Tiered FP+ Complaint

[Pirate Granny]

Our family trip 180 is Monday. We as a family spent much time over thanksgiving week picking which restaurants and days and times will be best for me to call on Monday....then came the fast pass + what a mess trying to figure out which tier, when and mate it to our ADR's. Granted we have until 60 days out, and FP+ will most likely have more changes but as a family we needed to get everyone's priorities. WHAT a pain. I love to plan, but this was entirely too much trouble.

 

[com_op_2000]

Called MS yesterday and registered my complaint about FP+ Tiered selections.
Can not get the FP, I want on the days I am going to be in certain parks.
MS passed me on to a supervisor, who was understanding but no information on furture changes, and the one thing to remember they are still in the TESTING phase of implementation.

 

[tjkraz]

With over 30,000 rooms, WDW is no longer in the theme park business. It's in the hotel and timeshare business.

Since DAK opened in 1998, WDW has added 10,000 rooms with no new theme parks in the foreseeable future.

The theme parks are an excuse to help Disney book those hotel rooms and sell those timeshares.

Those in upper management who had a real passion for the theme parks were "retired" years ago.

I'm quite sure that hotel rooms do serve to make the theme parks more profitable. Keeping people on-site for the bulk of their visit captures a lot more dollars compared to those who drive off-site. It's not just hotel revenue...it's more money spent on meals, snacks, recreation and an increased chance for souvenir purchases.

As for the parks, there's really no financial reason to build another park. The lesson Disney learned when they built Animal Kingdom was that guests really didn't add any time (or money) to their typical vacation. Instead, all they did was redistribute how they spent their time.

In other words, there's no reason to spend billions of dollars on new parks when the average length of stay for guests isn't going to increase.

Disney considered the growth potential in any new investment. When they spend money on a hotel, their goal is to steal business away from off-site lodging and grow that segment of the business. Sad reality is that $3-4 billion spent on a fifth theme park isn't going to bring in significant new dollars.

 

[disneynutz]

Called MS yesterday and registered my complaint about FP+ Tiered selections.
Can not get the FP, I want on the days I am going to be in certain parks.
MS passed me on to a supervisor, who was understanding but no information on furture changes, and the one thing to remember they are still in the TESTING phase of implementation.

MS has nothing to do with MDE or Fast Passes other than getting stuck trying to placate members and fix MDE account errors if they can.

You should address your complaint to Disney at:

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com or 407 939-6244.

Bill

 

[LuvFFPlus]

I'm quite sure that hotel rooms do serve to make the theme parks more profitable. Keeping people on-site for the bulk of their visit captures a lot more dollars compared to those who drive off-site. It's not just hotel revenue...it's more money spent on meals, snacks, recreation and an increased chance for souvenir purchases.

As for the parks, there's really no financial reason to build another park. The lesson Disney learned when they built Animal Kingdom was that guests really didn't add any time (or money) to their typical vacation. Instead, all they did was redistribute how they spent their time.

In other words, there's no reason to spend billions of dollars on new parks when the average length of stay for guests isn't going to increase.

Disney considered the growth potential in any new investment. When they spend money on a hotel, their goal is to steal business away from off-site lodging and grow that segment of the business. Sad reality is that $3-4 billion spent on a fifth theme park isn't going to bring in significant new dollars.

I totally agree. Many people stated that having more attractions will help the crowd problem but at what ROI to the business? Many of the return visiters don't spent as much as first timers and any old rides will be new to the frist timers.
All new rides will do is guarantee an increase to cost with no significant increase in revenue to offset.

 

[LuvFFPlus]

MS is really for timeshare business. FP+ and MDE is not DVC.

 

[Brian Noble]

All new rides will do is guarantee an increase to cost with no significant increase in revenue to offset.

This is not at all clear. The Potterverse drove a huge increase in attendance at Universal. Cars Land added millions to DLR's annual attendance---some of that was siphoned from Disneyland, but the additional guests at DCA more than made up for it. OTOH, New Fantasyland might or might not have had a material impact at MK.

 

[LuvFFPlus]

This is not at all clear. The Potterverse drove a huge increase in attendance at Universal. Cars Land added millions to DLR's annual attendance---some of that was siphoned from Disneyland, but the additional guests at DCA more than made up for it. OTOH, New Fantasyland might or might not have had a material impact at MK.

Agree. The statement should be modified to state it was meant for the currently announced or finished attractions at WDW only.

