Tiered FP+ for DHS

[rebbyparker]

Saw this coming from a mile away. I remember when they first announced this whole mess it was being broadcast it was going to be a tiered system from the outset until they got a bunch of backlash for that. Looks like they were trying to ease into testing before they dropped the tier bomb back in.

The only 2 things we ever FP at EPCOT are Test Track and Soarin. Now, it is pick one. Want to ride your favorite 2 rides-- well then you are going to spend an hour in line for one of them.

The only 2 things we ever FP at DHS are TSM and RNRC- again now it is pick one. Want to ride Mom's favorite ride and the kid's favorite ride? Well again, you are goign to spend an hour in line for one of them. IF DD is going to ride RNRC can't do single rider because she is too scared of the ride not to have Mom or Dad sitting with her.


Very suprised that Beauty and the Beast is a Tier 1. We usually walk up to that show and grab a seat easily 15 minutes before it starts.


I'm so glad we cancelled our December trip and went in October instead. We were in large part not fans of FP+/MDE in October other than for the first FP of the day, and the only reason we didn't spend the whole trip stressed out and running back and forth around the park for FP+, is that we just used FP- for part of the trip instead. Now, with it looking like that option is going to start being taken away this week, and the tiers being implemented on top of that, it is very disappointing. Of course, the tiers do pretty much solve the problem we had in the parks with FP+ of having to run back and forth across the park because basically you only get one FP+, and the other 2 are things you don't need to bother with your FP+ for. You can just do the other 2 attractions whenever you want and not mess with watching the clock, or being tied to your phone.

To me this is a huge step backwards. For years we have been able to plan our day to get FPs for all the major rides we wanted to ride. We are not superusers. At DHS and EPCOT we usually only do 2 FPs in an entire day. We'd do TSM more than once, but the FPs are always gone by the time that window opens. At EPCOT, we might pull a 2nd FP for Soarin as it is a favorite, but most of the time we don't even do that. I remember the pre-FP days when we had to stand in line for an hour or more for any of the big rides at WDW. What I remember most about those trips was spending a whole lot of time standing in line. I remember how exciting the first trip with FP was, and what a major improvement it is. Actually, once FP was implemented, my family started making trips to WDW more often. Now, it looks like we are back to the pre-FP days with the exception that you can get 1 FP per day. In my opinion there is nothing in the 2nd tier at either park that needs a FP on most days (except for maybe really high crowd times like Christmas and Spring Break).

It is looking less and less like we are going to be making our annual WDW trip next year. We are already starting to look at other vacation options. I'm sure we will return to WDW at some point or if this tiered system changes, but for now, I think we are done for a while. I don't want to go back to the way it used to be.

Yep, this sounds pretty consistent with other posters who tour the way you do. Thanks for sharing it!

 

[Robo]

My prayers have been answered, now I can use my 3 FP+s for three attractions that desperately need them: Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones and Lights, Motors, Action!

I read ya loud and clear!

Does everybody note just how stupid and slow on the uptake Disney must think their guest population actually is?

 

[Robo]

Honestly, I don't understand what the big deal is. First of all, they are OBVIOUSLY testing different ideas. It's not always going to be tiered in this exact way.

A- How do you know?

B- How do you know that it won't get WORSE if guests are passive in their reactions?

So far, it HAS gotten worse.

 

[mom2rtk]

New announcement, hot off the presses from Bob Iger:

If you like your fastpasses, you can keep your fastpasses.

 

[magicbob]

 

[magicbob]

New announcement, hot off the presses from Bob Iger:

If you like your fastpasses, you can keep your fastpasses.

 

[mesaboy2]

The slow descent from fabulousness to steaming turd continues.

 

[Robo]

New announcement, hot off the presses from Bob Iger:

If you like your fastpasses, you can keep your fastpasses.

The parallels have been astounding!

It just keeps getting worse the more people actually find out.

 

[PEC]

Looking at this from a business point, is Disney trying to get people to stay longer? Say 10 days instead of a week? Has the accountants and business people done the math and decided yes this is what will happen. I have seen the week long plans of 3 days MK, 2 days EPCOT, 2 days DHS, 2 Days AK. Think about it, more Disney merchandise, restaurants etc.
MK? Would really like to know how that was tiered previously. That has a lot of possibilities for tier 1.

 

[Robo]

Looking at this from a business point, is Disney trying to get people to stay longer? Say 10 days instead of a week? Has the accountants and business people done the math and decided yes this is what will happen. I have seen the week long plans of 3 days MK, 2 days EPCOT, 2 days DHS, 2 Days AK. Think about it, more Disney merchandise, restaurants etc.
MK? Would really like to know how that was tiered previously. That has a lot of possibilities for tier 1.

If that was the intent, simply offer only ONE FP+ per day.
That's taking that path to its "logical" conclusion.

 

[PEC]

New announcement, hot off the presses from Bob Iger:

If you like your fastpasses, you can keep your fastpasses.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

A- How do you know?

B- How do you know that it won't get WORSE if guests are passive in their reactions?

So far, it HAS gotten worse.

A - because they said they are testing through March
B - It might.

 

[asmit4]

New announcement, hot off the presses from Bob Iger:

If you like your fastpasses, you can keep your fastpasses.

This is AWESOME!

I'm gonna put on my toddler tantrum face now.....here goes....if DW is letting in loads more people to their parks (meaning more people are going to DW for vacation) then it's time they invest some of that $$$ to MORE GREAT RIDES! NOT enough capacity?! BOOO!!! MAKE ENOUGH!

Why did this system need to change anyway?! I liked the old FP- if you were a 'loser' who didn't know the plan ya got maybe 2 FPs all day long If you were 'in the know' you were able to run around and get LOTS and LOTS! Now even the losers get 3. and the 3 you get are not even for headliners! What a CROCK!

 

[mom2rtk]

The slow descent from fabulousness to steaming turd continues.

No, tell us what you really think.

 

[magicbob]

The parallels have been astounding!

It just keeps getting worse the more people actually find out.

Does everybody note just how stupid and slow on the uptake Disney must think their guest population actually is?

 

[PEC]

If that was the intent, simply offer only ONE FP+ per day.
That's taking that path to its "logical" conclusion.

Arguably they did at EPCOT. Take TT and Soarin off the table and you really have to be at the park at the wrong time to really need a FP+ for anything else.
Heck even DHS, I can find times during almost any day that RNR does not have a long standby. Same with TOT. Get there early and you almost always can walk on those rides and normallly the same is true in the evenings. TSM was the only pure FP needed attraction.
AK is not much different. Many weeks you could probably get by without a FP at AK and hit the major attractions at least once and probably a couple of times.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

New announcement, hot off the presses from Bob Iger:

If you like your fastpasses, you can keep your fastpasses.

There's a Disney joke even my DH can appreciate.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Wish I could've bought stock in "they'll tier the 3 major DHS attractions next."

But wait, they're just in testing. Or they might still change it. Or (insert defense here)....

Next up--AK tiering! I can see it now:

Option A (Choose one)
Expedition Everest
Kilamanjaro Safaris
DINOSAUR
Kali River Rapids

Option B (Choose two)
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Festival Of The Lion King
Flights of Wonder
Finding Nemo The Musical
Primeval Whirl
Jammin' Jungle Parade

 

[wisblue]

Oh, good.

Now people are going to use these forums to make thinly veiled partisan political comments.

 

[wiigirl]

At least the Tower of Terror is in the second tier. That would give us two attractions that we consider headliners and one "B" ride.