TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[FlipHipster]

Am I the only one that thinks that if Disney started this extra FP+s for onsite and basically make off-site guest only get left overs at 30 days that they run the risk of running off a good many of those off-siters? I just don't think they would see huge numbers of people changing to stay on-site. I've seen it said on here that off-siters make up to 50% of the daily park attendance. Forget the cost of the rooms and weather they take away discounts, wouldn't those onsite guest need to see a huge increase in ticket prices to help cover all those off-site guest that Disney is running off? I've also seen it said on here that Disney doesn't have enough rooms to cover the amount of people they need in their parks. How is them changing the FP+ rules going to help them keeping the off-site guest coming to Disney? If they run off 30 to 40% of their park goers would taking away discounts and free dining really make up for the lose in ticket sales? How about the food and merchandise that that 30 to 40% would buy? How much of cost do on-site guest want to put on those extra FP+s?? Because I believe there would have to be some pretty big increases to make up for all those guest that Disney just may be running off and straight into the other Orlando parks.

It's definitely a conundrum . The emphasis on Adv. booking makes it harder. With enough people doing it, it starts to resemble booking ADR's. They can't guarantee anyone a FP for a hot ride, they can't even guarantee onsite guests a FP, only a slightly better shot at getting one.

I wish they would back off the adv booking or restrict it and make it a super exclusive perk and put more emphasis on same day bookings. With FP+ only they could guarantee riders a line that is never more than (x)mins long. They could stagger the windows and return times so that best case you walk on, worse case you wait 30mins but most likely something less than that.

Booking a same day or immediate use FP needs to be as easy as getting in a SB line. If I walk into DHS at 10:05 and there are slots left for the 10-10:30 window for TSMM, I should be able to easily grab them and either enter the queue immediately or return any time during the window. It should be done in a few swipes or clicks and I should be able to book my entire group or any subset of that group at once without copying and searching, copying and searching, copying and searching...

The rules would have to change. Trade off is you loose the SB line as it exists today.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Am I the only one that thinks that if Disney started this extra FP+s for onsite and basically make off-site guest only get left overs at 30 days that they run the risk of running off a good many of those off-siters? I just don't think they would see huge numbers of people changing to stay on-site. I've seen it said on here that off-siters make up to 50% of the daily park attendance. Forget the cost of the rooms and weather they take away discounts, wouldn't those onsite guest need to see a huge increase in ticket prices to help cover all those off-site guest that Disney is running off? I've also seen it said on here that Disney doesn't have enough rooms to cover the amount of people they need in their parks. How is them changing the FP+ rules going to help them keeping the off-site guest coming to Disney? If they run off 30 to 40% of their park goers would taking away discounts and free dining really make up for the lose in ticket sales? How about the food and merchandise that that 30 to 40% would buy? How much of cost do on-site guest want to put on those extra FP+s?? Because I believe there would have to be some pretty big increases to make up for all those guest that Disney just may be running off and straight into the other Orlando parks.

I agree. I think that would be changing the resort in a massive way, essentially making it an all-inclusive. And I think the prices would be astronomical to make up the lost profit.

Let's say they do take away some standby lines to free up FPs...I think they will do that to lock more people in, both onsite and offsite.

If they could have dumped their offsite customers and made more profit from doing that, they would have already done that! They don't feel an altruistic need to make the parks available to everyone, they want to make the most profit.

 

[lllGurulll]

I think it's great that Orlando has so many lodging options for all different budgets and needs. If only every vacation destination had such choices!

I think with Disney onsite versus offsite, it's really the car that makes the difference for a lot of folks. If you need/enjoy using Magical Express and/or the onsite Disney transportation, then onsite is a no-brainer.

If you like having a car anyway, those perks are meaningless and then you start weighing other options.

Yep, thats me. I really enjoy NOT having to drive anywhere for an entire week. The bus isn't perfect but I'll take it every single time when going to Disney.

 

[cakebaker]

Uh oh...something we agree on...every single word. Clearly the apocalypse is nigh!

Look at it on the bright side. At least you're right about one thing.

 

[faneuil]

I think it's great that Orlando has so many lodging options for all different budgets and needs. If only every vacation destination had such choices!

I think with Disney onsite versus offsite, it's really the car that makes the difference for a lot of folks. If you need/enjoy using Magical Express and/or the onsite Disney transportation, then onsite is a no-brainer.

If you like having a car anyway, those perks are meaningless and then you start weighing other options.

When I lived in Atlanta, I always drove down. It was great, cause we stayed in the Cabins, so on the way we stopped at a grocery store, got our supplies and were done.
The car sat most of the week - since we took Disney transport everywhere on property, but we always spent 1 or 2 days roaming Orlando. It was nice to hop in the car for that.
But... I liked staying on property so I didn't need my car for everything. The buses and boats were awesome.

