Fastpass+ is cramping my style

[Robo]

For 2 of my days, I am purposely booking a "throwaway" fastpass. I have no intention of using those fastpasses, but yet I'm FORCED to book them and take those potential time slots away from someone else.

A. Book the "extra" (unwanted) two FP+ for attractions that will not be "full," in the first place.
(Like "Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor" and "Mickey's PhilharMagic" at MK.)

B. When you get to that park that day, before riding your first FP+ attraction, CANCEL the two FP+ that you don't want.

C. You will THEN be able to ride your one WANTED FP+ attraction...
AND, you will be able to go to an in-park kiosk and immediately book your "4th" FP+ that day (and it can even be for the same attraction as your WANTED FP+, if there are any still left that morning.)

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I tried that without success. I also tried moving the second two closer after riding the first FP+.

 

[itchin2go]

True, but I'm not sure how much those parks need them. IMO, MK is the only park where you really need lined attractions to enjoy. There is enough in Epcot and HS for us to do without FPs.

I understand that those parks are not as ride oriented as MK. That is ok with me. Epcot is my favorite park, chiefly because of World Showcase.

However, if you're going to implement this attraction-rationing-system, there need to be a certain number of attractions to make it run efficiently. If those parks don't have the minimum number of attractions, maybe this rationing system wasn't the right one for these parks. Tiering, to me, is a cop out.

And too, even for non-ride-oriented parks, the number of attractions keeps shrinking.

 

[AngiTN]

My only issue/obstacle that I've come across (so far) in my fastpass planning is the mandatory MUST BOOK 3 FASTPASSES OR NONE AT ALL rule!

Why???

For 2 of my days, I am purposely booking a "throwaway" fastpass. I have no intention of using those fastpasses, but yet I'm FORCED to book them and take those potential time slots away from someone else.

A. Book the "extra" (unwanted) two FP+ for attractions that will not be "full," in the first place.
(Like "Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor" and "Mickey's PhilharMagic" at MK.)

B. When you get to that park that day, before riding your first FP+ attraction, CANCEL the two FP+ that you don't want.

C. You will THEN be able to ride your one WANTED FP+ attraction...
AND, you will be able to go to an in-park kiosk and immediately book your "4th" FP+ that day (and it can even be for the same attraction as your WANTED FP+, if there are any still left that morning.)

Why do you suggest to wait till you get to the park that day to cancel the ones you don't want? Is there a reason not to do it as soon as you finish booking them? Other than if you change your mind you can't get them back without cancelling the one you keep?

 

[AngiTN]

Plenty of people (including me) found planning a day out under the old system to be much easier than now. You could walk up to any attraction, look at the posted SB and FP return time, and decide which to take. If you chose the FP, while waiting for your window to open, you could do other things--grab a snack, go to the bathroom, ride rides that had short lines. And if the FP time didn't work for you, you could just decline and come back later when it had a time that did work. Now, FP+ is so much more high stakes...for a large number of rides, except for during the least busy times, you need to "use it or lose it." For me, it's stressful to have to keep so many appointments during a "vacation."

I should add that under legacy FP, almost all of our trips occurred during October, and the FP return times were typically less than an hour from when we pulled the FP, the notable exceptions being Soarin' and TSM.

It's a shame they didn't just leave both. I'm the opposite. I hated the old method of not knowing the times and love having 3 at times I want. But I would love a chance to then pull them at the park also. In my dreams at least.

 

[Robo]

Why do you suggest to wait till you get to the park that day to cancel the ones you don't want? Is there a reason not to do it as soon as you finish booking them? Other than if you change your mind you can't get them back without cancelling the one you keep?

The only thing I know is that I have read that is the correct procedure to follow.

I've not read success with doing the cancellation any time before the day-of.

(And, since the 4th FP+ must be collected at an in-park kiosk the day-of anyway,
there's no real advantage in doing the cancellation earlier.)

 

[Robo]

I tried that without success. I also tried moving the second two closer after riding the first FP+.

To which post are you responding?

 

[Angel Ariel]

I understand that Disney is trying to make this all more equitable for everyone. Not everyone gets to the parks early and wants to do the extra walking that was a part of getting fastpass under the old system. However, it doesn't fit my way of planning and enjoying the parks. And it has made my park planning way more complicated.

I sympathize. We've had to change how we tour to work better with FP+, and while we don't hate the result, we don't love it either. To the fairness, though - I really don't think Disney's intent in changing to FP+ has anything to do with equality. Locking us in, convenience, a method of getting guests to accept wearing MBs, and a myriad of other reasons I can see...but I just don't think fairness/equality was a driving force behind their decision. I know many guests feel this system is more equitable and fair, and they are of course entitled to their opinion. I just feel that was a byproduct of the incorporation of this new system, not a driving factor behind it. JMHO, though.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I think the early park closings due to MNSSHP and MVMCP really mess with the FP+ availability. I am taking a short trip in Nov and MK is only open past 7 on two of the days we are there. I anticipate having similar issues booking my FP+ in a few months.

I agree. We had similar issues planning our trip last November. Shorter hours and party season really make those hard to get FP+ just that much more difficult to get.

 

[itchin2go]

I agree. We had similar issues planning our trip last November. Shorter hours and party season really make those hard to get FP+ just that much more difficult to get.

Interesting point. I didn't have much trouble last November, but I was booking for Thanksgiving week - when they don't have MVMCP. I think the above is a pretty good hypothesis.

 

[jacksgirl]

I'm planning a trip in late September and this is my first experience with Fastpass+ after many WDW trips with the old Fastpass system.

