Why is everyone so upset?

[Jennasis]

Oops, I thought you were saying this thread was now closed. Sorry.

Heaven's no! I don't have that kind of clout! LOL.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Sometimes I think people mistake differing opinions for bashing. It's impossible to convey context and tone in type.

If you have actual experience, and state what your experience was in order to try to reassure people who have no real experience and are speculating about the worst case scenario, they feel it as an "attack" because you are not agreeing with their speculation on the worst case scenario.

I totally loved being able to get a FP+ to TSMM for 5 p.m. when I decided that day to hop to that park, rather than having to get there at RD and run to the FP machines.

 

[Colleen27]

I pay more for less all day everyday. My gas is twice what it was a decade ago and it is only 90% gas. My groceries have the same theme. It should be no surprise that vacations (anywhere) cost more now and you get less. Everybody looks at things from the lens of their own perspective. I just don't see how these changes would cause me to think twice about my trip or negatively impact my experience. However, I'm sure others will have different experiences. Some of it, maybe most of it, is about how we deal with it internally.

But there's no denying that cost increases at WDW have far outpaced the rest of the world. I remember a time, maybe 5 or 6 years ago, when we looked into going to DC as a family and decided against it because the overall budget would be within a couple hundred bucks of Disney. Now? We're going to DC and Chicago (separate trips) this winter for less than our most recent "free dining" trip to Disney cost. We opted not to stay at the Poly on our first trip because the rate was almost $300/nt. That was 2005, and the rate for that same room for the same week in 2014 is over $500/nt (weeknight/weekend). Show me another destination that has increased prices as dramatically over the same number of years...

If you are truly so freaked out over the possibility that you can't get multiple FPs for TSMM or Soarin' or whatever, and it will totally ruin your or your family's vacation, then perhaps you should postpone your trip until more real information is available, not just speculation.

Forget multiples. I just want to ride the headliners once each without waiting in any hour-long standby lines to do so. That's all we got out of the old system most of the time and we were happy with that. But right now the new system can't manage it - I can ride Soarin' OR Test Track using a FP, but I'm stuck in standby for the other.

 

[bcrook]

Agreed! The system was broken for many visitors. That is why it is changing. I, for one, HATED the idea that I HAD to be at rope drop to have a chance at even getting a FP for rides like TSMM. To me, *THAT* is a broken system.

Actually Disney has never said they did this because it was broken. They have been clear. Magicbands to collect data and just using them people spend 15-20% more. Fastpass + will cause people to lock in vacations sooner, buy tickets 60 days in advance instead of waiting to arrival day. That way people have spent there money on Disney tickets before coming to Orlando. Universal and SeaWorld will have to wait. Also, they expect the high demand for fastpass to keep people in their parks, patrons won't want to give them up and try the competitors. They also like the crowd control possibilities.

Those are the reasons given by executives. Marketing hasn't kicked in yet.

If you want to read the stories, they are in my signature link.

 

[AmyB2006]

The thing is, nobody knows what FP+ is going to look like come July or summer months. It could be changed 10 times by then, and probably will be.

 

[Colleen27]

Agreed! The system was broken for many visitors. That is why it is changing. I, for one, HATED the idea that I HAD to be at rope drop to have a chance at even getting a FP for rides like TSMM. To me, *THAT* is a broken system.

But has that really changed? I'm looking at my plans and seeing that I HAVE to be at rope drop if I want to ride both Test Track and Soarin' without waiting hours for one or the other because I can now only use Fastpass for one headliner for my entire Epcot day. And while it is still speculation that the ride-tier aspect will eventually roll out to the other parks, it is speculation based in solid fact - namely, that there just isn't enough FP capacity to allow all guests to use FP for each headliner. The more people added to the system, the more restrictive the choices will need to be.

 

[Jennasis]

The thing is, nobody knows what FP+ is going to look like come July or summer months. It could be changed 10 times by then, and probably will be.

And this is the reason many are concerned. Hard to plan when you have no clue what it's going to be.

 

[mgrayar]

But there's no denying that cost increases at WDW have far outpaced the rest of the world. I remember a time, maybe 5 or 6 years ago, when we looked into going to DC as a family and decided against it because the overall budget would be within a couple hundred bucks of Disney. Now? We're going to DC and Chicago (separate trips) this winter for less than our most recent "free dining" trip to Disney cost. We opted not to stay at the Poly on our first trip because the rate was almost $300/nt. That was 2005, and the rate for that same room for the same week in 2014 is over $500/nt (weeknight/weekend). Show me another destination that has increased prices as dramatically over the same number of years...

I'm not sure how that's relevant. Demand determines price. Disney has experienced much greater demand than most other vacation destinations, thus they have been able to outpace inflation. Prices will continue to go up as long as people keep paying the higher prices. None of that has anything to do with Disney's desire to improve the experience for the majority of its guests. The majority are not RD commandos. I feel confident FP+ was not designed for the typical DISer. We are maybe a bit more "aggressive" in our touring, but those that are not truly get a huge benefit from the new system...and they are the majority.

 

[mikek]

Agreed! The system was broken for many visitors. That is why it is changing. I, for one, HATED the idea that I HAD to be at rope drop to have a chance at even getting a FP for rides like TSMM. To me, *THAT* is a broken system.

i agree that never getting to ride TSMM majorly annoyed me (probably that doesn't describe it well enough but this is a family place- lol). But i dont think that FP- was the problem. The problem (which is the same as epcot with Soarin and test track)- is the lack of "depth" for attractions in the park.

