My whole problem with the new system (and I will state outright that I am hating the changes) is that it changes my "perception" of Disney.
I am the ultimate cynic. No drinking of the Kool Aid for me. I see Disney for what it really is - a mega corporation who's ultimate concern is for the bottom line. They are in the business of making money. End of story. Why I love Disney World, though, is that they are
so damn good at selling magic and pixie dust that even I can forget that I am in a theme park and thoroughly enjoy the illusion of being in a special place surrounded not by staff, but cast members.
And therein lies my problem with FF+. Instead of having the focus on guest experience, they (ie: management) have pretty much stated outright that all these changes are to do with the bottom line, efficiency and tracking guest behaviour. And if it hasn't actually been said, the "perception" is certainly there. From a marketing point of view there is very little difference between truth and reality. This so goes against everything that Disney resorts and parks have built their public reputation on that for me it is like stripping away the curtain and seeing all the marketing people sitting at their desks rather than the wizard.
I have always defended Disney to those who see it as a giant evil corporate machine (and there are a lot of them, they just don't come to this board - I wonder why?) by explaining that they got to be so successful because they were very, very, very good at what they did. Past tense. Whether in the end the whole
MDE, MB's and FF+ work out well for both Disney and their guests is irrelevant at this point for me. Disney has built their reputation on selling magic and pixie dust. Testing, uncertainty, confusion, errors and guest exclusions do not fit anywhere in that category.