There isn't any Disney Magic in this process!!

[JimmyV]

Thank you for pointing out an obvious typo. I meant to say 11 PM because that is the relevant time for people in the Central Time Zone.

I actually thought the typo was supposed to be 1 a.m.

 

[soniam]

It's ironic. I like FP+, not everything about it, like the IT, but the concept in general. I also liked the old paper FPs. However, I did a survey recently specifically asking about MDE and the process of choosing/changing FP+. I actually had to respond in the survey that I felt anxious, frustrated, and a little confused while making/changing FP+, even though I have done it before. I think WDW is getting a little unsure (not a lot because they ponied up a boat load of money that will never allow them to say too many bad things), based upon the questions in the survey.

I feel bad for first time WDW visitors; I wonder if they have any idea what they are getting themselves into. However, this was true before with paper FP. I remember having to explain it to a lot of first timers at the machines, even though it was my first time too. One poor family missed out on TSMM, because they couldn't stay past a certain time but had gotten a late FP.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'll stand by my original comment that I believe everyone likes the ability to make theme park ride reservations in advance but it's the lack of availability that they have an issue with.

I'm curious why those who have nothing but praise for FP+ can't seem to acknowledge that others do see good things about it but also do see and experience some disadvantages to it. Is that not okay for some reason? Are these boards for positive experiences only? Apparently if you don't think it's 100% wonderful then you are labeled a "hater" who prefers the old paper system and live to undermine the entire Disney enterprise. Even more interesting is how the same ones who quickly jump to Disney's defense only do so in regards to FP+ and only seem to post primarily in non-flattering FP+ threads and only when someone points out that their FP+ experience wasn't satisfactory. Look at any "I didn't like............." about FP+ and it's like somebody pressed the "Defend Disney" alarm button. It's the same fire fighting crew responding all the time. That's gotta get tiring.

.

I wonder if those who label many of us "FP+ haters" would be surprised to find out that we all have a great time when we're at Disney...... that in spite of disliking one piece of the puzzle, we still enjoy the Disney experience.

I'm perplexed by all the "Then why do you still go?" questions.

 

[perditax]

I'm kind of outside looking in here, but it seems like most of the FP+ angst is about the the statistical outlier that is the "A&E"/Frozen juggernaut. I'm not sure it's fair to judge the entire system on the basis of one particular 'event', one that is both massively popular and inherently bottlenecked. (Isn't that the problem, that they only have so much space to deploy people dressed up as "A&E"? And that people only want to meet them at this one specific place?) I guess I don't understand what would fix the bottleneck. No matter what system is set up you will have your type-A people who are going to be up at (whatever the equivalent of midnight is for whatever system is in place) and beat out all the people who went to bed early.

 

[jade1]

This makes participation here very frustrating. People who question and challenge random features of FP+ and who offer constructive criticism are labelled "haters" because they do not embrace every aspect of the new system. Face it. The 60 day window is not scientifically necessary. Just as ADRs used to be 30 days out. Then 45. Then 60 Then 90. Then 180. The system didn't crash under any of these scenarios. The decisions to extend the dates further out into the future were not done out of systemic necessity. They were done because Disney thought that it would be beneficial to it to lock people in sooner. There were never any threads on Version 1.0 of these Boards pleading with Disney to pleeeeaaaaase double the ADR window from 90 to 180 days. This was never the result of customer dissatisfaction. Likewise, there were never any threads here beseeching Disney to pleeeeaaaaaase make the FP window 60 days. That is not a Magic number. It could be 30. Or 21. Or 7. Or 90. Or 180. Or whatever Disney unilaterally decrees. So please don't think that people who dislike the numbers 60 (as in days) or 12:00 a.m. (as in window opening time) or 3 (as in number of FPs per day) are "haters". Maybe the people who dislike these numbers and are suggesting some changes are really on to something that could actually benefit the guests. Just because they are suggesting something that Disney either didn't choose, or didn't even think of, doesn't mean that they hate Disney or FP+. Maybe they are actually thinking of putting the guest first instead of the accountant. It might be tilting at windmills to think this way. But they are entitled to do so without being chastised.

