WDW to prevent AP holders from visiting parks many mornings

[NJlauren]

So much energy being put into limiting attendance, but here’s my guess- the economy is going to sort this one out for Disney very quickly.

I agree, people are already reporting summer is lighter crowds then expected, I could buy a LL for rise till almost 8 this morning…. I think 6 months from now we will be seeing discounts and incentives to visit

 

[BeachClub2014]

So much energy being put into limiting attendance, but here’s my guess- the economy is going to sort this one out for Disney very quickly.

Exactly.

I have a similar thought: hire enough people so we don't need all of this ridiculous infrastructure that throttles the flow of certain types of guests. This is a problem Disney created and one that can be remedied without alienating a whole lot of people and degrading your vacation experience. Historically, the parks were almost never at capacity and it wasn't an issue.

 

[whiteness]

Exactly.

I have a similar thought: hire enough people so we don't need all of this ridiculous infrastructure that throttles the flow of certain types of guests. This is a problem Disney created and one that can be remedied without alienating a whole lot of people and degrading your vacation experience. Historically, the parks were almost never at capacity and it wasn't an issue.

Because they don't want to have to fully staff the parks to handle full capacity if they don't have to, so they are also using reservations to determine how much to staff the parks.

Hence, it's not necessarily that they physically cannot handle as many guests as would like to come, but more like they don't "want to" handle that many guests. Capacity is not a fixed thing: Disney is able to adjust capacity depending on how much Disney wants to make available.

 

[Sandisw]

They were literally sold a ticket at a specific price based on the date they are going to the park. How is that on them?

Well, AP holders have no date specific days so how to do account for that if a day ticket waits until the last minute to book.. and all the instances I have read were people who got blocked because they didn’t try until the week before.

So what your saying is Disney should hold a spot at all 4 parks all at once for a person who doesn’t reserve their spot when they bought?



Then if that is the case the ticket should be more expensive. Can’t have it both ways.

As long as the rules are clear, guests are responsible. If you buy and wait, you risk not getting a day and you get a refund.

 

[Jonfw2]

If you think about it, the FP+ system was a de facto park reservation. Disney knew where everyone was going to be and at what time based on this.

 

[RoseGold]

I agree, people are already reporting summer is lighter crowds then expected, I could buy a LL for rise till almost 8 this morning…. I think 6 months from now we will be seeing discounts and incentives to visit

I was there a couple weeks ago. If that's lighter than you were expecting at the parks, I'd hate to see what you were expecting!

I've never seen the pools more crowded. Possibly because of the AP mess. People are stretching out tickets, or maybe not even going because tickets are so expensive and there is no sign of APs in the future.

If there are incentives, which I don't see happening soon, I think it would be opening some AP purchases for a minute.

 

[NJlauren]

I was there a couple weeks ago. If that's lighter than you were expecting at the parks, I'd hate to see what you were expecting!

I've never seen the pools more crowded. Possibly because of the AP mess. People are stretching out tickets, or maybe not even going because tickets are so expensive and there is no sign of APs in the future.

If there are incentives, which I don't see happening soon, I think it would be opening some AP purchases for a minute.

I’ll let you know when we head down in August but I’ve read a few reports of light crowds in the parks, not at the pools, which maybe that’s a reservation issue? Summer issue no idea

 

[whiteness]

Because the ticket says it require a reservation as well and the day you bought it the spot was there?

I think people who purchase a ticket should be required to reserve specific dates and parks at the time of purchase. And they should be allowed to change them later. A guest should not be allowed to purchase a ticket for a specific number of days without any assurances that they can enter a specific park on a specific day for every day they have purchased.

Again, this is not limiting flexibility, because the guests will be free to change their reservations right up until they use the day (or the ticket expires.) But this way, they will know for sure that their planned visit to the parks is possible and their entry is guaranteed. If they cannot make a reservation for a date and park they like, then they will know that, too. So they can then decide if they still want to purchase a ticket. That is fair to everyone.

Passholders haven't purchased a specific number of days, so that doesn't apply to them. But they do know in advance what their blackout days are, and they should be free to attempt to reserve any non-blackout day as long as there is available capacity. That is also fair to them, given the current terms and conditions. If Disney wants to further restrict how Passholders can make reservation, they need to clearly spell that out.

 

[wnielsen1]

I was there a couple weeks ago. If that's lighter than you were expecting at the parks, I'd hate to see what you were expecting!

