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

[Love Tink]

However, someone like my husband and I who stay at Disney's value resorts are not going to be able to stay at Uni as economically as they do at WDW. It's just not possible.

That's simply not true. As I've told you in a thread in the past, the most economical way to get express pass at Universal is to stay at an on-site hotel. I don't understand why you are so focused on buying the express pass, rather than getting it for free.

On our last visit, we stayed at Royal Pacific, a deluxe hotel, for $159 per night. All five of us were able to stay in the room, which was cheaper than any option at Disney World for sleeping five people. The hotel was located very close to the parks and City Walk, so we did not need a car.

We stayed for four nights, and therefore got free unlimited express pass for all five of us for five days (check-in and check-out days are included).

Total, Universal, five nights hotel and park hopper tickets with unlimited express pass: $1737.52

Total, Disney World, six nights hotel and non-hopper park tickets with FP+: $2,886.75.

 

[Angel Ariel]

It's hard to make any judgements compared to what was possible in the slowest of slow off-season times, as that certainly wasn't during the summer or other average attendance time I'm sure. As someone related in one of these threads, they recently used 11 FP+ in one day, including 4 rides on Space Mountain....so off season many things are possible, even with FP+.

Actually, the trip I was thinking of the most was our March 2013 trip - so spring break season. Most certainly not the slowest of the slow off season time.

In fact, very few of our trips are during the "slowest of slow" off season times. Our November trip this year was over Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon weekend/Veteran's Day. October 2013 was the TOT 10 Miler weekend, and leading into the week before Columbus Day (crowds were signifcantly larger the Monday after TOT 10 Miler). The 2006 and 2007 trips were before TSMM opened, so they weren't included in my thought process.

 

[wisblue]

Unless sleeping late while still being able to walk onto three things when you get to a park is all that matters to you, embracing FP+ is hard.

There you go again with the general statement that you can only prefer FP+ over paper FP if you like to sleep in.

We certainly don't fall into that category.

As hard as it seems to be for you to accept, despite the many people on this board who have said it, there are a lot of people who don't like to sleep in AND prefer FP+.

 

[Laketravis]

That's simply not true. As I've told you in a thread in the past, the most economical way to get express pass at Universal is to stay at an on-site hotel. I don't understand why you are so focused on buying the express pass, rather than getting it for free.

On our last visit, we stayed at Royal Pacific, a deluxe hotel, for $159 per night. All five of us were able to stay in the room, which was cheaper than any option at Disney World for sleeping five people. The hotel was located very close to the parks and City Walk, so we did not need a car.

We stayed for four nights, and therefore got free unlimited express pass for all five of us for five days (check-in and check-out days are included).

Total, Universal, five nights hotel and park hopper tickets with unlimited express pass: $1737.52

Total, Disney World, six nights hotel and non-hopper park tickets with FP+: $2,886.75.

That's pretty much how the math worked out for us as well - in fact, we even upgraded our tickets to AP's for not much more. We stayed at RPR too, and I'd compare it to the Poly any day.

 

[rajak73]

That's simply not true. As I've told you in a thread in the past, the most economical way to get express pass at Universal is to stay at an on-site hotel. I don't understand why you are so focused on buying the express pass, rather than getting it for free.
On our last visit, we stayed at Royal Pacific, a deluxe hotel, for $159 per night. All five of us were able to stay in the room, which was cheaper than any option at Disney World for sleeping five people. The hotel was located very close to the parks and City Walk, so we did not need a car.

We stayed for four nights, and therefore got free unlimited express pass for all five of us for five days (check-in and check-out days are included).

Total, Universal, five nights hotel and park hopper tickets with unlimited express pass: $1737.52

Total, Disney World, six nights hotel and non-hopper park tickets with FP+: $2,886.75.

But as I just stated in another thread, that's what works for YOU, it doesn't mean it works for everyone that goes. We vacation in a RV, our preference, so the lines in the sand change. So no I wouldn't get express pass for free. Don't care to stay in a hotel, Disney, Universal or any others but that is our choice.

 

[Laketravis]

There you go again with the general statement that you can only prefer FP+ over paper FP if you like to sleep in..

