Josh is the voice of reason on FP+

[Laz]

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.

I must disagree with you. I believe WDW is trying to restrict touring to the way WDW wants you to tour, not the way the guest wants to tour. Those in the know got to maximize their valuable time in multiple parks using multiple rides. Now the value for my vacation dollar has been greatly reduced. WDW has not reduced the disheartened guest, just changed them at the very least. They may have even increased them.

 

[sharonped]

"We are already seeing evidence of shorter wait times due to people distributing themselves more efficiently."

Hi; not trying to be snarky - at all; truly confused... are multiple people seeing shorter wait times specifically because of FP+ (with high/low crowds being equal)?

Thanks!

 

[Mkrop]

According to the Josh's article we're discussing...



False - According to the article everything was available that morning.



False - CM's are available to make the FP+ reservations for you.



False - I'm not trying to be rude but I'm guessing you didn't read the article because the entire article was about how you could get a FP+ for every ride on the morning of a holiday weekend in MK.

I did read the article...I didnt realize we could only discuss the day the article was written.

I taken you have read some of the other reports from offsiters who said their selections for FP+ were crappy. We stayed onsite in Dec and we could not get FP+s at the times that worked for us...why bc we could not book at 60 days. We had doctor appts and DH was away that day, so we booked over the weekend, already many times were not available and we played and played with times.

So there are only so many to give out so the later you book, the less will be available, I mean there are not an unlimited amt of TSMM FPs to give out, so they will be gone at some point. Will they be gone for prebooks or will there will be any left for the offsiters or the people who dont have computers who show up at their resort. Or will the times work for their visit.

My BFF just got home from her trip and she described a much different availability for offsiters. She felt like a second class citizen and she could not get what she wanted.

When we were there in Dec, TSMM ran out at 9:25am, so please dont tell me that offsiters are not losing out to the prebooking

 

[rteetz]

"We are already seeing evidence of shorter wait times due to people distributing themselves more efficiently." Hi; not trying to be snarky - at all; truly confused... are multiple people seeing shorter wait times specifically because of FP+ (with high/low crowds being equal)? Thanks!

I've seen his reported in different cases I don't think we can tell yet because MK has only had FP+ for a week. AK would be a good one to look at but it has lower crowds than MK. I think the constant high crowds during spring break will show how this system will work under pressure since it hasn't had that yet. Yes presidents weekend will be a test but that's only the weekend march and April will have better crowds to test this as for January and February being months that don't see many huge crowds during the week.

 

[peyjax]

We have not been in quite a few years and it was refreshing to read. Gave it a bit of perspective I suppose. A little less intimidated now.

I truly appreciated his description of the food. I mean the food was on the downward slide big time a few years ago, but really? "gourmet mac and cheese" with cheese sauce and taco toppings? That thing was like The presentation made it look like something out of a summer camp cafeteria. I am not even that big of a food snob, but is that really the stuff they are serving there? I loved how he said he was disgusted with himself for liking it as much as he did. Very funny guy!

 

[rteetz]

I did read the article...I didnt realize we could only discuss the day the article was written. I taken you have read some of the other reports from offsiters who said their selections for FP+ were crappy. We stayed onsite in Dec and we could not get FP+s at the times that worked for us...why bc we could not book at 60 days. We had doctor appts and DH was away that day, so we booked over the weekend, already many times were not available and we played and played with times. So there are only so many to give out so the later you book, the less will be available, I mean there are not an unlimited amt of TSMM FPs to give out, so they will be gone at some point. Will they be gone for prebooks or will there will be any left for the offsiters or the people who dont have computers who show up at their resort. Or will the times work for their visit. My BFF just got home from her trip and she described a much different availability for offsiters. She felt like a second class citizen and she could not get what she wanted. When we were there in Dec, TSMM ran out at 9:25am, so please dont tell me that offsiters are not losing out to the prebooking

