Some complaints are valid.....some not so much

[epcot2004]

Haven't used it, but FPplus seems like a good system ONLY if you plan accordingly. I, for one, think it spoils the spontaneity of a Disney World vacation. I'd like the freedom to say "you know what? Let's do Epcot tomorrow and do Magic Kingdom today, instead of the other way around"...for whatever reason. Seems kind too regimented, this new way. And the idea of having appointments...so you get on a ride faster, whatever...seems like it would cause a lot of unneeded anxiety. I like the first come first serve original FP kiosk system. Kept everything equal. I know you don't HAVE to use the new FPplus, but it seems like there's really no choice unless you want to wait hours for rides. Sometimes I wonder if having no fast pass would bring back a long lost feeling of reward for waiting patiently and getting to the front of a line. How did we do it in the 80's??

Nope. We were there over Thanksgiving and had a day of rain so hard it was shooting up out of the drains in the ground! We moved all of our Tuesday FP to another day (was supposed to be our day off from the parks) with no issues whatsoever.

 

[EnergyKing]

Good to know! Thanks

 

[sjhym333]

Nope. We were there over Thanksgiving and had a day of rain so hard it was shooting up out of the drains in the ground! We moved all of our Tuesday FP to another day (was supposed to be our day off from the parks) with no issues whatsoever.

That is why I keep telling people to stop stressing about the whole FP thing.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Lol, seriously? There are several counter-service restaurants there, most of them actually pretty good and none of which require reservations...and you're saying "We could not be served" and that you were "denied food service"?

A bit overdramatic and ridiculous don't you think? It is very possible to eat without having a waiter in a sit-down location,

We thought of that after we couldn't get a table and swung by the Backlot Express and it was bursting at the seams with people. So we headed to the Fairfax Market area and it was so crowded people were standing and eating by the trash cans so they could set their drinks on top of the trash cans and hold their plates while they ate.
We declined the available options and left property and had a nice dinner.

 

[totchos]

I don't understand why people are making such a fuss about fastpass+. I just do my fastpasses the day before my trip or the day of (which takes 5 minutes) then I screenshot the times so I don't forget the times. The additional fastpasses after my original 3 are done at the kiosk so I really don't understand why people are using their phones so much in the parks. On my last trip this month I managed to get 8 fastpasses and I could have easily gotten ten or more if I wanted to. The trick is to make your first 3 for the morning so you can get more throughout the day. Personally, I love the new system and the only time I ever use my phone in the parks is to take pictures of the amazing details.

 

[EnergyKing]

It's a reasonable worry for those who aren't Disney pros and have only just learned about the new system. There are a lot of articles detailing the cons (which outweigh the pros) of Fast Pass plus. So really, there's a less snarky way to educate those who don't go to Disney multiple times a year, whose last trip may have been a decade ago.

 

[BrianV]

I don't understand why people are making such a fuss about fastpass+. I just do my fastpasses the day before my trip or the day of (which takes 5 minutes) then I screenshot the times so I don't forget the times. The additional fastpasses after my original 3 are done at the kiosk so I really don't understand why people are using their phones so much in the parks. On my last trip this month I managed to get 8 fastpasses and I could have easily gotten ten or more if I wanted to. The trick is to make your first 3 for the morning so you can get more throughout the day. Personally, I love the new system and the only time I ever use my phone in the parks is to take pictures of the amazing details.

Alternatively, book fastpasses for big rides mid day. Then when you come to the park in the am, go on the low priority rides knowing you can go on the others later. And you don't need to mess with more fast passes.

 

[flynnibus]

Lol, seriously? There are several counter-service restaurants there, most of them actually pretty good and none of which require reservations...and you're saying "We could not be served" and that you were "denied food service"?

You know... sometimes people actually want to get served and have a relaxing meal.. instead of getting fast food served on paper plates. It's not like saying "I wanted italian and all they had was french" - we're talking entirely different dining experiences.

 

[216bruce]

You know... sometimes people actually want to get served and have a relaxing meal.. instead of getting fast food served on paper plates. It's not like saying "I wanted italian and all they had was french" - we're talking entirely different dining experiences.

 

[GrandRoyale]

You know... sometimes people actually want to get served and have a relaxing meal.. instead of getting fast food served on paper plates. It's not like saying "I wanted italian and all they had was french" - we're talking entirely different dining experiences.

Ok, but not having your preference available is a lot different than being "denied food". The possibility of eating was still there. I mean, where do you draw the line? If you can't get a table on New Year's Eve along I Drive, do you write off I Drive as the worst place ever or accept that things are booked and find somewhere else to eat?

