An honest FP+ assessment Feb 11-Feb 16

[ktlm]

I thought about going to Guest Relations but having been there once already on our arrival day to add an extra day to our ticket (it was quite the wait!) did not want to deal with it. Again, that was my choice but it was just not worth it to me.

Probably a wise choice. We had to go to guest relations twice during our trip, once at DHS and once at MK to check lost and found as DD(7) managed to lose her lanyard with pins TWICE during our trip, and both times the line was filled with MB problems, FP+ problems, and complaints and was huge. Never seen the lines that long! I felt sorry for the CMs there, because I had never seen so many unhappy people in line at guest services either!

 

[Rhiannona]

If the ride does down and does not come up until your window is over you get an auto fast pass that you can check to see what is available. If you go through the first scan and do not make it to the second scan point before the ride goes down you get the auto fast pass you can check on. If you make it to the second scan point and scan and the ride goes down, the ride is supposed to handle your missing fastpass.

 

[skater]

I was very anxious for our trip. I even toyed with cancelling it. But we made the best of it that we could. In the future (and it's what some DISers have been saying) I would hit rope drop at park 1 and ride, ride, ride. Then go to the 2nd park for your FP+ choices. However b/c of some in my travel party being mid-morning risers I chose not to do that. I think in the future my plan will be to have the spontaneity be in the morning, swim at resort with our planned park in the evening now. We used to tour the opposite way - planned morning through a TS late lunch, swam and then went wherever in the evening instead. I would take this advice into great consideration for your upcoming trip.

Lots of good ideas here. My trip is next week, and I feel like I'm still working the kinks out. Problem is every time I change fp times, I run the risk of more "ghost" fp's .

 

[summermac]

Probably a wise choice. We had to go to guest relations twice during our trip, once at DHS and once at MK to check lost and found as DD(7) managed to lose her lanyard with pins TWICE during our trip, and both times the line was filled with MB problems, FP+ problems, and complaints and was huge. Never seen the lines that long! I felt sorry for the CMs there, because I had never seen so many unhappy people in line at guest services either!

I wound up at guest services due to a lost rewards redemption card and I witnessed a guest having a complete meltdown over something. I don't know who I felt worse for - the CM or the guest. Wow.

 

[summermac]

If the ride does down and does not come up until your window is over you get an auto fast pass that you can check to see what is available. If you go through the first scan and do not make it to the second scan point before the ride goes down you get the auto fast pass you can check on. If you make it to the second scan point and scan and the ride goes down, the ride is supposed to handle your missing fastpass.

We asked the CM and were told nothing could be done. In the future I will push the issue but truthfully it was starting to storm and I wasn't about to stand in the rain arguing with a CM over a FP. LOL

 

[zxrst]

We were at WDW last week as well. The most I like FP+ is the ability to have three rides secured before even going to the parks. With three little kids, it used to be a lot of hassle to get them up early and run to the FP machines in the mornings. Now, we could let them sleep in and go to the parks whenever the whole family is ready. Everyone is happier.

 

[JanaDee]

Sorry you had issues.

Lines at GS were huge back in October, I doubt they've gotten any better in the meantime.

 

[snoopy352]

both times the line was filled with MB problems, FP+ problems, and complaints and was huge. Never seen the lines that long! I felt sorry for the CMs there, because I had never seen so many unhappy people in line at guest services either!

While I am not discounting a bad work day for the CMs, let's face it: they are being paid to work. I feel a whole lot more sorry for all those people in line wasting precious vacation time who spent their hard-earned money to have a fun vacation full of stress and issues.

 

[summermac]

I didn't have major issues. I'm not coming here saying, OMG FP+ is horrible. It's not horrible. It's convenient to schedule 3 rides before I arrive. In fact it's pretty sweet. However I am also not saying FP+ is the greatest thing since sliced bread either. Because it's not that either. It's limiting, particulary when you are in the park for an 8+ hour day.

Our next trip, we will utilize the FP+ system for our 2nd park of the day or evening plans so that we don't feel as limited so to speak. The reason I didn't was because by the time I found out we were going to be testing FP+ I already had all my ADRs planned out and thus the morning park figured out and I wasn't about to change all that. In the future, I will plan our evening park and FP+ options around that, leaving our morning park TBD upon arrival.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

If you've already scanned through both scanners you won't get a replacement FP, as it assumes you've already been on the ride. They really should give out re-admit FP for those in this situation

Isn't this exactly what the "come back at any time" FP are for? Who hasn't gotten one of those on Test Track over the years? They still need them for people who have gone through the scanners and for people who waited standby. I assume because this is a less common issue at Jungle Cruise the CM didn't have any cards and was not familiar with the process?

 

[summermac]

Isn't this exactly what the "come back at any time" FP are for? Who hasn't gotten one of those on Test Track over the years? They still need them for people who have gone through the scanners and for people who waited standby. I assume because this is a less common issue at Jungle Cruise the CM didn't have any cards and was not familiar with the process?

This may very well be the case - that the CM just wasn't familiar with the process. However now with FP+ it sounds to me like CMs need to know the procedure for this, period. Even Pirates (which really never needed a FP) now has that option and has been known to go down for whatever reason.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

This may very well be the case - that the CM just wasn't familiar with the process. However now with FP+ it sounds to me like CMs need to know the procedure for this, period. Even Pirates (which really never needed a FP) now has that option and has been known to go down for whatever reason.

I totally agree.