I've never seen the pools more crowded. Possibly because of the AP mess. People are stretching out tickets, or maybe not even going because tickets are so expensive and there is no sign of APs in the future.

If there are incentives, which I don't see happening soon, I think it would be opening some AP purchases for a minute.

Pool reservations coming soon!

 

[New Mouse]

Yes but not park specific. The point is when they sell them to you they tell you upfront if the park you want is available.

So if you wait to book, then what you want is sold out, you can be stuck.

Sorry, if I buy and it says subject to availability and that you need to make a reservation you can’t fault Disney if you wait to book

So if Disney decides to sell you a ticket for new years eve at the most jacked up price they have but then decides they want to cut reservation slots in half the next day after purchase thus blocking you out, you are ok with that?

This is why the lawsuit exists and will most likely win. Just because something is written by Disney does not make it legal.

 

[New Mouse]

Pool reservations coming soon!

Wouldn't this bust the supporters myth that park reservations are required because they have been busier than ever?

 

[Sandisw]

So if Disney decides to sell you a ticket for new years eve at the most jacked up price they have but then decides they want to cut reservation slots in half the next day after purchase thus blocking you out, you are ok with that?

This is why the lawsuit exists and will most likely win. Just because something is written by Disney does not make it legal.

if I had the opportunity to book that day when I bought and waited, then yes, I would accept responsibility for my choice to wait it out.

We also aren’t talking about people who buy and within that day all of a sudden all parks are completely sold out.

We are taking about people who buy and then wait until the last minute and never book, even though they had plenty of time.

And prior to all of this, one always risked a park being at capacity. You didn’t enter NYE at opening, you pretty much weren’t getting in.

So what you believe is that someone who buys a 1 park per day ticket should be allowed is to “hold” a spot at all 4 parks up until the day they decide to make up their mind?

If that is what should happen then it would account for a reservation bucket for ticket holders staying available longer since maybe those “spots” are for the people who bought but didn’t book yet?

Based on this logic, there should be no such thing any more as an AP that isn’t date specific when you buy.

Maybe the solution is one should be required to book a park for each day of your when buying your ticket like has been suggested.

But, I do think they have done a good job of setting up the rules and tell you to make park reservations after buying tickets. And they do let you know before buying what parks are already sold out.

Oh, and if there is only one bucket of reservations then chances are they get rid APs that are longer good for 300 plus days.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Because they don't want to have to fully staff the parks to handle full capacity if they don't have to, so they are also using reservations to determine how much to staff the parks.

Hence, it's not necessarily that they physically cannot handle as many guests as would like to come, but more like they don't "want to" handle that many guests. Capacity is not a fixed thing: Disney is able to adjust capacity depending on how much Disney wants to make available.

Yes, that's my point. This is a problem entirely created by and under the control of Disney.

 

[New Mouse]

if I had the opportunity to book that day when I bought and waited, then yes, I would accept responsibility for my choice to wait it out.

We also aren’t talking about people who buy and within that day all of a sudden all parks are completely sold out.

We are taking about people who buy and then wait until the last minute and never book, even though they had plenty of time.

And prior to all of this, one always risked a park being at capacity. You didn’t enter NYE at opening, you pretty much weren’t getting in.

So what you believe is that someone who buys a 1 park per day ticket should be allowed is to “hold” a spot at all 4 parks up until the day they decide to make up their mind?

If that is what should happen then it would account for a reservation bucket for ticket holders staying available longer since maybe those “spots” are for the people who bought but didn’t book yet?

Based on this logic, there should be no such thing any more as an AP that isn’t date specific when you buy.

Maybe the solution is one should be required to book a park for each day of your when buying your ticket like has been suggested.

But, I do think they have done a good job of setting up the rules and tell you to make park reservations after buying tickets. And they do let you know before buying what parks are already sold out.

Oh, and if there is only one bucket of reservations then chances are they get rid APs that are longer good for 300 plus days.

But just a few years ago you were buying tickets for a specific park on a specific day.

So what's the limit on how many days are too many before you need to book?

Should we have a 60 day calendar for that as well?

They change the rules so often that their own staff can't keep up with the information but you expect a first time grandma to understand all this?

I remember when Disney was actually about customer service but it seems that has gone out the window as well. It's literally a chore to go to Disney these days and I'm betting attendance figure will reflect that....if they are honest.

Keep in mind this whole issue Disney has CREATED has 0 to do with actual park capacity issues.