 

[ArwenMarie]

When I lived in Atlanta, I always drove down. It was great, cause we stayed in the Cabins, so on the way we stopped at a grocery store, got our supplies and were done.
The car sat most of the week - since we took Disney transport everywhere on property, but we always spent 1 or 2 days roaming Orlando. It was nice to hop in the car for that.
But... I liked staying on property so I didn't need my car for everything. The buses and boats were awesome.

That sounds nice. My husband will not step foot on a Disney bus, so I have no choice, the car it is! He likes the monorail and boats though, as well as walking.

 

[robinb]

Friends of ours booked their vistana resort non time share for 700 for the week, they had to get a mini van for 400, then park passed for four were almost 1500. I paid less than that and we are staying with free dining at cbr granted not sure if they searched for deals we also allotted a travel day so we are there an extra day. that will work for us now as my son is only 2 and she has an 11 and 9 year old. room might be small but we also won't be there much. it all depends on wha the value is plus her inlaws decided to stay with them because they had a large room again if there was a deal I would have done it elsewhere but this sold me

You have to compare the prices fairly without the park passes. Your friends are paying $1220 for their timeshare (condo, car and parking) and you are paying about $2100 for your room at CBR. So you are actually paying $125 more per night to stay at CBR. You do get your "free dining" for that amount but you are still paying more.

 

[lugnut33]

Yep, thats me. I really enjoy NOT having to drive anywhere for an entire week. The bus isn't perfect but I'll take it every single time when going to Disney.

Nice thing about Disney is there are options. I hate using the buses as they cause me to stress out, so we always rent a car.

 

[over50visits]

When I lived in Atlanta, I always drove down. It was great, cause we stayed in the Cabins, so on the way we stopped at a grocery store, got our supplies and were done.
The car sat most of the week - since we took Disney transport everywhere on property, but we always spent 1 or 2 days roaming Orlando. It was nice to hop in the car for that.
But... I liked staying on property so I didn't need my car for everything. The buses and boats were awesome.

The boats are awesome. The buses are not, never, no way awesome. Even when we stay onsite we prefer to drive. No standing in lines, crowded buses, etc. We love walking out of our room and in 5 minutes being parked at the park, then walking or catching a tram (which is nowhere near as slow in arriving as the buses). Then when we leave, we have the "world" at our disposal to drive where we want, be it another park, another resort, DTD, mini golf, etc. Disney transportation works and is fine for those flying in, but it is NOT awesome.

 

[faneuil]

The boats are awesome. The buses are not, never, no way awesome. Even when we stay onsite we prefer to drive. No standing in lines, crowded buses, etc. We love walking out of our room and in 5 minutes being parked at the park, then walking or catching a tram (which is nowhere near as slow in arriving as the buses). Then when we leave, we have the "world" at our disposal to drive where we want, be it another park, another resort, DTD, mini golf, etc. Disney transportation works and is fine for those flying in, but it is NOT awesome.

It's all a matter of perspective, and I truly understand why ppl prefer driving and how to many, calling the buses awesome appears a gross overstatement.
But, compared to the public buses in Atlanta, where I'd wait over a hour for my bus - Disney buses were awesome. I was rarely on a crowded bus, always had a seat.

An eon ago, friends of mine and I did a bus v. car challenge. They took their car, I took the buses. I beat them to the gate every morning. Especially the MK. They beat me at night. Mid-day, it was 50-50. I feel Disney does an exceptional job of moving people, and giving lots of options. I do understand how the buses are always a love/hate thing.

 

[Laketravis]

I think it's great that Orlando has so many lodging options for all different budgets and needs. If only every vacation destination had such choices!

I think with Disney onsite versus offsite, it's really the car that makes the difference for a lot of folks. If you need/enjoy using Magical Express and/or the onsite Disney transportation, then onsite is a no-brainer.

If you like having a car anyway, those perks are meaningless and then you start weighing other options.

We are doing our normal Magical Express/Completely On-Site spiel next month, but for March we've reserved the "Fireworks" condo and have a rental car for most of the month simply to try the expanded experience of staying offsite and Orlando in general.

Heck, in March I've got the opportunity to stay not only at the condo for a week, but a few more nights at the Rosen Shingle, a few more nights at Caribe Royale, and a couple more nights at a yet-to-be-determined resort.

I might have a completely different mindset by April.

 

[FLchick415]

In all of my trips to Disney, there was only one instance where I waited longer than I would have liked for a bus. Other than that, I've NEVER had an issue w/ the Disney buses.

 

[Jennasis]

Look at it on the bright side. At least you're right about one thing.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day!

 

[jcemom]

Yep, thats me. I really enjoy NOT having to drive anywhere for an entire week. The bus isn't perfect but I'll take it every single time when going to Disney.

Same here!

 

[OtherScott]

You have to compare the prices fairly without the park passes. Your friends are paying $1220 for their timeshare (condo, car and parking) and you are paying about $2100 for your room at CBR. So you are actually paying $125 more per night to stay at CBR. You do get your "free dining" for that amount but you are still paying more.

Plus her friend's in-laws were staying in same villa at Vistana, which would have been an additional room at CBR.

 

[magicbob]

I just don't get the prices for Disney rooms (especially anything above a standard room) or the willingness of people to pay it, while making due with inferior accommodations?

Maybe it is just me but I don't see ANY value in rooms at Disney and simply won't accept jamming my family of 4 into a shoebox of a room.

I know we certainly can afford it. But that doesn't mean I will pay for something that doesn't provide any perceived value.

JMO

For us, even though the cost is high, we pay to walk out on our balcony and watch the giraffes, gazelles, etc. grazing outside our window (Animal Kingdom Lodge, of course). That's an experience that may not be for everyone, but we love it and you certainly can't get that at a condo or rental home (unless maybe a gator shows up in your swimming pool! ).

Well, we have veered even further so...

How 'bout that standby-less TSMM test?

Anyone think we'll see more of these in the near future?

And do you think there will be certain rides that this becomes the norm for? Or perhaps only during peak crowds?

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Couple things-as others have said the off season supply has been plentiful, so they could offer more the low seasons. They also could allow 3 at 60 days, and 3 at 30 days so the "leftovers" are the same as now.

Lastly-they can always (and will) add attractions that increases the FP+ supply going forward. There are numerous ways they can disperse those.

Asking me to do more advance plannning, is not going to make me any happier. And I am a planner, I love making customized plans on touringlans.com, but I don't like feeling locked in.

I would think that's a fairly small set of people. If I could afford to stay on-site any time I went to WDW, I would. But I can't. The only way I could see staying offsite when you could afford to stay on site is simply convenience with a large party.

On a side note, staying offsite is what allows us to spend 2 weeks in Orlando, 10 of them at WDW. It's actually less expensive for us to stay 2 weeks off-site than it would be to stay 7 days on property.

And people who want to spend upwards of $500/night might prefer the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, or the Waldorf.

 

[OtherScott]

For us, even though the cost is high, we pay to walk out on our balcony and watch the giraffes, gazelles, etc. grazing outside our window (Animal Kingdom Lodge, of course). That's an experience that may not be for everyone, but we love it and you certainly can't get that at a condo or rental home (unless maybe a gator shows up in your swimming pool! ).

Well, we have veered even further so...

How 'bout that standby-less TSMM test?

Anyone think we'll see more of these in the near future?

And do you think there will be certain rides that this becomes the norm for? Or perhaps only during peak crowds?

I see a system where you can get in line without being in line, which is all FP was in the first place. You'll be standing by, just not standing at.

My grocer (Kroger) has a kiosk near the deli where I can enter my order and go shop while they fill it. It's right next to the number-pulling device for those who want to "standby" and wait.

Both take about 15 minutes, but one is a lot more productive.

 

[Canuckbiggs]

well, we usually only eat once a day, maybe twice. I cook at home, and I am a waitress, so I like to vacation when I am on vacation; I don't need or want a gourmet kitchen. and I like a full sized resort pool.. more luxourious to me than a teeny private pool.

and that is the beauty of all the OPTIONS ! i LOVE IT.. there is something for everyone.. I have many frineds who always stay offsite, either reniting a home, or a timesahre they have points at, or many other options...

which is why I am adamantly opposed to any type of tiered system for fast passes. I do disney my way, you do disney your way (some of us even go over to the dark side.. I loved the new cabana bay resort at universal)

Our resort has over a half dozen resort pools plus a water park of it's own.

So the private pool is just for convenience when we don't want to walk the 400 metres to the closest resort pool.

 

[Suvadoo]

I see a system where you can get in line without being in line, which is all FP was in the first place. You'll be standing by, just not standing at.

My grocer (Kroger) has a kiosk near the deli where I can enter my order and go shop while they fill it. It's right next to the number-pulling device for those who want to "standby" and wait.

Both take about 15 minutes, but one is a lot more productive.

This concept is great, as long as there's an endless supply of baloney. But Disney doesn't have an endless supply of baloney. Therefore people are going to be sent away empty handed. I don't think takking away a SB line is a good idea. If people are willing to wait, they should be allowed to do so.