indigoxtreme
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2005
Also it is Spring Break month So lines are longer
As TDC Nala pointed out earlier, if the CMs are actually holding back the SB line waiting for FP people to saunter in from the sidewalk giving them clear passage with no SB people in their way as if they were the Royal Family, then the SB line isn't moving and to those people it is longer.
If borne out, how hard is the fix? Training?
If borne out, how hard is the fix? Training?
The only experience with FP+ that I am concerned about is my families. One of the concerns I have is the pre-selecting it takes. One of the reasons we stopped doing the dining plan was because we didn't like having to set our reservations in advance because that pretty much locked us into a park on certain days. Now, don't get me wrong, I am a planner and I do plan ahead, but I also want to have some fexibility. We chose to do less sit down meals so that we could keep the flexibility.
Now, to get a fast pass, I am going to have to go back to selecting in advance and I am going to be locked into a park again if I want the fast pass. I am not holding on to the notion that I will be able to switch the day of once this is in full swing. What makes it worse is, we are park hoppers and we can't select for different parks for the same day.
I am willing to give it a try to see how it works. But, I can tell you, that if it lessens my family's enjoyment, I will let them know why we aren't coming back. I don't pay for anyone elses vacation so I don't give a mouses behind how the system benefits anyone but me.
Before this system, we were able to do everything we wanted without waiting in long lines. We are not commando people and we fully expect to wait in lines when we go. But, if line waits for things like POTC and HM increase, it may be a deal breaker for us.
my travel agent who books many WDW trips and has done so for years, told me that new first time visitors are liking MBs and pre-booking FP+s, the complaining is coming from experienced long time returning WDW visitors who are having to change or adapt their usual planning and expectations.
my travel agent who books many WDW trips and has done so for years, told me that new first time visitors are liking MBs and pre-booking FP+s, the complaining is coming from experienced long time returning WDW visitors who are having to change or adapt their usual planning and expectations.
So the next question is, we know the commandos are flipping mad. How is the overall satisfaction of the casual vacationer who never used FP?
So the next question is, we know the commandos are flipping mad. How is the overall satisfaction of the casual vacationer who never used FP?
Well if they've never used FP and now they are getting 3 FP's they must think this new system is great. I mean what's not to love? But as I've said before, it's really the perception that it's great. If these same people used FP before FP+ then maybe they wouldn't think it was so great now.
I totally agree with this.
It makes choosing the correct park for each day of the vacation extremely important. This is why I have been very closely following Crowd Calendars and Predictions... if a guest picks the wrong park, they are pretty much stuck because chances are they won't be able to change their FP+ choices the same day.
I know reports have been that a guest is able to change their FP+ selections the day of but, that was before off site guests were able to also reserve their choices in advance.. I think we will see the end of being able to change on the fly even in the slower times.
Something just dawned on me... I have noticed that some of the most recommended parks have been off a little recently. I keep hearing how the vast majority of park guests never use these sites but, is that really true? I am sure it was true in the past but, think about it.. now that everyone is making FP+ selections at least a month in advance it is probably leading to way more planning and research in advance from people who probably never even thought about checking these websites before. Now, they have to figure out what park to go to on what day.. so now they are going to Easywdw or Touring Plans because these are the sites most people hear about when they are planning their WDW vacations.
I do wonder if more people are using these sites now and going to the recommended parks, which in turn could actually make a most recommended park be busier than it normally would?
Even if it is only an increase of 10% of guests now using these sites to figure out which park to make their FP+ selections at that never used these sites before, that number could be enough to tip the scales on the most recommended park. I keep having people tell me this is impossible and wrong but, I don't know... I think it makes sense.
I mean for the longest time going to WDW in early December was considered the sweet spot.. the perfect time to go. Then the secret got out and crowds have been increasing every year at that time to the point where now it is no longer considered the best time to go... September and Late January are starting to go down that path of busier and busier every year as it seems every website for WDW planning tells us these are the best times of the year to take a WDW vacation.
