Got PAP with DVC offer, now with FP+ maybe regretting

[Shellandscott]

At this point being a DVC member for almost 10 years and using the fastpass system with great efficiency, I am bothered by what I have read in some other places. I have heard rumors that are bothering me.
At current let use this as an example, if DH & I show up at Magic Kingdom at 9am for opening we get on the train and ride to Fronterland get off and get a BTMR FP for 10:20am-11:20am, we walk around maybe ride Haunted Mansion and small world making our way over to Space Mountain at 10:30am, we can now get a FP for that ride to come back at noon. We hightail it back to thunder mountain in our timefame. Now we head over to pirates and do some rides over there. Head over to Splash at 12:05pm and get a FP there for 4:00pm. Head back to Space Mtn in our hour. It is now 12:45pm and we go to lunch and then some more rides or since we have time to burn we head to Epcot by double monorail because we can get another FP at 2:05 or 3:05 depending on the time on the ticket. We go to Land and get a Soarin' FP for 8:30pm, ride Nemo or Figment and head back over to MK for our 4-5 FP for Splash. It is a lot of walking but we hit a lot of major rides and it is only 5pm and still have Soarin' left to ride before the end of the night.

From what I can tell FP+ will enable us to make FP plans ahead of time for only 1 of the mountains and is only good at one park per day. But can I still use my AP like people staying off property as I did in my example?

If the rumor of not being able to still use the fast pass system is true. FP+ sucks. Just looking for some input from what all of you have heard.

 

[carissa1970]

I am so confused by how WDW works! We are from CA and do DL and DCA frequently. I have no idea how we will figure out the FP system and multi parks with travel. I am going to subscribe here because I want to hear the responses you get. It does sound like a bad change...

 

[spiceycat]

the thing I read on Disney's site - the answer was no.

now can't even find the place. So pretty sure Disney is changing it. at least I hope so!

will like to use the closer entrances.

my plans have never been as advanced as yours - but still like the flexibility the old/current fp gave me.

 

[bumbershoot]

No one really knows how it's all going to work; I don't even think WDW does, honestly. I think someone had a Grand Idea and started implementing it without talking to people who could bring up the good questions, comments, and concerns, and now they're working it out.

I've decided to not worry one little bit about this all; when they finally roll it out I'll see if I'm annoyed or not. Just as long as no one makes me wear a rubberized bracelet, I'll probably be OK.

And that aspect of lowering the walking time, back and forth, is what occurred to me, and it finally got me a little less negative about FP+, when just trying to get two FPs in one day at Epcot. Just two.

 

[cvjw]

I have been posting this same sentiment for months. If fast pass + only lets us have 3 fast passes per day, it will make Disney a place that my family no longer wants to spend as much time. Right now, my boys favorite day at MK is to ride Space Mountain multiple times per day. If we can only have one fast pass, and then have to ride the other times in the standby line, they will no longer want to visit Disney. It really makes me sad to think that the place where my boys have grown up will change so drastically that it makes us not want to visit.

I hope that I am wrong, and we will still be able to utilize the regular fast pass, in addition to fast pass +. I don't want to give up on Disney, but we are already planning for the future, and have decided to sell one of our DVC contracts in anticipation of visiting one week less per year.

 

[lodge]

I see the point in eliminating chasing around for a FP, but that's only part of the story in their use. I often go alone with the kids, expect some footwork to plan out the day, and just work the (current) system. The new proposed system (as I understand it to be) doesn't work as well for us in many regards.
I'm hoping the above post, saying it was someone's idea and it wasn't run by those using it, isn't accurate. I continue to hope I'm missing something in the use of the new proposed system and will adapt. My bank implemented a change they said was better for its customers, and had a wake up call when a slew of customers left. People will look elsewhere if WDW's changes don't work well for their family.

 

[RachaelA]

But its not going to matter whether your have a regular ticket or an AP. Its going to be FP+ for everyone and no regular fast pass. So I don't understand why you would regret your AP purchase?

I think overall until all the details are released and you officially use FP+, its hard to truly say whether you like it or hate it. Especially since no one knows if they will offer more fastpasses throughout the day on top of the prebooked ones (sent to your phone, etc).

 

[lucyem]

The whole thing is a bit overwhelming to me as well. I am actually kind of glad we have a cruise this spring and will not be back to WDW until December. We are activating our PAP's then. I am hoping a lot of the kinks will be ironed out. Right now it sounds like it will be very limiting for those of us who really know how to use the FP system.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I got an e-mail today telling me I can bring and ID and my paper WDW pass to get a touch to enter card. I am glad. I hated the fact that on site people with the entrance on their room key had such an easier time to enter MK than I did in January!

