Any Reformed FP- Uber Users Who Have Embraced FP+ ?

[Mambo Junkie]

Sorry but we didn't find this to be true at all on our Dec trip. We didn't "zoom" to any rides so we could "zoom" to something else. Only place we really used ALL 3 FP+ was at MK, threw 2 of the 3 out at the other parks. Our FP at EE was for 10:20-11:20, arrived at 10, standby 10 min, why wait for the FP window to open when it was walk-on? We could have come back out after the ride and rode again IF WE HAD WANTED TO with FP+ but didn't. We really didn't tour any different than we did in Feb 2011 except we got to ride Soarin because of FP+ when in 2011 by the time we got to Epcot, fP- was already at 8:50pm. By the way we did ride 7DMT and we did eat at BOG and didn't stay until 3 am any night, and my head felt great.
And the longest wait time we had was 20 min for POTC. Didn't ride TSM because had to give up our FP because of relation but have never rode it anyway and one ride does not make or break our vacation.

Glad you enjoyed your stroll around the parks!

 

[rajak73]

We did, it was one of the most relaxing times we've had at WDW.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Rope Drop is still the best time to hit rides over and over again.

Yes, it is still the best time to hit rides.

No, it isn't beneficial as it has been in the past.

 

[Silock]

Speaking from experience (see my pics), I can say with absolute certainty that doing the FP- Super User thing took up far far far more time, energy, logistics, running around the park, getting to the parks sooner than I would have liked, distractions by always having to check the watch, the previous set of FP-s, etc then the new FP+ setup does.

As far as FP- vs FP+, FP+ is FAR more relaxing. There is no comparison.

I totally disagree with this. I found it far more exhausting. With FP-, you could plan your day around doing one land, then another, then the next, etc. With FP+, you're at the mercy of whatever FP+ slot is open at the time. So, you might have a 1:30-2:30 Haunted Mansion followed by a 2:30-3:30 Space Mountain followed by a 3:30-4:30 Splash Mountain. That's a lot of criss crossing the park. Plus, with the block on ADRs and not being able to schedule a FP+ reservation anywhere near your dining reservation, you are even further handicapped in making a more relaxing touring strategy.

 

[aaarcher86]

I totally disagree with this. I found it far more exhausting. With FP-, you could plan your day around doing one land, then another, then the next, etc. With FP+, you're at the mercy of whatever FP+ slot is open at the time. So, you might have a 1:30-2:30 Haunted Mansion followed by a 2:30-3:30 Space Mountain followed by a 3:30-4:30 Splash Mountain. That's a lot of criss crossing the park. Plus, with the block on ADRs and not being able to schedule a FP+ reservation anywhere near your dining reservation, you are even further handicapped in making a more relaxing touring strategy.

I felt that way about FP- though. I was at the mercy of whatever time slot was being given out at the time.

If it was 4 hours later, I'd have to figure something out. At least with FP+ I know where I need to be ahead of time. And just personally, I've never had an issue getting stuff in the time slots I wanted (give or take 15 min or so).

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

I have been going to Disney for about 15 years. I have been 4 times with FP+. I try to be positive about it, but I really really do not like it.

 

[Silock]

I felt that way about FP- though. I was at the mercy of whatever time slot was being given out at the time.

If it was 4 hours later, I'd have to figure something out. At least with FP+ I know where I need to be ahead of time. And just personally, I've never had an issue getting stuff in the time slots I wanted (give or take 15 min or so).

I get that. But at least if your FP timeslot was 4 hours later, you could still get another FP in the meantime.

I had lots of issues getting things in the timeslots I wanted, and the more people you have in your party, the worse it gets.

 

[ibela]

Being the former fp runner, I was happy with fp+. During times I found I didn't need a fp or was on the other side of the park, I was able to switch for a diff time/ride. Our schedule changed a d I couldn't switch the fp time for 1 ride so we did standby a couple of times but for the most part, for us, it worked as intended and was enjoyable.

 

[aaarcher86]

I get that. But at least if your FP timeslot was 4 hours later, you could still get another FP in the meantime. I had lots of issues getting things in the timeslots I wanted, and the more people you have in your party, the worse it gets.

Yeah. I could get another one in 2 hours for something else where I have no control of the return time.

It's obviously just different touring styles for different folks - this is just a really good example of that.

Our parties are usually 5. Not sure when it starts to get rough with scheduling.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Completely off topic, but I've noticed that you're extremely good at explaining/resolving/clarifying issues. Thanks.

