All of that FP+ Planning out the window

[jomass]

I'm wishing you well on the weather! That being said, if you're talking about dumping A&E FPes for next Tuesday (the 5th) I will be more than happy to co ordinate in an effort to obtain them. But you know, I'm hoping the weather holds out for you (and me both).

LOL
Mine are for this Tuesday, but if I had them for the 5th I might consider 3 7DMT or 4 PP late mornings for 2 A&E 12:30's HA!

 

[jomass]

But the fact remains, that while we will go to MK in a monsoon and have a great time, there are those who don't- or people that could easily just switch their MK day to a day when there was not predicted to be a washout. In the old days, you could just get there at rope drop and grab the primary FP you needed for the day. Plus, because they are not booked in advance and everyone was limited to one at a time (or at least a wait before the next), there would likely be another good one available when your time came up to get the next. Now, especially with the hard to get FP+ like A&E, you are stuck. I agree, I hate the lack of flexibility!!! We have felt so tied down and limited on our 2 FP+ trips. We were never FP super users either.

I have also been contacted, no less than 9 times in the last 2 weeks by my newbie/haven't been in years friends who are planning summer WDW vacations, and who are totally overwhelmed by the whole FP+ thing and know I'm a "Disney person". So, in addition to spending hours on my own last 2 FP+ trips, now I have spent HOURS trying to get multiple separate friends FP+ set up for them and get things linked and together on MDE. I had one friend going in a month who didn't even know what the MDE app, or MDE even was- she had booked through a travel website- so she had gotten no E-mails from WDW on magicbands, FP+ etc. It has been so much fun explaining to another friend that she can't take her one son on RNRC and her younger son on TSM with FP+, because of tiers where she can't have a FP+ for both.... and to yet another friend that since her DD's top priority at EPCOT is Soarin and her son's top priority at EPCOT is Test Track that they can not FP+ both --- either the family has to split up, or they have to pick one. The son is 6, so they can't do single rider at TT, so it is standby for one of those rides, or split up -- of course then she is upset that while her kids have their top picks, they are still going to be irritated if they split about not being able to ride the other one or if they pick one and standby another about their sibling getting FP+ for their top priority and them not. She is one that has been before pre FP+, and has always been able to get FP for both and is extremely frustrated that now that she has 2 kids that want to ride both and that their priority ride is different, that she is limited and will have to disappoint one of the kids or stand in what will probably be an hour or more standby line. Another total newbie is totally irritated because they did not do dining reservations months ago because they wanted flexibility and figured they could just do CS if they had to, and now they have found out that they have to book ride FP+ 2 months in advance and tie themselves down to a time that early, or they might not get FP at all for the rides they want. I could go on and on about the complaints I have heard from multiple people in the last couple of weeks, and as much as I hate FP+- when I talk to them, I try to keep it positive so as not to stress them out more or get them discouraged. Let's just say that the posts on here opining that newbies will not have issues with FP+ and will love it, are not accurate in my opinion. I didn't realize quite how bad it would be for a newbie or someone that had not been in years, until I started getting a ton of calls, texts and E-mails asking for help.

I was explaining all of this to some would be newbies recently and their jaws dropped to the floor. They just want to book and go without doing anything, which is totally possible and fine by some, but you will face the consequences for doing so.

 

[Fonty]

I'm sorry your plans may not work out very well.

On the other hand, have you ever considered moonlighting as a humorous writer or comedian to fund future trips to WDW?

 

[ArwenMarie]

I was explaining all of this to some would be newbies recently and their jaws dropped to the floor. They just want to book and go without doing anything, which is totally possible and fine by some, but you will face the consequences for doing so.

I think with newcomers, the word "resort" is what throws them off, in my experience.

The word "research" isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the word "resort." And then the way Disney makes it so easy to buy a package online reinforces that feeling of a resort, an all-inclusive almost. It's rather contradictory to have to then do all of this advanced planning.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

While I agree weather predictions are far from 100%, I have been reporting this same flaw of FP+ since the start. (albeit with less humor.)

