Aaaaaand it sucked

[cm4lfie]

I know this sentiment is nothing new but I just feel the need to share. I have been holding off on my judgment of FP+ until I could experience it myself and having just returned from the world, in my humble opinion, it sucks. I know there are people out there who are digging it but for me…. I’ve been to Disney an uncountable amount of times and when I go I like to chill. I don’t need to plan everything out to the smallest details anymore. I like to decide which park I’m going to, the day before or the morning of, depending on the weather or what I’m in the mood for. I’m not against change, I’m normally all for it but this, not to be overly dramatic but this took a lot of the fun out of the experience for me. You are now forced to plan which days you want to go to specific parks as well as what attractions you want to go on and the time of day you want to ride months ahead of time. That’s nuts! And if you don’t, you’re screwed. The overall lines are longer and I can’t believe that’s just because more people are going. Anyway, my point is Disney clearly thought this would be great for all of the uber planners out there but I can’t be the only one who has traditionally enjoyed winging it. What about us? I won’t say I’m not going back, I’m sure I will but I may give it a few more years and see if they cant straighten all this out first. In the mean time Universal lines were much more manageable. Just saying.

 

[nats311]

I think we will have the same reaction as you when we go in a few weeks. We also like to be able to wait until the day before to make a final decision of the park we will go to. So many factors - weather, overall fatigue levels, what the kids are enjoying / not enjoying, success in doing what we wanted on prior days and more all play such a big part in how we want to manage each day.

Sorry it had a negative impact on your experience.

 

[MNash87]

We haven't been since they implemented FP+, but we are the type who like to wing it as well. We'll probably go next year, but we are looking at other destinations for vacation because of FP+.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I'm going to try to focus on the beauty of the park and the thus far unspoiled things to do and less on the rides and attractions. No expectation = no disappointment.

 

[anniemae]

I hear you. We went with an open mind too. I liked some parts of it, but I also did not like planning so far in advance. It's like you are locked in, with rides as well as dining. We like to take it easy on vaca and kind of like to wake up and decide what to do, but you simply can't do that now.

I also don't like all the crowds, I don't know if fp+ is encouraging more crowds because everyone is waiting for their fp times, or what. But the parks seem very crowded to me, even during supposed slow times. Maybe I am missing something but it just seems like between the crowds and the longer wait times for sb, it seems like you are paying a ton of money to ride much fewer rides. They are doing something right though because Disney is more crowded than ever!

That said, we still enjoy Disney but probably won't of as often, or will do less parks and do day trips to Universal, Sea World etc. Or just enjoy the pools more. We still love it, and the kids have a blast so that's all that matters!

 

[Reddog1134]

The overall lines are longer and I can’t believe that’s just because more people are going.

It's not.

The headliners have decreased in wait time while the rest of the rides waits have increased. This was one of Disney's main goals for FP+. Re-distribution of crowds.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I’ve been to Disney an uncountable amount of times and when I go I like to chill. I don’t need to plan everything out to the smallest details anymore. I like to decide which park I’m going to, the day before or the morning of, depending on the weather or what I’m in the mood for.

Still love the Disney parks but couldn't agree more with this statement. You know, vacations and all that.

I like your title LOL

 

[emldrl]

I'm with you on the whole over scheduling thing. We are a very spur of the moment, winging it type of family, and when I started planning for our future trip, it was very.... interesting to learn all the new info. We haven't been there since 2004, when we were invited, didn't research or plan anything, and we had a blast! (we did miss a lot though) Now, trying to plan for our 2016 trip, my family thinks I'm obsessed, and a bit nuts!

I think I've got a workable strategy for now, until Disney decides to change it all again. We are getting park hoppers, so the only times we HAVE to be in certain parks are those 3 hours each day. And if we decide to skip those, so be it. We are scheduling maybe 3, at the most 4 ADRs, so we can be flexible about where we eat and when. We are also staying CL so we will have extra food and help available. WDW wins on this point, which is probably their evil plan to begin with! We are spending more money in order to have more flexibility, and the overplanners are spending more money on ADRs and such, which have become like furbys and Elsa dolls, they're so coveted.