 

[AmyB2006]

At this point being a DVC member for almost 10 years and using the fastpass system with great efficiency, I am bothered by what I have read in some other places. I have heard rumors that are bothering me.
At current let use this as an example, if DH & I show up at Magic Kingdom at 9am for opening we get on the train and ride to Fronterland get off and get a BTMR FP for 10:20am-11:20am, we walk around maybe ride Haunted Mansion and small world making our way over to Space Mountain at 10:30am, we can now get a FP for that ride to come back at noon. We hightail it back to thunder mountain in our timefame. Now we head over to pirates and do some rides over there. Head over to Splash at 12:05pm and get a FP there for 4:00pm. Head back to Space Mtn in our hour. It is now 12:45pm and we go to lunch and then some more rides or since we have time to burn we head to Epcot by double monorail because we can get another FP at 2:05 or 3:05 depending on the time on the ticket. We go to Land and get a Soarin' FP for 8:30pm, ride Nemo or Figment and head back over to MK for our 4-5 FP for Splash. It is a lot of walking but we hit a lot of major rides and it is only 5pm and still have Soarin' left to ride before the end of the night.

From what I can tell FP+ will enable us to make FP plans ahead of time for only 1 of the mountains and is only good at one park per day. But can I still use my AP like people staying off property as I did in my example?

If the rumor of not being able to still use the fast pass system is true. FP+ sucks. Just looking for some input from what all of you have heard.

OMG this gave me a headache. LOL. How on earth you run around like that and not stress yourself out is beyond me. I'm glad that works for you but that would make me crazy.

I haven't read much about it but I have "heard" about the 3 FP rule on sites like this. I wouldn't get too upset until Disney releases all the official information though. I know I have read that you will still be able to use the old FP system like before, though. Unless that has changed.

You've read somewhere that you can only get 1 FP for 1 of the mountains?

 

[DisneyDudet]

I was part of the FP+ test in December. We had a split stay, so we were lucky to do it for 4 days.

It's great for morning arrival because you don't have to run to an attraction.. You can do the ones with longer lines later and still do your FP for a headliner (ie: we has FP+ for space, and could head to PPF without a line).

It's good for afternoon, as we were able to ride TSM at 4 pm without having to run and be there at opening, running to the attraction to get FPs.

But... You have to plan accordingly with your meals and such. I budgeted about an hr and a half for dinner, but we waited 20 min just to be seated with an ADR. So, we ended up missing a time because dinner took too long. Not a big deal bc the attraction had no wait.

If they do it like the tests, you have a selected time to choose from, not all time slots were available and the initial times were chosen for you, based on what part of the day you wanted your first attraction to start. You could change your time... Maybe. And you could only do 1 attraction once. This would be lost on us at Epcot.

If the times start at the same times FP return windows start (ie 945am) it looks as though that would be the time to so certain rides to avoid using your FP+ returns or to do an attraction more than once.

The tests only gave 3 options per park/day, and that might be where the 3 attractions rumor comes in. I've also heard that we will get a certain amount per quarter. That doesn't help local AP holders who go multiple times a quarter.

Long story short, we don't know what is happening, and it doesn't look like Disney does either. Since they still have not announced a go-live date so that people can book their FP+ attractions, it may be a while. They will have to figure out who gets to choose first for the initial roll outs... Which can be daunting (AP holders? Those with room only? DVC? Packages? Based on when you booked? Or only for those booking now?).

It will be tough for everyone.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was part of the test last year, and I thought it was not explained to me very well. I was confused, the concierge desk at OKW couldn't help me, but we did find a CM at DHS who did a good job telling us about the trial and it was great to arrive at DHS at 11 and walk right on to TSMM!

Eventually it will be old hat to us, but for now, there are more questions than answers, I'm sure.

 

[Tcsj]

I've decided to not worry one little bit about this all; when they finally roll it out I'll see if I'm annoyed or not.

Agreed. We will take our next trip and hope for the best.

"Hakuna Matata".......until proven otherwise.

 

[awilliams4]

At this point being a DVC member for almost 10 years and using the fastpass system with great efficiency, I am bothered by what I have read in some other places. I have heard rumors that are bothering me.
At current let use this as an example, if DH & I show up at Magic Kingdom at 9am for opening we get on the train and ride to Fronterland get off and get a BTMR FP for 10:20am-11:20am, we walk around maybe ride Haunted Mansion and small world making our way over to Space Mountain at 10:30am, we can now get a FP for that ride to come back at noon. We hightail it back to thunder mountain in our timefame. Now we head over to pirates and do some rides over there. Head over to Splash at 12:05pm and get a FP there for 4:00pm. Head back to Space Mtn in our hour. It is now 12:45pm and we go to lunch and then some more rides or since we have time to burn we head to Epcot by double monorail because we can get another FP at 2:05 or 3:05 depending on the time on the ticket. We go to Land and get a Soarin' FP for 8:30pm, ride Nemo or Figment and head back over to MK for our 4-5 FP for Splash. It is a lot of walking but we hit a lot of major rides and it is only 5pm and still have Soarin' left to ride before the end of the night.