A few things to mention:

a.) Touring with a scooter is not a matter of just stick it out. Electric scooters and heavy downpours are a bad mix.
b.) Lightning closes half of AK. No animal attractions.
c.) It's oh so much fun showing up to a signature dinner in the World Showcase looking like a half-drowned rain with bright orange Crocs on my feet!


On our last trip, we had a planning malfunction of the opposite kind. We'd planned an evening in MK, but found ourselves with an unexpected full day open. We weren't thrilled with the idea of giving up our 7D FP, so we suffered HS with no FP. Our options were pretty lame.

 

[Masonmj84]

I'm an OCD planner so the planning aspect of FP+ doesn't bother me.

But you make a good point with respect to the weather. On our last trip, we discovered that we really liked the water parks. But if there are ever parks that are dependent on the weather, its the water parks.

FP+ basically forces you to plan in advance which days you will visit each park, including the water parks. But if the weather turns out to be bad on those days, it's awfully tough to stitch things around at the last minute (at least with the most popular attractions). This, to me, is perhaps the biggest weakness of FP+ versus the old paper system. You're basically locked into which days you will visit each park well before you know what the weather will be like.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Oh, and humor me more context.

What if instead of just your wife, you were the person planning a trip for the extended family? Multiply her one request by ten, and you'll see why I'm no longer taking big family trips to WDW.

I also used to happily help others plan trips, but that has also gone by the wayside. I'm not going to plunk down my cc, nor am I willing to set up others' MDE accounts.

I suspect WDW had no idea how many unofficial WDW travel planners like me have been quietly helping guests for years.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

While I agree that MK in the rain can be fun, and you can get a lot done, what's impossible to get done in this situations are the attractions that close--which include 7DMT. So if you were on a first time/one and done trip, and your MK day was a rainout rendering your one 7DMT FP+ useless, would you really feel like riding POTC over and over again would be a good consolation prize, especially if you'd secured that coveted FP+ 60 days before? I don't think the issue is that rainy days aren't fun (some of our best memories in the parks have come on rainy days), it's that if one happens, your one chance to ride the most popular ride in Disney right now will be lost, and that sucks.

 

[ServerisBusy]

I like rainy days in the MK. It's dark, there are less people, and I can jump in puddles and make a big splash.

It's a lot of fun even when the coveted attractions you reserved 30 or 60 days in advance are closed.

Because, after all, you're in Disney World. Life couldn't be better.

 

[Lisann]

I've just finished reading several posts about FP, from several threads. Really...is this how WDW wants us to spend our time? In frustration? I know that FP works for some, but this is ridiculous that any business/company would put its customers through this. And FP isn't going away. I vacation in more of a laid back manner, but even I can see how FP takes a lot of the joy out of it.

I suggest you write to WDW. If enough people do this, on a continual/consistent basis, changes might be made. Emphasis on might.

All of this hurts my head.

 

[bumbershoot]

Unless it's a named tropical storm, I wouldn't worry until you are there.

Agreed.


And who is to say it's inflexible? If you get there and want to change things, it is still possible to do so, especially if it's a junky day and everyone else is doing the same. Get out your phone (quick, get a waterproof case and an external battery...I recommend the Anker brand) and see about changes.


I have several friends who have gone to WDW for the absolute FIRST time ever, this last 365 days, and they have had a GRAND time. They enjoyed making FP+s, they loved their MBs, they had zero glitches. The most recent friends who visited went during one of the more Spring Break-y Spring Break Season weeks, made their FP+s less than 30 days out, had a blast doing so, got all they wanted (including Ana and Elsa so the ladies could sign something for their niece), and had an incredible marvelous wonderful time.

I haven't had the same experiences (though I've never had a 100% awesome time at a Disney park...Universal yes, Disney no) but if newbies are doing it, others can, too.