Still super excited to go, and we will have a great time, but all the scheduling is messing with our go with the flow way of vacationing. So be it, still love WDW and hope to go a lot more in the future! Disney wins again!

 

[txnana]

Seems to me that those who like to wing it still can, it is just that there are a lot more folks visiting the parks these days so it becomes much more crowded. FP+ is not the problem for you, the sheer volume of visitors is the problem, if the other people weren't there your park touring plans would absolutely remain the same. In the past, a lot of folks didn't know about the FP legacy system and did not use it leaving more FP for those in the know -thus developed a system of park touring allowing for all the fp you wanted, the crowds and the knowledge level of the crowds changed requiring WDW to change the way the fp were doled out. The running of the bulls was getting dangerous and again a privilege relegated to the "early birds". Step FP+ to be fair to visitors, young and old, early and late risers, and crowd control. I am an every two years visitor traveling with friends and grandchildren - looking forward to the FP + reservations I have coming up. My past trips have been with a friend who is on dialysis meaning very few early mornings for us, and thus long afternoon waits because legacy FP were all gone by the time we could get to the parks. We solved this by going a lot more days in each trip.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

For what we pay to stay onsite in a villa, tickets dining etc I can cut back to every other year and hit EuroDisney. I hear no one goes there, lol!

 

[Grumpy92]

Feel the same way. We are AP holders and tend to go with the flow. We are limited with FP+, dont like scheduling everthing and am agrivated when we cant get some of our fave attractions FP.

I was always a WDW planner, could not understand those who went without hotel reservations or ADRs. But this is overboard planning. I get asked for my advice when someone I know is going to WDW. For those first times who say they arent planners I tell them good luck you will not enjoy your trip because of FP+. The crowds have been ridiculous this year as well.

Last month we went to Universal for a few days. It was wonderful, never thought I would say we dont need to go over to Disney because it is just too aggrevating. But we did. Already planning my next visit there.

 

[Mikie]

This is not a rhetorical question to irritate people. All my recent trips have involved character ADRs, so that is what causes me to be "locked in" places, therefore I've never been a "winger"

Honestly asking: old system - wake up, decide what to do, go to park w/no pre-planned FP (didn't exist) use Rope Drop for low lines and maybe also see what FPs are available and whether you want to get them
New system if you want to wing it - wake up, decide what to do, go to park w/no pre-planned FP (even though they exist) use Rope Drop for low lines and maybe also see what FPs are available and whether you want to get them

I don't see the difference. Either way you have little control of what FPs to get and when they'll be. If it's the feeling of pressure to do it in advance (whether required or not, you may still *feel* the pressure) I do totally understand that.

 

[chelseabun76]

For those like myself, who can't get to Disney more than once every 5 years or so, and after this trip it will probably be even longer... planning ahead of time is what makes it go faster, and helps fill the void. Even the last trip, before fp+, we planned it out. Luckily the weather was wonderful and we kept to our schedule for each day.... I have planned it out to do a few rides at rope drop, have some lunch, shop, and then do our 3 fp+ in the afternoon. Have some dinner, and watch the parade/fireworks/illuminations/Fantasmic!, for whatever park we are in.... I need to stop reading the threads that are making me dread my vacation, I guess....

 

[Michael623]

I thought it sucked too and I made sure I told just about every management type I saw anywhere on property how I felt about it. I wished I experienced it before I bought APs because I seriously would have reconsidered buying them, even with the sweet DVC PAP deal that I got. Once my APs expire I'm really going to have to rethink my future vacations.

 

[IWannaBuildASnowman]

This is not a rhetorical question to irritate people. All my recent trips have involved character ADRs, so that is what causes me to be "locked in" places, therefore I've never been a "winger"

Honestly asking: old system - wake up, decide what to do, go to park w/no pre-planned FP (didn't exist) use Rope Drop for low lines and maybe also see what FPs are available and whether you want to get them
New system if you want to wing it - wake up, decide what to do, go to park w/no pre-planned FP (even though they exist) use Rope Drop for low lines and maybe also see what FPs are available and whether you want to get them

I don't see the difference. Either way you have little control of what FPs to get and when they'll be. If it's the feeling of pressure to do it in advance (whether required or not, you may still *feel* the pressure) I do totally understand that.

