Pandoran problems 4.25.18

[drizgirl]

I didnt plan on having to plan my vacation 180 days (dining) and 60 respectfully...

Disney did this to themselves they MAKE us plan every minute of our vacations so yeah when an entire day of that is off it's not as easy to do over.

you know some people come once in a lifetime right?

I think some people who are blessed to be able to visit often forget some people get one day in a given park every year. Or two. Or lifetime. Of course they're going to be disappointed. And at Disney prices, they probably are going to expect some sort of compensation. Not everyone has an AP. Not everyone is even on a multi day ticket. Some people actually do pay full price for single day tickets. So yes, high prices bring high expectations. .

Entirely a problem of Disney's making. In the past, FP machines would have shut down and stopped distributing FPs when the ride went down. Now people are up at the crack of dawn (or before) to schedule these rides.

 

[larryz]

One thing I've never understood is the huge lines at Guest Relations after something like this. Obviously something unexpected happened and since both attractions are located in the same show building it impacted both of them.

Are people there just to demand some sort of compensation or just to complain? MDE will automatically give you a bonus FastPass on something like that and typically when you get evacuated the CM's are at the exit points handing out paper FP's to use for something else. What more do people expect when they have a mechanical failure of some kind that triggered this that prompts them to want to stand in line at Guest Relations?

The higher the prices, the higher the expectations... and the higher the requirement for guest recovery.

 

[StarshipDisney]

Disney did this to themselves they MAKE us plan every minute of our vacations so yeah when an entire day of that is off it's not as easy to do over.

I can certainly agree with that comment. Disney has made it so that planning is paramount to your vacation. Due to reserved ADRs and FPs, you also cannot easily swap or change days once there without losing same.

After reading this thread...I know things can break down, but if I pay $5K or better for a 7-day vacation that only comes once every few years then it is a big deal if such a breakdown occurs. Disney should bear a high standard. Guess there is nothing to do about it but yes if they had a FP and lost it like this then Disney should at least compensate guest by giving a FP good on any ride in any park at any time. I don't think that would be too much to ask.

 

[matt9112]

I can certainly agree with that comment. Disney has made it so that planning is paramount to your vacation. Due to reserved ADRs and FPs, you also cannot easily swap or change days once there without losing same.

After reading this thread...I know things can break down, but if I pay $5K or better for a 7-day vacation that only comes once every few years then it is a big deal if such a breakdown occurs. Disney should bear a high standard. Guess there is nothing to do about it but yes if they had a FP and lost it like this then Disney should at least compensate guest by giving a FP good on any ride in any park at any time. I don't think that would be too much to ask.

exactly and this is a big break down....rides often close for an hour or two...but all day...that's rare. as such it should be compensated.

 

[MinnieWaffles]

So because a theme park ride goes down and people don't know how fastpass works, Disney is at fault? Why do people use the strawman first timer guest?

 

[Biff215]

So because a theme park ride goes down and people don't know how fastpass works, Disney is at fault? Why do people use the strawman first timer guest?

Honest question, how is it that people don’t know how FP works? In this situation?

 

[matt9112]

So because a theme park ride goes down and people don't know how fastpass works, Disney is at fault? Why do people use the strawman first timer guest?

Disney made these people pick those FP reservations months ago...so yeah that makes it entirely different. I would be in total agreeance if FP+ wasnt involved.

 

[donsullivan]

Well let's just put it this way. They did not give out fastpasses to the EMH line that waited for 4+ hours, even when people were asking for them
The CMs didn't get the authorization to give them out to so many people.

So that is probably why they all went to guest relations.

I've personally never seen them give out a FP to the standby line who had not actually boarded the attraction, ever. I've only ever seen them (attraction does not matter) if you had passed the Tap Point so your FP+ had been redeemed, or if you were on the actual attraction and got evacuated from it. I've never seen them give out free FP's to a guest in the standby line who didn't have one in the first place as a result of the attraction going down. If you had not redeemed your FP, MM+ automatically triggers a 'bonus' FP+ for you when the attraction becomes unavailable. Attractions break down all the time and expecting 'compensation' every time something breaks down seems a little excessively demanding to me.

And before I get the 'you're a local, you don't get it' tag- as I said above, I experienced this condition on multiple days when I was at Disneyland Paris last spring and Big Thunder was down for most of the day on every day of my visit. I never once even considered demanding compensation because the attraction was not available- and that is the absolute best version of Big Thunder ever built (I've ridden them all). And besides, since I can only book FP's 30 days out I can essentially only ride FoP standby anyway.

 

[wdisney9000]

Both attractions were down at opening today. @krisri18 was there at rope drop and reported it on her trip report.

Have both attractions ever gone down for the entire day before?

 

[SiriusBlack]

Both attractions were down at opening today. @krisri18 was there at rope drop and reported it on her trip report.

Have both attractions ever gone down for the entire day before?

Its pretty ridiculous and embarrassing. I'd be so upset if I were going there today.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Disney made these people pick those FP reservations months ago...so yeah that makes it entirely different. I would be in total agreeance if FP+ wasnt involved.

Whether people had FPs for FoP, or, given a world where FPs don't exist, that day was their DAK day... they'd miss out. Absent FPs, what were they going to do, skip their MK day to go to DAK a second day?

The 60-day planning straw man is not really a straw man. It's illogical anti-FP rage that gets trotted out as often as haters can even when it really doesn't make sense because... RAGE!

Nevermind the fact the existence of people that actually want to plan their vacation and aren't exactly being forced into it.

 

[mikejs78]

What if you had paid for a one-day ticket to DAK for today for a family of 4? What is that with the taxes? Close to $500. (And yes people buy one-day tickets) You would be ok with that? You wouldn't go to GS?

