I don't know, back in the day one might say using FPs outside of their return window (and not just by 10-15 minutes) would be cheating/abusing the system, but that was one of the most pushed strategies for using maximum FPs in any given day
- Most WDW vacationers will not be booking their FP+s 60 days out. .
1a- Yes. If you are staying at a WDW resort, you can make FP+ selections (3 per day, one park only)
as early as 60 days before your check-in date.
If you are NOT staying at a WDW resort, you can make FP+ selections (3 per day, one park only)
after you enter the park on the day-of.
1b- Sign up on MyDisneyExperince on the www.disneyworld.com website.
2a- If you are staying at a WDW resort, you will get a MB for every guest registered.
2b- That will work.
3- HERE and HERE ya go.
That must be why they actually changed their policy to enforce those times... because they didn't feel it the system was being "abused". Also explains the outrage that occurred when the internal policy matched the external policy (i.e. what the ticket said)One might say that, but one would be incorrect.
This is exactly what I meant by pushing the extremes into the fat middle and I think it is exactly what Disney is doing. They don't want anyone to have access to many more attractions then the average, middle of the road, does very little to no research guest.
The old system also gives them much less control and allowed guests to use it in ways that Disney didn't intend. Making the system less prone to the whims of the front line CMs and more centrally controllable they can more effectively enforce the rules they want to enforce.
That must be why they actually changed their policy to enforce those times... because they didn't feel it the system was being "abused". Also explains the outrage that occurred when the internal policy matched the external policy (i.e. what the ticket said)
Don't get me wrong, I gamed the system too. And if I found the secret handshake you could do to bypass lines, I would use it as well.
Lindaland said:Everyone's money is the same!! WE ALL SPEND GOOD MONEY!!! My trips are never free, but I also don't think I am going to WDW for very cheap either. If you're that concerned about money and how much "value" you are getting out of your vacation. WDW is the last place you should go.
Love this!
Do you feel this way when you go to the theater?? Grocery shopping? Buying anything in the last few years?? Prices have gone up everywhere, not just at WDW and in may ways the experience is "less than" what it once was.
Based on your later posts, I would say you were not accurate in that statement....
Why is it that people here just have to jump on every positive thread and insist on telling people why they are wrong. Everyone travels differently, and what works for one family, wont work for another, that doesn't make them wrong.
I quite disagree. The old system only served 'those in the know.' This new system is going to allow many more different types of touring. In the past the ONLY way to do it was Rope Drop -> Run to get FP -> Hit headliners. You HAD to be at the park to get those FPs. Now, you don't. You can sleep in and still make sure you get to do the most important things.
We are already seeing evidence of shorter wait times due to people distributing themselves more efficiently.
Think about it this way: The Midway Mania rush is a thing of the past. The Know Alls still will get there at RD for a couple extra rides, but the know nothings are now going to get to ride on the their FP+ where in the past they would have just been disheartened by the line when they showed up at 11am.
Before: Late Arrivals could not ride Midway Mania without a 60+ minute wait.
Now: Late Arrivals can. Late Arrival is a potential optimum strategy.
It isn't a push to the middle, it is a diversification and specialization.
WDW is soooo much more than just rides!! It seems that the people who are only concerned with the number of rides they can get in a day would be better served going to Universal and staying in one of their hotels to get the "front of the line" pass. Then they can ride all they want. I think that would also benefit the other people who are fine with standing in line for a Disney ride to not have to listen to someone next to them complain the whole time in line because they cant get paper FP anymore.
I quite disagree. The old system only served 'those in the know.' This new system is going to allow many more different types of touring. In the past the ONLY way to do it was Rope Drop -> Run to get FP -> Hit headliners. You HAD to be at the park to get those FPs. Now, you don't. You can sleep in and still make sure you get to do the most important things.
We are already seeing evidence of shorter wait times due to people distributing themselves more efficiently.
Think about it this way: The Midway Mania rush is a thing of the past. The Know Alls still will get there at RD for a couple extra rides, but the know nothings are now going to get to ride on the their FP+ where in the past they would have just been disheartened by the line when they showed up at 11am.
Before: Late Arrivals could not ride Midway Mania without a 60+ minute wait.
Now: Late Arrivals can. Late Arrival is a potential optimum strategy.
It isn't a push to the middle, it is a diversification and specialization.
