TSM standby-less test Oct. 6-9

[vacationer1954]

I don't see how that makes sense given what we know about the parks' increasing attendance and revenues. It seems to me that they're just trying to further maximize an already great situation.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

The rumbling on this thread is related to an reservation ONLY based system.

Wonder why they don't just do like 90% FP+ and 10% SB.

That way the only issue that seems to be complained about (not waiting if you really want) would be covered. Granted it would be a really long wait but very few people in line.

 

[Laketravis]

I don't see how that makes sense given what we know about the parks' increasing attendance and revenues.

Okay, well, let's think about that for a second.

Five or six years ago, there are complaints on a national level that guests are frustrated and upset about spending thousands of dollars on a WDW vacation while having to spend hours in lines or not being able to ride some of the attractions at all.

Park attendance and revenue continue to increase over those years which indicates to anyone with any sense at all that the situation will only get worse; Disney rolls out MDE/MM/FP+ as a solution.

And people are still waiting in long lines or not being able to ride some attractions at all.

Yeah, I'd say that Disney's solution was a smashing success. Not.

It seems to me that they're just trying to further maximize an already great situation.

I think you are 100% correct - they are simply trying to squeeze as much profit as they can out of the situation.

 

[vacationer1954]

Five or six years ago, there are complaints on a national level that guests are frustrated and upset about spending thousands of dollars on a WDW vacation while having to spend hours in lines or not being able to ride some of the attractions at all.

I bet that sold some advertising space on some newspaper websites, but was it a real concern? No. It blew over like many other overblown sensationalized media reports blow over because the people upset didn't stop going to the parks and instead attendance and revenues continued to climb.

 

[Laketravis]

I bet that sold some advertising space on some newspaper websites, but was it a real concern? No. It blew over like many other overblown sensationalized media reports blow over because the people upset didn't stop going to the parks and instead attendance and revenues continued to climb.

Beside the straw man arguments, little has been done to alleviate the original complaints. Long lines and wait times. The problem was real and only had the potential to get worse, regardless of whether or not it sold advertising space or donuts. And WDW took notice.

It took 3 years and $800 million to build Animal Kingdom

It took 3 years and $1.4 billion to build Epcot

My point is that WDW could have opened a fifth or even possibly a sixth gate and/or added substantially more capacity to existing parks over the last 5-6 years but instead chose to toy around with software.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Wonder why they don't just do like 90% FP+ and 10% SB.

That way the only issue that seems to be complained about (not waiting if you really want) would be covered. Granted it would be a really long wait but very few people in line.

Reports indicate that they currently use a 80/20 split between FP+ & SB, but who knows if that's accurate. All I know is that in August, we entered the TSM SB line with a 70 minute posted wait. We were to the merge point in 13 minutes. We were held there, waiting, for nearly 10 minutes even though literally only 3 parties came through the FP+ line during that time. The CM manning the merge point wasn't allowed to let us pass until he got authorization from somewhere (?), even though no one was coming through the FP+ line. It was ridiculous.

But still...we got a ride on TSM in 25 minutes, so I won't complain (too much). I really think that they could reduce the SB waits by better line management, with CMs right there actually looking at the lines being allowed to determine the FP+/SB ratio based on actual real life observations rather than formula or being given the go-ahead by someone who isn't seeing the lines.

 

[Laketravis]

It is also worth noting that long lines create longer lines - there is a fundamental psychology at play that if something has a long line it must be worth waiting for. That in itself could have fueled increased attendance. Must be a great place to go because everyone else is going, right?

 

[JanaDee]

I suspect they have lots of data on Standby only from days prior to FP. Now maybe they are trying to get data on FP (Reservation) only?

They may have data from pre-FP days, but it is data they can't use now. There is no comparison in attendance between then and what it is currently.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

Reports indicate that they currently use a 80/20 split between FP+ & SB, but who knows if that's accurate. All I know is that in August, we entered the TSM SB line with a 70 minute posted wait. We were to the merge point in 13 minutes. We were held there, waiting, for nearly 10 minutes even though literally only 3 parties came through the FP+ line during that time. The CM manning the merge point wasn't allowed to let us pass until he got authorization from somewhere (?), even though no one was coming through the FP+ line. It was ridiculous.

