TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[surferdave]

Can you imagine the marketing they would have to do before going to a reservation only system?

I might buy a one day park ticket for that.

 

[Angel Ariel]

If there is any insult it is the insinuation you and others are making that Disney guests cannot figure out how to reserve FP+s.

If the below quote is considered respectful, non-insulting discourse, then we have very different definitions of respect

I think guests who managed to book airline travel, who book hotels and who figure out how to stay fed have no problem with FP+.

There are quite a few techie/IT people I know who dislike FP+ - my husband included. Pretty sure he's capable of booking airline travel, hotels, and keeping himself fed...also has a Masters degree in IT Management. By your reasoning above, he should love FP+, yet he doesn't.

 

[vacationer1954]

There are quite a few techie/IT people I know who dislike FP+

As I already said we weren't talking about like and dislike. We were talking about how long it took and how manageable it is. I even used the word manage not like.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

All those threads about people losing their FP+ reservations, not being able to log in to the MDE website or app, people not being able to access the app in the park, FP+ being available for certain rides on the app but not the website, FP+ being gone 5 minutes into the booking process and then suddenly coming available randomly throughout the rest of the 60 days? None of those happened, apparently. All I know is, the FP machines rarely malfunctioned and when they did, there was a worker there who could override the system and get you a fast pass. I suppose that I was reliant on computers and the IT department to ride Space Mountain with fast pass two years ago, but I don't remember seeing near as many threads about problems with the fast pass system.

I have to admit, I kinda gave Disney's IT a thumbsup this morning when the glitch allowed me to book Soarin and TT. Now here's to praying they stay there. =)

 

[Angel Ariel]

As I already said we weren't talking about like and dislike.

So you are referring to "not having a problem with" as in being a technical problem? As in those who can book airlines/hotels/etc online don't have technical issues with FP+?

The phrase "don't have a problem with" can mean different things. Not having a problem with something/someone can mean liking something, or being indifferent to something....or it can mean the technical side. Clearly I wasn't the only one who took your post that way, and I wasn't reading anything into it.

When the same phrase can mean different things, it can be easily misconstrued without intent on the reader's part.

So if you meant it in a technical way, as illustrated above, I apologize...that wasn't how it read.

That said, even meaning it in a technical way - again, we're a techie household and have experienced a couple MDE glitches. Nothing too major, thankfully, but they're there. And they aren't under our control. FP+ will be there one day, then not the next (even though no one has touched them)...a person will appear in friends and family one day, then not the next. There are issues Disney needs to fix.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have to admit, I kinda gave Disney's IT a thumbsup this morning when the glitch allowed me to book Soarin and TT. Now here's to praying they stay there. =)

It was about time one of the glitch's worked out in the guest's favor.

 

[wisblue]

Since this is the trip-planning board, maybe you can offer some advice on how to mitigate the negative effects for all the virtual foot-stompers.

Here's just one issue I have -- Like many in my part of the country, I have inlaws in Florida. My father-in-law likes to join us for occasional days at the park but doesn't like to be pinned down to a specific date. All he cared about last time was riding the headliners at Epcot and DHS repeatedly with DH and DD, which he was able to do with rope drop and paper fastpass. How can I make this work under FP+? Do I tell him that joining us for Disney trips just isn't for him?

Im curious about what rides at Epcot and DHS you consider headliners and what you mean by repeatedly.

Clearly, FP+ makes it more difficult to get multiple FPs for the most popular attractions. Whether it is a direct aim of Disney (which I think it is) or just a byproduct of their effort to lock guests in, the end result is that nobody can get two FPs for any attraction, and can only get one total for the tier one attractions, until everyone has had a crack at getting one.

But, I do wonder how many FPs you were ever able to get in a day for, for example, Soarin and Test Track. We have more experience with busy holiday times, but even when we were able to visit at less crowded times, it never took long (as in less than an hour) for FP return times for those attractions to be more than 2 hours out. That would mean that you could only get one FP every 2 hours for those attractions after that, so no more than about 5 or 6 from about 11 AM until closing, and even fewer than that if the FPs ran out, which would usually happen early in the afternoon at busy times. That would give you 5 rides in 10 hours and a lot of time to kill in between. With FP+ it sounds like you shouldn't expect to get more than 1 FP total for those two attractions because they are likely to be gone by the time you could get a fourth.

At DHS, you might have some pretty good luck riding Star Tours and/or TOT fairly often. One Sunday night in August we entered DHS at about 6:30 PM after not using any FPs at our first park of the day (Epcot, where we did Soarin, Test Track single rider, and Mission Space Orange in the first hour). At DHS, we were able to get FPs for Star Tours with a return time about 5 minutes out and for TOT about an hour out. Not surprisingly, RNRC and TSMM were gone for the day.

The only suggestion I would have is to get to the park at opening and do as much as you can as quickly as you can. There isn't much question that it will be different than what you were used to with paper FP, but it is up to each individual to decide if that difference is merely different, disappointing, or a deal breaker. Maybe for your FIL, being able to spend time with the family will soften the blow of doing a couple less rides. If you were able to ride TSMM and RNRC repeatedly with paper FP, I would like to know how you did it. Like Soarin and Test Track, it never took long for the return times for those to get more than 2 hours out and then run out completely.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

It was about time one of the glitch's worked out in the guest's favor.

It was fate I tell ya. I woke up early like 2 hrs before I normally do and read DISboards like some would read the morning paper. Saw the interesting glitch thread and smiled ear to ear when it worked for me. If I hadn't had gotten up early, I would have missed it. So I guess all the pro FP people were wrong when they said this system is more fair b/c early bird still got the worm. Still nervous they try some standby only crud when we're there. 10 more wake ups to find out if we're gonna have problems with bands, if our FPs show up, etc.

