Why did they cancel my fastpass?

[wisblue]

Well, it is locked in on the guest's part. From Disney's side? Not so much.

Yep. That.

Now this discussion is really becoming absurd.

Unless you're saying that, once I make a FP reservation I am locked into that and am subject to penalty if I decide to change to another ride or time, or go to a different park.

 

[cakebaker]

Residency becomes relevant when you attempt to trivialize the loss of a FP reservation. For someone who can return to the park at any time, the loss of a FP+ may be trivial. But for someone like me who spends $5,000 on a WDW trip it's not. I expect my FP+ reservations to be locked in, unless there is some sort of ride malfunction. I don't expect every ride to be up and running when I visit the parks, but I do expect FP+ rides that are scheduled for maintenance to be removed from the FP+ pool prior to the 60 day window. I don't think this is an outrageous expectation.

So you would have preferred that Disney just not announce the down time at all? Just shut it down one morning and you find out while you're there? They didn't have to let anyone know a day in advance, let alone 45. They could just shut it down, we'd all think there was some major malfunction and that would be that.

Residency has nothing to with it. Grown ups ought to be able to deal with not getting on a ride they've ridden many times and will get to ride again in the future. I don't care where you live or how much you spend on vacation. Unless you've never been to WDW and never plan to return, this rises to the level of an annoyance at best.

 

[Cormoran]

I don't know. I'm not a ride maintenance expert. I could make wild guesses, but I don't see the point since I really don't know and neither do you. The question is, do you adopt the most negative possible reason why they don't wait or do you choose to believe you don't have a clue why they did it, but that it's probably because it was the best option available to them that impacted the fewest guests.

The worst that has happened here, is that people who will be there while the ride is down, won't get to ride it. That's going to happen whenever they choose to close it. Availability is still there 45 days out for almost everything. So really, the only ones who can claim more of a loss than just not getting to ride that ride are ones who for some reason would prefer it over SDMT and didn't schedule SDMT at all- and even that is available right - but may have some difficulty with exact times. I'm guessing not too many people who want to ride SDMT don't a FP+ for it ahead of time.

It is not a massive problem- an extra fp+ is probably all that's called for to make up for it. And I've already said they should've done that upfront.

If the the ride maintenance could not wait for 70 days, are they endangering guests by delaying the maintenance now? If the answer is no, than why didn't they think about their guests first and delay the maintenance for 70 days? No it's not a massive disappointment, but t is another example of Disney's rapidly eroding customer service. It's great that you can view these minor problems on a case by case basis, but I'm looking at the overall picture. All of these minor customer slights: FP+ booking window opening daily based on when the MK closes, FP+ disappearance/switcheroo, the glitchy website all add up to poor customer service. That's what I find disappointing.

 

[JimmyV]

Residency is irrelevant. Bringing it up is fallacious at best.

Guest #1 is from the East Coast and has been to DL before, but want to go back now to see CarsLand. Guest books a two day visit to DL/CA. Guest plans 60 days in advance which park they are going to go to on which day. Now assume that DL/CA employ the FP+ system. Guest gets FP for RSR on Tuesday and plans to go to DL on Wednesday. Guest has been to DL before and figures that they won't spend the whole day and night there. 20 days before arrival, Guest's FP for RSR is cancelled. Ride will be down all day Tuesday. Guest goes back on line and finds no spots open for RSR on Wednesday. Guest can switch their days around and go to CA on Wednesday and ride standby, but Guest booked a character breakfast for Wednesday morning. Guest can cancel the breakfast and try for RD or Guest can arrive at CA after RD and wait in a 2 hour line.

Guest #2 lives in Anaheim and has an annual pass.

And this is irrelevant to you?

 

[cakebaker]

Guest #1 is from the East Coast and has been to DL before, but want to go back now to see CarsLand. Guest books a two day visit to DL/CA. Guest plans 60 days in advance which park they are going to go to on which day. Now assume that DL/CA employ the FP+ system. Guest gets FP for RSR on Tuesday and plans to go to DL on Wednesday. Guest has been to DL before and figures that they won't spend the whole day and night there. 20 days before arrival, Guest's FP for RSR is cancelled. Ride will be down all day Tuesday. Guest goes back on line and finds no spots open for RSR on Wednesday. Guest can switch their days around and go to CA on Wednesday and ride standby, but Guest booked a character breakfast for Wednesday morning. Guest can cancel the breakfast and try for RD or Guest can arrive at CA after RD and wait in a 2 hour line.

Guest #2 lives in Anaheim and has an annual pass.

And this is irrelevant to you?

Simply because you live closer does not mean you can't objectively see the issue here. I believe this poster has been on the non-local side of the fence for many years. Her opinion is no less valid than anyone else's. It's certainly as valid as those of us who aren't even affected at all by the shut down.

 

[Cormoran]

I like the way you selectively omit the post I was originally replying to:

So mich for the "lock it in" idea. Remember that campaign early on with FP+ LOL?

Here is my response in the correct unedited context:

Well, it is locked in on the guest's part. From Disney's side? Not so much.

Now this discussion is really becoming absurd.

Unless you're saying that, once I make a FP reservation I am locked into that and am subject to penalty if I decide to change to another ride or time, or go to a different park.

 

[BSmithington]

As long as Disney is continuing to maximize shareholder value they will do whatever they please. I think everyone needs to remember that the sole purpose of the Walt Disney Company is maximize shareholder value. Unless your cancellation has any effect on stock price your concerns are trivial.

