Who else is glad they do NOT have a trip planned right now?

[Sammie]

We were Disney guinea pigs and loved every squealing moment of it.

Love the bands, loved MDE, loved Fastpass+, loved all of it.

And honestly at this point, anyone that stays home due to not being willing to adjust, well, so be it.

More room for all us......... you know guinea pigs,

 

[CanadianPaco]

I am thrilled to be planning a trip!! It has been awesome!!! Lots to learn and I am all for the experience! I don't shy away from a challenge!

 

[Planogirl]

I pushed hard to go this past December and I'm so glad that I did! We got to enjoy the type of trip that we're used to one more time.

I think that we'll be taking a break for a while. I have my eyes set on other places, at least for now.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

It really is that simple. I think this is where half of the ******* between FP+ enthusiasts and FP+ skeptics came from.

To a certain extent, they just wanted different things, they had different expectations and levels of tolerance for value for money.

For many of the FP+ supporters, they would say things like: its going to be great to get my FP+ reservations in the afternoon without having to go to the park in the morning. And they were genuinely happy about this ... cool.

Other people would argue that this wont impede their touring style, they would still get to ride like crazy at Rope drop, and then use their FPs when crowds were heavier ... or as a lot of people noted when they went at low crowds there would be little difference. Ok Fair.

FP+ Skeptics would point out that they are going to be absolutely limited to 3FPs a day, and that is just not enough for them. And they are genuinely unhappy about this ...

They would point out that even at Rope drop FPs are useful, and that they could get in MORE rides at RD with FP- and still pull FPs for the afternoon with FP- ... also fair ... but these people are probably also talking about touring in mid to low season as well, where you CAN pull FP- for headliners throughout the day. So its pretty easy to see why someone touring in peak season might not agree with this....

I think perhaps the BEST example of this was the person who, for a time, was advocating FP+ because, while they recognized this would limit the number of rides they would ride, they said they were looking forward to standing in lines with their family for ... literally ... a couple hours at a time, because it would be great to "spend time with their family" ... to which I jokingly (but seriously) offered to rent out my house for $2000/week, they wouldn't have to ride ANY rides and could just "spend time with their family" all day every day

But really, that's what this person wants to do for a couple grand a week, great, some people are honestly ok with whatever the do at Disney, so long as they are at Disney, and nothing is going to make them think differently. Many of us aren't ok with that, we want to ride rides, that's totally ok too, and there are some people who have pointed out how FP+ will actually allow them to ride more, because of their touring style. (this then gets people all riled up about the "fairness" of RD vs FP+ prebooking and whether RD with unlimited FP is better than non-RD but with guaranteed FPs) all of this is perfectly ok.

For the record I think the other half of the division is in the IMPACT and final product of FP+ vs FP- ... this complicates things. Those who point to RD get countered by those who worry that FP+ will diminish the RD advantage, or those who talk about how great it will be to book their afternoon FP+ get countered by those who argue afternoon/evening FPs will be gone, potentially, at Day 60 .... I am sure there are some in these debates who are negative about any type of change, the known is better than the unknown, but there are just as many (perhaps more, since this is after all a Disney fan site) people who just refuse to admit that anything Disney does might turn out poorly...

And then there are people in both camps who argue, even if this will be ok or not .... DISNEY NEEDS TO BUILD MORE .... and this probably would have improved the guest experience much more than spending all this $$$ on FP+ ...

Well said Shaden. To me it's kind of like having an old friend. You've had lots of experiences together and good memories. Then all of a sudden your friend changes. You miss your old friend and want her/him back. I might be the only one that feels this way, but when I hear FP+ lovers state things like stay home more room for us, I think it's rude. All us "haters" (well at least me) want is some empathy. I know, I know....wrong place for that. I truly am happy for folks that loved their experience and can't wait to go back. Just wish it didn't take from my experience.

 

[Texas Barbie]

I had my September bucket list trip all planned, and decided......

that I just couldn't wait that long. Have now planned a late April/early May trip staying at POR. I will use the new system to our best advantage and make judgements after that. No naysayers will ruin our good time. If it works, great, if it doesn't, we will learn about adjustments to make for our next trip.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

Smart move to hold out on the trip. I was lucky enough to be in the very last week of multiple dipping which I gladly took part in. I will now be booking all trips to non-amusement parks, universal or disneyland until things improve at the world.