But still...we got a ride on TSM in 25 minutes, so I won't complain (too much). I really think that they could reduce the SB waits by better line management, with CMs right there actually looking at the lines being allowed to determine the FP+/SB ratio based on actual real life observations rather than formula or being given the go-ahead by someone who isn't seeing the lines.

Interesting-then go 99% and 1%.

 

[faneuil]

It is also worth noting that long lines create longer lines - there is a fundamental psychology at play that if something has a long line it must be worth waiting for. That in itself could have fueled increased attendance. Must be a great place to go because everyone else is going, right?

Messing with crowd psychology a bit...

After the TofT 10 miler this weekend, the big stuff at the Studios was open.
RnR, ToT, TSMM.

All of them - when I was at the attractions - had 45-50 minute wait times. I was determined to ride all three, so I got in line anyway. I didn't wait more than 15 minutes for each. Because there was a special event, there was, of course, no FP+.

On Sunday, I spoke to several runners who left the party early, not riding anything, because the posted times were too long.

I just think the psychology of it is interesting. you see a crowd, and you're lured. "It must be something good." You see a time attached to the crowd, and you might be turned off enough to walk away.

 

[RnbwSktles]

Messing with crowd psychology a bit...

After the TofT 10 miler this weekend, the big stuff at the Studios was open.
RnR, ToT, TSMM.

All of them - when I was at the attractions - had 45-50 minute wait times. I was determined to ride all three, so I got in line anyway. I didn't wait more than 15 minutes for each. Because there was a special event, there was, of course, no FP+.

On Sunday, I spoke to several runners who left the party early, not riding anything, because the posted times were too long.

I just think the psychology of it is interesting. you see a crowd, and you're lured. "It must be something good." You see a time attached to the crowd, and you might be turned off enough to walk away.

I've heard this applied to restaurants as well. If you see a place with an empty parking lot at 6pm on a Saturday evening, it's probably no good. Try the restaurant with the 2 hour wait

 

[glamdring269]

We just found out about this first hand and had no idea it was going on. I feel bad for anyone who was unable to get an fp for this ride during a time when they actually planned to be in he park and basically got screwed by Disney if their one park day was within this range.

 

[lugnut33]

TSMM FP+ still available for today. My guess is they dumped a bunch of new slots into the hopper today. Interested to know what the FP+ line looks like today.

 

[momof2n2]

Gentleman, let's build more attractions.

When you imagine what could have been done.....

 

[Jfine]

I've read through the whole thread, so maybe I'm confused, but does the length of the line not seem to be adding up to anyone else? Around noon it was reported that the line stretched out to Pixar Place gate, but by early evening there's very few in line and empty cars? Any speculation as to what happened? Distributed too many early on and too few later? People abandoned tsmm fp+ (doesn't seem likely IMO that masses would)? Can anyone who was there confirm what the line was like through the day?

 

[dkrauss]

Uh oh...don't think this will end well.

I couldn't AGREE more..........this is just gonna be ugly. When we visited we decided not to FP+ TSM and rough it in Standby........which is a tried and true strategy. This is gonna tick off a ton of people. If it hasn't already.

Question: Who thinks these things up? And who determines the timing...................

I like FP+ but this isn't going to convert those who already have a problem with it.

Doug

 

[glamdring269]

Not sure about earlier line but there is no one in line standing outside at this time.

FYI, the signs cast members are holding have been changed from notification that there is an fp+ test today to notification that ride capacity has been reached. I think I may experience a new ride at HS today... People watching interactions as people discover this.

 

[Laketravis]

WDW just posted "FP+ Tips and Tricks" on their Facebook page and I don't think they anticipated the deluge of negative comments they've already started to get.

I don't think it's safe to say that the negative criticism is limited to the DIS. Will be interesting to see the lifespan of that thread.

Gonna be hard to sell corporate on "It's an overwhelmingly positive success!" when it's out there for all to see.......

 

[dkrauss]

I just checked Touringplans app @ 12:37pm, and they have TSMM at 85min posted!!! 69min actual.....................so removing the Standby did what?

Doug

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Not sure about earlier line but there is no one in line standing outside at this time.

FYI, the signs cast members are holding have been changed from notification that there is an fp+ test today to notification that ride capacity has been reached. I think I may experience a new ride at HS today... People watching interactions as people discover this.

But I still book a party of 3 for today for 2:00 or 2:15 at 12:40 p.m.