

Self-awareness fail.

 

[Hokie2000]

Even some people who want to wait are unable to do it.

You state this like it's the current situation. Did you mean WERE unable to do it?

 

[Money82]

You state this like it's the current situation. Did you mean WERE unable to do it?

There was a thread about this a few months ago. A&E and Soarin - standby lines were closed even to people who were willing to wait all day. I guess they were forced to be spontaneous and look for other attractions huh? Another win for FP+.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There was a thread about this a few months ago. A&E and Soarin - standby lines were closed even to people who were willing to wait all day. I guess they were forced to be spontaneous and look for other attractions huh? Another win for FP+.

Why, yes they were. But that was very temporary and no longer the case, now is it?

I would concede (imagine that) that closing a ride to FP only is not good.
But I also acknowledge that it was temporary and is not presently in effect.

But alas basing success or lack of on one attraction is never a good thing.

Haunted mansion was closed during our visit so we planned for it on arrival day. But darn the lack of spontaneity that it could not be ridden on Tuesday.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Self-awareness fail.

You use hyperbole and exaggeration to try and get your points across and it fails each time.

Pot, meet kettle.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Why, yes they were. But that was very temporary and no longer the case, now is it?

I would concede (imagine that) that closing a ride to FP only is not good.
But I also acknowledge that it was temporary and is not presently in effect.

At WDW, yes. There hasn't been a no-standby test since the TSMM one in October (thankfully).

Just for the sake of discussion, I do believe that A&E at DL did actually implement the "allow A&E line to fill up to an hour (or whatever the time is), close the SB line, then hand out paper cards w/return times for later. When the cards are gone, the line is closed" procedure that they had originally tested on A&E in WDW over the summer.

I have not yet heard that they discontinued that there.

Like I said, just putting that into the discussion. Disney is clearly OK with implementing said procedure. They haven't done so at WDW yet, and I hope they never do, but it isn't out of the question. Not trying to be argumentative at all, just putting it out there as a discussion point.

 

[Hokie2000]

There was a thread about this a few months ago. A&E and Soarin - standby lines were closed even to people who were willing to wait all day. I guess they were forced to be spontaneous and look for other attractions huh? Another win for FP+.

I remember that, and I agree that it wasn't a good thing. But I also know that it was temporary and not currently happening.

 

[Hokie2000]

Yes! Not that do rolled coasters much anymore. I do think the lack of strollers may be due to the hills.

And those STAIRS! We used to race up them. Sometimes I still want to but can never find any takers, lol.

Seriously, Alpengeist is probably my favorite ride anywhere. I've never been a front row coaster rider, but it is truly amazing in the front row and worth the extra wait. Alas, I don't always get to ride it nowadays, since the kids aren't tall enough yet. We usually end up choosing Griffon for our "child swap" ride, since it's newer and totally crazy, and my husband likes it better.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

At WDW, yes. There hasn't been a no-standby test since the TSMM one in October (thankfully).

Just for the sake of discussion, I do believe that A&E at DL did actually implement the "allow A&E line to fill up to an hour (or whatever the time is), close the SB line, then hand out paper cards w/return times for later. When the cards are gone, the line is closed" procedure that they had originally tested on A&E in WDW over the summer.

I have not yet heard that they discontinued that there.

Like I said, just putting that into the discussion. Disney is clearly OK with implementing said procedure. They haven't done so at WDW yet, and I hope they never do, but it isn't out of the question. Not trying to be argumentative at all, just putting it out there as a discussion point.

It reminds me of the days of Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree. You got a reservation card and once all slots filled, that was it.

BOG was doing that for a bit.

I don't have an inherent problem with the idea so long as it were made known. It is somewhat like having FP- but dedicating entire ride capacity to it.

And from an app standby--having a little %capacity reached icon (similar to what they will show for marathon sign ups) would be adequate measure of how close they are to running out of cards.

I do get disappointed when these things are "discovered" versus made public.

I think there was talk (or maybe actually implemented briefly) of BOG being FP only for QS. That was disappointing. But I see that more as trying to manage the popularity if something versus "forcing" folks to use FP+. I see FP, in that case, being their tool to manage. The problem, though, is that I *think* that it is only open to on site guests and, to my knowledge as I haven't checked the site too much, you cannot do this through MDE as it has its own website.

I don't like the concept of shutting out offsite guests altogether from something that is not directly something at a hotel (like pool or gym).

And lest some others catch me in a gotcha--I do like perks for onsite guests such as privilege to do things earlier than off site guests. I don't like shutting out off site guests all together from something they have zero access to when that was not the intended concept when that something opened.

I mean, BOG is lovely--but it is no Club 33 which was entirely intended to be an exclusive set up from concept to implementation.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And those STAIRS! We used to race up them. Sometimes I still want to but can never find any takers, lol.

Seriously, Alpengeist is probably my favorite ride anywhere. I've never been a front row coaster rider, but it is truly amazing in the front row and worth the extra wait. Alas, I don't always get to ride it nowadays, since the kids aren't tall enough yet. We usually end up choosing Griffon for our "child swap" ride, since it's newer and totally crazy, and my husband likes it better.

That was er..enjoyable, but I don't intend to ride of again.

On our 1 year anniversary, we rode all 4 coasters (finishing with Big bad wolf, oh my!). That was 15 years ago.

And we carried a stroller up those stairs when we realized it was quicker than trying to go the long way.

But if someone is looking for thrill rides, great choice.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I don't have an inherent problem with the idea so long as it were made known. It is somewhat like having FP- but dedicating entire ride capacity to it.

The concept is like legacy, yes...but IMHO it's very different because once those cards are gone there is no *option* to wait. Or worse, IMO, that CMs tell guests the line is closed for the day only to open it later at night (as happened in the similar Soarin' test). The people who were told it was closed for the day would have no reason to check back to see if it opened later..so they could have had an opportunity to ride, but didn't because Disney told them the line was closed for the day, then reopened it.

Even if legacy FPs ran out for TSMM at noon, one still had the option to wait in standby if they wanted to. A long standby, maybe, but the option was there.

If a ride is open, and the park itself is still open, then IMO guests should have the option to wait.

I do get disappointed when these things are "discovered" versus made public.

I agree completely

 

[Laketravis]

I mean, BOG is lovely--but it is no Club 33 which was entirely intended to be an exclusive set up from concept to implementation.

Apparently even the elite are not immune to Disney's "value adjustments":

Some of Mickey's High Rollers have their tails in a twist

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The concept is like legacy, yes...but IMHO it's very different because once those cards are gone there is no *option* to wait. Or worse, IMO, that CMs tell guests the line is closed for the day only to open it later at night (as happened in the similar Soarin' test). The people who were told it was closed for the day would have no reason to check back to see if it opened later..so they could have had an opportunity to ride, but didn't because Disney told them the line was closed for the day, then reopened it.

Even if legacy FPs ran out for TSMM at noon, one still had the option to wait in standby if they wanted to. A long standby, maybe, but the option was there.

If a ride is open, and the park itself is still open, then IMO guests should have the option to wait.



I agree completely

My only counter (not so much a disagreement as they are ponderings)...

With FP/SB combo---the FP are limited in number to facilitate standby.

If fP only or SB to capacity then card (FP-?) only...then while it is limited on the distribution, that amount distributed would (theoretically) be greater since it is based on total ride capacity throughout the day.

Problems:
What if cards are taken then not used...then what? Now you have unutilized capacity with no standby folks able to ride in their place.

What if ride breaks down...did the distribution calculate for that, or are we back to square one with a backlog of folks after closing?