These are good point-is there a chance they chose asap at 60 (could be 30, 45, 90 whatever) days out? ie midnight on the east coast?

 

[Magic Band Defender]

I'm just saying if that's what you want then don't complain about the hoops.

I never do! I enjoy all the planning!

 

[flicx]

but every option imaginable would be vastly improved by just adding more A/E,

This would absolutely be the answer to A/E. They also could make the time to start booking fast passes 60 days out the same everyday. However for whatever reason Disney doesn't seem to care. I feel they have lost sight of what made them such a great place a while back. Simply put attention to details and customer satisfaction. Disney could easily remedy these situations. I am quite sure they are aware, but they choose not to. Speaks volumes to me!

 

[cakebaker]

At the risk of sounding like a crackpot, I wonder if Disney has the resources to re-theme a building...

Yes, and they're in the process of doing it. They get to pick where they put things.

 

[Laketravis]

I never do! I enjoy all the planning!

Same here. And this is a system that really caters to planners. Unfortunately, it also does a very efficient job of exposing systemic weaknesses in the process.



.

 

[SmithSmith]

I wonder if those who label many of us "FP+ haters" would be surprised to find out that we all have a great time when we're at Disney...... that in spite of disliking one piece of the puzzle, we still enjoy the Disney experience.

I'm perplexed by all the "Then why do you still go?" questions.

How does one enjoy WDW with FP+, if one never experienced WDW with FP+?

 

[cakebaker]

You specifically mentioned the use of phones in the park and that was what I was talking about. It would've been nice if Disney had found a way to implement whatever system without increasing guest iphone use while they were in the parks. I know guests don't have to use their phones in the parks just like they don't have to use FP+. Yes, I know every company is increasing their reliance on technology, but that doesn't mean it's beneficial.

That's odd, because it's a pretty common complaint around here that Disney has yet to enable us to book additional fp+'s....on our phones.

 

[jade1]

I'm kind of outside looking in here, but it seems like most of the FP+ angst is about the the statistical outlier that is the "A&E"/Frozen juggernaut. I'm not sure it's fair to judge the entire system on the basis of one particular 'event', one that is both massively popular and inherently bottlenecked. (Isn't that the problem, that they only have so much space to deploy people dressed up as "A&E"? And that people only want to meet them at this one specific place?) I guess I don't understand what would fix the bottleneck.

Agreed-hence post 176 above.

As for not enough space? They could put 20 A/E's in the empty building at EPCOT.

No matter what system is set up you will have your type-A people who are going to be up at (whatever the equivalent of midnight is for whatever system is in place) and beat out all the people who went to bed early.

Is kind of ironic really.

 

[kbelle8995]

I did have a co-worker who just wanted to go for the day. I tried to hint that they needed to plan just a little. "My family aren't big planners." I thought well okay and didn't offer anything further. They didn't do many rides and were shocked how crowded it was but the child in the group was able to see the characters she wanted without making a single FP reservation.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Just as there was with legacy FP. Yet that never seemed to be an acceptable answer then.

I do not care for the "if you don't like FP+, you can always use standby" argument. It's rather childish, if you ask me. "If you don't like it, just don't use it nener nener!" That might not be how it is intended, but that is almost always how it comes across to me. And I can almost promise you that if Disney were to suddenly go back to the old FP system (I know that they won't, but go with me here), those same people who say that if you don't like it just don't use it would be the same people complaining about how they don't like FP and FP+ was so much better. And I bet they wouldn't like hearing, "If you don't like FP, you don't have to use it." I'm also willing to bet that they used or at least tried to use FP in the past.