From what I can tell FP+ will enable us to make FP plans ahead of time for only 1 of the mountains and is only good at one park per day. But can I still use my AP like people staying off property as I did in my example?

If the rumor of not being able to still use the fast pass system is true. FP+ sucks. Just looking for some input from what all of you have heard.

I suspect that in the not so distant future, Deluxe Stays, or on site stays, etc will be given more than 3 FP+ per day and if it is 4, 5, 6 whatever, I suspect you will be able to do 2+ moutains eventually.

With that said, the implementation of something that eliminates the need to run around the parks is a good thing to me. For the most part, newbies were always disadvantaged to those that knew the ropes and 'ran around all day' forcing others to 'run around all day' or not do any mountains with a fast pass.

Now, no running around and you still get to do the mountains if you stay on site. Those that game the system by knowing how to get the most out of the existing setup may be a bit discouraged but it makes a Disney trip much less hectic now for most.

 

[sweetdana]

I have been posting this same sentiment for months. If fast pass + only lets us have 3 fast passes per day, it will make Disney a place that my family no longer wants to spend as much time. Right now, my boys favorite day at MK is to ride Space Mountain multiple times per day. If we can only have one fast pass, and then have to ride the other times in the standby line, they will no longer want to visit Disney. It really makes me sad to think that the place where my boys have grown up will change so drastically that it makes us not want to visit.

I hope that I am wrong, and we will still be able to utilize the regular fast pass, in addition to fast pass +. I don't want to give up on Disney, but we are already planning for the future, and have decided to sell one of our DVC contracts in anticipation of visiting one week less per year.

I AGREE WITH THIS WHOLE HEARTEDLY. We only use FP for most rides during busy days, and if a particular park is to busy, we head to a diff.. Say plan on HS, for a Star Wars day and cannot walk through the streets due to people.. might go to Dine and Vine for breakfast and hit 1-2 things and head over to Epcot... FP+ does not allow for this, it doesn't even support hopping.. and 3 FP a day is not realistic for us esp if 1 is peter pan, pooh, and splash mt.. it is not reasonable to have a 5 yr old wait then 55 mins for thunder mt.

The only way I see this working, is if they get the "waiting areas" up and running.. with calling groups of waiters. Then being in line for say 20 mins. This is what I thought the goal was as they were changing some of the rides.

I would not mind sitting on a bench, watching the kiddos play with the toys, or have characters around, or a magician playing with kids while waiting. (As an example).. But beyond a possible waiting area for rides with lines. THIS will not work for us. We will not wait 60 mins for soarin. The line and even FP line is the reason we skip HS on many trips... and skip many many specific rides like Dumbo. We will not even wait in the FP line for TSM.

I get it .. there decision, they have there reasons.. and our decision for our vacation fun ( and $$) is limited by time, and it is our most valuable resource .. it will not be wasted in 5 45 mins lines for rides. cause I only have 3 FP to use for the day.

I would rather hop on a royal carib cruis ship and hang out in a hot tub, or play at the casino, while kids get spoiled by the day care activites there.


I had somewhat decided to buy more points at BC, when I realized I need to wait to see how this irons out.. I will not if this is the case. I will still vacation here, but not like I do now. I will maybe go stronger with the skip the lines at US, or Atlantis, or try DL.

We will see what happens.. and make decisions from there, I am hoping they are just setting up for Queues and this is the start.. who knows..

 

[tjkraz]

...if DH & I show up at Magic Kingdom at 9am for opening we get on the train and ride to Fronterland get off and get a BTMR FP for 10:20am-11:20am, we walk around maybe ride Haunted Mansion and small world making our way over to Space Mountain at 10:30am, we can now get a FP for that ride to come back at noon. We hightail it back to thunder mountain in our timefame. Now we head over to pirates and do some rides over there. Head over to Splash at 12:05pm and get a FP there for 4:00pm. Head back to Space Mtn in our hour. It is now 12:45pm and we go to lunch and then some more rides

With that said, the implementation of something that eliminates the need to run around the parks is a good thing to me.

Amen, awilliams!

Let's look at OP's touring:

Main gate to Frontierland via train.
Train station to BTMR.
Walk from BTMR to Space Mountain via Fantasyland.
Walk from Space Mountain back to BTMR.
Walk from BTMR to Splash.
Walk from Splash to Adventureland.
Walk from Adventureland back to Splash.
Walk from Splash to Space Mountain.