I really haven't seen many reports of those who go into the park the day of and can't get any rides they want. There may be one or two but not all of them. I've heard most people have been able to get what they want the day of. Again his will depend on when you get I to the park. Rope drop gives you better chance than going at noon. Also at that time you scheduled legacy FP was still being used that could have had something to do with it as well. Now with that being gone that would free up FPs for everyone. Disney would have a major problem if FPs were not available the day of I just don't see this being a major problem in the future.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I really haven't seen many reports of those who go into the park the day of and can't get any rides they want. There may be one or two but not all of them. I've heard most people have been able to get what they want the day of. Again his will depend on when you get I to the park. Rope drop gives you better chance than going at noon. Also at that time you scheduled legacy FP was still being used that could have had something to do with it as well. Now with that being gone that would free up FPs for everyone. Disney would have a major problem if FPs were not available the day of I just don't see this being a major problem in the future.

I've read quite a few reports of people who were in MK and couldn't get FP+ for the times they needed (the ride they wanted was available, but only after a certain time which did not work for their schedule).

I realize this was always an issue with rides like TSMM/Soarin/TT, but it was rare to enter MK at 10am and have the FP return time for headliners already be after 5pm.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Any of you familiar with Josh and easyWDW.com know that he is funny, insightful, sarcastic, and, during these uncertain (and mostly negative) FP+ times, the voice of reason. He tried the MK out with FP+ and, if you scroll down to the bottom of the piece (although I highly recommend you read the whole thing) you may feel a bit better about your upcoming trip. I know I do. We need Josh in times like these. Read on...

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/magic-kingdom-cheat-sheet-day-1-with-fastpass/#more-12783

~How can I send this guy a check?!? OP, thanks so much for sharing this -- it's incredibly helpful!

~Disney please take notes -- this is exactly what your valued guests need -- not those goofy youtube commercials and the fluff that's on the Disney Parks blog. With all the bloggers Disney has -- you would think at least one of them could document the details of FP+ for park guests.

We were there for NYE for a week and loved FP+. No more running across the park to get a piece of paper! WE used RD to our advantage when we needed it. But is we felt like sleeping in, then we could and know that our FP+ were already in place! Reading Josh's plan is just what we did. FP+ later in the day and RD the rides in the am. Had no issues! I would like more than 3 and I hate the tiers. I understand at EP the need due to too few rides, so we just RD Soarin and FP TT. Josh at least showed what is possible.

~He sure did.^^^ And, this is what the parks look like every morning before rope drop. FP+, FP- or no FP, that first hour in the park(s) is golden -- we accomplish so much. Thanks for sharing your experience at Disney -- it sounds like you had a fabulous New Years Eve!

Apparently some people think FP+ is the sign of the apocalypse. People need to chill, it's WDW and there has always been waiting involved at WDW.

~LOL.

No matter how bad FP+ ends up it isn't the plague or famine. It will be ok. No one will die as a result. Worst case scenario? The about 1% of the planet that goes to Walt Disney World will have to wait in a few lines. Won't someone think of the children?!?!

I have never seen a bigger outcry over something so small in the grand scheme of life. If Disney ever does something that makes me not want to go I will....just not go. I'm optimistic that my trip in February will be great, FP+ or no FP+.

~LOL.

~Omg, 17 pages! I can only imagine -- the first page is good enough for me!

 

[kagmypts]

I really hope that his post does not encourage more families to show up for RD! We are a RD family, and the pictures of the empty park are exactly what we experience.

To a previous poster who mentioned that people always wait in line at DW, I have to disagree. We take an annual trip over Memorial Day Weekend and the following week (8 or 9 days depending on the year), and we are hardly ever wait in line. We use Josh's crowd calendar and park suggestions, and we arrive 15 minutes before RD. We normally can get in between 2.5 and 3 hours of awesome touring (highest wait times of 5 to 10 minutes), and then we take a break for lunch. We then ride 2 or 3 low interest lines before heading back to the hotel to regroup and collect ourselves. We arrive back at the park around dinner time, and we stay until after the parade/show.

