TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[minnie-apple-mouse]

That's going to get a little more complicated in a few years when that 2 year old is big enough to ride the mountains and comes off with lots of excitement declaring "let's go again!" and standby (if it even exists) is 90 minutes long.

That happened to us XMAS week-believe me the situation was handled quickly, 2 yo's are so gullible.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

OR. OR. (I know --- this is CRAZY)... Or... Build more good rides! Make it so people WANT to be in your parks for a whole handful of reasons. Not one or two reasons per park.

I know it's water under the bridge, and very passé to just suggest what they could've done with the money instead. And the fast pass plus apologists would gain so much more respect if they would just smile and nod and say, "You guys are right. That money could've been spent to actually improve the product, instead of what they decided to do which was just try to manage our experience."

Can you imagine, just for a moment, what these boards would've been lit up with at each park debuted to new attractions? 2014 and 2015 would've been the years to charge on into WDW.

Agreed-hence the 3rd track suggestion. FP- or not, TSM does not have enough capacity-my bet is even with Star Wars Land it still won't.

It will likely add more guests to the park-and those will also want to ride TSM, new rides won't diminish they "want" to ride TSM.

 

[mom2rtk]

Agreed-hence the 3rd track suggestion. FP- or not, TSM does not have enough capacity-my bet is even with Star Wars Land it still won't.

I actually believe TSMM has enough capacity. What they need are alternatives in the park. I'm not really excited about a 3rd track. I'd rather have a greater variety of things to do in that park for guests of all ages. Just like DCA.

 

[cakebaker]

That's going to get a little more complicated in a few years when that 2 year old is big enough to ride the mountains and comes off with lots of excitement declaring "let's go again!" and standby (if it even exists) is 90 minutes long.

That's actually already happened- with many rides. In his words. "Me ride dat un more time".

We let him ride barnstormer as much as possible but for others, we explained that we're at a park where there's so much to do that we don't ride the same thing over and over again. That explanation will work for a while, he seems to accept it easily and moves on.

As I said, from what I saw, I don't know that he'll always love WDW. At the moment, he's a thrill ride boy and that's not what WDW is. At that point, his mom can just suck it up and take him to over to Universal for a day while I lounge at the resort. Nana isn't going back there....ever.

 

[cakebaker]

That happened to us XMAS week-believe me the situation was handled quickly, 2 yo's are so gullible.

They have to be, or parents could not survive. Oh...look....squirrel!

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

I actually believe TSMM has enough capacity. What they need are alternatives in the park. I'm not really excited about a 3rd track. I'd rather have a greater variety of things to do in that park for guests of all ages. Just like DCA.

I actually would as well, but TSM isn't our fave, but I still do not believe everyone rides TSM that would like to-esp peak weeks. I do think most folks are mature enough to realize skipping it doesn't effect their vacation, and that decision is base on either a FP return time or the length of the SB line. But my guess is a lot of folks that did skip it for these reasons-would gladly accept an unused FP- from somebody that didn't use it, and then would indeed ride.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's actually already happened- with many rides. In his words. "Me ride dat un more time".

We let him ride barnstormer as much as possible but for others, we explained that we're at a park where there's so much to do that we don't ride the same thing over and over again. That explanation will work for a while, he seems to accept it easily and moves on.

As I said, from what I saw, I don't know that he'll always love WDW. At the moment, he's a thrill ride boy and that's not what WDW is. At that point, his mom can just suck it up and take him to over to Universal for a day while I lounge at the resort. Nana isn't going back there....ever.

You're likely going to lose him as a Disney enthusiast younger than you would have if he could easily do re-rides on his favorites. And that's really a bummer.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

They have to be, or parents could not survive. Oh...look....squirrel!

HaHa, very close-it had Mickey Ears, was white and cold inside-surrounded by a chocolate shell.

 

[cakebaker]

I tend to agree with this. One of my most special memories, as well as my nephew's (who was 6 at the time) is riding BTMRR about 6 times in a row at RD...two of them where we didn't even get off in between. He was so excited by it, and just didn't want to stop riding it. I'll never forget that!

That's what late nights and rope drop are for!

We did that with some rides at AK where we still do early entry- the only one left. Didn't even get off the rides- it was fun!

FP never allowed for back to back riding of rides. It did allow you the possibility of riding an extremely popular ride more than once in a day, but for the most popular rides, a few times at best and you had to practically dedicate your day to securing only fp's for that ride.

 

[cakebaker]

HaHa, very close-it had Mickey Ears, was white and cold inside-surrounded by a chocolate shell.

We used that one too! A couple of times.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That's always been part of the story they tell but they are consummate storytellers. I think people go through stages of Disney appreciation where at first their experiences make them feel like the story is true and then as time goes on they see things differently and think that Disney changed instead of realizing that their view is what changed.

Maybe they're just not your cup of tea. We have spent vacations at the Disney resort visiting central Florida attractions without visiting any of the Disney parks and don't regret the decision. The service is quite nice. And we happen to like a themed resort experience and Disney does that better than anyone. Again it may not be your cup of tea but please don't take away from the rest of us the right to see things differently from you.