There you go again, bringing up "paper FP" when nobody else did.

 

[rajak73]

There you go again, bringing up "paper FP" when nobody else did.

You said the same as I did, you were done with the threadit's just like lays potato chips......we just have to post once more

 

[wisblue]

There you go again, bringing up "paper FP" when nobody else did.

This whole thread is about comparing paper FP to FP+ (note the title) and the issue of embracing FP+ begs the comparison.

When you said that "I see small benefits for a small number of guests, and reduced benefits for a larger number of guests" you must have been comparing FP+ to something, and I'm guessing that that comparison was to the paper FP system. Please feel free to correct me if I was wrong.

 

[Laketravis]

You said the same as I did, you were done with the threadit's just like lays potato chips......we just have to post once more

 

[DisneyKidds]

Actually, the trip I was thinking of the most was our March 2013 trip - so spring break season. Most certainly not the slowest of the slow off season time. In fact, very few of our trips are during the "slowest of slow" off season times. Our November trip this year was over Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon weekend/Veteran's Day. October 2013 was the TOT 10 Miler weekend, and leading into the week before Columbus Day (crowds were signifcantly larger the Monday after TOT 10 Miler). The 2006 and 2007 trips were before TSMM opened, so they weren't included in my thought process.

Hey, I'm not going to question your experience or when it was, but as estherhead pointed out.....under legacy FP the Studios would have had to be at a crowd level 5 or below to get two FP rides in on TSMM, especially to have both return times be before 1:00. All of March doesn't have spring break crowds, does it? We had been to WDW under legacy FP during Easter/spring break for our kids school, as well as in the summer. During those times even when you went straight at opening the FP return times quickly got to noon, and by noon the FPs were pretty much distributed for the day.

We were there last week and two rides on TSMM is easily doable (one at rope drop, one via FP), but three would be tough during the summer or holidays. Slower season it can still be done.

 

[Laketravis]

....there are a lot of people who don't like to sleep in AND prefer FP+.

I wish I could find all those threads from all those people who claim to prefer being able to make FP selections in only one park, not being able to pick two of their favorites in half the parks (tiering), and only being able to reserve three.

Because the last time I checked, everyone who claimed to embrace FP also include at least two of those three "yes, buts....."

 

[wisblue]

I wish I could find all those threads from all those people who claim to prefer being able to make FP selections in only one park, not being able to pick two of their favorites in half the parks (tiering), and only being able to reserve three.

Because the last time I checked, everyone who claimed to embrace FP also include at least two of those three "yes, buts....."

I can embrace something that is not perfect as long as it is an improvement over what came before it, especially when I can understand why limitations are necessary to make it feasible.

 

[Silock]

Now with FP-, yes, you only got the benefit if you got there early. FP- wasn't as good because you had to rope drop to get the benefit from it.

I dispute this. There were many, many times that we would hop to another park and pull 3-4 FPs for in-demand attractions, like EE or RNRC.

This wouldn't work for Soarin'. It worked for Test Track. It worked for just about anything at MK.

 

[Silock]

Both FP+ and RD contribute to my vacation. They do not only do so in combination. If I did not use RD at all, FP+ would still contribute, and if I did not use FP+ at all, RD would still contribute. When using both, (as well as many other things - EMH, Rider Switch, staying on rainy days, going on rides during parades, etc) they both help to make my vacations very close to an ideal vacation in that I can get on everything I want in a reasonable time period by using the tools and options that are available.

The question is this, then:

Can you get to your ideal vacation by ONLY using FP+?

Can you get to your ideal vacation by ONLY using RD?

EDIT: I suppose those are really two questions, aren't they? LOL Math

 

[kermiebudge]

Before FP+ tiering, we always had our own mental tiering....That limit, that how-long-are-you-willing-to-wait-wait limit.

As much as we love Disney, we've always had this mental guideline. No more than 15-20 mins for Small World (or like attractions)...maybe, just maybe up to 30 mins TOPS for the Mountains, RNR, TOT or EE. And the 30 min wait would be due to OUR poor planning, missing EMH or unwillingness to get up early enough to grab the FPs we wanted. In some sense, we felt like we had more control and we could still include some fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants fun into it. That major advance planning was saved for dining reservations only!

