What gets me most is the hypocrites on this board

[LarryNabisco]

I am in favor of a significant price increase as well as the long rumored lifetime pass.

 

[saskdw]

Is this a FACT or your OPINION? If it's a FACT, can you share the supporting facts to go with it? I personally would be interested in your role in the FP+ project as well as the involvement of all your sources. I'll assume if this is fact then none of your supporting facts are based on Guest experiences over a brief time period.

Your post just made my whole day!! I just about fell out of my chair!!

 

[saskdw]

I didn't read the whole thread, just to here and wanted to respond.

I assume this may not have been entirely serious, but I do think there is some truth to it. Instead of FP+ or FP or anything, do what some other competing parks have done, you can either buy a front of the line OR those staying on-site get some advantage.

I totally agree! Right now they need to offer FD and other discounts to fill their resorts. If they made FP+ part of the perks of staying onsite it would fill rooms. Then offer it at a cost to others as to not toally exclude them and put a dollar value on that perk like Universal Express Pass. I would also offer it as an option with the Annual Passes as to not exclude the locals of this perk.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I didn't read the whole thread, just to here and wanted to respond.

I assume this may not have been entirely serious, but I do think there is some truth to it. Instead of FP+ or FP or anything, do what some other competing parks have done, you can either buy a front of the line OR those staying on-site get some advantage.

But that will really get the penny pinchers upset. There are already quite a few offsite guests that are freaking because they can't participate yet.

There is really no way to keep everyone happy so I say focus on on site guests. However, I do think a loyalty program and/or perks for AP holders are in order.

 

[LarryNabisco]

But that will really get the penny pinchers upset. There are already quite a few offsite guests that are freaking because they can't participate yet.

There is really no way to keep everyone happy so I say focus on on site guests. However, I do think a loyalty program and/or perks for AP holders are in order.

The AP holders are given very little in the way of perks.

 

[luvthemouse71]

The AP holders are given very little in the way of perks.

That's a shame and it shouldn't be like that. I priced an AP last year and was surprised at how much they were.

 

[LarryNabisco]

That's a shame and it shouldn't be like that. I priced an AP last year and was surprised at how much they were.

Disney knows it has the AP holders in their back pocket, no incentive to offer anything to them.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have been going to WDW almost annually for 30 years or so. Most of those trips have been in the "slower" seasons and I have never once did a rope drop or have I planned what my schedule was for the day....

And a good part of this is not only because of the crap FP + system but from the people on this board that are scamming the system and double and triple dipping with all these FP's. People complain about the crowds on this board but then they're quick to point out how they got triple the FPs they should have because they used their Magic Band, Their KTTK card and their old room key.

When you've gone some place for 30 years, of course you don't need to plan. You have the plans in your head. You dont even know what you're doing in your head while being spontaneous, but you're planning. You know where things are, you know what's worth it to you, etc etc.

There is NO scamming. This is how it is set up for the test. Relax.

And I really doubt that the exact same people are saying "it's too crowded" and "yay I got those FPs". AND I don't see how one person getting extra FPs = higher crowds. They aren't the same. If anything, if the FPs are gone earlier because of people getting FPs in multiple ways, that means the park is LESS crowded! Woo for that!

How many posts will it take before someone says, "Well, just don't go"?

postal already covered that last night, saying he wouldn't be back. no one needed to do it for him.

The ability to double or triple dip is the biggest factor in how they are getting people to agree to being part of the test. If they only allowed 3 FP+ for testers, hardly anybody would sign up.

Exactly.

This new system would drive my husband nuts. He hates rushing to attraction to attraction and planning a time to eat. We like to soak everything in and do with the flow for the most part.

We did so little rushing on our recent trip. And it's b/c we had things worked out. I didn't need to rush to Everest to get FPs then to Tusker House then BACK to Everest to use the FPs. It was all worked out.

Sometimes I was able to change the FP+ reservation; sometimes I wasn't. Ah, testing.

