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According to Orlando Sentinal article this month, it looks like FP+ final rollout may be delayed indefinitely? Did they realize there is a serious problem? Hoping it is delayed. Also, looking at other posts is it now the case that you cannot use the regular FP kiosks if you are using FP+? :confused:
I sure hope so. Im not one who gets in a fit over change, but this has really upset me. We love Disney and go once a year at least, but were actually prepared to stop going. I refuse to plan what ride Im gonna ride 2 months in advance. And now that we can only go in summer, fast passes were gonna be what made the heat tolerable.
I didn't like FP+ from the beginning.
Saying they are delaying the rollout doesn't seem to be really accurate. Pieces have already rolled out - call it "testing" or whatever you like, the system is not what it used to be and there is no current indication this will change. Folks are still being required to use the new fastpass + system and new limitations have been placed on the availability at fastpasses in at least 2 of the parks. They have discontinued providing folks with cards that can be used in the old fastpass system in at least one resort.
It sounds like it would be more accurate to say they have delayed full implementation of the new system.
Are Bands and FP+ still being given to guest just coming into the window? Seems things will stay the same for on site guests and they are trying to figure out how to handle the off site guests.
I saw a statistic that historically the average guest only used 1.5 FP a day. Now they basically force you to make three choices per day whether you use them or not. If the statistic is accurate, choosing three FP+ a day really overloads the historic pattern and impacts what FPs are available to off site day guests. Does that make sense?
historically the average guest was probably using 1.5 a day. However there were people getting 5-6 a day, so to get that average, i think the idea is that the super-users were preventing those not "in the know" from really utilizing the system.
As an example:
Been to disney 10 times--rides everything christmas week--twice. Eats at BOG and CRT.
First time family--overwhelmed. Rides Small world, carousel of progress. Waits 2 hours for Dumbo. 2 Hours for Peter Pan. Can't find any place to eat. Hates Disney. Doesn't get what the hype was about.
I think the IDEA behind MyMagic+ is that first time guests will experience a more guided experience, while super-users may have to wait 20 minutes to ride.
It obviously isn't turning out this way, so we stay in testing mode. I think its totally acceptable to wait 15-30 minutes for most attractions. That seems realistic. I'd prefer to walk right on to everything, but so would everyone else. I mean, it is a theme park, with attractions. even at the county fair you have to wait sometimes (and can spend as much as you do at disney it feels like).
maybe soarin' will get that 3rd screen, and people will want to visit the imagination pavilion with its new sponsorship. Maybe we'll see things speed things up with avatar and star wars to make up for this mess.
Regardless, as a super-user, i've seen it all before. So, if I have to "stop and smell the roses" or be more creative with my family in lines, I'll adjust. Mainly because Disney for my family is about more than just the rides.
See you at Rope Drop!!
Well, I don't know about that 1 to 1 1/2 FP per day thing; we tend to use 5 to 6 per day and I don't think that's out of the norm. However, there are a lot of people who will be happy with a chance to FP+ the parades etc for a good seat.
No matter how many the limit you to, or what rides they limit, we still can go Stand By! Maybe if they limit the FP to each ride we won't have to wait in Stand By so long?:thumbsup:
....I'm in total agreement with you. We were "late bloomers" with regards to visiting WDW ...only starting in 2004 ...when I was 43 yrs old. But I immediately fell in love with the place and we made a point of going once a year ever since then. In doing so ...we got to see A LOT of change ...with the biggest hit being this year where we got to be the "testers" for the MB's and FP+ in August. It was "easy" for my wife to 'set-up' the FP+ ride appointments ...maybe because the web-site traffic wasn't what it is today.Quote:
Originally Posted by bshaw96
....but when we finally got to WDW ...we realized just how much of a pain in the butt it was to have your day SO pre-planned out before you. Let me say that we DO have an agenda when going to WDW ...but it really revolves around getting to each of the parks a few times ...and accommodates the 3 or 4 ADR's we make. But ...other than the ADR's ...all of the remainder of our trip is subject to change ...meaning ...if we're having a great time at Epcot in the AM ...and planned to be at MK in the PM ...with 3 FP+ reservations waiting ...we're likely to blow off the MK in a split-second just to stay where we are having a good time. And ...we did that a few times ...not going to the FP+ rides because we were enjoying ourselves so much at the moment.
