Fastpass+ kills family/friend meetings

[Gator]

Another post about fastpass+ led me to this thought. When I go to WDW, from time to time, I have chance meetings with friends. I usually don't know about it until the week before we leave for the trip, or maybe no even until the day before. So what happens when we do meet up? Let's say I have a fastpass+ to hit Space Mt at 11am, but by friends don't have one. Furthermore, because of fastpass+, there are no fastpasses until 6pm that evening. Do I then dump my family's desire to ride SM, or do I dump my friends?

It's just another problem with the system. Seems like Disney is intent on making us do things that none of us want really want to do. Sounds familiar these days.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Another post about fastpass+ led me to this thought. When I go to WDW, from time to time, I have chance meetings with friends. I usually don't know about it until the week before we leave for the trip, or maybe no even until the day before. So what happens when we do meet up? Let's say I have a fastpass+ to hit Space Mt at 11am, but by friends don't have one. Furthermore, because of fastpass+, there are no fastpasses until 6pm that evening. Do I then dump my family's desire to ride SM, or do I dump my friends?

It's just another problem with the system. Seems like Disney is intent on making us do things that none of us want really want to do. Sounds familiar these days.

You dump your friends... I had the same issue in October... I had FP+ booked for three attractions in DAK, my friends decided to come join us that that... While we FP'd the attractions, they skipped them and waited for us to come off the ride...

Disney is intent on controlling every minute of your vacation... they don't want you in control cause, GASP, you may leave property to enjoy better and newer things elsewhere instead of the same cobweb infested old stuff...

[spoiledraf]

I keep seeing complaints by the same people about Disney. If you hate it so bad, stop going! Sheesh!!!

[seanyred]

But under the old fastpass system this could happen as well. What if you are early risers and get to the park before your friends then you will have fastpasses that they won't be able to utilize either.

I do agree that there are parts of this system that create new problems that shouldn't be problems. But that's a reality when there is a technology up grade (just read about Chicago's CTA fare card system, Ventra. It's more screwed up than MyMagic+).

I just hope that as time goes on there is more flexibility in the new system after they get past the testing phase. Again I have a hard time passing final judgement since I won't be back to WDW until October 2014. At that point I think I will have a good old vs. new comparison since we are going to DL in a few weeks.

[Dulcee]

As others have said how is this different then you holding a regular fast pass?

If its for something that actually is hard to get on without a fast pass, say toy story mania and you managed to get one in the AM, ran into friends and now none are left for the day... same predicament as before.

You could *gasp* wait in line with your friends and have a pleasant conversation whilst waiting.

[Tiggerlovr9000]

I keep seeing complaints by the same people about Disney. If you hate it so bad, stop going! Sheesh!!!

Not sure if it's hate just frustration. I love disney but no business is perfect. Luckily the pros always out weigh the cons.. because just being there makes me euphoric.

[WiltonJohn]

You could *gasp* wait in line with your friends and have a pleasant conversation whilst waiting.

Amen.

best,

................john

[Gator]

As others have said how is this different then you holding a regular fast pass?

If its for something that actually is hard to get on without a fast pass, say toy story mania and you managed to get one in the AM, ran into friends and now none are left for the day... same predicament as before.

You could *gasp* wait in line with your friends and have a pleasant conversation whilst waiting.

Guess you guys aren't getting it. On several different occasions, I've met friends at WDW from NJ, TENN, and FL. We meet at the gates in the morning and hang out for the day. If I have fastpasses that I booked two months ago, I have to dump them to hang with them. In the past, we'd all go to a fastpass station and get one for the same ride. Now with Fastpass-minus, all those passes will be gone by noon. So I can get my kids through a 1 hour line for Soarin' and other long lines, or lose are passes. It's just another complication that doesn't need to happen. Dump plus.

[dnickels]

Guess you guys aren't getting it. On several different occasions, I've met friends at WDW from NJ, TENN, and FL. We meet at the gates in the morning and hang out for the day. If I have fastpasses that I booked two months ago, I have to dump them to hang with them. In the past, we'd all go to a fastpass station and get one for the same ride. Now with Fastpass-minus, all those passes will be gone by noon. So I can get my kids through a 1 hour line for Soarin' and other long lines, or lose are passes. It's just another complication that doesn't need to happen. Dump plus.

I understood and agree but just hadn't responded. I do the same thing, when friends are in town I'll sometimes meet them over there for a few hours. The most recent time for that my friends were on the FP+ system and so we met but I couldn't get FP return times to match the ones they booked weeks early so we couldn't do any headliner attractions together.