You are responding to my quote but missing the context in which I was replying. This is what I was replying to from cake baker ...

"I think it's very clear Disney is moving to a destination that is more than just a theme park experience- their resorts have so much to offer that just gets a glance by a lot of people that you could literally, never leave the resort and have a wonderful vacation."

My comment was that I don't think the resorts are that great that they are the draw. It's the parks that are the draw.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I actually would as well, but TSM isn't our fave, but I still do not believe everyone rides TSM that would like to-esp peak weeks. I do think most folks are mature enough to realize skipping it doesn't effect their vacation, and that decision is base on either a FP return time or the length of the SB line. But my guess is a lot of folks that did skip it for these reasons-would gladly accept an unused FP- from somebody that didn't use it, and then would indeed ride.

It really comes back to needing more family rides at DHS. When it's the only ride for all ages with no intense elements, it's much more frustrating to miss it.

 

[vacationer1954]

My comment was that I don't think the resorts are that great that they are the draw. It's the parks that are the draw.

Okay but I was asking to please not take away from the rest of us the right to find at least some of the resorts to be a draw.

 

[tecdavidt]

FP+ should not be labeled FP. There is nothing fast about it after seeing the huge lines this week. Those were like the original standby lines in the past. The name should be Advanced Attraction reservation. AAR. It is for rides, parades, fireworks.

In a perfect world it would work. We do not live in a perfect world. WDW transportation can cause delays to enter parks and this can cause FP times to be missed, children can be unpredictable. Restaurants can run behind. All can throw the best schedule off. Disney can and has shut down standby lines at their whim with no reguard of guests plans that were made months in advance per what Disney advises.

We get less today than when we had the booklets with one ride per ticket. This is not progress. The park attractions are the main draw, with the new limits the product will be assessed by the consumer. Are they getting enough for their dollars spent? Stockholders should be concerned. The quality of the product is in decline.

It was once posted on the DIS, if you are OK flushing a $100 bill down the toilet then you are ready for Disney. Maybe that should be increased.

Maybe 6 advanced attractions per park should be allowed. One per attraction. Maybe park hoppers should be discontinued. This new system is just to restricting for vacations.

Kathy

 

[ArwenMarie]

I am going to divide WDW guests into three categories:

A. Frequent visitors who are just fine with the FP+ changes. These folks might like it better because they can sleep in, or because they aren't ride-focused, or they've been/they go so very often. FP+ either improves their experience or just changes it slightly.

B. Frequent visitors who aren't happy with the FP+ changes for their own reasons. Former RD-commandos who now are being asked to settle for maybe one ride on their favorites, and maybe having to miss out on some of what they have come to expect. This group will either decrease the amount of time or amount of trips to WDW. (I'm this group.)

C. First time or rare (once a decade) visitors. They have little experience and are awestruck. They take what they are offered b/c they are AT DISNEY WORLD and it's a dream come true.

And - it's this last group that make the losses in the second group insignificant to WDW execs. Group C is seemingly endless. For every group B family that drops out, there is another group C family to take their place.

I agree with your groups and that the company would rather have the C group than the B group. I imagine many of the C group go home and say it was fun, but they might also say it was too crowded and we're not going back. But maybe they weren't going to go back anyway.

I think the C group spends more money on average per person than A & B. And when you're focusing on the C group, it doesn't matter if you take away entertainment, parades, keep old shows that should be switched out, the C group doesn't know the difference.

 

[cakebaker]

You're likely going to lose him as a Disney enthusiast younger than you would have if he could easily do re-rides on his favorites. And that's really a bummer.

Who knows, he's just 2. Who knows what WDW will be like in 10-15 years.

We hope he'll love it forever because we do, but I expect we'll lose him for a while when he hits the teenage years. I've never considered WDW a thrill park and I don't think there's a great deal to do for boys especially during the terrible teens.

He may never have the fondness for it we do. WDW is not for everyone.

Right now he loves it and we're all having the time of our lives watching him discover it all.

 

[flicx]

That's always been part of the story they tell but they are consummate storytellers. I think people go through stages of Disney appreciation where at first their experiences make them feel like the story is true and then as time goes on they see things differently and think that Disney changed instead of realizing that their view is what changed.

So you are basically saying Disney still has the same level of customer service? They also are still building attractions at the same rate? etc? Those of us who see a fall off are imagining it? Maybe you are the one who is believing a fairy tale not us! Again we all know Disney is a business, no one believes otherwise. However a lot of us now notice profits are far more emphasized than in the past!

 

[vacationer1954]

No it hasn't always been the same. How it is now is rougly how its been since the mid to late 1990s.

 

[flicx]

No it hasn't always been the same. How it is now is rougly how its been since the mid to late 1990s.

That's your opinion not mine. I'll take the way it was mid to late 90's anyday over what it has transformed into now.

 

[vacationer1954]

And as always each of us needs to choose whether we see Disney as good and getting better or not good enough and getting worse and make our vacation plans accordingly.