...now ...that said ...maybe we're different because we've been to WDW 11 times in 10 years ..and have 'seen it all' . Whereas a first time visit might want to be "that regimented" in order to see 'everything". However it's difficult for me to see how someone could do that with maybe a 4 or 5 day WDW trip when they ration the # of attractions with the FP+ system.
...whew!! With all that said ...WDW is NOT on our agenda for 2014 ...at all ...in any capacity. It feels strange to feel like that ...but this past trip really got us bent out of shape ...between the whole FP+ / MB stuff ....and related deterioration in the attitudes of the CM's and resort operations ....I just don't have the desire.
I think the problem is that they can't go to full implementation until they've worked out the kinks in testing, and right now in testing it's a mess. I hope they fix it all fast, because lots of visitors are having less than ideal vacations in the meantime, apparently.
We booked a three night stay over New Years yesterday and we're still able to get the Magic Bands. It says we can make Fast Pass+ reservations as of January 1, which oddly is the day we check in.
Honestly, I don't even care at this point. My ten year old just wanted the wristband. Anything else to him will be icing on the cake!
We have APs so we have been on the rides enough times that if we miss something, it'll be okay. I personally don't like to do plan my days out in advance. We pick parks based on weather most of the time.
If they are pulling the Fast Pass feature, I'm 100% good with that. Or, if they can just scan the bands in lieu of the paper FP tickets, that (to me) would be the best use of the tech. Just because you can do it technologically doesn't mean you should!
That is what I thought when I read the article too Sherri. They can't roll it out to people outside the resort until it really works for people inside the resort. It will be interesting to see what happens when they stop giving keys at all the resorts and not just POP. One thing that has caused a huge problem is guests being able to use fast pass plus use their keys to pull regular fast passes.Quote:
Originally Posted by SBETigg
For people like me I don't think it really matters. The more we go, the more we tour differently and there is always another time.
I hope they figure it out soon because I agree with you, it would be horrible to have your one big trip to Disney ruined.
I'm still waiting for them to fix the "kink" that you can get FP+ at more than one park per day. I remember them saying that eventually you'd be able to do that, but I don't see any steps in that direction.
I believe that we 'veterans' of the parks were getting 6-8 or more fastpasses a day.
And 'newbies' weren't getting any.
How many times have you used a FP and gotten dirty looks or comments from guests in standby, who didn't realize that they were also entitled to FP.
The newbies outnumber the veterans, bringing the average to 1.5 FP/person.
I think FP+ is meant to level the playing field. To give everyone 3.
However, it isn't working out well for anyone. Too many more rules were implemented along with it. The extreme preplanning, the one park limit, long lines, confusion, etc.
I think this is well said and the primary explanation behind fast pass +. I think many veterans forget what its like to be new to the park and overwhelmed. We have friends going for the first time in April. They have two young children.Quote:
Originally Posted by cuteduck223
I hesitantly explained fast pass plus because I wasn't sure what they'd think. Mom thought it was great that she knew without worry that she could sleep in and still get her kids on Peter Pan, Dumbo and Winnie the Pooh without worrying about getting her 4 and 5 year olds to rope drop. They are doing Disney as I imagine many first timers do, 4 days, 4 day non hopper tickets. Picking to do MK the first day and AK the next didn't feel like major planning to them.
I've been doing disney for 26 years. We know the parks well enough to do them with or without fast pass, but every trip I feel bad for overwhelmed, undereducated families who don't know the ins and outs. If this helps more families make the most of their once in a lifetime trip, I'm all for it.
:exactly:Quote:
Originally Posted by AgentC
This is my opinion in a nut shell. We were there in October and did not have a great experience with FP+. But we chalked it up to the test phase, did as much as we could to help the CM's fix it, then moved on to enjoy our trip. Knowing there was a next time, made that easy for us. There are so many newbies that have no idea the 'system' like us seasoned addicts. I sincerely hope they see all the magic Disney offers and Disney gets this fixed sooner than later for those folks.:thumbsup: