Ok..I'm going to be bold here and post something.
The thing is that most people use FP because they hate the idea of waiting in line. I've been to Cedar Point...I'm used to waiting 3 hours for Top Thrill Dragster (which is a 17 second 400 ft coaster) and every other ride at that park during 99% of the operating season...it doesn't bother me. I understand that WDW has more than CP however I still don't see it being hard to hit 90% of the rides in a day. If you hit during meal times and parade times like you would at any other amusement park then you'll be fine. Will I use it for things like ToT, RnRC, SM, Space Mountain, Test Track and Everest? Absolutely only because they are the popular ones and I know the wait will be long. Here's my thing. The GP (general public) will wait in line regardless. Disney makes it that much better because unlike hot sunny queue lines at any amusement park...theirs are themed. So it makes it fun. When one goes to Disney you expect to have to wait in line at MK and the other top rides.
That being said. I too am a planner and I love the idea of being able to plan a bit ahead of time as to have an idea of what I may be hitting and in which order to do the rest of the park. I'm going in September of 2014. I'm staying onsite at FW in a tent by myself. I'll take full advantage of single rider lines but I'm also willing to wait because its been almost 20 years since I went last. FP+ limiting me to 3 rides a day....not a huge deal! You decide which three you have to ride and go with the flow the rest of the time. My issue is the same as some others here....what happens if/when the system fails as most systems do if overloaded or a heaven forbid a virus gets in there.
JMO!
Everyones perspective is valid, everyones opinion holds a point. I am glad you posted this. It makes me think.
I would like to suggest that you may have a different opinion of waiting three hours in line for a one minute ride, if you are saddled with a 3 year old and a 5 year old. Your experience would be different, no matter how amazing the 'line' or ride is.
[edited to add: I assume you have not been saddled with little kids in a theme park, who need to pee, who need to run , who are not necessarily patient for a 3 hour line. Forgive the impertinence of it! It was the single rider line comment, coupled with the ability to see 90% of the park in a single day that made me think you are foot loose and fancy free- I hope I have not offended you, that was not intended.]
For your demographic, fp is maayyyybbbeee not necessarily a priority. I think that is why most big ticket theme parks never bothered to 'invent' it, because thrill ride theme parks really cater to your demographic. Disney invented it partially because they cater to a wider demographic then the average theme park, and focus on 'family', partially because they realized doing so would make them a pile of money.
Theme parks around the world picked up on the 'money' part, and because they tend to be a one day deal, decided to have 'pay for' express passes. This makes them lots of money, at very little cost, and the average age of thrill ride theme park goers hits the correct demographic where long lines are may not be the intense issue they can be for disney. And if its an issue, you are given a choice to pay more for a better experience.
Go and have a bad experience with super long lines at your one day local theme park - you will be grumpy. Go on a week long vacation with your children, paying for flights, tickets, food, hotel and transportation, and have a miserable experience, thats really a different ball game.
That said, its always good to add your 2 cents, because it makes folks realize that when analyzing what Disney does, or intends to do, effects different people (read here demographics) in different ways. Not everyone will be negatively effected, not eveyone will be positively effected.
Jury's out on who the majority winner will be. I truly believe that the average disney goer is going to have a MUCH better time then what they currently been encountering. I believe that the savvy disney goer is going to have a harder time of it. However, we CAN learn to maximize what ever system gets in place, so its going to be interesting to see how this all pans out.
Hopefully we get a lot of first hand dis reports from our members on how they feel the system is working while they are down there. I know I appreciate anyone taking the time to post, especially while on vacation (whatsarahsaid - you rock!)
Cheers