No, I wouldnt. Stuff happens. There's enough other stuff to do at AK. If you're just going for Pandora, you're doing it wrong.

Edit: And I'm one who only gets to WDW every couple of years. Sure, I'd be disappointed if this happened to me.. I'd probably ask for an anytime FastPass... But demand cash comp? I'm not that entitled...

 

[tnemgif]

The entire land was also closed off for the first 1-2 hours after EMH opening at 8am, while the rides stayed closed all day.

Due to the closings, I wanted to change dinner reservations and was initially told that I would be charged a cancellation fee. So I waited 2 hours at guest services to change dinner reservations. Only 3 of 4 guest service terminals were staffed. They offered me free day passes, which I politely declined, since I live in the northeast and will never use a single day pass.

I asked to swap my fastpass to Friday and was told “that is too hard” for them to process. Eventually, they allowed me to switch my fastpass. The CM was very friendly and we happily chatted through the pain.

I understand that these situations happen with any business and that the CMs are affected worse than the visitors. But Disney’s management of today’s situation put both guests and CMs in a very unpleasant situation.

 

[SiriusBlack]

The entire land was also closed off for the first 1-2 hours after EMH opening at 8am, while the rides stayed closed all day.

Due to the closings, I wanted to change dinner reservations and was initially told that I would be charged a cancellation fee. So I waited 2 hours at guest services to change dinner reservations. Only 3 of 4 guest service terminals were staffed. They offered me free day passes, which I politely declined, since I live in the northeast and will never use a single day pass.

I asked to swap my fastpass to Friday and was told “that is too hard” for them to process. Eventually, they allowed me to switch my fastpass. The CM was very friendly and we happily chatted through the pain.

I understand that these situations happen with any business and that the CMs are affected worse than the visitors. But Disney’s management of today’s situation put both guests and CMs in a very unpleasant situation.

Really sorry to hear that drum. But that shows there are legit reasons to talk to guest services. Closing a land in any park will do that. Especially the newest hottest land

 

[MinnieWaffles]

Disney made these people pick those FP reservations months ago...so yeah that makes it entirely different. I would be in total agreeance if FP+ wasnt involved.

And? They MADE them pick FPs? You aren't MADE to do anything. In fact, if you don't want to do a FP you've booked, amazingly you can just skip it.

 

[matt9112]

Whether people had FPs for FoP, or, given a world where FPs don't exist, that day was their DAK day... they'd miss out. Absent FPs, what were they going to do, skip their MK day to go to DAK a second day?

The 60-day planning straw man is not really a straw man. It's illogical anti-FP rage that gets trotted out as often as haters can even when it really doesn't make sense because... RAGE!

Nevermind the fact the existence of people that actually want to plan their vacation and aren't exactly being forced into it.

the old way ALLLOWS you to yes switch your days if you needed to. you might be thinking that's unrealistic but I think it is entirely reasonable. if somebody came here for pandora they want to see it.

your right your not forced to plan. just like the army isn't forced to use weapons but it puts you at a statistical disadvantage that makes no sense. obviously that's an odd analogy but it still stands. not planning leaves you so far below the new norm in what you will do and see. god forbid you want to sit down to eat at any park besides epcot good luck.

 

[matt9112]

And? They MADE them pick FPs? You aren't MADE to do anything. In fact, if you don't want to do a FP you've booked, amazingly you can just skip it.

the ecosystem Disney has created for vacation planning ALL but holds a gun to your head to get the most of your trip. its heavily advertised and marketed and there is a near impossible chance of you getting a FP for that ride the same day of so i think it's pretty "forced" to be clear standby guests have a valid complaint for the same reasons even if they didn't have a FP they likely have plans for the rest of there trip in concrete (possibly other parks with FP) and they too loose on that flexibility. but this scenario is more like any six flags ride breaking you didn't get a little picture with a time next to it saying your riding x in 60 days.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Hopefully there won’t be these issues when SW:GE opens. Just think of the freak outs that would take place if this would happen.

 

[SiriusBlack]

And? They MADE them pick FPs? You aren't MADE to do anything. In fact, if you don't want to do a FP you've booked, amazingly you can just skip it.

Sorry but they do make you plan and choose fps to optimize your experience. In a park with few other ride options, losing your top choice e ticket ride makes you lose a lot of value. You can do something else but the experience is greatly diminished.

Honestly surprised people are so defensive of Disney closing 2 new big rides for an entire day. That is bad.

 

[DisneyCane]

I've personally never seen them give out a FP to the standby line who had not actually boarded the attraction, ever. I've only ever seen them (attraction does not matter) if you had passed the Tap Point so your FP+ had been redeemed, or if you were on the actual attraction and got evacuated from it. I've never seen them give out free FP's to a guest in the standby line who didn't have one in the first place as a result of the attraction going down. If you had not redeemed your FP, MM+ automatically triggers a 'bonus' FP+ for you when the attraction becomes unavailable. Attractions break down all the time and expecting 'compensation' every time something breaks down seems a little excessively demanding to me.

And before I get the 'you're a local, you don't get it' tag- as I said above, I experienced this condition on multiple days when I was at Disneyland Paris last spring and Big Thunder was down for most of the day on every day of my visit. I never once even considered demanding compensation because the attraction was not available- and that is the absolute best version of Big Thunder ever built (I've ridden them all). And besides, since I can only book FP's 30 days out I can essentially only ride FoP standby anyway.

Months ago I was on standby for 2+ hours for FOP when the fire alarm issue caused both attractions to close. I went to guest relations (along with hundreds of other people). They put anytime FP+ for the day in MDE so we could ride later.