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

[practicallyperfect77]

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.

I'm planning on taking my sis, BIL, 2 nephews (age 7) and 1 niece (age 5) on a once in a lifetime trip. You can bet your life that I am explaining what there is to do at the parks - describing rides, finding out what characters they want to meet and shows they might want to see. I have explained that we'll have to wait in some lines but if we can get up early like they do for school we can probably avoid some long lines. I value their input. This is going to cost me a slight fortune and frankly I don't want to spend the $ now if they are not interested in going. I want them to have a most wonderful magical experience and I know my niece and nephews well enough (I usually spend at least 5 hrs a week with them) to know they handle experiences better if they know what to expect.

 

[johde]

This logic doesn't quite make sense.

Current status: 17,000 Soarin FP and 13,000 TT FP to go to 40,000 guests. Clearly insufficient supply.

Guest: Can I just have 2 FP to Soarin and/or TT? I'll be happy then.

Answer: No. There is not enough to give 2 to each guest. Do the math. There is not enough to give even one to each guest.

Survey: Ok, but what if I go on Figment first. Then can I have a second FP to TT or Soarin?

Well obviously the capacity has not changed at all. This makes absolutely no sense that Disney is going to say "Okay folks, as long as you use a throwaway fastpass first, we'll give you a 2nd.

You might as well say "As long as you run 2 laps around the park first" or "As long as you'll do some other random task first".

None of this changes the capacity of Soarin and TT. Thus none of this changes whether you can truly give each guest 2 FPs to these rides. THey may make some sort of incentive to burn your FPs sooner to get a bit of whatever is left over, but given the capacity numbers, by the time this comes to be, anything you might want will not be available. Because we fall right back to, 40,000 guests already queued up nearly all of the 13,000 TT slots from home, months ago.

Maybe you'd luck into one by spending your first half hour riding Figment, but you could also just use your first half hour riding TT and not bother w the gamble.

Unless you change the supply of TT and Soarin, you cannot give each guest 2. The numbers aren't there. I'm all for TT being doubled in capacity or having a 3rd thrill ride at Epcot... but that is the ONLY solution that will lead to increasing the capacity of the two desirable rides there. The problem at Epcot is not the FP+. It is the lack of capacity on its desirable rides.

The big thing missing from you analysis is the people who shock oh shock don't want to ride either TT or Soarin'. My parents when they would go to Disney wouldn't do either attraction (or any of the Mountain, except Splash, or TSMM or TOT) for that matter. In 30 years of going to Disney I think we got mom on Barnstormer once and she swore never again. My guess is for a large portion of the year there will be extra Tier 1 attractions at EPCOT and DHS and several of them on the headliners. Even if the headliners aren't available, it will fill in at the Meet and Greets, Maelstrom, and Illuminations.

That being said, I'm not sure the math is there to give everyone a single Tier 1 FP+ on NYE at EPCOT. I'm not even sure if there is enough Tier 2 FP+ to give everyone 2 of them. But NYE is a different beast from the other 364 days of the year.

Availability of FP+ is one thing, the theory is another. Giving additional FP+ day of after using 1, or using all, or after a certain time, allows "everyone" to get their initial 3 during prebooking through shortly after RD before people people can get more.

 

[BridgetR3]

I'm totally amazed at the turn this thread has taken. Why yes, my children know about FP+ and yes they knew about FP+ before our first trip using it. My children as members in this family are entitled (like that?) to an opinion. They love Disney and we go often....definitely often enough that they knew and fully understood how FP- worked for us. Before our first FP+ trip (which did NOT include tiers and included paper FPs), we told them about the new system. Now that we have another trip coming up with tiers and no paper FPs, they have helped us choose which rides to pick out of each tier with the understanding that we may or may not be able to ride the others.

My children don't act entitled. I'm not sure how helping us plan out our Disney days makes them entitled but hey, to each his own.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm totally amazed at the turn this thread has taken. Why yes, my children know about FP+ and yes they knew about FP+ before our first trip using it. My children as members in this family are entitled (like that?) to an opinion. They love Disney and we go often....definitely often enough that they knew and fully understood how FP- worked for us. Before our first FP+ trip (which did NOT include tiers and included paper FPs), we told them about the new system. Now that we have another trip coming up with tiers and no paper FPs, they have helped us choose which rides to pick out of each tier with the understanding that we may or may not be able to ride the others.

My children don't act entitled. I'm not sure how helping us plan out our Disney days makes them entitled but hey, to each his own.

I agree with you. I always explained things to my son and included him in the day to day planning. It made sense since the trip was just as much for him as anyone and it was fun too!

 

[Shaden]

I'm totally amazed at the turn this thread has taken. Why yes, my children know about FP+ and yes they knew about FP+ before our first trip using it. My children as members in this family are entitled (like that?) to an opinion. They love Disney and we go often....definitely often enough that they knew and fully understood how FP- worked for us. Before our first FP+ trip (which did NOT include tiers and included paper FPs), we told them about the new system. Now that we have another trip coming up with tiers and no paper FPs, they have helped us choose which rides to pick out of each tier with the understanding that we may or may not be able to ride the others.

My children don't act entitled. I'm not sure how helping us plan out our Disney days makes them entitled but hey, to each his own.

I agree with you. I always explained things to my son and included him in the day to day planning. It made sense since the trip was just as much for him as anyone and it was fun too!

Seriously, did you get called out for raising a child with an opinion and with the ability to critically think and express themselves ???

That's new.

I am right with you though, no kids yet, but we have always treated my niece (now 11) exactly like that. Tell her what the options are, let her have input, but help her to see the consequences of different choices.