 

[surferdave]

I wouldn't say that I'm glad I'm not going to WDW any time soon, but I'm certainly glad I don't have to plan a WDW trip any time soon. My personal Disney Experience (even though my trip was earlier in the process before the system was stressed by load and before unpopular & limiting changes were made) was that the new system sucked the fun out of planning a trip, made the trip itself more rigid and stressful than I liked, and that the need to stay connected all day and watch our agenda took me right out of whatever marvelous immersive theme I was in the midst of that is WDW's great advantage over their competition. I'll be happy to return, but how big a part of my vacation WDW plays in the future depends on how this ponderous mess works out.

 

[btk2333]

I had my September bucket list trip all planned, and decided......

that I just couldn't wait that long. Have now planned a late April/early May trip staying at POR. I will use the new system to our best advantage and make judgements after that. No naysayers will ruin our good time. If it works, great, if it doesn't, we will learn about adjustments to make for our next trip.

+1 dont let the naysayers get you down!

 

[jk and ek]

we leave in 24 days and i am very excited but also feeling a little put out because it feels like EVERYTHING bad is going on during our trip...

-messed up monorail service
-the big stupid crane
-no MK parade
-ride refurbs/closures
-FP+ issues and no park hopper FP+ options
-no 7 dwarves ride yet

we have already decided that our next disney related trip will be to disneyland. one of us has only been once 17 years ago and the other has never been ever.

 

[mom2rtk]

we leave in 24 days and i am very excited but also feeling a little put out because it feels like EVERYTHING bad is going on during our trip...

-messed up monorail service
-the big stupid crane
-no MK parade
-ride refurbs/closures
-FP+ issues and no park hopper FP+ options
-no 7 dwarves ride yet

we have already decided that our next disney related trip will be to disneyland. one of us has only been once 17 years ago and the other has never been ever.

If it makes you feel any better, people heading to DLR this spring are experiencing their own disappointments. I'd tell you all the rides going down for refurb, but it changes daily and it's more than I want to type!

 

[Damien2213]

For those of you sweating FP+ you should only be concerned with any FP if it is going to be crowded during your trip. I have hardly ever used a FP other than when it was busy. TSM was the only attraction I bothered to get a FP for in Feb of 2010. Only wait time over 20 minutes in any park because it almost seemed all of Disney went straight there first thing in the morning for whatever reason. So if you are there in the low crowd times don't waste your time stressing. You won't need them and why Disney uses them during these periods is beyond me. They aren't necessary unless there is a new popular attraction.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

No, not bothering me at all. We will be there next week and looking forward to it.

We'll be there too (arriving Wednesday) - call me a Happy Guinea Pig

 

[mom2rtk]

For those of you sweating FP+ you should only be concerned with any FP if it is going to be crowded during your trip. I have hardly ever used a FP other than when it was busy. TSM was the only attraction I bothered to get a FP for in Feb of 2010. Only wait time over 20 minutes in any park because it almost seemed all of Disney went straight there first thing in the morning for whatever reason. So if you are there in the low crowd times don't waste your time stressing. You won't need them and why Disney uses them during these periods is beyond me. They aren't necessary unless there is a new popular attraction.

That's easier said than done. Disney works very hard to make the low crowd times busier every year. If you are visiting Disney this week..... or the week after Labor Day..... I'd say you're right. But so many other times that used to be "low crowd" really are not that any more. We have been there in September, October, November, December and January. And while we have been lucky enough to experience some low crowd days....... they are usually interspersed with moderate days that require FPs to navigate the potentially hour long headliner ride waits.

 

[Donut23]

No your analogy would only work if they took a dish you liked and replaced it with something else, and you refused to try the new dish.

It is only a big deal because those who are certain they won't like FP+ are making it a huge deal. If you don't want to even try it, then more room in the parks for me. But the phrase cutting off your nose to spite your face comes to mind, when you refuse to take a trip because of something you haven't tried, but have made up your mind ahead of time to dislike. You are only hurting yourself.

The wicked cool thing about being human? Being self aware.

Not so magic bands and their restrictions on OUR PREFERRED TOURING PLANS are not compatable. I'm just happy we are smart enought to recognize it before suffering through any examples. I don't have to try it. I know. DH and I are just smart that way.