Now, coming up on 4 trips with FP+, I'm sadly feeling a wee bit deflated. I used to LOVE planning. Now, not as much. It's very stressful trying to bank on the park, dining and ride reservations so far in advance. And if we decide to switch our park last minute, sorry, too bad, you may be out of luck COMPLETELY for some rides (not due to late park arrival that same day). So far, we've still been lucky with RD. We find that the late morning FP reservations work best for US. RD, FP, then outta there and pool / resort time. Totally different and more condensed for us now.... Just not worth ever waiting in line 45, 60, 90 minutes for Small World or POC to us, ever.

Ideally, in the future we'd like to see the park hop option added to FP+, maybe a 4th ride booking option in advance....maybe no tiering too! Until then, we are watching the goings on, but also planning on not going as often after our next trip. Like some others, I feel our money is better spent vacationing with less stress, less waiting. With all that in mind, I'm am still and always will be a huge fan of that magical place....even if the magic is feeling a little dulled at the moment

 

[dansyr2514]

I'm a fan. I know ahead of time that I will get to ride certain rides. I've gone to toy story at rope drop and still was not able to get a fast pass. I've a better chance with fastpass plus and I don't have get up early on vacation.
I still think tweaks can be made though. It's not perfect

 

[SmithSmith]

That's simply not true. As I've told you in a thread in the past, the most economical way to get express pass at Universal is to stay at an on-site hotel. I don't understand why you are so focused on buying the express pass, rather than getting it for free.

On our last visit, we stayed at Royal Pacific, a deluxe hotel, for $159 per night. All five of us were able to stay in the room, which was cheaper than any option at Disney World for sleeping five people. The hotel was located very close to the parks and City Walk, so we did not need a car.

We stayed for four nights, and therefore got free unlimited express pass for all five of us for five days (check-in and check-out days are included).

Total, Universal, five nights hotel and park hopper tickets with unlimited express pass: $1737.52

Total, Disney World, six nights hotel and non-hopper park tickets with FP+: $2,886.75.

Love Tink, in a futile attempt to explain this to you... AGAIN...

I'm not focused on getting the express pass! I am not even calculating the express pass. For a split WDW/Uni trip for us it would look like this:

Dec 4-10
6 days at All Star with 6 day park hoppers: $1511.34 or $251.89 per day
Dec 10-13
3 days at Cabana Bay with 3 day park to park tickets & parking fees: $820.80 or $273.60 per day
(Again, those prices are WITHOUT express pass)

Now, we would want to pick Pop Century to stay at but would have to go with an All Star to offset our USF costs. So I could spend over $2300 for a split stay OR I could just spend all 9 nights at Pop for under $2000. And before you say "but All Stars aren't as nice as Cabana Bay so you can't compare them". I don't care about the amenities, all I need is a clean room. In herein lies my point, Uni can not beat WDW value prices unless you want to stay longer than you need to.

Before you say " but you can't compare 3 day costs to 6 day costs". Yes I can! I absolutely will not pay to stay at USF longer than is necessary just to have lower ticket/room rates. There is reason USF gets so cheap the longer you stay... because there is not that much to do!
Honestly, I think 3 days is generous and pushing it. I am not much a fan of US and would rather spend my time and money at WDW. Bottom line, I absolutely do not want to pay more for USF than WDW.

There I'm done. I'm sure there's something you'll find to nitpick, assuming you even bother to come back to this discussion.

P.s. You have a mistake in your post, see bolded.

Disclaimer: I have you on my ignore list. Unfortunately, because of an AD glitch on the Disboards I had to enable private browsing. Which means I wasn't logged in at the time that I read this thread so your post wasn't blacked out. In the future, it would be great if you just ignored my posts as well.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Hey, I'm not going to question your experience or when it was, but as estherhead pointed out.....under legacy FP the Studios would have had to be at a crowd level 5 or below to get two FP rides in on TSMM, especially to have both return times be before 1:00. All of March doesn't have spring break crowds, does it? We had been to WDW under legacy FP during Easter/spring break for our kids school, as well as in the summer. During those times even when you went straight at opening the FP return times quickly got to noon, and by noon the FPs were pretty much distributed for the day.

