TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[smidgy]

and anyone wonders why people are angry and confused? especially the people who already invested their time and money into planning a trip?

I don't really care about toy story mania. done it tons of times. but if it was one of the few times I got to be there with my grandkids, and planned according to what my best research told me, and go t there and found out there was NO stand by line???????/
\
I would be furious.

 

[dres40]

Wow, long thread. How did the test go?

 

[smidgy]

Are people thinking this is a permanent change?

I can see where that might cause some issues, but I'd sure love to see tiers go away. Every man for himself on getting a fp+!

Don't know if it's permanent, but it sure doesn't look like a glitch to me - the screen redesign is definitely deliberate.

Certainly provides more fodder for speculation that the "tests" were a means to an end in eliminating tiering in both EP (Soarin test) and HS (TSMM test).

Hopefully it doesn't mean that one or more of the headliners in each of those parks has to eliminate the SB line in order to accomplish this.

Well crap, it looks like it's reverted back to tiers.

This is incredibly insulting. I am very computer savvy and have nearly 40 years of WDW trips under my belt. I am fully capable of feeding myself. Yet it took me a ridiculous number of hours to plan FPs for our recent trip, for a mixed-age and mixed-interest group of 10. I would probably be less irritated by it if I was planning for one, or two, or three. But with a large family group, it was a nightmare. And it had the practical effect of splitting our large group into smaller factions (the toddler team and the thrill ride team, essentially), with everyone having to decide 60 days out which group they might want to be a part of for that particular hour months in the future. It led to us all spending way less time together than on any prior trip, which was sad considering none of us live in the same area and only see each other once or twice a year.

The only way an all-FP system would ever remotely work for us would be if it could eventually be as flexible as the old system, so instead of planning in advance, we could walk up to a ride and easily get an FP for it for right away, or an hour later, or some other reasonable timeframe (yes, even for headliners), and then use another FP while we're waiting for the new one. (For example, pick up a BTMRR FP for an hour from now, then walk over to POTC and get an FP for right away, ride that while we wait for BTMRR.) But, sadly, I don't think the math of supply/demand will ever allow a truly flexible all-FP+ system to ever exist. Nor do I trust WDW IT to ever make the app glitch-free and user-friendly enough for it ever to be a smooth and reliable experience (changing FPs on the fly was more trouble than it was worth most of the time on our recent trip).

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Great post. You hit the nail on head with the math about FP flexibility. Had legacy FP been used at any level approaching current FP+ usage, the system would have buckled under the weight.

I spend enough time as it is planning FP for just three of us with simple and shared interests; I can't imagine having to do it for a party of 10 with assorted ages and interests.

these are WONDERFUL!! examples of why the new system does NOT work! doesn't disney want families to "meet up" oat disney anymore? you all stay at the same disney resort. holy cow! it was hard enough before to meet up with dinners> now you want to try to make thenm al plan where they are going to be every day of the week????????

 

[smidgy]

Well, wouldn't be the first time premature counterpoints have been made in this discussion.

I'm not questioning what you meant, I'm saying it was a pretty logical conclusion to make that all you're interested in is 3 rides in some parks, then followed by a park you like 1 ride and you're leaving.

Misunderstood your intent? If you say so, you're the only one who knows your intent so I'll accept that. Silly? Not in the least.

I don't think it's logical to conclude that because only 3 rides can be scheduled in advance, 3 rides is all someone is interested in. That might be the net effect over time if a standby line is no longer an option, but it's not currently the case.

With that, I think this thread has run its course.

cakebaker, your conclusion is not logical at all. my husband questioned why I was making some FP+ reservations.. my response? I have to pick 3 . and now that everyone has to pick 3, some that were never a FP are now.. and a long wait. and and travis never ONCE said or insinuated that there wereparks he was only interested in a few rides

 

[cakebaker]

cakebaker, your conclusion is not logical at all. my husband questioned why I was making some FP+ reservations.. my response? I have to pick 3 . and now that everyone has to pick 3, some that were never a FP are now.. and a long wait. and and travis never ONCE said or insinuated that there wereparks he was only interested in a few rides

Well of course he didn't, how foolish of me......


Epcot days are nothing but a series of TT, Mission Space, Figment. TT, Mission Space, Figment.

HS days are nothing but a series of TSM, RnRC, Star Tours. TSM, RnRC, Star Tours.

MK days are nothing but a series of SM, BTMR, SDMT. SM, BTMR, SDMT.

AK is, well.... not even worth the effort. We'll just get there early, ride EE and leave

Just wanted to point that out- sorry to interrupt your back to back posting-

 

[vacationer1954]

As I said, if I misinterpreted your post, I apologize. there was no intent to do so.

