I had a lot of thoughts and opinions on FP+ a month ago and someone posted that until one tried the system they could not comment. So I guess now I can. I put in a detailed trip report in the other forum, this is my strategy recommendations for the 4 parks and thoughts on the changes…
Parks were SUPER-crowded and that is what my recommendations are for.
Magic Kingdom
FP Recommendations: For 8am park open Peter Pan (9-10), 7DMT (10-11), Space Mtn (11-12). If park opens at 9am delay 30-60 min.
At RD Thunder Mtn (if you get there first sit in the middle and go multiple times w/o having to get off) then Splash Mtn. Go multiple times OR go to Space Mtn and Buzz, Astro if you have time. Peter Pan at 9:30-9:45 then 7DMT, Space Mtn (or other) at 10:50. Go directly to Buzz Kiosk for next FP (the one next to Stitch is usually crowded). I also like the Kiosk next to Philharmonic. You will find stuff like Pooh, Small World, Haunted Mansion, Aladdin, Dumbo, etc., pick the one that is 10 min or less and closest. Even if standby times are 15-20 min you are better off getting a FP. Repeat until you are done. Take meal and parade breaks as necessary.
7DMT is a blessing and curse, it’s not worth it to go at RD, but it draws so many people you can pretty much walk on any of the mountains or Peter Pan for the first 30-45 min and maybe 20min or less wait for the next 30-60 min. If you have a FP for 7D and only want to go once, MK touring is pretty easy. If you can’t get a FP for it you can skip the FWs and go. We watched 7D wait times on MDE drop from 70min to 45min during the parade/show and rushed over. We were off in 30 min. If you can't get a 7D FP another idea would be to get earliest FPs you can, then try to get an evening FP for 7D. Go back to resort and rest. You can try to change your time or if you couldn't get a 7D FP get another and try to change it on MDE to 7D if you can. Come back for a 7-8pm 7D FP, stay for show, then other rides will be shorter lines or you can FP them. This allows you to eat outside MK (unless you can get a BOG dinner ADR).
Walk up to BOG for lunch w/o ADR. I think you can go anytime but off hours shouldn’t be a problem. Or you can do an TS ADR late afternoon and get out early enough to secure a spot for the parade/show/FWs.
Epcot
FP Recommendations: Nemo (9:30-10:30), Test Track (10:30-11:30), Space (11:30-12:30)
At open the crowd split between Test Track and Soarin'. Walk onto Soarin' and go a second time if wait is reasonable (~20min). Or go on another ride in the bldg. you won’t have time to make it to TT, the wait will be 40-50min. You just need to be out by 10:20am to make it over to FP Nemo. Next go over to FP TT, if you are out early and Spaceship Earth is 15min or less you can go on it. Get in FP line for TT by 11am. Go to Space at 11:20am. Get your next FP immediately. You may want to try for a late Soarin’ or TT. Even if you get a 6pm slot you can tour the Showcase and eat. There is not much reason to FP anything else anyway, except maybe Spaceship Earth. You can do TT single rider if you want to go multiple times.
Hollywood Studios
FP Recommendations: Toy Story, ToT, Star Wars (early as possible, since HS is small order is not crucial)
Toy Story is crazy. If you can’t get a FP, then go at RD and get a FP for RnR. Otherwise. RD RnR and do multiple times or standby in ToT. Get the main ride attractions out of the way early and you can easily get FPs to shows and Muppets. Be mindful of show times and order and you can easily get done early and still get a FP to Fantasmic (unless you have VIP which is STILL much better). Note, even if you have FP for a show, get there 20-30 minutes BEFORE the window starts if you want good seats. The FP just guarantees a seat, not necessarily a good seat. If you are late for the FP window they WILL NOT let you in via FP, you have to go standby. Be careful with RnR single rider. If you can see people outside the door from the ride entrance don’t go. Otherwise, it’s a 20min or less wait and a good option to do RnR multiple times. I like the Kiosk at the intersection where you turn right to go to ToT (in the plaza in front of where the hat used to be). They are very accessible but are kind of hidden and most people use the ones by ToT and Muppets (from what I saw).
Animal Kingdom:
FP Recommendations: Dino, Everest, Kilamanjaro (start first FP at 9:15am)
We’re not big fans of the Kali river ride, so we don’t FP or go. At RD walk on Everest 3-4 times in a row. Then standby Whirl. If you want to go multiple times on Dino or Whirl you can standby then get in line for FP Dino by 10:15am. Then FP Everest (you could switch the Everest FP for Kali here). Knock out Kilamanjaro FP at 12:10pm. Get your next FP at the entrance to Asia. Hopefully you can get a Lion King FP within the next hour or two. If so grab it and standy bugs life, the wait should be 20min or less. Then you can grab lunch, tour or do another attraction, and make the LK show. You definitely want FP for Lion King and get there 20-30 min before the FP window.