Yes, thank you Angel Ariel. I was at a loss.

I know these were posted a while ago, but my ILs were visiting this weekend and I wasn't able to be online. I just wanted to say thank you to you both. I don't always succeed, but I do try to see all sides of discussions...sometimes it turns out better than others. I really appreciate your words

 

[Airship Ariadne]

Yeah. I could get another one in 2 hours for something else where I have no control of the return time.

It's obviously just different touring styles for different folks - this is just a really good example of that.

Our parties are usually 5. Not sure when it starts to get rough with scheduling.

I agree, the trouble with the old system was if you didn't RD on the big rides, you might not even be in the same park come your FP time.

Sure, if you pocketed FPs and make use of the lack of care WDW had regarding return times, you could make great use of using expired FPs in the peak times, but I guess, as a girl scout leader, where being "honest and fair" is something we pledge every meeting, the idea of using a loophole in a system to get more rides in front of my daughter (and on our trip in 2010) one of our troop members, just felt like an afront to the system we were teaching them.

But then, we were never an Objectivist family...John Gault was never one of our heroes...our personal satisfaction at the discomfort of other people, never gave us a person feeling of "victory" and so never made use of the FP- the same way many others have.

 

[Silock]

Yeah. I could get another one in 2 hours for something else where I have no control of the return time.

It's obviously just different touring styles for different folks - this is just a really good example of that.

Our parties are usually 5. Not sure when it starts to get rough with scheduling.

We may not have had control over the return time, but it wasn't a secret or anything. If we didn't like the return time, we'd skip it and get something else instead. If it wasn't on the way to your later one, you didn't have to get it. Maybe something would be. Maybe not. But it never mattered too much.

It was rough with us for 4.

 

[wisblue]

Our just completed trip to Southern California, which included a couple of days at Disneyland, reminded us why paper FPs never worked well for us during the busy holiday times when we usually have to travel. We would pick up one FP in the morning with a return time an hour or two out, but by the time we were eligible to get another one the return times were usually well into the late afternoon or evening. So, unless we wanted to stay in one extremely crowded park all day, or ride Splash Mountain in 50 degree temperatures, FPs were not of much use.

We had much better luck riding the things we wanted by getting to the parks early, taking advantage of single rider lines, and using the afternoons for the shows and parades. Being able to pick 3 FPs at times of our choosing would have been much more useful for us. But, we had a great time at Disneyland and did everything we wanted to do (except for Splash Mountain, because of the cold) with only one FP per day and despite a ridiculous number of ride closures one day. 7 AM Magic Morning at Disneyland and the single rider lines at Radiator Springs Racers, California Screamin, Soarin, and the Matterhorn really came in handy.

 

[Suvadoo]

Our just completed trip to Southern California, which included a couple of days at Disneyland, reminded us why paper FPs never worked well for us during the busy holiday times when we usually have to travel. We would pick up one FP in the morning with a return time an hour or two out, but by the time we were eligible to get another one the return times were usually well into the late afternoon or evening. So, unless we wanted to stay in one extremely crowded park all day, or ride Splash Mountain in 50 degree temperatures, FPs were not of much use.

We had much better luck riding the things we wanted by getting to the parks early, taking advantage of single rider lines, and using the afternoons for the shows and parades. Being able to pick 3 FPs at times of our choosing would have been much more useful for us. But, we had a great time at Disneyland and did everything we wanted to do (except for Splash Mountain, because of the cold) with only one FP per day and despite a ridiculous number of ride closures one day. 7 AM Magic Morning at Disneyland and the single rider lines at Radiator Springs Racers, California Screamin, Soarin, and the Matterhorn really came in handy.

Even the just back report from WDW say virtually the same thing. RD is the best way to experience the most attractions whether you're using FP or FP+, especially during the holidays.

You said only 1 FP per day, but that's because you weren't willing to pull additional FP's for later in the day, correct? FP's were still available. Do you know when FP's ran out?

I agree about the single rider lines, they're great. Why didn't Disney just turn Legacy FP+ attractions into FP+ ? It was stupid. IMO they've just increased guest frustration in the SB line. As another poster said, the line used to be continually moving, now you get to stand still for who knows how long?

I'm sorry the weather was cold, but I'm glad you had a great time.

 

[momof2n2]

May I please add this question to OP's? Are you getting to reride favorites? Our superusing family likes Soarin x 3, TSMM x 3 and EE x 3. Anyone pulling that off? Thinking about May...

I've never been so sorry I asked a question.

But thank you for your replies, people. Some very good answers are in here...

