TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[shyjade]

Well, maybe not. They could have build some enormous, beautiful, mind-blowing attractions/parks instead of the $1B data mining system. If only there were another major theme park we could point to that would validate this point....

Exactly. For the first time in over 20 years I will be taking some of my money away from Disney and visiting the dark side next month. Who knows...the way things are trending at Disney we just might not be going back. This is the first time EVER I'm not excited about our trip to Disney. I can't imagine we'll be returning anytime soon.

 

[cakebaker]

Where are you staying? I've heard reports that people checking back to back and some have seen avaliability and others not. There is a suggesting that where you stay may effect the FP+ avalibility.

There isn't a shred of evidence to suggest that where you stay affects what you see for availability. One person wondered if that was possible- that doesn't translate into a suggestion that it's happening.

Availability comes and goes because people are reserving, changing and cancelling all the time. What I see now, you may not see in 5 minutes. Of course we did have the "person" yesterday on these boards who claimed he and a posse of others who have AP's were going to grab them every day just to reduce availability as much as possible. That could certainly reduce availability as well.

It's unfortunate that some people will lose out, Ap's who just walk in the park for an afternoon are certainly most at risk. On the other hand, if you're lucky enough to live local, it's not the end of the world. There will be other days. For vacationers, who only come every few years or maybe just once- this is a bigger deal.

I don't see this as a disaster. Inconvenient and a bit disappointing, sure. But a major flub on Disney's part? No.

 

[clsteve]

They "needed" it because they had to do something to manage the crowds they already had before building new attractions to bring in even MORE people.

Disney would love more guests.

Occupancy rate is flat

None of the Parks are close to capacity.

Epcot had higher attendance figures in 1991 than 2013.

MK about the same in 1991

It's an urban myth that Disney "needed something to manage the crowds" before building more capacity

No numbers support that.

Now the cost and size of their headcount - that's a good argument.

But nowhere is there anything that supports adding more rides and capacity would be an issue

 

[cakebaker]

Exactly. For the first time in over 20 years I will be taking some of my money away from Disney and visiting the dark side next month. Who knows...the way things are trending at Disney we just might not be going back. This is the first time EVER I'm not excited about our trip to Disney. I can't imagine we'll be returning anytime soon.

For us, replacing Disney with Universal is about the same as replacing prime rib with peanut butter. One is nothing like the other.

I may vacation somewhere else while the dust settles, but it won't be Universal. Only reason I'd put up with Florida weather is for Disney anyway, but Universal is not an alternative to Disney at all. They both have rides- and that's where the similarities end.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Where are you staying? I've heard reports that people checking back to back and some have seen avaliability and others not. There is a suggesting that where you stay may effect the FP+ avalibility.

I am at home in SC.

 

[vacationer1954]

Oh, okay. No, I was just putting that out there as an example of what they could have done with the same amount of time and resources that could have had a more positive effect.

I think the software developers wish that their work paid as well as building two new theme parks.

 

[tup1830]

Disney won't learn.

They did this same thing with A&E in MK, then with Soarin in Epcot and now Toy Story Mania. What next?..everst in AK?

Are we all supposed to be glued to the reservation system until we get what we want...and while at the park, check our phones all the time?

I thought the idea for the "family" vacation was to put away everything and spend time together with the family...not glued to the phone to get availability for something that may become available later.

Disney doesn't seem to care that they are losing people...with all these premium events, they're making money hand over fist...so to all of us that feel alienated with the way disneyworld is going

 

[Laketravis]

I think the software developers wish that their work paid as well as building two new theme parks.

Wouldn't we all?

But the costs so far incurred for MM+/FP+ are comparable to the costs to build two new theme parks.

And the amount of time WDW has spent developing and tinkering with MM+/FP+ has so far exceeded the amount of time it took to build Epcot or AK.

Disney did something that could have been a huge success. They are trying to squeeze every last ounce of capacity out of existing infrastructure rather than invest in more. All of the other theme park operators from Six Flags to Universal would have benefited from the experiment had it been successful.

But there is such an enormous lag time in a business that huge - it can sometimes be years before you know the full effect of something you did yesterday. And I think there are more guests leaving the parks less-than-satisfied now than ever before but that impact won't be felt immediately.

 

[JanaDee]

For us, replacing Disney with Universal is about the same as replacing prime rib with peanut butter. One is nothing like the other.

I may vacation somewhere else while the dust settles, but it won't be Universal. Only reason I'd put up with Florida weather is for Disney anyway, but Universal is not an alternative to Disney at all. They both have rides- and that's where the similarities end.

I don't remember, have you ever been to Universal?

 

[faneuil]

It's unfortunate that some people will lose out, Ap's who just walk in the park for an afternoon are certainly most at risk. On the other hand, if you're lucky enough to live local, it's not the end of the world. There will be other days. For vacationers, who only come every few years or maybe just once- this is a bigger deal.

I think most of us local AP'ers have learned to book at least a week out. Unless, of course, you're going in for an afternoon to do something that doesn't require FP+. But yes, it's definitely not the end of the world, unless you're hosting family/friends on that once every 5 years trip.