And please understand there was no intent on my part to say that everyone had to like FP+.

I can manage it just fine despite all the technical problems and the clunky interface, but I still have a huge number of problems with it.

Having problems with something meaning not liking it is a colloquialism. The regular meaning of the word problem is any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty. I can see how taking the word in its colloquial meaning could lead to misinterpreting what I wrote so I hope you can see that as well. I hope people can stop trying to pile on those of us who support the standby-less idea and can respect our preference as we respect yours.

 

[pampam]

before I go back over allthese umpteen pages, let me say this:


It took me YEARS!! to convince my husband to FINALLY lay, back, chill out and just enjoy a trip without having to plan every single moment!!!

yes, all of us disney veterans KNOW that planning is a vryr needed part of a disney trip. once we started puchasing annual passes, not only could we park hop without payng extra, but we didn't need to worry about wasting a whole day's park ticket to ride aonly a couple rides and see fire works.

we can just chill, relax,
and then!!!!! the introductin of FP+!!!!aarrghhh!


sorry, I hate it.. we have been on 2 trips since it's inception. we hate it. I spent numerous hours at home planning beforehand, made FP+ reservations. as well as ADRS. shheesh. would you like to kn ow what time I want to swim? go to the bathroom? we didn't use half of our FP+ reservations. and, no I didn't cancel them, since I don't have a smart phone.. sorry. I am not waiting in a kiosk line to cancel aFP+ If I needed another, then I made another.
I made FP+ for rides I had NO intention of using, only because it was required. I could only book one of either test track or soarin. so I HAD to pick 2 others.
and THAT is why the lines have gotten so much longer.. both the FP lines and the stand by lines. ok one of the many reasons.

Very well stated.

 

[magicbob]

And please understand there was no intent on my part to say that everyone had to like FP+.
Having problems with something meaning not liking it is a colloquialism. The regular meaning of the word problem is any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty. I can see how taking the word in its colloquial meaning could lead to misinterpreting what I wrote so I hope you can see that as well. I hope people can stop trying to pile on those of us who support the standby-less idea and can respect our preference as we respect yours.

To be fair, no one is "piling on" because you prefer the concept of having no standby line. They were reacting to your demeaning post. And before you again trot out the explanation that you weren't referring to someone "disliking" the system, but that they had difficulty using the system, it's at least as insulting (if not more so) to say that people who are capable of reserving a room, feeding themselves, etc. experience no difficulties, thus implying that anyone who does have difficulties is a dolt who cannot even manage basic life needs.

Right, not insulting at all.

 

[ArwenMarie]

If the goal was to help first-timers figure things out, they could have done that with paper FP. Things they could have done...sent out DVDs explaining how to use it, glossy instruction booklets, magnets for the frig which say "Don't forget about Fastpass or you'll make Dumbo sad!," sent emails, etc.

I would have been ok with that, even if it meant I got less or they ran out earlier.

Because the biggest loss to me is that each day isn't a clean slate anymore.

Back to the standby lines, which is the point of this thread, I wonder if getting rid of standby is necessary at this point for FP+ to work with all of the prebooking going on. Or turning standby into true standby, as someone quoted already on this thread, with no pressure to keep the standby lines at reasonable levels. So this might be something they have to do now to keep up with the prebooking rates. Pandora's box and all that.

 

[mom2rtk]

these are WONDERFUL!! examples of why the new system does NOT work! doesn't disney want families to "meet up" oat disney anymore? you all stay at the same disney resort. holy cow! it was hard enough before to meet up with dinners> now you want to try to make thenm al plan where they are going to be every day of the week????????

It really is a complete 180 from their days of promoting "grand gatherings" (which, btw, I though was a very smart marketing ploy).

 

[rn448698]

So...

Now what? As I posted on Facebook yesterday regarding Ebola, enough griping and complaining online. Do something if you're seriously irritated or concerned with decisions being made by the higher-ups at Disney. (Note: I'm in agreement with the perceived majority of posters in this thread that FP+ has negatively impacted the guest experience.)

So, I'll say the same thing here. What are options for voicing displeasure besides posting on DisBoards (Yes, I know, supposedly Disney looks at DisBoards)? Reviews on the WDW Facebook page. Emailing customer relations. What else?

 

[norybell]

Having problems with something meaning not liking it is a colloquialism. The regular meaning of the word problem is any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty. I can see how taking the word in its colloquial meaning could lead to misinterpreting what I wrote so I hope you can see that as well. I hope people can stop trying to pile on those of us who support the standby-less idea and can respect our preference as we respect yours.