While I still see arriving at RD, the rest of our day will definitely be changed by FP+. Until I know that we will still be able to avoid lines, we are skipping DW. We are not paying the Disney ticket prices to stand in line or have to miss re-riding our favorite rides!

 

[shalom]

Those in the know got to maximize their valuable time in multiple parks using multiple rides.

But with FP-, "those in the know" who rode the same ride multiple times were getting that benefit at the cost of other people's time. I had no problem with FP- and used them myself, but it's indisputable that it slowed down the standby line. So if people were getting multiple FPs for the same ride, then that could mean one person got to ride four times while only waiting 20 minutes total, while another person had to wait 90 minutes for one ride, with no shorter option unless they made Rope Drop.

Those in the know can still maximize their time by hitting Rope Drop and because they know what rides will develop lines fastest, but people not in the know will have better odds of getting at least one ride on some of the headliners.

Hi; not trying to be snarky - at all; truly confused... are multiple people seeing shorter wait times specifically because of FP+ (with high/low crowds being equal)?

Josh's report said that many rides were showing shorter wait times than expected. It may be that fewer people are using FP+ than used FP-, in which case this will change, or it may be that fewer people are going back for multiple rides, in which case standby times might continue to be shorter than they were with FP-.

 

[rteetz]

I've read quite a few reports of people who were in MK and couldn't get FP+ for the times they needed (the ride they wanted was available, but only after a certain time which did not work for their schedule). I realize this was always an issue with rides like TSMM/Soarin/TT, but it was rare to enter MK at 10am and have the FP return time for headliners already be after 5pm.

well that makes sense. And I think that is going to be the biggest issue. People are going to have to learn or work around FP+ scheduling. So yes there were FPs available but only for certain times and sometimes you just going to have to deal with those times even tho you may not want them. Again this is where we will have wait and see how it works over spring break time where we see the big crowds. Also not every park has had a long test of this to really tell how well this will pan out. AK since December, MK for about a week and a half, DHS and Epcot will start this week.

 

[Mkrop]

I really haven't seen many reports of those who go into the park the day of and can't get any rides they want. There may be one or two but not all of them. I've heard most people have been able to get what they want the day of. Again his will depend on when you get I to the park. Rope drop gives you better chance than going at noon. Also at that time you scheduled legacy FP was still being used that could have had something to do with it as well. Now with that being gone that would free up FPs for everyone. Disney would have a major problem if FPs were not available the day of I just don't see this being a major problem in the future.

I dont think you are reading in the right places than

I think this was the thread where a lot of offsiters complained about their choices and being made to feel like 2nd class citizen

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3223381

If it is not this thread I apologize...I dont have time to check but the complaints are out there

 

[wdwfreak]

~How can I send this guy a check?!? OP, thanks so much for sharing this -- it's incredibly helpful!

~Disney please take notes -- this is exactly what your valued guests need -- not those goofy youtube commercials and the fluff that's on the Disney Parks blog. With all the bloggers Disney has -- you would think at least one of them could document the details of FP+ for park guests.

You're welcome, DRDISNEYMD. I learned about Josh through these boards. Thought I'd return the favor...

 

[rteetz]

I dont think you are reading in the right places than I think this was the thread where a lot of offsiters complained about their choices and being made to feel like 2nd class citizen http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3223381 If it is not this thread I apologize...I dont have time to check but the complaints are out there

well what I am saying is up until now legacy FP was still in effect this took away from the amount of FP+ that was out there. If you are an offsite guest you need to be aware that you may have to change your schedule due what FP+ times are available this may not always be the case I wouldn't want it to be the case. Now that legacy FP is gone this means all FP+ that opens up what was a limited number to full capacity. Off site guest may now find more FP+ availability. You still had limited availability with legacy FP and that didn't change with FP+.

 

[Angel Ariel]

well what I am saying is up until now legacy FP was still in effect this took away from the amount of FP+ that was out there. If you are an offsite guest you need to be aware that you may have to change your schedule due what FP+ times are available this may not always be the case I wouldn't want it to be the case. Now that legacy FP is gone this means all FP+ that opens up what was a limited number to full capacity. Off site guest may now find more FP+ availability. You still had limited availability with legacy FP and that didn't change with FP+.