We were there last week and two rides on TSMM is easily doable (one at rope drop, one via FP), but three would be tough during the summer or holidays. Slower season it can still be done.

I find it interesting that you say you're not going to question my experience or when it happened, but then you go on to do exactly that.

We were there during my nephew and my brother's spring breaks (2 different school districts). There were many districts both around them, and around us (in a different state) who were on spring break at that time. I consider that "spring break season." Crowds were not 9s or 10s, but they weren't 1s or 2s (aka "the slowest of the slow") either.

We rode once during EMH, once w/a very early FP return window (9:45 or 10, can't remember which), and then once with a return window right before we left the park (somewhere between 12:30 and 1). Since we could pick up a second FP at 9:45 or 10 (whichever time it was) - when the 1st window opened - the return windows were not near closing yet. TSMM was the last thing we did before leaving the park.

I am not saying, nor have I said, that this was *normal* - I wouldn't ever contend that wrt TSMM. I was simply responding to whether or not it was *possible* during a time of year that was *not* the "slowest of the slow."

It wasn't a crazy insane busy time of year, but it wasn't the slowest of the slow either. The only "slowest of the slow" time of year trip we've taken is December 2007, and that was before TSMM opened.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Hey, I said I believe you. I may have missed it in your first post when you said it was an EMH morning, as I can see how that would help. My bad. Maybe I got carried away with the slowest of the slow bit . During busy times I was used to seeing FP return times well into the afternoon by 10:00.

 

[famy27]

I find it interesting that you say you're not going to question my experience or when it happened, but then you go on to do exactly that.

We were there during my nephew and my brother's spring breaks (2 different school districts). There were many districts both around them, and around us (in a different state) who were on spring break at that time. I consider that "spring break season." Crowds were not 9s or 10s, but they weren't 1s or 2s (aka "the slowest of the slow") either.

We rode once during EMH, once w/a very early FP return window (9:45 or 10, can't remember which), and then once with a return window right before we left the park (somewhere between 12:30 and 1). Since we could pick up a second FP at 9:45 or 10 (whichever time it was) - when the 1st window opened - the return windows were not near closing yet. TSMM was the last thing we did before leaving the park.

I am not saying, nor have I said, that this was *normal* - I wouldn't ever contend that wrt TSMM. I was simply responding to whether or not it was *possible* during a time of year that was *not* the "slowest of the slow."

It wasn't a crazy insane busy time of year, but it wasn't the slowest of the slow either. The only "slowest of the slow" time of year trip we've taken is December 2007, and that was before TSMM opened.

We generally were able to get a second set of TSMM with paper FPs.

In fact, for our Spring Break 2012 trip, I took detailed notes of our FP situation, as this was right when they started enforcing return times, and I wanted to share our experiences.

Here are the FPs from our HS and EP days:

Tuesday, March 27th (Crowd level 6, per Touring Plans)
Hollywood Studios
8:45 am--arrived and grabbed TSM FPs for 10:10 am
10:30--returned to ride TSM. Ride was down. I asked the CM what would happen to our FPs. She informed me that we could use them to ride at any time during the day.
10:30--grabbed second set of TSM FPs. Return time was 6:00.
12:30--got three RNRC FPs with 5:55 returns. Other two members of the group got Star Tours for 1:55.

Saturday, March 24th (Crowd level 4)
Epcot
9:15--arrived and pulled Soarin' for 10:10
10:10--pulled TT for 11:30
11:30--got another batch for Soarin' for 2:30

Thursday, March 29th (Crowd level 7)
Epcot
10:15 am--arrived and got Soarin' FPs for 2:35 pm

So for us, re-rides at HS and EP were very possible at HS and EP, even during a moderately crowded time. We also didn't need to be there at RD to get Soarin' FPs. We would have been able to get TT on the 29th as well, but we had other plans and went back to the resort for an ADR.