Yeah of course we could all get in the standby line and wait 60 minutes but that defeats the whole purpose of Fastpass both for them and for me.

[Mousemates]

I keep seeing complaints by the same people about Disney. If you hate it so bad, stop going! Sheesh!!!

I won't easily fit into the "complaints by the same people category" (check my posts from way back and you will even see me referred to as a "fanboy" from time to time--maybe even by some of the folks you have in mind).

But in my mind the new fastpass+ system (as it now exists and is proposed to ultimately work) is a slow moving train wreck that is worthy of complaints and lots of them. It completely stifles the ability to not have to micro manage your trip 90 days out and leaves little room for either spontaneity or even a washout day due to rain.

Don't forget that many of us actually go on vacation to get away from tight scheduling and thus see little to be gained from the new system...other than Disney being able to track us more efficiently and improve their ability to craftily market their products to us on a more individual basis.

And while some people on the site don't want to read anything but pixie dust laced accolades about how wonderful everything is at disney... and then casually invite folks who see problems to stop going...remember that most of the people on here who complain do so out of a passion for WDW...often times because they want to see it return to a very special place they remember from their childhood...a place that once truly had no genuine competition in the theme park world.

And finally if you know who the folks are who tend to write less than glowing comments about WDW or who simply say things in a way that irritates you...a very easy remedy to the frustration they appear to cause you would be to simply not read their posts anymore. There are some folks here that I read... and some that I choose to take a pass on.

However, while I don't agree with everything they say I do enjoy the discussion and find that the "complainers" often times make some very valid arguments. Sometimes they are painful, but valid nevertheless.

Just my two cents.

[Tekneek]

...a place that once truly had no genuine competition in the theme park world.

More than that, they also used to define customer service excellence that went way beyond all industry. Disney has surrendered that leadership position, much like they have many others over the years.

[Katzateer]

I think WDW will have to rethink the fast pass+ system. The rest of the wristband options seem they will work great but I am not happy we have to plan our rides, don't get to pick times that work for us, and only get 3 choices per day in one park. We are park hoppers and like to get more fast passes than what we are being offered. Next week I hope will go well for us. I am going to just chill and enjoy, try not to stress out and just be happy to be "home".

[1DisneyNut]

I won't easily fit into the "complaints by the same people category" (check my posts from way back and you will even see me referred to as a "fanboy" from time to time--maybe even by some of the folks you have in mind).

But in my mind the new fastpass+ system (as it now exists and is proposed to ultimately work) is a slow moving train wreck that is worthy of complaints and lots of them. It completely stifles the ability to not have to micro manage your trip 90 days out and leaves little room for either spontaneity or even a washout day due to rain.

Don't forget that many of us actually go on vacation to get away from tight scheduling and thus see little to be gained from the new system...other than Disney being able to track us more efficiently and improve their ability to craftily market their products to us on a more individual basis.

And while some people on the site don't want to read anything but pixie dust laced accolades about how wonderful everything is at disney... and then casually invite folks who see problems to stop going...remember that most of the people on here who complain do so out of a passion for WDW...often times because they want to see it return to a very special place they remember from their childhood...a place that once truly had no genuine competition in the theme park world.

And finally if you know who the folks are who tend to write less than glowing comments about WDW or who simply say things in a way that irritates you...a very easy remedy to the frustration they appear to cause you would be to simply not read their posts anymore. There are some folks here that I read... and some that I choose to take a pass on.

However, while I don't agree with everything they say I do enjoy the discussion and find that the "complainers" often times make some very valid arguments. Sometimes they are painful, but valid nevertheless.

Just my two cents.

More than that, they also used to define customer service excellence that went way beyond all industry. Disney has surrendered that leadership position, much like they have many others over the years.

These were two very good posts. I will admit, I am in the complainer category for the last several years. Your posts describe my position perfectly.

I remember back when I would go to WDW, spend thousands and leave the place amazed and completely happy. Sometimes I would even think "I can't believe they gave me all of that for that amount of money....I just don't see how they pull it all off." I am sure there are many of you that know the exact feeling.

However, I now almost dread going. I can't help myself because I have always liked the place so much and have so many memories but it has really became a chore to plan and go and I leave the place feeling like all they wanted was to take me for everything they could. Instead of them trying to dazzle me and make me hungry for more, they just want to get all they can as quickly as possible. It is complete pole reversal from before.

