UPDATE p. 37. I finally canceled. Too much uncertainty for us.

[OtherScott]

I'm betting the decision to spend over a billion dollars on this concept was not based on a single component but rather several: Yield management of attractions and resources (FP+) Proximity Detection and Access Management (RFID) Unique Experience Programming (interactive responses) Guest data accrual (what you like to ride, buy, eat, etc) And yes....marketing of all of the above. Yet I've still gotten three emails this week warning me that I don't have much time left to verify my address and customize my MagicBands, even though I've already received two complete customized sets in the mail for my upcoming reservation(s) beginning 11/21. Yeah, they've still got some bugs to work out which can seriously impact consumer confidence in their product.

I said same previous post. RFID is the rock on which you build most of the rest.

Just don't see connection to pandora.

 

[rebbyparker]

Maybe.. possibly... EMom, most people probably do not care if you decided
to cancel your trip because you are so unhappy with Disneys FP +.
I personally could care less about you or your AP holding friends in
Orlando cancelling their Disney Plans. Yet you choose to use the
forum as your soapbox to let everyone know. Who cares?? I do
apologize for the waaaaa comment but it sounded trivial to me.
IMO, since I have a soapbox too, it is a silly thing for AP holders
in FL to be distraught over FP+ management when they can go
to the parks any time they please and can do so at more than
fair prices. People that come from out of state on a much less
frequent basis.. maybe have a more valid reason for complaint.
I'm sure you will have an argument for this, but hopefully you
would show restraint of calling one an 'idiot' as you did in an
earlier post. Who's calling who rude?

dennisj, you may want to go back and READ the entire post and not pull comments out of context. She wasn't calling anyone an idiot. She was quoting others who have used that term.

Emom, may I show you to the Ignore button, which I just discovered?

 

[bcrook]

dennisj, you may want to go back and READ the entire post and not pull comments out of context. She wasn't calling anyone an idiot. She was quoting others who have used that term.

Emom, may I show you to the Ignore button, which I just discovered?

 

[clsteve]

Me neither.

?

This digression in the thread started from your statement that all of us would be "amazed how many people don't use FP+" (see post # 241).

If you're confused with what this has to do with FP+, it definitely means it's time for me to go to bed.

 

[EMom]

Maybe.. possibly... EMom, most people probably do not care if you decided
to cancel your trip because you are so unhappy with Disneys FP +.
I personally could care less about you or your AP holding friends in
Orlando cancelling their Disney Plans. Yet you choose to use the
forum as your soapbox to let everyone know. Who cares?? I do
apologize for the waaaaa comment but it sounded trivial to me.
IMO, since I have a soapbox too, it is a silly thing for AP holders
in FL to be distraught over FP+ management when they can go
to the parks any time they please and can do so at more than
fair prices. People that come from out of state on a much less
frequent basis.. maybe have a more valid reason for complaint.
I'm sure you will have an argument for this, but hopefully you
would show restraint of calling one an 'idiot' as you did in an
earlier post. Who's calling who rude?

I began a thread about canceling our trip (largely due to the everchanging rules and uncertainty) mainly because I knew many other people were in the same boat as my family. That is verified by the many comments to that effect on this thread.

If you could "personally care less" if my family canceled our trip, why on earth would you bother to even visit this thread, let alone post, and especially let alone a comment such as, "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa"? Why not just skip it?

I don't see what I am doing as "using a forum as my soapbox" any more than any other thread anyone begins on this board. By your definition, isn't anyone who posts a personal opinion or personal experience thread using this forum as a soapbox? If we outlawed those threads, things would be pretty sparse around here.

As for the "idiot" comment, I don't even know what to say. I wasn't calling anyone an idiot and have no idea how you could come to that conclusion from what I wrote. The way the comment is written, it should be clear I was referring to the attitude many have toward those who are cancelling their trip, postponing their trip or merely expressing their anxiety over FP+. There is a subset of Super Happy WDWers who will not tolerate anything but sparkly, shiny remarks about WDW and if you break their positivity rule, you are dismissed as any number of unflattering things, one of which is an idiot. Please re-read the post. If you still do not understand, I am at a loss to explain it more fully.

Rebbyparker, I applaud your reading comprehension skills and may have to employ that Ignore button.