Kiosks
Memorize where they are and look for them when you pass. The CMs usually where aqua-blue shirts. They are very helpful but learn to do it yourself. IF you see a big attraction pop up and the window is not too far off and you are remotely interested, pick it immediately. DO NOT HESITATE, you only have a couple seconds to grab it and you can always change it to something else easy. The CMs will hesitate and then tell you it’s impossible to get those FPs. If you grab it fast you can. If you are staying 3-4 days you can expect 1 maybe 2 opportunities, but you have to be looking and quick.
Magic Bands
I think they have a lot of potential for Disney. I don’t like to wear a watch but it didn’t bother me. I did like not have to worry about a room key when I went swimming at the resort or buying something at the park. Opening the room door with both hands full is not easy. They need to have the room detect the band 6 inches away.
MDE
This is some of the best software I’ve ever used. It is robust, easy to use, and let’s you do so much more than I would have ever thought. Kids writing code are getting lazy and sloppy these days, this is not that. There is some common sense stuff they need to fix and maybe a few very small bugs, but in general it is VERY impressive what it can do without being slow or buggy considering how big WDW is, how many people are using it simultaneously, and everything the software encompasses. I am an engineer not an IT guru, but I know enough to realize this is done very well.
FP+
When I saw them testing MBs a few years ago I decided to stay away. Being a commando-type tour person, I knew the new FP+ would hurt the way we tour. Plus there are always bugs with new technology. My wife wanted to go back so I finally caved. I confirmed for myself that WDW has forever been changed. FP are now distributed way more for the big attractions, so gone are the days for those of us who knew how to ride them all multiple times in a single day because we did our homework. There is still some advantage for those of us who know how to use the system better. I saw some people trying to get their first 3 FPs while were getting our 4th. The masses still do not use their extra (after 3) FPs effectively. They get the 7&8pm FP time slots for major attractions and wait 30-60min in standby lines for the smaller attractions all day because they could not get another FP. Still, we were only getting 6-8 FP+s per day where before we were getting 10-15 FPs.
My conclusion is this, no I don’t like the FP+ change. For ME and MY preferences, the old system suited me better for touring. I do like the MBs and MDE. Rather than moan and complain I am going to figure out how to make it work for me and mine. I learned a few new tricks and hopefully will learn more. I think for me I will no longer consider WDW as a place to go for a thrill ride. If my expectations for thrill rides is low then getting to do a few once will be okay. This trip we saw more shows/parades/FWs each day where before we would spread them out over a few days and only watch once every few years, now we spread the thrill rides out over a few days. This is the first year we tried Universal (my boy is now 7yr). You have to buy FPs there, but you don’t have to choose, you get them for almost all rides. I think next time we will stay at Universal and come over to WDW a few days with low expectations for rides and mainly to take in shows and parades. I am not trying to make a threat like Disney is losing business. I am smart enough to know things are not going to change back and Disney is going after new business, people that enjoy waking up late and knowing they will still get to ride major attractions. After all, for many, vacations are about relaxing, not commando-touring a park. So yes, Disney knows they will lose some of our business, but they are the business experts.
What DOES concern me about the changes I see is it is more obvious Disney wants to increase revenue in spite of losing business from longtime dedicated customers. I noticed some of the CMs at the parks were not as “magical” as before. I wonder if they are cutting the bottom line to pay less even if it means CMs don’t have that same magical Disney aptitude as before. Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of TRULY AWESOME CMs, I just hope they stay. If WDW experiences a morale problem, either by not giving fair raises to those who deserve it or allowing new CMs to come in for less money that don’t pull their weight and frustrate the long-term, hard-working CMs, it could spell disaster. Again, instead of complaining, I turned lemons into lemonade. Seeing this coming, I bought some DIS stock a while back and it’s doing quite well. I guess for the last few years Wall Street believes Disney is now more interested in dollars than magic. If you don’t believe me look at the stock over the last 20 years versus the Dow and NASDAQ averages and ask yourself what has changed. Walt Disney has been gone for a while now and his dream may be fading at the price of new Execs that don’t have the same ties to Walt as their predecessors. Makes me wonder what kind of WDW my grandkids will experience.
