Fastpass+ is cramping my style

[DoingDisney]

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.

Very fair observations.

A Quick note: Never have I seen anything from Disney saying they were trying to make things more equitable. They have said lots of things, like they are trying to lock you into your vacation earlier, they are trying to increase customer spending, they are trying to cut costs via more accurate crowd predictions ... but never more equitable.

 

[DoingDisney]

Yep. I bet we're going to see a release of additional FP+ times for Mine Train here shortly. After a few weeks of them not being an issue for most people, it seems strange that they suddenly are now. I feel for them...we've played the "look more FP+s have been released now I have to change everything around" game in the past. It's one thing to spend time planning/executing your day while actually on vacation, it's another to stalk Disney chat boards in the 60 days leading up to your vacation and/or continually refresh MDE looking for FP+ slots that weren't initially available. I know lots of people enjoy having everything laid out before they get there, but I personally don't enjoy investing hours into just obtaining FP+s for the slots I want before vacation.

They did do this at Christmas as I remember, and while it was great for people who were able to grab those FPs, it also meant many of them had to change lots of other things around. Some people were happy and did it, other people felt they were risking the other FPs they already booked, etc.

Would be interesting to see another round of this type of behaviour, it hasn't been the norm, but this wouldn't be the first time either.

 

[bcrook]

#1 - I find that odd .. I had no issues getting a morning FP for SDMT at my 60 days out for an end of August vacation. I would think September would be a less crowded time than late August.

#2 - The tiering stinks .. but you can always rope drop the other attractions or just standby them. You probably did rope drop to GET the old paper fastpasses?

#3 - True ... But hey .. if you don't wait in a line .. you don't wait in a line.

#4 - I actually find FP+ able to plan the day out better. Plan rides X,Y,Z .. then your lunch ADR .. make sure they don't conflict .. and voila .. your morning or afternoon is generally planned. How would the old paper system HELP plan out your day when you had no idea what time you'd get on your tickets to come back?

#5 - I've found working Fast Passes around the restaurant reservations a challenge as well.

Lol on #2. Mythology. It's hilarious now that rope drop is mandatory advice to enjoy rides even though FP+ was supposed to 'fix' that. Rope drop is even less effective now. DHS and Epcot are freaking messes. There is no way around it.

DAK mysteriously is the only park that is still manageable. That night time show will ruin that soon.

Yes OP, FP+ is a style cramper. It is designed to limit rides per person...that seems to be the definition of cramping your style.

In two weeks I get to jump back into the fray for my October trip. Sigh.

 

[bcrook]

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

Fascinating

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Lol on #2. Mythology. It's hilarious now that rope drop is mandatory advice to enjoy rides even though FP+ was supposed to 'fix' that. Rope drop is even less effective now. DHS and Epcot are freaking messes. There is no way around it.

DAK mysteriously is the only park that is still manageable. That night time show will ruin that soon.

Yes OP, FP+ is a style cramper. It is designed to limit rides per person...that seems to be the definition of cramping your style.

In two weeks I get to jump back into the fray for my October trip. Sigh.

I'm curious how the night show at AK will impact the park during the day time. I suspect it will be a lot like Fantasmic where people wont be in the park that day but will show up in the evening for the show. We've talked to a CM who said one of the things they learned from the FP+ data is that people will go to AK with no FP+ usage and book Fantasmic and then come to HS for the show after AK closes. The show in AK may have just as big of an impact on HS as it does AK.

 

[bcrook]

I'm curious how the night show at AK will impact the park during the day time. I suspect it will be a lot like Fantasmic where people wont be in the park that day but will show up in the evening for the show. We've talked to a CM who said one of the things they learned from the FP+ data is that people will go to AK with no FP+ usage and book Fantasmic and then come to HS for the show after AK closes. The show in AK may have just as big of an impact on HS as it does AK.

I find that scenario difficult to believe. That means they are hopping to DHS, not using a FP for the safari or Everest, and foregoing TSMM or RNRC to get a tier 1 Fantasmic! That defies all logic. Plus, the Fantasmic show isn't heavily booked.

But there is something to saving FP for other parks.
Currently, DAK has the least amount of FP+ to distribute and generally has the easiest ride availability. I can't understand why that is the case. It is the prime park for tiers. But it is clear that people are going to DAK and saving FP for other park. I guess it is the half day park syndrome. When the nighttime show comes around I suspect a lot more people will spend all day and start booking FP in that park. Tiers will probably go in effect there. Kilimanjaro Safari has a relatively low FP capacity... It is popular, and yet it doesn't book up in advance. I predict the safari to be one of the most difficult Fastpasses to get in the future, maybe as soon as the night show opens. As for as pandora in THREE Years, those two rides will be popular but I don't know if it will be enough to avoid tiers.