SW land or Avatar land is an unknown factor at this point. Not even sure if CarsLand will ever make it to WDW now.
New Fantasyland is okay but I don't think it increased attendance for MK that much.
Too bad Disney didn't agree to Potter and unable to build Marvel at FL.

 

[wordwitt]

I also just sent a polite note to the email address included in this thread expressing my dissatisfaction with tiering. We were there in September and loved MyMagic+ and FastPass+, and we never even pulled regular FP. However, had tiering been in effect, we wouldn't have liked it at all. So basically that's what I told them. I realize that the tiering may not be in effect when the final system is implemented, but I wanted to express my opinion regarding it just in case our opinions really do matter

 

[disneynutz]

I also just sent a polite note to the email address included in this thread expressing my dissatisfaction with tiering. We were there in September and loved MyMagic+ and FastPass+, and we never even pulled regular FP. However, had tiering been in effect, we wouldn't have liked it at all. So basically that's what I told them. I realize that the tiering may not be in effect when the final system is implemented, but I wanted to express my opinion regarding it just in case our opinions really do matter

I expect that Disney will test and implement all sorts of different programs, all it takes is a software change.

There may be different number of FP's available depending on where you are staying. There may be a dine and play FP package that you buy. The possibilities are endless.

Bill

 

[LuvFFPlus]

I expect that Disney will test and implement all sorts of different programs, all it takes is a software change.

There may be different number of FP's available depending on where you are staying. There may be a dine and play FP package that you buy. The possibilities are endless.

Bill

I too think with the ability to control how many or how little they can restrict the FP+. Many different pay to play package may come up according to the crowd levels.
This is one of the positives with flexible software in terms of benefiting the business.
Disney seems to plan to start with a low number of tired FP+ base to make people realize they need to "upgrade" if a higher number of rides than the base is desired.
FastPassPluseMyWay comes in mind.

 

[lodge]

The FP lines have some waits as long as a typical regular line this week. Jungle Cruise had 30 minute wait listed and those without a FP were waiting actually over an hour. With high attendance it's almost not worth it to wait in lines for MANY attractions without a FP. Princess Meet at Fantasyland was just ridiculous. The line barely moved, it became hot in the big room with all the bodies just standing there, kids became irritated....yuck!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I'm quite sure that hotel rooms do serve to make the theme parks more profitable. Keeping people on-site for the bulk of their visit captures a lot more dollars compared to those who drive off-site. It's not just hotel revenue...it's more money spent on meals, snacks, recreation and an increased chance for souvenir purchases.

As for the parks, there's really no financial reason to build another park. The lesson Disney learned when they built Animal Kingdom was that guests really didn't add any time (or money) to their typical vacation. Instead, all they did was redistribute how they spent their time.

In other words, there's no reason to spend billions of dollars on new parks when the average length of stay for guests isn't going to increase.

Disney considered the growth potential in any new investment. When they spend money on a hotel, their goal is to steal business away from off-site lodging and grow that segment of the business. Sad reality is that $3-4 billion spent on a fifth theme park isn't going to bring in significant new dollars.

Ditto on all the above.

My take on the MM+ and FP+ systems is that their primary purpose is not to significantly alter or enhance the ( current ) returning guests experience, but to turn more first time visitors into repeat visitors. The young families coming up are more "connected" and Disney is trying to leverage that. The PLUS(+) systems being rolled out are geared to a family staying on-site and being able to plan their vacation beforehand. This should give them a more positive first-time guest experience which would increase the likelihood of them becoming return visitors. And by return I mean on-site, tickets and other enhancements through Disney to guarantee the experience.

We AP and DVC guests - we aren't the Theme parks bread and butter. We are an important part of their bottom line and likely their most vocal supporters but we probably don't generate as much profit from one of us going through the turn-style as the first timer. Our admission is less per park day, we likely spend far less on souvenirs, and are probably more literate on what dining options are the best bang for the buck.

Remember when FastPass first came out? Read up on the reasons why it was developed - the primary purpose was to have the guest spend less time in queue (not spending) to having the guest in dining or shopping (spending).
MM+ and FP+ is just more of the same.

 

[gatorskin76]

If this was mentioned somewhere, I might have missed it. There aren't an infinite number of fast pass slots that can be given to DVC members or any other group for that matter. If you feel they shouldn't tier the system, then you are saying some other group will get less. That's fine if that is what you believe, but just thought I would mention it since all I read is how they should somehow have no limitations. It's give and take. I am sure the impact FP+ is having on FP- is getting complaints too. No tiering only makes those problems worse.