 

[jdcthree]

Maybe.. possibly... EMom, most people probably do not care if you decided
to cancel your trip because you are so unhappy with Disneys FP +.
I personally could care less about you or your AP holding friends in
Orlando cancelling their Disney Plans. Yet you choose to use the
forum as your soapbox to let everyone know. Who cares?? I do
apologize for the waaaaa comment but it sounded trivial to me.
IMO, since I have a soapbox too, it is a silly thing for AP holders
in FL to be distraught over FP+ management when they can go
to the parks any time they please and can do so at more than
fair prices. People that come from out of state on a much less
frequent basis.. maybe have a more valid reason for complaint.
I'm sure you will have an argument for this, but hopefully you
would show restraint of calling one an 'idiot' as you did in an
earlier post. Who's calling who rude?

Wow. The OP expressed her thoughts in a polite and informative way. She wasn't rude once. She has a right to express her thoughts here just like everyone else. You, sir, are out of line. Way out.

 

[Planogirl]

I began a thread about canceling our trip (largely due to the everchanging rules and uncertainty) mainly because I knew many other people were in the same boat as my family. That is verified by the many comments to that effect on this thread.

If you could "personally care less" if my family canceled our trip, why on earth would you bother to even visit this thread, let alone post, and especially let alone a comment such as, "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa"? Why not just skip it?

I don't see what I am doing as "using a forum as my soapbox" any more than any other thread anyone begins on this board. By your definition, isn't anyone who posts a personal opinion or personal experience thread using this forum as a soapbox? If we outlawed those threads, things would be pretty sparse around here.

As for the "idiot" comment, I don't even know what to say. I wasn't calling anyone an idiot and have no idea how you could come to that conclusion from what I wrote. The way the comment is written, it should be clear I was referring to the attitude many have toward those who are cancelling their trip, postponing their trip or merely expressing their anxiety over FP+. There is a subset of Super Happy WDWers who will not tolerate anything but sparkly, shiny remarks about WDW and if you break their positivity rule, you are dismissed as any number of unflattering things, one of which is an idiot. Please re-read the post. If you still do not understand, I am at a loss to explain it more fully.

Rebbyparker, I applaud your reading comprehension skills and may have to employ that Ignore button.

I think that it's quite clear what you meant and I must add that you show remarkable restraint. Kudos.

 

[Jennasis]

Maybe.. possibly... EMom, most people probably do not care if you decided
to cancel your trip because you are so unhappy with Disneys FP +.
I personally could care less about you or your AP holding friends in
Orlando cancelling their Disney Plans. Yet you choose to use the
forum as your soapbox to let everyone know. Who cares?? I do
apologize for the waaaaa comment but it sounded trivial to me.
IMO, since I have a soapbox too, it is a silly thing for AP holders
in FL to be distraught over FP+ management when they can go
to the parks any time they please and can do so at more than
fair prices. People that come from out of state on a much less
frequent basis.. maybe have a more valid reason for complaint.
I'm sure you will have an argument for this, but hopefully you
would show restraint of calling one an 'idiot' as you did in an
earlier post. Who's calling who rude?

She didn't call you or anyone an idiot. Read her post again.

 

[AmyB2006]

This article about Pandora shows where magicbands are going. But I don't see the connection to FP+.

Very interesting article. It has nothing to do with FP+ but has everything to do with why they are heading in this direction.

 

[OtherScott]

?

This digression in the thread started from your statement that all of us would be "amazed how many people don't use FP+" (see post # 241).

If you're confused with what this has to do with FP+, it definitely means it's time for me to go to bed.

IMO the digression began when you took my statement that "when roll out was complete, same day FPs would be available" as meaning that I thought "Disney would hold back FPs in contradiction to what Disney execs have said."

WRT to FPs, my point was and is that FPs are currently utilized and distributed to a disproportionately low number of guests. Further, while FP+ will allow Disney to take the finite number of FPs and spread them over a broader group of guests, the total number will not grow via advance reservation (and probably not even when added to same day) and FPs will be made available in some fashion same day to guests who have already booked 3 in advance.

So I said to FP worriers (90% of those who express a worry on DIS), "don't. Your drive and determination will still pay off in terms of more FPs than the average guest."