 

[flynnibus]

Ok, but not having your preference available is a lot different than being "denied food". The possibility of eating was still there. I mean, where do you draw the line? If you can't get a table on New Year's Eve along I Drive, do you write off I Drive as the worst place ever or accept that things are booked and find somewhere else to eat?

You're overlooking the disgust over the fact they would not take guests even though the facility was not operating at full capacity. It's anger over being turned away spited by the fact they claim they had no space even though they aren't running the services at full steam.

He's not just upset over the place being busy... but how its being managed and operated.

 

[Gabe1]

You're overlooking the disgust over the fact they would not take guests even though the facility was not operating at full capacity. It's anger over being turned away spited by the fact they claim they had no space even though they aren't running the services at full steam.

He's not just upset over the place being busy... but how its being managed and operated.

We saw this multiple times during our last trip. Via Napole was by far the worst. Peoples ADRs running behind, more than half the restaurant empty, tables not bussed (we were sat next to a non bussed table our whole meal).

I wonder if the kitchens themselves are the real issue. If they cannot keep up with how quickly ADRs are turning the tables over, they just cut down the amount of ADRs.

So much of the staff in all the restaurants are now College Program students. I don't fault the CPs, it is a rough gig for little pay. But these CPs and International Students are not seasoned restaurant veterans and the turn over is a couple times a year. Given the cost of any table service restaurant in WDW Disney is shooting themselves in the foot by increasing the amount of CPs and Internationals dramatically to cut their overhead down. Long run, we all saw it before this new way of staffing, they could run at capacity.

We saw it at check in too at the FQ. Training 6 new internationals. Our dining plan fell off, mugs and couldn't figure out balance due and kept running the credit card through. I got a text warning from my bank while standing in the lobby. They had run the balance due 4x trying to get the hang of it. I had to call the bank to find out what was happening at check in.

 

[Magenta Panther]

So... you're saying that you didn't actually USE Fastpass+...yet you know that you don't like it and that it doesn't work. Interesting...

I looked into using Fastpass+ at one of the kiosks at WDW. Looked like a pain in the butt, and I was there to have fun. I don't even take my cellphone into the parks. I want to leave the real world behind. Wouldn't it be nice if EVERY guest did that, instead of taking photos with their iPad during Wishes (and holding them up so they obstruct the view of the people behind them) and texting during Philharmagic?

Oh, and you know what? I had dinner at Be Our Guest on my last visit, and NO, I didn't book it. I couldn't book it - it was booked solid prior to my visit. But one day I walked up to the BOG gate, asked the CM if it were at all possible to get in, and he said, "You can get in right now if you like." Now THAT'S what I call Disney magic. Spontaneity works!

Bottom line, hate the bands, hate the bloated cost of the stupid system which was money that could have been much better spent on other things. But then Walt's not in charge of the Disney company, Iger is, and all he cares about is merchandising.

As for going to WDW with kids...I first visited WDW as a kid with my parents. We had a great time and did everything we wanted to do (stayed a week, as I remember). I had no issues with standing in line for a ride, even though I didn't have a cell phone to text my brains out with. Delayed gratification was a thing, then. It built patience and maturity. So if someone takes their kids to WDW and all they do is complain and whine and text because they gotta WAAAAIIIITTTT, and the parents do nothing about that (except blame the parks, of course)then nuts to them, they don't deserve the place, don't ever take them there again. The rest of the guests who DO appreciate will be thankful. And that's that.

 

[NearTheEars]

You're overlooking the disgust over the fact they would not take guests even though the facility was not operating at full capacity. It's anger over being turned away spited by the fact they claim they had no space even though they aren't running the services at full steam.

He's not just upset over the place being busy... but how its being managed and operated.

Not trying to give them a pass, but this very thing happens at our local Chilis constantly. You can see the sea of open booths but still have to sit there with your little buzzer for 15 minutes. They also always say it's a staffing issue and they can only seat so many people per server yada yada yada.

At least there, though, you don't get completely turned away.

Side note:
I was very surprised our party of 6 walked up to San Angel and were seated in seconds on Thanksgiving weekend. Different park, with tons more dining options, though.

 

[NearTheEars]

We saw this multiple times during our last trip. Via Napole was by far the worst. Peoples ADRs running behind, more than half the restaurant empty, tables not bussed (we were sat next to a non bussed table our whole meal).

I wonder if the kitchens themselves are the real issue. If they cannot keep up with how quickly ADRs are turning the tables over, they just cut down the amount of ADRs.