I was wondering the same thing. Go to the biggest attractions at rope drop then see where the day takes you. It would still work.

 

[anniemae]

Well for us, the adrs and FP lock you in. If you were lucky enough to score mine train fp two months out, you are going to magic kingdom that particular day. Same thing if you booked your 3 fp's for Epcot rides, you will go to Epcot or risk not riding a particular ride. We will not wait for an hour in line. There is no waking up and deciding where to go. Maybe hoppers give you some flexibility, but we usually don't get park hoppers, just too much to much time wasted.

WE are also not rope droppers. We don't like pressure on vaca. Feeling like we have to get to bed early, wake up early, quickly eat, run to grab a bus, sprint to the rides etc. We like to sleep in until we wake up, eat a leisurely breakfast and go. That's just the way we are. Now i know some like the thrill of rope drop and the exhilaration of riding the rides before the lines, but we just don't like the rope drop thing.

I know some feel excited at all the pre planning and feel it gets them into the Disney spirit, but we are not all like that.

 

[bumbershoot]

...And if you don’t, you’re screwed. ...


In the mean time Universal lines were much more manageable. Just saying.

Did you try to arrange FP+s while in the parks? Either on your mobile device or at a kiosk? I was really surprised at what I could arrange while in the parks.

I'm officially and philosophically against FP+. But it was not as bad as I had felt it was before, on our recent trip the last weekend of F&W festival. Just please don't tell anyone I said that.

Universal lines are even better if you're onsite in a deluxe getting unlimited Express Pass...

I'm going to try to focus on the beauty of the park and the thus far unspoiled things to do and less on the rides and attractions. No expectation = no disappointment.

For me, that's an expectation. If I went in focusing on the beauty of the park, undoubtedly I would see all the chipped paint, spiderwebs, bird poop, and construction walls, LOL.

 

[RustManFan]

We like to wing it too and have always been able to do all the "must do" attractions without FP+. Dreading figuring this out for my next trip

 

[Dis703]

I would normally prefer to wing it as well to be honest despite the fact I've been happy with FP+. But in prior years when I've attempted to wing it I ended up not getting to see the things I had hoped to see because we started our day too late or didn't plan our park time efficiently. We get way more done with a plan and with FP+ now than we ever did before. And I do enjoy the time spent at home before the trip putting things together. It builds the excitement and anticipation.

 

[Mikie]

Well for us, the adrs and FP lock you in. If you were lucky enough to score mine train fp two months out, you are going to magic kingdom that particular day. Same thing if you booked your 3 fp's for Epcot rides, you will go to Epcot or risk not riding a particular ride. We will not wait for an hour in line. There is no waking up and deciding where to go. Maybe hoppers give you some flexibility, but we usually don't get park hoppers, just too much to much time wasted.

WE are also not rope droppers. We don't like pressure on vaca. Feeling like we have to get to bed early, wake up early, quickly eat, run to grab a bus, sprint to the rides etc. We like to sleep in until we wake up, eat a leisurely breakfast and go. That's just the way we are. Now i know some like the thrill of rope drop and the exhilaration of riding the rides before the lines, but we just don't like the rope drop thing.

I know some feel excited at all the pre planning and feel it gets them into the Disney spirit, but we are not all like that.

So, you book FPs because you felt you had to (I get that - especially if you hang out here at DIS), and then you feel locked in because you'd be giving up something you have if you changed your mind and switched parks?

If you're not comparing FP+ to old FP, I understand the gripe about unwanted planning. If you're comparing new FP to old FP, AND you don't rope drop, wouldn't you have run the same risk of missing a headliner in the past? I know I arrived "late" to Epcot and DHS in the past and my only choices were all FP distributed for the day/super long wait for Soarin or TSMM, or FP distribution that conflicts with dinner or is after I plan to be gone for the day.