There's been a few weeks where I've thought about going to a park one evening after work, and I've checked the FP+ availability. I might reserve them on Monday for a Thursday. Thursday morning comes and I know I'm way too tired to go into a park that night, and I cancel them.

I don't hold on to things I'm not going to use. I also don't grab things I won't use, just so that someone else can't use it.

I think that's part of my problem with the system. It almost puts fear into some ppl. "If I don't grab this now, someone else will! Then my trip is ruined!"

 

[Laketravis]

I think that's part of my problem with the system. It almost puts fear into some ppl. "If I don't grab this now, someone else will! Then my trip is ruined!"

That's a very good point. Limited availability sometimes leads to even more limited availability.

Like ADR's - the further out they can be booked, the less confident people are about the ones they want. So they will book several choices with the intention of cancelling the ones they decide they don't want when it gets close enough that they trust their decision which one they do want.

 

[tup1830]

its funny...
has anyone seen the fp tips and tricks page by disney?

it says: "x3 Triple up on experiences. increase your multiplier when you ride the same attraction several times in one day by reserving it with one of your first three FastPass+ selections, going through the standby line, and then using your additional FastPass+ selection on that same attraction."

hmmmmm...did i miss something here if its published by disney and not possible?

 

[faneuil]

They did this same thing with A&E in MK, then with Soarin in Epcot and now Toy Story Mania. What next?..everst in AK?

That would be interesting. shut down the SB and the single rider.
My bet is on the safari when they try this in AK.

Epcot had higher attendance figures in 1991 than 2013.

MK about the same in 1991

It's an urban myth that Disney "needed something to manage the crowds" before building more capacity

Maybe it's cause I was shorter and younger in 91, but the parks seem more crowded now. It feels like traffic flow isn't as good. Course, it could just be the walls making things feel tighter. (I weigh less, so it's not my waistline!)

Disney did something that could have been a huge success. They are trying to squeeze every last ounce of capacity out of existing infrastructure rather than invest in more. All of the other theme park operators from Six Flags to Universal would have benefited from the experiment had it been successful.

I remember, a gazillion years ago - okay, okay, early '90s - Six Flags Over GA had a "front of the line" system. You paid extra for it, but you were given a little pager. I don't remember much more, because it cost more than the ticket.

 

[cakebaker]

I don't remember, have you ever been to Universal?

Yes, about 2 weeks ago.

 

[ArwenMarie]

And yes, people complain. Just look at today's WDW Facebook page.

The only reason some things ever change is because people complained.

Wow. They must hate that Facebook page.

 

[vacationer1954]

But the costs so far incurred for MM+/FP+ are comparable to the costs to build two new theme parks.

I don't believe what you've claimed.

And the amount of time WDW has spent developing and tinkering with MM+/FP+ has so far exceeded the amount of time it took to build Epcot or AK.

I doubt Disney has spent as many staff-hours on MM+/FP+ as you think and surely not as many staff-hours as they would have spent on two additional gates.

 

[Laketravis]

its funny...
has anyone seen the fp tips and tricks page by disney?

it says: "x3 Triple up on experiences. increase your multiplier when you ride the same attraction several times in one day by reserving it with one of your first three FastPass+ selections, going through the standby line, and then using your additional FastPass+ selection on that same attraction."

hmmmmm...did i miss something here if its published by disney and not possible?

Hilarious. The truth is that marketing piece was probably composed over the course of several months. Meanwhile, another cube farm at corporate was planning to shut down the SB line for the most popular attraction at HS.

I'd love to hear what's going on right now between those two cube farms.

 

[Laketravis]

I don't believe either contention you've made.

I disagree on both points.

Epcot took 3 years to build from groundbreaking to opening at a cost of $1.4B

AK took 3 years to build from groundbreaking to opening at a cost of $800M

MM+/FP+ has been in the works going on 5 years now (longer if you want to count the patent filing date) and current estimates are the total costs are kissing $2B.

 

[shortnsassy730]

Too much coffee this morning?



I book FP+ reservations for most weekends because I MIGHT go. Typically that's not a problem because worst case people in the standby line take the slots and there's always a standby line.

For this little experiment that Disney is trying today with TSMM, I think it's best that it not go well for them. May sound like a "crappy thing to do", but in this case it's really Disney doing the "crappy thing" to all the people who will show up this week thinking they can ride TSMM by simply waiting in line. 5 FP+ reservations may not make a huge differences...tomorrow with the help of other AP holders, it will be at least 11 FP+ slots for TSMM if they make them available online....if that results in just one additional complaint at guest services then it's accomplished something.

I'm sorry but you're ridiculous. What you are doing is just childish. No one even knows what Disney's long term plan is for the test. The only people you are hurting are those at the parks right now who cannot ride because of selfish people like yourself.

 

[mom2rtk]

Here, let me fix that for you:

"Everybody's striving to improve the flow of the guest without having to build more capacity. That's the wave of the future in our industry," said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services.

Now I think he's telling the truth

Remember rule number 1: Everything is on the table.... except net new attractions.

Hilarious. The truth is that marketing piece was probably composed over the course of several months. Meanwhile, another cube farm at corporate was planning to shut down the SB line for the most popular attraction at HS.

I'd love to hear what's going on right now between those two cube farms.

Uh....nothing? Neither cube farm probably realizes there's an issue with it.