So much of the staff in all the restaurants are now College Program students. I don't fault the CPs, it is a rough gig for little pay. But these CPs and International Students are not seasoned restaurant veterans and the turn over is a couple times a year. Given the cost of any table service restaurant in WDW Disney is shooting themselves in the foot by increasing the amount of CPs and Internationals dramatically to cut their overhead down. Long run, we all saw it before this new way of staffing, they could run at capacity.

We saw it at check in too at the FQ. Training 6 new internationals. Our dining plan fell off, mugs and couldn't figure out balance due and kept running the credit card through. I got a text warning from my bank while standing in the lobby. They had run the balance due 4x trying to get the hang of it. I had to call the bank to find out what was happening at check in.

How does staffing for restaurants work, especially at EPCOT? I had heard before that many of them are independently operated. Does WDW still supply the workforce?

 

[NearTheEars]

I looked into using Fastpass+ at one of the kiosks at WDW. Looked like a pain in the butt, and I was there to have fun. I don't even take my cellphone into the parks. I want to leave the real world behind. Wouldn't it be nice if EVERY guest did that, instead of taking photos with their iPad during Wishes (and holding them up so they obstruct the view of the people behind them) and texting during Philharmagic?

Oh, and you know what? I had dinner at Be Our Guest on my last visit, and NO, I didn't book it. I couldn't book it - it was booked solid prior to my visit. But one day I walked up to the BOG gate, asked the CM if it were at all possible to get in, and he said, "You can get in right now if you like." Now THAT'S what I call Disney magic. Spontaneity works!

Bottom line, hate the bands, hate the bloated cost of the stupid system which was money that could have been much better spent on other things. But then Walt's not in charge of the Disney company, Iger is, and all he cares about is merchandising.

As for going to WDW with kids...I first visited WDW as a kid with my parents. We had a great time and did everything we wanted to do (stayed a week, as I remember). I had no issues with standing in line for a ride, even though I didn't have a cell phone to text my brains out with. Delayed gratification was a thing, then. It built patience and maturity. So if someone takes their kids to WDW and all they do is complain and whine and text because they gotta WAAAAIIIITTTT, and the parents do nothing about that (except blame the parks, of course)then nuts to them, they don't deserve the place, don't ever take them there again. The rest of the guests who DO appreciate will be thankful. And that's that.

Unless we park hop, or its a slow day, we almost never use the kiosks. It's just not convenient. We use our three pre planned FPs and just pick and choose standby.

No way I could leave my phone behind, though. I went without a smartphone until this time last year, and honestly, one of the selling points for me was knowing I could use it to occupy myself while in line. Works like a charm. I'm not I to games, so I'm mostly just reading stuff, often wdwmagic.

 

[Gabe1]

How does staffing for restaurants work, especially at EPCOT? I had heard before that many of them are independently operated. Does WDW still supply the workforce?

I do believe the vast majority of the restaurants are Disney owned and operated at by Disney. Yes there are some. I know because I spoke to them there are international program students at Via Napole. The young man that waited on us in the Spring was home sick and anxious to get home after almost a year. How they work this out with the independently operated financially I don't know, maybe they pick up their hourly wage? They take the Disney Dining Plan so they have someway of laundering expenses and checks between the corporations. Much like Swan and Dolphin has Disney transportation but not a Disney owned resort. The internationals and CPs are paid by Disney though and their housing deducted directly from their checks.

 

[Gabe1]

Unless we park hop, or its a slow day, we almost never use the kiosks. It's just not convenient. We use our three pre planned FPs and just pick and choose standby.

No way I could leave my phone behind, though. I went without a smartphone until this time last year, and honestly, one of the selling points for me was knowing I could use it to occupy myself while in line. Works like a charm. I'm not I to games, so I'm mostly just reading stuff, often wdwmagic.

I wouldn't leave my phone behind either. Years ago I had it just in case or to meet up with the rest of our family if we split up etc. But now we have been notified if a FP+ is cancelled due to the attraction going down by text. Not that I'm happy about the text however it beats walking over or trying to plan around a FP+ if the attraction up next is down. Yeah, WDWMagic was something I played with in line. Also how I found out the rehab had run behind on Thunder in enough time to rearrange my FP+

 

[flynnibus]

I was very surprised our party of 6 walked up to San Angel and were seated in seconds on Thanksgiving weekend. Different park, with tons more dining options, though.

Also one of the easier places to get ADRs in WS. Seems to be a 'hate it' or 'its ok' place... not too many 'love its'

tho I like the overlook and backdrop

 

[NearTheEars]

Also one of the easier places to get ADRs in WS. Seems to be a 'hate it' or 'its ok' place... not too many 'love its'

tho I like the overlook and backdrop

I love the inside of that pavilion. What would take it over the top would be some stars/cloud projections on the ceiling.