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

[Laketravis]

My point being that special actions that need to be taken in situations of where there is an overabundance of demand is not exclusive to Disney as a vacation destination. For a really popular cruise, exotic resort destination, etc. where very specific and popular accommodations are desired, you have to be one of the first in line to get it. It's just the way it is anywhere for anything like that.

Maybe I'm just lucky but that hasn't been my experience at all; I find that pretty much whatever else I'm looking for (cruise, exotic resort destination, etc) is available as long as I'm willing to pay for it.



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[cakebaker]

Interesting suggestion. I guess I never thought of a vacation as being a competition..

I don't think of buying a pair of shoes as a competition. But when they have a great sale and I want the best selection, I better get there early and beat the competition.

For me the whole point of planning an expensive vacation is to avoid any part of it "sucking", including the planning process itself - which is typically expected to be fun and something to look forward to.

It's not a must for us to enjoy every single aspect of getting to do to WDW. I certainly don't enjoy the 24 hr drive in the car with the toddler who won't sleep, wants to cry and we're sitting at a rest stop letting him run around to blow off steam. Flying isn't an option for us. If we go we drive. But it's worth it, so we do it. If it's not worth, don't do it. Simple.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Maybe I'm just lucky but that hasn't been my experience at all; I find that pretty much whatever else I'm looking for (cruise, exotic resort destination, etc) is available as long as I'm willing to pay for it.

If Disney decided to charge a fee in order to skip the line for Anna and Elsa, this whole board would be up in arms (and many posters would be agreeing to pay it, so the availability would still be limited and they'd still have to be up at o dark thirty to book it.)

 

[shalom]

This is very irresponsible on Disney's behalf. Telling a person the wrong time to reserve attractions. Just what I want after dropping thousands on a vacation! I can't believe they are still doing it.

Disney's been a terrible info source on Disney for as long as I can remember. They are still doing it because people keep coming anyhow. They're irresponsible for the same reason many good looking high school jocks are irresponsible -- enough people put up with it, they see no reason to change.

 

[wisblue]

For me the whole point of planning an expensive vacation is to avoid any part of it "sucking", including the planning process itself - which is typically expected to be fun and something to look forward to.

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Yep, and for me staying up until 11 AM or midnight to reserve 24 attractions that I know will have long lines at the time we will be there doesn't "suck".

 

[Laketravis]

I don't think of buying a pair of shoes as a competition. But when they have a great sale and I want the best selection, I better get there early and beat the competition..

I don't think of shopping as a vacation. I hate shopping. Unless it's a good sale, I guess. But I wouldn't call that a vacation.


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[Laketravis]

Yep, and for me staying up until 11 AM or midnight to reserve 24 attractions that I know will have long lines at the time we will be there doesn't "suck".

I think we've established that. And that for others, it does.

I'm not trying to get in the way of anyone defending Disney or the process, I'm just expressing my opinion that I can understand why some people would not see any of this as a benefit.




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[flicx]

I agree! I was told it would open up at 12am eastern. Its 25 minutes in and mine won't allow me to schedule for 4/19 like my little card in the mail said!

Where does Disney provide an exact time FP+ bookings can be made ? The date, absolutely - but no specific official minute, moment, or hour.

In the first quote I believe this poster was told 12am eastern time. Honestly this kind of nit picking gets old. If they allow reservations on a certain day, give the proper time. What kind of company has you spend thousands of dollars on vacation and then can't give you a precise time when you can start booking? It is inexcusable. Especially if you want some of the tough attractions. Just goes to show how much customer service has fallen of at Disneyworld!

 

[cakebaker]

Maybe I'm just lucky but that hasn't been my experience at all; I find that pretty much whatever else I'm looking for (cruise, exotic resort destination, etc) is available as long as I'm willing to pay for it.



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Solution is easy- create a golden ticket FP for A& E. Maybe sell it for $50, $100...whatever the market will bear. That would go over well. You want to complain because Disney doesn't do that? They can't make more hours in the day than there is.

 

[MrInfinity]

Maybe I'm just lucky but that hasn't been my experience at all; I find that pretty much whatever else I'm looking for (cruise, exotic resort destination, etc) is available as long as I'm willing to pay for it.

Think about other hot ticket items. Concert tickets. Have you tried to get a hot concert ticket? The instant the window opens, they're sold out.

Think about getting a playoff ticket to any sports event.