 

[Sandisw]

But just a few years ago you were buying tickets for a specific park on a specific day.

So what's the limit on how many days are too many before you need to book?

Should we have a 60 day calendar for that as well?

They change the rules so often that their own staff can't keep up with the information but you expect a first time grandma to understand all this?

I remember when Disney was actually about customer service but it seems that has gone out the window as well. It's literally a chore to go to Disney these days and I'm betting attendance figure will reflect that....if they are honest.

Keep in mind this whole issue Disney has CREATED has 0 to do with actual park capacity issues.

We have never had to choose which parks we were going to ahead of time, prior to this system.

Pre Covid, we bought x days and didn’t reserve any park ahead of time. Not sure when those types of tickets existed but not something we ever bought.

Again, I think the current situation has clear rules that are easy to understand. Check for the park availability before you buy your tickets. Once you buy tickets make your reservations.

If you are booking via a travel agent or through Disney there is help so no lack of resources for anyone who is planning.

I think the instances being discussed have been few and far between and 99% of the people going understand how park reservations work and book in plenty of time.

But if others feel that is better to reduce advance reservations so that those few last minute planners get to hold a spot in all 4 parks, then we’d adjust and just make sure we plan even farther in advance.

We simply are not bothered by the park reservations system.

And I see having choices for afternoons and evening reservations as a good potential addition for AP holders.

 

[whiteness]

So what you believe is that someone who buys a 1 park per day ticket should be allowed is to “hold” a spot at all 4 parks up until the day they decide to make up their mind?

No, they should be required to choose 1 and only 1 park for each and every day for which they are entitled to enter. If they later change their mind, they can attempt to change their reservation, provided that another acceptable one is available.

If their plans change, such that they cannot go on that day, and they cannot find another suitable day/park, they will be in the same boat as the millions of people that have purchased (for example) non-refundable airline tickets. Except that Disney is much nicer and will probably let them apply the cost of their ticket to a future visit (just as they do now for hard-ticketed events.)

In no case should anyone ever be allowed to reserve multiple parks on the same day, unless maybe Disney allows afternoon timeslots, but I don't even think that is how it will work, either.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you think about it, the FP+ system was a de facto park reservation. Disney knew where everyone was going to be and at what time based on this.

Not really considering they had millions of guests all the time who didn't book FP it wasn't a requirement like these reservations are.

 

[Sandisw]

No, they should be required to choose 1 and only 1 park for each and every day for which they are entitled to enter. If they later change their mind, they can attempt to change their reservation, provided that another acceptable one is available.

If their plans change, such that they cannot go on that day, and they cannot find another suitable day/park, they will be in the same boat as the millions of people that have purchased (for example) non-refundable airline tickets. Except that Disney is much nicer and will probably let them apply the cost of their ticket to a future visit (just as they do now for hard-ticketed events.)

In no case should anyone ever be allowed to reserve multiple parks on the same day, unless maybe Disney allows afternoon timeslots, but I don't even think that is how it will work, either.

That is the point I was trying to make when others said that once you buy a ticket your spot should be locked in and you should not have to make reservations until you want, even if it is last minute.

For that to work, Disney would have to then hold back a spot for you at all the parks until you pick the one you want.

That js why they have you check first and if there are spots, buy a ticket and reserve.

IMO, I don’t think anyone should expect when buying a ticket that can be good at 4 places that those choices will remain the same indefinitely until you get around to choosing which one of those parks you will visit each day if your ticket.

 

[whiteness]

That is the point I was trying to make when others said that once you buy a ticket your spot should be locked in and you should not have to make reservations until you want, even if it is last minute.

For that to work, Disney would have to then hold back a spot for you at all the parks until you pick the one you want.

That js why they have you check first and if there are spots, buy a ticket and reserve.

No one should expect when buying a ticket that can be good at 4 places that those choices will remain the same until you get around to choosing one.

Right, but the onus shouldn't be on people remembering to check first. You should be required to state, up front, which days AND which parks you are purchasing that specific ticket for. You should not be allowed to click the "buy now" button until you have made a specific park reservation. Full stop.

 

[Sandisw]

Right, but the onus shouldn't be on people remembering to check first. You should be required to state, up front, which days AND which parks you are purchasing that specific ticket for. You should not be allowed to click the "buy now" button until you have made a specific park reservation. Full stop.

That would be a nice option. But absent of that, I think the directions are clear enough that people understand that when you buy a ticket you then go back and book the days that you just checked that said parks had room.