There have been things I have complained about but learned to deal with such as the ADR's for dining. I just resigned myself to the fact that I will probably never eat in most of the TS restaurants again because I simply will not make ADR's months ahead of time and then work my vacation around them. Besides that, we have a restaurant comparable to or better than any restaurant onsite within an hour or two of home. I don't go to WDW to eat.

Now one thing is certain, I will not deal with and will and have stopped going to WDW because of FP+. Those who keep saying "just quit going" well I have and I won't be back until they fix the mess. You may think you are cute by saying those things but when myself and the majority of the other regulars quit going, see how you like the customer service and amenities after they haven't made any profit or even worse lost money for a few years. None of us want to see that and that is why we are so passionate in our posts about our displeasure lately.

[MargaretMessler]

I won't easily fit into the "complaints by the same people category" (check my posts from way back and you will even see me referred to as a "fanboy" from time to time--maybe even by some of the folks you have in mind).

But in my mind the new fastpass+ system (as it now exists and is proposed to ultimately work) is a slow moving train wreck that is worthy of complaints and lots of them. It completely stifles the ability to not have to micro manage your trip 90 days out and leaves little room for either spontaneity or even a washout day due to rain.

Don't forget that many of us actually go on vacation to get away from tight scheduling and thus see little to be gained from the new system...other than Disney being able to track us more efficiently and improve their ability to craftily market their products to us on a more individual basis.

And while some people on the site don't want to read anything but pixie dust laced accolades about how wonderful everything is at disney... and then casually invite folks who see problems to stop going...remember that most of the people on here who complain do so out of a passion for WDW...often times because they want to see it return to a very special place they remember from their childhood...a place that once truly had no genuine competition in the theme park world.

And finally if you know who the folks are who tend to write less than glowing comments about WDW or who simply say things in a way that irritates you...a very easy remedy to the frustration they appear to cause you would be to simply not read their posts anymore. There are some folks here that I read... and some that I choose to take a pass on.

However, while I don't agree with everything they say I do enjoy the discussion and find that the "complainers" often times make some very valid arguments. Sometimes they are painful, but valid nevertheless.

Just my two cents.

So happy to see someone else so accurately voice what my skepticism and dislike for the idea of FP+ is. I refuse to micromanage my vacation, however I love Disney, so it seems I have two choices : make vacation as stressful as "real life" or stop going. No like.

[Sylvia]

So happy to see someone else so accurately voice what my skepticism and dislike for the idea of FP+ is. I refuse to micromanage my vacation, however I love Disney, so it seems I have two choices : make vacation as stressful as "real life" or stop going. No like.

I've been thinking that no one else thought as I do, and, lo and behold, I find out I'm not alone. I have never micromanaged my vacations; I found out in June 2012 just how fragile life can be. Due to health reasons, I can't take sole vacations anymore and I definitely can't get stressed unnecessarily. I will never let a vacation become stressful and I will continue to have restful, peaceful vacations. For us, not being able to ride a thrill ride or visit a favorite attraction will never mean that the world is coming to an end. There are so many wonderful experiences around every corner.

I've also skipped negative posts, as well as posts by those who do nothing but complain, or by those who think their opinions/likes/etc., are the only ones that count. I could say more, but I prefer to keep that to myself.

[Susan A]

You'll have to meet up and do the attractions with shorter waifs or have a meal together. That's what we did.

[TheVBs]

I was glad to hear that they're postponing the roll out. Hopefully that means they're taking the negative feedback into consideration.

We have not experienced FP+ yet. I'm reserving my opinion until that happens. We're looking at maybe next May.

I completely understand how the "just stop going" comments are not helpful. However, we make a point to experience different destinations every other year. We only go to Disney every 2 years. I think this makes a huge difference in our experiences. I wouldn't want the success of our vacations to hinge on only one destination. For those of you who are really unhappy with a change Disney makes, but still love it and don't want to stop going, try alternating it with other destinations. You might love the results!

[azcavalier]

Is Disneyland also rolling out the FP+ system? If not, maybe we'll just head there next time.

[faline]

Is Disneyland also rolling out the FP+ system? If not, maybe we'll just head there next time.

My understanding is that it has not been introduced in California as of now.

[mom2morgan]

You'll have to meet up and do the attractions with shorter waifs or have a meal together. That's what we did.

LOL - I know this is a typo, but it made me laugh! Like Annie? or Oliver Twist?