I'm feeling so sad ...

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

in my view if you have the ability, chance and plans to visit WDW go right ahead as you never know what lies around the corner in your life.

Hugs!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Can someone explain how FP+ has made them actually not enjoy their vacation over FP-???

Now that I have unlimited options to go, it doesn't really matter whether I chose RnRc or TSMM. I'll get it next time. However, last year, we only had one base day at HS, and we chose RnRc. And then we had an 80 min wait at TSMM. And you should have seen the family drama over that. It was extremely weird, it was so bad that it literally almost ruined the entire 10 day drip Land and Sea. It is very strange to have such an awful fight over who picked what for the FP, and its with the person you shared a womb with. There is no other thing to blame except the Tier System for that. Every other trip, we would run to TSMM early and grab a FP and then later run to RnRc and get a FP. This was the first time we could only do one or the other. It was almost so upsetting that I was like "Lets only go to DL now, they don't have this awful tier system."

In the end, we made some big changes and now we actually live here, and its SO different, SO relaxed because we know there will be another day. And the FP+ system IS SO much better at crowd control than it was that week we happened to go and they started rolling it out only a week or two prior and it had tons of bugs. Its GREAT for APs, we book 3 things and go. So for me, MDE and FP+ make the difference between checking out SeaWorld or going to Disney after work. Its just easier to know that you have a guaranteed 3 walk ons, and we can't get that with the other parks. But it was NOT our favorite thing when weren't AP holders. I wasn't the only one who the new system was wrecking their vacation last year. I overhead a lot of confused, cranky and unhappy families. "Whatdya mean we don't have a fast past for test trak? The line is 90 min long!" and so on.

 

[mom2rtk]

Now that I have unlimited options to go, it doesn't really matter whether I chose RnRc or TSMM. I'll get it next time. However, last year, we only had one base day at HS, and we chose RnRc. And then we had an 80 min wait at TSMM. And you should have seen the family drama over that. It was extremely weird, it was so bad that it literally almost ruined the entire 10 day drip Land and Sea. It is very strange to have such an awful fight over who picked what for the FP, and its with the person you shared a womb with. There is no other thing to blame except the Tier System for that. Every other trip, we would run to TSMM early and grab a FP and then later run to RnRc and get a FP. This was the first time we could only do one or the other. It was almost so upsetting that I was like "Lets only go to DL now, they don't have this awful tier system."

In the end, we made some big changes and now we actually live here, and its SO different, SO relaxed because we know there will be another day. And the FP+ system IS SO much better at crowd control than it was that week we happened to go and they started rolling it out only a week or two prior and it had tons of bugs. Its GREAT for APs, we book 3 things and go. So for me, MDE and FP+ make the difference between checking out SeaWorld or going to Disney after work. Its just easier to know that you have a guaranteed 3 walk ons, and we can't get that with the other parks. But it was NOT our favorite thing when weren't AP holders. I wasn't the only one who the new system was wrecking their vacation last year. I overhead a lot of confused, cranky and unhappy families. "Whatdya mean we don't have a fast past for test trak? The line is 90 min long!" and so on.

Thank you for confirming something I have been commenting on for some time. Different people with different levels of park access have different expectations. And it affects their reaction to missing something when they are there. I wish more would consider that before dismissing other people's dissatisfaction with FP+.

 

[itchin2go]

Thank you for confirming something I have been commenting on for some time. Different people with different levels of park access have different expectations. And it affects their reaction to missing something when they are there. I wish more would consider that before dismissing other people's dissatisfaction with FP+.

I would go a step further, and add "or anything else" to your last sentence. It's easy to surmise everyone is just like you. I have been guilty of it. But if you read (and more specifically "listen"), you can see where others are coming from, and understand why their frustrations, preferences and "likes" are different.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Everybody does that though. Not just the FP+ supporters, but the FP+ detractors, some of whom seem to somehow see the supporters as spoiling their chances of having Disney World decide that they made a big mistake and to put those paper fastpass machines right back where they were.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I'll be the first to admit that I have switched sides. They have definitely tweaked the system and its 100% better. MUCH MUCH better. It was really bad last year though. Even Figment was like 45 min long. And the CMs weren't hiding anything. "What in the world is up with these lines?" "Oh, its the new FP system."

Thank goodness the system now automatically reallocates people around the park per attraction. (It will recommend the same times but opposite attractions, and therefore spread out the FP requests and crowds.) It definitely does work, now. But there are still tiers, and getting worse. GMR goes up against RnRc? What planet are we on....

But heck I moved here, so I better like it lol at least for a year or two!

Still, if I were the OP, I'd go before it gets any worse.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Everybody does that though. Not just the FP+ supporters, but the FP+ detractors, some of whom seem to somehow see the supporters as spoiling their chances of having Disney World decide that they made a big mistake and to put those paper fastpass machines right back where they were.

I would hope that by now even the FP detractors would admit that the old system is gone forever. I think there have been tweaks made since it was first implemented that are improving the outcome in some cases and you are seeing more and more people go from total hate to meh or 'I like it now'. There will always be detractors for any new program. Especially in the beginning. Over time, the detractors either become a smaller percentage of the whole or become silent. Especially if the chance of change is very low. People tend to eventually learn to accept what they cannot change.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I don't think anyone expects legacy to return.