....whatever happened to VACATION??? What I do know is that we need a vacation after our Disney vacation..

It must be super-nice to not have highly sensitive people in your party who need proper food at regular time periods. It must be nice to have people in your party who know when they are gettING hungry, instead of having it just hit them. I wish I traveled with your group.

For OUR group, however, I have to schedule food at regular times or it gets ugly. DH's system was messed up from babyhood (thanks MIL!) and he is only now, at 41, starting to work out what gettING hungry feels like. Next up is working on telling people about it instead of feeling shame that his stomach has needs (thanks MIL!) so that we can make our way towards food when that starts. DS is simply a growing boy who is always in a state of hunger.

It honestly allowed us (my family ... not speaking for anyone else) to be MORE spontaneous, because we didn't have to run for a FP machine and then see what time we got before we planned what else we wanted to do. We knew going in that we had FPs for X ride at such-and-such a time, and an ADR for Y restaurant at such-and-such a time, and so the rest of the day was whatever we wanted to do. We didn't have to worry about only wanting to spend a half day at a park and then being "forced" to stay because our FP time was six hours away. And if we decided we needed to sleep in a bit, we knew we had our FPs in hand and could do that without missing a prime ride-return window.

Absolutely.

In this case I think that the OP believes that the same individuals bemoaning the long wait times and FP shortages are the ones who are causing the shortage by "double dipping".

Exactly. I highly doubt it's the same people.

You can plan them, but change them later. We are hear now and I have changed them no problem for things we wanted. So if something had a short wait, we did it and changed the fast pass. If you have a smart phone, they have a app for it. We are really enjoying our magic bands a lot. 2 min wait to see Ariel with a hour wait without

During our trip we could change them sometimes and not change them others. It's all very glitchy. If I tried once and it didn't work and I gave up, I would think it just didn't work. But because I know it's a test, that things aren't working 100% yet, I just kept trying.

Heck, since last November hasn't that been what we're used to? We are approaching the year anniversary of the changes on the website, when things would disappear and reappear and have inappropriate error messages and put us into a panic... How anyone could assume that ANYTHING they are seeing online, on MDE, or with FP+ is an absolutely and Is The Way It's Going To Be Forever And Ever just boggles my mind. They are changing things. Everything. It's not going to be like this forever.

You are able to cancel your resv. It gives you an option on MDE. You can cancel or change and it won't get rid of your current resv until you confirm. We are going in Dec and it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

On the other side of the coin...it hasn't been working like that for everyone, every time. Some people have encountered glitches this week. Some encountered some last week. While it's worked beautifully for others the whole time.

Not to mention, Universal's only on-site hotels aren't exactly cheap. I love Uni, but I can't afford to stay on-site. With Disney, I can. (And I LOVE Universal...really would love to plan another trip there soon...I'm just pointing out a fact)

You need to get on the Uni boards and find some better rates! Looking at your list of WDW resorts, I"m not sure how you aren't able to afford to stay onsite at Uni, because apart from the lowest rates at All Star, I've stayed at Uni for FAR less than I've seen rates at the others on your list. Our rate for RPR this last trip was almost the same as our rate for POR this last trip. (plus parking, of course)

And if your username means you life in Florida, make the code FLO your friend. I've seen some amazing rates show up for Florida residents here!

No, it wasn't a system problem. It is the new normal with FP+.

No, I really don't think so.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

And some times that is the best solution.
I have to tell you d, one of the biggest con jobs is that Disney is the only place on the planet where families can have a "magical" time.
I realized that the world no longer was my "go to"place when I noticed we ate offsite more than we did on.
The food is lousy. Add that with other issues and we recognized that for us, it's no longer the same.
And you know what, we are discovering a whole bunch of places where we have just as much fun. We're going on our first cruise in May and I'm more exited about that than I've been for Disney in quite awhile.
Now we go for 3 or 4 day weekend and that's enough.
Disney has changed, for me the changes have not been good so I'm ok with moving on.

