An 8 year old's view of FP+ in its current state

[morethananyonex]

I"m not saying don't plan together. I'm saying I don't think that any other family planning a vacation should take the opinion of a child as any sort of reason to go or not to go to Walt Disney World, as presented in this thread. There was a thread some months back where a family decided they weren't going to Disney because their child thought that FP+ sounded like he wouldn't like it. I just think it's appalling that you would give any child that kind of power.

I agree the child should not have veto power on a vacation, provided the parents want to go.

What you said though, was you don't understand why parents would tell their kids about FP+. I think it would be stranger if parents purposely don't tell their kids, especially kids already familiar with FP.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I agree the child should not have veto power on a vacation, provided the parents want to go.

What you said though, was you don't understand why parents would tell their kids about FP+. I think it would be stranger if parents purposely don't tell their kids, especially kids already familiar with FP.

When you land in Florida, you can say, "Hey, this is how the new system works." I mean, on the boards here, people report back every day saying how skeptical and worried they were about the new system, and it was fine. Why put that negative stuff in your kids' heads, too?

 

[jon18uk]

I was telling DD1 about Anna and Elsa having 4 & 5 hour waits at Epcot and she said "Can't you get a Fastpass for it like with the other princesses?" Smart kid right? I said "Yes, now you can, but you are limited to only 3 Fastpasses per day." Her jaw dropped and she yelled "Only 3 Fastpasses? That's not fair! We use more than that!" Then she started to think about what she would use FP+ on and what her 3 selections would be. The fun came when she wanted to do RnRC, TSMM and ToT all in one day. When I told her she could pick either RnRC or TSMM she got very grumpy. She said "The line without Fastpass is FOREVER!"

While I admit that I like the concept of MB and certain aspects of FP+, I can really see that it's current state just isn't going to work long term. As it continues to evolve I really hope that the number of FP goes up as some have rumored it will. I think I saw a rumor that you'll get to advance reserve 3, like now, with the 60 and 30 day windows, then after the three are used you will be able to book more day of. I'd be ok with that I think.

While I really miss WDW I'm kind of glad my next trip is up in the air. Looking forward to seeing what the end state of FP+ looks like.

But often I was unable to get a FastPass for TSMM due to them being entirly distributed in the morning. I think I only managed to get more than 3 paper F once, particularly in Hollywood Studios. Maybe in Magic Kingdom you would need more as there is more attractions that require queuing (other parks have more shows that are more about timing than lines).

I think FP+ is a great idea you don't need to go to the attraction first to get a pass and there is less danger of you arriving at 11am to find they have all been distributed.

 

[morethananyonex]

When you land in Florida, you can say, "Hey, this is how the new system works." I mean, on the boards here, people report back every day saying how skeptical and worried they were about the new system, and it was fine. Why put that negative stuff in your kids' heads, too?

Again, some families like to plan together. Some want to get their kids opinions on the days plans, especially older kids. Why do you assume it's negative? It could be a simple as "we get to choose 3 a day, where should we pick?" If kids draw negative conclusions from that, they probably would have done the same in the parks. Better to prepare them in advance in that case.

Disney themselves portrays families at home choosing FP together. Nothing weird about it.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Again, some families like to plan together. Some want to get their kids opinions on the days plans, especially older kids. Why do you assume it's negative? It could be a simple as "we get to choose 3 a day, where should we pick?" If kids draw negative conclusions from that, they probably would have done the same in the parks. Better to prepare them in advance in that case.

Disney themselves portrays families at home choosing FP together. Nothing weird about it.

Point taken. OP seems to be negative, though.

 

[morethananyonex]

Point taken. OP seems to be negative, though.

I read it differently. Seems like the child was told what the system can and can't do and she drew her own conclusions from that. Can't really blame her, as many of us did the same. For many of us, it takes away what we did in the past.

If she could compare FP+ to their old experience with FP-, I don't think it's OP's fault she reacted how she did.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

When we start using the logic of children to validate our views, we are well and truly lost.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

When we start using the logic of children to validate our views, we are well and truly lost.

I disagree. Sometimes the logic of children is the purest and most uncluttered.....they can see things that adults don't, because they have fewer pre-concieved notions and pre-formed opinions.

Sometimes the observations of a child can be downright astounding in their clarity.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

When we start using the logic of children to validate our views, we are well and truly lost.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

But there's no reason for it. Your child is a member of the family, but they don't get vacation planning input. That's absurd, IMHO, just another symptom of the things we see with entitlement these days.

Well, when we take a FAMILY vacation, the vacation is for the whole FAMILY (not planned by myself and DH, and we take the kid along just because we have to). We plan as a family, we choose things to do/places to eat/new things to try as a family. The vacation includes something special or important to each and every one of us. Why shouldn't a child be able to offer their age-appropriate input into something that affects and benefits them just as much as it does us parents?

