Why is everyone so upset?

[MABEE]

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.

I totally agree, and I guess this is why I'm not thrilled with it. I am a RD commando. I do the MK like a pro. And now I can't do it as effectively as I did before, and I likely won't be able to do it like that again. So that sort of sucks, and I'm allowed to be a little cheesed about that. For the majority though, this new system probably represents an upgrade. My best friend's family went during the holiday break last year and didn't plan anything. (!!!) For her, this new system would be great. No shock, Disney isn't planning around a small percentage of super users-- I just hope they find a way to better accommodate the commandos when they tweak this system.

 

[doctornick]

I'm going in 32 days and going to have the same mentality. I think what will annoy me the most, and what I'm most stressed out about is not being able to get into my room, or the park. I've read so many horror stories about people having to go back and forth for hours to try to get into their rooms, and constantly having to wait over an hour in line at Guest Services every time they go to a park because their MB will not allow them to get into the park. I can roll with the punches for everything else, BUT that.

Serious question... Isn't that why they have been giving people the KTTW card as a backup? Could a person whose MB isn't working just use the KTTW card instead to get into the park or get into their room, etc?

I'm just wondering. If that were the case, you could deal with the MB issue at a later time when the GR line is shorter or you have some downtime. Doesn't make it perfect, but less disruptive than a "I have to get this fixed now" scenario.

 

[surferdave]

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 +.

I noticed that there's a great feel good thread about the Disney Marathon out there that should cheer everyone who's Fastpass+ weary right up.

 

[princesslover]

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.

I didn't mean to imply that was Disney's purpose; I was just saying that the old system wasn't as great (to me) as others think. The other reasons you listed all make perfect sense also.

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.

I was fortunate in that I reserved both before the change. In the past though, I've done FP for one and standby for the other and have been fine. It's hard to tell what the standby lines will be like when FP+ is fully implemented - whether they will be shorter or longer. It will be interesting to see.

ETA: I am not necessarily defending the tiering, but I can see why they are trying it out.

 

[princesslover]

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.

There is absolutely no question that the studios and epcot have other issues. But for now, I think this helps. If someone is spending $$$ on a vacation, they should get to ride each attraction at least once.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I'd LOVE to slow down and enjoy Disney like we used to but they force me to plan 6 months in advance what park to go to, what i want to eat, and when. If I don't i can't enjoy a sit down meal anymore. I'm OK with waiting- but frequently now you get told "sorry no walk ups today". If you get lucky and they are taking walk ups it can be a 2 hour wait becasue so many others have booked their reservations 6 months in advance.

Seems now they are blowing up the rides in the same manner that I'll have to plan 60 days in advance what i want to ride and when.

What's next? I have to make FP for counter service? For using the men's rooms? Reserving a slot on the monorail, ferry, or bus?

Basiclly Disney has decided they dont want us to just relax and explore but rather they want us to plan out every minute of our stays so they can maximize their take from my wallet.

I dont mind people having those options. There are plenty that like planning way out in advance and more power to them, but i wish there was some hold back for those of us who just want to go with the flow.

Disney isn't forcing anyone to do anything they don't want to do...imo. I do agree that things like FP or ADRs should be available for everyone. It use to be that way.

BTW...no one is being "bashed" for a difference of opinion here. It's called a discussion and I would hope if it got ugly it would be locked.

ETA...our past trip in Oct. to MK ...the rides we went on were walk on. At Epcot we went for F&W and only did Maelstrom ....a tradition for us. 5 min. wait. We didn't use any FP + or - and no problem with our magicbands.

 

[AmyB2006]

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

And I totally get that. And if this is enough to make someone cancel their trip, then I hope one day they decide to come back.

 

[AmyB2006]

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.

I am a DVC member and as long as you cancel 31 days out or more your points don't go into holding. So I don't know that being DVC necessarily makes it more difficult to cancel.

 

[AmyB2006]

I noticed that there's a great feel good thread about the Disney Marathon out there that should cheer everyone who's Fastpass+ weary right up.

Omg so so funny.

 

[doctornick]

I am a DVC member and as long as you cancel 31 days out or more your points don't go into holding. So I don't know that being DVC necessarily makes it more difficult to cancel.

Cancel? No. But you'd have to use the points for something else (or bank them, but they might be banked points to begin with) and other options might be more limited, especially later in the use year when you have less time to plan for something.

 

[AmyB2006]

Cancel? No. But you'd have to use the points for something else (or bank them, but they might be banked points to begin with) and other options might be more limited, especially later in the use year when you have less time to plan for something.

True true.

 

[mikek]

I am a DVC member and as long as you cancel 31 days out or more your points don't go into holding. So I don't know that being DVC necessarily makes it more difficult to cancel.

really?

