captainkidd
Well-Known Member
I'm not talking about walk-ups. I'm talking about people trying to make ADR's that can't because they're already taken. Ever try doing a walk up at Ohana during July? That's a joke.
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- Thread starter rob0519
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I'm not talking about walk-ups. I'm talking about people trying to make ADR's that can't because they're already taken. Ever try doing a walk up at Ohana during July? That's a joke.
That's not a legitimate grievance. WDW stops you from making reservations for different restaurants at overlapping times now.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
Just because you don't like the answer doesn't make the answer incorrect.
And instead of whining about my post, why don't you make a sound and intelligent argument defending why ADRs, potential FPRs, and all other pre-arrival reservations are a complete and utter bane on a WDW vacation? Most people plan and prepare for their trips months in advance anyway. Just because you don't, doesn't mean others don't. And if you don't, you're in the minority. It's the #1 tourist destination on Planet Earth. What hubris and presumptuousness you or anyone else must have to just assume you could show up and walk into any TS restaurant or any attraction at any time you want and that they'll just happen to have a table or a ride vehicle all ready to go just for you.
Who do you think you are? Where do you think you are? Get over yourself. This is the way Disney is headed and I applaud them for it. It's not just a good way to go, it's the correct way. It's not a matter of opinion. It's about time. And if you don't like it, as I said, wait for 120 minutes in the stand-by queue. Eat at counter service. Stay at Fort Wilderness or off-site at a Motel 6. Those options are ripe for people such as yourselves.
You just proved my point...you ARE incapable of posting without becoming inflammatory.
I refuse to indulge you anymore than I already have. :wave:
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
Since we're disregarding the contracts that Universal holds, why not just put Harry Potter and Marvel in the Disney parks instead.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
True, but it doesn't stop you from making an ADR and not showing up. Hell, I'm guilty of it myself.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
Does Universal hold a contract to the Transformers? If so, then I guess that wouldn't work.
Not the point anyway. Those movies suck. I just don't see Avatar having the longevity of a Star Wars or Harry Potter. I know there are sequels in the works, but I don't see them being as big as the original.
pax_65
Well-Known Member
I try to be positive whenever news is announced, but I admit this makes me nervous.
The Disney Dining Plan has nearly crushed some of our long-standing traditions at WDW. Dinner at LeCellier? GONE. Dinner at Prime Time Cafe? Almost gone. Why? Because when we try to make reservations at these places during our trip (a few days before we want to dine), we are basically laughed at - they have been booked up for months.
Interestingly, the end result for us is that we spend much less $$$ on dining in the parks than we have in the past. We eat counter service more often, and have our occasional nice, sit-down meal off property. Probably not what WDW wants us to do! lol.
Sure, we could make reservations 180 days out. We could do like other people do and make reservations at multiple places for the same evening (hard to understand how Disney allows this). But we like to be more spontaneous... we want to go where the mood strikes us, not be held hostage by a rigid schedule.
So I probably won't use the attraction reservation system. On the flip side, I will be in the park and at the most popular attractions immediately when the park opens. So I'm hopeful I will still be able to enjoy those attractions. I'm figuring as long as a standby line still exists, we will be ok... especially since I'm willing to bet half the people who get passes for 8am won't be there to use them...
The Disney Dining Plan has nearly crushed some of our long-standing traditions at WDW. Dinner at LeCellier? GONE. Dinner at Prime Time Cafe? Almost gone. Why? Because when we try to make reservations at these places during our trip (a few days before we want to dine), we are basically laughed at - they have been booked up for months.
Interestingly, the end result for us is that we spend much less $$$ on dining in the parks than we have in the past. We eat counter service more often, and have our occasional nice, sit-down meal off property. Probably not what WDW wants us to do! lol.
Sure, we could make reservations 180 days out. We could do like other people do and make reservations at multiple places for the same evening (hard to understand how Disney allows this). But we like to be more spontaneous... we want to go where the mood strikes us, not be held hostage by a rigid schedule.
So I probably won't use the attraction reservation system. On the flip side, I will be in the park and at the most popular attractions immediately when the park opens. So I'm hopeful I will still be able to enjoy those attractions. I'm figuring as long as a standby line still exists, we will be ok... especially since I'm willing to bet half the people who get passes for 8am won't be there to use them...
Disaddict
New Member
They're making an attempt to stop this BS by refusing to allow overlapping ADRs. I forget what the time frame is but I think it is one hour. You cannot make an ADR for 4pm and another one elsewhere for 4:30pm. At least that is my understanding. I refuse to double book so I haven't run into this problem. Maybe someone can correct me if I was wrong about this.
No, but they do have the rest of the day after 8am.
Remember, Disney does not worry about the ending return time. I have had multiple CMs and managers tell me that it is their "unofficial policy" to accept late FPs. Call Disney yourself and ask them. They'll flat out tell you. So that FP they have for 8am will likely be used at some point throughout the day. But if you're right, and they aren't there at 8am to use it, then you'll still have a walk on. This proposed new FP system will not really affect us since we go during this time of the year and it is virtually a walk on to most any attraction. I think that the most I have had to wait is 1 hour the year that Soarin' opened. The FP machines were down that day so I was stuck. 