These planning sites work because the vast majority isn't in on the secret but, now Disney has made it so more and more people have to plan out their vacations months in advance, to me that spells more people taking the advice of a WDW planning site and it also means these sites become less valuable as more people are in on the secrets.
I know I will have people tell me how wrong I am.. and who knows I maybe way off but, things are changing because of FP+ and things that were true in the past are not true anymore.
I could very much see this being the case.
To someone who knows nothing different, the system sounds great I would imagine.
The question is, who is responsible for a more significant amount of Disney revenue ? Who is most easily replaced ?
I would think the repeat loyal guests spend more than their numerical proportion of money at wdw, if only because they are repeat guests. Much harder to replace than first time or once in a lifetimers.
I do note that many people are now reporting that CMs are shouting "One Mickey touch per group" whereas when I was there, every person had to get past the Green Gate Keeper, so that probably had something to do with it.
This is easy to answer. The answer is:
The people who don't know how to plan for the cheapest rates. The people who buy a ton of souvenirs because they don't know if they'll ever be back again. The people who do not buy food and eat it in their room for breakfast. The people who don't know which restaurants are not worth the money.
The casual visitors spend more per day than the frequently returning visitors.
If this is true, we're all screwed. People will stop booking the entire party, and instead, they'll book 1 person into each ride they want, and use that person as the "scanner" to get the others in via FP "for free". In other words, a 4 person party could reserve 12 different FP+ rides/times (3 each person), and piggyback on each other's bands. It would take a little planning but it would be very easily done. You wanna ride Soarin 4 times with FP+? Easy, all 4 of you simply book your own Soarin FP+ at different times and take the others in with you.
Disney-sanctioned exploits, that's the last thing FP+ needs. But if it's really happening it explains some things.
If this is true, we're all screwed. People will stop booking the entire party, and instead, they'll book 1 person into each ride they want, and use that person as the "scanner" to get the others in via FP "for free". In other words, a 4 person party could reserve 12 different FP+ rides/times (3 each person), and piggyback on each other's bands. It would take a little planning but it would be very easily done. You wanna ride Soarin 4 times with FP+? Easy, all 4 of you simply book your own Soarin FP+ at different times and take the others in with you.
Disney-sanctioned exploits, that's the last thing FP+ needs. But if it's really happening it explains some things.
I could very much see this being the case.
To someone who knows nothing different, the system sounds great I would imagine.
I know somebody who is down there right now. She has been twice before, once with use, and used FP- both times. They absolutely love the MBs and FP+. They are repeat customers.
The question is, who is responsible for a more significant amount of Disney revenue ? Who is most easily replaced ?
If the repeats on here are any indication, the first time or less frequent spends more per day. FTers pay much closer to rack rate, are less likely to bring food into the parks, are less likely to pre-buy souvenirs and so on.
There are way more people in the US and the world who could be first timers. Many here think they are way more important than they really are.
I would think the repeat loyal guests spend more than their numerical proportion of money at wdw, if only because they are repeat guests. Much harder to replace than first time or once in a lifetimers.
Well if they've never used FP and now they are getting 3 FP's they must think this new system is great. I mean what's not to love? But as I've said before, it's really the perception that it's great. If these same people used FP before FP+ then maybe they wouldn't think it was so great now.
This actually becomes a function of two things though, I am sure its awesome to be able to skip a few lines, and if they didn't expect it, all the better.
BUT, if the lines for other rides they want to go on are doubling or in some cases tripling (and some rides really are doing that), they might actually not end up too happy.
The ones there are texting me and telling me they are having the time of their lives. They are not complaining about anything.
It depends which you think would be better accepted.
Would you rather wait in 6 30 min lines ... or skip 3 lines and wait in 3 1 Hour lines ???
In the end, I will wait for 3 hours and ride 6 rides. The appeal of the 3 FP+s is that they know they can get on 3 must do rides. Look at all that love the FP+ for TSMM.
(of course, this assumes FP+ is a total walk on, and some of the lines people have been reporting for FP+ return, aren't walk ons )