FP+ has increased the waits on multiple rides that didn't used to have waits (Great Movie Ride and Imagination come to mind). That's irritating for me because those were rides that I knew I could fit it at any time. Now, I'm actually having to plan when I can do those. The way I see it, if a person is willing to wait 60 minutes for Soarin', they were likely willing to wait 75 minutes, as well. So, the wait for Soarin' dropping from 75 minutes to 60 minutes doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I wasn't willing to wait at 75 and I'm not willing to wait at 60. BUT, upping Figment from 5 minutes (which really was always just a walk on) to 20 minutes is a big deal to me. I don't want to wait 20 minutes for a ride that was always a walk on. And walk on rides are no nonexistent for the most part. So what is my family doing? We are spending significantly less time in the parks and significantly more time at our hotel. This ends up costing us significantly less money because rather than eating at a table service restaurant in the parks, we are eating at counter service at the hotel. Rather than getting Dole Whips and other fun snacks, I'm refilling my refillable mug. Rather than spending money shopping in the parks, I'm at the free pool, napping in the room, or watching TV. In fact, for our trip in April, there is only one day that we are actually planning on spending all day in the park. This is the first trip I have ever taken like that. Every other trip, I was in the park from rope drop to closing or within an hour of closing. But, at least I'm saving money. As a consumer, it's actually pretty great. As a shareholder, I'm a little irritated that a product that was intended to increase the amount of time people spend in the parks is having the opposite effect on me. And, going off of people saying that they love FP+ because they were never rope drop people and now they don't have to try to get to the parks early anymore, it sounds like it is having a similar effect on others. People don't feel the need to spend as much time in the parks.

 

[wisblue]

I wonder if those who label many of us "FP+ haters" would be surprised to find out that we all have a great time when we're at Disney...... that in spite of disliking one piece of the puzzle, we still enjoy the Disney experience.

I'm perplexed by all the "Then why do you still go?" questions.

I guess it gets confusing when some of those people who have complained incessantly about FP+ for well over a year have still not tried to use it and say that they turned down an opportunity to go to WDW because they weren't sure if they could get a FP for one particular attraction.

 

[JanaDee]

I wouldn't suggest that here.. I've mentioned all inclusives and the like in other posts. Not too popular around here.

I did just suggest it. I don't care if it is popular or not. lol There are so many other places to vacation that don't require you to jump through endless, nothing but stress inducing, hoops. If that upsets people, oh well.

 

[cakebaker]

I wonder if those who label many of us "FP+ haters" would be surprised to find out that we all have a great time when we're at Disney...... that in spite of disliking one piece of the puzzle, we still enjoy the Disney experience.

I'm perplexed by all the "Then why do you still go?" questions.

For the same reason you suggest that those who don't like Universal's new policy of not allowing any beverages into the park should stop giving them their vacation dollars.

But yes, I would be surprised when a lot of the "haters" as you call them, swear they're never going back or are at least, severely cutting back on their time and frequency of visits. Just interested, did you enjoy your last trip with fp+ in use and how did it work for you in action, rather than just on paper...so to speak?

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess it gets confusing when some of those people who have complained incessantly about FP+ for well over a year have still not tried to use it and say that they turned down an opportunity to go to WDW because they weren't sure if they could get a FP for one particular attraction.

Oh, I'll get there. I'm kicking around a plan right now. Which is why I keep up to date on this side of the board.

I've had am amazing time at DLR the past 2 years though and was very happy with the value for the money spent.

Would you rather I have taken that expensive and very short spur of the moment trip (in peak season) then come back and complained about how long the standby line was for the 7DMT? I know what I value. And I know what will diminish an experience for me. But I've been having WDW withdrawal lately and am trying to get back sooner rather than later...... in spite of the fact that I'm currently holding APs for DLR.

 

[mom2rtk]

For the same reason you suggest that those who don't like Universal's new policy of not allowing any beverages into the park should stop giving them their vacation dollars.

But yes, I would be surprised when a lot of the "haters" as you call them, swear they're never going back or are at least, severely cutting back on their time and frequency of visits. Just interested, did you enjoy your last trip with fp+ in use and how did it work for you in action, rather than just on paper...so to speak?

I hope you'll sift through my posts and find where I said I was never going back.

I hope you have a lot of time on your hands.

 

[perditax]

Agreed-hence post 176 above.

As for not enough space? They could put 20 A/E's in the empty building at EPCOT.

Is kind of ironic really.

I'm probably slightly under-informed as I don't have kids, but can't people meet these two in EPCOT also? Norway or something? I guess I've gotten the impression that only the MK location 'counts' for the people who are intent on meeting them. I assume it's the scarcity effect at play.