You've criss-crossed the park four times in four hours in the interest of "saving" time with FASTPASS!

Our family was able to test FP+ back in December. Back then we were able to choose TWO attractions from a group that included all three mountains. Assuming that's still the case when this is rolled-out, your touring could go something like this:

- POTC
- BTMR (standby line shouldn't be long at all since park just opened.)
- Splash (FP+)
- Haunted Mansion
- Small World
- Space Mountain (FP+)

And fill in with any other attractions of choice.

There you've made ONE clockwise trip around the entire park, and shed all of the wasted time running from Fastpass machine to Fastpass machine.

The attraction list above sounds more like 2 hours worth of touring with all of the extra walking eliminated.

 

[Sur]

Did you know all this from the top of your head or did you have to look and figure out her path? Wow... it hurts my head to think this much. I need to go take a nap now.

 

[Shellandscott]

Ok to answer some of the questions/ issues brought up.

1. I read that you will get 3 FP+ if you book 60+ days in advance, since I am DVC this would apply to us.
You get one for a "major" ride, one for a "minor" ride and one for a show. Nice to know it was 4 and you get 2 Major attraction.

2. As far as walking all over to "save time with FP". It is not about saving time it is about saving my stress level. I have a problem with waiting longer then expected. (posted 20 minutes and it takes 35) Not moving forward. ect.. Get what some would call anxiety I feel jumpy, twitchy. My family will not drive in a car with me in traffic, they would rather not be around me because I come unglued. Otherwise I am a really nice person I just am missing the patience gene. I will cross the park as many times as I need to have minimal waits.
Yes we go often enough that I do not need to go on every ride everytime. So we are missing rides and not using our time wisely I am sure but it works for us. And you would be surprised how much you can get done in between. I just thought up a sample tour plan, but if we are at MK all day the way we cover it I would have gotten in a few shorter line rides. Disney is the only vacation I go on where I loose weight. LOL.

BTW steps 5,6,7 are close, Splash and Thunder are next to each other and Pirates in just down the little ally.

As one person stated I will not be able to go to Disney if the FP+ system works this way. All the lines will be too long. Went to DL during gay days in Oct as that is when my niece had vacation, place was so crowded and alot of rides do not have fast pass, spend most of the time at the hotel. I will not be waiting 45min - hour for any ride.

3. I assumed that since FP+ is only for onsite guests that they would still have some form of FP for people staying off property. Since Universal has a similar system I am thinking WDW would need to have it to keep competitive. What I am hoping is that those of us staying on site would still have access to the system that the off site people use as to be able to double dip. Now that is an advantage of staying onsite!

 

[awilliams4]

Ok to answer some of the questions/ issues brought up.

1. I read that you will get 3 FP+ if you book 60+ days in advance, since I am DVC this would apply to us.
You get one for a "major" ride, one for a "minor" ride and one for a show. Nice to know it was 4 and you get 2 Major attraction.

2. As far as walking all over to "save time with FP". It is not about saving time it is about saving my stress level. I have a problem with waiting longer then expected. (posted 20 minutes and it takes 35) Not moving forward. ect.. Get what some would call anxiety I feel jumpy, twitchy. My family will not drive in a car with me in traffic, they would rather not be around me because I come unglued. Otherwise I am a really nice person I just am missing the patience gene. I will cross the park as many times as I need to have minimal waits.
Yes we go often enough that I do not need to go on every ride everytime. So we are missing rides and not using our time wisely I am sure but it works for us. And you would be surprised how much you can get done in between. I just thought up a sample tour plan, but if we are at MK all day the way we cover it I would have gotten in a few shorter line rides. Disney is the only vacation I go on where I loose weight. LOL.

BTW steps 5,6,7 are close, Splash and Thunder are next to each other and Pirates in just down the little ally.

As one person stated I will not be able to go to Disney if the FP+ system works this way. All the lines will be too long. Went to DL during gay days in Oct as that is when my niece had vacation, place was so crowded and alot of rides do not have fast pass, spend most of the time at the hotel. I will not be waiting 45min - hour for any ride.

3. I assumed that since FP+ is only for onsite guests that they would still have some form of FP for people staying off property. Since Universal has a similar system I am thinking WDW would need to have it to keep competitive. What I am hoping is that those of us staying on site would still have access to the system that the off site people use as to be able to double dip. Now that is an advantage of staying onsite!

Not to say this is the case with you but I have lost track of how many people have suggested that FP+ is the last straw for them and I can't help but think that years from now, they will all be going and loving FP+.

 

[tjkraz]

As one person stated I will not be able to go to Disney if the FP+ system works this way. All the lines will be too long.

How do you figure the lines will be too long? They aren't changing the attraction capacity.