If people book FP at DAK, it very well could help the FP availability at other three parks.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I find that scenario difficult to believe. That means they are hopping to DHS, not using a FP for the safari or Everest, and foregoing TSMM or RNRC to get a tier 1 Fantasmic! That defies all logic. Plus, the Fantasmic show isn't heavily booked.

But there is something to saving FP for other parks.
Currently, DAK has the least amount of FP+ to distribute and generally has the easiest ride availability. I can't understand why that is the case. It is the prime park for tiers. But it is clear that people are going to DAK and saving FP for other park. I guess it is the half day park syndrome. When the nighttime show comes around I suspect a lot more people will spend all day and start booking FP in that park. Tiers will probably go in effect there. Kilimanjaro Safari has a relatively low FP capacity... It is popular, and yet it doesn't book up in advance. I predict the safari to be one of the most difficult Fastpasses to get in the future, maybe as soon as the night show opens. As for as pandora in THREE Years, those two rides will be popular but I don't know if it will be enough to avoid tiers.

If people book FP at DAK, it very well could help the FP availability at other three parks.

We personally have made a lot of trips to AK without ever using a FP the entire day either + or -. There isn't that much to do and really outside of the Safari there are really not a lot of bad lines. The hardest part of the day is trying to figure out how to hit Nemo and Lion King without backtracking.

I gave up a long time ago trying to figure out why people do the things they do with their FP options. Someone else talked about the artificial wait times they created for Figment which is bad enough but the fact that people use them for parades and fireworks just boggles my mind.

 

[LOL!]

But it is clear that people are going to DAK and saving FP for other park. I guess it is the half day park syndrome. When the nighttime show comes around I suspect a lot more people will spend all day and start booking FP in that park. Tiers will probably go in effect there. Kilimanjaro Safari has a relatively low FP capacity... It is popular, and yet it doesn't book up in advance. I predict the safari to be one of the most difficult Fastpasses to get in the future, maybe as soon as the night show opens. As for as pandora in THREE Years, those two rides will be popular but I don't know if it will be enough to avoid tiers.

If people book FP at DAK, it very well could help the FP availability at other three parks.

I think that's a very valid observation.

 

[bcrook]

We personally have made a lot of trips to AK without ever using a FP the entire day either + or -. There isn't that much to do and really outside of the Safari there are really not a lot of bad lines. The hardest part of the day is trying to figure out how to hit Nemo and Lion King without backtracking.

I gave up a long time ago trying to figure out why people do the things they do with their FP options. Someone else talked about the artificial wait times they created for Figment which is bad enough but the fact that people use them for parades and fireworks just boggles my mind.

That is why I think Disney is trying to 'fix it'. They need people to use FP at that park. The nighttime show will definitely help. It will be like world of color and that packs DCA. The Fastpasses are wildly popular, even though the system is different.

 

[LOL!]

We personally have made a lot of trips to AK without ever using a FP the entire day either + or -. There isn't that much to do and really outside of the Safari there are really not a lot of bad lines. The hardest part of the day is trying to figure out how to hit Nemo and Lion King without backtracking.

I gave up a long time ago trying to figure out why people do the things they do with their FP options. Someone else talked about the artificial wait times they created for Figment which is bad enough but the fact that people use them for parades and fireworks just boggles my mind.

Or Captain EO! or Figment or Spaceship Earth or Living with the Land or................but yes, I definitely agree with you.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

That is why I think Disney is trying to 'fix it'. They need people to use FP at that park. The nighttime show will definitely help. It will be like world of color and that packs DCA. The Fastpasses are wildly popular, even though the system is different.

I agree and I think they've finally figured out the "fix" is more attractions and not rubber bracelets. Unfortunately it was only about a billion dollars too late. Just think of what they could have done attraction wise for what they sunk into MM+.

 

[mom2rtk]

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!

You (and I) see it as an indictment of the system. But I'm betting Disney sees this as a success.

We looked at short lines on secondary attractions as an attractive benefit in the parks. Tom Staggs looked at them and saw unused capacity, the opportunity to busy up more guests without investing in more rides.

What Tom Staggs missed is that guests who are nudged into certain things they didn't willingly choose before might not end up satisfied over time.

