I don't know why anyone thinks that a public accommodation that is highly sought after and could easily be overrun by huge mobs of people crowding counters, queues, and restaurants wouldn't have systems in place to control the crowd.
You want to get a burger at McDonald's? Just drive to any one. Since they specialize in fast food, they have more locations and higher output than can be overwhelmed by demand. You want to eat at the best restaurant in New York City, however, or see the most popular Broadway play? You had better plan more than 6 months in advance, or, be prepared to pay a huge premium for more instant access. Or, keep showing up and being turned away.
It's the law of supply and demand. Disney didn't invent market forces, but has to manage it.
None of you really wants a world where Disney tickets are $10 a day and APs are $150 a year and there are no ADRs or Fastpasses or buying tickets online. You'd show up to a full parking lot. And if you get in, you'd have hours long lines at the ticketing booths. And hours long line for all the 'mountain' rides. And hours long line for any sit-down restaurant.
Disney isn't the enemy. It's everyone else wanting to go to Disney and competing with you for service -- they're your enemy for quick and easy service. Disney tries to democratize the process with online first-come-first-serve reservations, which is a heck of a lot better than that happening in person in huge mobs in the Florida heat. It's a system that is inherently complicated because managing millions of guests is inherently complicated if you don't want throngs of people at the gates and lines constantly at the risk of trampling people to death (cf. Black Friday and first-come stadium events).
You want to get a burger at McDonald's? Just drive to any one. Since they specialize in fast food, they have more locations and higher output than can be overwhelmed by demand. You want to eat at the best restaurant in New York City, however, or see the most popular Broadway play? You had better plan more than 6 months in advance, or, be prepared to pay a huge premium for more instant access. Or, keep showing up and being turned away.
It's the law of supply and demand. Disney didn't invent market forces, but has to manage it.
None of you really wants a world where Disney tickets are $10 a day and APs are $150 a year and there are no ADRs or Fastpasses or buying tickets online. You'd show up to a full parking lot. And if you get in, you'd have hours long lines at the ticketing booths. And hours long line for all the 'mountain' rides. And hours long line for any sit-down restaurant.
Disney isn't the enemy. It's everyone else wanting to go to Disney and competing with you for service -- they're your enemy for quick and easy service. Disney tries to democratize the process with online first-come-first-serve reservations, which is a heck of a lot better than that happening in person in huge mobs in the Florida heat. It's a system that is inherently complicated because managing millions of guests is inherently complicated if you don't want throngs of people at the gates and lines constantly at the risk of trampling people to death (cf. Black Friday and first-come stadium events).
