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

[AmyB2006]

Not all, but some. You can see it when those who advise calming down and being optimistic are called "Disney Apologists".

"Doom and Gloom"... "Disney Apologist"... Tomato/tomato LOL

 

[larryz]

Clearly some completely missed what the OP was saying.

She isn't cancelling her trip because she thinks FP+ is an abomination or unfair etc, and she's never going to WDW again (foot stomp!). She's cancelling because the test is still ongoing and the parameters of the test are changing so often and without much notice that she's unable to plan her trip with any confidence.

I don't blame her. And unlike the unsympathetic folks who've chimed in,for no other reason than wagging a finger at her, I AM sorry that it has to be that way for her. My trip isn't until next fall and I am super thankful for that as things are so up in the air right now with FP+ and MDE.

Thank you!

 

[larryz]

If someone was looking for planning advice why would they open a thread titled I finally cancelled my trip?

As OP started out with, "there are some pretty good ADRs available."

 

[larryz]

I have your original posts archived.

Anyone else find that a little creepy?

 

[larryz]

I was just wondering about that myself. Didn't they build the entire MK in less time than that?

It's a lot easier to build stuff from scratch than it is to retrofit a dynamic ride into an already built space (constrained and defined by other buildings).

But I have to agree -- three years seems a bit over-long.

 

[Planogirl]

It's a lot easier to build stuff from scratch than it is to retrofit a dynamic ride into an already built space (constrained and defined by other buildings).

But I have to agree -- three years seems a bit over-long.

Particularly since that space held nothing during the planning phase if I'm not mistaken. I could be off since that area has changed so drastically.

I fully expect this ride to be nothing short of amazing after this long construction period.

 

[joybeth]

Sorry to hear it is not going to work out for you. We went, we loved it, no problems at all.

We rode more than we have in years and at times we wanted.

Agree! We had a fantastic experience with FP+ and MB. Can't wait to use them again in December.

jb

 

[kandb]

I didn't read anywhere in the OP's post that she was looking for sympathy. And yes, she and all of us on here who can afford to go on vacation are lucky. One thing I don't agree with are people who come on here and say "it's no big deal, just go with it". Personally, I would never go to Disney at a busy time. It would not be worth thousands of dollars to get very limited fp's and/or wait a few hours to go on a ride. Also, some people just say to just go to the parks and enjoy the atmosphere. For thousands of dollars, most people want to ride the rides, not just sit and take in the atmosphere.

 

[bcrook]

Anyone else find that a little creepy?

Well we are talking about Disney ... We have signed away all of our privacy!

 

[AmyB2006]

Anyone else find that a little creepy?

Yes LOL


I don't blame OP either. People have to do what they feel is best for them. And if cancelling her trip right now is what she feels is best, regardless of what anyone thinks, then that's the best choice for her.

OP... I hope whatever vacation you decide to take, you have a blast.

 

[AmyB2006]

Particularly since that space held nothing during the planning phase if I'm not mistaken. I could be off since that area has changed so drastically.

I fully expect this ride to be nothing short of amazing after this long construction period.

I thought that space was the old "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"?? No?? I could be wrong as well.

I realize it's taken "forever" in some peoples' opinions, but Disney has always always stated that this ride wasn't opening until the beginning of 2014. I'm not sure why people are complaining. It looks like they might actually open on time according to their own timeline, which I must say, is quite shocking. Since they usually are always late.

 

[Planogirl]

I thought that space was the old "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"?? No?? I could be wrong as well.

I realize it's taken "forever" in some peoples' opinions, but Disney has always always stated that this ride wasn't opening until the beginning of 2014. I'm not sure why people are complaining. It looks like they might actually open on time according to their own timeline, which I must say, is quite shocking. Since they usually are always late.

It could be but didn't they just simply take that out and fill in the ground? I see that as just open space too at least once they finished that.

I don't see people complaining or at least I'm not. It is taking a remarkable amount of time to build but maybe they factored in their own normal delays for once.

 

[Robynlaurel]

I didn't read anywhere in the OP's post that she was looking for sympathy. And yes, she and all of us on here who can afford to go on vacation are lucky. One thing I don't agree with are people who come on here and say "it's no big deal, just go with it". Personally, I would never go to Disney at a busy time. It would not be worth thousands of dollars to get very limited fp's and/or wait a few hours to go on a ride. Also, some people just say to just go to the parks and enjoy the atmosphere. For thousands of dollars, most people want to ride the rides, not just sit and take in the atmosphere.

My thoughts exactly-- I feel like people who say this may have gone to WDW many times and know they will go again in the near future so are fairly relaxed about missing any one attraction-- that is how I feel about Disneyland since I live in CA. But planning my trip to the World is a Whole Different Matter because it's such a big investment and who knows when I'll be out there again? I would like to experience as much as possible and am feeling completely overwhelmed by the whole FP issue. Am taking comfort in the fact that my trip is in January and am waiting to see what I need to learn about the system closer to the time since things seem to be changing moment to moment

 

[EMom]

OP here. I would try to fool you all by saying I've been too busy to post due to a busy weekend of sporting events, but the sleuths here have figured it out. I was really busy strategizing ways to garner sympathy, figuring out how to get the gullible masses to cancel their WDW vacations, plotting how to bring WDW down, being massively ungrateful that I am able to afford a nice vacation and being thankless that my DH has employment. All that keeps a girl busy.

Really, I don't know where people get all that. I now realize "Universal" may just be the answer.

Read the first post and you'll see none of that. Yes, we've had a hard year full of uncertainty, but I didn't mention that to get anyone's sympathy. I did it to explain why we cannot handle MORE uncertainty, especially when limited vacation dollars are at risk.