That's not entitlement where I come from. Its an important lesson in being receptive to the input of other people, and taking other people's wants and needs into consideration.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Well, when we take a FAMILY vacation, the vacation is for the whole FAMILY (not planned by myself and DH, and we take the kid along just because we have to). We plan as a family, we choose things to do/places to eat/new things to try as a family. The vacation includes something special or important to each and every one of us. Why shouldn't a child be able to offer their age-appropriate input into something that affects and benefits them just as much as it does us parents?

That's not entitlement where I come from. Its an important lesson in being receptive to the input of other people, and taking other people's wants and needs into consideration.

Well, okay. To me, it's the essence of entitlement.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I disagree. Sometimes the logic of children is the purest and most uncluttered.....they can see things that adults don't, because they have fewer pre-concieved notions and pre-formed opinions.

Sometimes the observations of a child can be downright astounding in their clarity.

Aso ignorant (as in, uneducated) and naive. Children are also, as a whole, far more selfish than adults (driven by their biology, not personality, at a young age).

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

What you said though, was you don't understand why parents would tell their kids about FP+. I think it would be stranger if parents purposely don't tell their kids, especially kids already familiar with FP.

Unless roomthreeseventeen has left them out of her signature, it does not appear she has children (just two cats).

I think those with kids will "get" allowing them to be part of the planning process (including having the appropriate discussions about how FP+ works, and how it will impact their vacation), while those without children will have a much harder time understanding.

lol, my cat isn't entitled to any input on our vacation, either .

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Unless roomthreeseventeen has left them out of her signature, it does not appear she has children (just two cats).

I think those with kids will "get" allowing them to be part of the planning process (including having the appropriate discussions about how FP+ works, and how it will impact their vacation), while those without children will have a much harder time understanding.

lol, my cat isn't entitled to any input on our vacation, either .

I don't see what that has to do with anything. I have nieces and nephews, and they aren't included in vacation decisions, either.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I think those with kids will "get" allowing them to be part of the planning process (including having the appropriate discussions about how FP+ works, and how it will impact their vacation), while those without children will have a much harder time understanding.

I have teenagers - they are now allowed input into our vacation planning. They were not at age 8. Huge difference in the logical thought processes between those age groups. Now, that does not mean that we didn't discuss our vacations with our children - we just didn't let their poorly considered opinions influence our plans.

At age 8, my boys wanted to eat pizza for every meal. There are reasons that we don't let our children make some decisions. Heck, had my boys been allowed to make decisions for us at WDW, we would never have left the resort pools.

 

[morethananyonex]

I have teenagers - they are now allowed input into our vacation planning. They were not at age 8. Huge difference in the logical thought processes between those age groups. Now, that does not mean that we didn't discuss our vacations with our children - we just didn't let their poorly considered opinions influence our plans. At age 8, my boys wanted to eat pizza for every meal. There are reasons that we don't let our children make some decisions. Heck, had my boys been allowed to make decisions for us at WDW, we would never have left the resort pools.

There is a huge difference between an 8 year old influencing vacation plans, and an 8 year old deciding where they would like to use a FP. Even bigger difference between those and telling an 8 year old what FP+ is. That is what the poster said she couldn't understand, the simple act of telling a child about FP+.

There is a world of difference between giving a child power to influence huge parts or the entire vacation and explaining a new aspect of a familiar place to them. I mean, do you not let your child choose which ride they would like to go on next? It's the same thing.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

There is a huge difference between an 8 year old influencing vacation plans, and an 8 year old deciding where they would like to use a FP. Even bigger difference between those and telling an 8 year old what FP+ is. That is what the poster said she couldn't understand, the simple act of telling a child about FP+.

There is a world of difference between giving a child power to influence huge parts or the entire vacation and explaining a new aspect of a familiar place to them. I mean, do you not let your child choose which ride they would like to go on next? It's the same thing.

Nope, that's not what I said. I said there's no reason to tell a child about FP+ in a way that casts a shadow on their vacation.

 

[morethananyonex]

Nope, that's not what I said. I said there's no reason to tell a child about FP+ in a way that casts a shadow on their vacation.

Maybe that's what you meant, but this is what you said, "I'm not sure why anyone would tell their children about FP+. Like, the child doesn't have input on where the family goes on vacation. They don't choose the rules of Walt Disney World."

Seems like all the OP did was told her child about FP+. There are limits to the system. The child picked up on those as negative compared to her previous experience, which according to the OP was a conclusion she came to on her own. It's pretty simple, 3 is less than in the past. TSMM only is less than TSMM and RNRC. OP telling her daughter that when it was being discussed isn't being negative, that IS the system. It's the truth.

 

[awilliams4]

"Only 3 Fastpasses? That's not fair! We use more than that!"

Ironic in that the not fair part could be those that used more than that. So it seems now with their 3 FP+ quota anyway.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I don't see what that has to do with anything. I have nieces and nephews, and they aren't included in vacation decisions, either.

Its like someone who doesn't (and has never) had a drivers license critiquing the the ability of someone else who's actually behind the wheel of the car. And then justifying their "knowledge" by saying "but I have plenty of friends with licenses, and they are perfect drivers".