The Problem Seems to be...

[Shaden]

In reading multiple posts in multiple threads I have seen more people that like FP+ that have actually gone to disney and more negatives that have not used the new system.
I am a rd, commando type touring person. Read in another thread person made rd, hit headliners, then had FP+ for headliner again.
I think we all need to help each other figure out ways to get the most out of this new system. I have already learned from others ideas on how to work this system to increase # of rides. I hope to keep hearing from the people that have actually used the system and advice on how to make it work.
Looking forward to upcoming trip. If I listened and postponed every time there were neg comments on dis board I would never go. .
Great to have first world problems.

I absolutely disagree, especially if you consider people who have used FP+ since all onsite guests have had access and since double dipping was eliminated.

And as a ride commando, this system can not possibly advantage you. You should have been able to pull 6+ FPs, even during the busiest time of year, you no longer will be able to, you will spend more time in line, and you will get fewer rides in. Its really just that simple.

Will you still have a great time ? I imagine, I sure plan to, but this system does nothing to help people who are ride centric on their trips.

 

[Shaden]

I just hope they DO make changes...like adding more FP per day and getting rid of the tiers. People keep saying, don't worry it's still in testing and there with likely be changes...and that has been the case, only the changes have been to the negative (IMHO) ie: tiers.

We don't have any major trips planned to WDW until March 2015, LOTS of time for there to be changes.

THANK YOU.

This is exactly the problem. "Pro-FP+" people, who will highlight the major flaws of the system but then cling to "changes" that will happen as the justification for how awesome the system will be, though they say it currently is super awesome, even though this is quite contradictory ... anyway ...

We have seen some changes to FP+ .... Tiers. That was the last change. Super awesome, made the system so much better. Lets hope for more "changes" to make the system even "better" in the future.

 

[ellie05]

I think the big problem here with the MB's and FP+ is that Disney rolled out a system that was much too big, in too short of a time period. Not enough testing was done and the CM's aren't properly informed in some cases. I can see where all the frustration comes from.
I arrive at WDW in 18 days. I'm going to stay opened minded, until I've experienced the new systems for myself. Although, I have to say, I'm a little nervous. I'm glad it's just me and my husband with no kids this time. I can't imagine dragging them through some of the lines I've seen on Twitter...
29 trips to Disney World and counting...next stop POFQ march 2014
18 days to go!!!

This is exactly how we feel and we will be there in a week.

 

[smitch425]

THANK YOU.

This is exactly the problem. "Pro-FP+" people, who will highlight the major flaws of the system but then cling to "changes" that will happen as the justification for how awesome the system will be, though they say it currently is super awesome, even though this is quite contradictory ... anyway ...

We have seen some changes to FP+ .... Tiers. That was the last change. Super awesome, made the system so much better. Lets hope for more "changes" to make the system even "better" in the future.

Not sure if your post was a dig at my post or not, but I have read multiple reports of guests speaking with management (both at the park and via phone), and they have stated that there will be changes made with both tiering and the ability to hop. Only time will tell...

 

[nadira36]

The problem is largely 1) Expectations, and 2) Perception.

Expectation: Savvy travellers are used to getting 5 or more FastPasses at each park in a reasonable amount of time. Three (even if booked in advance and for specific times) feels limiting despite additional freedoms, and they don't like it. Change is hard, particularly if the change is perceived as negative.

Perception: FastPass+ looks like a failure to people because the FastPass lines look long, so they assume they are long. What they don't see is inside the queue, you're going straight to the front. People are bottlenecked at the scanner, and then have few people in front of them once they get past it. People who are waiting in that line would even tell you it was longer, but unless they timed it, they don't know, and the data suggests it's not.

You can pretty easily tell by following this board if people are glass half empty or glass half full people by how they're reacting to this.

Yes.

We are not commando park goers, we have had progressively more children every time we've travels to WDW. This year we have 4 of our own children 7 and under with us. We just go with the flow. But each year we typically get 3-5 Fps per day - depends on which park b/c at HS we only ever bothered with TSM - MK we got more. BUT when we arrive home we typically have 2-5 fp per day in our pocket. We still ride the rides, we just don't need them. We don't ride the big ticket headliner rides multiple times a day, and the days we don't leave the parks for swimming and other activities, we manage to see almost everything.

Could fp+ change enough things that our vacation sucks? possibly, but I doubt it. But if I typically used touring plans of some sort, went commando, and/or traveled at busier times of year, then I might be more concerned.

 

[Shaden]

Not sure if your post was a dig at my post or not, but I have read multiple reports of guests speaking with management (both at the park and via phone), and they have stated that there will be changes made with both tiering and the ability to hop. Only time will tell...

not a shot at you at all Smitch, though I would hope you would agree, changes could very well be for the worse, the last one certainly was.

 

[Silock]

What they don't see is inside the queue, you're going straight to the front. People are bottlenecked at the scanner, and then have few people in front of them once they get past it. People who are waiting in that line would even tell you it was longer, but unless they timed it, they don't know, and the data suggests it's not.