It has been raining torrentially at one park while dry at the other. If you're at AK during a storm, find the animal path with all the bamboo. The bamboo makes a terrific rain shield, though it gets a bit noisy. Huge rainstorm at AK, finally made it out of there, went to MK, nothing wet. Fabulous. As we drove we left the clouds behind. Clouds are funny like that.

 

[LATJLP]

I've had some of my best days when it's raining at Disney....most people think like OP and decide the day is over and go back to their hotel......I put on my Mickey poncho (which incidently if it gets rips by high winds or the railing I can have replaced free) and march on. A few rides do close and that's a bummer, but the line goes away so the minute the sun comes out you can hightail it back and be first in line of an already short line!

A&E is inside so they will still be meeting and there is a bit of a line to wait through once you go into the building, so you should be able to pull out a hairbrush and get rid of poncho hair.

 

[jomass]

While I agree that MK in the rain can be fun, and you can get a lot done, what's impossible to get done in this situations are the attractions that close--which include 7DMT. So if you were on a first time/one and done trip, and your MK day was a rainout rendering your one 7DMT FP+ useless, would you really feel like riding POTC over and over again would be a good consolation prize, especially if you'd secured that coveted FP+ 60 days before? I don't think the issue is that rainy days aren't fun (some of our best memories in the parks have come on rainy days), it's that if one happens, your one chance to ride the most popular ride in Disney right now will be lost, and that sucks.

You got it Toyota!

 

[disney world dreamer]

overreaction in my opinion.
you don't know that the weather is gonna force you to change your plans.
also i can't believe you spent hours upon hours selecting FP+ times and getting things just right.
heck 2 weeks ago today i fell at DTD and cut my chin and neeed stitches and i didn't let it change or ruin my preset plans so i can't believe that POTENTIAL for storms is gonna change and ruin your plans.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Um, OK.

 

[Luckybee]

I like rainy days in the MK. It's dark, there are less people, and I can jump in puddles and make a big splash.

It's a lot of fun even when the coveted attractions you reserved 30 or 60 days in advance are closed.

Because, after all, you're in Disney World. Life couldn't be better.

Love your sense of humor

 

[Luckybee]

overreaction in my opinion.
you don't know that the weather is gonna force you to change your plans.
also i can't believe you spent hours upon hours selecting FP+ times and getting things just right.
heck 2 weeks ago today i fell at DTD and cut my chin and neeed stitches and i didn't let it change or ruin my preset plans so i can't believe that POTENTIAL for storms is gonna change and ruin your plans.

And as one of the earlier posters said....this is why you need the flame suit

 

[tjlamphere]

Enjoyed your post....we did WDW for the first time post-FP+ in February and are NOT big fans....takes the spontanaiety (bad spelling) right out of your trip.....everything has to be planned right down to the minute....not good...and if bad weather crops up, your preplanning is all for naught. None of my family likes the new system...we had learned how to use the legacy FP system to our advantage, we did Rope Drop and we did the rides we wanted to...now, good luck.

 

[waldozer]

It's also hard when you're the appointed trip planner for your group and someone in your party suggests a spontaneous change of plans.

I hated trying to explain how the ride reservation system operated. In my group's case, everyone decided to blow off the FP+ reservations and wing it. We missed out on the headliner attractions, but no one really cared.

 

[kerry34]

overreaction in my opinion.
you don't know that the weather is gonna force you to change your plans.
also i can't believe you spent hours upon hours selecting FP+ times and getting things just right.
heck 2 weeks ago today i fell at DTD and cut my chin and neeed stitches and i didn't let it change or ruin my preset plans so i can't believe that POTENTIAL for storms is gonna change and ruin your plans.

It took me over two hours to make fastpass reservations for 11 people and it was no picnic. This was at midnight so I was up past 2am and after all that I still didn't get a few of my FP where I wanted them. I also dislike the new system. I am all for planning to a certain extent but I agree that FP+ takes it a bit too far. That being said, I will not let it ruin my plans either, should a ride shut down due to weather we will just go with it and figure it out.