I'm still not ready to go, though.

 

[Jennasis]

I agree, the trouble with the old system was if you didn't RD on the big rides, you might not even be in the same park come your FP time.

Sure, if you pocketed FPs and make use of the lack of care WDW had regarding return times, you could make great use of using expired FPs in the peak times, but I guess, as a girl scout leader, where being "honest and fair" is something we pledge every meeting, the idea of using a loophole in a system to get more rides in front of my daughter (and on our trip in 2010) one of our troop members, just felt like an afront to the system we were teaching them.

But then, we were never an Objectivist family...John Gault was never one of our heroes...our personal satisfaction at the discomfort of other people, never gave us a person feeling of "victory" and so never made use of the FP- the same way many others have.

If my eyes roll any further I'll be able to see behind myself.




The uber users will find a way to maximize the new system as well. That's why they were uber users....they went the extra mile to research how the system works.

 

[wisblue]

Even the just back report from WDW say virtually the same thing. RD is the best way to experience the most attractions whether you're using FP or FP+, especially during the holidays.

You said only 1 FP per day, but that's because you weren't willing to pull additional FP's for later in the day, correct? FP's were still available. Do you know when FP's ran out?

I agree about the single rider lines, they're great. Why didn't Disney just turn Legacy FP+ attractions into FP+ ? It was stupid. IMO they've just increased guest frustration in the SB line. As another poster said, the line used to be continually moving, now you get to stand still for who knows how long?

I'm sorry the weather was cold, but I'm glad you had a great time.

For RSR the FPs were gone before 10 AM and the line to get them was extremely long when non resort guests were allowed in at 8 AM. It was a lot more efficient for us to go right to the ride than to wait in that line. Although not as extreme, the FP return times for the other FP attractions that we were interested in were out past 4 PM or later before noon.

Unlike a lot of people, we very rarely do an attraction twice in one day, so if we are able to do it in the first 3 or 4 hours after opening with a short wait, we aren't interested in a FP for much later. There aren't that many FP attractions at DLR, and we did the ones we wanted in those first few hours.

I got one of my biggest laughs on the trip as we waited to get a FP for Indiana Jones. Our original plan was to stop and get a FP for that as soon as they opened that part of the park at 8 AM, but when we got there the ride was not open yet and they were not distributing FPs. So, we proceeded to POC (also not running yet and not letting people wait) and then to HM (same thing). They seemed to be intentionally keeping things closed to push people deeper into the park. We eventually stopped at BTMRR where the standby line was already quite long because it was the only major attraction open. After about 15 minutes in line one of my daughters saw on an app that POC was showing as open so we went over there and then to HM, which was just opening when we got there at about 8:45.

After getting off HM about 9, we went over to IJ to try to get a FP. The standby line was posted at an hour and the line to get FPs was quite long. While we were waiting (it took about 10 minutes to get to a machine) the person in front of us said to his family "they should let you get FPs when you buy your tickets".

Anyway, our return time was at 11:05 and by then the return times for the rides we might have been interested in (Space, BTMRR) were out past 5 PM. Star Tours was also out that late, but we didn't care if we missed that because we have done it many times at DHS and I understand that the DLR version is identical). We weren't interested in Auropia, Roger Rabbit (had already done it standby) or Splash (too cold for our tastes and it was a walk on anyway for that reason). It just didn't make sense to us to take a FP to use 5 hours or more later for something we had already done.

 

[Suvadoo]

If my eyes roll any further I'll be able to see behind myself.




The uber users will find a way to maximize the new system as well. That's why they were uber users....they went the extra mile to research how the system works.

I have 2 questions: Who the hell is John Gault? Who the heck gives a rat's tail?

 

[aaarcher86]

We may not have had control over the return time, but it wasn't a secret or anything. If we didn't like the return time, we'd skip it and get something else instead. If it wasn't on the way to your later one, you didn't have to get it. Maybe something would be. Maybe not. But it never mattered too much. It was rough with us for 4.

I guess, but isn't that the point?

Now instead of being at the mercy of Disney's return times or skipping something, I can pick a time that suits my needs for the things I want to make sure I do. I can apply the same process to the standby line as old FP - line too long? Skip it. There pros and cons to both systems, but at least for us, FP+ takes the guess work and "maybes" out of it.

I don't know why you'd have a problem with 4 people if I didn't with 5. Different vacation times and lengths I guess.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I have 2 questions: Who the hell is John Gault? Who the heck gives a rat's tail?

That was the question.