Am I going to regret not reserving any FP+?

[JenniBugInPink]

I just hate having to plan my vacation down to the minute. I don't know what time I'll be waking up, how long it will take to get breakfast, and head to a park that we need to decide on.

You'd better start figuring out.

Its just two of us. We don't do any of the thrill rides (which are mostly the big ticket items).

That no longer matters. Do you like Soarin'?

Why can't Disney make this easy for those of us that just want to have a nice relaxing time?

Those days are GONE. FOREVER.
Read this thread, even random pages, then see if you don't believe.
Soarin' SB+ test...Fail

 

[Missyrose]

I leave in 4 weeks for my 5th trip to WDW during the FP+ era. I have not booked a single FP+ for my upcoming trip, nor did I book them more than a week in advance for any of my other trips. Most time we book the night before or the morning of entering a park because we do not plan our park days in advance. We get up in the morning and go where we feel like going - booking the FP+ while driving over or just before leaving the room. Never had a problem getting any ride at any time.

This includes one short trip with crowds between 7-9 during spring break this year. Family of 4.

So you got 7DMT, TSM, Soarin and Test Track the morning of the day you went to each park? No availability issues EVER?

 

[tndisneyfan]

Things have changed a lot in five years. I still don't agree when I see there is a slow time at WDW . If I were you, I would grab some FP+ and if you don't use them then you don't use them. I think it would be better to have them rather than have nothing when you get here and maybe find that the SB lines are ridiculously long.

I totally agree with this. I would make them, you don't have to use them.

 

[btk2333]

I just hate having to plan my vacation down to the minute. I don't know what time I'll be waking up, how long it will take to get breakfast, and head to a park that we need to decide on.

Its just two of us. We don't do any of the thrill rides (which are mostly the big ticket items).

Why can't Disney make this easy for those of us that just want to have a nice relaxing time?

Everyone has a different idea of relaxing- we find it much more relaxing to have our ADR's and FP+ planned out for the trip, we can always modify them on the fly if need be but at least our trip already has it's skeleton- helps avoid arguments and passivity.

 

[Junebugwv]

So you got 7DMT, TSM, Soarin and Test Track the morning of the day you went to each park? No availability issues EVER?

My DD, grandkids and I went the last week of Feb and did not buy our tickets until we arrived. We decided each evening which park we would go to the next day and made FP+ choices. My DD was very adept at learning the MDE app and taught me how to navigate it. We were able to get what we wanted, but it was not easy. We were disappointed with the amount of time it took to reserve and tweak times to fit our schedule. Yes, getting the Fp+s on short notice can be done. But, it was a lot of time-consuming work for us. Have never spent so much time on a phone whether we were on transportation or in the parks.

In the numerous trips I have taken since 1976, I will remember the last trip as the changing point from enjoying time interacting with family to managing FP+ schedules. It was that much of a game changer.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

Things have changed a lot in five years. I still don't agree when I see there is a slow time at WDW . If I were you, I would grab some FP+ and if you don't use them then you don't use them. I think it would be better to have them rather than have nothing when you get here and maybe find that the SB lines are ridiculously long.

 

[MattRyan]

I'd rather have something and not need it than need something and not have it.

 

[kittylady1972]

This is a tough one for us too. Seven of us heading down in the "slow" time of September. I am trying to make minimal plans, including ADRs' but I do have a few mostly lunch ADRs.


We are not technically on-site so FP+ isn`t open for us yet.
When it does open I am just hoping to snag ONE ressie for 7DMT and at least a Soarin on our planned day at EPCOT for F&W festival. I`ll also try for TSM and TOT at least once.

Since we doing MNSSHP on a Sunday I am hoping we can get a 2nd ride on 7DMT during that time.

We will be back at WDW for Thanksgiving week this year with TWO more family members. That one is an on-site DVC stay so I may have to do more ride planning for that time. ADRs for all meals are already set there.

I keep telling myself we visit enough that missing a ride or two will be okay. However I have 3 kids who I know won`t necessarily feel the same way.

 

[anniemae]

I agree with the others. Better to have them and not need them than to be stuck in the crowds with no plan of attack!

That said, I also hate the loss of freedom. We are not planners. We are the "lets wake up and see where the day takes us" kind of people. You simply can't do Disney like that anymore I don't think.

I hate it because if I book a dinner for 6:00 at Via Napoli for instance, I don't know months in advance if we will be hungry at that time, if we will want to be in a different park for some reason (we park hop), if we will just feel like grabbing ice cream for dinner (yes, we do that on vaca!), or if we will be tired and want to be in the resort pool etc.

But the fast passes are a must I think. I don't like that all the fp have to be at the same park, so if you know you are going to be in Epcot in the morning and HS in the afternoon, they all have to be for Epcot or HS. But I would def book for the headliners.