That must be why they actually changed their policy to enforce those times... because they didn't feel it the system was being "abused". Also explains the outrage that occurred when the internal policy matched the external policy (i.e. what the ticket said)
That must be why they actually changed their policy to enforce those times... because they didn't feel it the system was being "abused". Also explains the outrage that occurred when the internal policy matched the external policy (i.e. what the ticket said)
Don't get me wrong, I gamed the system too. And if I found the secret handshake you could do to bypass lines, I would use it as well.
I don't recall many times that you could get a FP to get you right back on if there were long lines.
Long lines are not uncommon at WDW.
WDW is soooo much more than just rides!! It seems that the people who are only concerned with the number of rides they can get in a day would be better served going to Universal and staying in one of their hotels to get the "front of the line" pass. Then they can ride all they want. I think that would also benefit the other people who are fine with standing in line for a Disney ride to not have to listen to someone next to them complain the whole time in line because they cant get paper FP anymore.
Despite how popular Josh is, there are always people on the Dis who've never been to his site and have never heard of him.
The OP was being thoughtful, in providing a link to something that might actually be helpful in planning theme park strategies.
What did you do when you and your scaredy cat kiddo walked up to the FP- machine and discovered the passes were all distributed for the day? Or the return times were right smack in the middle of your dinner ADR? Or you were already holding a different FP-? Or the return times were out to 11pm and you knew your scaredy cat kiddo would never stay up that late?
In the past, children were disappointed at Disney with much the same regularity as they are now.
Of course, assuming this isn't the last day of your trip, you can always make a FP+ for the next time you're in this park. Or you could make an effort to get there at Ropedrop. Or - for a same-day solution! - you can skip the parade/fireworks and return to ride while everyone else is distracted.
I quite disagree. The old system only served 'those in the know.' This new system is going to allow many more different types of touring. In the past the ONLY way to do it was Rope Drop -> Run to get FP -> Hit headliners. You HAD to be at the park to get those FPs. Now, you don't. You can sleep in and still make sure you get to do the most important things.
We are already seeing evidence of shorter wait times due to people distributing themselves more efficiently.
Think about it this way: The Midway Mania rush is a thing of the past. The Know Alls still will get there at RD for a couple extra rides, but the know nothings are now going to get to ride on the their FP+ where in the past they would have just been disheartened by the line when they showed up at 11am.
Before: Late Arrivals could not ride Midway Mania without a 60+ minute wait.
Now: Late Arrivals can. Late Arrival is a potential optimum strategy.
It isn't a push to the middle, it is a diversification and specialization.
It still favors those in the know, it is still a first come first serve. You may not need a FP runner but you need to be able to be at your computer at 60 days out
you need to have a computer
you need to have a trip booked by 60 days, then the offsite guests get the leftovers. The advantage is being given to different people than before but there are still people at a disadvantage
DO GM employees still have that lounge they can get on test track with? oh maybe that's off topic
I guess tats why some theme parks wanted to use biometrics for people entering the park, Are there photos on AP still? or is it they just use their magicbands?
Never had a picture on any AP I've had.
My 2 cents:
- The Disboards population is not representative of the average WDW vacationer. Most WDW vacationers were not getting more than 3 FP-s or riding the same ride more than once very often, if at all. In fact, not all Disboarders vacation that way either. I am a savvy WDW traveler, but with 3 small kids, a stroller, one child who is NOT a morning person, I never could do RD and run across the park collecting FP-. I prioritized etc., but that's it. For me, even as a savvy traveler, the only hard part about FP+ is the Epcot and DHS tiering. Otherwise FP+ will be an improvement because I can plan ahead and not have to run around the parks to make sure I can do the rides that are important to me.
- Most WDW vacationers will not be booking their FP+s 60 days out. So as Disboarders, if you stay onsite, you have an advantage.
- Even if you stay offsite you will still have an advantage. Unlike the average vacationer, you will still get to the parks early, know how to work the FP+ kiosks, know how to change times (not stick with the ones WDW gives you), and know which attractions warrant FP+ and what times you should use them.
- Waiting in a few lines won't kill you. And, I suspect lines will go down because more people can ride the headliners with FP+ rather than standing in line. Under the old system, the same people hogged up a lot of FPs which made lines longer for everyone else.
- WDW absolutely should care about the experience of the average vacationer. They want people to remember what a great time they had at WDW and not about how all they did was wait in line. Better experiences = more repeat visitors overall.