Here's what I've experienced:

1. Even though I I logged into the MyDisney at 12:01, Mine Train was already unavailable for all the days we will be in the park. I often pick less busy vacations, so I can avoid the crowds, lines and enjoy the parks at my pace.
2. "Grouping" of attractions in some of the parks means that I can't, for example, get a fastpass for ToT and RnR for the same day.
3. I now have fastpasses for attractions I never would have used in the past and probably won't use now. This means that someone else might not get one that they wanted.
4. I usually like to arrange my days in the parks in certain ways. The order of attractions, meals, etc. is important to my family's experience. Getting fastpasses the old way made planning the day easier. Part of my strategy was always to minimize wait time, even if it meant more walking. As I look at my current day plans, I've got some attractions with 30 minute or more waits. I could not get a fastpass for the time slot I was hoping for. That would be acceptable if something was a spur of the moment decision because it would be my choice, not because I lost in a lottery. It does seem a little unfair that fastpasses are gone as the result dates for other peoples vacations overlapped with mine.
5. I've had to change restaurant ressies, made earlier, because of availability issues with fastpasses. That translates into extra work for me and I've found that Restaurant ressie availability is now a sometimes a problem.

I understand that Disney is trying to make this all more equitable for everyone. Not everyone gets to the parks early and wants to do the extra walking that was a part of getting fastpasses under the old system. However, it doesn't fit my way of planning and enjoying the parks. And it has made my park planning way more complicated.


As always, constructive comments are welcome.

It's cramping my style too. I'm ok with scheduling ADRs, but I don't like having to schedule my rides. For example, I simply don't know which days I'm going to feel like getting up early and hitting RD, and which days I'm gonna want to sleep in.

 

[lugnut33]

Been planning for our upcoming August vacation and it's just confirmation that I freakin' hate FP+.

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

#1 I've got to agree is odd. I've got fastpasses for 24 for 7DMT on August 17th

 

[AngiTN]

The only thing I know is that I have read that is the correct procedure to follow.

I've not read success with doing the cancellation any time before the day-of.

(And, since the 4th FP+ must be collected at an in-park kiosk the day-of anyway,
there's no real advantage in doing the cancellation earlier.)

The only advantage would be releasing your unwanted FP in to the pool earlier. Otherwise it isn't going to benefit you any.

I guess is just assumed you could do it earlier. I've never had a FP I didn't plan to use. I've found a way to need any I get buy working our plans with them

 

[famy27]

The only thing I know is that I have read that is the correct procedure to follow.

I've not read success with doing the cancellation any time before the day-of.

(And, since the 4th FP+ must be collected at an in-park kiosk the day-of anyway,
there's no real advantage in doing the cancellation earlier.)

I've released my unwanted FPs weeks prior to getting to the parks. I've gone to EP with only Soarin' booked. We ride Soarin' and then go to the kiosk and book Test Track immediately. Worked like a charm. We've done the same thing at HS as well

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

It's a shame they didn't just leave both. I'm the opposite. I hated the old method of not knowing the times and love having 3 at times I want. But I would love a chance to then pull them at the park also. In my dreams at least.

The old Disney app (mobile magic?) they had before MDE used to show the FP return time. Plus touring plans was pretty good at estimating return times. I just found it much more flexible. We never had a problem getting what we needed.

 

[midnightlouise]

My FP booking isn't coming up for another 6 weeks and I'm already stressing about it. Many of you going in November have also experienced the PITA of booking your ADRs when there was slim pickings, and now I get to try to figure out how to work FP+ into what has been the most time-consuming orchestration of planning to date.

While I fully believe I will eventually be able to book everything we want (by obsessively re-checking...thank you, OCD), the need to plan to the nth degree does suck some of the joy out of the experience.

 

[alopez926]

My FP booking isn't coming up for another 6 weeks and I'm already stressing about it. Many of you going in November have also experienced the PITA of booking your ADRs when there was slim pickings, and now I get to try to figure out how to work FP+ into what has been the most time-consuming orchestration of planning to date.

While I fully believe I will eventually be able to book everything we want (by obsessively re-checking...thank you, OCD), the need to plan to the nth degree does suck some of the joy out of the experience.

I totally agree with you. I have struggled to get ADR's since May. Now can't wait for another battle for FP+. I picked this time of year because I thought it was relatively slow! I have hated planning this trip since the day I booked it! We'll go back to mid-April next time we go. Have never had issues with that time of year before. May the odds be ever in our favor! Good luck to you!

 

[midnightlouise]

I totally agree with you. I have struggled to get ADR's since May. Now can't wait for another battle for FP+. I picked this time of year because I thought it was relatively slow! I have hated planning this trip since the day I booked it! We'll go back to mid-April next time we go. Have never had issues with that time of year before. May the odds be ever in our favor! Good luck to you!

Thank you! And to you as well!

 

[bcrook]

We have done 2 FP+ trips, I totally get where you are coming from. As far as number 3, don't assume you won't use them. I never in a million years thought I would use a FP for Figment, we have always walked on that ride or waited less than 5 minutes, to our surprise the line was 30 minutes long when we were there last fall. I can't recall ever seeing it like that, or if I have it would have been over 10 years ago. So, we amazingly used a Figment FP+.

This is the craziest thing that could possibly happen. I predicted a lot nutty things for the FP+, but I never could have imagined this. Honestly there cannot be a stronger indictment of a system than that!

I didn't get to see this on my trip a few weeks ago, because Figment was closed along with maelstrom and Pirates of the Caribbean, and space mountain on my MK day and RNRC on my DHS day. Talk about being squeezed.

30 minutes for Figment. I can't stop laughing. Life is truly stranger than fiction.