I've been to WDW during some pretty busy times and rarely have ever had a problem getting into most shows last-minute.
Well, per Disney's webpage, FP+ is supposed to be both a time-saver and something more.
This is a long way of saying they're deceiving guests because they don't have the roster of true Fastpass attractions to accommodate 3 per guest per day.FP+ for shows and attractions that don't need them is partly about *perceived* value-- hey, look at all this great stuff you can get FP+ for! What actual value that has is debatable and, as others have said, it depends on the guests.
But let me make an argument that FP+ for shows and minor attractions does add value for everyone using the system. It allows Disney to spread out the total FP demand. By dilluting the pool with "unnecessary" attractions, more FP *return slots* are available for major attractions because a percentage of users, due to ignorance or even personal preferences, are choosing the minors instead of the E-tickets.
Space Mountain can only have X number of FP slots per day due to fixed capacity-- there's a point where you cannot load more than a fixed number of riders per hour. I would also argue that the "optimal" number of FPs distributed each day is less than X-- because at some point too many people in FP lines will not only make the FP line unreasonably long, it will also increase standby times beyond tolerability.
So how do you give the most guests the most value? By spreading out demand on the FP system-- in effect, taking potential FP users away from Space Mountain and distributing them across several minor attractions instead.
Think of it this way... if there are 30,000 FP participants on a given day, and the only FP available is Space Mountain, the FPs for Space Mountain would sell out too quickly and many guests would be left unsatisfied-- without any value to show for their participation in the system.
But take that same pool of 30k guests and give them a dozen FPs to choose from, and the stress is spread across the ride capacity numbers for the entire park.
This mode of operation relies heavily on a set percentage of guests making uninformed or "unique" choices. But even those choices have some perceived value (at least when they're made) and that helps allow those who want to FP Space Mountain get they value *they* want out of the system. So by spreading out demand across capacity park-wide, the system can allow more value for everyone who uses it.
In the end it is still a shell game and the only real solution is to decrease attendance or add real capacity. What value a guest sees in his choice when the standby line for a show is just as short as the FP line is indeed debatable. How long the system can hold up over time is also up for debate, as guests slowly become more educated on how best to work the system.
Sorry for the long-winded post
This is the same argument people make defending the Dining Plan, "we recognize we're not saving money but we like the convenience." I know people think this way, and it's really the only justifiable reason for Fastpass at the 21-23 attractions I listed on most days. So while I think it's a poor reason, it's a reason nonetheless.
Right, I've established that Fastpass was motivated by guest satisfaction while Fastpass+ is motivated by money.
That's the thing, I think there's at least a chance that us as fans can still help shape this system. It's important to be vocal about what you want. I think you framed it correctly by saying we want the same thing it's just how we get there that differs. Having said that, I maintain you wrote, "let's just agree to disagree" to annoy me.
The thing is, when Iger or Staggs speak about FP+, they talk about "Disney World guests who want a more seamless vacation experience will have the ability to plan the details of their visit ahead of time" and "the ability to make reservations on some of our most popular attractions; or, more importantly, some of their favorite attractions".I can agree with that
That makes me happy and more relaxed about my trip, that matters to me.
Many don't see the value in those choices, but WDW is counting on the fact that some do. It's an integral component of FP+ that a few guests are "deceived" to make a larger number of other guests happy.
Not really deception across the board, because as TX has pointed out, some see genuine value in FPs most of us would question. Or in MagicBands. Or pin trading. Or standing in line 5 hours to see a character. Or dropping in on a busy day to see Stitch's Great Escape at 12 noon without waiting in line because that's what the kids are begging for, and you sure want to work in that afternoon nap.
I am only guessing, but I would suppose WDW is hoping to use FP+ to spread out the crowds at their discretion, hopefully resulting in lower total daily wait times for most guests. That's why they "suggest" FP return times instead of letting you choose your own from the get-go. It's audacious and totally fascinating when you think about it.
The one constant in the WDW universe is that the best-informed guests still have an advantage. FP+ may alter how much of an advantage but that advantage still exists. Yes, it is largely a shell game. Under the old "house rules" I would have thought a FP for Pirates was ludicrous. But WDW has changed the house rules, and under their new rules, that FP+ I had for Pirates two weeks ago sure had a lot of value for me and my family. EDIT: Did I like it better when average wait times for Pirates were shorter before FP+? Yes, absolutely. But I also like getting to ride Test Track, Soarin or TSMM while sleeping in or arriving mid-afternoon. The new system is the New WDW Order, for now at least, so intelligent and informed guests will naturally find the best way possible to negotiate the parks while using the system to their advantage. That's what we do-- and I'll wager for some of us, it's the thrill of the chase as much as the thrill of the rides themselves.
The real issue is capacity, and they will have to address the problem sooner or later. Unless they are using FP+ (and its limited value for day guests) to deliberately upset a critical number of guests with the ultimate goal of actually *reducing* attendance. That seems a bit cynical, even for me, but the current parking prices for day guests has to make you wonder....