I believe (really, really hope) in the end Walt’s dreams will shine through and the Disney Execs will find balance between magic and revenue to keep WDW the most magical place on Earth.
Parks were SUPER-crowded and that is what my recommendations are for.
Magic Kingdom
FP Recommendations: For 8am park open Peter Pan (9-10), 7DMT (10-11), Space Mtn (11-12). If park opens at 9am delay 30-60 min.
At RD Thunder Mtn (if you get there first sit in the middle and go multiple times w/o having to get off) then Splash Mtn. Go multiple times OR go to Space Mtn and Buzz, Astro if you have time. Peter Pan at 9:30-9:45 then 7DMT, Space Mtn (or other) at 10:50. Go directly to Buzz Kiosk for next FP (the one next to Stitch is usually crowded). I also like the Kiosk next to Philharmonic. You will find stuff like Pooh, Small World, Haunted Mansion, Aladdin, Dumbo, etc., pick the one that is 10 min or less and closest. Even if standby times are 15-20 min you are better off getting a FP. Repeat until you are done. Take meal and parade breaks as necessary.
7DMT is a blessing and curse, it’s not worth it to go at RD, but it draws so many people you can pretty much walk on any of the mountains or Peter Pan for the first 30-45 min and maybe 20min or less wait for the next 30-60 min. If you have a FP for 7D and only want to go once, MK touring is pretty easy. If you can’t get a FP for it you can skip the FWs and go. We watched 7D wait times on MDE drop from 70min to 45min during the parade/show and rushed over. We were off in 30 min. If you can't get a 7D FP another idea would be to get earliest FPs you can, then try to get an evening FP for 7D. Go back to resort and rest. You can try to change your time or if you couldn't get a 7D FP get another and try to change it on MDE to 7D if you can. Come back for a 7-8pm 7D FP, stay for show, then other rides will be shorter lines or you can FP them. This allows you to eat outside MK (unless you can get a BOG dinner ADR).
Walk up to BOG for lunch w/o ADR. I think you can go anytime but off hours shouldn’t be a problem. Or you can do an TS ADR late afternoon and get out early enough to secure a spot for the parade/show/FWs.
Epcot
FP Recommendations: Nemo (9:30-10:30), Test Track (10:30-11:30), Space (11:30-12:30)
At open the crowd split between Test Track and Soarin'. Walk onto Soarin' and go a second time if wait is reasonable (~20min). Or go on another ride in the bldg. you won’t have time to make it to TT, the wait will be 40-50min. You just need to be out by 10:20am to make it over to FP Nemo. Next go over to FP TT, if you are out early and Spaceship Earth is 15min or less you can go on it. Get in FP line for TT by 11am. Go to Space at 11:20am. Get your next FP immediately. You may want to try for a late Soarin’ or TT. Even if you get a 6pm slot you can tour the Showcase and eat. There is not much reason to FP anything else anyway, except maybe Spaceship Earth. You can do TT single rider if you want to go multiple times.
Hollywood Studios
FP Recommendations: Toy Story, ToT, Star Wars (early as possible, since HS is small order is not crucial)
Toy Story is crazy. If you can’t get a FP, then go at RD and get a FP for RnR. Otherwise. RD RnR and do multiple times or standby in ToT. Get the main ride attractions out of the way early and you can easily get FPs to shows and Muppets. Be mindful of show times and order and you can easily get done early and still get a FP to Fantasmic (unless you have VIP which is STILL much better). Note, even if you have FP for a show, get there 20-30 minutes BEFORE the window starts if you want good seats. The FP just guarantees a seat, not necessarily a good seat. If you are late for the FP window they WILL NOT let you in via FP, you have to go standby. Be careful with RnR single rider. If you can see people outside the door from the ride entrance don’t go. Otherwise, it’s a 20min or less wait and a good option to do RnR multiple times. I like the Kiosk at the intersection where you turn right to go to ToT (in the plaza in front of where the hat used to be). They are very accessible but are kind of hidden and most people use the ones by ToT and Muppets (from what I saw).
Animal Kingdom:
FP Recommendations: Dino, Everest, Kilamanjaro (start first FP at 9:15am)
We’re not big fans of the Kali river ride, so we don’t FP or go. At RD walk on Everest 3-4 times in a row. Then standby Whirl. If you want to go multiple times on Dino or Whirl you can standby then get in line for FP Dino by 10:15am. Then FP Everest (you could switch the Everest FP for Kali here). Knock out Kilamanjaro FP at 12:10pm. Get your next FP at the entrance to Asia. Hopefully you can get a Lion King FP within the next hour or two. If so grab it and standy bugs life, the wait should be 20min or less. Then you can grab lunch, tour or do another attraction, and make the LK show. You definitely want FP for Lion King and get there 20-30 min before the FP window.