I don't know that this is true. There have been multiple reports that the line was not limited to just outside the first scanner, but lines also inside. That's not just from President's Day, but even last week, it was nuts (see: pictures of the Safari at DAK).

 

[Silock]

So yes, TSMM is the only thing the pro-FP+ can cling to, because its the only attraction that is truly advantaged by FP+. Every other attraction is not.

The really messed up thing about that is that it's not even THAT good of a ride! You can play the game at home if you have a Wii, for crying out loud!

 

[sonofanarchy]

The reality is simple, about 70% of the year, TSM is the only ride that FP+ is a net positive for for anyone.

36% of the year are 8+ days.

The rest of the year 7- you would be able to pull FPs for just about any ride throughout the day, especially if you were smart enough to go to the suggested park that day.

So yes, TSMM is the only thing the pro-FP+ can cling to, because its the only attraction that is truly advantaged by FP+. Every other attraction is not.

Glad someone else noticed this too. Everybody who seems to like FP+, only likes it because they don't have to wake up early to ride TSMM.

 

[surferdave]

I think the big problem here with the MB's and FP+ is that Disney rolled out a system that was much too big, in too short of a time period. Not enough testing was done and the CM's aren't properly informed in some cases. I can see where all the frustration comes from.
I arrive at WDW in 18 days. I'm going to stay opened minded, until I've experienced the new systems for myself. Although, I have to say, I'm a little nervous. I'm glad it's just me and my husband with no kids this time. I can't imagine dragging them through some of the lines I've seen on Twitter...
29 trips to Disney World and counting...next stop POFQ march 2014
18 days to go!!!

I think the problem is deeper than that. I think Disney is about 5-10 years ahead of the ability of the technology that guests have to depend upon to get any sort of flexibility out of the system (mainly wireless data and device battery life) to handle the demand the system will put on it.

 

[clsteve]

I think the problem is deeper than that. I think Disney is about 5-10 years ahead of the ability of the technology that guests have to depend upon to get any sort of flexibility out of the system (mainly wireless data and device battery life) to handle the demand the system will put on it.

There are Way too many variables in play right now with the system...

 

[DaisyNY]

Tried it in Oct/Nov with the system not fully rolled out...Will try it again March 1 - 8 but parks are not suppose to be too crowded. This past week with Presidents Holiday and Winter Break is traditionally really crowded and I believe this is the busiest week yet since they rolled out the whole system...Will report back the good, and hopefully not bad!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I completely understand why it sucks for those that used FP- to it's full potential. I'm not arguing that at all. For me PERSONALLY, I'm local, so it's just not as big of a deal to me. But if some people are pleased with how the system works for them and how they tour the parks, then I don't see the big deal

The people who like FP+ aren't falling in line with those who dislike it, it's as simple as that. I honestly think some here have the thought that if Disney sees enough negative FP+ posts here, that they'll go back to the old system. That won't happen.

We used FP-, but weren't rabid about it either. Even then, we'd have 4 a day at the most and ride everything else standby, so the new system works just fine for us, with the added bonus of not having to join the "running of the herd" for TSM.

We are not rope droppers, so it's nice to be able to meander our way in and know that we have FPs for certain things.

 

[smitch425]

Glad someone else noticed this too. Everybody who seems to like FP+, only likes it because they don't have to wake up early to ride TSMM.

This is not at all true. There are many reasons we like it. I try to steer clear of words like "only" and "everybody" when discussing topics such as this. Unless you actually know "everybody", you couldn't possibly know that to be true.

 

[VMKYouAreMissed]

The real problem is that the whole idea & process sucks. This was initially never supposed to be anything more than MBs to get us in the park faster. Two people who have now been fired came up with the "brilliant" idea of FP+ to get as much as they can from the system. Disney realizes it is a failure & people hate it, but they invested A CRAZY AMOUNT of money in it and so it is here to stay.

 

[FLchick415]

There may be people that hate it, but there are also people that like it. (I, myself, am indifferent)

 

[Golf4283]

The real problem is that the whole idea & process sucks. This was initially never supposed to be anything more than MBs to get us in the park faster. Two people who have now been fired came up with the "brilliant" idea of FP+ to get as much as they can from the system. Disney realizes it is a failure & people hate it, but they invested A CRAZY AMOUNT of money in it and so it is here to stay.

who got fired that came up with the idea? I never knew that?

Regardless I love the system and don't consider it a failure at all, Disney's parks division is doing very well financially now.

 

[TitanBrett]

Are the fp- machines gone from all parks now or just MK?

 

[Golf4283]

Are the fp- machines gone from all parks now or just MK?

Hopefully they're gone from all the parks soon. Can't get rid of that antiquated technology soon enough! Those machines/areas were such eyesores.

 

[smitch425]

Are the fp- machines gone from all parks now or just MK?

They haven't been physically removed, but they have all been covered up for awhile. There is no FP- at all now, only FP+.