 

[mom2rtk]

Simply because you live closer does not mean you can't objectively see the issue here. I believe this poster has been on the non-local side of the fence for many years. Her opinion is no less valid than anyone else's. It's certainly as valid as those of us who aren't even affected at all by the shut down.

You mean sort of the way someone who doesn't have a trip planned for those dates can see the issue?

 

[cakebaker]

If the the ride maintenance could not wait for 70 days, are they endangering guests by delaying the maintenance now? If the answer is no, than why didn't they think about their guests first and delay the maintenance for 70 days?

I think I can safely guess that they are not choosing to endanger guests. There are other reasons besides safety that limit when you can or cannot do whatever it is they need to do. Crowd levels may have a great deal to do with. Perhaps this is the least crowded time that it can be done to impact as few as possible.

Again, we don't know. So, you can choose to believe they did it because they just felt like it and don't care, or you can choose to believe they did it because it was needed and impacted as few people as possible. Your choice.

 

[JimmyV]

Simply because you live closer does not mean you can't objectively see the issue here. I believe this poster has been on the non-local side of the fence for many years. Her opinion is no less valid than anyone else's. It's certainly as valid as those of us who aren't even affected at all by the shut down.

Show me the post(s) where anyone said that her opinion was not "valid". This is about perspective. And the very definition of "perspective" derives from one's point of view. A local's point of view is necessarily different. They can still have an opinion. And their opinion is still valid. I have an opinion on immigration reform. My opinion is valid. But I don't live in Arizona. So my perspective is different from the people who live there.

 

[cakebaker]

You mean sort of the way someone who doesn't have a trip planned for those dates can see the issue?

On ride closures? Yes. It does lend some validity if you've actually experienced the horrors of not being able to get on a particular ride you were looking forward to. On how the entire system works for you overall, to the point that you can give advice to others based on personal experience, no.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The bottom line is that WDW is expecting you to commit to your schedule (which parks, which ADRs, which rides) 60 days out. You should be able to expect them to do the same.

Except that things have always been subject to change. Moving an EPCOT date right now for a specific performer performing at F/G. It would be naive to presume that just because I "locked in my plans" that any contractual arrangement is implied.

 

[Cormoran]

So you would have preferred that Disney just not announce the down time at all? Just shut it down one morning and you find out while you're there? They didn't have to let anyone know a day in advance, let alone 45. They could just shut it down, we'd all think there was some major malfunction and that would be that.

Residency has nothing to with it. Grown ups ought to be able to deal with not getting on a ride they've ridden many times and will get to ride again in the future. I don't care where you live or how much you spend on vacation. Unless you've never been to WDW and never plan to return, this rises to the level of an annoyance at best.

I don't even know why you mention this. I have said what would've been preferable:
1. Shutting down the ride immediatley if maintenance must be performed immediatelty.
2. Or delaying the maintenance so it doesn't interfere with guest who have already booked their FP's.

Not that hard to understand.

 

[Cormoran]

On ride closures? Yes. It does lend some validity if you've actually experienced the horrors of not being able to get on a particular ride you were looking forward to. On how the entire system works for you overall, to the point that you can give advice to others based on personal experience, no.

I don't think anyone has used this terminology when they are talking about the FP+ switcheroo.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't think anyone has used this terminology when they are talking about the FP+ switcheroo.

Lots of hyperbole this morning.

 

[BSmithington]

I don't even know why you mention this. I have said what would've been preferable:
1. Shutting down the ride immediatley if maintenance must be performed immediatelty.
2. Or delaying the maintenance so it doesn't interfere with guest who have already booked their FP's.

Not that hard to understand.

Could be a number of reasons. It could be a capital project that needs to be completed within the quarter. It could be maintenance associated with bond proceeds that needs to occur during a certain time. Again this does not move the stock price so why is it an issue.

 

[Cormoran]

Except that things have always been subject to change. Moving an EPCOT date right now for a specific performer performing at F/G. It would be naive to presume that just because I "locked in my plans" that any contractual arrangement is implied.

This was avoidable, if it doesn't need to be performed now, the SM closure could've been delayed.

 

[sharona]

I've been following this thread with great interest as we are planning a 1 day only visit to MK on 4/24 and Space is #2 on our must do list. DD was too young last time and it was closed for refurb on our trip to DL. I was assuming I would use one of our FP+s for Space (and 7DMT and BTMRR) and we would hit Fantasy Land at rope drop. I'm sure that a Space FP for 4/24 will be impossible to come by now, if it's even open that day. I guess we'll be heading right to Space at RD if it is.

 

[wisblue]

I like the way you selectively omit the post I was originally replying to:

Here is my response in the correct unedited context:

The original "lock it in" comment is just part of the absurdity. I suppose I could have included that one too.

I guess it comes down to focusing on the .1% of the times in which something doesn't work as intended instead of the 99.9% that it does.

And saying that guests are locked in is completely absurd, because they can change those plans whenever they want without penalty, except for things like the the one day ADR penalty.

 

[mom2rtk]

I've been following this thread with great interest as we are planning a 1 day only visit to MK on 4/24 and Space is #2 on our must do list. DD was too young last time and it was closed for refurb on our trip to DL. I was assuming I would use one of our FP+s for Space (and 7DMT and BTMRR) and we would hit Fantasy Land at rope drop. I'm sure that a Space FP for 4/24 will be impossible to come by now, if it's even open that day. I guess we'll be heading right to Space at RD if it is.

I hope you get to ride it. Sounds like it's been a long time coming.