Kiosks
Memorize where they are and look for them when you pass. The CMs usually where aqua-blue shirts. They are very helpful but learn to do it yourself. IF you see a big attraction pop up and the window is not too far off and you are remotely interested, pick it immediately. DO NOT HESITATE, you only have a couple seconds to grab it and you can always change it to something else easy. The CMs will hesitate and then tell you it’s impossible to get those FPs. If you grab it fast you can. If you are staying 3-4 days you can expect 1 maybe 2 opportunities, but you have to be looking and quick.
Magic Bands
I think they have a lot of potential for Disney. I don’t like to wear a watch but it didn’t bother me. I did like not have to worry about a room key when I went swimming at the resort or buying something at the park. Opening the room door with both hands full is not easy. They need to have the room detect the band 6 inches away.
MDE
This is some of the best software I’ve ever used. It is robust, easy to use, and let’s you do so much more than I would have ever thought. Kids writing code are getting lazy and sloppy these days, this is not that. There is some common sense stuff they need to fix and maybe a few very small bugs, but in general it is VERY impressive what it can do without being slow or buggy considering how big WDW is, how many people are using it simultaneously, and everything the software encompasses. I am an engineer not an IT guru, but I know enough to realize this is done very well.
FP+
When I saw them testing MBs a few years ago I decided to stay away. Being a commando-type tour person, I knew the new FP+ would hurt the way we tour. Plus there are always bugs with new technology. My wife wanted to go back so I finally caved. I confirmed for myself that WDW has forever been changed. FP are now distributed way more for the big attractions, so gone are the days for those of us who knew how to ride them all multiple times in a single day because we did our homework. There is still some advantage for those of us who know how to use the system better. I saw some people trying to get their first 3 FPs while were getting our 4th. The masses still do not use their extra (after 3) FPs effectively. They get the 7&8pm FP time slots for major attractions and wait 30-60min in standby lines for the smaller attractions all day because they could not get another FP. Still, we were only getting 6-8 FP+s per day where before we were getting 10-15 FPs.
My conclusion is this, no I don’t like the FP+ change. For ME and MY preferences, the old system suited me better for touring. I do like the MBs and MDE. Rather than moan and complain I am going to figure out how to make it work for me and mine. I learned a few new tricks and hopefully will learn more. I think for me I will no longer consider WDW as a place to go for a thrill ride. If my expectations for thrill rides is low then getting to do a few once will be okay. This trip we saw more shows/parades/FWs each day where before we would spread them out over a few days and only watch once every few years, now we spread the thrill rides out over a few days. This is the first year we tried Universal (my boy is now 7yr). You have to buy FPs there, but you don’t have to choose, you get them for almost all rides. I think next time we will stay at Universal and come over to WDW a few days with low expectations for rides and mainly to take in shows and parades. I am not trying to make a threat like Disney is losing business. I am smart enough to know things are not going to change back and Disney is going after new business, people that enjoy waking up late and knowing they will still get to ride major attractions. After all, for many, vacations are about relaxing, not commando-touring a park. So yes, Disney knows they will lose some of our business, but they are the business experts.
What DOES concern me about the changes I see is it is more obvious Disney wants to increase revenue in spite of losing business from longtime dedicated customers. I noticed some of the CMs at the parks were not as “magical” as before. I wonder if they are cutting the bottom line to pay less even if it means CMs don’t have that same magical Disney aptitude as before. Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of TRULY AWESOME CMs, I just hope they stay. If WDW experiences a morale problem, either by not giving fair raises to those who deserve it or allowing new CMs to come in for less money that don’t pull their weight and frustrate the long-term, hard-working CMs, it could spell disaster. Again, instead of complaining, I turned lemons into lemonade. Seeing this coming, I bought some DIS stock a while back and it’s doing quite well. I guess for the last few years Wall Street believes Disney is now more interested in dollars than magic. If you don’t believe me look at the stock over the last 20 years versus the Dow and NASDAQ averages and ask yourself what has changed. Walt Disney has been gone for a while now and his dream may be fading at the price of new Execs that don’t have the same ties to Walt as their predecessors. Makes me wonder what kind of WDW my grandkids will experience.
I believe (really, really hope) in the end Walt’s dreams will shine through and the Disney Execs will find balance between magic and revenue to keep WDW the most magical place on Earth.
