Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2014/04/24/fastpass-changes-starting-monday/" target="_blank"><b>4/24/14: FastPass+ Changes Starting Monday</b></a>
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Given how smoothly the roll out at WDW has been over the past few months I think it's inevitable.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree that it's inevitable that MyMagic+ will make its way to DLR, but I wouldn't say that the WDW roll out has been smooth. On a macro level, it's gone fairly well, though it's overbudget and behind schedule. They've been smart about slowly phasing new parts of the system in, so that CMs are (mostly) properly trained and the system is able to keep up with demand. But on a micro level, they're still having all sorts of issues. Everything from tickets that don't get read by the scanners, to FP reservations that mysteriously vanish from the system, to park-wide system crashes are still fairly commonplace. And when you're severly messing with a several-thousand-dollar vacation that a family has anticipated for years, they've gotten some angry guests. Generally speaking, they know what the issues are at this point, and are doing a good job of resolving them, but there's still an army of guest relations CMs in each park that deal with these issues on a daily basis. Although I agree that it was wise to implement the system in WDW first, I think that DLR's casual guests would typically be more understanding of technical problems with the new system than WDW's high rollers
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "On a macro level, it's gone fairly well, though it's overbudget and behind schedule." All I care about when I visit WDW is improving my experience by dodging long lines, getting a table at my favorite restaurant, and securing a decent viewing spot for shows, not how Disney is managing MyMagic+ in the background. "Generally speaking, they know what the issues are at this point, and are doing a good job of resolving them." So then what's the problem? Especially if guests are overwhelmingly giving positive feedback. A few bugs and kinks in a major operational shift like this one is to be expected.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: There have been more than just a few complaints and glitches in this new system. There have actually been quite a few. But this does not mean things won't improve.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Right. There have been a multitude of reports of various reservations just getting deleted from the system, which sends guests to guest relations, where there are long lines of other guests with similar problems. Although they know that it's an issue and are working to fix it, that doesn't really mean much when you've just wasted an hour of park time trying to get it resolved There have also been instances where the system has gone down parkwide for a few hours, meaning that nobody can redeem their FPs, and that the tap-to-pay system doesn't work and many guests are stranded without a form of payment. Again, this is something that they have improved significantly since the first tests, but still happens occasionally Overall, when the system works guests are happy with it. But when it doesn't work, it blows up big time. My personal experiences with it were quite positive, but it still generally feels like it's not quite ready for primetime yet
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Then I guess my question is how detrimental to the program have the glitches been? If they have been identified, fixable and of little consequence in relation to the overall success thus far then, again, what's the problem? I assume that the program is still considered by Disney to be in beta phase.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "but I wouldn't say that the WDW roll out has been smooth." I'd say that it's been pretty smooth for something this big and comprehensive. It's pretty unrealistic to expect it to be glitch free.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>If they have been identified, fixable and of little consequence in relation to the overall success thus far then, again, what's the problem?<< In the scheme of how Disney parks operate, there is still a major portion of guests who are having issues. To a degree, Disney prides itself on having a predictable product that is the same for each and every guests (even if they make it feel like it's special and magical just because you're a perfect snowflake). Anything that causes long lines at Guest Relations to the point that they have to set up additional GR points in the park is a problem for them. If it's 1 problem in 1,000, that's not an issue; it's like how an attraction will occasionally shut down for an hour unexpectedly. But if it's 1 problem in 100 or 50, that's like having somebody every 4th boat on POTC not return to the dock. With the scale that Disney operates on, there are bound to be issues; but similarly with that scale, they've built expectations that the issues will be very small and infrequent, and they're still not to that point yet >>I assume that the program is still considered by Disney to be in beta phase.<< Put out a press release on March 31 (the end of the fiscal quarter) announcing that the system was officially going live the following day, and that they were no longer in testing. It was the same article that explained the upcoming changes to the system, which seems kind of contradictory for something that's no longer in testing
Originally Posted By sjhym333 As someone who uses FP+ on a regular basis I have found the system to be amazing. I have had no problems with the system of MDE. I was on a line once and the attraction went down after redeeming my FP+ reservation but the CM's were there with paper FP's for any attraction. Great guest recovery. I think Disney has done a great job of having CM's and Guest Relations CM's to answer questions and react to issues. The CM's at the Kiosks I have encountered have been wonderful and helpful. I have said this several times. I think the people who complain or aren't happy haven't used the system.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance After joining several Facebook Disney groups and reading Disney blogs,updates etc,I can safetly say that there are alot of Disney fans out there that annoy the bejeezus out of me! Their "sky is falling" reaction to every little thing Disney does at the parks drives me insane.
