No one knows how all of this is going to play out until it is fully implemented and everyone (who wants to be) are on the system and using them
Everything else is just speculation and I'd venture a guess that 75% that are negative about it have never tried them and 50% of them probably hate any type of change in life
There are so many possibilities (yes positive ones too) that they have barely even scratched the surface on so why don't we all take a deep breath and be open minded.
What would message boards look like when they first introduced extra magic hours to resort guests only, or extra ticketed events for holidays, etc.
As one of the "25%" that is "negative" and has tried the system, I would say that Disney certainly did an injustice to its loyal guests who were persuaded into believing testing MM+ would enhance their vacation, when the overall results, especially our own, were far from the Disney magic we come to expect.
The true test will be peak seasons. I'm glad that some of the kinks have been worked out and the reviews have become more positive. But as you say, a full determination cannot be made until the system runs with a packed resort. January is one of the slowest months, so it shouldn't be an issue for guests to book FP+, ADRs, and other things relatively close to their vacation times. I wonder what will happen for families going for the first time, or used to 'winging-it' on vacations when suddenly FP times are filled up, lines are 60+ mins, and unnecessary stress is added to the vacation.
Sure, it's easy to just to tell those families "Tough luck, you should have been on top of things" or "You shouldn't have entered into MM+" but while those answers are valid, it's certainly not a formula for positive vacation reviews....
Long time visitors might find it aggravating to be forced to book what time they are going to ride Space Mountain weeks to months in advance, when they used to just ride whenever they felt like it. While MM+ seems to help first timers not feel overwhelmed, the opposite could occur in which the first time guests feel too overwhelmed by all the planning, the timings, and the schedules. I'm on a work schedule all the time. If I'm going to Disney World for the first time, the last thing I want on vacation is to be on a schedule. I would rather relax. But everyone is different. If the system works for you, then go for it! This is just our family's perspective.
And for the people who come down once every 2-4 years, they might just say "This is too much planning and work, forget this...I'm going to Uni, or somewhere else"
While I hope this system works and works successfully to please most if not all guests, as someone who loves WDW, MM+ isn't something that excites me to visit. I can't see myself going "Wow, i can't wait to have my nose in my phone throughout the park checking FP+ times, the mobile app, and decorate my wristband!" (for a small fee...
). Sure, we will return despite MM+ because we love the place, but I think Disney is taking advantage of that fact with their loyal guests. I can just hear upper management say "Oh don't worry, that family had a bad trip? They come down every year, they'll be back" There is no reward for loyalty in WDW. Everywhere you go, retail, food-stores, hotels, etc, they all have rewards points. How come WDW doesn't do this? Are we missing out on something? How come someone who has visited his whole life isn't given any incentives to return? What? Is the incentive nostalgia? Knowing WDW upper management...I wouldn't be surprised if that was the answer.
Walt Disney warned about resting on your laurels. There's only so many times I can ride with a dirty Soarin' screen, pass Disco Yeti, or look at countless pavilions and locations sit empty throughout the parks and resorts before I get sick of it. I hope that day doesn't come.
