Spirited News and Observations and Opinions ...

@RSoxNo1 I would implement an empty FP+ window towards the end of the day to allow for potential downtime. Although I truly believe they will end up going to a similar model they currently have. Go to a kiosk tap your band and get the time. Or something like that. The big difference would be that the 'reload' time for another FP would vary on your vacation package. ie. deluxe have 45 min reloads and value have 75 min reloads... Off site have 2 hour. Something like that.

And they could also give you FP+ for Small World or Philhamagic or something that is not filled up at the time. I assume they could integrate the phone app to send you a message saying Splash Mountain is going to be down during your reservation and suggesting available FP+ reservations to replace it. Then as availability permits they could make you eligible to rebook Splash later in the day.

I was ready for them to bring FP and some other aspects of the resort a step forward into the 21st century. I've grown sort of tired of the idea of the FP "runner", darting all over the park to get the attraction you want to ride then making a return trip later when you can actually ride. I would LOVE if you just open up your smartphone while you're in the park and pick a time for a FP on the other side of the park when you're actually planning on being over there instead of the FP ruling your day. Actually take the time to experience each land instead of doing it all piecemeal. I don't know why there have to be three Downtown Disney buses pulling up to an empty queue at Pop before the next Magic Kingdom bus shows up. I would love if you could "check-in" at bus stops or tell Disney "party of 4 heading to the Pop bus stop at DAK".

I wanted a step forward. What we're getting is four steps in a direction that I'm not entirely sure is forward.

I've been a member of this site for 8 years, and have NEVER seen such negativity. It's just sad, that's all.

I see it as healthy discussion.

Maybe the folks being negative have never seen WDW is such sad shape. I don't believe we are just making it up to be negative.

Actually, I never once said that they were speaking for everyone. In regards to that statement, it pertained to pass holders such as myself. The people who go all the time, and want to be able to try out the new system. I'm sorry that you feel like you have to be rude simply because someone has a different opinion than your own.

It's not as if anything said here will make a difference in the operation of WDW. I think it serves as good therapy for the critics so they can let off some steam.

Nextgen and FP+ seem to be very passionate topics and probably justly so. The amount of money spent exceeds entire parks. This is pretty much the largest investment in WDW since EPCOT. I have a bigger problem when people nitpick small things and blow them up into big issues or just look for problems in anything new like FLE. There was more pure, unjustified negativity in the threads about Casey Jr Splash Zone than this one. Some of the people who are complaining about NextGen do have valid arguments or at least you can see where they are coming from even if you don't agree IMHO.

No, an educated consumer isn't their best customer. . Disney isn't doing this for the "educated consumer". They're doing it for the regular park guest. The families that make Disney a once in a lifetime event. They have no concept of "the way it was" because they didn't experience it AND THEY DON'T CARE. Disney could require guests go through an obstacle course and people would still go. They know this. People go to the new Test Track without any knowledge that it was anything but that way since it opened. Likewise, when the system is fully operational, there will be guests who show up who have no idea that it hasn't been like that since day one. I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that all guests do hours of research before coming to the park. I could have sworn that people show up to the park I work for, and legitimately think they're in Disney World and ask where Mickey is. Wow!

Given the cost of a Disney vacation and the plethora of planning information available now, I think the "regular park guest" no longer just shows up.

Or is utterly oblivious. But, some can hope....

But you see, you just listed what concerns so many people on here. On the one hand, you have the uneducated Disney guest who come to WDW once in their life with little research. And since they didn't read up on it, they have no clue what kind of personal information they're signing away their rights of privacy to, for themselves and for their minor children. On the other hand, their experience at WDW is potentially diminished because they failed to book their FP reservations six months earlier and thus they have to wait in the regular line with all the other uneducated guests! That's why there is so much concern about NG on here.

What's so wrong with Disney knowing that your child likes Tinkerbell and visited her last year, and in turn Tinkerbell knowing the child's name and being able to tell them they remember him/her? Wouldn't that make for a positive guest experience? Also, I was pretty convinced in their announcement it was stated you didn't have to plan FP in advance, nor did you have to use the system at all. FP will still be available even if you didn't plan them ahead of time.

I can see it now......

CM: "Ah Mr. smith, we hope you enjoyed your visit to Splittsville last night....I see you rolled a perfect game on lane 10."
Mr. Smith - "I didn't go to Splittseville last night. I was back in our room sick."
CM: " Well Mr Smith, Magic never lies and our new system does confirm you were at Splittsville bowling with another female guest who isn't on your reservation, while the remainder of your party was enjoying the fireworks at the MK."
CM: "Mrs. Smith, we can provide detailed info to help with the divorce for a nominal fee. "

Not beyond the realm of possibility. EZ-pass (toll system up in the northeast) has been used by divorce lawyers to prove infidelity. When the husband says he was in a business meeting in Philadelphia that night but the EZ-pass shows he took the bridge to NJ where the mistress lives he's busted. The moral of the story is if you plan on cheating on your spouse while on vacation at WDW go to CityWalk

Irony. The problem with the idea of people just going to see WDW without doing tons of prior planning with this new system is they might get left out of seeing the best attractions.

Also, the reason why there's such negativity is that Disney isn't seeming to keep up with park maintnenace or infrastructure, quality is declining in a lot of areas. So instead of spending part of the $1-2 Billion from NextGen in getting new monorails which are badly needed, or fixing the falling debris and animatronics that never work, they're invested everything into this new system that a lot of people have concerns about. This system which only seems to help Disney's data mining more than the overall guest experience.

I don't need my children to be ridiculously catered to and that's what all of this reeks of. We have a major problem in this country of over-inflating children's egos and sense of self worth, which is psychology one of the worst things that you actually do for a child. See, little Becky thinks that she's so important that her favorite princess remembers her by name. You get what I'm saying? Just like my kids getting trophies for every sport that they play in. They're participation trophies. I remember when you got a trophy because you earned something, now everyone gets one. I have no problem with some memento for participating, but it's another example of this completely out of sorts culture of me, myself, and I. It's all summed up with the notion of "I'm special."

I'm indifferent to the RFID tracking details, but do know that I'm not going to wear a wristband. No thanks, however, they at least will have a card workaround.

You're right about FP, but that's another area to be realistic about. More FP, more lines for non-FP. More tiered systems. I feel bad for the people (and yes, there are still many) that don't have/use smartphones, etc., and are shut out of the process.

Again, I think that it's funny that once you get down to the nuts and bolts of everything and with all the discussion, this is all about revenue. It's all about playing into the self-absorbed parents and their children in order to pad the profit margins all the while not addressing the gaping holes in their product. Product at WDW that used to be defined as attractions, not gimmicks and meet and greets.

Just take a look at a typical tourist in most parts of Asia and here in States. I'm not advocating wearing a suit or formal attire to visit a theme park, although many years ago that was standard fare, but people for the most part are sloppy messes and have no dignity. It's quite the reflection on American society as a whole.

I agree with your post, but don't you see this is a major reason why WDW is going in the direction it is? They can dumb-down their offerings whether it be a lack of new shows, parades, etc, keep their attractions barely maintained, and can offer little new, while charging more because the average guest only goes once or twice in their life and hardly does any research into what WDW is or where they are even going.