 

[vacationer1954]

So you are referring to "not having a problem with" as in being a technical problem?

The word I used was "manage" as in "manage to make the reservations". People who manage to make reservations for anything can manage to make reservations for this. It is as easy as or easier than other kinds of reservations. I never said that there wasn't anyone who didn't like the idea. I myself said that some people like the idea and some people don't.

Clearly I wasn't the only one who took your post that way, and I wasn't reading anything into it.

Taken out of context many things can be misinterpreted.

There are issues Disney needs to fix.

I have a lot of complaints about standby lines.

 

[FlipHipster]

I have to admit, I kinda gave Disney's IT a thumbsup this morning when the glitch allowed me to book Soarin and TT. Now here's to praying they stay there. =)

 

[flicx]

It was about time one of the glitch's worked out in the guest's favor.

Hopefully it stays that way. However I wouldn't be surprised if poof the MME system taketh away!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Taken out of context many things can be misinterpreted..

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

 

[momof2n2]

I have to admit, I kinda gave Disney's IT a thumbsup this morning when the glitch allowed me to book Soarin and TT. Now here's to praying they stay there. =)

It was about time one of the glitch's worked out in the guest's favor.

It was fate I tell ya. I woke up early like 2 hrs before I normally do and read DISboards like some would read the morning paper. Saw the interesting glitch thread and smiled ear to ear when it worked for me. If I hadn't had gotten up early, I would have missed it. So I guess all the pro FP people were wrong when they said this system is more fair b/c early bird still got the worm. Still nervous they try some standby only crud when we're there. 10 more wake ups to find out if we're gonna have problems with bands, if our FPs show up, etc.

❤

Christmas in October.

 

[cakebaker]

So if you meant it in a technical way, as illustrated above, I apologize...that wasn't how it read.

When he/she said "manage", I read it exactly as they intended it- that if you can manage to make reservations, book a flight, etc- you should be able to manage navigating thru making a few fp's.

I don't see the insult and not speaking to you, but this feigned outrage over being insulted is frankly, laughable.The ganging up on a single poster gets old. Anytime anyone dare speaks in a positive manner, there's a crowd that swoops in to tear them up.

My father-in-law likes to join us for occasional days at the park but doesn't like to be pinned down to a specific date. All he cared about last time was riding the headliners at Epcot and DHS repeatedly with DH and DD, which he was able to do with rope drop and paper fastpass. How can I make this work under FP+? Do I tell him that joining us for Disney trips just isn't for him?

Well, unfortunately, he has his favorites in the 2 parks that re-riding headliners is most difficult- as it always has been for many. To re-ride what I assume you to mean is TT and Soarin' over and over and over again and do nothing but that is a feat that was incredibly difficult before legacy fp, during legacy fp and with fp+- nothing has changed. The same applies to HS.

He can still ride multiple times though by use of emh both morning and night, rope drop, later in the evenings and during illuminations.

There isn't a way to make every single guest completely happy and give them everything they want. We put up with many years of not getting everything we wanted too.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

❤

Christmas in October.

Amen! I don't even feel one ounce of guilt either. This may be bad, but this kinda takes the sting out of getting screwed over in the Pop MB only test last dec. Still gonna try to hit RD so we can get 2 rides on Soarin' with minimal wait. I honestly wish they would glitch and allow ya to overlap times too. Then we could get future world done before Akershus ressie at 11. Wishful thinking though.

 

[cakebaker]

The word I used was "manage" as in "manage to make the reservations". People who manage to make reservations for anything can manage to make reservations for this. It is as easy as or easier than other kinds of reservations. I never said that there wasn't anyone who didn't like the idea. I myself said that some people like the idea and some people don't.

Taken out of context many things can be misinterpreted.

I have a lot of complaints about standby lines.

What's strange is this use of "others agree with me you were x, y or z"...The others are almost always the ones who don't agree with your opinion of fp+. Assuredly it works the same way quite often, so in general, I'd say the number of people who agree or disagree in the matter of rudeness or any other slight is generally not great proof as to whether one is correct or not.

 

[norybell]

I'm confused. Was the comment insulting because it was in favor of changes that you didn't like or were you replying to some other comment?

Others have already pointed out the statement that I found insulting (below). You insist it's taken out of context, but it was a standalone paragraph in your post (in response to cakebaker's quote "I much prefer spending 20 minutes at home planning than waste 20 minutes in the park standing in a hot line"), so if you can't see how it might have come off as insulting, well...I'll just say, "Have a nice day!" and leave it at that.

I agree. I think guests who managed to book airline travel, who book hotels and who figure out how to stay fed have no problem with 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.

Considering we get to see these grandparents at most twice a year, I know everyone treasured the park days we all enjoyed together. I feel that moving toward a ride appointment system doesn't take into account the million unique reasons why guests need flexibility day to day and hour to hour, whether its health reasons, weather, toddler meltdowns and other unpredictable kid behavior, accommodating different interests within the group, or relatives who refuse to make plans a month or two ahead. It's something that sounds good on paper but doesn't work for many people in the real world.

Very well put.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Jennasis]

I managed to book hotels, flights, and have figured out how to stay fed and I have problems with FP+.

 

[Planogirl]

I managed to book hotels, flights, and have figured out how to stay fed and I have problems with FP+.

Oh come on. I bet that you don't really know how to do any of this.

I don't get all of the sniping. If it's understandable that some don't like FP+ and even that some had trouble with Disney's flaky website then why try to put down those people? That doesn't somehow make FP+ look better.

 

[Laketravis]

Good to know I'm a functioning, capable and literate adult by some's standards, but I think I've actually got the staying fed part down all too well.