I disagree with this as it relates to MK....FPs at MK rarely ran out, and if they did they didn't run out until quite late (compared to Epcot/DHS). It's concerning, as an offsite guest, to see reports of entering the park only a mere hour late and not being able to get headliners until the evening. That didn't happen with legacy FP, so *if* that situation continues (and I do acknowledge that that is an if), it will be a significant downgrade for offsite guests and it would be difficult to not feel like second class citizens.

I appreciate the idea of schedule changing, and would do so as I could...but there's only so much that's possible. Using the entering at 10am and no headliner available til 5pm example...with a toddler, our ADRs end up being earlier..usually around 5 or so. So we wouldn't be able to get a FP+ until 7 (if I understand correctly what the system has been requiring )...DD goes to bed around 9, and it takes about 30-40 mins to get back to our room...so that's only a 1.5 hr window to be able to use any headliner FP...compared to being able to get FPs for every headliner throughout the day, that's a huge difference that schedule changing can only partially address.

ETA: I will say that I *hope* that this is not the case. I *hope* that FP+ will be more flexible/available than this...but these are my current concerns given the current reports on the system. I understand the system is not "final" and things may change, and I hope they do...but I am only basing current feelings on what's currently happening

 

[rteetz]

I disagree with this as it relates to MK....FPs at MK rarely ran out, and if they did they didn't run out until quite late (compared to Epcot/DHS). It's concerning, as an offsite guest, to see reports of entering the park only a mere hour late and not being able to get headliners until the evening. That didn't happen with legacy FP, so *if* that situation continues (and I do acknowledge that that is an if), it will be a significant downgrade for offsite guests and it would be difficult to not feel like second class citizens. I appreciate the idea of schedule changing, and would do so as I could...but there's only so much that's possible. Using the entering at 10am and no headliner available til 5pm example...with a toddler, our ADRs end up being earlier..usually around 5 or so. So we wouldn't be able to get a FP+ until 7 (if I understand correctly what the system has been requiring )...DD goes to bed around 9, and it takes about 30-40 mins to get back to our room...so that's only a 1.5 hr window to be able to use any headliner FP...compared to being able to get FPs for every headliner throughout the day, that's a huge difference that schedule changing can only partially address.

I understand where your coming from and again there has only FP+ for about a week and we haven't seen how bad or good it is at peak times yet so its kind of a wait and see game that were playing.

 

[MikeSF]

The real value of Josh's report is as a detailed example, with pictures, of how someone can use the system as it currently exists to enjoy a lot of attractions at the Magic Kingdom on what he says (and I have no reason to doubt him) is one of the top 25 busiest days of the year at MK.

Also an interesting note was either how many people didn't have smart phones or didn't realize they could access everything via that by the lines he showed at a few of the kiosks. Actually makes me feel a little less alone in the world knowing I"m not the only one without a smart phone

 

[Mad Hattered]

Perhaps you all should read a follow up. Apparently you are all a bunch of lunatics!!

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/magic-kingdom-odds-and-ends-11814/

You should read more posts by Josh on his site. He speaks the truth about Disney whether it's good or bad. It's often delivered in traditional snark...and truthfully...it's pretty damn entertaining. I suggest you read some of the older posts.

And since we are talking about Josh here, I am sure he appreciates the shout out in some god-forsaken way. But when it comes down to it.... a glass of Dalmore 50 Year would probably go further.

 

[supergoofy]

That is much appreciated.

Looked at his crowd levels and he said that day was a level 8. When we go in August our first day will be at MK and it will be a level 6 so there is hope we get lots done.


I love his writing style and crazy banter

 

[Angel Ariel]

I understand where your coming from and again there has only FP+ for about a week and we haven't seen how bad or good it is at peak times yet so its kind of a wait and see game that were playing.

I was editing my post to acknowledge that I know this is new and there can be changes when you were writing yours, I think