PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Which in turn begs the question of "Where's the fun in that?" Where's the spontinety? Who wants to schedule everything?
They're taking the fun out of everything.
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News and observations from the past month
- Thread starter marni1971
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Which in turn begs the question of "Where's the fun in that?" Where's the spontinety? Who wants to schedule everything?
They're taking the fun out of everything.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
There wasn't a lot of fun in having to be at Epcot before 9:45 just to get a FP time for your family earlier than 5:00. Even then, that's not what I'd call sponteniety, just predictable inconvenience, unnecissary now that we have a better system.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
They operate rides on a daily basis at reduced capacity. Stuff like running one load side of Big Thunder.
And having recently talked to a front line CM, I know for a fact that FP+ is causing a major increase in the Stand By lines. The major issue is that they are having a difficult time getting some of the bands to "read". Some people are having to try and swipe the band multiple time the try tapping, them eventually having to take the band off and basically cup their hand around it while pressing the thing against the reader. It has gotten to the point where some CMs are not even checking validity and just letting anyone with a band that walks into the FP+ queue get on. I know someone who rode Space 4 times without a single FP+ ressie . They just walked through the queue, showed the CM their band and were waved through. They did this, not because they actually wanted to ride, but because they wanted to see if they could. With anyone simply walking into the FP+ line ressie or not, the stand by line is taking a beating.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Same for my family. No Disney APs since 2010, UOR APs every year.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Mannheim Steamroller plays free Christmas concerts at Universal Studios Florida along with Macy's Holiday Parade and Grinchmas.
nor'easter
Well-Known Member
At least it was still possible. Now you'll have to reserve months (!!!) in advance or forget it.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
UNI is not on the tour schedule this year - If incorrect please point me to a link
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
But in many cases standby used to be on the order of 45 minutes and 10-15 minutes if you used the single rider lines at Epcot. If you have a Premier Passport currently it CANNOT BE LINKED to MDE so no FastpassMinus for holders of Disney's most expensive ticket media.
The fix 'Just buy a MMW ticket' #FAIL on so many levels
GoofGoof
Premium Member
You are not alone in thinking that. The real question is if enough people have that reaction will they tweak the system. They could easily hold back a small percentage of FP reservations and only make them available on the day of. This would help bring back some spontaneity. You would still need to reserve at say 9am if that is when the extras get released, but it would at least provide an option for someone who isn't going to decide which park to go to until the day of. I know part of the benefit of the system is knowing where people are going in advance, but if you do this for a small percentage (say 10%) of the reservations you will still know where the majority of people will be. It really depends on whether Disney actually cares about the "spontaneous" guest's experience and that will depend on how much money they think they will loose by ignoring their needs. Morale of the story is if you go and spend a bunch of money make sure you complain about not having an opportunity to book same day FP. Money talks.
kittybubbles
Active Member
https://www.universalorlando.com/Events/Holidays/Macys-Holiday-Parade.aspx
This appears to be for this year as 12/7 is a Saturday
FigmentJedi
Well-Known Member
CDavid
Well-Known Member
What is this better system you speak of? I'm only aware of MM+, and that certainly isn't a better anything...
Seriously though, as pointed out previously, there are really only a couple of attractions at Epcot where FP was arguably necessary. You are probably going to lose more time out of your day showing up early to get a FP (if you would otherwise spend that time in another activity) than you lose just waiting standby. It's hardly going to kill your day to wait standby sometimes, so long as the standby queues aren't outrageous (now, with FP+, they may be).
xdan0920
Think for yourselfer
Better system for some....
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
Cool - THANK YOU!
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
What is this better system you speak of? I'm only aware of MM+, and that certainly isn't a better anything...
Seriously though, as pointed out previously, there are really only a couple of attractions at Epcot where FP was arguably necessary. You are probably going to lose more time out of your day showing up early to get a FP (if you would otherwise spend that time in another activity) than you lose just waiting standby. It's hardly going to kill your day to wait standby sometimes, so long as the standby queues aren't outrageous (now, with FP+, they may be).
Can't count how many times did test track in standby, even during peak seasons it rarely exceeded an hour but now with FP- driving queues at IASW and POTC to 30minutes plus in the OFF season where the wait was usually the time it took to walk the length of the queue I can't imagine what standby waits will be.
Zac Skellington
Well-Known Member
A better system? Hardly...
How about offer more, and improved attractions to spread the guests out? Fix Imagination. Replace the horrible Lion King thing in The Land pavilion. Do SOMETHING with Wonders of Life pavilion! Open World Showcase earlier. Add a damn country already, and put a flipping attraction in it, for a change.....
Long lines at Soarin', solved!
JenniferS
When you're the leader, you don't have to follow.
My nephew and I did TT twice last week - once with FP+ and once Single Rider.
FP+, including the 5 minute design process took more than 20 minutes, and we actually rode later than the folks who entered the Stand-by line at the same time as us. I know this, as there was a particularly tall gentleman wearing a Hummer t-shirt (hubby has the same one from TT four years ago) entering Stand-by at the same time we entered the FP+ line. When we entered the post-ride area, he was already sitting in one of the show cars having his photo taken.
Next time around, we took the Single Rider option, walked through the empty queue, and were seated immediately! In and out in less than 10.
On another note, Test Track was still closed when we were there last year, so this was our first time since the refurb. Big - giant - meh!! I know the kids like the Sim-car design, but even my 11 year old nephew felt the design process was a one and done! Oh look at the pretty tree-shaped lights .... That's it?
And now you can't even buy the yellow Hummer t-shirts anymore, as Hummer is not a Chevrolet product. Son #1 swiped hubby's tee, and he really wanted a new one.