I'm actually more of a fan than not for MB's. I can't wait to see what they do with them.

But FP+ doesn't really add new attractions to the studios and epcot. So it makes it that you CAN ride THE cool ride once. Just masks the problem for a little while longer. But it's not like it instantly makes more "e-ticket" rides.

 

[bcrook]

And this is the reason many are concerned. Hard to plan when you have no clue what it's going to be.

This is truly the reason for those that are concerned. It is a legitimate reason too.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Forget multiples. I just want to ride the headliners once each without waiting in any hour-long standby lines to do so. That's all we got out of the old system most of the time and we were happy with that. But right now the new system can't manage it - I can ride Soarin' OR Test Track using a FP, but I'm stuck in standby for the other.

Yes, this new "tiered" test kind of messes that up. That started during my trip and I was surprised when it showed up all of a sudden. But you can make your FP+ for one of the super headliners, and go to the other one upon arrival or during another slow line time. There are ways to work around it, and you still don't have to criss-cross the park as much.

But I do have to say, I am not thrilled by the tiered system. If any park needed it, it would be the MK mountains.

Oh, sorry, I hope no one is listening...

 

[surferdave]

I'm not sure how that's relevant. Demand determines price. Disney has experienced much greater demand than most other vacation destinations, thus they have been able to outpace inflation. Prices will continue to go up as long as people keep paying the higher prices. None of that has anything to do with Disney's desire to improve the experience for the majority of its guests. The majority are not RD commandos. I feel confident FP+ was not designed for the typical DISer. We are maybe a bit more "aggressive" in our touring, but those that are not truly get a huge benefit from the new system...and they are the majority.

The majority are the same people you see at the big box stores obstinately trying to use the self checkout lanes who can't seem to scan a simple bar code or follow the directions on the screen. Wait until a couple hundred of them are in front of you at the park entrance trying to hold their magic band up to the Mickey Orb correctly.

 

[SRUAlmn]

The thing is, nobody knows what FP+ is going to look like come July or summer months. It could be changed 10 times by then, and probably will be.

This...

I'm actually not angry or upset. Change can be good and I think the Magic Bands are a cool concept. The difficult part is that Disney is telling us we have to plan almost every minute of our trip, but there's no clear, functional way to plan it. We are going in July, so (as it stands now) our FP window would start in May. I really hope they have a lot more ironed out by then!

 

[bcrook]

The majority are the same people you see at the big box stores obstinately trying to use the self checkout lanes who can't seem to scan a simple bar code or follow the directions on the screen. Wait until a couple hundred of them are in front of you at the park entrance trying to hold their magic band up to the Mickey Orb correctly.

Or in the safari fastpass return line!

 

[mgrayar]

The majority are the same people you see at the big box stores obstinately trying to use the self checkout lanes who can't seem to scan a simple bar code or follow the directions on the screen. Wait until a couple hundred of them are in front of you at the park entrance trying to hold their magic band up to the Mickey Orb correctly.

i didn't say I was excited about it, just stating reality.

 

[bcrook]

Yes, this new "tiered" test kind of messes that up. That started during my trip and I was surprised when it showed up all of a sudden. But you can make your FP+ for one of the super headliners, and go to the other one upon arrival or during another slow line time. There are ways to work around it, and you still don't have to criss-cross the park as much.

But I do have to say, I am not thrilled by the tiered system. If any park needed it, it would be the MK mountains.

Oh, sorry, I hope no one is listening...

I believe tiers in all parks has been the plan all along. It was introduced that way. It is a necessity as 75000 a day off site and annual pass holders start booking FP+.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

The thing is, nobody knows what FP+ is going to look like come July or summer months. It could be changed 10 times by then, and probably will be.

Given that they rolled out the "tiered" test to Epcot with no announcement while I was there, I can understand how changes can be of a concern.

But I guess I just don't get why someone would need to plan to that detail now for a trip that won't happen until July. I would wait, then cancel before the penalty if I didn't like what I saw.

 

[Angel Ariel]

But I guess I just don't get why someone would need to plan to that detail now for a trip that won't happen until July. I would wait, then cancel before the penalty if I didn't like what I saw.

If that person would rather go somewhere.else if they.choose not to go to.Disney, they might need more than 45 days notice to plan whatever they might do instead.

 

[bcrook]

Given that they rolled out the "tiered" test to Epcot with no announcement while I was there, I can understand how changes can be of a concern.

But I guess I just don't get why someone would need to plan to that detail now for a trip that won't happen until July. I would wait, then cancel before the penalty if I didn't like what I saw.

A lot of us use condos or DVC those plans need to be made 11 months in advance and canceling later is much more difficult.

It is complicated, and Disney isn't being forthcoming.

 

[Magalex]

I sadly miss the good old days on the DISboards when there was a selection of topics to read instead of every other one about FP +. When this first started happening I posted one concern we will have when traveling with extended family(first timers) in 2015. But for myself, DH and DS we will probably be fine with or without FP+ and the Magic Bands. Other then my initial concern I have stayed away from most of the FP+ discussions concerning the limit of fast passes or the ones trying to understand fast passes for parades( I get headaches from those especially). MY DH and I decided not even mention FP+ or Magic Bands/My Disney Experience Website until the last moment (stepping into the park ) to our extended family even when we all start planning for 2015. It will be safer that way