Besides, there is a big wide fascinating world to explore out there. Far less rigid, far more flexible and far less expensive....and we are comparing to CASTMEMBER prices with gold passes.

We enjoy our freedom far too much. Want a little Disney, I'll take DL anyway. Parks are in FAR better shape! We still LOVE Disney. We will just do our lovin' in DL.

You think Uncle Bobbie came up with these Not So Magic Bands primarily for the guest experience? Oooooooooooi got a bridge..............



And all along I have this mental image if the Comcast Grownups reading the Disboards bent in half in uncontrollable laughter counting to $1.2 BILLION on their fingers.

 

[mommytocalliesue]

Nope!! Went beginning of December....heading back in June! I loved FP+! No running around...and knowing I get to ride the rides I want!! Can't wait!

 

[kimbo0569]

We were "guinea pigs" for Magic Bands back in October and we were very happy to be. We had our FP+ and I think we only used 1-2 paper passes. Everything was pretty seemless for us and we will be more than happy to use them again. My dh even was impressed with the fact that he didn't have to keep pulling his KTTW card out of his wallet each time he wanted to do something (FP, snack/meal credit, etc). The bands worked great for us!

I wish I had a trip in the works right now. Hoping for June or August of this year but we'll see. Hoping to visit family in Cali as well this summer so maybe we'll wind up in DL.

 

[BroganMc]

I'm glad we don't have a Spring trip planned.

Usually we go for a couple weeks in March/April/May and another couple in Sep/Oct and a short trip for NYE. Our last Sep/Oct was fraught with changes and put a damper on our love for WDW. NYE worked flawlessly and made us sad we hadn't booked Spring, but we'll be back for Sep/Oct and NYE. That gives WDW 9 months to work out the kinks (and learn their mistakes).

I'm really hoping the FP+ tiering, 3 FP+ limits and non-park hopping limit goes away. But it'll take a busy Spring/Summer for Management to figure out what works and what doesn't. We were early testers for them. They can use other guinea pigs to go through the worst of it.

I've recommended to many others to skip Disney this Spring/Summer. Unfortunately WDW Management needs to see a sizable drop in attendance before they realize Rome is burning. Time will tell if Universal and Seaworld manages to draw the crowd away.

 

[Magpie]

Amen! Or even new rides at existing parks.

You mean like Avatarland?

The Seven Dwarves Mine Ride?

New Fantasyland?

But wait, everyone hates those, even the ones that haven't been built yet!

It doesn't matter what Disney does, people are going to hate it. Very loudly and vocally. I'm rather glad Disney doesn't listen (well, switching tracks from the Fairy Forest to New Fantasyland was probably a good call). Fan rage has killed projects I've been looking forward to before (thinking of the Wonder Woman TV series here, or JJ Abrams deciding he's not going to do any Star Trek movies).

I'm pleased to see the attendance figures at Disney continue to increase.

 

[Sammie]

You mean like Avatarland?

The Seven Dwarves Mine Ride?

New Fantasyland?

But wait, everyone hates those, even the ones that haven't been built yet!

It doesn't matter what Disney does, people are going to hate it. Very loudly and vocally. I'm rather glad Disney doesn't listen (well, switching tracks from the Fairy Forest to New Fantasyland was probably a good call). Fan rage has killed projects I've been looking forward to before (thinking of the Wonder Woman TV series here, or JJ Abrams deciding he's not going to do any Star Trek movies).

I'm pleased to see the attendance figures at Disney continue to increase.

Actually Disney very much "does" listen. Guest feedback about the dislike of the old Fastpass system was a major reason for change.

You just have to remember Disney has millions of guests and only a very small percentage are represented here. And even of the ones represented many DISers are pleased with the changes, they are just tired of commenting about it unlike the ones not pleased, who seem to want to dwell on it daily.

 

[kathy884]

We just switched to Disneyland. We are trading a short flight for a longer one to the West Coast. We are fans if DL so it was not a tough choice at all.

We decided to do an LA/Disneyland vacation too. We're doing a spring break trip. For some reason I couldn't get excited about Orlando (on or offsite) during that timeframe. Have been to Orlando 35 times since 1971, but the only time I was at Disneyland was in 1965 when I was five, so I'm pretty excited about checking it out.

Do note though we did do a little mini weekend their in October during testing, stayed offsite, and had no problem at all at the Magic Kingdom (We did go during the day, though, on a party day for lower crowds.)