Secondly, the linked story was about how Disney will use the presence of specific MBs within an enviroment to create a unique experience for that wearer. This is and has been precisely my point. Although anyone can say "it all works together on some level," I was trying to address the point made.

These changes are primarily about MBs and data collection and using it in a real-time relevant way to interact with guests. RFID devices are an integral part of that.

If the primary goal of FP+ was to manage throughput Disney could have done this with the existing infrastructure and MDE. Log on, book 3 FPs for a given park, show up and print out all of your FPs at one of the hundreds of of existing FP distribution kiosks. Or take your already RFID embedded KTTW or park ticket and wave it in front of one of the new readers that the MB wearers are now using.

They didn't do that.

Now, given the record here, the reply will be that I am suggesting that Disney isn't interested in throughput. I'm not. What I am saying is that they are very much interested on the park/resort level, and MDE and MBs are the key to that - not FP+.

As the article states, and as my personal experience implementing vehicle GPS tracking platforms across a wide spectrum of commerce and governmental applications, you just cant tell people "we're going to watch your every move so we can make life better for you." So you give them smart phones as a trade off...

...or Magic Bands

 

[matthewhavens]

On the positive side, some really good ADRs opened up for someone.

We have had a rough year. A lot of the stress has come from uncertainty and waiting for the other shoe to drop regarding things non-Disney. We needed a low stress vacation and WDW (while an active and busy vacation) usually fits that bill.

We were headed there the week before Thanksgiving and planned to spend part of the trip with friends who would not have FP+. When I booked and when I got ready to pay off the trip, I asked about whether we'd be able to use FP+ and FP- and was assured that double dipping would be in place until 2014. But I knew CMs were saying all sorts of things so I realized that was not gospel.

The closer the trip got, the more things changed. I cannot take the stress of lines in the sand changing on an almost daily basis. For my money, I want to be reasonably sure about what I am going to get. We are a repeat headliner family. We arrive early, pull at least 6-8 FP a day and stay late. The changes (tiered FP at Epcot) and as of today, what appears to be an end to double dipping, mean we would be limited to 3 FP a day and that is a big step down for us.

I am afraid there will be people all over those parks having meltdowns when they realize that what was allowed one day is not allowed the next. A friend who lives in Orlando said they had not renewed their APs due to all the changes and that the majority of people she knew were doing the same.

I realize FP+ will be a great thing for SOME people, based on their touring style. For us, it was sizing up to be an expensive hot mess. I told them when we canceled that we were waiting until the dust settled to see if we'd be back again. Until then, we may hit Universal again or even Disneyland.

Oh well..............

Good for yuo for cancelling. I hope Disney gets the message loud and clear. We are not going to stand for all these changes. If we all cancel our trips they may rethink how they are treating us.

 

[rebbyparker]

As the article states, and as my personal experience implementing vehicle GPS tracking platforms across a wide spectrum of commerce and governmental applications, you just cant tell people "we're going to watch your every move so we can make life better for you." So you give them smart phones as a trade off...

...or Magic Bands

That's a little creepy.

I do like where you seem to think the MB's are going though. That seems to me to be more like the Imagineers and Disney I know and love, immersing you in the attraction experience and interacting with you. That would be an amazing experience.

 

[dennis j]

I began a thread about canceling our trip (largely due to the everchanging rules and uncertainty) mainly because I knew many other people were in the same boat as my family. That is verified by the many comments to that effect on this thread.

If you could "personally care less" if my family canceled our trip, why on earth would you bother to even visit this thread, let alone post, and especially let alone a comment such as, "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa"? Why not just skip it?

I don't see what I am doing as "using a forum as my soapbox" any more than any other thread anyone begins on this board. By your definition, isn't anyone who posts a personal opinion or personal experience thread using this forum as a soapbox? If we outlawed those threads, things would be pretty sparse around here.

As for the "idiot" comment, I don't even know what to say. I wasn't calling anyone an idiot and have no idea how you could come to that conclusion from what I wrote. The way the comment is written, it should be clear I was referring to the attitude many have toward those who are cancelling their trip, postponing their trip or merely expressing their anxiety over FP+. There is a subset of Super Happy WDWers who will not tolerate anything but sparkly, shiny remarks about WDW and if you break their positivity rule, you are dismissed as any number of unflattering things, one of which is an idiot. Please re-read the post. If you still do not understand, I am at a loss to explain it more fully.