 

[mom2rtk]

That is why I think Disney is trying to 'fix it'. They need people to use FP at that park. The nighttime show will definitely help. It will be like world of color and that packs DCA. The Fastpasses are wildly popular, even though the system is different.

Wouldn't you just LOVE to see the behind the scenes figures on FP usage in that park versus the others?

They could solve that problem by requiring that guests be IN the park to get a FP for the new nighttime show.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

You (and I) see it as an indictment of the system. But I'm betting Disney sees this as a success.

We looked at short lines on secondary attractions as an attractive benefit in the parks. Tom Staggs looked at them and saw unused capacity, the opportunity to busy up more guests without investing in more rides.

Which is odd, because wasn't Fastpass initially introduced to get people out of lines so that they could be free to spend money?

 

[mom2rtk]

Which is odd, because wasn't Fastpass initially introduced to get people out of lines so that they could be free to spend money?

There is a lot "odd" with this system.

Isn't it odd that the first piece of advice to counteract tiering is to be there at rope drop? I thought FP+ was the great antidote to doing rope drop.

 

[itchin2go]

There is a lot "odd" with this system.

Isn't it odd that the first piece of advice to counteract tiering is to be there at rope drop? I thought FP+ was the great antidote to doing rope drop.

Depends. If you want more than 3 rides, rope drop.

 

[momof2n2]

Depends. If you want more than 3 rides, rope drop.

Now, do you mean rope drop or
"rope drop?" Because I want waaaaaay more than three rides.

 

[mom2rtk]

Depends. If you want more than 3 rides, rope drop.

In the tiered parks, you might as well be saying "if you want more than 1 or 2 rides".

 

[tlmadden73]

Depends. If you want more than 3 rides, rope drop ... if you're ok with 3 rides, sleep in.

You can go on more rides .. you just may have to wait in lines or be picky about which rides you go on (aka . .the ones with shorter lines).
It's like people think the only way to get on rides is to use Fast Passes!

WDW is no different than any theme park! When I used to go to Six Flag parks as a teenager ... we knew that we wanted to be there when the gates opened. We got on more rides in the first two hours than we would probably the rest of the afternoon. We knew if we wanted to go on the hot new coaster, we had to beeline for it at rope drop.
No different here.

Fast Pass+ eliminates that need IF you choose. If you want to go on the hot ride at a park .. book your fast pass and show up when you want! What a great system.
If you want to go on a lot of rides for the day .. show up early .. or take advantage of EMH.

I guess I don't get the negativity around FP+. I am sure tons of first time (or non-frequent) guests love it. It may be a bit confusing to plan out at first, but once they are in the park they get to skip the lines on three rides! Name another theme park that lets you do that FOR FREE? They may not know that X ride USED to have a short line (they may not care!) .. they may not know that Test Track and Soaring are the BEST rides there and are upset they can't get a FP for both. They just know that Soaring has a 90+ minute wait and because of the Fast Pass system they can skip that line and spend that 90 minutes enjoying the rest of the park. They may really like parades and want to guarantee they have a good spot without being crowded out by rude families.

My first experience with it was good. I was able to skip the lines on SIX rides at MK with a 2-year old without waiting in a line longer than 5-10 minutes and without having to run around the park collecting paper fast passes. I was able to skip lines on rides that I didn't have the option to with the old system. Granted, we weren't trying to go on the "big" rides, but my longest wait of the day was Dumbo (which didn't matter due to the playground inside). Sure .. I used a Fast Pass for Aladdin (as my 5th fast pass) (which didn't have that long of a line) .. but saving that extra 10-15 minutes was golden with an impatient two-year old. To me . that made the system worth it.

What would people rather have? No fast passes and the only way to get on SDMT is to wait 60-90 minutes all day because it is so popular? OR the ability to possibly go on it at a certain time with almost no wait with just a bit of pre-planning?

All I know is that I have skipped TSMM on my last several visits (in the days of paper fast passes) because I didn't want to wait 90+ minutes . and the paper fast passes were out pretty early in the morning (or were at times that didn't fit my plan for the day). THIS upcoming trip I will get to go on that ride at least once with no wait. I find that pretty darn good.

 

[mom2rtk]

All I know is that I have skipped TSMM on my last several visits (in the days of paper fast passes) because I didn't want to wait 90+ minutes . and the paper fast passes were out pretty early in the morning (or were at times that didn't fit my plan for the day). THIS upcoming trip I will get to go on that ride at least once with no wait. I find that pretty darn good.

I agree that FP+ is a big improvement for those who did not previously choose to do what it took to get a FP for TSMM.