We intend to do the same thing with out kids, hopefully soon

 

[BridgetR3]

Seriously, did you get called out for raising a child with an opinion and with the ability to critically think and express themselves ???

That's new.

I am right with you though, no kids yet, but we have always treated my niece (now 11) exactly like that. Tell her what the options are, let her have input, but help her to see the consequences of different choices.

We intend to do the same thing with out kids, hopefully soon

And I thought I was doing a fairly decent job of raising my kids.....leave it to the DIS to prove that wrong too. Geez.......

I hope you get to try out my "terrible" parenting skills soon enough!

 

[TLSnell1981]

I Double Dog Dare you to take your kids to Universal and stay onsite.

 

[EMode]

I have respect for my children's opinions and their wants so they are definitely allowed input on what they want to do on their vacation. Does that mean they make all the decisions, of course not but they are definitely involved in the planning. If I didn't want them to do/see things they enjoy I wouldn't take a family vacation, I'd take a solo one.

 

[Shaden]

And I thought I was doing a fairly decent job of raising my kids.....leave it to the DIS to prove that wrong too. Geez.......

I hope you get to try out my "terrible" parenting skills soon enough!

lol I am pushing for this spring/summer after the trip ... but it might still be another year

And I wont hesitate to give those "terrible" skills a shot

 

[Planogirl]

And I thought I was doing a fairly decent job of raising my kids.....leave it to the DIS to prove that wrong too. Geez.......

I hope you get to try out my "terrible" parenting skills soon enough!

I imagine that you are doing a good job. I suspect that most of those who attack aren't particularly confident with what they're doing.

Have you ever used the WDW with Kids guide? I used to buy it when DS was young and we had a blast discussing the attractions.

 

[PrncessA]

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.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Mad Hattered]

Mmmmm.......rocket science.

 

[BridgetR3]

I imagine that you are doing a good job. I suspect that most of those who attack aren't particularly confident with what they're doing.

Have you ever used the WDW with Kids guide? I used to buy it when DS was young and we had a blast discussing the attractions.

Yes we did that on the first and second trips for them. They really helped learn about the attractions! Also, watching Youtube POV videos was great for rides we weren't sure about. They love to "talk Disney" and will describe it in great detail to anyone who will sit long enough to listen.

**** typing this as DS7 sings "Part of your world" in the background.....****

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I imagine that you are doing a good job. I suspect that most of those who attack aren't particularly confident with what they're doing.

Have you ever used the WDW with Kids guide? I used to buy it when DS was young and we had a blast discussing the attractions.

Is this guide still available? If yes, where can I get it?

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Double post

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Is this guide still available? If yes, where can I get it?

Amazon has it:

http://www.amazon.com/Birnbaums-Disney-World-Birnbaum-Guides/dp/1423169417

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Amazon has it:

http://www.amazon.com/Birnbaums-Disney-World-Birnbaum-Guides/dp/1423169417

Awesome! Thanks much!

 

[squirrel4569]

I'm also surprised at the turn this thread took. I'm not sure I'd call it entitled to get the opinion of my kid on vacation, but to each their own.

What I've seen in the past couple of trips that works for us is for the parents to have a general plan about what park we will hit on which day, but will consult with the kids on which restaurants to visit and which attractions are important to them. They aren't the be all end all on decisions, but trips to Disney are really about them and not us. Mom and Dad have their favorites and sometimes we will trump other decisions with what we consider "best" for the experience.

Sometimes you just have to let your control go though and let the kids do something they want to, whether that's getting drenched at one of the water features, or playing in Dumbo or standing in a long line for a M&G or other attraction.

With the old FP system we could be a bit more spontaneous, grab a FP at an attraction we happen to be near, then visit shops or other attractions nearby, return for our FP time, etc. With the new system we have to plan it out a bit more (which I don't mind) but it does require making some choices. If DD1 wants to ride Space Mountain and DD2 wants to ride BTMR and both girls want to see Anna and Elsa, then we're standby for everything else that day. That also means we need to be there at RD to make the most of our time. I don't think that entitles them to anything, but helps to keep them informed so they don't meltdown on the day of when they say "let's get a Fastpass for X!" and I have to tell them there aren't any. Going into a trip with an understanding of what to expect makes the trip more enjoyable for everyone in my opinion.

I'm also still holding out hope that it will expand a bit more and improve some by the time of our next trip, which is up in the air. DLR and the cruises are looking pretty inviting for a change of pace. I know I'll be back to WDW, so I'm not one of those that says I'm not going back because of the changes, but I'd like to see some of this stuff settled out before I go. Hate to spend a few thousand to be a guinea pig.

Perspective is important though. My wife told me that our calendar couldn't support a Disney trip this year due to other trips and obligations with family, so I looked into some other alternatives. Growing up in Michigan we regularly went to Cedar Point, which my kids haven't been to. I thought maybe we could take a side trip from visiting family to go there. Guess what? Prices have gone up there as well. They now have Fast Lane and Fast Lane Plus that they offer for a price in addition to the ticket. They consider an adult anyone over 48 inches tall, so my 8 year old, who is a child by Disney standards, is considered an adult and must pay the adult prices. For my family of 4, which includes 3 "adults" and 1 child, plus Fast Lane or Fast Lane Plus, just to get in and park is close to $500. $50 for each adult ticket. $40 for the child ticket and $65 or $85 for Fast Lane or Fast Lane Plus and another $15 for parking. Six Flags over Texas, about an hour away from my house, is not much cheaper. Again, a day there is about $50 a person, plus $20 for parking and the Flash pass, which is a front of the line pass that you pay for, which has different tiers to it, is not much cheaper. And that's not even counting overpriced food at either location. A single day at Disney is cheaper and a better experience I think.