You mean in your opinion the food is lousy...which is acceptable In My opinion 90% of the restaurants on WDW property are D-licious !!!
It's ok to move on though

 

[skriegerjr]

Many people including myself are not happy with this FP + mess. I have been going to WDW almost annually for 30 years or so. Most of those trips have been in the "slower" seasons and I have never once did a rope drop or have I planned what my schedule was for the day. We have always been able to do basically everything we wanted to do, we worked around the crowd and used our FP when they came into effect.

This FP + system is a joke. I don't want to plan on when I'm going to eat and when I'm going to ride this ride or that 3/4/5/6 months out. That's utterly ridiculous. Now you can't even go to the Park and get a FP because they are all gone early in the day because most are taken up by these people getting them in advance. And forget about getting in a stand by line now for the big attractions. And a good part of this is not only because of the crap FP + system but from the people on this board that are scamming the system and double and triple dipping with all these FP's. People complain about the crowds on this board but then they're quick to point out how they got triple the FPs they should have because they used their Magic Band, Their KTTK card and their old room key. Ridiculous.

I agree with Disney charging people who don't show up for Dining Reservations, in fact they should charge them the price of the minimum meal X number of guests the reservation is for. If they catch you in the system with more FPs than the permitted amount, you should have your FP privileges revoked for your entire length of admission.

Not scamming anything, double dipping is absolutely allowed, and recommended by cast members. Think if it this way. FP+ would allow only 3 FP, but non FP+ folks can pull as many as they want, 6 or 7 a day. How fair would it be too limit fp+ to only 3, when others can get more? There would be no incentive for anyone to help Disney test the system, if we were all limited to 3 while everyone else could pull regular fast passes as many as they want..We'd all tell Disney to pound salt on their test

Sent from my rooted Samsung Galaxy SIII using the DISBoards app

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I totally agree! Right now they need to offer FD and other discounts to fill their resorts. If they made FP+ part of the perks of staying onsite it would fill rooms. Then offer it at a cost to others as to not toally exclude them and put a dollar value on that perk like Universal Express Pass. I would also offer it as an option with the Annual Passes as to not exclude the locals of this perk.

But if they drive those offsite guests away it is their bottom line that suffers.

Disney NEEDS those guests.

 

[3Gsandme]

I don't think we'll see a price increase significant enough to reduce numbers. There IS some benefit to "it's better to charge 100 a ticket and sell 5 than charge 50 a ticket and sell 10" from a cost perspective. it costs less to manage those 5 people than it does to manage the 10. I do think Disney may, like Universal, draw a bit of a line and offer more/better/less expensive perks to on-site guests. If I were into Universal, staying on-site for the express pass would be worth the extra money for my family of five, but even that has a volume issue/limit. If everyone has an express pass, no one has one and things will change again.

Fast Pass is in excess of 10 years old now, isn't it? These changes needed to be made. I understand why people are upset. People dislike change. I'm certain that when FastPass was launched all those years ago, people were upset because it changed how they'd always toured the parks. Now, people are upset because FastPass may be ending and they'll have to change how they tour the parks and in ten years, people will be upset again because FastPass+ will be ending and people will have to change how they tour the parks.

I'm sure Disney wants to drive people into less used, higher capacity attractions. Why wouldn't they? Thankfully, I like Carousel of Progress and the Tiki Room and we go to them because they're important to me (and give us something to do while waiting out long ride lines, etc). I'm sure Disney has an algorithm where they aim for each guest to experience X rides/attractions during a Disney Day and that includes X amount of headliners and Y amount of lesser/side attractions and as long as you're generally hitting those levels, Disney isn't going to be very motivated to do much else. Hello, RFID.

In time, the Disney Faithful will have figured out how to best work FastPass+ or whatever is coming next to their benefit and the over educated/heavy researchers will, again, have the Disney advantage. I plan on it being that way.

 

[mefordis]

The solution is to limit FP+ to on site resort guests. I think after Disney sees the headache and complaints that is exactly what they will do. Everyone can stay onsite if they wish - there is a price point for everyone.