Think about when your local sports star makes a public appearance at a nearby dealership. You need to be there at 3am or you don't have a shot at getting an autograph.

Think about... black Friday deals. People camp out overnight in the cold freezing weather to get the few really great deals at any one given store.

Now for a chance to meet A&E? You can sit in your pajamas, at your computer, have some ice cream, watch a show, and stay up to midnight or 1am, then casually book them. You're really only doing it at that time because you're excited and want to book your FastPasses as soon as you can, not out of any requirement from Disney. And if you don't really want to, then don't.

 

[Laketravis]

Solution is easy- create a golden ticket FP for A& E. Maybe sell it for $50, $100...whatever the market will bear. That would go over well. You want to complain because Disney doesn't do that? They can't make more hours in the day than there is.

Probably not - that would certainly be "Magic".

But they could probably make more costumes, and find some more CM's to wear them, thereby stepping up to meet demand, reducing guest frustration and increasing satisfaction levels.



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[SeilerBird]

If I had a daughter that absolutely had to meet A&E I would hire two actresses to come to my house and then I could just sleep in.

 

[mom2rtk]

Think about other hot ticket items. Concert tickets. Have you tried to get a hot concert ticket? The instant the window opens, they're sold out.

Think about getting a playoff ticket to any sports event.

Think about when your local sports star makes a public appearance at a nearby dealership. You need to be there at 3am or you don't have a shot at getting an autograph.

Think about... black Friday deals. People camp out overnight in the cold freezing weather to get the few really great deals at any one given store.

Now for a chance to meet A&E? You can sit in your pajamas, at your computer, have some ice cream, watch a show, and stay up to midnight or 1am, then casually book them. You're really only doing it at that time because you're excited and want to book your FastPasses as soon as you can, not out of any requirement from Disney. And if you don't really want to, then don't.

I see a big difference in that if you miss out on the concert tickets, you have not spent a penny on the experience. If you miss the black Friday deal, you have not spent a penny. Not so with a Disney trip.

 

[cakebaker]

I don't think of shopping as a vacation. I hate shopping. Unless it's a good sale, I guess. But I wouldn't call that a vacation.


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You can choose to look at it any way you want, but rushing with the crowd at rope drop ( which is a time honored tradition at WDW) is about as competitive an activity as I can think of. If you don't like competing with other people, WDW is not your place to go.

 

[grimley1968]

But they could probably make more costumes, and find some more CM's to wear them.

Adding capacity to attractions? That's crazy talk.

 

[Dis703]

I've been reading reports that people still get everything they want when they go on at 8 or 9am so I'm not sure how necessary it is to do the midnight wait for FP. That said I'm not taking any chances and in just a couple weeks I will be up and doing the same. I plan to go to bed early and set my alarm. And while it doesn't feel magical I still prefer the option of doing it this way over the old system. So I take the good with the bad.

Just curious though how much time are people taking to get their FP set up. I found the whole pick three at a time and being given random times and having to change them all to be a bit of a pain. Wish you could just pick one at a time and specify the timeframe you are wanting. Maybe I'll just do the super hard ones at midnight and wait on the rest for the next day.

 

[mom2rtk]

Probably not - that would certainly be "Magic".

But they could probably make more costumes, and find some more CM's to wear them. thereby stepping up to meet demand, reducing guest frustration and increasing satisfaction levels.



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They could even add them to a second park. Not just MOVE them to a second park, but ADD them to a second park.

 

[Laketravis]

If you don't like competing with other people, WDW is not your place to go.

That's probably true. Sad, but true.


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[MrInfinity]

I see a big difference in that if you miss out on the concert tickets, you have not spent a penny on the experience. If you miss the black Friday deal, you have not spent a penny. Not so with a Disney trip.

You realize when you buy a ticket to WDW you're buying the hotel stay and admission to the parks right? I know you know you are not buying a guaranteed access to any attraction. So no, missing out on A&E, you have not spent any money in the process. You've still only spent the same money you'd spend on your vacation, and you got exactly what you knew you were buying.

You stay up... because you want something more. And you feel that by being on at midnight, you'll beat the average guest in getting to it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've been reading reports that people still get everything they want when they go on at 8 or 9am so I'm not sure how necessary it is to do the midnight wait for FP.

Perhaps those people did not care to schedule A/E, 7DMT, parades or fireworks? Not saying it doesn't happen for these things, I'm just saying that these are far from a sure thing.