 

[newdeal]

it has gotten busier every year since 5 years ago. We generally would go in September for many years. I remember in 2009 we walked on most rides in the MK and were done the park by about noon. Pirates literally we walked all the way through the que and hopped on the boat because there were zero people in line. That doesn't happen anymore, not even close. The popularity of free dining has filled the fall up nicely for Disney, combined with FP+ which has lengthened standby waits, and so what was a walk on is now a 30-40minute standby wait

 

[DVCcurious]

WDW in 2014 is nothing like WDW in 2009 or 2010.

We typically go in peak summer season. 2010 was our first year and we've gone every year since in July and also in January a few times.

In July 2010 there was short waits (>10 min) for Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Alladdin's Magic Carpets, Small World, etc. This year those waits were 30 minutes pretty consistently.

In 2010 there were 90-100 minute maximum waits for Space, Thunder, and Splash. This year the waits were about the same, if not a little longer.

It's not like the people who used to wait in line for Splash have started waiting in line at Haunted Mansion instead, because the Splash line is still just as long. It's got to be that there are way more people now than in 2010.

You will need FP+ or else you will wait 30 minutes for anything that's not Hall of Presidents or Carousel of Progress.

 

[PennockFive]

If you don't need them for the headliners, take the opportunity to get prime viewing for the parades, shows, fireworks. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing time!!!

 

[unbeknownst]

I think it matters what you plan on doing. For my upcoming trip, I seriously don't care if I get on a ride (any ride). Will I? Sure. But it's not a priority. I'm going to celebrate finally being able to take vacation during the school year, to play Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, and more importantly - finally got to the Halloween party (twice!). Food & Wine is just an added bonus. Any rides will be an added bonus.

If there is a ride you're going to be disappointed if you don't get to ride, I would book the FP+. That way you know have it in your back pocket if your other plans don't work out. Disney trips are what you make of them.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I'd rather have something and not need it than need something and not have it.

Brevity is the soul of wit.

 

[itchin2go]

I'd rather have something and not need it than need something and not have it.

For real.

These threads crop up every now and then. I legitimately don't get the quandary.

What is the downside to making the FP+ reservations?

No one is going to shoot you ... or fine you if you don't show up for them.

Put it another way: What is the upside of NOT making the FP+ reservations?

 

[1025cruise]

Thanks everyone for the advice.
I guess this vacation is starting to stress me out. I'm behind the 8 ball on my ADRs for food (we do have free dining), and now the thought of having to schedule my rides is getting to me. Its just piling on since I'm also considering renting an ECV for the trip due to some massive back pain I've been experiencing. What should be a relaxing trip is starting to stress me.

 

[btk2333]

Thanks everyone for the advice.
I guess this vacation is starting to stress me out. I'm behind the 8 ball on my ADRs for food (we do have free dining), and now the thought of having to schedule my rides is getting to me. Its just piling on since I'm also considering renting an ECV for the trip due to some massive back pain I've been experiencing. What should be a relaxing trip is starting to stress me.

Take a deep breath . WDW is definitely becoming a plan it out type of vacation. However, there are plenty of ways to have a very magical vacation even if you're not a planner. There are very good restaurants that don't book up on ADR's until the week of and same with FP+; however, if there are things that are absolute must dos- it is important to get those booked so you won't be disappointed! We are going with 1 year old twins in February and believe me, we know our plans will have to be flexible, that being said we are going to have plenty of Adr's and FP+ booked so that we know we will get to experience most of what we want the twins to experience on their first trip (OK, mainly what WE want to experience with them- they'll probably just want to look at ducks )

 

[itchin2go]

Thanks everyone for the advice.
I guess this vacation is starting to stress me out. I'm behind the 8 ball on my ADRs for food (we do have free dining), and now the thought of having to schedule my rides is getting to me. Its just piling on since I'm also considering renting an ECV for the trip due to some massive back pain I've been experiencing. What should be a relaxing trip is starting to stress me.

Take it one step at a time. Schedule SOME dining ... your must-dos. You can fill in the blanks after. That's what I did. I booked the hard ones first, and then had a few days to think about the rest. It doesn't all have to be done in one phone call or one computer session.

With regard to FP, for me, it was easier to decide what attractions to fastpass than I thought it would be. Take it park by park, and do MK last. With tiering in Epcot and DHS, some of the FPs naturally choose themselves.

Again, take it one step at a time, and you'll get there.

 

[1025cruise]

Well, I think I got most of my ADRs (at least to use all of my credits) done. Might need to make a couple more to fit in some other stuff.

I did make some FP reservations. Had no issue getting what I wanted. While SDMT looks nice, I'm not a coaster fan and from what I saw on YouTube, my back would probably not forgive me, so it being filled wasn't an issue.

I think we'll be OK.

 

[MuddyTires]

Why can't Disney make this easy for those of us that just want to have a nice relaxing time?

lol

Maybe because people would be up in arms if they set the attendance limit so low or hiked up the prices so high to the point where there would be little to no lines at each attraction.