No standby for Toy Story Mania this week?

Daisy'sMom;2437651 wrote: [QUOTE=Terra;2436655]
Really? Huh, I live an hour away and don't really have issues getting FP+. Living closer like we do I will sometimes book some FP+ 30 days ahead and as it gets closer if I know I'm not going I just cancel.

So, you are really contributing to the problem by booking fast passes with just the possibility of using them. Each time you do that, you are taking it away from someone that tries to book and can't, because they are basically stand by in case you decide to use it. :confused:

Thats a probem Disney created.

DizneyFreak2002;2436643 wrote: Enjoy, and if you can, please let us know your observations... Interested in hearing from someone who is actually there...

BTW, do you have a FP for TSMM?

***As for today, couldn't seem to confirm if they did, indeed, open stand by... some people were saying yes, some were saying no...

I will give this a shot:

5 of us from 10/3 through 10/13. DW and I plus three of our young adults 26, 24 & 21. We stayed off site.

10/4 AK, 10/6 EPCOT, 10/7 MK/EPCOT, 10/8 EPCOT, 10/9 BB/MNSSHP, 10/10 EPCOT, 10/11 HS and 10/12 AK/EPCOT

Overall FP+ impressions:

1) Overall, neutral to negative and depended on the park.

2) In declining order: MK, AK, EPCOT and HS.

3) As mentioned elsewhere, FP+ really highlights the need for more E ticket attractions. Also as previously noted, there are now lines at attractions that in the past had little or nor waits.

3) Did not like that once you used your 3 FPs, you could only add the next one at a kiosk, in the park you were at. Saw more than one family realize that if you had a FP for Fantasmic or Illuminations, you were done with FP for the day.

4) The MDE app made the crowds move like the old days at Kmart chasing the Blue Light Special. Once it showed a wait time of 20 minutes or less, an entire heard would descend on that attraction.

5) CMs were quite helpful in the Kiosk lines which moved quickly.

6) Found ourselves crossing parks just to use that precious FP.

7) We did appreciate how the green glowing mickey stopped most of the abuse of the system and the CMs. Multiple times a day you would see some group upset that they could not see why they wouldn't be let through the FP line. "So what if our time doesn't start for another 15 minutes, I paid good money to get on this ride."

8) We really did feel over planned.

9) Could never get a DMT FP - had to wait to 11 pm on the 9th (30 minutes) during MNSSHP to ride.

10) Had FPs for Toy Story on the 11th. Standby all day was at least 75 minutes.

11) No, we did not spend any more $$$ because all of the "free time".

12) We were constantly being asked to participate in surveys about everything from food, to shows, special events and attractions. Not one question about FP+.

Did we have a great time? Of course. Did we feel rushed and waited in longer lines? Yes.

mrte62;2437706 wrote: I will give this a shot:

5 of us from 10/3 through 10/13. DW and I plus three of our young adults 26, 24 & 21. We stayed off site.

10/4 AK, 10/6 EPCOT, 10/7 MK/EPCOT, 10/8 EPCOT, 10/9 BB/MNSSHP, 10/10 EPCOT, 10/11 HS and 10/12 AK/EPCOT

Overall FP+ impressions:

1) Overall, neutral to negative and depended on the park.

2) In declining order: MK, AK, EPCOT and HS.

3) As mentioned elsewhere, FP+ really highlights the need for more E ticket attractions. Also as previously noted, there are now lines at attractions that in the past had little or nor waits.

3) Did not like that once you used your 3 FPs, you could only add the next one at a kiosk, in the park you were at. Saw more than one family realize that if you had a FP for Fantasmic or Illuminations, you were done with FP for the day.

4) The MDE app made the crowds move like the old days at Kmart chasing the Blue Light Special. Once it showed a wait time of 20 minutes or less, an entire heard would descend on that attraction.

5) CMs were quite helpful in the Kiosk lines which moved quickly.

6) Found ourselves crossing parks just to use that precious FP.

7) We did appreciate how the green glowing mickey stopped most of the abuse of the system and the CMs. Multiple times a day you would see some group upset that they could not see why they wouldn't be let through the FP line. "So what if our time doesn't start for another 15 minutes, I paid good money to get on this ride."

8) We really did feel over planned.

9) Could never get a DMT FP - had to wait to 11 pm on the 9th (30 minutes) during MNSSHP to ride.

10) Had FPs for Toy Story on the 11th. Standby all day was at least 75 minutes.

11) No, we did not spend any more $$$ because all of the "free time".

12) We were constantly being asked to participate in surveys about everything from food, to shows, special events and attractions. Not one question about FP+.

Did we have a great time? Of course. Did we feel rushed and waited in longer lines? Yes.

This is exactly why so many people are getting frustrated with Disney. I was there a year ago this week and it was bad then and seems nothing has changed since. Over a year of people being frustrated is not good for business.