 

[romitaz]

I may offend some in what I'm about to say BUT, I will be pulling up the ole soapbox here. To the OP, the thread title seems very deliberate. A leading title like that, I'm not saying it is in yours, screams troll. You are setting a negative tone without anyone knowing just what it is that is making you "so sad". So, the thread gets a click and you get a platform to air your perceived grievances. For that, I applaud you as I was sucked in as well. On to the "meat" of the discussion. I feel for you and the apparent fear of change. It can be a scary thing. It can also be a wondrous adventure! I for one, am a glass 3/4 full kind of person. Our first trip back after FP+ I was apprehensive as well. Mainly because of what I read here, go figure, BUT I was excited to find out how it was going to go! We loved it. 100% of us from my 6 year old niece that got to see Anna and Elsa, to my 73 year old father who go to ride RnRC with each of his kids and grandkids before he passed a few moths later. At the end of the day, it is all about what you put into it. We prefer to walk into WDW with a sparkle in our eye and a dream in our hearts. Individual mileage may vary. I wish you a wondrous journey into whatever new realm you may venture. I do warn though, it may be different and scary! Keep the ole chin up and try to accept a bit of change in your life.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I see many threads on here that say "Just back! The magic is still there!" or some version of that. This thread is just the opposite of that. Neither feeling is wrong.

 

[North of Mouse]

Can someone explain how FP+ has made them actually not enjoy their vacation over FP-???

Sure, I can explain - for dh & I, that is -
Over 'many' years we enjoyed Disney before FP, then when it was implemented, we could always go to our desired park, designated favorite ride, get a FP, ride the ride (once or twice), leave, go to our next favorite - repeat, etc.

Now, we are required to make advance FP's to get 'one' favorite ride, then add a couple minor rides, and all three have to be used to add any additional FP (IF anything is available).

So now, we ride one of our favorite rides once or twice, if we get there early, then that's basically it for us - no skipping the 2nd, 3rd FP and being able to get a headliner in another park, if available.

So, that's our explanation. We all tour the parks to fit our individual styles, so everyone else can have their own likes/dislikes. No, it hasn't kept us from going to Disney - YET - but coupled with other changes, plus the extreme crowding - we will probably use our AP once more, then it's other destinations for awhile while we consider.

There are no rights/wrongs, because each of us does what is 'right' for our individual families - to each 'their own' thoughts on this.

So to quantify the answer to your question - yes, we do still enjoy Disney - BUT, not as much.

 

[mummabear]

They added a second Dumbo, the Little Mermaid ride and Seven Dwarves Mine Train - lots of additional "bums on seats". Not my choice of new rides, but lots of added capacity.

So they spent an estimated $425K on New Fantasyland and had a net gain of approximately 31K "bums in seats" a day when the average daily attendance is over 47K (and over 70K in summer months) so not even a ride a day a person.....

 

[larryz]

It is very strange to have such an awful fight over who picked what for the FP, and its with the person you shared a womb with.

So much for that mystery...

 

[coolbrook]

OP, You are not sad, you just want to complain and stir up controversy. You said you have tickets in the drawer. Use them. Enjoy. No need to be sad about a possible future ticket pricing reconfiguration. Things have been changing since Disney Parks were first built. Ticket booklets etc. etc. If you like the place, go and have fun. If not be happy you don't have to go. You could always give the tickets to someone who will be happy with them if you are not.

 

[mom2rtk]

Everybody does that though. Not just the FP+ supporters, but the FP+ detractors, some of whom seem to somehow see the supporters as spoiling their chances of having Disney World decide that they made a big mistake and to put those paper fastpass machines right back where they were.

I haven't seen anyone say there was any chance at all of Disney putting the old legacy machines back in. But many of us would sure like to see them make some tweaks.

We like to be ride centric on some days and show centric on other days. How about giving us FP credits that can be used over the course of our stay, like dining credits? Then I could use 6 one day and none the next. Lots of different things they could do.

 

[mom2rtk]

I see many threads on here that say "Just back! The magic is still there!" or some version of that. This thread is just the opposite of that. Neither feeling is wrong.

Yep. Those are fine. But this OP gets called a troll. LOL. That speaks volumes.

 

[mom2rtk]

OP, You are not sad, you just want to complain and stir up controversy. You said you have tickets in the drawer. Use them. Enjoy. No need to be sad about a possible future ticket pricing reconfiguration. Things have been changing since Disney Parks were first built. Ticket booklets etc. etc. If you like the place, go and have fun. If not be happy you don't have to go. You could always give the tickets to someone who will be happy with them if you are not.

If the OP feels they are not getting value for what they are spending, I'm not sure how giving their tickets away is going to help.....

 

[larryz]

Over time, the detractors either become a smaller percentage of the whole or become silent.

Or are driven away and/or silenced.

Especially if the chance of change is very low. People tend to eventually learn to accept what they cannot change.

Nobody here feels there's any realistic chance that WDW will backtrack on MDE/MB/FP+ -- they have too much invested in it. But it's clear to me that WDW continues to optimize the system. There are far fewer stories of disastrous MB failures than there used to be.

I'll give it another year to ripen before I try it.

 

[coolbrook]

If the OP feels they are not getting value for what they are spending, I'm not sure how giving their tickets away is going to help.....

Sounds like they are already sitting in a drawer. Not using them isn't going to help either.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Or are driven away and/or silenced.


Nobody here feels there's any realistic chance that WDW will backtrack on MDE/MB/FP+ -- they have too much invested in it. But it's clear to me that WDW continues to optimize the system. There are far fewer stories of disastrous MB failures than there used to be.

I'll give it another year to ripen before I try it.

I would say that is a wise choice. I never want to be the beta tester for any new system and help them work out the kinks on my dime.