Rebbyparker, I applaud your reading comprehension skills and may have to employ that Ignore button.

EMom.. you are correct and as I had expected, have concentrated
on the rudeness comments in my post instead of my argument that
your Orlando friends are cancelling their AP's for a ridiculous reason.
You win (on account of exhaustion)
I have no idea why I read past more than 2 or 3 posts on this negativity
thread since I do look at the FP+ as a positive in managing
a modern day Disney Vacation. I guess it's just my curiosity getting
the best of me and wanting to see other opinions. Maybe you
should explore other vacation avenues.. as apparently the 'Magic'
(and Innovation) no longer appeal to you or others on these
negativity threads. The fact that your family has had a "rough year"
and you are so stressed out is no reason to blame Disney for trying
something new to try to solve a crowding problem.

 

[mom2rtk]

EMom.. you are correct and as I had expected, have concentrated
on the rudeness comments in my post instead of my argument that
your Orlando friends are cancelling their AP's for a ridiculous reason.

Rude comments tend to distract. If you don't want people to focus them, then don't post them.

And IMO, there are no ridiculous reasons for cancelling an annual pass to a theme park. If someone feels like it no longer meets their needs, then it would be ridiculous NOT to cancel. It's entertainment. When it's no longer entertaining, it's time to cut the strings.

 

[rebbyparker]

Ok, see, telling someone that their friends are cancelling for "ridiculous" reasons (in YOUR opinion), and that she's blaming Disney for the bad year she's had (Really?) doesn't mitigate the rudeness. And you know what? I give up. I think I shall confine myself to the non-rude, non-snarky, the "go ahead and post whatever your concerns are, because this IS a forum for that purpose" posters. That seems to work for me.

And dennisj, taking large amounts of words to just say "Don't like it? Don't go, then, more for me" is just silly.

 

[Jennasis]

EMom.. you are correct and as I had expected, have concentrated
on the rudeness comments in my post instead of my argument that
your Orlando friends are cancelling their AP's for a ridiculous reason.
You win (on account of exhaustion)
I have no idea why I read past more than 2 or 3 posts on this negativity
thread since I do look at the FP+ as a positive in managing
a modern day Disney Vacation. I guess it's just my curiosity getting
the best of me and wanting to see other opinions. Maybe you
should explore other vacation avenues.. as apparently the 'Magic'
(and Innovation) no longer appeal to you or others on these
negativity threads. The fact that your family has had a "rough year"
and you are so stressed out is no reason to blame Disney for trying
something new to try to solve a crowding problem.

You don't get what the OP said in her original post. At all. Not going to explain again. Simply put, you are so off base it's actually hilarious.

 

[SoarinSC]

Exactly! Calling people named because they respectfully disagree is rude too...not referring to you soarinSC, but who you quoted. People have a right to be upset when service is downgraded and pricing doesn't go down with it.

And that's my biggest gripe, nugov2. The basics are getting overlooked despite higher costs because Disney as a corporation is making us pay for all of the licensing acquisitions. In a nutshell, the park guest is being taken for granted. That's how I feel more and more when I leave the parks.

 

[OtherScott]

That's a little creepy.

I do like where you seem to think the MB's are going though. That seems to me to be more like the Imagineers and Disney I know and love, immersing you in the attraction experience and interacting with you. That would be an amazing experience.

In case you missed bcrooks' article link

Pretty cool. Now, imagine implementing across a multicultural base without offending sensibilities...

 

[OtherScott]

I think I said Park capacity management and throughput, not ride capacity.

And, I could have sworn you specifically stated we would be amazed at how few people utilized FP+.

Sorry for the gross oversimplification...

The gross oversimplification was on my part, not yours...sorry

 

[rebbyparker]

Very neat! If they just let the Imagineers run wild with this, this would be amazing. I, one of the few here it seems, really loved Avatar. I loved the world, the vegetation, the animals, it was just jaw droppingly beautiful to me. So this would be something I would definitely enjoy!