DonaldDuck1117;2436446 wrote: However, if it is because of FP+ I think that's crazy. It's not worth it? You know you are allowed to ride rides without a FP, right? Just like the old days, just like our local parks. It seems like FP has spoiled a certain sector of Disney fans who think they can't wait in a line that's longer than 20 minutes.

That's just it. They weren't letting people on without the FP+.

Terra;2436898 wrote: What? Outrage? I don't know. Yes there are some things that I may not care for, I may even voice my opinion to to Disney.
But cries of outrage? Over a themepark?

When I think of outrage, I think of my mom who has cancer and is having a mastectomy tomorrow. I think of my father who has long cancer and less than a year to live. I think of my father in law who has cancer and less than a year to live as well.

Are people truly this upset over Disney that it's interfering with their very lives?

A vacation is more than just a themepark. It is time spent with your family and friends. It is how you will remember people when they are no longer with you. I am sorry that your family is having a rough time. I will say a prayer for you and yours.

I have seen horrific things as an ER nurse, so I know it isn't a life or death situation. I have also been the patient that no on expected to live. I can tell you that the memory of riding Big Thunder Mountain with my oldest son who was halfway across the world in the Navy got me through many, many very rough days. I can also tell you that I remember hearing my three children talking about fond disney memories while they were sitting in my hospital room.

Disney World has become so much more to my family than just a themepark. It is time spent together to laugh, love and not worry about the stresses of the world.

At some point, we will go back to Disney World, but at this stage, I am planning on our family trips being at Disneyland. I don't want or need the stress of trying to deal with this system with a large group of people. Our first trip to Disney World was a group of 11 of people. I'm not herding 11 people all over just to get to this fast pass or that meet and greet at specific times. We enjoyed ourselves when we broke up into different groups and agreed to meet up for one specific meal of the day. The groups could mix and match throughout the day to go do whatever sparked their fancy at that time. I don't think that would work as well now.

DonaldDuck1117;2437509 wrote:
What do you do when you go to your local amusement park?

I don't go to one.

The worst part is the Fastpass+ is creating lines for my favorite attractions that I used to do with little or no wait. The Haunted Mansion, Pirates and Spaceship Earth are all becomming long standby times because of guests getting a Fastpass+. Who ever heard of getting a Fastpass+ for Spaceship Earth and yet there were guest in the Fastpass+ line. This is what is making me mad is that the classics now have a long line before you could go on with no waits whle waiting for a ride with a long line like test track. Yes, I will go back but I am not happy with the Fastpass+ system.

This type of thing is really ruining the experience. My family and I love Disney World and go every year. But after our visit last January ('14), it was probably the first time I was not deeply sad to leave. And, to be honest, unlike every other year, I have not been in a hurry to reschedule and plan for the next trip. We will go back (we are DVC members), but we may skip a year.

My deepest wish is that Disney would take some of the energy that they use to figure out how to get every last dime out of you and use it on new rides and entertainment. Think of what they could have done with all the money they have spent on FP+. I realize that they are in the business of making money, but all they have to do is look to their competitor. I think the additions that Universal have made have probably or will do far more to increase their profits than anything Disney has done with FP+.

I just hate the mentality of trying to make money with 'let's fleece our customers for everything they have when they are here," as opposed to , "let's make it such a great experience and keep adding exciting new experiences, to keep people coming back."

Their strategy is very short termed. They have all but ruined the dinning; turning it mostly into industrial grade, generic offerings. They are now seriously hindering the ride experience; making long lines when their used to be none, having to schedule everything, and not adding. The only thing they will have left is the great atmosphere, which is still great, but I have seen declines in customer service and other factors which contribute to this. To me they are losing that special feel, yet you are paying more and more for a vacation there.

I used to think badly of Universal - no reason, I unfortunately am one of those that is overly competitive and my feelings towards them was much in a way you would not like an upstart football team that plays with a chip on their shoulder against your more established team. Now, however, I wish them all the success in the world. They are building and doing things the right way. Making profits the way Disney himself did, by improving the product, not by figuring how to get more out of loyal customers. We actually broke away from Disney as a family for the first time 2 years ago and I was blown away at how great of a ride and how Classic Disney-like the Harry Potter ride was. Universal is becoming more Classic-Disney than Disney World. I believe that the best thing for Disney will be if they start taking a hit from the competition. I believe we have already seen some of this happening with the Avatar land (I am not sure how that will go, but at least it is adding) and other rumored upcoming announcements. I just hope they do things right, rather than trying to do the minimum to keep interest.

Sorry for the manifesto. And, saying this on Page 7 of an old thread is kind of stupid, but I have been getting really frustrated with the whole situation lately.

Park Hopper;2438077 wrote:
I just hate the mentality of trying to make money with 'let's fleece our customers for everything they have when they are here," as opposed to , "let's make it such a great experience and keep adding exciting new experiences, to keep people coming back."

I second this. Long gone are the days when Walt Disney would pour everything they had into the next idea. The idea was to try to be great and innovative and the other part would take care of itself. These days it is more about hording the cash than build it and they will come.