I'm not one complaining but i see their beef-

you can cancel all day long at 32 days but that doesn't mean you can then use those points in that use year, and it might be too late to bank. Or perhaps you borrowed those points from the following year so you can't bank them forward. Or maybe they were banked from a previous year so you have limited time to use them?

it's not always so simple.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Perhaps Disney should start selling "Fastpass+ Trip Insurance -- For When You Give Up"

 

[AmyB2006]

really? I'm not one complaining but i see their beef- you can cancel all day long at 32 days but that doesn't mean you can then use those points in that use year, and it might be too late to bank. Or perhaps you borrowed those points from the following year so you can't bank them forward. Or maybe they were banked from a previous year so you have limited time to use them? it's not always so simple.

Wow. Slow down killer. I didn't say it was " so simple". I just said it's not that much harder IMO than canceling a regular reservation.

I wasn't even thinking about banked vs borrowed and what use year and what not when I said that which somebody else already called me out on and I agreed. So maybe it is harder.

But chances are if you're a DVC member you're a diehard Disney lover anyway and won't be upset over a few FP changes. Just a guest though.

 

[AmyB2006]

X

 

[OurDogCisco]

I am a DVC member and as long as you cancel 31 days out or more your points don't go into holding. So I don't know that being DVC necessarily makes it more difficult to cancel.

But also depends on your use year. Our use year is December. So, I can't really cancel my trip now as I'd only have until the 30th to reuse my points as I would have missed the banking deadline. Also, I can't cancel airfare. That is a lot more complicated. I could manage my trip better if I actually lived on the East coast but I don't. It would take about 4 days for me to drive to WDW.

 

[TomD]

I have been going to Disney at least every other year since it opened. I remember my Dad yelling he is not buying anymore books till we use all the tickets. Now we are DVC members with a trip booked for April and July. Whatever happens ...happens. We booked at the 11 month mark. Make our dining reservations at that mark and now it looks like we have to pick our fast passes at another mark. If it turns into a major cluster we will still stay at Disney and visit other parts of Florida and other parks down there. I always wanted to hit Universal,Kennedy Space Center, and some other places. Not going to stress out over waiting in a line .. I have enough stress in every day life. A bad day on vacation still beats a great day in the office.

 

[mefordis]

Well, to be fair, you loved it during one of the least crowded weeks of the entire year. Many of the people who are "over reacting" are concerned because they are travelling during much more crowded times (like during the holiday breaks) and these new changes are representing a step down for them in terms of fast pass availability during those high volume periods. I think it is perfectly fair for people to have a negative response to that, and to come to a venue like disboards to strategize about how best to work within this new system. I personally don't understand the negative reaction to people just expressing a natural frustration with these changes, and looking for solutions to their touring dilemmas. It's as if no one belongs here unless they love everything about Disney all of the time.

I just got back and it was not crowded at all, like you said. However, unlike Stinky Pete, I was not able to change my FP+ to whatever I wanted. I tried to change TSM a few days prior from 5:45pm to an earlier time and there were no times available - 4 days before my visit to DHS! Kept trying to change but nothing was available. Even asked a CM to look for me and nothing. Soarin' was all taken the day before, too. Overall I was able to double dip and ride a lot of headliners but Soarin and TSM were long waits without FP+.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I just got back and it was not crowded at all, like you said. However, unlike Stinky Pete, I was not able to change my FP+ to whatever I wanted. I tried to change TSM a few days prior from 5:45pm to an earlier time and there were no times available - 4 days before my visit to DHS! Kept trying to change but nothing was available. Even asked a CM to look for me and nothing. Soarin' was all taken the day before, too. Overall I was able to double dip and ride a lot of headliners but Soarin and TSM were long waits without FP+.

Did you try to make changes the day of? Like I said, I have been told there are some that are held back until the day of. And I couldn't book what I wanted even the day before...much less four days before. But the day of - BAM I could all of a sudden book them.

 

[maxaroni]

I guess I am in the minority but DH and I went to WDW last year and had the time of our lives. Reading about the changes simply would not affect how we travel. We've never done rope drop and have gone in August in the past, last year being September. Our vacations are do what we can, relax and have fun...no matter where it is. If WDW was stressful in planning or having to do it all , well perhaps that isn't the vacation for us. If we miss an attraction then so be it. We went on TSM last year twice...our goal was once but had it not worked out oh well. I refuse to let any vacation of mine be so stressful and angst ridden in planning. It is vacation....I am out to have a good time. For what it costs to go to WDW for us and we felt it was becoming too much, I will take those dollars elsewhere.

I understand that the dis has many loyal, diehard fans and I have learned a lot and gotten some good ideas from others. However, we work hard for those vacation dollars and when we think we want WDW in our list of possibilities for that years vacation...if we aren't happy with what it may be like then our choice is to not go, or go and do our own thing and, hopefully, it will still work out. I am hedging to guess it will as it's not something worth my time to get upset about. There are always choices to be made.