LucyintheSky
Active Member
What I'm curious about is how this advance ride time reservation thing will affect people like me, locals who go to the parks on random days. I don't do any "vacation planning". I just go when I feel like it. As it is now, if I want, I can go to the MK and grab a FP for Space. So with this new system, will my only option be waiting in a 1-2 hour stand-by line? I know no one knows for sure yet, so I will just wait and see, but what this may mean for locals who aren't on vacation worries me.
Disaddict
New Member
I'm not sure anyone can answer this right now with any certainty so we're pretty much all guessing at this point. But It may affect you if Disney allows the FPs ADR system to act as the current in park system does. Meaning that they all draw from the same FP pool. If they only give out 7200 FPs (10 FPs for every minute for 12 hours a day) and everyone, park guests for that day and the people that got FP ADRs for that day, draws from that same number then yes, it will definitely affect you. There will be far less, if any FPs available at the park kiosks. That affects the in park FP holders. But I doubt Disney will do that. If this FP ADR system even ever gets off the ground (and imho, I doubt it will) they will have one pool of FPs available for in park guests and another for ADR guests. But then you run into the issue with "X" attraction only allows 'x" amount of riders on in a single day, and now there are 7200 more FPs in the system meaning 7200 more riders. That affects the stand-by riders.
So, again imho, I highly doubt there is any viable and logistical way to bring this idea to fruition. But Disney could throw caution to the wind and do it anyway. I had thought I would like the system but if it is going to be a truly negative experience (and not just a "I'm not getting my way!" thing) for other guests then I'm against it completely.
kapeman
Member
But aren't those the issues contributing to the FP situation with Toy Story, the slow load time and low capacity?
With respect to Avatar, I am not saying it won't/can't work, but I wouldn't take that big a risk on a property that has not shown whether it will stand the test of time yet.
Disaddict
New Member
Yes. And Disney should rehab TSM and add another loading area so the line can split and twice as many vehicles can load at the same time. It would be a small help in the wait but nothing is going to truly fix that ride wait time since it is not a constantly moving ride system like Buzz.
tizzo
Member
No, but they do have the rest of the day after 8am.
A key element of the xPass system involves ending this practice. Based, of course, on rumor, since that's all there is right now.
Disaddict
New Member
Fair point.
I doubt that Xpass will ever happen though because of the logistics of the system can not work and the unending backlash from guests.
tizzo
Member
Fair point.
Well - I'm admittedly following a couple of different threads on this general topic so it's possible I'm confused but - I thought we were talking about he NextGen version of FastPass in which you'll be able to book your FastPasses ahead of time, which (unless I'm mistaken) is xPass. In which case it would have to be a heck of a backlash to scuttle it, given the size of the investment.
Disaddict
New Member
Thats what I am talking about (see below). The logistics of that system will not feasibly work. And there has been a backlash to the idea from the fan community. Just look around here.
Disaddict said:
And where did you hear that Disney has done any investing in the xPass system? All I have seen is a bunch of "feelers" put out there to gauge reactions.
tizzo
Member
Not xPass specifically, but NextGen. Supposedly $1B. Jim Hill is the source I remember specifically, but definitely not the only source. I know I've heard it on at least one of the local news stations. And I thought there was a NYTimes article linked around here somewhere as well.
Now, I understand that NextGen is more than just xPass, but I am left with the impression that NextGen is to be a pretty tightly integrated system for managing the guest experience, including the prediction and control of wait times, and xPass would seem to be a fairly significant part of that.
Not that it couldn't be tweaked, of course, perhaps to eliminate the ADR-like aspect - which I also do not like. But it seems to me that the kind of fine-grained control they seem to be after would require enforcement of return times. After all FP/xPass is about being able to skip the line only from the guest's perspective. From Disney's perspective, it's more about being able to predict and control how long the wait for any given ride will be at any given time. Giving out a FP or xPass at 8AM that could be used any time before closing would not contribute to meeting that goal.
Disaddict
New Member
One piece of advice.... throw out any information you received by way of Jim Hill. LOL I have no doubt that Disney is looking into the NextGen stuff but they have yet to even breathe a word about this as far as anyone can tell. I did see a website that talked about the NextGen stuff (xPass, RFID bracelets, etc...) but for all we know that is all just rumor too until Disney confirms it. They have a massive undertaking if they go with all of this NextGen stuff due to all of the possibilities for abuse.
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
Um...Tom Staggs came out and said they've been working on NextGen stuff. Here's a thread that was from February on it...this one is from the webowner at LP: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=701174&highlight=staggs
And back when the shake up occurred that gave Meg her new title, a VP of the Next Gen was named. You can find that information on the corporate website.
I believe there has even been a blog about it on the Disney Parks Blog.
Disaddict
New Member
Ahhh. Thanks. I stand corrected.
And now I am more worried than ever. This will bottleneck the crap out of the rides. I hope it just stays in the other areas and out of an xPass reality.