I have a Master's degree in literature and teach book editing at an Ivy League school, but thank you very much for the English lesson. It is absolutely true that "having problems" and "not liking" are not synonymous. However, it is perfectly logical to not like something BECAUSE you have problems with it. And it is possible to "manage" something, because you have no choice, despite having plenty of "doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty" with it. When planning our FP, I had plenty of doubts and uncertainties about the plans (should I pick Soarin' or Test Track? Will my niece want to do coasters? Will we make it to our ADR in time? Etc), and I had difficulties (a ton of minor technological glitches that added up to hours wasted). That means I had problems, per your definition (and any other). After the planning finally ended, I held onto a sliver of hope that we'd arrive and find the actual in-park usage of FP to be so wonderful, it would render all of the planning worthwhile, and I would end up liking it. Sadly, this wasn't the case.

I don't think people are piling up on you because you like the new system. That's great for you that it works for you. I think they're piling up because you keep discounting and questioning other people's actual experiences, rather than acknowledging that some might have legitimate reasons for not liking it.

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[Suvadoo]

I have a Master's degree in literature and teach book editing at an Ivy League school, but thank you very much for the English lesson. It is absolutely true that "having problems" and "not liking" are not synonymous. However, it is perfectly logical to not like something BECAUSE you have problems with it. And it is possible to "manage" something, because you have no choice, despite having plenty of "doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty" with it. When planning our FP, I had plenty of doubts and uncertainties about the plans (should I pick Soarin' or Test Track? Will my niece want to do coasters? Will we make it to our ADR in time? Etc), and I had difficulties (a ton of minor technological glitches that added up to hours wasted). That means I had problems. After the planning finally ended, I held onto a sliver of hope that we'd arrive and find the actual in-park usage of FP to be so wonderful, it would render all of the planning worthwhile. Sadly, this wasn't the case.

I don't think people are piling up on you because you like the new system. That's great for you that it works for you. I think they're piling up because you keep discounting and questioning other people's actual experiences, rather than acknowledging that some might have legitimate reasons for not liking it.

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This is an awesome response. It's even more amazing since it was sent from you iPhone.

 

[surferdave]

It is absolutely true that "having problems" and "not liking" are not synonymous.

"And now for The Airing of Grievances! I got a lot of problems with you people!"

 

[vacationer1954]

To be fair, no one is "piling on" because you prefer the concept of having no standby line.

I disagree. It seems every aspect of the discussion that comes up within which myself or one of the other supporters of the standby-less approach express a preference is met with a set of responses that build on each other in abrasive objection to our preference. Meanwhile, the three of us have gone out of our way to make clear that we understand and respect that other guests prefer things a different way from us for their own reasons.

They were reacting to your demeaning post.

Which actually wasn't a demeaning post but actually the opposite, as if people were just looking for one more reason to do another pile on instead of actually reading what we're posting in context. If you cannot respect our preference for the standby-less approach then please just ignore our comments entirely.

I don't think people are piling up on you because you like the new system. That's great for you that it works for you. I think they're piling up because you keep discounting and questioning other people's actual experiences, rather than acknowledging that some might have legitimate reasons for not liking it.

Except that's not true. Your comments here are contradicted by how many times I've said myself several times that I respect that other people don't like it.

Let's please just talk about the standby-less idea and stop trying to find grievance in what other people are posting.

 

[norybell]

This is an awesome response. It's even more amazing since it was sent from you iPhone.

Heh. Thanks. I wasn't going to engage, but my language comprehension skills were questioned! It's the perfect Norybell bait.

"And now for The Airing of Grievances! I got a lot of problems with you people!"

 

[JanaDee]

So...

Now what? As I posted on Facebook yesterday regarding Ebola, enough griping and complaining online. Do something if you're seriously irritated or concerned with decisions being made by the higher-ups at Disney. (Note: I'm in agreement with the perceived majority of posters in this thread that FP+ has negatively impacted the guest experience.)

So, I'll say the same thing here. What are options for voicing displeasure besides posting on DisBoards (Yes, I know, supposedly Disney looks at DisBoards)? Reviews on the WDW Facebook page. Emailing customer relations. What else?

Other than posting on Facebook (which will be deleted), emailing (which will more than likely get you a blah blah blah form letter or ignored), or calling, the most basic thing you can do is stop spending money at Disney.

 

[vacationer1954]

Other than posting on Facebook (which will be deleted), emailing (which will more than likely get you a blah blah blah form letter or ignored), or calling, the most basic thing you can do is stop spending money at Disney.

That's a very good point.

 

[patty57]

Let's please just talk about the standby-less idea and stop trying to find grievance in what other people are posting.

Or, even better...how about everyone steps away, since the original purpose of this thread ceased pages and pages ago.

 

[Luvchefmic]

never mind ...life exists outside of this thread