As to why someone would come to this board and want to read my post.......Maybe they are in the same boat as I am and want some reassurance that canceling is a valid choice. I don't hate all things Disney or I wouldn't be considering a trip to Disneyland. Again, I don't feel anger over canceling. I am relieved. Just plain old relieved. I have taken one stressor out of the equation and that has been good for us.

We'll save our vacation money and wait until summer, or maybe even spring break. We'll research and figure out what is the best fit and book a new trip. WDW will do just fine without us and this year at least, we'll do fine without them. Canceling or postponing a trip due to uncertainty with FP+ is a valid choice for some people, depending on what they want/need from a vacation. To all those still going, I hope they have a great, glitchless vacation. No need or desire to wish them anything else.

 

[sharadoc]

OP here. I would try to fool you all by saying I've been too busy to post due to a busy weekend of sporting events, but the sleuths here have figured it out. I was really busy strategizing ways to garner sympathy, figuring out how to get the gullible masses to cancel their WDW vacations, plotting how to bring WDW down, being massively ungrateful that I am able to afford a nice vacation and being thankless that my DH has employment. All that keeps a girl busy.

Really, I don't know where people get all that. I now realize "Universal" may just be the answer.

Read the first post and you'll see none of that. Yes, we've had a hard year full of uncertainty, but I didn't mention that to get anyone's sympathy. I did it to explain why we cannot handle MORE uncertainty, especially when limited vacation dollars are at risk.

As to why someone would come to this board and want to read my post.......Maybe they are in the same boat as I am and want some reassurance that canceling is a valid choice. I don't hate all things Disney or I wouldn't be considering a trip to Disneyland. Again, I don't feel anger over canceling. I am relieved. Just plain old relieved. I have taken one stressor out of the equation and that has been good for us.

We'll save our vacation money and wait until summer, or maybe even spring break. We'll research and figure out what is the best fit and book a new trip. WDW will do just fine without us and this year at least, we'll do fine without them. Canceling or postponing a trip due to uncertainty with FP+ is a valid choice for some people, depending on what they want/need from a vacation. To all those still going, I hope they have a great, glitchless vacation. No need or desire to wish them anything else.

I completely get where you're coming from. If we weren't going at Christmas time, I probably wouldn't be going until the system is worked out too. We are also dealing with the change from the GAC to the DAS, and that was bad enough to figure out, now with the FP+ and FP- issues, we have no idea how we will manage. But there's so many other things to do that are not FP related that we're feeling good that we'll fill up the time.

I don't think I will ever be able to commit to FP+. We go every year and are more casual about our plans. We tried to think about it last night and gave up. We honestly don't know where we'll be and what we'll do, other than having a chart with the best days from EasyWDW and TP. We'll probably decide the night before, or decide to hop here or there the day of. We will probably go to MVMCP to ride all the MK headliners and catch the parade. So we'll pay more instead of stressing over the planning.

I wish the advance FP+ was an onsite perk, maybe one per park or one per 2 or 3 tiers per park, but then make the rest "day of". I could handle that easily.

It's clear there are different people in charge now at Disney Parks and they are more concerned with long term results rather than our short term experience.

One more thing I think they should do - give us the best bounceback rate possible on ANY date we want for next year. That will make us feel better about this "test" and a reason to want to do it!

 

[tiggerdad]

You caught that about "Universal"? Cool! I figured it was lost in the chaos.

I'll be over at Fort Wilderness next October. Take kids outta school like me and come on over. I'll even cook for ya. ;-)

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

 

[EMom]

You caught that about "Universal"? Cool! I figured it was lost in the chaos.

I'll be over at Fort Wilderness next October. Take kids outta school like me and come on over. I'll even cook for ya. ;-)

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

I'd love that and thanks for the invitation, but as of next October DD will be in high school and there is no way we can take her out of school.

I got the Universal joke and liked it. Goodness knows these threads could use some humor. I know everyone jokes about Universal being The Dark Side, but we enjoyed our two trips there in 2011 and 2012. The resorts and pools were great, we loved the short boat ride to the parks, FOTL was amazing, and not having to get ADRs for a nice dinner was fantastic. Tired of one park? Walk a few minutes and go to the other.

You really cannot compare WDW and Universal. They are simply too different. Each has pros and cons. But I continue to say of Universal, it was EASY.

 

[TeresaNJ]

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..............

Just want to tell you that our family group of 19 got home two weeks ago, and my brother, who is a DVC owner, as am I, were talking yesterday, and we both agreed that this past trip was an expensive hot mess due to the crowds, all the changes, and the mess that are magic bands! I think you made a good decision.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

...I don't think I will ever be able to commit to FP+. We go every year and are more casual about our plans. We tried to think about it last night and gave up. We honestly don't know where we'll be and what we'll do, other than having a chart with the best days from EasyWDW and TP. We'll probably decide the night before, or decide to hop here or there the day of.

I was just posting about this issue on another thread. I wasn't there at one of the busiest times, but I had no problem making, and changing, FP+ the day of. Even for things that weren't available the night before (specifically TSMM and Wishes) were all of a sudden available on the day of.

My CM friend told me they save some FP+ for release day before and day of. And no, he's not a bus driver

 

[sharadoc]

I was just posting about this issue on another thread. I wasn't there at one of the busiest times, but I had no problem making, and changing, FP+ the day of. Even for things that weren't available the night before (specifically TSMM and Wishes) were all of a sudden available on the day of.

My CM friend told me they save some FP+ for release day before and day of. And no, he's not a bus driver

I saw that post. I'll be the tester for day of FP+ for sure! Speaking of Wishes FP, are they available during the MVMCP Holiday Wishes, or just regular?