I would allow 6 per day, you can use them across all four parks, maybe even waterparks. Remove the FP machines. Stand by lines will be shorter because of fewer fast passes in circulation. Figure in the DAS fastpasses too, and boom. Fair system. Universal's crowds are no worse for using a similar system.

 

[AmyB2006]

The ability to double or triple dip is the biggest factor in how they are getting people to agree to being part of the test. If they only allowed 3 FP+ for testers, hardly anybody would sign up.

Ah, but I think this is the key. When the system is 100% rolled out, I think this won't be allowed anymore. Of course, JMO, but I think their intention is to allow 3 FPs per day. Whether you wait till that day or schedule them early.

IF there is no double dipping by people, that will allow for everyone on the day of to pull them and still get the "good" rides.


I think this is just Disney's way of "spreading out the wealth", so to speak. Making sure everyone is getting FPs for their favorites.

Right now, double dipping is not allowing that nor giving everyone a fair view at what future FP+ system will be.

Again, JMO.

 

[JanaDee]

Is this a FACT or your OPINION? If it's a FACT, can you share the supporting facts to go with it? I personally would be interested in your role in the FP+ project as well as the involvement of all your sources. I'll assume if this is fact then none of your supporting facts are based on Guest experiences over a brief time period.

Read any of the numerous threads about fastpass return times over the last few days.

 

[saskdw]

But if they drive those offsite guests away it is their bottom line that suffers.

Disney NEEDS those guests.

It would be really tough for you or I to speculate on what would make WDW more money without having access to alot of information.

On the one hand I think they would fill their resorts without offering alot of the current promos which would mean higher profits margins on those rooms and dining plans. They would also probably loose a few off-site guests.

I don't think either one of us is in a position to say which puts them further ahead. Even if they break even they are better off having the onsite guests. They will spend more money onsite then the offsite guests.

 

[skriegerjr]

The ability to double or triple dip is the biggest factor in how they are getting people to agree to being part of the test. If they only allowed 3 FP+ for testers, hardly anybody would sign up.

Now, that being said what it currently being tested is not what the system will really be. This is a fantasy MB system and alot of people love it, unfortunately for them, when it is fully implemented, it will be quite different.

If you don't want to get to the parks early and don't want to schedule your FP+s well in advance, yes, you are going to hate this new system.

Personally, for the times of year we go and how we tour when we are there, I think it will benefit us a good bit.

THANK YOU! If they limited everyone to only 3FP I think no one would sign up! They have to incentivize their testers! And it's not taking advantage of the system or scamming, when cast members are advising you to do it!

Sent from my rooted Samsung Galaxy SIII using the DISBoards app

 

[AmyB2006]

Read any of the numerous threads about fastpass return times over the last few days.

But honestly, this is still your opinion based off of what you've read on some message boards. It's not fact.

 

[AmyB2006]

THANK YOU! If they limited everyone to only 3FP I think no one would sign up! They have to incentivize their testers! And it's not taking advantage of the system or scamming, when cast members are advising you to do it!

Sent from my rooted Samsung Galaxy SIII using the DISBoards app

But do you think it's giving people a fair view of what FP+ will be like if and/or when they eventually take this ability away?

I do not.

 

[FLchick415]

You need to get on the Uni boards and find some better rates! Looking at your list of WDW resorts, I"m not sure how you aren't able to afford to stay onsite at Uni, because apart from the lowest rates at All Star, I've stayed at Uni for FAR less than I've seen rates at the others on your list. Our rate for RPR this last trip was almost the same as our rate for POR this last trip. (plus parking, of course) And if your username means you life in Florida, make the code FLO your friend. I've seen some amazing rates show up for Florida residents here!

Actually, most of those times I didn't pay. I was fortunate, I guess. For WL, I was a guest of my friend and her parents when they had DVC. My first self-funded trip was to Pop Century in April and that was with a discount.